SEVEN! and the last 2 weeks.

Hi there folks.

Today is sweet Annie's 7th birthday!

She has been celebrated several times before we left (3 parties, to be exact), but today is the big day:)  We have many plans for our day, a leisurely morning at home before heading to the pastry shop for a late morning treat.  The day off from homeschooling (because really, when it's the one year we can take the day off for a birthday, we should).  An afternoon watching the movie of Annie's choice.  And at night, we will be having our friends that have been so helpful, the Bikis's, over for a party, complete with a tie-dye cake.  7.  7!  There are moments Annie seems well beyond her years (and some when she's not quite there;).  She is the steady one, less emotionally reactive, and growing into her role as a big sister.  What a gift!

The past couple weeks have had some excitement in the midst of the routine.  Aaron is in staff kick-off mode, so he's been quite busy.  At home, we tend to spend our mornings out, at the park, the LCC gym, the grocery store, or the pastry shop.  And our afternoons homeschooling, reading, scootering, and doing various crafts/homeschool projects.

One night last week, we headed to the most outstanding park.  It has a big playground for the 2 little ones, with a coffee and ice cream bar right there:)

And a large ropes course (a high course, a low course, and a young kids course-ages 4-6).  Quincy had been wanting to go since we first saw it, and Annie was a last-minute decision to go.  So Quincy, Annie, and Aaron spent about 90 min-2 hours swinging from the trees.  When they were out there, Annie at one point said is was the "most fun thing" she has done in her life.  Annie's comments: "There were some parts that were hard, but I rolled with them.  The most fun part of all was going with dad, because I knew I would be safe."

Quincy says, "It was fun because it was difficult.  I got stuck twice, and it tested my limits, so that was fun.  It was scary to look down, but the zip lines were awesome!  I loved having the wind in my face heading down the zip lines."

Some of the zip lines were as long as 100 yards, and as high as 30 feet in the air.

That's Aaron, high in the air.
Quincy's already asked to go again:)  It turns out they have a few of these ropes courses throughout LT.  The young men and women that work there were helpful and kind, several spoke English and have connections to LCC.

Last weekend, we headed to the Spit.  It's a long narrow strip of land that extends roughly 100 km (yes, I'm adapting to the metric system a little;).  The northern half is Lithuanian, the southern half is Russian.    We learned how to take the car ferry:)  The bummer was that it was a rainy day…so the kids were not pleased that we decided to drive about 45min to Nida, a small town near the end of the Lithuanian side, then turn around and head back.  It looked like a great little resort town, I'm sure we will be back.  Then we headed to the dolphin show at the Dophinarium.  Quincy's comments, "It was awesome.  The dolphins held people up on their snouts with one foot, and they would jump so high."  Annie says, "It was so amazing because we got to see one of the trainers miss a basket in the basketball hoop, but the dolphin could dunk it."

We've done a lot of school.  Annie says, "I like the science because we get to do experiments and make posters, and we get to watch movies and it doesn't count as screen time.  I also like the other subjects, besides handwriting and math.  And I really like my phonics workbook because I always do a great job on it, and because it's so fun because it's long, fun, and easy."

That's Annie's desk and Science posters on a sunny morning!

Quincy says, "I have one word, it's crazy (in a good way).  The hanging out time at home.  We have fun jumping parties on the bed.  I like grammar, Science, and World Geography, and Math."

We did a Science unit on the solar system, so we did posters!  Just like 2nd grade at LSA (thanks Mrs. Gamble:).

Really, the kids have been great.  It's added routine and structure, and it's great to see them work together and get excited about learning new things.

A couple more highlights.  It was our landlords birthday last Friday, and after giving her a small gift, we were invited to her birthday party later that day!  Kind of crazy, but we've heard that when you live in a situation like we do with our landlords, you're all in:)  They have been wonderful to us, and so kind to our kids.  We had tea and cake with them a couple Sundays ago, during which we said that Quincy had asked if he could help with yard work (he really wants to mow the big yard:).  When Vytas was trimming the hedges last week, Quincy and Jackson headed out to help clean up the leaves for about an hour.  Maria provided gloves and cool drink, then gave them a chocolate bar for their work.  So great!

And the weather hear has shifted.  It is now in the high 60s and at least a 50% chance of rain every day for the next 10 days (and the past 10!).  And when it rains, it is 10-20 minutes of downpour, sky pouring buckets.  So crazy.  Some of Aaron's colleagues have said, fall is dark and rainy.  Then November hits and it's dark and snowy.  I guess I should have been more thankful for the hot, sunny weather!

So, that's probably enough for now.  Again, we are so thankful for your thoughts, prayers, and support in this adventure!