Thanksgiving 09

We loaded up the minivan and visited our families in Missouri for a few days. The drive from our home to Southwest Missouri is 17 hours. When Dad is behind the wheel you stop for two reasons: to get gas and to go to the bathroom. Seriously, he doesn't want to waste prime driving time for dilly dallying around restaurants and convenient stores! Our first day of driving we spent 11 hours in the car, and ate packed lunches and snacks in the car. Once we got to the hotel, the children enjoyed playing in the pool while Dad picked up a pizza for us. The second day of driving was only around 6 hours, and this day of driving seemed like nothing to the kids!

As I type this the children are actually still in Missouri. We will meet Grandma tomorrow at a certain location along I-70 to get them back. Grandma volunteered to watch them for a few days because Dad surprised me (Mom) with a day trip to New York City for our 10th wedding anniversary. Plus, Grandma had not had the children since July 2008. The children enjoy spending time with her because she has a fun yard to play in with trees and tree stumps to climb on, a dog, some cats (one cat that used to be ours), and some horses. On the return trip back home, since it was just Heath and I, we drove straight through.

Time with Mommy's Family

Time with Daddy's Family

Here's one picture from our NYC Trip

Our Thanksgiving trip is over, our trip to New York city is over, and we go pick up the kids tomorrow. So, it's "back to life, back to reality" come Sunday morning. When the children return home we will do the basics in school (reading, writing, and math) everyday. Along with our school work, we will start our Advent traditions, decorating, and baking!

Thanksgiving Homeschool Club Field Trip!

On Wednesday, November 18th, the children and I enjoyed a fun field trip with our Learning and Fun Club friends. We all met at a local church and had a Thanksgiving feast, made a Thanksgiving craft, and then we went to Nixon Park to learn how animals prepare for the winter. We also brought donations for a local food bank to help families in our area have the food they need for this holiday season.

L and K enjoying their Thanksgiving feast

L, K, and T posing for a picture for Mom before leaving Nixon Park

Happy Birthday!

My sweet little middle child is 7-years-old today.
She is loving, thoughtful, creative, and kind.
She loves to sing, draw, and write her own stories and poems.
She is learning to cook and wants to learn how to sew.
When she grows up she wants to be a veterinarian.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!!!!

October Homeschool Highlights

The children practiced some of the Christmas songs they're learning for children's choir at church. While they were practicing, they decided it would be fun to put on a Christmas Concert for their Dad one day when he got home from work. They made a sign, and even made him a ticket. T played the drums, L played the maracas, and K sang and played the tambourine.

For Science we've been having a lot of fun studying the solar system! The children put together this cool notebook page that shows you the order of the planets from the sun.

The children loved math this day. The lesson involved candy. Of course when they were done with the lesson, they got to eat their candy.

Learning to Serve

The weekend of October 9th and 10th, our church participated in a service project called "Feed the Hungry." On Friday night the girls and I went to church and helped pack sack lunches, and K helped sort the socks, hats, and gloves that were also passed out. On Saturday night, Dad and T went and helped pass out the food, to pray with people, and to share Jesus with people if the opportunity was given. As parents, we want our children to learn how to serve. Jesus didn't come to be served, but to serve (Mt. 20:28).

Matthew 25:35-40

³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Homeschool Picture Day

We have now lived in PA for 13 months. I am still amazed by the rich history and beauty of this state! On Tuesday, we visited a gorgeous place. We are in a club called Learning and Fun. It is a group of homeschool families who get together for field trips. On Tuesday, our group got together for a special picture day. The pictures were all taken outdoors at Wallace-Cross Mill. The children had fun playing and exploring around the stream.

Apple Picking 09

Apple picking is becoming a tradition here in our family. You can see how much the children have grown since we went apple picking last year. We plan to make applesauce, apple butter, and apple dumplings this year!

The top picture was taken last year (2008), and the bottom picture was taken this year (2009)