The End Is Near!

Can you feel it? The end is getting nearer and nearer everyday and we are all feeling it. Ok, I could get all theological on ya right now but that is not what I am talking about. What I am talking about is the end of another homeschool year! Spring fever is on the rise and we have all caught the bug! We(as in ME) are having a harder time at wanting to sit down and get school done each day. I could really tell the effects of spring fever when we had a library day today. With 4 library cards to use each visit, we normally come home with around 40 books and a few documentaries and then a cartoon movie(or 2). Well today we came home with only 8 books, 5 documentaries, 2 old movies and 2 cartoon movies. I hope Kenyon (and Jacinta) never have a serious debriefing on facts about Asia or Australia later in life because we are kinda flying through these last continents like never before. We are gonna finish our curriculum for the year and I am very happy about that(even though it may mean cramming 5 weeks worth of learning into 2 weeks). I am pleased with the way our school has gone this year and so I must deam the year a success. Last year I only homeschooled Kenyon and we were doing lots of trial and error(emphasis on the error) trying to see what would work for us. This year I went from homeschooling 1 son to homeschooling 1 son, 2 daughters and a little sister. It very well could have been a recipe for disaster but thanks to the INCREDIBLE GRACE OF GOD, we all know more about the countries and cultures of the whole world than I ever did-even after receiving a public school high school diploma! Both my girls are reading and LOVING IT! Kenyon is still not to fond of reading books that have more than 100 pages but he is getting there. For some reason he feels he has to be able to finish any book he opens before he can close it and more than 100 pages "takes too long". I am trying to get him to realize he can actually use a book mark and start where he leaves off at a later time. I have given him a challenge. If he reads 25 books with 150 pages or more between now and Christmas then he gets $25. He really likes to get money so hopefully he will follow through. We had our homeschool convention a few weeks back and it was just what I needed. It gave me the little extra boost to finish this year off strong and really got me excited for the next year. I know what all I want to get for next year! We are definitely sticking with My Father's World. I love it and am really excited about the next year. Kenyon and Jacinta will be starting on Creation to the Greeks and Keslee and Kalysa will start Adventures in My Father's World. I am also planning on using Math U see for everyone. We all seem to really do great with a more hands on approach so I think it will work well. I got Eagle's Wings Considering God's creation for Keslee's science. It will probably take us a couple of years to get through it since we are starting it in 2nd grade but it looks awesome and I can't wait to start. I thought about getting Kalysa the same but since she will have a month of therapy after her surgery, I decided to wait for now on extra science. I also found an new science that I am planning on using for Kenyon and Jacinta. It is brand new and REALLY teaches a Biblical world view. That was their whole purpose of writing it! It is called Truth in Science and I am SOOO excited about it! I got Personal Help for Boys for Kenyon. It is a Biblical character training workbook that he is just at the right age for. I also picked up a writing workbook for each of them, Kenyon's is cursive and the girls is manuscript. I got them for next year but the kids get just as excited about new school stuff as mama so they couldn't wait. They all have about 20 lessons done already. (another reason I love homeschooling!!! : ) How many public school kids have ever said "PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Can we do this work now?!? I don't want to wait till next year!! PLEASE MAMA! PLEASE LET US DO EXTRA!!")

Well that is our plan for next year! Now I am just waiting for God to show me how we are gonna purchase it all but I know he will. How 'bout you? Are ya done for this year? Are ya gettin close? Do you have next year all mapped out? Would ya like a chocolate pie?-ok, just checkin to see if you were still listening! But seriously, I would love to hear about your year-this year or next years plan.

HAIKU

In our studies on Asia, we learned about the Haiku. They are the easiest type of poetry around-no rhyming-not even complete sentences-just 3 lines-5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. I wrote one to use as an example and then Kenyon and Jacinta each wrote one. This is what we came up with.

WEEDS!
Wispy, Feathery
grow unrulely everywhere
weeds, ANNOYING weeds!


Jacinta's Snake
Awesome pear shaped head
long, sleek, elegant body
slithers through the grass.


Kenyon's Tree
Colossal branches
Majestic, Tremendous trunk
leaves blow in the wind.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

This week in school, Keslee asked me "Is mother's day over?" I said "No. It is this Sunday." Then Kalysa and Keslee began a few art projects on their own that I was NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK AT! This is what I got....

This is the front of a card made by Keslee. It is her and I out on a sunny day. I love how the sky is filled with "love".


This is the inside of her card. So sweet!

Kalysa made this one. I told ya she is a full time daddy's girl. She could not leave daddy out just because it was a card for Mother's day! As a matter of fact, that is a picture of me with daddy in the corner. That is ok. I don't mind sharing the love of my kids with my hubby even on "my" day!

Monty bought a lovey, mushy card from the store and Kenyon signed that one. Lucky for me he signed first and LAST name. I would hate to be confused about who it was from : )

Just wanted to take a moment to wish all you mom's a GREAT DAY! Hope it is filled with love and kisses, especially sticky gooey slobbery kisses. Aren't those the greatest!

Didn't sound very good to her!

Our cat, Jefferson, has realized that he is a Tom cat and has gotten into a few fights. Last weekend he came home with scratches on his ears and around his eye and he was holding his right front paw up. He would not move it and would not even touch it to the ground. I was afraid it was broken so we took him to the vet Tuesday. Well, it is not broken but very infected and abscessed. He is on antibiotics and we had to take him back in for a check up today. So while we are sitting in the vet's waiting room, Keslee stands up to look out the front door at the same time that one of the vet assistants is coming back in from her lunch break and Keslee gets hit with the door. She tells the lady she is ok and that it just scared her but she did not get hurt. The lady offered to give her an ice cream sandwich to make them both feel better. Keslee refused several times and just took the lady's apology. On the way home, Keslee tells me.....

Kes: I really did get hurt a little with the door on my mouth.

Me:Why didn't you say that? Are you Ok?

Kes: I don't know why, I was scared to say it, but I am ok.

Me: Why did you not want the ice cream sandwich she offered you?

Kes: MOM! ICE CREAM ON A SANDWICH?!?

After I quit laughing and explained what an ice cream sandwich was, she wanted to turn around and tell the lady she really did want one.

What a Great Dad

Now that Monty gets home from work around 9pm instead of 2am, the kids are waiting for him at the door every night. Even though 4 months have gone by, the routine is still the same....Car pulls in drive-"It's Daddy! It's Daddy!" starts going through the house in case anyone is in another room and did not notice a car pull up-Children start uncontrollably bouncing around-Front door opens to screams of "DADDY! DADDY!'- and then hugs all around. They are so excited for daddy to be home and tonight I witnessed, what may be, the reason why...

Monty:Little Mama(keslee)! Come in here please.
Kes:Yes?
Monty:I heard something about you today.
Kes:What was it?
Monty:Are you gonna tell me about it?
Kes:(trying to think about her day and unable to remember any incriminating incident)I don't know what your talking about daddy.
Monty:Are you sure?
Kes:Yes.
Monty:Well I heard...
Kes:What is it?(Looking a little scared now)
Monty:Well I heard-that-you-ARE SO CUTE!!!(accompanied by tickles, kisses, giggles, and squeals)

Monty usually calls each child separately and I often don't get to hear what it is that he has to tell them. I overheard this tonight and I think I just learned his secret ; )

MUST READ FOR ALL HOMESCHOOL MOMS!

Spunky is one of the first blogs I ever came across when I was doing research about homeschooling a few years back. At that time I was trying to decide if homeschooling was really something I thought I could do and I had NO idea what a blog was. I found Spunky and started going through her archives and reading everything I could. She seemed so full of knowledge and wisdom. I learned so much from reading her blog then and still learn things when I read it now. She is great at keeping me up with political things going on in the country that could/is affecting homeschoolers as well. Today she posted 10 Commandments for Homeschool Moms, and I think it is GREAT! Go check 'em out! Just what I needed to hear today(why is #7 so hard for me?-I need prayer!).

89ers Day!

Every year, Guthrie holds an 89er Day celebration commemorating the original land runs in Oklahoma. It is an event I have been to (almost) every year of my life. There is a parade, carnival, rodeo and of course tons of family members and cook outs. Even though I grew up in Texas, we drove to Guthrie in April for 89ers. I remember sitting on the curb watching the parade and waiting for one of the floats to throw out candy. That curb was always full of cousins-Sandy, Holley, Chastanie, Chuck, Chris, Char, Stephanie, Kevin, Eugene, and when we were a little older we sometimes got to bring a friend from Texas with us for the weekend. Well the names have changed on that curb but it is still the same......

Kenyon, Keslee, Kalysa, Peyton, Hunter, Alyssa, Aliyah, Mia, Ashton, Ashlynne-and some friends Gabby, Nathaniel, Jeriamiah. I LOVE seeing all the cousins together! They love each other so much and have so much fun together. My kids cousins all live about 2 hours away but they get to see each other often enough to be best friends. When it is time for 89ers, the kids do not ask "Are they coming" but "What time will they be here!?!" Just thought I would share some photos of cousins having a blast together...

Kalysa coming down the big slide

Nathaniel. Gabby, Jacinta, Keslee preparing for take off!

Kalysa and Kenyon also waiting.

Kalysa and Aliyah on the dragon roller coaster

Keslee, Nathaniel, and Gabby on the coaster.

Nathaniel and Kalysa saddle up

Gabby and Keslee do a little trick riding!

We did not get to go to the rodeo this year but spent extra time at the carnival. This was the one year we really got our moneys worth for the ride bracelet. All three kids are now tall enough to ride just about EVERYTHING. I still was a little surprised that my baby girls were not only tall enough but READY to ride everything. They rode every single ride there except for the Zipper(Kenyon rode that one!) and the Power Surge(that one is a little much for any of them!!). They wore their mama out running from ride to ride and back again but they had so much fun. I can't help but think about the memories we made as kids like.....

times Chuck and I used to see how many flips we could do in the Zipper(if I remember right it was in the high 30's!)

One of the Duke Boys(Duke's of Hazard) was in the parade

The HUGE American flag that stretched from one side of the street to the other as it was carried and the entire crowd stood up and clapped

The Shriners coming out in their bowling pin cars

Dancing along to the marching bands

The "gun fights" in the street

Trying to trick dad into riding the Ferris Wheel so we could watch him freak out at the top

The list could go on and on. I love those memories and I am so glad that my kids are making the same type of memories with their cousins every year. It is such a special time when you look up and see you are surrounded by family!