Life is busy, busy everyday but I want to make sure and capture the mundane every routines because I have a sneaky feeling these are going to be the parts I will look back on and want to hold onto.
Ben has been such a great partner with me transitioning back to work this Fall. He has had to step up with chores, dinners, making and packing 3 lunches, stuffing homework folders, and completing nightly homework.
Ellie has been growing leaps and bounds since the start of school. Within the first couple of weeks she was assessed and given extra nightly practice to make sure sound and writing of each letter was more automatic and fluent for her. So for five weeks, this hard-working girl has spent 15 minutes a night before her reading, reviewing and practicing her letters, letter sounds, and letter formations. She is a rock star! We are so fortunate that her teacher is on top of it and knows where to fill in her learning gaps to propel her forward.
My little proud Mama moment of Ellie...Last Friday her principal called me. I was in my own classroom at the end of the day and when he called me a hundred thoughts flew through my mind in like 0.1 seconds. But, then he told me how proud of they are of Ellie and he proceeded to read me a letter that her teacher wrote about her of all the wonderful things Ellie is up to at school. At the end he told me what a great job we are doing as a family and to keep doing what we are doing because it's working. Peel me off the floor. I could barely get out a thank you as I choked on my own words.
Ben and I both being in schools, we totally know that this is an outreach from the school to the parents. We also know that he probably asked the teachers to pick a few students and write letter about them and he would call these parents on Friday afternoons. This is some new initiative or maybe it's even in his own growth plan with the district. BUT in that moment, none of that mattered. It was SO good to hear from an outside perspective that your child is being honored for their character, academic growth, and leadership and to have him take 5 minutes to gush about our daughter meant the world. We are so proud of you, Ellie!!!
Below, Ben is working with Ellie on using the rubberband strategy to sound out her words! She is building her letter sounds to form 3 letter words like, tap, cap, lip. etc.
Mom and Dad took us all out to one of Ben's favorite spots to watch the game and eat for Ben's birthday!
We have been loving all of this extra love, cuddles, and attention from Gpa and Gma Cooley this fall! They moved in in early September and stayed with us up until the weekend before Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for them and all of their love and support.
Gma C. reading Drew's bedtime stories to him...
AND Luke reading his book to Papa!!! Haha!!!
Drewman still loving all things superhero! This is how I found him when I picked him up from his school.
The boys were loving spending their Saturday morning jumping and running around in the leaves...
For like 2 hours.
In the meantime, Ellie can play all by herself for a few hours and be totally and completely happy and content. Here is what she is up to on her Saturday morning...
Then of course, grocery shopping with mom. I always snatch up one of the kiddos to come with me and lately it has been Ellie but today, just me and my oldest baby!
Happy birthday to my most favorite guy!!!! A BIG happy birthday hug to Daddy before leaving for work.
Ben's birthday night we had Elle's parent-teacher conference, then Luke had his Math Pentathlon club, and then to finish off the night Luke's parent-teacher conference. To say the least, it was BUSY, and I didn't have much planned. Thanks to Grandma Cooley who went to get Ben's favorite Trader Joe's Lava Cake and ice cream! We all love you, Ben!
The following night parent-observation night at Ellie's dance class! She is now taking both ballet and tap class and she loves it.
She is the little peanut in the middle of the bar.
And now moving onto her tap class...
Friday night we went to an elementary school in Pontiac with our Kensington church to help set up for the Thanksgiving baskets to be delivered the next morning.
Here Ben and the kids are taking inventory of the food and supplies to deliver to 420 families the next morning. With the team, we took the inventory, unloaded 2 moving trucks of food and supplies, organize the gym, and organized the food for the assembly line the next day.
Ellie helped organize and unpack all of that cornbread!
It was a busy, long week. Our kids had conferences, Luke's math Pentathlon, Ellie's tap and ballet class, Ben's birthday, I had 12 parent-teacher conferences until 8:30 the night before, on top of 5 days of work and school and homework, and here we are at 9:00 on Friday night after another long night of carrying heavy boxes of food. However, as I look at this picture we were completely filled up and content. It was a great reminder of what a gift it is to help others, even when life is crazy and busy, it still makes life so good and worthwhile.
The next morning we were up early and arrived back to the school at 8:30 to pack up the Thanksgiving baskets and deliver them! Below, Ellie is making Thanksgiving cards with the rest of the kids to put in each of the baskets.
Drew came with us this time! He was all about the donuts...
Look at the handsome fella!
Ellie putting together her own Thanksgiving basket to deliver!
Luke and Kelson putting together theirs!
We left and delivered 3 baskets in the surrounding neighborhoods. I have much to share about that experience...I am tagging this so I remember to go back and reflect about it.
Big News!!! Megs and Chad bought a new house 2 miles away from us!! They are now living even closer to us then when they were in the condo! After delivering the baskets we were off to their house. Here Luke is helping Uncle Chad put up their new Christmas tree.
After getting back from the day Mom and Ellie were all about the nap! Ellie was on Starfall while I got some rest. Love cuddling with my girl.
That night we went to Saturday night service because the kids had a movie night at the church afterwards. Meghan dropped off Ayrton and Zaydee to watch with us!
SO, here is a glimpse into what our week may look like...Even though there are ups and downs, we are grateful. We are starting off our Thanksgiving season with counting our blessings and being thankful for each one.
Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone!!!
