Look Who's 2!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE!!!  WE LOVE YOU!

Cute Therapy

Wendy, Lily, and Rose praying over there hambergers and fries:)

Cute Therapy

Rose praying at lunch

Amen!

14 and 4

This year's birthdays have been very exciting. Almost more than a mother's heart can take! All the children have had their birthdays for the 2009 year. We now have a 16, 14, 12, 10, 5, and 4 year old, not to mention Rose turned 1 in January. She is now 19 months old.

This month we had Samuel's 14th birthday and Lily's 4th birthday. These two are so much alike. They both have tons of personality and energy. I really wish I could tap in to that energy and bottle it! They are smiley , happy kids too. I love to be around them. They are such a joy and a blessing!

Happy Birthday Lily and Sam!

Love you!!

Our 2009-2010 School Year

School will be starting here next Monday, August 17. We never really stop school. Well, we do take breaks, sometimes quite lengthy breaks. I like having time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to bake and be crafty! But we try to continue reading and math year round and play a lot of catch-up after a new baby arrives. I love having this flexibility as a homeschooler.

This year is especially exciting because we have decided to participate in a homeschool co-op. We will meet on Mondays and the parents each teach and assist one class. The rest of the week our work will be completed at home. It's going to take a lot of organization and effort on our part to be successful. But, the payoff of completing so many classes for all of my children will be huge. I really need the help this year!

Here is a run down of the classes that we will take either in co-op school or at home. Anything marked with an * will be taught at home. I will be glad to answer any questions in the comments.

Jacob (16yo)
Saxon Algebra 1 *
Apologia Physical Science
Bob Jones American Government
Bob Jones Economics
Virginia History
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Abeka Geography

Samuel (14yo)
Saxon math *
Apologia Physical Science
Abeka Geography
Abeka Health
PE
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Spelling and Grammar review *

Abigail (12yo)
Saxon math *
Apologia General Science
World History
Geography Through Art
Logic
Institute for Excellence in Writing

Anna (10yo)
Saxon math*
Shurley English
Apologia Astronomy
Virginia History
PE
spelling review*
required reading*

Wendy (5yo)
Children's literature Five in a Row (I'm teaching this class at co-op)
Math*
PE
Science
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons*
Handwriting*

Lily (soon to be 4 yo)
number and letter recognition *
as much paint and markers as I can stand :) She loves to paint and create art! *

A Birthday AND Free Food...

It doesn't get much better than that. We all enjoyed some delicious combo meals from Chick Fil A today. That's a big treat for a family our size. AND it's Jacob's 16th birthday. It is sooo hard to believe I have a kid that age. We've had a great family day and lots of fun dressing up like cows. You might think I made my older kids dress up. Nope, they were very willing for good free food! I asked Jacob last night if he would mind dressing up to go and he laughed and said he would even dance for food. Like most teenage boys he LIKES to eat and eat he does.

Samuel, as usual had a really unique style for his cow costume. That's a black trash bag and a spot on the rump, just like any good cow :)

Lily may have been the cutest cow we have. She could hardly wait to go to Chick-Uh-Lay as she called it. The afternoon could not come soon enough for her so we could go. The location we went to had an indoor play area which made it even better for the little ones. We will look forward to Cow Appreciation Day 2010.

~~Happy 16th Birthday Jacob~~

We love you very much!!

Is This Day Today?!

Lily runs up to me very excited and says, "Is this day today?! Is it Anna's bank account?!"

Translation: Is it today? Is it Anna's banquet? Tonight is Anna-Kate's softball team's end of season banquet. We're having an ice cream party at the park.

~~picture credit...Anna-Kate~~

They Got Their Chance...

...to rescue us that is. And boy was I glad! Tommy did not believe that the girls had seen a "huge snake". I don't think the boys believed them either. Those of us that saw their pale faces and their little trembling selves did though. We all chose to believe that the snake was just passing through and not living in the bush outside of our garage or we would not have wanted to go outside ever again :)

We were sitting in the garage yesterday evening watching heavy rain fall as a storm passed over and discussing our disappointment of another game cancellation. All of sudden, my husband's clip board full of game plans goes flying along with his lawn chair and he jumped back, I mean jumped in between me and a huge snake that came out from under the bush just outside of the garage. After a second to collect himself, he did grab a hockey stick and thankfully Jacob was not afraid to help and the two of them wrangled him into a bucket. Jacob was very brave, and did not seem afraid at all. He is the one in the video picking up the snake, playing with it, and then putting it into the bucket. He watched a LOT of Crocodile Hunter growing up and loves Survivor Man too.

Now much to my disappointment, we could not kill a "good snake". So, after tiring him out and letting everyone inspect it as much as they cared to, everyone (except me and Rose) took him to some nearby woods and let him go. Hopefully, never to return. Please don't tell me if you think it's possible that a wayward snake can find his way back "home" . You know like the stories you hear of dogs and cats traveling miles and finding their way back. I really wish the poor creature no harm, I just don't want to share my yard with him ;)

And like any good homeschooling family, we did some research about local snakes. We discovered that our snake is a rat snake. The only kind of snake in Virginia that grows over six feet in length. If your curious and want to see lots of neat snake pictures check out The Virginia Herpetological Society. Even the pictures give me the "willies".

Two Peas in a Pod

Lily and Wendy just met a black snake in the back yard. We heard them scream and they came flying in the door. They were scared, to say the least! They were both pale and trembling (even their lips didn't have color.) Breathing heavily they said,

"It was huge!""

"Get the boys!"

"It stuck it's tongue out at me!"

"Yeah, It was mean!"

"The boys can shoot it."

"And they can have it for dinner." (Lily adds!)

Well, that broke the tension and we all cracked up!! The laughter and some hugs brought back color to their face!! I'm so glad they have each other and rarely leave one another's side. Sweet sisters, what a blessing! And how neat that they thought of their big brothers to rescue them. It's a shame none of the guys were here to "save us" from the mean snake!!

A Little Perspective

I took this sweet picture on Mother's Day. This is Jacob, my soon to be 16 year old and Rose, my soon to be 16 month old playing in the sand box. Precious. This loved and well traveled sand box has been in the family for 14 years. A gift to the boys from my Mom and Dad.

Jacob is a six foot two running machine. But his needs aren't a whole lot different than little Rose's. He depends on me for food like Rose. LOTS of food. You see he is a growing young man that runs an average of 30 miles a week. No joke. He is a serious runner. But most of all he needs me to listen. He talks a lot about things that are important to him. And I listen.

Someone accused me of being too protective when Jacob was a baby. That was probably true in a sense. But only when it came to dirt. Because I was as confident then at age 21 as I am now that all he really needed was me and his Daddy. Lots of me and Dad.

So, this picture and memory was one of many gifts on Mother's Day. I was spoiled by everyone and loved every minute of it (thank you guys), but mostly I was honored to be called Mama.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:16

Talking Over Oatmeal...

Wendy and Lily had this conversation over oatmeal this morning....

Lily, "When I grow up I want to have lots of babies, and I will hold them then put them in the floor to play."

Wendy, "When you grow up, Lily, God will put an egg in your body and it will grow. You will wait a long time , then you will have a baby. Then another baby, then, another baby, then, another baby."

Lily, "Mmmhumm."

Wendy, (with enthusiasm) "But FIRST, you have to pick a boy. A husband. IF your a girl you pick a boy, if you're a boy, you pick a girl. Right, Mama? (I nod yes.) Wendy continues...That boy will be your husband, Lily. BUT, you can't pick Daddy. He's Mama's."

Lily, "Mmmmhumm. I won't pick Daddy." (smiling at me)

Lily asks me, "Then who will you be?"

I said, "I'll always be your Mama, but when you have kids I'll also be Grandma." =)

Wendy adds, "But you'll have different hair, right?"

Rose walking....

Rose just started taking steps about a week and a half ago. She has been so determined to walk and walk fast! I have felt sad for because she falls hard on her bottom A LOT. It's another benefit for baby that she is cloth diapered 99% of the time:) I love these videos because she has that baby tucked under her arm. So sweet! (Thank you, Elizabeth , for the baby doll:)

They watch and mimic our behavior. Let us always be showing Christ -like behavior for them to follow...We can be so careful to protect them from outside influences and miss completely the greatest influence that they are watching most of the time.

I've been reminding my older kids lately of what I call "the trickle down effect". If they are bickering or picking on each other. It's not good enough to say "Oh, I was just kidding." The damage has been done. The little ones are going to treat each other the way we treat each other.

11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1Cor. 13:11

Another Kid Hits Double Digits!!!

These first two pictures are of Anna-Kate, three years ago today. She turned seven. She gets very excited about her birthday. She loves choosing the menu for dinner and her own special cake or desert!

This year, as she turns ten, I am watching another little girl quickly turn into a young lady. I am so proud of her. She is a very special young lady. She is so wonderful with her little sisters. I can always count on Anna to entertain Wendy and Lily. She has a way of keeping them occupied and happy. Which can be quit a chore for their ages!

Anna has such a sweet heart and gentleness about her. She will make a wonderful mother someday. It is certainly bitter sweet to see another kid enter double digits. I am so thankful that God gave her to us to enjoy and have the privilege to " train up in the way she should go".

I can't wait to see what the next three years bring for Anna and all that she can learn. One of her goals is to grow her hair long enough to cut it and donate to Locks of Love. Click on the link and watch the video to learn more about her goal! Anna is very excited about this!

Anna you are one special young lady. Happy 10th Birthday. We love you very much! Mama and Daddy

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

A 3 Year Old to Her Big Brother

Lily says with great exitement, "Mama, I'm gonna help Jacob skin his bunny rabbit!?"

And after that was done....

Lily asks, "Can we skin the deer now?"

And so are the days of our lives.....

Abigail's First Piano Recital

Abby did a beautiful job in her first recital. She played "We Three Kings". She was very nervous, but all the practice and playing has payed off. She played so gracefully despite the butterflies!
It was a great way to start celebrating Christmas. I am so thankful for Abby's desire to learn to play. It is such a blessing to hear her playing hymns and beautiful music through the house.

Abby, we are very proud of you!

October News

October has been a busy eventful month in our house. I am terribly behind on posting, so I thought I would catch up on things in one post.

October has been a good month of schooling for us. Everyone is doing very well and our schedule seems to be working well. In a nutshell, we are up by 8, chores and breakfast are done by 9, most are done with lessons by lunch time. Jacob has to work for a while after lunch usually. But he has some big books to work through. Tommy has taken on the responsibility of teaching grammar to the kids in the evenings. He is doing a great job too! Jacob has started Algebra this year and is doing very well. Samuel is learning to be more disciplined with his time and is completing his work most days by lunch time! Abigail does more than all of us pretty much everyday. She and Anna have started preschool curriculum with Wendy and Lily and Wendy is loving every minute of it. Wendy is a sponge right now! Abby is also practicing for a December recital for piano. She will be playing "We Three Kings". Anna has become quite the reader. We are very proud of her progress and is learning cursive and has nice hand writing.

In sports news, we had a month filled with soccer games and a baseball tournament. Samuel's travel baseball team had an excellent showing in the AAU state tournament. They took second in the tournament which made them 9th in the state! We really enjoyed watching Jacob and Samuel play soccer for the first time since they were age 4 and 6! They played their hearts out, and enjoyed it even though they only won one game. In other news.....Anna's soccer team, coached by her Daddy, has not lost a game and is playing for the Championship on Saturday, weather permitting. Go Fighters!!

October has been great, but not without some stress too. Little Wendy had a terrible fall on the playground....scared this Mama really bad! She fell from the top of a rock climbing wall, and pushed her two top teeth into her gums. We thought they were knocked out completely, but x-rays showed them pushed up in between her permanent teeth. So sad and painful for Wendy, but she is unbelievably tough. We are just waiting for her to heal and are not sure what will happen with her four top baby teeth. Wendy is trusting God to bring down her teeth. We are so thankful that God protected her from other serious injuries because she fell eight feet. Praise God for protection. The very same weekend of Wendy's accident, Jacob had his new bike stolen out of our garage. Obviously this was very concerning to think someone would come into our garage and steal something. The great news is that Jacob's bike was replaced by friends of ours that are in a community group called the Jaycee's...another blessing!

In baby news, Rose is nine months old! She loves food and is currently cutting teeth number six and seven! Her tooth filled grin is almost as cute as her gummy grin was! She is really getting around, by army crawl, our second to crawl this way! She definitely makes her presence known with lots of baby talk, squeals, and giggles. She is such a joy!

I cant' finish this "newsletter" without introducing the newest member of our family. Her name is Josie and she is a sweet heart with a face that is so ugly it's cute! She's a boxer and is full of playful energy and seems to need all of our attention, which we are happy to give!

Making Caramel Apples

This was fun and easy and not nearly as messy as you might think! And they were delicious! We prepared these before dinner and popped them in the refrigerator. After dinner we went to the library and came home to enjoy our apples. Lily and Wendy could hardly wait!

Here's how we did them...

Anna washed and dried eight golden delicious apples

Anna and Lily unwrapped the caramels and put them in a glass dish.

I had planned to melt the candy in the crock pot, but she was busy baking potatoes for dinner! So I microwaved the caramel a minute at a time stirring after each minute. It took about three and a half minutes.

While the girls unwrapped candy, I put the sticks into the apples. The bag of Kraft caramels came with five sticks, and we saved some sticks from popsicles to use on the rest.

I chopped peanuts and made a pile of sprinkles.

We rolled the apples in the caramel, and scraped the excess caramel off the bottom of the apple with the edge of a knife. Then roll in the nuts and sprinkles. Some wanted only one topping, some did half nuts and half sprinkles.

It was best to tilt the bowl and roll the apple against the side to evenly cover the apple with caramel. We had to melt the caramel a couple of times for 10 seconds between apples.

I sprayed the glass dish lightly with cooking spray so they wouldn't stick.

Lily ate the WHOLE THING! I had more fun watching these two eat than eating my own!

Vacation

Wow! September is almost over and I have only posted twice. My girls want me to post about our vacation that we took on the sixth of this month. It was a good vacation. With gas prices, we decided to stay close and we only had to drive an hour and 45 minutes to get to Massenutten Mountain. We have been several times before. It is a great family friendly place. Here are some pictures from our trip.....
We enjoyed our first road trip in our "new to us" 12 passenger van. The kids are really enjoying the extra leg room!
We really enjoyed having my sister and her family with us the end of the week. Our time went fast, but we managed to squeeze in as much as possible! We had a little celebration for Elizabeth's 9th birthday.....
And Jackson was just happy to be there!

Wendy and Lily were very in to treasure hunting, and nearly filled a ziploc bag with pine cones, pine needles, rocks, moss, leaves, sticks, lots of acorns of various sizes and colors, some of which looked suspiciously like deer doo...(we are city folk you know).
Jacob tries to avoid and ruin every picture I attempt to get of him these days, but I manage to get a good on here and there:)
The deer were great entertainment and they were everywhere! Of course the babies were adorable. We learned that they like bread, but not cheetos....
Grandpappy groundhog was very grateful for the cheetos. I think if we would have allowed he would have came on in and sat at the table with us....a friendly chap indeed!
Lily was so wiped out by swimming, but tried her best not to nap in fear of missing something:) We had a great time, and I was glad to get home and back into school!