Merry Christmas!

Winter Wonderland

Snow

The night is cold and silent

Someone sprinkled sugar

And it fell, fell, fell, fell

To cover the world.

Grant wrote this poem last week and I think it fits perfectly with this view of today's winter wonderland out our front window! The snow is so beautiful. The kids played outside in it for a couple of hours and then Grant shoveled the driveway. You would think they would be tuckered out from all of that, but, no...the energizer bunnies are still going and going and going... :-)

Crazy Hair Night At AWANA

Field Trip To 1860's Farm

Recently, the kids and I joined some families from our homeschool co~op for a field trip at a local working farm that functions as it did in the 1860's. Our guides were dressed the part and they led us on a fun and informative tour of the farm, with lots of hands~on activities for the kids. Afterward everyone went inside to make candles. Our family just purchased a membership to the local historical society, which includes admission to this farm as well as some other sites to explore, so we will definitely be going back! :-)

Melting Mom's Heart

I woke up the other morning to this wonderful sight. They were sitting on Grant's bed in their pajamas while Grant read to Katie. They were both very interested in the story. So sweet. Grant has been using every spare moment lately to read. It is exciting for me to see this love of books growing in him. Once he even said, "Thanks for teaching me to read, Mom! I love it!" Awww... way to melt my heart, son! :-)

Cookie Time!

This year, instead of frosted sugar cookie cutouts, we made peanutbutter cookies with chocolate kisses in the center and chocolate cookies with cherries in the center. The kids loved making the indentations and putting the kisses and cherries on the cookies. It's great to have such cheerful helpers! :-)

First Snowfall

Grant and Kate were so excited that a snowstorm was on the way! It started snowing this morning and it snowed all day. The wind was blowing and the snow was falling and the kids were in heaven! :-) There was even enough snow for some sledding. After awhile the cold forced them to come in, but they are already talking about playing in the snow again tomorrow. :-)

There is something exciting about the first snowfall. I welcome the snow now. It is beautiful and it is nice to have the snow falling while the Christmas music is playing. I am going to enjoy it now because in a few months I'm sure I will be ready for the snow to stop! :-)

When Dave and I got married, we had a piano piece from the Michael W. Smith Christmas album play at our wedding when the candlelighters walked in. It is called, "First Snowfall." I love it! :-)

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving guests just left and our house is too quiet. The kids are saying how strange it seems to not have them here. For the last few days we have had the pleasure of hanging out with Dave's sister, Amy, her husband, Kent, and their six months old son, Jack! They came all the way from Alaska to see us and we all had so much fun together!

On the day after Thanksgiving, Kent, Amy & Jack joined us as we hunted for and cut down our Christmas tree. It was quite chilly outside that day, so we found the tree quickly, enjoyed a short hayride at the tree farm and then got back in the warm car!

Little Jack is so cute! He is very smiley and social. :-) And, Jack is SO ready to crawl! He gets up on all fours, rocks back and forth and lunges forward. Soon he will get his arms and legs coordinated and be crawling everywhere. He will probably be walking and talking by the next time we see him.

Thanks, Kent & Amy for coming all the way to our house for Thanksgiving! We had such a wonderful time with you and Jack! :-)




















Cousins ~ Kate, Grant & Baby Jack

Field Trip

The moms in the co-op we belong to take turns organizing field trips that families can sign up for. Recently I organized a field trip to Here's Life Inner City to put together gospel bead bracelets for an outreach called Boxes of Love. Here's Life coordinates volunteers who pack boxes of food at Thanksgiving that will be distributed by urban churches to people in their neighborhoods. Along with the food, the bracelets are put in the boxes as a way for those delivering the boxes to share the gospel. The kids had a good time putting the bracelets together, and got an opportunity to have a part in helping families in need.

Computer is Here!

The new computer is finally here! I am getting all my files and information from the other computer loaded on the new one. It is good to be able to get on the computer more often than just right before going to bed (when I was checking email on Dave's computer). But, Katie did mention the other day that she liked it when I didn't have a computer, so I guess I was spending too much time on it before! It was a good reminder that I need to limit the time I am on the computer when the kids are around, and instead spend the time interacting with them, which is a lot more important! :-)

I love my new computer, but one thing that is missing is Photoshop. I really miss having Photoshop!!! :-( (The other computer was kind of on loan to me and Photoshop had already been installed on it before I was using it, so I just got to enjoy the benefits of that) Someday, I hope to have Photoshop again, but for now I am just really glad to have my own computer! :-)

Happy Halloween

The kids scooped out their pumpkins and drew the faces, then Dave and I carved them. We pulled together a couple of costumes from the dress-up box~Kate dressed as a cowgirl and Grant was a ninja~ and then they were off to a few of our neighbor's homes to trick-or-treat.

A church near our house holds a "trunk-or-treat" party every year that we went to, also. People have candy in their trunks and the kids just walk around to all the trunks and get candy. The trunks are all decorated and people from the church hand out candy at each of the them. It is nice and simple and safe.

After going through all of their "loot" when we got home, and eating a bunch of it, the kids were pretty tired and went right to bed. So, it is quiet here now and I can grab a few minutes on my husband's computer before heading off to bed myself. G'night! :-)

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!

Your own personal translator

Do you want to send a love letter to your sweetheart in say, French, only you don't speak French?

Well, don't let that stop you! Just head on over to the Translator Beta website, type your letter in English and click on the translate button. Your letter will then appear in French! No laborious language lessons, just a simple click of the mouse, and you can become "fluent" in a new language!

It's fun! :-) Just click here.

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!