Matching Dolls

One more post, because this was too cute to not share...

Preparing for Next Year

Now that this school year is only a few months shy of ending (we school through the summer), I am beginning my plans for next year. Once again, we will be changing curriculums. We used My Father's World this year, and even though we've enjoyed it, I just feel like we are lacking in places. So next year, I will take the advice of so many of my homeschooling friends and we will attempt Sonlight. Thanks to a dear friend who lent me her catalog (since mine seems to be lost in the mail system), I have been making my book lists and price-checking the various online stores to see where I can obtain everything for the cheapest. It's exciting, really! I think we are going to enjoy using Sonlight next year, and my biggest hope for this next year is that my boys will develop a new love for reading. Sonlight is centered on so much reading. I know they are going to either love it or hate it. Hopefully, they'll love it!

Another change I've made is to move their computer into our sunroom where we do all of our schooling. I find that I rarely let them do anything on the computer since it is way off in a back room. Now instead of being hidden off by themselves when they want to be on the computer, they can be in the center of all our activity. It will become a useful tool in our everyday homeschooling. And it even looks good in it's new home if I do say so myself!

Spring Showcase and Science Fair

Our homeschool co-op had their Spring Showcase last week to show off much of what the students have been doing all semester. One of Alex's classes was a wonderful class called Action Songs. They used sign language and other hand actions while they'd sing precious scripture and character songs. During the showcase, they performed some of these fun interactive songs. So precious to watch!

Just before the showcase was our co-op's Science and History Fair. Alex entered a project on testing a derby car to see what location along the car a weight should be placed to make it go the fastest. He had fun testing his car and putting together all of his results... but I have to say he did not enjoy the write up so much. The results and awards were presented during the showcase. There were not a lot of entries in the science fair, but even so, he won second place in his division and we are so very proud of him. He was quite proud, too!

Finished!

The kids' playset is finally finished. Bill and my dad had completed the "clubhouse" part of the playset months ago, but did not have time to drill and attach the swing beam. It's been on Bill's mind for quite some time now, but life has just been too busy. But this weekend he did it, and the kids are already enjoying it. Today Nathan asked for a "recess" during school to go and try it out. Other than a need to raise the swings just a tad, it couldn't be more perfect.

Active Kids

I know I've mentioned it many times in my previous posts, as it is my excuse for rarely blogging, but we have a lot of activities! We are always running here and there from one activity to the next, or so it seems. But no doubt about it, the kids have a great time and we enjoy watching them have a great time.

Yesterday, Alex, Nathan and I, along with the other parents and siblings, got to go into Amy's ballet class and watch her and her classmates perform part of their recital dance that they have been working on. It was such a treat to watch Amy perform. I could tell she was a little nervous and she definitely doesn't know all of the steps just yet, but she didn't let that stop her from trying. She watched her teacher, who was also dancing off to the side with them and she danced along. I was so proud of her!!!

And the boys have been keeping us busy with their many activities, baseball in particular. Below are pictures of their most recent games (last night). Nathan is a Rockie again. He was a Rockie last year when he played mini T-Ball, and this year we switched him to a different team and had him repeat mini T-Ball because we felt like he needed time to grow with a new team (we were disappointed in his experience last year). It was really funny when we saw that he'd managed to get the same team name this year. Alex's team is the Mets (they were the Athletics last year). He is dong "coach pitch", although they actually use a machine to pitch the balls. The boys are definitely struggling with that. Alex can usually hit it one of the 5 chances he gets, but it's not easy. Those balls are thrown at them fast! I'm sure they will all get better as the season continues.

Easter Blessings!

Happy Easter!!!

We have had a wonderful Easter weekend. On Good Friday, we shortened our school work to reading and math only. Then we were able to focus our attention on Jesus' journey to the cross. I had a lot of preparation to do for our family's Saturday Easter picnic, so while I was in the kitchen cooking the kids ate their lunch in the den and watched The Animated Passion. This was a wonderfully done depiction of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, especially in how well it suited even younger viewers. Alex and Nathan were both full of good questions throughout the video. After it ended they sat at the kitchen table and "played" their favorite "game", as they call it. They just love the Resurrection Eggs! I highly recommend them as a way of telling the Easter story. The kids went through it together several times before running off to play as I continued my cooking and baking. Bill went and got pizza for dinner and we had a picnic in the den while we watched the classics, The Easter Bunny is Coming to Town and It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. Then when dinner was finished, the kids dyed Easter eggs, which is always a fun activity. I then gave the boys haircuts before getting everyone ready for bed and reading a few Easter books.

Saturday we had our annual Easter picnic, although our usual plans changed somewhat. Since my mom has been sick, instead of heading out of town for a larger family gathering, my parents along with my brother and sister and their families had our own picnic at a nearby park. It was crowded, but we had a great spot close to the playground equipment, close to the restrooms, and close to the big dirt mound. The kids had so much fun playing in that huge pile of dirt. I think they could have spent forever there! There were also confetti eggs, so we were all good and messy by the time our picnic fun was over. Because of all the crowds at the park, we chose to do our big Easter egg hunt back at my parents' house. The kids had a great time with it. We did things a little different this year since we had such a wide span of ages participating. Each of the kids had to find a particular color of egg (and they all had the same amount hidden). I think that was even more fun - and more challenging - than just looking for random eggs. The kids seemed to enjoy it more that way, too, so we'll probably make that our new tradition.

So here we are today, Easter Sunday. The kids woke excitedly to their filled Easter baskets and spent as much time playing with their new toys as we could allow them before going to church for the Easter service. And since today is also my birthday, we went out for lunch with my parents so I could have a day with no cooking. That's my kind of birthday! And to make things even better, we are all just staying home today to relax and enjoy a slow day for a change. I couldn't ask for anything more!

I pray that you are all having a blessed Easter!

1 Peter 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...

Dyeing Easter Eggs:

Easter Picnic At the Park:

I think they enjoyed the clean up almost as much as making the mess!!!
Easter Egg Hunt:
Easter Morning: