A Week, Briefly (August 8, 2022)

 It was going to be a simple week of turning school routines into habits . . . 

Though Sweet Peach came for a few hours, so that was very special!

And then Pixie showed up completely unannounced!!!!

She was able to catch a ride with friends who were driving this way to spend a week taking care of some business concerns and visiting family.  Because there was some uncertainty about whether there would be room for Pixie, and because she loves surprises, she didn't tell us.

We walked into the living room first thing Tuesday morning, and there she was!!

We dumped a lot of  "normal" in order to enjoy it week with Pixie.

She took various groups of kids on outings.

She helped us with our daycare babies.

She read lots of stories.

She ran errands with us.

Because selfies in the meat department at Aldi are always fun! 

She attended a baby shower for her cousin.

The only pic I took--Baby P with Ladybug

She went to parties with old friends.

She stayed up late with her sisters talking and laughing and bringing the light and joy she exudes everywhere she goes.

In our normal world:

--we finished The Pickwick Papers

--we started Little Lord Fauntleroy

--we walked every morning

--we went to the library

"Oh!  Heawy!  Heawy!" she said when she tried to pick up the bag with two books in it!

--we began practicing 3 statements on our walks: 

     1.  I notice . . . 

     2.  I wonder . . .

     3.  That reminds me of . . .

Mister Man took the first turn noticing and wondering about the contrast between tall and short growth on our hill 

--we read WEH Month 12 stories every day during snack time

--we read about Elizabeth Blackwell every day during lunch

--Nature Angel practiced guitar several times

--Little Princess did a bit of math on Khan Academy

--Mister Man and Brother worked several hours at their gardening apprenticeship

--the youngest 5 kids attended a Primary swimming party

--older girls attended youth activities at church (Little Princess led a cupcake decorating class)

--I encouraged outside play, but we defaulted to inside play when it just felt too, too hot

--we had two preschool sensory play activities (that lured my sensory--needy kids to play, too)

--we dealt with ongoing behavioral issues

--home repairs and emergencies took lots of our time. 

Pixie leaves tomorrow morning, so we're going to make the most of today (and we're meeting Super Star's sweetheart tonight) before returning to our regularly scheduled days next week.

PS-- Pixie has received her school assignment for ILP!

She'll be at Lugala School in Kampala, Uganda!!  She leaves sometime in January or February--it's all subject to ILP circumstances--and she'll be there 3-5 months.

Her passport should arrive any day!