Learning, Growing, and Having Fun with School Friends

We continue to get a lot out of our Princess Kiss mother/daughter study group.  One of our members just moved into their dream house in a farming community, and every window in the fully renovated 100+ year old farm house (which was recently featured in a DIY home decorating magazine) looks like a painting.  It's only a few minutes outside of town, but I felt like I had escaped to a different time period with the chickens and horses in the background, tire swing, rocking chair porches, and so much to enjoy outside.  Our hostess had only moved in a week ago, and she already had all the boxes unpacked and pictures hung.  They are amazing.  I got lots of home improvement ideas while I was there.  The home has been completely re-purposed, using floor joists for ceilings and shelving for example. It just has so much personality.  She invited us back for the next month's meeting as well. This home is her dream come true, a gift from God especially obvious when you hear the story of how they ended up there, so she is determined to give it back in hospitality to others.

The girls and I had fun playing outside before the meeting began. When one of the moms saw me busting out a dozen pull-ups, she asked me to start a moms' fitness or group personal training class at our school, and I have already gotten permission!  Each workout session will have a devotional theme to motivate us as we cross train our bodies to keep us strong and active for our children for years to come while helping to prevent injury.  I am really hoping the class will draw some interest, so I can get some much needed fellowship with other moms while doing what I love.

Our son had been looking forward to his class field trip to the zoo all year. Unfortunately, it rained all day, and the dinosaur exhibit the boys wanted to see so much was closed.  They still had fun despite the rain.

A mom of another boy in our son's class just posted pictures from a field trip to our state capitol and to the governor's mansion back in December.  A student's mother works for the governor, so she got the students a special tour and private meeting with him.

Our son sure has enjoyed a lot of fun birthday parties this year.  Over spring break he went to a really fun Laser Tag, arcade and fun zone followed by ice-cream at Baskin Robbins for Preston's birthday party. Then he went to Defy Gravity for some action packed trampoline fun for Ben's birthday party. Our daughter got to go too as a friend of Ben's older sister and to help keep watch over the hyper boys.  Ben's mom sent me this picture of the birthday gang at Defy Gravity and a photo of our son and Ben at the park together yesterday for a play date.

Ben's Birthday Party

Park fun with Ben

Most recently, our son got to go to Frankie's Fun Park for Chase's birthday along with all the other boys from his class.  What a fabulous time he had, and I appreciate all these pics his mom shared with us.

He was the only boy who climbed right up to the top of the ropes course.  He had gotten comfortable with the ropes course when we went to Wonder Works over fall break.  I, on the other hand, began to have a panic attack and had to come down. I sure have lost my sense of thrill and adventure as I've aged, but our boy sure is brave.

Next, our son will get be going to a party at the Museum of Life and Science for a boy who hasn't even been in his class yet.  He met Isaac at recess, and Issac writes him letters via snail mail.  For our boy to be such an introvert, he sure does get invited to lots of nice parties which give him unique experiences.   As much as these kids are forced to sit silently and still in strict positions all day at school where they are only allowed to talk during recess (not even during bathroom breaks or carpool), it's nice to see them playing together loud and carefree outside of school.