May

Making some progress here! May went by in a flash and to speed it along on this end, here is another picture summary of what we were up to.  How could I have worded that better as to not end in a preposition??  Hmmm, things to ponder.

Grandma and Grandpa gave Aubree a kid's sewing machine for Christmas so Grandma came over to teach them to sew.  At least, the best that you can with a kid's sewing machine.

They made some Barbie doll sized clothes.

The first weekend in May found us, as usual, at the church retreat at Camp Kulaqua. I organized a scavenger hunt for the children's Sabbath School.

Breakfast on Sabbath morning.  It was the Bergherms, Isidros, and us again in our mini-lodge.  Duncan didn't arrive until early Sabbath afternoon since he had to attend a funeral for someone in his department at work.

Brady getting in some driving practice.

Sabbath afternoon a large continent of us went tubing down the Ichetucknee River not far from camp.  It was a gorgeous day and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.  Aubree was freaked out at first about possible wildlife (probably thinking about canoeing at Wekiwa Springs and all the gators not long before this outing) but the worst thing we came across was a little snake in a bush along the river bank (I mean, that is bad but it was small and not in the water).

We had our usual potluck supper on Saturday evening.

The girls enjoyed the rope swing on Sunday morning.

Checking in on Aunt Wanda.

The kids did a 4-week session of ice skating after taking a few months off for soccer.  Even Colby joined again.  He's the one in red...unfortunately standing next to a Lightning fan.  This hurt since the Lightning had just beat the Bruins in the playoffs.  Ice skating just ended and Calleigh advanced to the "Gamma" level so she and Aubree are together again.

Just hanging out at the pool one lazy morning before school.

Duncan had been practicing for a marathon taking place in Kennebunkport, Maine on Sunday, May 13.  I was not pleased because it was Mother's Day but it all worked out.  We have a free companion ticket on Southwest so Aubree got to join him for the weekend.

Hanging with the cousins at the rental on Saturday night.

Shawn also ran in the marathon and the kids made signs.

He finished! First completed marathon in the books. All the hard work paid off.

Meanwhile, back at the homestead, Duncan sent me this delicious fruit bouquet for Mother's Day.

Brady was so upset...."Why didn't you tell Daddy not to give you fruit mixed in with vegetables??" As if I knew Duncan was giving this to me. I think I got Brady to eat like two bites of one thing and that was only after I rinsed it off first.  That kid.

I have amazing in-laws because they took the kids for the day so that I could still have my Corey Day.  Here they are at Dino World.

It definitely felt strange without Aubree.  Calleigh and Brady especially kept saying how much they missed her and Calleigh slept in the boys room on the floor both of the nights.

Stopped in to wish Aunt Wanda a Happy Mother's Day.

Giving Grandma her cards.

Last day of homeschool PE. Calleigh has now aged out of this one which means we will have to attend two different sessions in the fall.

She aged out because she is now 11! A parfait for breakfast on her birthday.

Keke's for lunch.

Sweet Frog's for a treat with Eva and her family.

The girls wanted mani/pedi's again like last year but we kept it much more low key.

What bros do when the girls are getting their nails done!

Eleven!!  Just stop already!!

Two days later it was Aubree turning nine. She was not pleased her birthday was on a Sabbath because then we couldn't go out somewhere (she's my kid that really likes to go places).  We appeased her with having a movie night with Grandma, Grandpa, popcorn, and ice cream.

Calleigh got most of her gifts on Aubree's birthday because Duncan was out of town for work on Calleigh's actual birthday.  Calleigh's big gift was a pair of Converse high top sneakers.

May 19 was also a big day at church because it was Pathfinder Sabbath and in the afternoon, Investiture.  Calleigh recited the Pathfinder Motto during the church service and also took part in a pantomime (a fancy name for a play where you don't speak).

Calleigh and Amber were the only two who got the "Advanced" designation for their level and also were both Patfhinder of the Year...it was a tie.  We were quick to note that they were the only homeschooled kids in their class.  Maybe just a coincidence! Calleigh was very diligent, taking the initiative herself in making sure she got all the requirements done so I was obviously very proud.

Unfortunately it was a rough day for Calleigh on that Sabbath.  I've mentioned before that she has had ongoing stomach issues where she will wake up at about 5:30 am, complaining that her belly hurts and will then throw up a few times over the course of about 1.5 hours.  Then will be completely fine.  This has gone on for about three years although we went through a long stretch where it went away after she got on MRI (which was negative).  It had come back with a vengeance recently and she was having an episode about once a week. Sabbath morning she once again woke up feeling sick.  She didn't actually throw up (I had started to turn the TV on to distract her from throwing up which was working) but the sick feeling didn't go away like it usually did.  Poor kid did her parts for the day feeling sick.  It finally went away after supper. During our movie watching that night (Paddington 2 in case anyone was wondering), I started feeling sick myself and ended up vomiting twice and stayed in bed all the next day with an upset stomach.  So I think she was actually sick! Sorry, Cal!

They were supposed to go to the American Girl Bistro with me but since I was sick, Dad took them instead which I think worked out just fine.

The girls both got their physicals on May 21.

Calleigh - Age 11
Weight - 87 pounds, 65th percentile.
Height - 59 3/4 inches (so CLOSE to 5 feet!), 85th percentile
BP - 99/62
Shoe Size - 7/8 Women's
Clothing - 12/14

Aubree - Age 9
Weight - 58 pounds, 25th percentile
Height - 53 inches, 65th percentile
BP - 106/63
Shoe Size - 2
Clothing - 8

Both girls are on their same curve so all was well.  Last year, Aubree had only gained six pounds in the two years leading up to turning eight.  This year, she gained eight pounds in the one year so I was very happy about that!

Calleigh got two shots and she was such a champ.  She didn't flinch a bit and she said it didn't hurt at all.  She is FAR braver than her mother.  I also talked to the doctor about her stomach situation.  She recommended that we try her on Prevacid, which is an antacid, for two months to see if it helps.  She takes one before she goes to bed. So far, and it's been 2.5 weeks since she started as I write this, she hasn't had an episode. I don't know if this is a "temporary" fix like the MRI (which I guess scared her into not having it happen??) or if it's really helping or what.  Time will tell.

One evening Duncan yelled, "Who cut Brady's hair???" Of course, I didn't and Brady swore he didn't either.  But who would do such a thing.  We finally got him to confess when Colby ratted him out.  So yup, he took a pair of scissors to his hair.  I thought that was more a girl thing but apparently not.  I don't really care that he cut it but the lying obviously really bothered me.  Punishment was definitely doled out.

Duncan had to take the clippers to it and give him a buzz cut for the summer.

The end of May means the homeschool convention, one of my favorite things!

You see all types there!

The girls participating in a "Bible Bowl" type thing to win some candy.

These are audio CD's the kids listen to.  They love them! It is about Christian missionaries. Imagine our surprise when we came across the booth of the people that are the voice actors.  They are a homeschooling family of 9 (?) kids and they all are on the CD's. The dad was so kind to the girls...showing them how to use the equipment to record and played a song from the score for one of the upcoming episodes.  The highlight of the convention for us!

The view from our room, 5155.  We could see the waterslides from our room.

A great convention although I had a bad headache for most of it.

We put in an electric fireplace in our great room (getting a built-in put in)  so the boys "warmed up" after a swim.

Duncan's sister, Kristin, drove down for the week with her two boys, Derek and Tyler.  So three of the siblings together here...Russ, Kristin, and Duncan.

Brothers being silly.

Uncle Russ playing around with Brady.

This is the sign we had made that we were all standing in front of in the pictures above.

The Bergherm and Zbaraschuk kids came over for a little bit while Jennifer had a meeting.  We had a basketball tournament and I'm proud to say that yours truly was the winner!

And that, my friends, is May in a nutshell. Next week we will catch up for real!

Have a wonderful Sabbath.