Snowy Co-op Days

A fun filled exhausting day! As a leader in our homeschool group, my co-op day starts before any one else gets there (except the other leaders and their kids). Moving the chairs and tables, setting up chairs and tables, unlocking rooms, cabinets, setting out announcements and name tags. We take calls all morning....from those running late or families who have awaken to sickness, but to add to it today.....we were expecting several inches of snow....during class time.
Most made it in, happy to be back and see everyone from the long holiday break.....we were short teachers here and there but everyone pulled together and made the best of it! Gym classes, Art classes, sign language, science classes, even a photography class and a government class.....all happened today. Whew....glad it all went ok!

We trudged out in the snow after classes for some yummy Skyline with friends and then home where the girls quickly put on their snow gear and played outside for hours! I had to MAKE them come in because it was getting dark! Silly girls would have made an igloo and stayed out there all night if they could've. After warm showers and some food we settled in for a cuddly evening with "neo cubes". Dad had ordered them for the kids for our upcoming Florida trip and they arrived today. The plan was to hand them out just as we were leaving as surprise to keep them busy on the trip, but dad couldn't wait, because.......he wanted to play with them himself! The kids played with them all night while we just "hung" out on the couch together catching American Idol here and there.

Kids around here have a snow day tomorrow it looks like, but we will be putting in a full day around here!

I'm back

Wow ~ Life has been busy or I have been lazy.....I think it's the busy excuse! One of my goals this year is to be an active blogger....writing out the things that I do not want to forget.

The past few months have been diffucult with the loss of Richard (Kevin's dad). I truly believe that the Lord has covered us with His grace and we are facing each day better than the one before. Papaw is what the kids call him. We miss him.....he was always so happy ( I always picture him bouncing around the back of the church as we sang praise and worship) and never gave up on the healing power of the Lord. We would go to his house and sing....Zach would play the guitar.....we would pray, cry, sing and pray some more. Then we would have some sort of snack ~ sometimes it was ice cream and sometimes it was carrots & broccoli ~ and talk about church, politics, nutrition, the kids, vacations and all the new "gadgets" that Papaw was buying on-line. I'm so thankful for these memories.....I'm so thankful that my kids have these memories and that they were built on a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.

On the kid front: School is back in session after the Christmas break. Jord had drama camp the first week in August which made it difficult to get school accomplished, but we are pressing along now and are trying to be dilligent in accomplishing much before our Florida vacation in February.
Zach has been enjoying the Government unit of his history this year....we purchased a book about Alexander Hamilton that he is currently reading and he is signed up to start a Government class with our homeschool co-op this coming week. He will attend TeenPact in April (a 3 day tour of the statehouse and city buildings, meeting elected officials, writing a bill, devotions, praise/worship & more)
Jord just finished drama camp, put on by KidShine. She had a speaking part and a solo~ she sang the verses on the song Today is the Day by Lincoln Brewster. She messed up a little on the words, but recovered gracefully and of course....sounded awesome! She is finishing up the book "Noah Webster" and we are going to have a go at her first big book report for this year.
Rach was not old enough for the drama camp, but begged to go and hang out there just so she could watch what was going on.......she'll be ready for next year! She has finally learned to tie her shoes and both front teeth are finally in......these were big deals for her! She is finishing a book every couple of days so I'm not sure what she is reading right now, but we are studying the american indians and colonists right now.
Abby is pretty much finished with preschool, but I'm not ready to start Kindergarten yet, so I am trying to keep her busy with "themed" weeks.....this past week was "Transportation". We talked about helicopters, boats, trains and emergency vehicles. This week I'm going to cover first aid, 911 and ..........not sure yet, but you get the idea.

We have been anticipating going to Build-a-Bear to stuff Holly/Hal Mooses that they got for Christmas from Memaw. Today was the day. At some point in the night Abby had gotten up to potty (and most of you know that once she wakes up, she could be up for hours).....she had found a B-a-B catalog and must of been looking at it.....about an hour later she comes to my bed, rubs my arm to wake me....holding the catalog and wants to know if today is finally the day that we are are going......she is such a stinker! Today was the day and everyone went to bed happy campers and with a new, stuffed build-a-bear....even Zach got one, but I don't think he went to bed with it...haha!

Hopefully I'll be better at keeping up with this blog ~ I know that mostly family and few friends may read this, but I would like to have this journal for my own benefit.

My other goals this year of course are losing weight, upping the workouts, scrapbooking and all the other yearly REcomittments. Most of all I want to REcommit to my family.......I realize that my kids are growing too quickly and I am forgetting all the things that I vowed to NEVER forget. Memories ARE precious and I am planning on making lots of them this year and I plan to keep track of them as much as I can!

Academics Fair

Collasped farm

Zach

Jord

Rach

Abby

Zach - Walt Disney w/ Walt's 1st Mickey cartoons playing

Jord - Dolphins w/ our Discovery Cove DVD playing

Rach - Insects w/an ant farm

Abby - Seasons

At the very end of the fair as we were cleaning up, Abby had picked up the ant farm and then proceeded to drop it, spilling dirt and ants everywhere. We managed to round up all but one ant, who died in the mayhem. A vacuum was brought in to clean up the dirt. Some of the ants became trapped in the tunnels, but have amazingly tunneled their way back out in the past 24 hours!

Spring cleaning & Academic projects

Spring brings such a desire to clean and wipe away the dust and dirt of winter. The bare trees are now full of bright green color and the birds who were so quiet are now sometimes so loud that we stop what we are doing to watch them build their nests as they sing. They are such happy workers. We are trying to take the same approach and be happy, singing workers around here as we clean, sort, organize and do school.

My parents were here this past weekend and enjoyed our time with them. Nana and I took the girls to lunch at Taco Bell and shopping.....Old Navy, Kohl's & Meijer........how fun! The boys also went out to get food for a cookout. In the 2 hours they were gone they made a stop at Tim Horton's for donuts and then before heading home they stopped at Skyline for some coney's. We all went to Skyline one more time the next day before Nana and Pappy headed home.

We started some of our cleaning out of closets and changing over the clothes a few weeks ago and it has been a slow process. It is now time to pick up the pace as we may have company coming the first of May. Our dear friends, the Hutsells, may be coming back our way to stay with us for a while. Just the motivation I need to get the spring cleaning and organizing accomplished. I have started in the basement.....it is such a catch-all all year long for everything....clothes, coats, toys, seasonal decorations, games, shoes, homeschool supplies, MWAS files, books, keepsakes and the list goes on and on......I go through basement every spring and the organization falls apart as the year goes. It's my own fault......I gather things from upstairs and then tell the kids, "take this downstairs and just sit in the back room or put it along the wall somewhere......" Not sure if I will ever be totally organized for much longer than a few weeks!

Our co-ops Academics Fair is next week and the kids are busy writing reports and working on display boards. Zach is doing a Biography report on Walt Disney, Jordan is doing Dolphins, Rachel - insects and Abby is doing a report on the 4 seasons. I'll post pictures of the final reports next week.

Better get off here and get back to my cleaning and organizing......

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Happy Birthday to the best husband ever ~ love you more and more everyday! Here he is with his new birthday grill! He has enjoyed handmade posters taped up all over the house, a "professional" backscratch from the girls at the Backscratch Company and a mid-day shake from Steak-n-Shake. A Hershey Chocolate cake just came out of the oven and will be iced soon and we have dinner plans for Max & Erma's (kids eat free on Tues)!

Spelling Bee

Jordy and Rachy participated in a Spelling Bee hosted by our co-op. They had studied their word lists and were ready for the "competition". Although, it was not as fierce as "Akela and the Bee", it was however scary for all eyes to be on you as you spell out words one letter at a time. The girls did great, sweating a few words here and there, but managed to be the winners in their age groups. Proud of you girls for your courage!

Happy Anniversary to All of My Parents!

My parents are celebrating their 39th today and Kevin's parents are celebrating their 50th. Married on the same day, 11 years apart! They have been such a wonderful influence on our lives. We appreciate the example they are set before us and the life lessons that we have learned from them. Love you all!