14 years

Jonathan had a really busy day. He was hoping to fix dinner, but it just wasn't going to work out. These two kiddos said, "We can do it!" I love how the kids help out when needed...and especially love the yummy food they cook ;)

The kids have to have a homework notebook to write their assignments in each day. It's a very specific book that they have to buy, but it's the only book for school that has any personality on the outside (pictures, designs, etc) Katherine decided to make a cover for hers so it was prettier.

This was the meal Benjamin and Regan made. The sweet potatoes are Benjamin's creation :)

Happy first day of school, Benjamin!!

Yes, this is his "normal" pose for pictures face.

11th grade!!

Love my selfies :) He's barely awake.

Group photo before everyone goes their separate ways to study.

I'm still technically the teacher of two ;)  (I still want my photo)

The look Jonathan made when Benjamin declined more selfies...haha! Maybe next time, Jonathan. Maybe next time.

Breakfast....I have found my new favorite bakery!! SO SO GOOD! Italians like to put chocolate inside the croissant for some reason. I usually think its a bit much, but this place had a brilliant idea...half chocolate and half white chocolate! I can live with that one :)

Apparently Monday's snack is aways ice cream at school.

The kids asked to take Scout along for the errands. Scout was excited to go on his first trip to the grocery store and shoe store! Dogs literally go everywhere here. I'm just not used to it for our dogs, so we leave them at home. I'm not sure who is more excited, Lauren or Scout.

We've been wanting to add some more color to the balcony. The plant store reopened near us. Katherine helped pick these out and planted them outside.

Hard at work!

Hard at work!

They had to leave school early on Tuesday to get their second dose of the Moderna vaccine. We had to wait a bit longer this time so they could get their green passes! Yeah! 

We were starved when we left, so McDonald's for the win!

Her favorite thing at McD's...chicken wings (and a strawberry milkshake for grins)

Katherine had seen some cream cheese icing at a store. We went to see if they had any left (bc her bday was right around the corner and it's her favorite) and they had three bags of white cheddar popcorn. I splurged and bought one :) Happy momma!

Working on his history homework. We are looking up all the words we don't know then discussing it in English just to make sure he is understanding everything.

Well, the 2nd dose did them in! Both of them woke up the next day for school and had fevers and body aches and completely worn out. So, they got a day at home in bed!!

Regan and I went out for a breakfast date

And since her sisters were home not feeling well, we brought home some yummy treats for everyone else also!

By afternoon they were both feeling better and enjoying watching some Little House on the Prairie (for Lauren) and reading some Keeper of the Lost Cities (for Katherine)

Someone was being silly at lunch...

Regan made some 3D decorations as well...so glad we just bought shoes for school and had a shoebox laying around!

There was a mixup at school and Lauren didn't get dismissed at the first dismissal like we were expecting. So, Hudson got to kill some time and get a milk tea down from the school. He said it was the best one yet.

Her birthday is coming! The new time zone for us is throwing everyone off this year...haha! After 10 years of being 12-13 hrs apart, it's hard to remember the new times. She got an early happy birthday from Granddad and Mammy. It worked out good because Granddad's voice doesn't last past lunch right now.

Yes, I am going to post a picture of all the delicious meals that she makes. This time it was Indian butter chicken with naan. She decided to try a not so spicy Indian dish to compare the other kids reactions. It was very good, but I still think I prefer the tikka masala.

I picked her up from school today, her birthday!!! She had THE BIGGEST grin! I asked if she had a good day, and she told me that her friends sang to her and gave her birthday cards.

I love this!

When she came home, she saw the house decorated and her gifts on the table. She said it was torture not to open them yet :)

She enjoyed seeing all of her decorations, especially the herbs lining the wall.

Even Scout seems a little excited ;)

Benjamin wanted to give her his card on her real birthday and not at the party.

We didn't make her wait for everything. She got to open this one! It was funny because it took her a while to realize these were rain boots and not a gift bag.

Vegetable soup per her request!

This was the other gift...a real chef's hat. Well, actually a 3 pack because that was the only way they were sold (which makes sense if you are a chef) :)

Yep, that's my girl...rain boots and a chef's hat.

Happy 14th birthday!!

She asked for a cooking and mouse theme...

At her party, she asked to decorate/ice cupcakes. 

One of these days we are going to find some cheddar...at least I hope so!! Until then, we will continue going to the one store that has a few "sandwich slices" and cut it up to look like grated cheddar :)

Silas (and Bob...Hudson's baby doll) giving Katherine her birthday gift.

A flower cup and craft things

an outfit from Granddad and Mammy

A cute card drawn my Lauren

A funny card printed by Hudson

Popcorn and bowl from Benjamin

A new Bible from us

Cute card and money/ "Italian Gift card" from Mamaw and Papaw

Raincoat and card from Regan

The card even has mice inside!

Pizza from Jonathan

Scout decide to just make himself at home in Rachel's lap!

Here comes the cake!

I was impressed that she got them all out in one breath since they were spread all over the place!

Cake and ice cream

Silas likes to give fist bumps when he leaves...Scout got one today, too!

Please, Mom, don't make me give fist bumps, too. HAHA! He's so cute!

The cupcakes

She brought the streamers in her backpack from America.

Early morning birthday selfies

trying on her new outfit...CUTE!

This just made me laugh.

I completely forgot the group photo at her party! So, I made the kids pose for one Sunday before church.

If I can't find Lauren, this is where she disappears to. She like to sit on the "laundry table" in the dark and watch tv episodes on the old phone. Sometimes, I here her laughing and I know where she is.
 

In Full Swing

We are still finding our new routine with school and activities, but this is how he comes home every day. We were told that we had to buy a wooden recorder for his music class. It came this week, and he was so excited to try it out.

He thought it was hilarious, but within minutes he could play 2 full songs.

Katherine likes to make her notebooks look pretty and colorful.

I thought it was so sweet of one of her classmates...they had science class one day. The classmate went home and made this list of words to help Katherine understand what was being talked about. 

We had to go pick up another schoolbook. Lauren was walking with me to get it and I see her reading "Ancient Rome" so that she has a better understanding in English of history class.

This is the book we were going to pick up. It's the class that they are most excited about. :)

We were surprised and excited to get mooncakes from a friend! They were homemade and wrapped individually to be given out. They gave our family seven for mid-autumn festival which is next week. (Hudson has already eaten one) 

I just love all the laughing :)

School starts early (7:50) It was a little rainy and cool this morning so they got to wear their school rain jackets. We also found out that the girls are "not in uniform" because they have black and gray shoes instead of navy. So, I guess we are going shoe shopping this weekend.

Benjamin had to go out with me near lunchtime to get his prescription print out at the doctor's office. On our way home, he suggested that we eat these pigs in a blanket and supplì. I figured it was worth a try to add to our sandwiches. He really enjoyed it. I thought it was edible but not really my favorite.

It's Friday and everyone's brains are ready to chill. Hudson put on some Christian praise and worship and started playing a video game.

Lauren was trying to finish all of her homework Friday night so she didn't have to do any on the weekend. I'm glad that I am a science person! She had so much reading to do in science. We read it together out loud. Then I explained the concepts in English as well and she wrote down key words that we had to look up the meaning to help her understand for tests later. Helping with their homework is bound to make my language better!

We were so excited to get to go to this all you can eat Chinese place together! Someone was generous and treated us to this meal. SO SO GOOD!

I'm not a big sushi fan, but Rachel said these were good.

Well, we did do a pretty good job...lots of dim sum, fried rice, noodles, veggies, and more!

Silas was not as thrilled as we were, but enjoyed looking at pictures on Benjamin's iPad periodically.

We went shoe shopping and found power-aid. They were trying it as soon as we left the mall. Then tried each others to know what they like best in the future.

We were walking home and smelled it before we saw it...Cotton Candy (zucchero filato) I couldn't resist the splurge for a euro! :)

Katherine said it reminded her of when she got cotton candy on her kindergarten field trip and it was bigger than her head.

Those smiles.

The girls are trying to get through the entire series of NCIS before Regan goes to college. So, this is a common night time scene.
 

These are some of the moms from Lauren's class. They have invited me to have coffee with them every morning after dropping the kids off for school. I've never been a coffee drinker, but I can handle the espresso. It's still not my favorite taste in the world, but when it's literally just 2 tablespoons of liquid it's not much different than drinking cough syrup (haha) They were all laughing because they all were dressed alike.

It started raining so Rita got under the umbrella with me. She is Giorgia's mom (who is one of the friends Lauren talks about a lot) It's nice too because she tries to explain some things to me in English if the conversation gets to fast...the speed at which they talk is crazy! But if I really focus I can follow the main ideas. I'm just glad that I'm starting to meet some people and get connected.