little faces looking up, holding wonder like a cup: life

Life lately has been a whirlwind. I'm disappointed I haven't picked up my camera a little more to document what we've been up to lately. School is wrapping up (except for math, science and fine arts which we will do all summer), and I'm looking forward to some free time. One of the biggest changes about living in the south is the difference in the school year dates. We finish up school in early May and then start again the first of August. In Washington school vacations had always been mid June to mid September.

{Ultimate Frisbee}

We purchased season's passes to Six Flags and recently visited Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. I've come to the realization that we just might be theme park people, whatever that means, ha! Jon even talked me into riding the infamous Texas Iron Rattler, with a 170 foot drop. I don't think I've EVER been so scared to ride something. We are heading back there soon for a weekend combo of a Rubik's competition and more Six Flags. We can't wait!

{log flume}

{soaked to the bone}

{Lego building class at the Rec Center}

{daffodils from the yard, in my mom's favorite vase}

Havalah just completed the Memory Master challenge with our co-op, Classical Conversations. She memorized over 400 pieces of information in seven subjects including, geography, Latin, history, math, grammar, science, and history timeline. She then went through four oral proofs, with different people, without a single error. I'm so proud of her hard work.

{Memory Master award ceremony}

{Easter tidbits from last month}

{Havalah has been making these sweet little sponge cakes for American Girl dolls}

{coffee on the deck}

I recently discovered the French Cooking Music channel on Pandora, and I'm totally hooked! If you haven't already, you must try it! It'll transport you right to Paris, and you can leave all your stresses behind, ha!

{water balloons}

{the aftermath}

Probably our biggest news is we started gutting the kitchen. I know! I'm both thrilled and scared to death! We've owned 4 houses and have never taken on a project of this magnitude. It's scary to make choices for the kitchen that seem like good ones, but will we still like them in 10 years, 15 years?

{saying goodbye, I mean, GOOD RIDDANCE to the 1970s wet bar}

There is going to be a lot of chaos these next few months and somehow through all of this mess (I mean EXCITEMENT!) I'm also teaching a girls hand sewing class at our home this summer. Wheee!

{early Saturday morning fun at Top Golf}

Last week Houston had a major rainstorm, with over 20 inches of rain in one night. It resulted in terrible flooding all over the city. We woke up to our backyard looking like this. Everything was shut down, which meant that Jon was home from work for the day. We joked that it was Texas' version of a snow day.