Thanksgiving 2021

Some Christmas gifts came before Thanksgiving this year, as we started the celebrations of both holidays while in Pennsylvania.

Sophia loves selecting gifts and giving them.

Her Great Aunt Jan gave the gift of a piano lesson.

Bop-bop spent some time on the piano as well, but mostly with the model train table which was very popular.

Aunt Rachael and Uncle James brought the big kids over to the playground before the Thanksgiving meal.

Nada joined us for dinner and wrote what she was most thankful for along with the other guests (Jason wrote: "Sophia").

Nana and Bop-bop hosted the six of us, as well as Uncle Ray and Aunt Jan, Cousin Emilie, Nada, Rachael and James.

The day after Thanksgiving we rode the train into Philadelphia.

The Franklin Institute was having a special exhibit on Christmas Trees and Trains.

I was particularly thankful for the time we got to spend with Emilie since she lives in Louisiana.

About a month earlier we had gone to the Plymouth Plantation.

This trip was inspired by Sophia's realization that there was a nearby physical representation of what she was learning in school.

I loved how hands on the experience was, with plenty of opportunities to climb and run.

The chickens were the highlight for the younger three.

And while Sophia was the only one who listened to a lecture on the first thanksgiving, the rest of us were still able to immerse ourselves in the time and place.

Halloween 2021

Halloween has become almost a month long event, with artwork from school, and sparkly candy corn clothes giving joy to those in our home. 

In the weeks preceding the official candy collection, there are foster care and church events.

This year our love bugs were able to participate in carnival games,

and request candy for the first year on their own behalf.

At school Sophia and Jason loved turning each other into mummies.

On Halloween night the littlest among us ran from house to house and were delighted by what was given to them. 

Jason and Alannah held up the rear, repeating their roles from the prior year as a Bat and Queen Elsa.

And Sophia was excited to have friends join the crew for the first time.

Fall Fun 2021

I love how enjoyment during childhood is found in broken down tractors and leaf blowers.

The importance that is given to picking the perfect pumpkin.

And the pride that is taken when you can pick it up yourself.

Or the creativity of using it for a seat when you are two and tired.

This was the first year the younger ones were able to fully participate in apple picking.

Eating apples directly from the trees and carrying the bag to put them in were equally appreciated.

Petting farm animals and making a scarecrow out of Grandpa's old clothes were also a part of this wonderful weekend.

Jason's 6th Birthday Letter

Dear Jason (favorite nicknames: Jace, Sonic, JJ, Jaybers, and JB),

We love you. This year you have grown both in height and speech. You are an old soul that loves being home and have started to use some very humorous statements.

You have surprised us at times during your 5^th year by singing along to a song or breaking out some dance moves randomly in the kitchen when just the right song comes on. We hope that this coming year you continue to step out when you feel up to it.

Your teachers have repeatedly declared their love of you being in their classes given your energy, beaming smile, and ample supply of hugs. You have even developed a special connection with Ms. Cheryl, the older woman that cleans Campus Kinder Haus, as she sneaks you candies when you leave school most weeks, and informed me that a picture of you and Sophia are on her refrigerator at home.

You have maintained your deep love for trains, and I have treasured most evenings when the two of us sneak out before bed to stand on the bridge across the street from our house to try to get two or three of the subway trains to honk at us as they go under the bridge. You also welcome any chance to sit with Bop-Bop to review the latest historical train magazine that he has shared with you.

This year I have been praying the fruits of the spirit over you kids, and for you it has been praying gratitude for your faithfulness and praying for more self-control. You work so hard at school everyday to be a model student, that we need to work alongside you when you get home to decompress and transition to the evening.

You love to point out how fast you are, as you run past us saying, “Does that make you feel cold?” Suggesting that your speed would create such a strong gust of wind that it would chill us. We marvel at your magna tile creations and ability to be generous.

We are very grateful that you are a part of our family.

Love,

Dada

New Hampshire Summer Trips

The Archambault Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins all got to spend 4th of July together in New Hampshire this year before three went off for their first days of college. 

More than the fireworks, my favorite parts were grandparents coloring and train building, 

nieces and nephews having one on one time with their Aunts and Uncles,

cousins playing together

and Jason's delighted reaction to the arcade tickets.

A few weeks later we returned to New Hampshire for family camp.

There were familiar activities like archery

And a few unexpected ones: