{my little romantic}

Leah asked me if we could have a "fancy dinner tonight. Fancy dinners in our house, evidently, just include a table cloth, and Leah dressed up in some fancy dress-up clothes. (The funny thing is, I remember doing the same thing when I was a girl.) She tries to make the table look extra special with paper napkins and the fancy glasses (which are ordinary glasses just used on a fancy dinner day.)
Here she is all dressed for the occasion with her petticoat hanging just so under her too-small Christmas dress and my old fancy shoes. So sweet!

That's MY man!

Any man who can have this in front of him:




and turn it into a working computer deserves a pat on the back. (Yes that is the computer "motherboard" on the floor in our bedroom!)

Of course, I think he may have Munchausen Syndrome for computers (the need to break a computer so that he can then fix it) but that is a post for another day!

A Road Trip Down Memory Lane

About this time of year, like most folks, we start getting cabin fever. We just HAVE to get OUT. It doesn't matter where or for what reason, we just have to get out. To keep "OUT" within our budget, we usually drive...aimlessly...find a park, a hike, or bookstore for entertainment. This weekend was no exception in January. We drove throughout MA, RI, CT, and back through MA again in search for some good photo opps to practice with my new camera. We found ourselves at Fitchburg State College, my alma matta. Here's some shots:

Forgiveness is Freeing

Dear "A Day in the Life",
I know it has been a long time. So long, in fact, you may have been close to disowning me. I am here to ask for your forgiveness. It would thrill me if you can forgive my absenteeism and take me back...

{first day of school}

Well, after three years of homeschooling, God has opened new doors and opportunities for all of us. After an informational visit to NECA for my children turned into an interview for a teaching job, I knew that my prayer to be surrounded by believers was answered. I was offered the job (nearly immediately) and there was space for Ben and Leah to attend as well. I am excited to see how God will use me here and what growth he has in store for me. Here are the children on the first day...they were so excited to start (bitter sweet for all of us since we loved homeschooling.






My camera is on the fritz and taing horrible picutes...its really driving me crazy!

Fishing with Cousins, Swansea, MA

Aunt Renee bought all the cousins fishing poles this summer to take them out fishing on our camping trip. Of course, we had to practice before the real thing. It was a fun afternoon filled with jast a few mishaps and one lonely fish (caught by cousin Emma).

Leah with her Papa:

Third Day "Born Again"

I can't seem to get enough of this song. Some of you know my Dad was baptized a few weeks ago. He has been "saved" since the early 70's when he spent some time in Viet Nam. However, he recently converted to the Baptist faith and made a public staement of his faith through baptism. It was a beautiful moment to share with him and he continues to be an amazing witness to myself and those around him in everything that he does.



(You'll have to pause my play list at the bottom of this page to hear the video.)

It also reminds me of the baptism we witnessed on the beach last summer.

The Book Buddies Book Club

I have organized a children's book club that we hold here weekly for a group of homeschooling friends. Its been a lot of fun and the children are getting the "cooperative learning" component that is missing from a typical homeschool day (I believe to be the only missing aspect of HSing).

We printed up membership cards, we vote on the books to read, listen and encourage others to read and have book discussions about characters, settings, plot, etc. It's been great fun thus far. Here are the children's mug shots for their membership cards!

July 4, 2009 Cookout

My in-laws used to host a Fourth of July party every year. Now that we live here, we continue the tradition. We usually have games, crafts and activities for the children to enjoy. We had our second annual Hubba Bubba Bubble Blowing Contest. Last year, I won and the children got pretty upset. So, we had a junior and senior division this year.

This year's senior winner...

yep, that's me! I may have to take my talent on the road! You can imagine the jokes that come along with being the best Hubba Bubba Bubble Blower title holder!

Also learned today that my dad doesn't know how to blow a bubble. Here we are trying to teach him...at 58!

Success!

Volcanoes...

We're doing a unit on volcanoes this summer. It has been especially interesting since we got to climb a "quiet" volcano--El Malpais-- when we were in New Mexico. So we have been able to tie together what we learned from the National Park Service Junior Ranger Program to our unit study.

Here's Ben looking over the "rim" down into the crater. It was pretty impressive. It was a pretty hot day and hiking up 1/2 mile on loose lava rock proved to be a bit much for the five children. However, I believe they have a "real" experience to reference now while studying volcanoes.

Of course, we could not learn about volcanoes without erupting a volcano ourselves (not as exciting as I remember it being as a kid).

Note that is it JUNE and my daughter is wearing a wool sweater and my son is bundled in an over-sized jacket!