The last two months...in words and pictures

Well, a lot has happened in the last two months...
Asher turned two in July, and he had a very specific request (for a kid that doesn't talk much yet!)...He wanted a bear on his cake. And not just any bear, but a very specific bear from his book, and the bear had to be wearing a hat. He made this very clear to me, all through mime and grunting noises (like a bear). Fortunately, I was able to deliver to his satisfaction, even though our electricity went out half way through mixing the icing. whew!
Nathan is officially now in school each day at home with me, and, depending on the day you ask him, I think overall he likes it almost as much as I do;) Seriously, I'm having way more fun than I expected. A couple weeks ago we were discussing how historians learn about the past, and in response, we staged an archeology dig in the backyard, and then dug up the "artifacts" the next week, pretending to be archaeologists in the future:) Next week we're planning on making a model of the Nile river, and "flooding" our banks to grow some grass seed. Hoping to get some good pictures with that:) I'm really liking all the curriculum we've chosen so far, and I think Nathan is, too, which is what really matters, I guess. He's learning to read better every day, he LOVES math, and even writing has not brought tears more than twice;)
We learned that Eliana needed to have her eyes checked, and found out that she did need glasses. So Grandma and Grandpa generously bought her her first pair of glasses for her birthday this year. Here's a picture of her helping her great grandmother make some cookies on our trip down to Panama City Beach, FL.
Speaking of PCB, Nathan has become quite the fish recently, and in continuing along the same vein as his great grandpa, he LOVES snorkeling and swimming in the pool. He learned to dive down to the "deep" end (about 5 feet at GG and GP's pool), and collect things that had sunk to the bottom.
Crazy story...Jon and Nathan were out swimming in the gulf (off the private beach associated with GG and GP's condo) when they heard people shouting and shewing them from the 5th story of the condo building to get out of the water. Low and behold, the guy (a resident of the condo for 7 years) came down to the beach to tell him he saw a shark fin (very distinctly NOT a dolphin fin which he was accustomed to seeing), swimming near where they were swimming. So, of course, the boys decided it best to get out, however Nathan later informed us that he didn't think it was that big a deal, as "most sharks are harmless, mom." Maybe so. Nevertheless, none of us ventured back into the gulf on that trip;}
Here are some pictures from Eliana's 4th birthday. Again, some very specific requests; it had to be a pink ballerina fairy. Wow. any suggestions, on HOW I should go about doing such an artistic endeavor?? Well, again, I had a satisfied customer, and that's what I was after, so I felt successful. However, I was glad that it was a "private" family party;}
Jon started his final year here at CIU, and that brings a mixture of emotions. We will be sad when it's over. We have learned SO much, and the dedicated study time has been amazing for Jon. However, reality calls us back, and we are praying and wondering about what the future holds. We're looking forward to all of it with great anticipation.