summer learning

Do you remember how we usually have a summer plan at our house? Well, this summer WE ALL needed a break. However, I did want to make sure we did TWO things:  (1) lots of reading and (2) keep up on our math facts.  I decided we'd use the library's summer reading plan, with the free coupons, to spur on reading.  Then Jake & I talked and we decided to do a multiplication challenge for Lily & Ella to know their times tables from 0-12.  Super proud of BOTH the girls for doing AWESOME at both summer reading and completing their multiplication tables.

Lily completed the multiplication challenge on July 7. This was review for her as she learned her times tables during 3rd grade. The review was still a challenge for her. 

I assigned an amount they would earn for each number. For instance the 2's were only $.25, but the 12's were $2. In total, they could EARN $10 plus a pack of gum once completed. This incentive worked well for both girls.

Books read from Tuesday at 4pm to Friday at 11am - WOW!

FREE insomnia cookie - thanks to NHC library

Ella completed her multiplication challenge TODAY - this was a big challenge for her as she had only done grouping through 3's. They had just started 4's when we went to all online in March. So proud of her!

Our 12th Anniversary

We're back from a night away to celebrate our 12th ANNIVERSARY.

A sweet friend of ours said she'd watch the kids, we asked her early June, so we could do an overnight date for our anniversary. It was so nice to have uninterrupted time together. Dates have been minimal, like one, since COVID-19 happened. We have had two other times we needed a sitter: (1) to attend a 40th birthday dinner party and (2) to attend a funeral. We were very thankful for an overnight DATE!

Our sitter came Saturday around 1pm. Jake booked us a room at The Waterway at WB. We headed there to park the Jeep and then we took out the paddle boards, borrowed from other sweet friends, on the Intercoastal Waterway. We did paddle boards a few years ago for our 9th anniversary as well. Later that evening we walked across the bridge to Poe's Tavern for dinner.

Jake's pick - Rue Morgue

We went for a walk after dinner, then sat at the intercoastal side for awhile and also over on the beach. After sunset, we grabbed ice cream. Saturday morning we tried paddle surfing - we are no good. We had a wonderful brunch at The Famous Toastery, but we forgot to take pictures. Afterwards, we drove to Trails End to park and try the paddle boards around Masonboro. Meg may have taken the scenic route. It was hard work fighting the wind, the changing tide and the boat's wakes, but we had fun.

Still full from our brunch, we enjoyed coffee at Bespoke that afternoon and were home by 4:30pm to squeeze our kids and hear all about the fun they had with Miss Jessie! What a blessing she is to our family.

Wren lost her FIRST TOOH

This morning, while Wren was eating breakfast, I noticed that you could see one of her bottom middle permanent teeth poking through the gums. We checked the tooth in front of it and sure enough, it was wiggly. Wren was so excited - her first wiggly tooth! All day she kept checking to see if it was still wiggly and saying, "Mom, I can't believe I have a wiggly tooth."

Our current wiggly tooth club as of 9am. 

Per Wren's request, Daddy pulled it out after dinner!

She is definitely our youngest child to lose a tooth - 4 1/2 years old.

Sunset at WB

Thursday afternoon, Jake texted me with a great idea - "let's do a sunset adventure to the beach tonight." Yes! Around 7pm, we loaded up and headed to the beach. It was marvelous. So beautiful - nothing like it. We even made some friends and got to see a pod of dolphins.

Sunday at Airlie Gardens

The first Sunday of every month, Airlie Gardens has free admission to New Hanover County residents.  Today we went and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at Airlie.