Backyard Back-to-School Bash Numero Siete!

Last Friday we hosted one of our favorite evenings of the year . . . our annual Backyard Back-to-School Bash. This was our 7th one to host, and it was a great time as always!

In the past, I have created a FB event to invite people to the bash and keep everyone updated on what they needed to know. This year, however, I decided to text an invite instead of mess with a FB page. It worked out just fine and was easier for me. Most of the people we invited this year have been before, so I also didn't feel the need to send out as much information. 

Every year I think we aren't going to have many guests, but every year it turns out just fine. This year was no exception! We ended up with a beautiful evening and a good crowd.

This year - for the first time - we had friends who were dropped off by their parents or drove themselves. Sigh. This means my kiddos are getting too big!

Bren, Easton, Jacob, Gavon, Jaxen, and Oliver

Sadie, Brecklyn, Blake, Brooke, Harper, Bri, Abby, Abby, and Kyrie

Another shot of the girls with Brecklyn looking a little more normal, lol.

Set up for this event has gotten so easy. I remember the first several years we hosted this, it would take us a whole day to get everything ready. Now, the kids are older and are fantastic helpers, and we just don't do as much as far as decorations, crafts, games, etc. Even cleaning up after everyone leaves is much easier and faster. This year, we even trimmed the menu down a bit to just hot dogs, veggies, fruit, and s'mores. We didn't do chili or the trail mix bar, but our guests all brought sides and it was great!

As soon as everyone finished eating, the kids got the volleyball games going. As much as they loved the quad-ball, they like volleyball even more because more can play at a time. Maybe next year we'll do both!

Something special this year was that Lisa and Chloe came down to Oklahoma for the party, AND Jeremy was in town visiting. It was fun for me to have out-of-town family here!

Chloe and Bri

Jeremy, Mom, Chelle, Lisa, and Dad

Of course, Jeremy enjoyed meeting many of the kids' friends. He had some special words for Bri's "friend", Jaxen :-).

I'm pretty sure Bri wasn't thrilled with the situation!

Aside from volleyball, our guests also enjoyed the playset and playhouse like they always do. I'm glad we still have kids young enough to enjoy those activities, too!

Deon, Gracie, Caroline, and Julia

Harper, Bri, and Chloe

Spencer, Stormi, Caroline, Julia, and Deon

Tia, Jody, Dana, Chelle, and Lisa

Harper and Bri

Jeremy handed out many ducks at our gathering. The kids kept seeking him out to get them!

G-Jo, Jeremy, Spencer, and Stormi

Jeremy giving Spencer and Stormi some instructions regarding the ducks.

Sarah, Chelle, Michelle, and Anna

Anna and Chelle

Brianna, Tia, and Lisa

At one point, Caroline fell and busted her knee at the playhouse. Tia took her inside to get it cleaned up and bandaged. Jeremy decided to join in on the fun, haha.

The fire is still a popular spot during the party. I think we went through four bags of marshmallows this year! 

Grampy, Brecklyn, Easton, and Bri

Brecklyn, Sadie, and Brooke

Brooke, Caroline, Julia, Koda, and Brecks

Deon, Julia, Gracie, Caroline, Brecklyn, Brooke, and Sadie

Blake and Brianna . . . Blake has outgrown Bri!

About half-way through the evening, the adults challenged the teens to a volleyball rematch. The teens talked a lot of smack about how they were going to beat the adults this year, but it didn't happen!

The adults came away victorious for the second year in a row!

Tiffanie, Brad, Ross, Chris, Mark, and Renee

Most of our guests left around 9:30pm, but there were a few who stayed a little later. Lisa and Chloe spent the night at our house, and the Smiths and Harper also stayed a little later. The kids enjoyed hanging out on the driveway in the front, but the adults stayed inside away from the bugs.

Chloe, Brecklyn, Brenson, Brooke, Harper, Brianna, and Jaxen

Those who joined us for the fun were: Grampy, G-Jo, Jeremy, Lisa, Chloe, Ross, Tia, Sadie, Caroline, Mark, Anna, Gavon, Blake, Sarah, Oliver, Abby, Gracie, Renee, Britt, Kyrie, Michelle, Koda, Julia, Deon, Easton, Harper, Abby, Jacob, Dana, Stormi, Spencer, Tiffanie, Brad, Jaxen, Brynlee, Lizzy, and our crew. 

This event has become very special to us, and we hope we can continue it for some years to come. It is a blessing to host our friends, laugh together, and just genuinely enjoy each others company!

We're Off and Running!

We are well into the month of August, and around here that means the beginning of another year of school. I was thinking the other day about five years ago when we began this homeschool journey . . . it was really difficult in many ways. I was so unsure about everything and had no confidence that we would be able to make it work. A small part of me wishes that Chelley of five years ago could see us now! However, I know I needed to go through those tough decisions, sleepless nights, doubts, and grief to grow into where I am now. And of course, there's still a lot of growing I need to do!

After overloading us at the beginning of last year, I was more careful this year to not pile on too much bookwork, leaving more room for organic learning. There is still plenty of bookwork to be done, but we are all looking forward to slowing our pace just a bit in order to soak in life a little more. 

With all that said - we officially began year six of homeschooling this past Monday (August 4th). We got home from Nebraska about 10:30pm on Sunday, and had cross country practice at 7:00am on Monday. Nothing like diving right in! 

My students have gotten so big . . . as you can see, Brooke is almost as tall as Brianna now! We have a sophomore in high school, an 8th grader, and two 5th graders this year.

Brecklyn is in 5th grade this year. She was eager to get started and helped me choose a space unit for science for her and Brooke. She has enjoyed reading more this summer and is looking forward to continuing to read lots and lots of books. In addition to her academics, she is participating in cross country and is very excited to start playing flute in beginning band in just a few weeks.

Brooke is also in 5th grade this year. She was so anxious to begin that she flew through 8 math lessons before our official first day. She helped me choose a unit on kingdoms and classifications for her and Brecklyn's science this year, and she is excited for the art assignments included in ELA. In a few weeks, she will begin playing trombone in beginning band, in addition to currently participating in cross country. She would also like to play volleyball and run track & field before completing 5th grade. 

Brenson is in his last year of junior high as an 8th grader this year. He is looking forward to doing book studies for his ELA, as well as conducting dissections for biology. He is enrolled in an in-person physical science lab class that we are trusting will be beneficial and enjoyable, and it will begin in about a month. Geometry is his new math challenge for the year. Cross country, basketball, and track & field will also be occupying his time.

Brianna is in 10th grade this year. We are continuing an American History curriculum that she really enjoyed from last year for the first semester of this year. She is also looking forward to Biology (that we plan to do over 3 semesters instead of just 2) and taking in-person physical science lab class with Brenson. Along with Bren, she is also working through Geometry for math this year. Of course, her favorite thing is running so cross country and track & field will help round out her schedule. 

Homeschooling is such a tremendous blessing in our lives, and I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunity to do it. The time I get with these kids is something I will always cherish. 

Here's to another exceptional year at LIGHT Academy!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

The last few summers we've started a new tradition of catching a Tulsa Driller's baseball game with our friends, the S Family. While baseball isn't my favorite sport or my favorite way to spend my time, there's just something so summer about a baseball game. And we always have the sweat to prove it!

OneOK Field

Waiting for the game to begin

This year, the S family brought a couple other friends. The girls always enjoy each other!

Annabelle, Sadie, Brecklyn, and Brooke

Chris and I have been to a few games over the years, and somehow I like them better as I get older.

This night, the Driller's were playing the Catfish, so the Driller's changed their name to the Noodler's for the night, and Hornsby carried around a catfish. Maybe I should say Hornsby stirred up trouble with a catfish because that's definitely what happened!

Hornsby and his catfish, Brooke, Sadie, Annabelle, and Caroline

Hornsby kept hitting Brooke and Sadie in the face with the fish!

Haha

I'm not sure what this crew enjoyed more . . . the game, eating all the things, or the fireworks at the end. Probably all three!

My favorite part about the fireworks at the end of the game is watching the kids enjoy them.

It's definitely a great way to spend a warm summer's evening, and we are thankful for the experience . . . even if it included getting whacked with a catfish, lol!