Woo jumping forward and then hopping back and then going back even FURTHER! So I posted October, now it is time to check back at our yearly date to the festival. In 2016 we not only went with Ravyn and Shandai (as has become tradition), but we ALSO brought along Sean and Ted who were down on a visit from Canada. This was Sean’s second time (he and Ken had a short visit the previous year to the festival) and Ted’s first. I think we gave them a good experience… everything from jousting to beer to random sights seen. And Shandai and I snuck away for some girls only time shopping.

This year we went as simple travelers… no fancy lady corsets for us this year (thank goodness). In fact, this is a costume I may re-do for the next year. Not so “correct” but much more comfortable. Though I will probably add some colour. We shall see.

And Ken showed his knees… thanks to a loaned kilt.

We had lovely food.

AND I got my hair braided.

I actually managed to keep the braids nice for over a week! (Image below is NOT a full week later)

Less photos than usual… but no less fun… and MERMAIDS!!

Music and fire!

Just so much fun!

And all because I can take a photo and let it sit. Thank goodness for digital… Ken says loudly. Enjoy the September overflow and check out the original post HERE.

Quiet late night movie

Moving target practice

Culver’s!

UNCLES

Braids from the fair

My boys

Favourite shirt

Reading together

Big and tough with Zander

Bubbles!

Church ready

With one of my Ethiopian shawls

…asleep

cuz pretty

Science!

Complete!

Ukrainian Eggs and working out

Belated Birthday thanks to Gammie

New month, new school year! This year I gave the kids the option to “chose” their school year… We get asked this question A LOT through the years and the kids never really know how to answer it. We don’t align to a specific grade and in Trinity’s case, I didn’t register her OFFICIALLY until she was 7 but she has been schooling much longer. (this saves us on testing until it is required by state law) I gave Echo Kindergarten and Trinity chose Grade 3. The boys, they got creative.

Emanuel went with Grade Dinosaur. Gavin  decided on Grade Minecraft. Zander went all out with Grade Mom is the Best Teacher. (mild suck up action there).

I even wrote my own “grade” level.

Poor Echo continued to get eaten alive by the mosquitoes.

I went all out and tried blue hair… it faded a bit too quickly for my tastes but was fun for the short time it lasted.

Note Echo’s temporary blue streak thanks to hair chalk.

September was also the month of our Uncle Ted and Uncle Sean visit. Ted was here 1 week and Sean 2. It was amazing to have 3 of my boys together for the span of time. So much fun.

With Cookie the new Fat Sheep

We also did Renaissance Festival with the boys and Shandai and Ravyn (no kids of course). Costumes for those who wanted etc etc. I will post the many many images and share the fun in a future post.

We ate out at our favourite Indian place.

Sean took Ken and myself out for a super fancy dinner as well!

Fancy outfit… ignore the bathroom

Super pretty room

Played with the Uncles.

Worked out hard.

Learned as much as we could.

I snuck in my craft time whenever possible.

At the pool

I think we all had fun walking outside to the park.

There was a robot kit to make with the uncles.

And Sean even taught Echo how to play WoW (World of Warcraft) which I hadn’t seen in AGES.

Don’t forget swimming.

And the most unusual students.

As well as some amazing sunsets.

New school year, new start! We made the most of it with lots of fun, workbooks and working together. Keep an eye peeled for an overflow blog post. There are just too many pictures to share!

Gifts from Ethiopia!