...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:25

The whole fabric of society rests upon the home.
-Theodore Roosevelt

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Work and Play: the Koziol way!

The last few weeks have found us settled into a pleasant routine of work, schooling, and blessed free time around the house. We have even managed to do a little bit of exploring! Out in Palmer there is a pick'n pay farm that hosted a harvest festival. Kyra was thrilled to visit and pet the animals, Maya loved the free games and played every single one, and Emma enjoyed digging for carrots. Kyra went on her first hay ride, and the big girls jumped off a towering haystack!






Our yard started to take shape because we enjoyed an unusually warm and sunny September...we hung the hammock, pruned shrubs, planted bulbs (I'm so excited to see them popping through the melting snow in spring!), and put together the swingset (Steven dragged it 100 feet uphill to its final, and I mean FINAL, resting place!) There was a huge rock in the back, and conveniently, a rather large hole that needed to be filled. I picked a cozy seat and watched the action...the only picture is on my phone and I don't know how to get it on the computer yet so you'll just have to imagine the scene! Steven made a great show of "helping" them, but the girls really put their muscles into it!

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 
Proverbs 20:11

After all the hard work, they decided a little foot-pampering was in order:



Our front yard has a little slope down the front and Kyra quickly discovered how much fun it is to roll downhill. We're hoping it will also be a good site for pint-sized sledding in the winter.

 This video is my favorite...she can hardly hold her head up she's so dizzy!


Our biggest news is a milestone that we didn't anticipate for at least another year, but Emma was thrilled to be fitted for her first pair of pointe shoes at her new ballet studio. She practices in them twice a week, mostly doing foot-strengthening exercises, barre-work, and occasionally practicing familiar combinations  en centre with the eagerly anticipated bonus of having the instructor's permission to go onto her toes. Here is part of a dance she did during her summer intensive program...after the girls walk out and find their spots, you'll see Emma in the front left, and you can follow her easily from there. Sorry it's not a full video, my battery was dying!



With all this activity, you can bet that the girls sleep well, and it is such a treat to hug and hold their warm snuggly bodies in the morning. Here they are, fresh from sweet dreams:

But it isn't long before the wiggling, giggling, and tickling begins:

We'll leave you with a final photo of Kyra, wearing her favorite skirt, her favorite shoes, and her absolute favorite sweater, knitted by my dear friend Karren. Can you believe the head of hair on this child?! She's still as fat and happy as you remember her, but now she can talk. She surprises us everyday with new words and funny new games. Kyra loves to do things "a butt ruff"...though this week, the pronunciation has changed to: "aw by fewlf". (all by myself)
 Coming soon: Alaska sights and sounds!