Fun with Friends

On Monday afternoons I teach sewing to some ladies from our church and send the kids outside to play. Last Monday, I gave Samantha and Rachel the camera:

I think Israel is running for his LIFE!!!

Game Night

Yesterday morning we drove the camper to the RV shop so that it can be properly winterized. We learned last fall that this is something we cannot do ourselves and well, has expensive consequences if done improperly. On our way back through Lebanon we stopped to pick up Grace and Dianna. We also dropped off some things that Hannah needed since she was spending a second night at her friend's house. Next we picked up Nathalie's friend Jenny.

After we had 7 girls loaded in the van we descended onto the town library. Abby needed some books for her schoolwork this week and of course we had a bajillion books to return. The girls also put in their interlibrary loan requests with Mrs. Slate, the librarian.

Back at home I slipped into my sewing room and finished a few more projects while everyone was happily playing. Sam worked on cleaning out his garage so that he has room to work on my mudroom shelves today.

Phyllis, Gordon, Will and Nora all joined us for shepherd's pie and winter squash for dinner. After an ice cream dessert we pulled out the Scrabble board. I love word games! Sam and I as a team won handily with Gordon and Abby coming in second, while Nathalie and Phyllis took third. This makes up for all the Sudoku games that Phyllis has beaten me at over on facebook! We played several rounds of Sequence (our new favorite game here at the Smith house) and I think every team won at least once.

We will definitely have to do this again!

First Day of School!!

Today is the first day of school! The two public schooled kids will be getting on that big yellow bus this morning! The three homeschooled kids will be sitting down with their books! I may actually get some laundry, housework, and sewing done!

Yesterday the Rodger's kids came to play. Hannah was supposed to show Grace how to show a chicken, but we forgot about in the excitement of meeting new friends. Heather had called me on Monday. Her daughter Kaylie is going into first grade. Kaylie had been homeschooled for kindergarten and it had been decided that this year she should go to the public school.

Kaylie's mom admitted to being neurotic and someone had suggested my name to her as a person to talk to about public school and homeschool. It turns out that Kaylie will be in Mrs. Provost's class with Samantha and Dianna. So we arranged a play date so all three girls will know each other. With Grace and Rachel also being in the multiage program, all five girls will now be able to play as a pack at recess time. Poor Mrs. Provost. She has no idea what is hitting her this week!

Heather was concerned about how she was going to balance her homeschooling ideals and philosophy with having a child in the public school system. I was honest with her and told her it wasn't easy. I also gave her some of the hints and tricks of the trade in dealing with the administration. Phyliss and I both told her she really needed to go into it with the idea that no matter what, she shouldn't pull Kaylie out until at least December vacation. Thankfully, Mrs. Provost is a seasoned teacher and has been dealing with me and my idiosyncrasies for many years now. Heather won't scare her a bit.

Dianna, Kaylie and Samantha, together as a pack, now that's another story!