Family Fun

November would not be the same if it were not for Thanksgiving celebration or our B family's annual visit. Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle and Aunt arrived on Sunday with lots of hugs for the children




We enjoyed a few good days of weather and we took G'ma and Aunt Shelly to one of our favorite places that we don't hike alone. I forgot my camera, but here is a picture from last year at the same place! Grandma likes it there as much as we do : )



The weather turned rainy as a noreaster dawned upon us the third day of their visit. So we did a lot of shopping and so thankful that Grandma loves the thrift stores too!

The time passed by so quickly and it was time to say goodbye. I regret not taking pictures of Grandma doing crafts with the kids. Sweetness wore the shirt they painted w/ fabric paint for two days! They really enjoy time with their grandparents and are making arrangements to meet them at the beach next year! We're thinking of exlploring the northern atlantic for a change.

Some may say, "it's good to see 'em come and good to see 'em go!" And while this is true there tends to come a tinge of loneliness when a house empties. So Treasure Hunter decided we would have a fun day -- just us four after church on Sunday. We packed a picnic lunch and drove to Big Meadows on Skyline Drive! We have been living here for 16 years and this was our first time up there! It was gorgeous and we realized as we gazed upon the mountains and looked at the map that we were in our backyard!

After eating our lunch with our jackets on we started on an adventurous trail walk. Lewis Falls is just 1.2 miles. Sounds easy enough! Cutie Pie attempted to push rocks off the ledge!



We said, "peek-a-boo" to some deer.


Analyzed the shelter probabilities of an overhang.



And found some freshwater mollusk shells? This made Sweetness (who is wild about seashells since our visit to the beach) so very happy!


She needed this extra boost to help her continue this 1.2 mile trail that suddenly became arduous!



Notice we lost the jackets? It was quite warm on the west side of the mountain!

And look what was at the end of our trail. OK. Not exactly Niagara, but hey they're hard to beat.



I knew going down this trail that going back up would be TOUGH! For Sweetness and I that is. Treasure Hunter gained at least 100 yards on us and Cutie Pie was amazingly keeping up with his daddy's stride. I had to kick into story mode for Sweetness or she would have moaned the rest of the way back all the while taking breaks every 25 feet. She became engrossed in the story of the little girl who rescued freshwater mollusk shells?? from a tyrant hunter and completely forgot about the physical exertion required to reach the top. I'll have to share one of my toe biting goat stories with my blog viewers some day.

We were nearly at the end of the trail and my imagination being zapped when Treasure Hunter motioned for us to come forward. Quickly, but quietly, we scurried up the trail and once our eyes focused beheld this breathtaking sight.



Can't see him? How's this for a close up!


He sat still as a statue and let me take multiple pictures of him!
What a wonderful ending eh? I dare say the Falls were a bit disappointing, but it was worth the walk up and down that hill to see that owl! I heard my first owl hooting in the woods around our house and now I laid eyes upon that endearing creature!

I'll have more breathtaking pictures to share of something Sweetness and I have been working on. And please don't tell Sweetness that those freshwater mollusk shells are shells alright. Pistachio nut shells! LOL. OK! So I truly didn't know until Treasure Hunter told me. They were laying in a puddle of water! And oddly enough we found the SAME kind of shells in the Chic Filet parking lot yesterday! OK STOP LAUGHING! Homeschooling is for parents who want an extended education because they slept through the first! And enchantments are for childhood, so why not be a fairy tale!

Until next time please enjoy the repetitive tune that Cutie Pie recently learned on the piano.

Thank you God for your beautiful Creations and for your Word that has no end!

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Can you believe there is only one more week in October? We had a field trip planned for haywagon ride, apple and pumpkin picking, but we were majorly rained out! The weather turned gorgeous again this week so we decided we had better get to the pumpkin patch!







The leaves are so pretty I can't resist taking pictures.




School is going well. WE have developed a routine that seems to be working most days. We begin with prayer and Bible reading. We are reading through the book of Matthew and memorizing scriptures along the way. The kids have done an amazing job memorizing the Beattitudes. We then continue our cozy couch time while I read aloud to them. Usually a science or geography related picture book. Then the children take turns reading to me. Cutie Pie enjoys reading the Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant and Sweetness reads a variety of books like the Chincoteague Pony, the 18 Cent Goose, Who Eats What etc...

Then it is tabletime where copywork, phonics, spelling, math, science and geography work is done. We do touch on a little history while visiting different countries in our geography studies. The children's favorite activity is to place the appropriate country flat on their passport and then color a picture of the flag. Canda was easy, there was only one color. I like to tell them what the symbols on the flag represent. We also read missionary stories from these countries and pray for various needs the people have. And do art related projects like leaf rubbings this week.

We have also began walking each morning before school and I feel this exercise gets the brain flowing. We actually don't begin school until after lunch as full tummies and exercised bodies makes a more relaxed subdued child ; ) WE usually finish up just in time to begin dinner. The only other thing we need to get back to is foreign language!

THEN! It's read aloud time in the evening and that is another favorite time. We read Tikta Liktak about an Inuit Indian who had quite an adventure on his search for food during a lean year. Amazing journey!

Well, that is it. Gotta get ready for another day that the Lord has Made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Country Roads! Take me Home!

Once again we interrupt this regularly scheduled homeschool for a trip to WV! I couldn't help it! The cool fall air and the autumn hues were calling me home. I began rehearsing in my mind that 1/2 mile walk from my bus stop in the chilly air hunger pangs spurring me up the hill to the front door of our little white house. I would shuffle my books enabling a hand to grab hold of the door that once opened enveloped me in delicious aromas, and warm big arms. It was time to go get a hug from my mommy.

We had a delightful visit. Even my dad was feeling good and played me a few songs on his guitar. The nieces and nephews are growing quickly and looking me eyeball to eyeball! We took up half the dining room at Cracker Barrell!! Sweetness and I traded seats so that we could talk to everyone. The cousins had a blast at the hotel's indoor pool.

Church service at my old church was pretty much the same as 30 years ago with a few changes. My brother hosts a puppet ministry for the chidlren now and Sweetness and Cutie Pie enjoyed that immensely. I walked down to check on them and give them cough drops if needed (we've had a dreaded cough for months now). And happened upon them praying together. There stood my brother and his family in a circle grapsing the hands of all the little children in a time of prayer.

The children are always invited to share a song and praise with the congregation after Sunday School. Something I truly miss with the church we attend here in VA. The very same sister in the Lord that sang with me when I was a child, Linda, got up with her same bubbly self and reviewed their day's lesson. The puppets were trying to work a puzzle in the dark and the children tried to help, but nothing was accomplished until the Light came on! Then Linda proclaimed, "Come on Kids lets sing!" And they burst into "I Saw the Light! I Saw the Light! No more darkness, no more night!" I spoke to Linda afterwards (who mind you has not aged a bit! despite her son going to heaven at a very young age after an electrical accident). It was good to thank her for singing with me as a child, and now singing with my children.

It was hard to say goodbye. I think I was more homesick driving home than driving to WV. But feel more at peace now that I was able to have a few days with my WV family. Thank you Lord for a safe trip and thank you for my family.

BEACH, BIBLE BEE, BAPTISM! We are the B's

We interrupt this regularly scheduled homeschool to bring you this BEACH VACATION, BIBLE BEE & BAPTISM! All in ONE week!

The skies were blue and traffic light along our detour route to Corova Beach, NC. So it took a few extra hours, but we figured cotton fields were more attractive than bumpers! We arrived Corolla around 4ish and decided to cram what groceries we could fit amongst our luggage before we headed to our rental home. That was a good decision as 7 miles at 15 mph on a 4x4 only beach took longer than we expected. The tide was coming in. Not yet high tide, but way past low tide. Don’t laugh! This was our first time ever driving on the beach. It was a little like driving in deep snow, but still not what Treasure Hunter, transplanted from Syracuse, NY expected. Nevertheless we made it! Praise the Lord!

Our accommodations were more than we needed, but hey the price was right. Six bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, game room and of course living room and kitchen. There was a nice sandy yard for the kids to play and an ocean view from the third floor. We also loved the wrap around deck on the middle and upper levels. A big bright moon welcomed us to the beach that first night. Sweetness and Cutie Pie enjoyed their “bath in the ocean.” Cutie Pie has come a long way from being scared to death of the “BUBBLES.” I still remember his first trip to the beach when he was only 2.

Sunday was GORGEOUS! We were all excited at our first wild pony sighting! Get the camera QUICK. Let me zoom in as close as I can before they slip away.




The next thing I know they’re walking up the sand road and into our front yard!




Now they’re at the back door! My kids are petting them? Hey wait a minute I thought these were WILD PONIES!


The dear creatures took shelter from the sun in the shade of the back deck. The mare was drooling from what I thought was thirst. We offered her some tap water from the outdoor faucet. She took one sniff of that water, snorted and walked away! Wait, wait! Come back! We don’t drink the pee colored water either! It smelled like pool water, yet all the chlorine could not make it clear. I’m still wondering what those ponies drink. A little while later a family of ponies visited us! We didn’t offer them any water.




Monday was raining and we went shopping…

Tuesday was raining and we watched the Super Nanny marathon. My kids love Jo and are begging me to have her come to our house for a visit. “But you are good kids and we don’t need nanny to come,” I said.

“No mama, we want her to come teach you how to use the naughty chair!” they replied.

“That’s ok sweet ones, mama’s discipline works just fine,” I said with a big fake grin!

OK so where were we? Wednesday? Yes. Beautiful sun shiney day with 35 mph wind gust. Which would have been nice if we need graffiti sand blasted off the side of our house. We did manage to block the wind somewhat with our vehicle. Treasure Hunter tried to bury Cutie Pie in the sand, but a spot to swim formed instead!




Another great spot to swim! A pond in the middle of the beach left over from the rain and high surf!




Sweetness made a sea shell castle!



Treasure Hunter swung the detector and found a few nails YIKES our tires!





And I wrote in the sand.





Thursday was rain again! Seems Tuesday’s storm was coming back for round 2! No big deal, we’ll just go shopping again, because we’re out of junk food anyways. We were careful to go out at low tide this time, but much to our surprise the surf was way above HIGH TIDE! We were stuck! Uggghhh… So back to the house we go. We tried to play monopoly, but greed took over and soon the board and all its tokens, hotels, houses landed in the floor : / We like Sorry and card games much better.

Treasure Hunter, suffering from cabin fever, took a walk out on the beach. The kids and I refused to go out in the wind, so we stayed home for another episode of Super Nanny. The wind was really kicking up and I found myself checking to see if Treasure Hunter would be returning soon. The sky was sooooo black and I know that I know I seen a small funnel cloud forming. I gasped for air when at the same time a gust of wind blew the wooden chair across the porch. “Oh Lord! Please watch over my hubby.” I no longer said that prayer than this appeared in the sky.





It’s Friday morning. The skies are turning blue, the wind is calm and it’s time to pack up and go home!!! WE took the short route home figuring the Labor Day weekend traffic had dwindled and much to our delight the traffic was light.

We would have stayed one more day, but Sweetness was scheduled to compete in the first annual Bible Bee Competition. And what a blessed day that was. I admit I grumbled and complained about the Bible Bee. I mean 270 verses was a LOT to memorize, with only 8 to be called out for the children to recite. But it finally hit me that all over America kids at their local Bible Bee were proclaiming God’s Word in their recitations! And on Nov. 5 the top 100 winners of the local competitions will compete at the National Bible Bee in Washington DC! The winner of our Bee will be announced Sept 18, so stay tuned : )

One more special event to report!!! Sweetness was baptized yesterday, September 13, 2009. She has been saved for two years now! The Holy Spirit was really moving in her heart when she said, “Mama we really have to go to church.”

“Yes, I know honey.” I faintly replied, not wanting anything to do with church or organized religion ever again.

“NO! Mama. We HAVE to go to church! I NEED to be baptized.” she insisted.

So after many invitations from my neighbor we attended her church and have been goin there for a year now. Sweetness was baptized along with 4 other young girls in the congregation, including my neighbors daughter. It truly was a blessed day as each girl was invited to share their testimony, scripture or special song. Sweetness asked that we all sing Amazing Grace before she was baptized. So we all sang and she proclaimed her salvation before God and man. I have no still pictures as the motion cam was running! I look forward to sharing this special event with our loved ones who were not able to attend this special day.

OK! Back to school today? No way! God has other plans. We get to entertain FOUR of our bestest friends today! I feel so blessed I think I might BURST! God is so good ALL THE TIME!

School Begins! 2009

Our first full week of school has been better than expected! Both kids are eager to learn and find the materials engaging and fun. Here is what we are doing!

Bible: We’re learning a brief overview of different worldwide religions and how false they are compared to what the Bible teaches using Window On The World. Our key verse is: God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I Tim 5:17 Soon we will be learning about missionaries that take the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to countries with false religions and poverty. We will be praying for these countries and missionaries. We will also be reading through the book of Matthew and doing various activities that our My Father’s World curriculum suggests.

Spelling: We are using Words Their Way for spelling. We compare spelling patterns by sorting them by sound and then by spelling pattern. Cutie Pie is working on long a vowel patterns and Sweetness is working on r controlled vowels. Their spelling list consists of high frequency words from these sorts. We also play games and read literature to expound on the words we are studying.

Language: I use dictation from Bible verses and other quotes from literature we have read. Sweetness also writes letters to her friends and family. We work on both spelling and grammar using this dictation method.

Reading: Cutie Pie is amazing me with his reading abilities. He is reading Puppy Mudge books and a phonics series that we got from the library. Sweetness’ reading has really took off this year too. She reads the Henry and Mudge series, and other similar chapter books! She also reads books that pertain to our geography studies, like Me on the Map of which she loved and on her free time drew a map of her neighborhood!

Read Alouds: We are reading about animals from the All About Animals books and of course our science and geography read alouds. We started Kingdom Tales, but find that to be a bit abstract and obscure as they try to compare the Kingdom of God to this imaginary enchanted place. It is similar to Pilgrims Progress. While I find the tales entertaining and thought provoking, my kids don’t seem interested so we will put that one down for a while. We are looking forward to beginning Hero Tales and other missionary stories.

Math: We are using Singapore Math again this year. These first few weeks have been review of number bonds in relation to addition and subtraction. We use a lot of word problems with manipulative so the children can visualize the addition and subtraction facts along with rote memorization. One fun thing they both love is go-fish. We stack the deck then draw cards and lay down two cards that add up to the fact we are working on. E.g., two 5’s make a 10, 6 and 4 make a 10, etc. We are allowed to ask the other player for a card we need, and get a second turn if we get what we’re fishing for. Sweetness is getting an introductory to multiplication by map scaling (turning inches into miles).

My Father’s World Exploring Countries and Cultures
We are so loving this program that incorporates Bible, Geography, World Cultures, Vocabulary, and Science (using God’s Design for Ecosystems). So far we have learned what a continent is, the name of each continent using the Yankee Doodle tune. We have learned the 5 oceans, what an ocean ridge is. Also latitude, longitude, map grids, map scales, different kids of maps! I bought an awesome workbook, All About Geography, and have found this to be a gem. Now I’m not the workbook type, but this book is very engaging and gives practice on geography concepts. Soon we will be exploring different countries, the first of which is the USA! We are so blessed to have friends and family from different states and have traveled somewhat. I look forward to playing USA bingo !! A neat little game I picked up at the thrift store for $1. This curriculum also sneaks in a little bit of history to boot ! I LOVE IT.

Science: Again we are learning about the wonderful world that God created using God’s Design for Ecosystems. We learned that a worms niche is mixing and fertilizing the soil by placing several kinds of soil in a jar with some earthworms! Amazing how those creature burrow down. We also learned about the oxygen/water cycle by placing soil and grass inside a jar, placing it in a warm spot and watching the water evaporate and condense. We will be getting some cooler weather next week and will begin our leaf collection as we explore North American forests.

Art/Music: Cutie Pie asks every day, “Mama are we going to do a craft?” He did enjoy the cup we made out of a piece of paper and was really impressed that it actually held water. But he was not too enthused with the dolls across the world and I reckon I can’t expect him to be. So he took matters into his own hands and created this dwelling for his troll. It is complete with a mailbox located on the side with its own assigned mailbox number. (place picture here).

The children are practicing what they learned from piano lessons last year. Cutie Pie is actually asking for more piano lessons. I still want to work on reading music, learning the notes and symbols and need to search for a good music workbook. There is a wonderful good band/choir comprised of mainly homeschoolers that I am itching to join. But we may have to wait until next year as we have a great need to stay close to home and keep our calendar as free as possible this year.

Last but certainly not least is physical exercise. We plan to get back to our daily walks next week as the temps cool down. Eve will be happy to go walking once again too. For now Sweetness and Cutie Pie are utilizing the treadmill. Sweetness has decided to give up English riding lesson and opt for a monthly Western trail ride of which she will earn. I would like to get them involved in gymnastics, but again we need to stay close to home this ear.

Well, the last thing I can think of that I want Sweetness and perhaps Cutie Pie to learn is typing. So need to hop off here and search for a good typing program.

Thanks for stopping by and reading about our school. None of this is possible without the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How's it feel to be FORTY? The Big 40!

It feels great to be 40. Truly it does. And I can't think of a better way to spend the day, nor a better gift than having attentive excited children to teach at home! Children are truly what I waited my whole life for! I can't think of a better way to celebrate your 40th birthday than with a sleepover! OK! Well, maybe I could think of something else, but it wouldn't have been near the fun!

I remember when I USE to play this game!!







YES! They dressed alike on purpose : )



My birthday wish is that my dear friend and neighbor will help me celebrate my 41st birthday! It was just last year this time she was painting my kitchen . . .

What is your reward?

Whew… taking a break after a day of cleaning the house. I think it’s been a month since I dusted last. I think a lot while cleaning so I’m gonna talk outloud on my blog : )

We‘re almost ready for school to begin. I had a talk with the kids over lunch. I asked them what kind of rewards they would like for doing a good job on obedience, chores, and school work. Some things they wanted were, ice cream cone from the drugstore, lunch out, mini dog from Wal Mart, extra craft day, play date w/ friends, and a trip to thrift store. Some will be short term and other long term rewards.

What’s my reward satan asked? Yes, that pesky thing tries to get on my shoulder from time to time, so I plucked him off real quick and said, “Thank you Lord for the privilege to be at home with my children making a warm, clean, pleasant place for my hardworking hubby to return to. Thank you Lord for a hubby that works so hard to provide for us. Thank you for his health and stable job. “ That reward has no price tag attached.

So school is going to be great this year I can feel it in my bones. I chose My Father’s World Exploring Countries and Cultures this year. The teacher’s manual is so clear and easy to read. The author lives and loves the Charlotte Mason approach with a Christian worldview. I’m not a purist of any one homeschool philosophy, but I do like CM’s short, twaddle free lessons with lots of outdoor exploration. I love that we will be studying different countries and cultures using missionary stories!! We have been blessed to meet some people who are taking their education and their faith to China and India!

I’ve got a school supply list that we will shop for tomorrow Lord willing. OK… I reckon that is it. Wished I could talk myself into washing my car, but I need a shower and must put up some tomatoes. Tomorrow is another day for washing the car. Unless the Lord comes back : ) Are you ready?