Summer Fun, Week 13

The summer is finally coming to an end. I am so proud of myself for keeping this blog updated, after nearly a year of neglect. 

Uncle Matthew invited us over for lunch on Saturday. The kids got to see his new place in Oakland, and Lane was able to help Matthew out with some projects around his apartment. 

That evening, Gabriela helped Daddy make his famous homemade mac and cheese. She grated cheese, stirred, and measured, and even suggested adding in cauliflower!  

 We spent all of Sunday afternoon at the pool for an end of summer potluck pool party with our homeschool group. Everyone brought super tasty dishes to share including delectable homemade barbecue sauces, and salads of every kind. We stayed at the pool until it closed that evening. My heart was filled watching Easton have the time of his life playing with his daddy in the pool, and Gabriela splashing about, racing, holding hands and diving in the pool with her friends. All the dads came and our group seemed to be the only ones in the pool. It was the perfect summer day. 

While this is technically the last week of summer, we have started up with our homeschool again. Gabriela enjoyed searching through the house to find things that are magnetic and testing them, and making her own magnet and compass. She decided, all on her own, that she would write an "essay" about what she learned. I was really excited to see how engaged she was and eager to show what she'd learned. 

Tuesday I got a Try the World box full of items from Japan. It inspired me. I got to work making matcha shortbread cookies, a soba noodle salad, and savory  okonomiyaki pancakes, all things I'd never made before. 

We all enjoyed dinner, except Easton who announced he felt like running away instead of eating this dinner. Lane shared stories about when he visited Japan. It was teatime after dinner, and Gabriela decided to wear the kimono Elizabeth brought me from her trip to Japan. The kids colored pictures of kimonos, we looked at our beautifully illustrated map book of Japan. The kids learned about Haiku poems and we all wrote some together while enjoying our tea and Japanese treats. Some nights I don't even have energy to think about dinner, so this was an exciting night at our house. 

We made plans on Wednesday to meet Auntie Cynthia for an evening tarantula hike. It's mating season for them, so they are out and about way more than any other time of year. I foolishly tried to join them. But at 31weeks pregnant, those steep hilly trails were very difficult to climb. I mostly took breaks and had some quiet mama nature time. 

Last year we spotted four tarantulas. But this year, they saw eleven!

Time to get out the flashlights! Gabriela was responsible for tracking how many tarantulas they spotted. 

Thank goodness Lane was able to join us. I even got to see one tarantula on our way back. 

The kids were sound asleep before we got home. Easton says he loved being outside in the dark. 

Thursday brought us sewing circle with Ahnie Liss. Gabriela started a pin cushion (that I finished for her) and a quilt block. Hopefully she will finish the quilt block soon. 

We spent all day Friday packing for our big Yosemite trip this weekend. We just decided to go for it, even though it's just the weekend. I'm so glad we did.