Crystals

Colby stayed home from school yesterday with a fever, but really wasn't feeling all that bad.  So we "homeschooled"... a little reading, a little writing, a little math, and SCIENCE!  We made a crystal snowflake, and I have to admit, it was totally cool. 

A Sunday Evening at the Aho's

Daredevils abound in this house.  Craziness.

In other news, Reagan was singing in the shower tonight.  It was pretty cute.  Once I got out the camera, she of course stopped the full-on-belt-out, but I caught the tail-end at least ;).

Garden Harvest

Our first real attempt at a garden has yielded us food!!  Not everything grew (no peppers, peas, beans, watermelon, pumpkins, or canteloupe), but the zuchini, tomatoes, beets, squash, and corn are in abundance!  We got a few carrots (literally... two decent ones) as well.  Exciting stuff around here.  The kids have really enjoyed going out to pick their dinner.  Just not always so thrilled about EATING it.  We're trying to dry some sunflower seeds as well, just for the heck of it, to see if we can make anything edible out of a flower ;).  Harvesting is cool. 

First Day of First Grade

I blink, and they turn from babies to toddlers.  I blink again, and there they are in preschool.  Today, I turned around, and found them "big boys".  They are so excited to be in first grade, to wear their new clothes, to use their new lunchboxes, to be able to sit on the "big kids" side of the cafeteria.   Mom is glad for the quiet house, but sad for the rate at which her babies are growing up.   I read them a book before school, and then they began running off because they heard the bus.  Quinn suddenly turned around, came back, and gave me a big hug and kiss.  "Oh, Mom, I almost forgot to do this!"  Thank goodness you didn't forget, Quinn!!

AHHHH.  Too much sentimentality this morning!!

Getting up early was hard for Quinn.  He looked TIRED!!!  Time to adjust to a new schedule!  Colby was up and at 'em right on time, too excited to even eat more than a bite of breakfast.

Touring the Keweenaw!

Fort Wilkins, a picnic lunch, followed by a hike!  The storm from a few days ago took it's toll on those poor old-growth trees -- several were felled, which made for an "exciting" hike.

 

All in the Back Yard

After church, we debated about what to do.  The sun was shining - the first time it had since Mom and Dad arrived - and we really wanted to take advantage.  We originally thought a picnic and hike at the Nara trails would be nice, but Rob talked us into enjoying our own back yard instead.  There are benefits to living in the country!  We went on a "moose hunt" in the woods out back - Rob had hidden all the stuffed moose that the boys have gotten for each emergency room visit  (there are SEVERAL ... we've got quite the collection).   Afterwards, we played a little soccer, and went apple picking.  Fresh blueberry-apple pie for desert, and lots of applesauce!  Al and LaVerne came over for dinner, and we had a fun night playing cut-throat pinochle.  The winner is still up for debate ;)