Homeschool is not just for kids....

I have to say, I have learned a lot this summer! I learned to blog, learned to work on the administrative side of the new CHEFS website, learned to work an mp3 player, learned to work a new camera, learned to use microsoft word.... Wow! I still don't have and mp3 player, or a CD player for that matter, but I hope to get both withing the next 2 years. Yes, I still have cassettes! But that is all our vehicles will play! (They are old.) Plus, I can't do voice recordings on cd's..at least, I don't know how, or even if it is possible. But all in all, I am happy that I have been learning.

Kimberly

Being the youngest child at this point, she gets lots of pictures. Besides, she is hilarious! so that is why she is being honored with this post. Also, she turns 2 next weekend! Man, time flies too quickly!!!!

best friends

These are a couple of cute pics I took this week. The kids are really having a good time together. One thing I have always noticed is that my kids generally get along together really well. They love being together and spending time together, even though each one has separate friends.

This summer we are reading aloud a book called Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends. It has the basic premise that God made your family as your first place of ministry, and that it should be your priority to practice love and godliness with your siblings first before branching out, and that there is no reason your siblings shouldn't be your closest friends. It is written by young siblings, for young siblings, and we are loving it. Most of all I love watching the kids as they grow toward one another.

What an evening!

Well, I think I am getting the hang of the new camera. I practiced yesterday while the kids had about 5 friends over to play, and practiced some more at our 20 year reunion last night. Sadly, I didn't really get that many pics at the reunion. Oh well. Today we are all tired. I don't think a single kid slept on the ride home!
But back to real life, huh? I am making a run to Wal-Mart for a training potty for Kimberly. I have had it with finding dirty diapers on the floor, from a kid that obviously knows what's going on with her body. It is time to train! And I suppose it is time to pack up the crib and train her to sleep in the bottom bunk with Emily! I think I had better do a lot of praying, because this promises to be a bumpy ride! Lord willing this will all be smoothly accomplished before we start our homeschool year in late August! At least I don't have legwork to do to get ready for learning time! I totally redid my planning and made up my own notebook and planner/recording pages for everything I need, AND I have all curriculum organized and ready to use, AND I have the year planned out academically. All I really need is office supplies, so when Staples says "teacher appreciation day" I will be all over it and ready to roll.
Well, since I rolled out of bed late today, I need to get my daily bible reading done and then get started on the day. I promised Emily we'd buy fabric and I'd teach her to sew on my machine!

Entering New Territory

Elizabeth took apart an alphabet puzzle and wrote all her letters--just because she wanted to!! Yea! She will be starting some first grade work in a few weeks!

This is a picture frame Clay made from some scrap wood we had. We love this picture, but the glass broke when we moved here and the frame was an old cheap metal one. Good Job Honey!

And these are the 5 porcelain dolls Emily got off ebay. They cost us a whopping $13 for all 5!! I love ebay, and she loves to play with the dolls!

Anyway, this is my last post using photos from our old Kodak 3.1 megapixel CX7330. With a little knowledge, I plan to start using our new Pentax 8.0 megapixel optio E50 camera. It was not a purchase, but a reward to Clay for 20 years of service with Cytec Engineered Materials. Hopefully I can learn to use it quickly, as I am somewhat technologically challenged!

Fun weekend

No pictures to show, but wanted to share our weekend. My grandpa lives near Killeen and we went to his house with most of the family to see him for his birthday this weekend. The ride down was fun for the kids and they got to swim in his pool and play with lots of relatives they never realized existed. Needless to say, they had a blast. To them, it was a "vacation". Everyone was very happy, but tired at the end of the day, so we headed to a hotel in Temple to spend the night. After grabbing some Whataburgers, the 4 oldest went swimming at the hotel and 2 of us relaxed in the room. When we got ready to leave Sunday morning, Emily lost the glasses for her new porcelain doll so we scoured the parking lot for about 20 minutes to find them. Then we went to church and Kimberly sang OldMacDonald, Row Your Boat, and Wheels on the Bus pretty loudly all through communion. After that we had lunch and headed home. About 30 miles down the road, Lizzie had to go to the potty so we stopped. That is when Emily realized she didn't have her blanket. Clay searched all through the suburban and I called the hotel. Guess what! We drove back to the hotel to get it! Finally we were on the road home. We stopped at Hillsboro Outlet center and Bass Pro Shops for some fun and finally got home a little after 6pm. Talk about tired! But we plan to go again next year!

What's been going on this week.....

This is Kimberly eating one of her favorite foods...garden roma tomatoes! Yummy!

And here are the industrious little laundry folders on Monday! Hooray for child labor!

And of course, the kitchen help. Licking the bowl is absolutely essential for good muffins.

And an artist who not only painted a picture, but also herself, and part of the fridge!

And lastly, our oldest in his new glasses. Very sharp, Jacob!

So, how is your summer!?

Fourth of July

It was a hot day so we began with swimming at the neighbors again. Then we got dressed, ate some hot dogs (very American) and took some pictures in the yard. When it got to be 8pm we loaded up and headed to a free celebration in Commerce. The kids played on a playground and listened to a band, but best of all we saw a super fireworks show. They catnapped on the way home and got to bed about 11:30. It was really fun!

Unfortunately, Kimberly woke me up at 5:30 today and I feel like a walking zombie right now! Hope you had a great fouth of July!

Yee Haw! It's Sheriff Jordan

Look out folks! There's a new sheriff in these here parts! Better watch yerselves or he'll catch ya!

conversations with a 4 year old

As I was talking to Jordan a little while ago, I commented on his shirt. It was covered in lots of animal footprints. I said, "Hey Jordan, what happened to you? It looks like animals walked all over you!" He looked at me kind of funny, so I went on to say, "Those tracks on your shirt...did that happen when you were sleeping in the forest?" He got this twinkle in his eye and said, "Oh, yes, it did! When I was sleeping in the forest the animals stomped all over me, and now my brother is missing in the forest, too!" So I played along saying, "Wow! Were you scared?" So he said, "Yes, i was, but we have to find my brother!" So I said, "We better call a park ranger to help find him." Then Jordan said, "We can't, because the park ranger is dead!" I said, "Oh man! That's terrible! What happened to him?" He said with a very solemn face, "The animals got him." I just cracked up at that point.

Gardening

This is Kimberly helping in the garden. I had a great video of her in the garden spreading mud on her legs, but the file was too large to send. i also have one of her dancing to Old MacDonald. those will have to come thru Kodak gallery! She is such a character!

Little characters!

Here we have Jordan dressesd in Lizzie's gown being Darth Vader, and our very own Indiana Jones (yes, he lives here!

My messes!

This is what happens on cereal morning when Kimberly eats rice krispies!