OUR LIFE WITH KIDS: Catching up!

Wow- the past two months have flown by! The school year comes to a close tomorrow and we are about to enjoy some summer fun. So to summarize what has been going on in our lives: The girls LOVE their new school and so do we. They both really thrived this year and amazed us with everything they learned. They were often expected to perform in front of people with plays or leading chapel on Wednesdays with introductions, prayer, singing with their class, reciting scripture, and storytelling. They are both so much more confident in those areas and it makes us really proud to see that.
They both played soccer on the same team this Spring. Autumn wanted to try it out and was pretty good with it being her first time to play but she's really not into running that much. Shelby always enjoys it and is already signed up for the Fall. They continue to enjoy drawing and writing stories. They are signed up for the local swim club and have already started practicing and have had one swim meet. I can already tell that it is going to be a really good experience for them as they improve their swimming skills and compete against others.
Corry & I have been working in the yard a lot to get it into shape. We also built an aquaponic garden and are awaiting our first crop. We have changed our diet drastically over the past year with trying to eat more natural, organic, nonprocessed foods and have slowly been introducing the kids to eating less processed junk, too.
Carly & I have had lots of fun going on walks lately and made a few playdates to the park & beach. She does not like to be left in nurseries or childcare of any kind so that has been interesting with my MOPS group and us trying to find a new church. We've also discovered over the past 6 months or so that she has a sensitivity to artificial food additives (red dye, yellow dye, blue dye, etc) and that has been a struggle when we go places. Everything goes in her mouth, so it's tough keeping others snacks away from her. The artificial coloring also goes for chapstick, lip glosses, colored chalk, and scented bubbles. We've learned them all the hard way! She goes from super hyperactive child spinning in circles to uncontrollable crying and fits. She is beginning to accept that she can't have certain things when I tell her they have dye in them but does also try to tell me that they don't have dye! I hate it for her but it has also helped us to all eat healthier and to become more aware of what is really in our food.
Sheww...I think that should do it! We also have a new addition in the family but I'll save that for the next post. :)