The Campanellis: August 2014

We had family photos taken at our house this month by the very talented Annie Lawrence, owner of Bottle Rocket Photography: Bottle Rocket Photography Website

She was the most professional and yet relaxed photographer we have ever had. She made us all feel so comfortable and didn't rush us. I highly recommend her and plan on having her back annually.

We had head shots taken for our business profiles

Ella was hiding from the photographer

Teary eyes

Eating cake like a dinosaur

The following photos were taken by a beginner photographer who needed kids in this age group for her profile so we got a session for free.

Bubbles!

Ella stayed home with Nana so Gordon had a morning with just mom and dad.

Watching the horses ride on the trail

Gordon decorated Mark while he napped

Mark & Ella taught me to knit, I'm definitely not as skilled or as patient as either of them

Fox vistitor

Sun bathing chickens

This is what the beach looks like after Jefferson County schools begin. We went the following week after Denver schools began and it was even quieter!

Gigi made the kids these gorgeous cowls for winter!

Ella had her first day at the Homeschool Connection run by Jefferson County Public Schools. It runs every Thursday from 915-320. I picked her up at 1 the first day because I told the teacher to call if she was having a rough day. When I picked her up she said she had such a great day and had so much fun so I wondered why I got the call. She said she just missed me and was ready to come home. Then she opened up about the lunch room being too gloomy, dark, and too many kids. The following week I went to eat lunch with her since that was the part she didn't like. I then realized HSC isn't for us this year. We may try again next year when Ella can pick her classes but if it continues to grow and get more rules we won't participate. HSC went from about 60 kids last year to about 90 kids this year and it shows. There are so many rules! Ella was so worried about following all of the rules and doing exactly what the adults were saying, she was so stressed out and would end up crying(Just like her mom and dad). Most of the rules didn't make any sense and the kids weren't questioning them. My anxiety I used to feel in school came rushing back and I thought, this is exactly the environment I'm trying to avoid. I want my kids to question everything and think for themselves, not turn into little robots(although that would be easier to deal with ; ). I don't want their learning environment to be a stressful space that lacks creativity. Ella's teacher was so overwhelmed with so many students this year that she didn't have time to build a relationship with each child. So, I pulled Ella for the year. We will be spending a lot of time at The Learning Center instead.

Gordon had to wear his cowl to drop Ella of at HSC

My gut was telling me this was not the right situation for us but I thought we should try it at least 2 days before making a decision.

Gordon spent the morning with friends, feeding the horses while Ella was at HSC

Chilling

We have neighborhood triplet fawns that we see almost daily

The back to TLC picnic was so much fun!

Now that all the school kids are back in school we are trying to get in all the field trips we put off all summer while it was too busy. We spent a day at the zoo this month.

The triplets

The view from HSC - there is a faint rainbow in the picture

More fawns at the park

I was cleaning the chicken coop and this doe came over to check out the chickens and just hung around about 2 feet from me while I cleaned. It's so peaceful being surrounded by wildlife.