We continue to hear the noise of concrete drilling from upstairs.  Wednesday we abandoned ship ..... packed up and headed to the coffee shop across the street from our complex.  I brought our Story of the World and current read-aloud (Detectives in Togas).  The big three brought something creative to work on while they listened. 

Could have been worse... but I'll be glad when the workers are done with the drills.  

And at lunch Isaac got the giggles, an orange almost as big as his head!  Orange season is upon us, and we will eat them until we cannot eat another.  Fruit pickings are a bit slim in the winter months, but I do enjoy the cheap apples (and pressure-cooker pots full of warm applesauce!)

Then today we participated in a cross country meet as part of Team HomeSchool.  This year all three big kids are old enough to run!  Isaac ran quite well.  His favorite part was "crossing the finish line"! 

It was mostly a success for the family but Lydia got really far behind right at the start and quit about four minutes in which was a bad move for many reasons especially because if she had stuck it out she would have passed the people who stopped to walk (they are 8 year olds! pacing is not a strength!  they darted off the starting line like wolves were chasing them and sweet Lydia got left in the dust).

Anyways, she was so teary and cuddly and sad and disappointed and in the end learned a pretty huge lesson.  She's excited to race again next month and I'm thankful she has another opportunity to build some confidence.  

And then Julianna.  Only two homeschool girls in her age group and she was pretty intimidated by the big 5th graders at the starting line but she ended up placing pretty well and she's motivated to keep it up.  

Here she is laughing at the ridiculousness from the 4th/5th grade home school boys on the starting line.  

It was a full afternoon and I only took about nine pictures and in the elevator coming up from the parking garage realized I missed a group picture of the five in their Team HomeSchool gear.  

..... because..... cuteness.