Home School

 

You guys?!?! Who would have thought that the WHOLE WORLD would shut down?!? It actually blows my mind. And while having the kids home for the rest of the school year at first seemed a bit daunting, it was pretty awesome. They cancelled school during spring break, (Middle of March) and the kids started ramote learning. At first I was pretty hard core about it and then it became an activity, to have fun with... some days. They did end up working on some pretty cute things though.

 One of our favorites was rolling dice and then adding/ subtracting or multiplying the numbers. We ended up buying ten and 20 sided dice to help them. 

Leif wanted to work too.

Visualizing four groups of 6 = 24.

One of E's assignments was creating a pet pencil. E wanted to make a sloth and so we headed to pinterest. We designed a sloth and E hand stitched the whole thing by herself. It took her 6 hours and I was so impressed with her!

So many WebEx meetings.

 

E found a five leaf clover.

Shape monster from 3-d shapes.

 

 For the most part I have been pretty chill with COVID and all of the crazy that it has brought, but picking up supplies on the last day of school was SO anticlimactic. There were no teachers. No goodbyes and it was hard. I felt bad for the kids. Then had fun collecting their treasures. 

 

And as an end of school tradition, we went and got ice cream. Not in cones because of COVID, but we won't complain. Okay summer. Bring it on!!!!!!

E's Cake

Peanut was watching Gretta and I make a cake and she asked if we could make a cake together. Well obviously the answer was yes! (Three cakes in three weeks?! Who am I?) 

 This cake was a lime cake, with a lime curd and a blackberry buttercream.

 This was my first time making a curd and h-o-l-y s-m-o-k-e-s it was delicious!!! 

 Look at the girl scraping and cleaning that cake! So focused and she did a great job!

I ADORE this sweet face!

After three cakes in three weeks, we didn't need a whole cake to ourselves, so we shared with the neighbors. This recipe was a winner, after E dropped them off our neighbor, came in the rain to ask for the details. Baking with Blondie's cookbook is my ride or die!

 Great job E! You are amazing and you are so loved!

Kyle & Crew Come Through

 

The Kyle Tobler Family came through KC on their cross country move to Idaho and gosh darn it we were excited! Kyle's birthday was the following week, so I though it would be fun for Gretta and I to decorate a cake together.

Gretta did it almost all herself and I was so impressed with her! Look at the drip!!

 I wish that we lived closer together so that we could have all sort of of culinary adventures.

 

 Happy Birthday Kyle!

 

 Duke was super exited to have Charlie to play with. There was an epic battle, some nerf gun battles and some war. Duke was in heaven. 

The girls were in craft heaven. E pulled out her fuse beads and they made all sorts of creations. 

 I think the saddest part of COVID this year is the fact that we won't be having a Tobler reunion. I LOVE watching the cousins together!

 

 These Tobler boys are always good for a laugh too. I married into the best family.

We only got the Kyle Tobler crew for 18 hours but we were thrilled to have them! Good luck on your adventures to Idaho. We sure do love having family come to visit!

Mother's Day

  

Once upon a time I was in a grocery store. I had E, Duke and Sprout with me. I was also pregnant with Redd. We were standing in the check out line when a woman looked at me and said "Haven't you had enough. Do you know how hard we have worked so that you don't have to do this? How can you waist your life like this?"

I looked at her shocked. I didn't quite know what to say. I responded with a "Yeah, they keep me on my toes." She proceeded ask me if I worked and to say other things to me which I don't quite remember but it essentially summed up to be I had betrayed my sex by being a stay at home Mom.

I have thought about that woman a lot and while it may surprise you, I look back on that conversation and smile. Little did she know that THIS is the life I prayed for. Ever since I was little ALL I have wanted to do was be a mother. 

I know that this role is not for everyone and that is okay. But for me, there was never any other goal I wanted to achieve more. Never have I ever been so loved, needed or stretched. 

I love the sticky hands, the dance parties and the snuggles. I love my chats with E, playing battles with Duke, shooting hoops with Sprout and showering Redd with kisses. 

I love the crafts, the knock-knock jokes, silly conversations and the messes. Not every moment is glamorous or happy. The hours are long and some days I end up crying in the shower but this is everything to me.

This tiny humans are my whole world. They are the reason I get up every morning (most days before I'm ready) and they bring such JOY into my life. 

 I am so grateful that I get to spend all day every day with them and that they call me Mama. 

My Mother's Day was perfect. All I wanted was to get some pictures with the kids and that is what we did. We set up the tripod and Jakob clicked the button and we ended up with some pretty cute shots!

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and loving on my babes. Jakob made some dinner and I felt so loved.

 E colored me a picture and she worked really hard on it. It was beautiful!

We took a selfie with our matching glasses. I just love this girl. It was a beautiful day. Happy mother's day to you and yours. I am so thankful for the women who helped and continue to support me.