Before... 

Avritt's favorite position: goalie. 

Avritt in his soccer gear. 

It's About Time

I realized that it has been over a month since I posted an update. I guess that says something about life around here. On Saturday we hosted a work day at our house. We belong to a house church and one of the things we do is go to each others' homes regularly and offer up our skills and muscles to get projects completed. We needed to get our yard back in shape, and we got a lot done on Saturday. It was a cool day in the mid-50s, perfect weather for working outside. We rented a walk-behind loader for moving sand and dirt around. We regraded the dirt around the house to deal with drainage, brought in topsoil to cover over all the sand that was left from the remodel, and seeded grass. We finished the area up by our half-circle driveway, and are still working on the area down by the old driveway. The progress has been a much-needed encouragement to Mike and I.

Emily is preparing to play a clarinet-flute duet at a Solo and Ensemble Festival in November. Avritt is done with his soccer season. His favorite position to play was goalie. Isaac is enjoying having some friends over from his class at school. They make much better playmates than his mom. The kids are nearing the end of the term at school, and Halloween will soon be here. Enjoy the fall colors!

This is such a fun picture, I just couldn't resist. It is from the first day of school. 

Avritt in his aircraft carrier crewman gear (those are reflectors on his vest). The arrangement of chair, table and couch is his ship.

Isaac in his Top Gun jumpsuit. 

All About the Kids

It's time to give some hard-core news about the kids. Enough about decks. (I know why people check the blog - it's all about the kids!) Emily is in an advanced math class this year and we have spent several evenings together doing beginning algebra. It has been an enjoyable experience for me, actually. I am able to utilize the level of patience that I have developed with students over the last 8 years. She is a quick learner, and so rarely needs more than a brief explanation, but it has been something that we can spend time doing together. Algebra isn't her favorite subject, though. She much prefers English and history. Emily spent the last two days at a camp with her team from school (4 classes make up a team, I think). It was 90 degrees both days, which wasn't as fun as the normal temps. this time of year. She had a good time anyway, and said she went on a zip line that was pretty high off the ground (not without screaming, though) She also enjoyed canoeing. She reported that the mattresses on the bunks were only a couple inches thick, and the shower wouldn't have gotten her any cleaner had she used it. Well at least they didn't have homework.

Avritt was asked today by his music teacher to take part in a demonstration of an African dance at a Community Celebration put on by the school district this Thursday. She told me that he has exceptionally good rhythm and kept the beat the entire dance today in class. She is asking a group of kids from school to help her demonstrate and then teach groups of people at the Celebration. He was excited about doing it and declared that he thinks his "talent" is good rhythm, and that he was relieved to finally discover his talent in life. Avritt started soccer last week. He has practice from 5 to 6 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and games will start on Saturday mornings in a couple weeks.

Isaac is doing well in school, and is finally warming up to his teacher and friends. He is remembering the names of several of his classmates when asked (an improvement from the last two weeks). His teacher has told me that he is very quiet at school and doesn't talk much, but does a good job at whatever they are doing. Today he mentioned that he thought one of the boys didn't like him because the boy was playing with another person at recess. So we talked through the principle of mutual exclusivity and how it doesn't apply to friends (just kidding!). We did have a chat and got that cleared up. He told me that he was very good at school today and did everything he was supposed to do. He now sits by a boy on the bus that goes to school in the afternoon but isn't in the same class. I was at the school last week and quietly observed him on the playground from a distance. He was right in there with the other boys running around having a great time. I'm going to try to start inviting friends from his class over to play in the mornings, but it takes time to get to know the parents and time for Isaac to get to know the other kids well enough. We have finally received a replacement Leapster (his previous one had technical difficulties and was replaced by the company) and he loves to play the Dora the Explorer game that he got for his birthday.

For the kids,
Ginger

Progress on the Deck

Lest we bore some of you with too many details about the deck progress, I will just post pictures for now. It is coming along! You can see three pergola top boards by the deck door to the living room. That pattern will continue across the deck. The boards are spaced about every foot. The other new thing is the addition on the front for the grills.

We've Begun the Deck!

Over the weekend Mike started building the deck off the kitchen and living room. It is very exciting to see progress. Almost all the deck boards are on (some need to wait until the posts go up) and work has begun on the pergola which is going over the deck. The pergola will extend from the overhang out to a foot past the edge of the deck. There are some challenges to building it, including attaching to the house. And then the pergola has to built around a gutter that runs along the edge of the overhang. Mike is up to the challenge, though, and is making good progress after Labor Day weekend.

Here is a site that gives you a sample of some pergola designs. A pergola is basically a structure that provides some shelter and shade (not water-proof) for an outdoor area.

http://www.gardenstructure.com/page/custom_pergola_plans.html

We are also planning on adding a larger concrete landing and a pergola by our front entrance. This will coordinate the exterior and add a better transition into the house (plus give a nice spot to sit outside and observe activity in the driveway). When this happens, we're not sure, but it's in the plans. The back deck will not have a pergola. It will be nice to enjoy the views of the pond from the deck once it is finished.

First Day of School

School finally started today!! The anticipation nearly killed all of us. Emily (in seventh grade this year) was the earliest to rise, getting up at 6:15. The middle school she attends starts at 7:40. It is located right up the street from our house, and her and a friend across the street will be walking together. She was out the door before the boys were up at 7:20. Avritt started second grade today and seemed to have a good day. We always get fewer details about his day. According to him, the only thing he remembers doing is running around the gym during P.E. Isaac and I attended his first day (afternoon young-fives program) together. We were introduced to the classroom, all the policies and procedures, and met half of his class (half of the class went at a time). He seemed to hit it off with a couple of other boys and played with matchbox cars and a parking garage (the kind with cool trap doors) in the classroom for awhile. He will be picked up by a pre-k/kindergarden bus at around 12:15 and then ride home on a regular bus with Avritt after school. Avritt will faithfully fulfill his duty of helping his brother get on the bus and sitting with him -- but only for a couple weeks. Ginger and Isaac will have time to do some fun things in the mornings (like relax and snuggle on the couch after everyone else is gone, library story time, playing Uno -- Isaac is on a 3-0 winning streak, and just enjoying a little peace and quiet). Summer vacation is always enjoyable with its lack of structure and relief from the grind of school every day, and fall is always a relief from too much unstructured time with its return to a daily routine. And time passes...

Many thanks for the presents!

Isaac received a pair of spy binoculars (spy equipment is a hot thing around here right now) and a game for his Leapster from his Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ted. Thanks!


Thanks, Grandma Marcia and Grandpa Jay, for the Playmobil Golden Knight and book.


Introducing...the newest Jedi Knight ready to wield the force! Thanks, Amber and Devin.

Isaac's Birthday

Isaac turned five last Saturday. He had a party at a local pizza/arcade place with three of his friends from school last year. He had a great time with Mike playing games -- his favorite was an off-road race car game. Unfortunately, he caught a virus and had a fever for a couple of days, so he didn't have quite as much fun as normal. You can see his Batman-themed cake in picture. His favorite present was a Batboat that turns into a Batplane. Thank you to all the family and friends that sent him presents.

Isaac Learned to Ride a Bike!!

A few days ago Isaac learned how to ride a bike. He just barely slipped it in before turning five on Saturday! A few weeks ago Ginger took him out and they just didn't have any success. But this week, it was a different story. After just about 15 minutes of practice, Isaac was riding by himself. He still needs to work on stopping and starting, but he almost has that down already. He is enjoying being able to ride with his brother and mom around the neighborhood and up to the school where he will be going next week. Since he will be riding his brother's old bike, he got to go to a local specialty toy store and pick out something. He chose a Playmobil trebuchet and knight set (the trebuchet actually launches the rocks). Isaac and Avritt have been playing knights since then. With only 5 more playing days until school starts, they are making the most of their time!

Fall is Drawing Near

School starts soon and summer vacation will soon be a memory. The kids are gearing up for the new year--after a visit to Office Max. We are counting down until August 30th. Ginger starts teaching a college math class next week, though, so she is busy trying to get ready while wrapping up plans for her sister's baby shower this Saturday. Mike, who is over Information Systems at a local college, is swamped with preparations for the fall semester. Laptops are handed out to all freshman, and juniors, staff, and faculty get their two-year-old machines renewed. Emily will be in 7th grade this year and will start at a new middle school. Avritt will be in 2nd grade and Isaac in a young fives pre-k class at the same elementary school. They will ride the bus home together. Ginger will enjoy having every afternoon available for teaching/prep responsibilites and also the occasional dentist appointment without having to get a babysitter (the first time in twelve years). Soon the warm summer air of this picture will turn into a cool autumn wind that will chill all that has been sun-baked over the last few months, something a post on a weblog will not stop.

Summer Fun

Avritt and Isaac have been busy playing this summer. One day they built boats out of pillows, chairs, and egg beaters for the motor. Isaac is wearing a "scuba-diving" mask. Other things they have enjoyed is light-sabering, bike riding, scooter riding, swimming in our neighbor's pool, and of course, there's always driving each other crazy!

Avritt has been taking swimming lessons this summer and has learned a lot. He can now do the freestyle (with the side breathing and everything), elementary backstroke, back crawl, and sidestroke.

Emily is taking part in a band camp at a local college this week. She plays clarinet in the band and is part of a solo performance class. She also signed up for a piano class, an instrument that she previously played and has enjoyed returning to this week.

Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ted visit

We enjoyed a visit by Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ted a few weeks ago. They brought a building set that Avritt and Ted used to build a space ship and a tow truck. We went miniature golfing and got rained out. Then we tried to go back, and got rained out again. After going for ice cream, we tried again and finally got to finish our game. Avritt got several holes in one.

Horseback Riding

Last week we went horseback riding. Emily went to this ranch a few years ago with some friends and has been asking ever since. The kids had a lot of fun. We took a friend, Jackie, with us and went on an hour ride. Emily's horse was named Flickka, Avritt's was Chief, Isaac's was Dewdrop, Ginger's was Beauty, and Jackie's was Redbird. Isaac and Avritt both rode their own horses, which were led by our guide. The horses were allowed to trot three times along the trail, which was pretty fun. The boys managed to stay on the horses for the whole hour. We then ate at a local diner and headed out to the Lake. It was very cold, but a stream running into the Lake provided us with a little warmer water to play in. The kids didn't mind freezing.

Mike and the boys on the beach with their castle. (Emily helped, too) 

The kids at the nature center. 

Avritt at the campsite. 

Isaac in his camo. 

Emily riding bikes. 

Hiking down the trail. 

The beautiful Lake. 

Sitting around the campfire. 

Camping Trip

We are back from camping today! We had a very good time together as a family and with some friends who visited over July 4th. Some of the highlights:

Swimming at the beach
Building sand castles
Sitting around the campfire
Great camp food including some roasted apples stuffed with raisins, butter, and cinnamon sugar
Riding bikes
Visit to the nature center at the state park
Butterfly catching
Owl prowl (a local expert on owls took a group through the woods looking for owls)
Climbing a huge sand dune and running down
Flying owl kites on the beach
Walking on trails through the woods

We had heavy rain the first night we were there, and then a beautiful 3 or 4 days of perfect weather. Unfortunately, the weather on the 4th was lacking and we packed up damp this morning. The first two or three nights were so warm we didn't want to get into our sleeping bags. Then, one night the temperatures dropped into the 40s and we were glad we had them with us. Mike and Avritt managed to catch some nice waves on boogie boards one of the days. We caught tadpoles in the stream that runs into the lake. We saw a bard owl flying around the woods and one night it interrupted our sleep late at night with its loud hoot. It was a great time with the kids. They enjoyed being able to ride their bikes around the campground, the snacks that I don't usually have at home, and s'mores.