They did come home!!

Well, after purposefully trying to ignore the existence of my blog, I just had a look to confirm that I had indeed left it hanging a bit... (Only 3 months have past - insert sheepish smilie)

The girls did indeed come home (and have had 2 more visits), and they did get their big hugs as well!

The summer has passed in a flourish of activity... no vacations as such, but tons of time spent swimming and biking and being with friends. Two week long vacation bible school adventures, trips to the science center, and the regular sort of summer adventures... tree climbing, ice cream, campfires, parks, etc.

We did enjoy making use of our community outdoor swimming pool, especially after finding out , about halfway through the summer, that it is actually heated!

Some highlights of the summer were Tara turning 6, and having the nerve to get her ears pierced, and the new addition to our family -a stray that was turned into the clinic I work at- our kitten, Tyler Rhyn. He was originally meant to be Tara's birthday present, but arrived late due to illness... hence the earrings! :)

From an educational standpoint, Aislinn has moved along with her reading to the point of almost complete independence (a few words here and there will still stump her) and can often be found absorbed in the latest library finds. She finished a math workbook during the summer, which ended with a brief intro to multiplication, so we have started a small surge into that world. In the mean time, we had picked up a JumpMath 3.1 workbook which she has launched into, still mostly at her own discretion.

Tara has continued her reading practise, but is still struggling with finding the confidence to show her ability - we are sticking with no pressure, just offering her lots of chances for one on one reading time. Her math skills are moving well ahead in adding and subtracting.

The biggest difference for both of them is their level of maturity - in the discussions we are having, in the questions they ask, and in their ability to think through, process, and articulate their thoughts and feelings.

Left - our annual star watching trampoline sleepout... the tarp being an new addition from last year due to the bats joining us and the incredible damp feeling from the dew the next morning.

Interspersed are a few pictures of our summer highlights... and more coming once I figure out why my camera won't hold a battery charge!