I never thought I would have a post with this title.  And ironically, it’s only because Jackson is gone for the week at my parents.  But, Morgan misses him terribly.  It’s so cute to see her when I’m talking to Jackson on the phone - she hangs on every word, wants to know everything I’m talking to him about, and then is just dying to talk to him herself.  When she does talk, she asks a lot of the same questions that I asked him, and at the end she says ‘I love you Jackson’ and kisses the phone.  SO cute!  Jackson may be too busy to miss her as much (he’s going to a day camp in my parent’s neighborhood), but I have definitely seen how much she admires and misses her big brother with him gone this week.  He’s coming home tomorrow, so we’ll see how their reunion goes - if they play well together after being apart, or go right back to their typical fighting!

Like last year, we spent the 4th at my parents house in South Carolina.  Their community had a big celebration with food and fireworks, and my sister Melissa and Dick were able to come down (we realized while we were there that we had not seen them since last 4th of July!).  The celebration was actually on Sat the 3rd, so on the 4th we were planning to see some fireworks again, but decided to stay home and light some sparklers.  The kids had a lot of fun, here are some pictures from the events:

Mackenzie was obsessed with Nana’s sunglasses.

Melissa and Jackson shakin up the dance floor.

A rare smile for a photo from Morgan

Family picture - we have another one that has Jackson smiling big, so Gavin may do some head-swapping when he has some time.

Waiting for the fireworks to start

Fun with sparklers and Uncle Dick

These were the only 2 that Morgan held (out of the 96 that we had) - she was a little unsure of the whole thing

Fun with delayed exposures!

I have lots more pictures to come from our 4th of July celebration (held on the 3rd of July!), but I loved this family picture of us.

We had our ultrasound yesterday, and the words out of the tech’s mouth were ‘this is most definitely a girl!’  Jackson was with us, and although he was hoping for a baby brother, we have since been really pumping up the idea of him being the big brother for his 3 sisters.  He seems to be ok with it now. I  too am getting used to the idea of having 3 girls (I had thought we were having a boy), and mostly am thankful that our little girl looks perfectly healthy.  Here are some pictures from the ultrasound.

Gavin took these shots last night at camp when there was a storm about 60 miles to the south.  The cool thing about being at camp is that when you stand in the main area, it’s on a hill so you can see far off into the distance.  There have been amazing storms all around camp this summer, but virtually nothing has hit camp, almost no rain at all! The structure you see in the pictures is the new gym under construction - all the steel beams are up. It will be ready this fall.

This was actually taken at about 16.5 weeks, so about 1.5 weeks ago.  I popped out so early in this pregnancy (11 weeks or so, versus my standard 14-16), but thankfully stayed that way for a long time, so I’m probably about the same as I was with Mackenzie.  I also felt the first kicks really early, like about 13.5 weeks - it was the same with Mackenzie (versus not til 22 weeks with Jackson!)  I don’t feel them every day, but pretty often.

We find out next Tuesday (July 6) if we’re having a boy or a girl, I can’t wait!!

Well we finished off the year and basically just transitioned right into what I have for us to do next year.  We are taking a summer break, but are still doing school occasionally, as I plan to take a few weeks off when the baby comes this fall.  Here is what Jackson learned this past year:

• Reading: he basically learned how to read on more than just a basic level.  He LOVES reading, and will spend an amazing amount of time sitting and reading books that I would consider above his level.  He is starting his Toddler Bible for the 2nd time, methodically reading through it, putting a bookmark in so he can pick up where he left off.  I try to get lots of library books for him!
• Math: we got through about 20 of the 30 lessons in the Math U See primer.  He can count as high as he feels like it (meaning he could keep going and going).  He can skip count by 2s, 5s and 10s, and add anything up to 10, and can figure out +1 and +2 on higher numbers.  If I dictate numbers to him, he can write them out up to 9,999.  He has learned to tell time (on the 5s), and we’re working on money right now.
• Handwriting: he is very good at his uppercase letters, and fairly good at lowercase, just mixing up a few of them.  He likes to spell out words, and is actually fairly good at it.
• Other: he’s enjoyed learning more about space this year, and of course as a 5 year old has lots of questions about everything!

Our Kindergarten plan:

I plan to do school 4 days/week, Mon-Thurs.  Park day is on Friday, and that’s always a fun day to look forward to.  Here are a few of the activities we will be doing:

• Now that Jackson is K, we will be a part of our homeschool co-op, which meets for 3 hours every other Thursday.  The whole family is involved, so Mackenzie will be in the nursery, and Morgan will be in the 2-3 year old class, and could move into the 4-5 year old class in Jan after she turns 4.  The classes for 4-5 year olds are set (you get to chose what you want when you turn 6), so both semesters Jackson will take a PE class, and some sort of reading/literature class.  For the first semester I will be co-leading the PE class that Jackson is in, and helping out in a LEGO class for the older kids.  The 2nd semester I will be in the nursery both class times, so I can be with our little one.
• Jackson will also take a LEGO robotics class every other week (off-weeks from co-op).  This class has them build LEGO designs, but also incorporates all sorts of other physics and engineering aspects - in the promo class the kids built a motorized car, learned about gears and circuitry, and then got to compete their cars against others.  Lots of his friends will take this class with him.
• He is going to play 1 sport in the fall, most likely soccer, but maybe t-ball.  If I am not able to get him formal swimming lessons before them, I will also make sure he gets swim lessons.  I dropped the ball and the spring classes were filled up, but he’s at the age where he needs them.
• Then, I’m still deciding if I want to add anything else in.  He would love to play the piano (has been asking, actually) - we don’t have a piano, but do have a keyboard.  I’ve also heard great things about Awana, and Morgan could do that as well.  But I want to be protective of our time and not always be in the car having to drive somewhere, especially with a newborn.  So, we’ll see.

Kindergarten curriculum:

• Sing Spell Read Write Level 1.  We have started this already, and I’m going quickly through all the parts he already knows.  This program should help him learn some of the rules of reading, so he can figure out some of the harder words.
• Math U See - finish the primer, and start on the alpha book.
• Handwriting with a Reason - basically a handwriting book where each lesson is 4 days long, they practice a couple words each day and at the end of the week write out a Bible verse.
• Bible - We’re going through a character book, and each day we read another section of a Kid’s Bible I got, that is more advanced and thorough than the toddler one he has.
• History - going to just do mostly readers, but I also have the reader for Story of the World, part 1, so will read that outloud once or twice a week.
• Science - I’m still deciding what and if I want to do much science this year.  I just became familiar with the Apologia series which looks really awesome, and we could start with the Astronomy book, which he is totally into anyway.  I’m hoping to check it out at the homeschool conference at the end of July.
• Then we’ll do lots of reading aloud, and see where it goes!

With Morgan I am going to do some things so that she can learn all her letters (upper and lower), and numbers.  I may borrow a friend’s “Little Hands to Heaven”, or just use some things I found on the internet.

So, we’re doing a few days here and there in the summer, but will start around the 3rd or 4th week of August.  Co-op starts Aug 19, but we are just coming back from a trip from Chicaco on the 15th, so need to get settled and ready for the fall!

Thought I would post a lot of pictures of the kids and us from the last couple months, since I’m way behind in my posts, and won’t even try to worry about catching up!

Jackson can throw a frisbee like a pro.  It’s really amazing.

Morgan and Jackson each got some goggles.  Don’t be fooled by this picture, she has yet to put her head in the water with them on!

Happy as a clam in the bathtub

Typical picture of Morgan.  She hates the camera.  I suppose it’s payback for me when I was a kid!

This girl smiles a LOT.

Gavin and I got to get away for 2 days before camp started.  His parents stayed with the kids and we went to a cabin in North Georgia.  It was so relaxing, and very much needed.

I love this picture of her.

I’m starting to walk!

and I LOVE to eat sand.  Really.  It comes out in my diaper.

and please don’t leave me behind!

This was just yesterday on a hike at camp

Yesterday also

And finally a family picture at the overlook on Fort Mountain.  Baby #4 is making a bit of his/her appearance as well.

Notable event of the week - Mackenzie is officially walking.  She’s getting better and better, and we officially have a toddler.  Yeah!