More Fall Days

The computer is gone. Well, for a little while, anyway. We are in the process of getting a new one, but I will not be able to post updates and pictures very often until we get it. It seems like I hardly have time for that lately, anyway. The weeks just keep whizzing by while we go about our regular activities. How can it be the end of October already??

The kids and I are enjoying our school days. Both of them are improving so much at reading, which has been very exciting for me! :-) Last week we took a walk on a sunny day and then Grant and Katie sat and sketched drawings of things that were of interest to them. They really got into it! And, we recently went on a field trip to a local farm, where the kids learned about various animals raised there and got to go on a hay ride.

Tonight our family attended a Harvest Party at the home of a family who lives out in the country. There were games and prizes, another hayride and crockpots full of delicious chili. The whole thing was put on by generous people who use what God has blessed them with to bless others. Many of the children invited to this party live in the inner city and have never been to the countryside before. What a wonderful experience this was for them, and for us, also.

So, those are a few of the things we have been up to lately. We are enjoying being outside on these beautiful fall days before they are all gone! :-)

Downtown

The kids and I were downtown the other day and stopped to take a few pictures. We went to a market there that has shops and restaurants run by people from all around the world. We had a delicious lunch at a Middle Eastern food place. It was really nice to be around so many different people and cultures. We are looking forward to going there again soon!

Fall Is Flying By

Wow, time sure seems to be flying by! Last Saturday we finished up fall soccer with a special tournament day called, Super Soccer Saturday. It was a gloriously beautiful fall day, with cool temperatures but lots of sunshine. Perfect for playing soccer. The kids both had fun playing, got lots of snacks and both got trophies, so it was a good day. :-)

I love this time of year. The fall colors are everywhere. Grant and Kate have been raking leaves into piles and then jumping in them. The air is so crisp and cool. When the kids come in from playing, their cheeks are rosy. :-) We are enjoying our school days. Life is good.

There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

Grant's Soccer Game

Well, I finally made it to my son's soccer game early this morning! Dave is coaching Grant's team and it was fun to see both of them in action! :-)




Grant is so proud to have his dad be coaching the team. I am really glad it worked out with Dave's schedule for him to be able to do it!

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Fall Soccer

The kids are playing soccer on Saturdays. Dave is coaching Grant's team, but I haven't made it out to the field that early yet! The boys play two games from 8:30 ~ 10:30 and then the girl teams play two games from 10:30 ~ 12:30. Kate and I hang out at home until around 10:00 and then head to the park for her games. Next week I will go early to watch Grant play and take pictures. :-)
(Even though I haven't made it to his games this season, I HAVE watched most all of his games and practices over the past four years that he has been playing soccer! I just have a hard time with getting out the door early on a Saturday morning! :-))

Fun With Pictures

First Day Of Co-Op

Our homeschool co~op started today and the kids could hardly wait! Yes, they like co~op, but the real reason that they could hardly stand to wait one more minute was that they wanted to see their friends again! We were gone a lot this summer and they had not seen their friends from co~op since last June. That is an especially long time when you are only 7 or 9! So, the reunions today were sweet. Oh, and the classes were great, too. :-)

Our Curriculum

Here is the curriculum we are using for this year of homeschooling. Grant is in 3rd grade and Kate is in 2nd.

Reading, phonics, spelling, manuscript writing
Writing Road To Reading (Reading Works)

Abeka readers and workbooks

Library books

Introduce cursive
Abeka cursive workbook

Math
Math-U-See (Kate-Beta, Grant-Gamma)

History
The Story Of The World, Vol.3:Early Modern Times (1600-1850) (Book and Activity Book)

Science
Astronomy, Earth Science, Plant Life (Using ideas from The Well-Trained Mind)

Art
How Great Thou Art

Co~op Art Class (Taught by me :-))

Music
Color The Classics (Godly Composers & Christmas Classics)

Co~op Music Class

Piano Lessons (Kate)

P.E.
Fall Soccer (Local Recreational City League)

Co~op P.E. Class

Wrestling (Grant)

YMCA Gym & Swim Homeschool Class

Playing outside with friends :-)

Other Activities
We don’t have a formal Bible curriculum, but Dave reads the Bible to Grant & Kate most mornings and they are involved in our church’s AWANA program.

A Couple More From The Zoo

Birthday Party and Lily Pads

One week ago, today, Grant went to a birthday party across town. While he was at the party, Dave, Kate and I headed to a local zoo that we love. (It is also free! :-)) Right by the entrance to the zoo there is a lovely little pond with all kinds of lily pads in it. I did not realize there were so many varieties of lily pads, but we saw beautiful pink ones and some that were just huge! We enjoyed looking at the lily pads and the animals at the zoo and soon it was time to go pick up Grant, who had a grand time at the party. :-)











Pretty Pink Lily Pads and Huge Lily Pads!













Katie wants to touch those lily pads!

First Day Of School

We started our school year yesterday with our annual first-day-of-school-pictures in front of the flag. We had a pretty fun day. Grant and Katie were excited to use new books and pencils and when I surprised them with a few little gifts from the dollar bin at Target, they were thrilled! For lunch I took them to McDonald's to get Happy Meals and they were also given an extra-long recess after lunch. The day had the feel of a celebration and I am hoping they caught the idea that it is exciting to learn and a privilege to do it together at home! :-)

Summer Days

What have we been up to lately? Let's see... we have been enjoying the last bit of summer before school starts up again! The kids are really used to spending their days outside playing and it is going to be a shock to their systems (and mine!) when we have to get up earlier and have our days more scheduled! Until then, we will have a few more lazy mornings and trips to the park. :-) Grant and Katie have both had playdates with friends recently. Here are Gabrielle and Kate on a hot day at the park.

Swimming Lessons

Grant and Katie finished their swim lessons yesterday. They both passed the level they were in and will move up a level when they take lessons again next summer! All the time they spent in the pool while we were in Colorado really helped them become better swimmers and be more confident in the water. I'm so glad we were able to get them in these lessons when we got back.

Here is Grant during his swim lesson.

Gabrielle and Katie were in the same swim class, which made them both very happy. :-)

Glasses

For someone who has been asking, here is a picture of me in my new glasses. I am not real crazy about them and am already thinking about the style I will get next. When I got these, I had tried on too many glasses and was just so sick of the whole thing. My husband said these were the best of the bunch we had narrowed it down to, so I went with them. They are okay, but I kind of wish I had gotten a different shape and maybe a brownish color. But, here they are and this is what I will have to use for now. At least I can see! :-)

My Little Cowgirl

Katie couldn't wait to wear her new boots. And, when she put them on with this dress and hat, she became a little cowgirl. Here she is... out on the prairie. :-)

A Wedding, A Baby

Last June there was a wedding. This June, a baby was born. Misty and Reid welcomed little Emma Leigh to their family and what a tiny, sweet, perfect gift from God she is! Oh, and four weeks later, guess who got to meet and hold little Miss Emma? We hit it off famously. :-)


New mom, Misty, with her daughter, Emma Leigh.


Precious Emma.

Tea Parties Are Fun!

Katie and I were invited to a tea party yesterday. While the grown up ladies enjoyed tea and scones, the little girls had tea and treats at their own table. I couldn't resist turning around and taking pictures of the little girls ~ they looked so cute in their dresses, having "grown up" conversation over tea. :-)


Katie and Gabrielle discuss important issues over cups of tea. :-)


Anne, Ellie, Kate and Gabrielle ~ full of tea!

Bridge Collapse

Many have heard by now of the terrible tragedy that happened last night in Minneapolis. It was rush hour. People were in their cars, backed up bumper to bumper, as they headed home from work. The interstate took them over the Mississippi River on a huge bridge. I have been over that bridge. You hardly notice that you are actually on a bridge because it is such a wide interstate highway. Last night at 6:05 pm that bridge collapsed. It is unthinkable that something like this could happen. There was a school bus full of children that had just crossed the bridge before the bridge fell into the river. All of the children got out safely, but oh how scary it must have been for them. We are praying for the families touched by this tragedy.

The Rock Shop

Did you know that taking your kids to the rock shop is about the same as taking them to a candy store? I could not believe the squeals of delight that came from my children as they ran from pile of rocks to pile of rocks outside the rock shop we visited in Estes Park, CO. And then, once inside, they ran about giddy as can be, scooping up handfuls of little polished rocks and oohing and aahing at each new color, shape and shimmer of rocks they found. I let them pick out a few rocks of their own to buy. Oh, my, what a decision each chosen rock was! They were still ecstatic when we drove away with each of them clutching a little bag full of ...rocks. :-)


Look at all of these big, colorful rocks! (And colored glass.)



Grant found Fool's Gold!



So many rocks, so little time...

Mt. Rushmore

We finally are home again! On our way back, we went to Mt. Rushmore. It was the first time the kids have been there. Dave and I hadn't been there for about ten years or so and, oh boy, has it changed. It is rather like a carnival now, with flags, music, shops and a parking structure. Much different than the last time we we there!

The kids got little booklets with questions to answer to earn Junior Ranger badges. They really got in to it! It was a fun way to learn about the monument and explore the area. They were so excited when they got their badges! :-)

It is nice to be home again and to sleep in our own beds! :-)

Kate & Grant are Junior Rangers!