This school year, our family has set a goal to do one service project a month.  

Since we homeschool year round, this means 12 Months of Family Service Projects.  I am so excited about this new goal.  

Service is such a great way to stop thinking about one's self, circumstances, and challenges.  It's a great way to develop gratitude.  

When children participate in service projects they start to become more aware of the needs of those around them.  They learn more about loving others and the importance of kindness. 

For my special needs kiddos, it's a great way to help them get out of their own heads and spaces to socialize with others in positive ways. It's my hope that if I can teach them to serve others, they're more apt to be aware of the needs of others around them when they're older.  It will be just something we do, without effort.

Choosing service projects that would work for our family was quite a challenge. I enlisted the help of my fellow bloggers to come up with the perfect list.  Let me just say, it's fantastic!  We will be helping so many others this year in so many different ways.  

Some of the projects will require us to enlist the help of friends, neighbors, and extended family, which I'm thrilled about.  I'm hoping others will be excited to join us in our effort to really make a difference.

Here's what we're going to attempt!

12 Months of Family Service Projects

Neighborhood Food Drive

1.  Moms Fighting Hunger:  Host a Neighborhood Food Drive from Edventures with Kids

Our family will hand out flyers as we go for one of our afternoon walks.  

Then on the selected date, we'll collect nonperishable goods.  

I'm a little nervous about how many neighbors will participate, but I'm hoping our efforts will be successful.  We'll then deliver the food to a local food pantry.

Survival Kit for Police

2. Survival Kit for Police from Gifts You Can Make

Police officers are not always looked upon in the most loving ways.  

I thought it would be great for our family to show those who serve and protect us, just how grateful we are.  

This is such a simple and adorable idea.  

All of the items are candy, so what's not to like?

Kids Letters to Troops

3.  Kids' Letters to Troops from Cutting Tiny Bites

In honor of Veteran's Day, I thought we'd write letters to soldiers.  

I'm a bit nervous about this activity just because I know how much the kiddos dislike writing. 

Hopefully they'll go along with it if presented well, especially if they can draw and color pictures.

Operation Christmas Cookies

4.  Operation Christmas Cookies

This is not a new service project for us.  It's one we do every year.  The kiddos LOVE spending a week baking and then delivering yummy treats to all the neighbors and select community helpers.

Birthday Boxes

5.  Birthday Boxes from I Can Teach My Child

The idea of birthday boxes is so brilliant and kid friendly.  

I know my kiddos will LOVE putting the boxes together, personalizing each one.  

It's the perfect project for the start of a new year.  We may invite others to participate in this project with us.

A Simple Random Act of Kindness

6.  A Simple Random Act of Kindness:  Teaching Children to Think of Others from Moments A Day

We may not use the exact smiley face figures used in this post, but the idea will be the same.  

This project will work perfect around Valentine's Day, especially for those who are feeling a little unloved.

Dinner's on Us!

7.  Dinner's On Us-A #ShareAMeal Random Act of Kindness from B-Inspired Mama

My kiddos love meal planning, grocery shopping, and anything that has to do with desserts.  

Why not share their favorite things with others who need them?  

I'm not sure how many dinner baskets we'll make, but no matter how many, it will still be a ton of fun!

Pick Up Litter in the Neighborhood

8.  30 Days of Kindness (Week 4 or 5):  Secret Agent Kindness:  Writing/Discussion Activities, Ideas, Scriptures and More! from Vibrant Homeschooling

Each day one of the kiddos has the chore of picking up litter in our front yard.  

I'm always amazed by how much litter is out there.  

In April, in honor of Earth Day, we'll expand beyond our front yard and see just how beautiful we can help our neighborhood become.

Random Act of Kindness Inspired by Miss Rumphius

9.  Random Acts of Kindness Inspired by Miss Rumphius from Play Teach Repeat

I LOVE the book Miss Rumphius!  When I saw this idea, I just knew we had to do it.  

Who doesn't like to be surprised by a flower gently placed somewhere they're sure to see?  

Though we won't see the smiles of those who find the flowers, I know that the service project will be successful.

Project Night Night

10. Project Night Night

When I read about this service opportunity, I cried.  Tears would not stop streaming down my cheeks. 

As a family who did foster care and respite for 4 years, we know first hand what those first nights away from home are like for little ones in care.  The same is true of those in shelters.

This project is a BIG undertaking.  

We will most definitely be asking others to help, so that we can create as many bags as possible.  

Even though it may cost a little more than other service projects we've selected, I know the kiddos will have so much fun putting the bags together, picking out books, blankets, and stuffed animals.  

It's as kid friendly as it gets!

  

Project Happy Tails

11. Service Learning Project Happy Tails from A Full Classroom

A year's worth of service projects wouldn't be complete without including service for animals.  

We always seem to have an abundance of stained clothes that are too small. 

Why not recycle them and turn them into the perfect toy for dogs in local shelters?  

I'm excited to teach the kiddos how to braid in the process.

Neighborhood Coke Stand

12.  Give Back to the Neighbors with a Coke Stand in the Yard from Raising Lifelong Learners

This week has been EXTREMELY hot.  There have been so many times when an ice cold drink would be the perfect remedy.  

We probably won't be handing out Coca Cola, but cans of ice cold lemonade will be perfect!  This service project is so simple, yet such a great idea in the summer heat!

I can't wait to get started on all of our service plans for the year!  

It should be an amazing experience for our entire family that will be with us for years to come.  

Service is a subject that is so near and dear to my heart!  I would love to hear about other ways your family has served others around you!

For those looking for more service ideas, be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter by clicking on the link below.

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Jason and I have been discussing our school year routines and schedules for months.  

We choose to homeschool our children using a Montessori-inspired approach. 

We've enjoyed late nights and sleeping in with the kiddos this summer, but have found it IMPOSSIBLE to get anything done around here.  

Plus, we REALLY like our alone time without kiddos in the morning.  

It might be different if they'd go to bed on their own, but they won't.  

So, both of us (Jason and I) are elated to get back to our early morning routine!

Our School Year Routines and Schedules

There are some aspects of our routines and schedules that will remain the same, but others are changing. 

Here are a few new additions to our schedule!

Important Aspects of our Routines and Schedules

1.  Each kiddo is participating in two weekly extra curricular activities during the school year.  

Dinomite is continuing swimming lessons.  

His horseback riding lessons end October 1st.  

At that point he'll choose another activity.  

Bulldozer is continuing with gymnastics and taking tennis lessons.  

Princess is starting Kung Fu and will continue with gymnastics.  

Sunshine will also participate in gymnastics.  

When we feel she's ready to add a second extra curricular activity we'll do so.

2.  We've added nightly family centered evening activities to our schedule.  

Family Home Evening, will now be held on Sunday nights, due to Princess' gymnastics on Monday.

Tuesday will be our Family Bowling Night.  

A local bowling alley hosts a $2 Tuesday deal ($1 per game and $1 for shoes), which makes this quite affordable.  

Bulldozer really wanted to be sure to continue bowling.  

This option was cheaper than signing him up for a league.  

Wednesday nights will be our library night.  

The kiddos love checking out new books and movies.  

Thursday is our Family Game Night.  

I'm so excited the kiddos are finally getting into board games.  

Friday night is our Family Movie Night.  

It seems to be the best night to catch movies that are already playing on TV. If we don't see something we'll like, then we're sure to pick up a new movie at the library or movie rental store.  

If other plans come up on a Friday night, we just move our movie night to Saturday and it's no big deal.

3.  The kiddos have daily chores!  

We started this at the beginning of the summer and it's gone so well.  

First I gave each of them just one, then we progressed to two.  

I'm almost ready to add a third chore.  

The chores rotate weekly.  

The pairings go as follows:  bring down dirty laundry and fold napkins, sort recyclables into their bins and pick up yard, put DVDs away and sort clean laundry, and last, sort shoes into their bins and sort and match up socks.  

I wanted to be sure that even Sunshine could accomplish each task with minimal assistance.

As far as religious activities go, the kiddos gather in our room each morning and evening for family prayer.  

Scriptures are read during dinner, so the kiddos are more apt to pay attention.  

Family Home Evening is now on Sunday nights, which works out better, because Sunday tends to be my baking day.  The kiddos LOVE this.

The only time I use to work on learning time printables and blogging is first thing in the morning and during the kiddos' media time.  

I can not wait to get back to this schedule.  

It's amazing what one can accomplish in the quiet hours of the morning with no distractions.

As I've said in the past, our weekly schedule is always the goal.  

Sometimes we're behind. Sometimes we're ahead.  

It depends on so many factors.  

I don't own a watch.  

Checking the clock is something I do very rarely.  

When it comes to choosing work over 8 hours of sleep, 99% of the time I choose sleep!

(click HERE to view PDF version)

Homeschooling Routines and Schedules

Breaking down our daily routine, I thought I'd go into a little more detail about our learning time routines.  

At this point, the kiddos do an amazing job working independently.  

They may need some assistance, but have come so far compared to where they were when we started our homeschool journey.  

When the kiddos are finished with their morning chores, they immediately go into the learning time room and start an activity on the shelves or their morning work.  

They continue to do this until about 11:30 AM when we put our work away and gather together for instruction time, songs, and calendar.  

With so many activities on our shelves now, it's impossible to give instructions on all of them one day a week, like we'd been doing in the past.  

Instead we divide instructions into four parts:  core subjects, the arts, therapy activities, and tot school activities for Sunshine.  

Core subjects are introduced on Mondays and put on the shelves for Tuesdays.  

Art and music activities are presented on Tuesdays and placed on the shelves for Wednesdays.  

Therapy activities are presented on Wednesdays and placed on the shelves for work on Thursdays.  Sunshine's activities are presented on Thursdays for work on Fridays.

I decided to design our calendar around our monthly themes this year.  

Be sure to check back each month for a new printable!  

This month's FREE Universe Calendar Printable is available below.  

All months are included in the printable, so you can use the universe theme any time of year you'd like. 

After instruction, we say the Pledge of Allegiance, go over the date, talk about upcoming events, and recite a scripture or Article of Faith.  

From there we head to the table for prayer, lunch and read aloud time.

Source:  For your free copy of the Universe Calendar Printable, click HERE.  

I'm so excited about this year, especially with my husband home to help out.  

Things should run so much smoother.  

For more details about our family's routines and schedules, you can check out last year's post!  

I'm super excited to feature a few other posts about routines and schedules, for those who are looking for ideas.  

Every home and family in these features is very different.  

You're missing out if you don't visit them all. 

A Week in the Life of Unschoolers from Unschooling Blog

Our Tot-School Routine and Activity Choices - For Ages 3-4 from Growing Hands-On Kids

Our Montessori Routine at 16 Months of Age from Mama's Happy Hive

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Our Montessori Classroom

I have waited three years to give our Montessori classroom a makeover. Originally, the room was my music studio.  It was painted a deep red to invoke emotion and passion while playing the piano, singing, and teaching.  I accented with black, beige, and just a hint of brown.  It was the perfect music studio.  Then...

We made the decision to homeschool.  We tried having our classroom in one area of the living room.  It worked well, until we decided to go the Montessori route.  Then, it didn't work at all.

I moved our classroom to the dining room.  This worked okay, but I quickly started running out of room.  All of my materials were being stored upstairs.  This was such a pain when preparing activities.  I ended up making more messes than anything else.  Eventually, I decided to surrender my music studio for our learning time room.

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I knew that in order to create a successful learning environment I would need to change the colors of the walls and involve the three older kiddos in every aspect of the planning, preparation, and action.  This would ensure a positive transition experience and an environment that would be pleasing to everyone's senses.

Choosing a Color Scheme

I presented the kiddos with three color scheme choices, using Pottery Barn magazines.  (I LOVE Pottery Barn!)

Choice 1:  Gray or cream walls with red, orange and black accents.  

Choice 2:  Cream or light yellow walls with navy blue, white & yellow accents.

Choice 3:  Light teal walls with accents of white, navy blue and a darker teal.

After much debate and discussion of wall colors the kiddos decided they liked Choice #3 the best.

Painting Lessons

I wanted to make sure that all of the kiddos could help paint.  Our local paint store had Mini Rollers which were the perfect size for little hands.  This was the ultimate practical life activity!

The kiddos were given a lesson in painting, and then wall to paint.  They started in the closet, which had never been painted in the 8 years we've lived in this home.  My husband and I supervised.  In the end, the kiddos painted the entire closet and one wall of the actual room.  I know they'll be helping us paint many more rooms in the future.

   

Setting up the Classroom

Once the room was painted it was time to move in furniture and materials!!!  Everyone was so excited for this part.  The room turned out beautifully.

It includes everything we need to be successful while learning each day!

Our Shelves

In our classroom, we have only 3 sets of bookshelves, due to space limitations.  Each shelf is used for a different subject.  Activities on the shelves are changed out weekly or every two weeks.  This occurs because of space limitations, but also as a result of the kiddos' rigid ritualistic and stemming behaviors.

On the top of our bookshelves I make available the sandpaper letter cards for the letters we're working on during the week, a globe for exploration when studying geography and culture, a plant, and workbook materials.

Workbooks are not a part of the Montessori curriculum. However, I keep them in the classroom for two reasons:

• My children will need to fill out endless amounts of paperwork during their lifetime. Learning how to follow directions on a page, answer questions, etc. is a Practical Life activity in my mind.
• There are some days when they prefer workbook tasks over activities on our shelves.  If they want to complete a few pages of their choice, why not!

Our Reading Corner

Our reading corner is simple, just a bookshelf and bean bag, but it works perfectly in our small space.  Since we don't have room for our own personal library, I borrow 12-18 books from our local library each week that relate to our theme.  The kiddos look forward to the new books.  I love the variety our local library provides.

Our Peace Corner

If the kiddos aren't reading during their break, I can usually find one in our peace corner.  This was a priority in our new classroom.  They designed it themselves.

Our peace corner is very specific to the needs of our special needs kiddos.  They needed a private space to regulate, calm themselves, and take a break when frustrated, upset, or overstimulated.

To ensure the space would work, the kiddos selected the mat, pillows, and blankets used in our peace corner.  They also selected a bin to house their anxiety kit and fidget toys, to use when needed.  I can not tell you how much this peace corner has helped the kiddos.  Every classroom should have one!

Finishing Touches

Piano books

Adding finishing touches to our classroom, has made all the difference in how it functions.  The kiddos are taking piano lessons this year.  Their music books and practice sheets are stored in an adorable wire rack next to the window.

Bulletin Boards

Calendar
Our new calendar was created using a simple bulletin board.  I wanted to make sure I could change it each month according to our theme. This month we're studying the universe.  I created number cards with planets on them, and then included a calendar of the moon's cycle this month to follow.  We're also working on memorizing scriptures and Articles of Faith, so I've included that.

Prayer Wall
The other bulletin board in our classroom is used as our prayer wall.  For more information about the prayer wall idea, be sure to visit The Chaos and the Clutter, the first place I read about it.

I LOVE our prayer wall.  Not only is it helping our kiddos when saying prayers, but it's a very unique display of what matters most to them.  They love their family, both immediate and extended.  Prayers are said daily on behalf of family members.  We have friends who are experiencing medical challenges right now.  The kiddos really do care and pray for them every day.

Curtains and Montessori Mats

Our final touch was our Montessori mats and curtains!  Each kiddo picked out their own mat and cast a vote for curtains.  They've used them constantly.  One might not think they're important, but I assure you, they are.

This picture was taken our first week in the "new" learning time room, before a couple finishing touches had been added.  I LOVE this picture because it shows just how well the room works and meets the needs of the kiddos.  We couldn't be happier!  It's amazing how much the environment influences the learning process.

Updates: Since this post was written, we have added a fish tank to our classroom.  You can read about all of adventures below:

Little Fish, BIG EMOTIONS

If you're interested in other ways we've created Montessori spaces in our home, be sure to check out these posts!

Our Montessori Inspired Bathroom

Practical Life in the Kitchen

The ABCs of Montessori and Special Needs

Free Printables

For more fabulous Montessori space ideas, be sure to check out all of the other posts in the 12 Months of Montessori Learning Series this month!

Natural Beach Living ~ The Natural Homeschool ~ Living Montessori Now

The Kavanaugh Report ~ Mama’s Happy Hive ~ Study at Home Mama

Child Led Life ~ Every Star Is Different ~ Grace and Green Pastures

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Renae Today: The Dog Days of Summer

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There are some weeks that we wish would never end. The kiddos are well behaved.  We aren't having to manage behaviors in relation to RAD and/or PTSD, etc.  Everyone is healthy.  The weather is perfect.  This was NOT one of those weeks.  Still we made the most of it.

Ever since the night of Princess' birthday, she has REALLY been struggling.  Usually I can help her work through whatever is bothering her, but this week, nothing seemed to work.  As behaviors continued to escalate all week long, I was emotionally drained and absolutely exhausted.  Jason and I worked hard to make sure the other kiddos' schedules and routines weren't affected by what was going on with Princess.  He was SUCH a huge help.  It's weeks like this one that I'm so thankful he's able to remain at home with me.

On Monday we had appointments for Princess and Sunshine with their developmental pediatrician.  The trip one way is almost 90 minutes.  Add 30 minutes of waiting in construction each way and the appointments make for a very long day.  Though we left early, we were still 20 minutes late to our first appointment.  Thankfully the doctor was able to make up the time in between other patients.  We were able to obtain all the documentation we needed to counteract the report written by the anti-homeschooling psychologist.  This was a huge relief.  Sunshine's medication dosage was adjusted again, as we're still dealing with extreme behaviors on a daily basis.  In the words of our developmental pediatrician, 

"She's a mess!"

One of Princess' medication dosages was also adjusted.  She was given a new diagnosis to add to Reactive Attachment Disorder, PTSD, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome of Affect.  Princess has an anxiety disorder, completely separate from everything else.  She has quite the obsession with numbers and has to count things everywhere we go.  Her sleeping habits have deteriorated.  We have also seen an increase in self injurious behaviors.

So yeah, that was Monday.  Though I felt better after leaving the appointment, just preparing, going, and thinking about the appointment after it's finished is so emotionally and mentally exhausting.

Tuesday, as promised, we took the kiddos to a local park they've been wanting to visit.  It's a beautiful park, but not one I'd recommend in the summer heat.  Most of the play equipment is metal and burns.  Thankfully this week was quite cool, making it possible for the kiddos to thoroughly enjoy themselves.

The twisty slide below is their FAVORITE slide.  It's the largest playground slide they know of.

While at the park, there were a few other groups of kiddos playing, mostly staying to themselves.  Dinomite, Princess, and Bulldozer desperately wanted to play with them.  Dinomite asked us if he could. We told him he needed to ask the kiddos if it was alright. Sadly, Dinomite couldn't build up the courage to ask.  Instead, he just stared from a distance.  When Princess asked Jason and I the same question, we gave her the same answer.  She couldn't muster the courage to ask either.  Instead, she just played on playground equipment closest to where the other kiddos were playing and observed.  Bulldozer was the last to ask us if he could play with the other kiddos.  We answered him the same way we did Dinomite and Princess.  Without hesitation he marched over to a group of boys and asked if he could play with them.  They said yes, and there he remained until we had to go home.  I was so proud of him!  He didn't necessarily play the game the boys were playing, but he stayed with them, spoke to them, and appeared to be having a very enjoyable time.  Way to go Bulldozer!  I didn't take a picture to share, because of copyright issues, and not obtaining permission to share pictures on the blog.

After the playground and a little rain, it was time for Dinomite's first horseback riding lesson!  We weren't sure if it was going to happen because of the weather, but thankfully it did!  He's been waiting all summer for everything to be in order so he could start.  Though nervous, he didn't let on, and did an amazing job being brave.

The lessons are occupational therapy based and paid for by services he receives through the state.  I couldn't have been more impressed with the OT and her support staff.  They were wonderful with Dinomite and the horses.

Once on the horse, Dinomite sat for a minute before telling his new friend to "Ride On!"

Then he went around the ring a few times.  Dinomite LOVED it.  He had never realized that horses have personalities just like people.  Skippy, his horse, was full of fun surprises.  Lol.  Dinomite commented on the feeling of riding bareback.  He said he could feel the horse's movements, muscles, and bones.  When we left the lesson and went into the car, the first words out of his mouth were,

"That was AMAZING!"  Way to go Dinomite!

Sadly, by the time Dinomite came home, it was made clear he had caught his brother's cold from the week before.  He spent the rest of the night resting, hoping to feel better.

On Wednesday, Princess and Sunshine had gymnastics classes.  I tried taking pictures of Sunshine, but they turned out very dark and blurry.  The lighting in the room is awful.  Hopefully I can get more of both of them next week.  Dinomite went to swimming lessons, although he regretted it afterward, as he still had quite a cold.  Just to make the day more fun, our computer decided to crash twice as well.

Thursday it was Bulldozer's turned for his combined gymnastics/tennis time.  His one-to-one created quite the obstacle course for him, per Bulldozer's request.

After going through it a couple of times, bouncing on the trampolines, and playing in the bouncy house, the two headed to the tennis courts.  Bulldozer starts tennis lessons in the fall.  We've been trying to make sure he gets some practice in beforehand, since it's been a while.  This was Bulldozer this week!  For a 6 year old, we think he's quite amazing.  If you can hear him talking in the video, he's quite hilarious too.  (I am not a professional at filming, so please don't judge!)

We were going to head to our friend's home to swim Thursday evening, but Thursday during the day, ALL FOUR kiddos were having a rough day for one reason or another.  Bulldozer was doing best, but he still wasn't quite himself.  There were many reasons and triggers, but Jason and I didn't think it wise to try swimming with so many behaviors and with Dinomite still sick.  And, by the end of the day, our computer had crashed twice again and died.

Friday, three out of four of the kiddos were doing better, thank goodness!  Dinomite still didn't quite feel himself yet, but his behaviors were better.  Princess on the other hand, was still having a really hard time.  Originally we had planned to have a play date with some friends Friday afternoon, but we didn't want to share germs so we cancelled.  The family has plans to go camping next week.  Camping and colds don't really mix well together.  Friday we also learned that Sunshine officially qualifies for OPWDD services!  We're so excited and have already started the ball rolling to give her much needed supports and services.  Hooray!

Friday night, I was able to go out with a friend to get some fresh air and a much needed break!  Sadly, when I returned home, just 3 hours later, I realized that our washing machine had stopped working.  It was stuck mid cycle and had been running since I had left.  The entire washer was hot.  Cold water inside had also turned hot.  I'm so grateful that I came home when I did, because had the washer continued to over heat, it could have easily caused a fire.  After Monday's appointments, Thursday's horrible day, Princess' extremely difficult behaviors all week, the computer crashing and breaking, and now the washer going up...  I was not in a good place.

The next morning things became worse as Jason and I learned that the washer didn't break on it's own.  While I was out the night before, Princess decided to put several pages of card stock paper in the washing machine.  There was so much and it was so thick, that it broke it.  The discovery of all the paper in the washer was not a pleasant moment for me.  Princess was quick to accept responsibility.  I on the other hand did the only thing I could think of at the moment.  As I ran up the stairs, I grabbed the phone and called a grandparent.  Princess and I needed a break from each other.  I had tried everything I could possibly think of to get through to her this week and crack her newest code.  Nothing had worked.  We are so blessed to have a set of grandparents close by who not only are willing to help us in any situation, but have a lifetime of experience with special needs children, including those with RAD.  They were here to pick her up in about an hour and didn't bring her back until dinner time.  The break did wonders for both of us.  When she returned, she was finally ready to work through things.  That night before bed, I was finally able to crack the code!  She will be paying restitution for the broken washer, in a way that is appropriate for her age.  We have an appointment scheduled to meet with her therapist from years past, to do some work.  It appears Princess has hit a new developmental milestone that's wreaking havoc on her brain.  She's also becoming more and more anxious about our vacation to Disney World, with only 66 days left until we go.

While Princess was gone Saturday, Jason worked the entire day with DELL on the phone to get the computer fixed.  I figured out that if I wash clothes on a different cycle, the washing machine will still work (for now).  In the late afternoon, we took the kiddos to the car show downtown.  We have done this annually, ever since Dinomite was little.  I'm not sure if he enjoys it more now, or then, but all three kiddos had a fabulous time.

Bulldozer is obsessed with the color purple.  He always has been.  While at the car show, he wanted to make sure I took a picture of him with every purple car he found.  To my surprise there were actually four purple cars there!  He was so excited.  Now, if only he were that excited about smiling and looking at me while I took the picture he requested.  Lol.  In his defense, he really did try.

Sunshine was super cute, when she discovered a pink car.  She HAD to have her picture taken in front of it.  Her facial is expression is what she looks like when she tries to smile and say, 

"Cheeeeeeeze."

Dinomite felt like he was in heaven, as we walked past all of the different cars.  On the way he had asked if I had brought my camera, so I could take pictures of him in front of the cars he liked.  He was so excited when I said yes.  Dinomite liked A LOT of cars.  Lol.

Bulldozer decided to join Dinomite in some of the pictures. If he joined, then Sunshine definitely felt the need to join.  Here are some of their favorite cars!

Some of the owners of the cars at the car show are very particular about people looking at their vehicles.  Many don't want you to touch anything at all.  However, as we were going down our very last row of cars, Dinomite asked an elderly man who appeared to be packing up, if he could take a picture in front of his car.  The man didn't hear him correctly.  Instead, he stepped to the side, opened the door, and led Dinomite INTO his car.  He also let Bulldozer and Sunshine take turns after.  That elderly man made the kiddos' day.  I love the smile on Bulldozer's face as he grabbed hold of the steering wheel.  It was quite a nice car!

Today, it's apparent that the kiddos have shared their germs with Mommy.  Princess caught the cold right before her birthday.  Bulldozer came down with it last week and accidentally sneezed all over my arm and face.  Dinomite is better.  Today was my day to rest!  It was so needed, on so many levels.

That's Renae today!

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