Float your Boat!

It just wouldn't be a completed summer with out making boats and floating them!
My sister arranged for a group of us to meet and let the kids float boats they had made!
I wish I would have got pictures of all the awesome creations.
Everyone came with a boat..and they were all made with different materials!
Even the youngest ones made boats...and worked hard to get them to float!

It really didn't matter, how big, or how slick ....the motorized boat won!
I loved that one of the kids brought a motorized boat...it gave my older girls a whole new challenge..and excitement!

The boat rescue...is probably the kids favorite!

They love to collect other peoples wishes...and then make them for themselves..I don't know if a recycles coin gives wishes...but we tried over and over!

*Notice the change of clothes...she was being very careful not to get her skirt wet...but them she fell completely in....Brady was quick to offer his clothes!

It has been blazing HOT... we walked the crew to ice cream!

Very FAST MELTING ice cream!

A Birthday Party Twist!

Instead of a birthday party...Brooke wanted a shopping spree with her friend!
The best part of the idea...is I was invited and her friends mother...which happens to be my good friend.
I have to admit, I was as excited as Brooke!

We had so much fun shopping...and visiting.
I feel bad for shops that created a comfortable setting...we had NO problem chilling..and talking!
These Love Sacs are truly tempting...I could see a big benefit having these in the basement for hanging out with friends...my only negative thoughts is ...I'm not excited for "boys" and hanging out...they are a bit too comfortable. I may have to buy extremely uncomfortable furniture for those stages! =0

I enjoyed watching these two in the dressing room, their feet told a great story!

They made BEST FRIEND build a bears....to remember each other by...since we are moving! =(
Over lunch they had a blast playing with their new matching buddies!

I remember going shopping with my friends and trying on clothes that I would never buy..and having a fun, crazy fashion show!
The mothers loved watching the amazing show of unique and creative clothing!

I HAD FUN!
BROOKE HAD FUN!
THIS WAS A GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTY!

THANKS BROOKE FOR INVITING ME!

We are moving!

10 years ago, we moved from Phoenix, to the midwest!
I have loved every minute ...and thought this would be my home forever!
Now we are moving...crazy....

I have had lots of great help packing!

I will always love....

Love notes from my kids!

How to have a last minute...free...awesome family compete night!

Our friends from Wisconsin called and were wondering if we were up to a quick visit!
Instead...we ended up having a night of family competes..all ages involved...and everyone had a great time.
It started with a Chalk Art Contest!

Then we gathered up some cars...and art supplies..and while the kids were decorating their race cars...I was using painters tape to make a race track!

You can't ever go wrong with just good old running races!
It in guarantees quick bed times!

3 Wheel races!

or 4? =)

Chelsea created the best double hopscotch!
It had a place where you had to touch with your hands..and then with your elbows!
It was fun to compete side by side with one another!

You also had to turn sideways toward the end!

This simple night ended up as one of the funnest family nights we have ever had...we laughed..and just had a great time!
I enjoy nights when the expectation is low..and the stress is even lower...somehow..it makes for a GREAT time!

1st Year of Home School Review!

I made my usual Saturday run to Walmart, to get ready for Sunday...and I was stunned...school supplies are out! Does this mean summer is coming to an end? Oh No! My kids...we have so much more to do....and then I remembered....I HOMESCHOOL...I GET MY KIDS ALL YEAR! =)

Last year was my first year to homeschool my kids. I had two girls that currently attended a private christian school, which was fantastic in all areas of life. I did not have one complaint about their school experience. In fact, the opposite...I LOVED IT...THEY LOVED IT!

BUT.... My husband traveled...and was gone 75% of the time. We talked, and prayed for months about taking the kids out for a year and homeschooling them, so that we could travel with him. Finally, last year, we took a huge leap of faith, and brought the girls home. (It was a leap of faith for the girls too...they had a great attitude, even though they knew they would miss their friends!) Brooke was going into 4th grade, and Chelsea 2nd grade!

Choosing curriculum was the scariest and hardest part for me. I chose to go with old faithful, Abeka, for language, spelling, and reading.
The language is a strong workbook based curriculum, which I found to be comforting for the first time mommy! I knew my kids were learning what they needed to learn, and that they could jump into a class room setting at any time. Towards, the end of the year, as I became more familiar with my kids, and more comfortable with being the teacher, I grew tired of the heavy repetitive workbooks. I felt they taught excellent grammar...which is important. I did not feel like they became better writers...which is important to me! I will use this to supplement a writing program...for next year!
The spelling, for my family, was not a match.... 2nd grade was too easy...and 4th grade was too difficult.
Abeka readers are excellent. They are jam packed with wonderful uplifting, encouraging stories!

We used Singapore for math, and I was pleased with the lay out, and impressed with the fact, that both of my kids were challenged the entire year.

History, I used a Homeschool in the Woods Time Travelers. It is a fun, interactive program. I learned that you don't have to do every activity with every lesson...just choose a few..and learn!

Science, we used a variety of good books, and had fun with all sorts of good experiments!

The entire family enjoyed every minute of homeschooling! WE TRULY HAD A BLAST LEARNING! Both of my girls have asked to be taught at home again. I LOVED IT! THEY LOVED IT!

IF YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING.....TRY IT!
IT IS WONDERFUL!

You don't have to commit to life. Just try 1 year. Even 1 precious year home with your kids will be forever rewarding!
I am taking our adventure, one year at a time. I loved school. I am sure my kids will love school. However, I could never have imagined how fantastic homeschooling would be.

Soon, I will be posting about our curriculum for this upcoming year!

Celebrate the Boy!....FROGS!!!

Luke has been obsessed lately with frogs and toads!
You can only imagine how loved this not so big frog was when the kids found him!

They even made him a home...with his own personal boat!
He is a land frog...so I can't say he loved his water room...but he seemed to enjoy the boat!

Then we found this BIG frog!

He's not a prince...just a frog!

They wanted a home that would have plenty of air...
So why not use my salad washing bowl???
Which now is the home of all future captures...and they can breath perfectly!

I have to release all live animals before I go to bed...I am not big on finding dead ones in the morning!

Then we found the BIGGEST frogs...a whole pond full of them!

Does it get any better than this!
These frogs...or toads...
Where too big for the kids to capture...so they settled on the idea, that they already have a good swampy home! =)

Have you ever eaten frog legs?


Check out this post by 6lala's....that kind of frog hunting will have to wait many years to make our week of celebrating the boys!
My boys were not up to eating their newly found friends...and frankly I wasn't either...but I love this post! =)

*Here is a cute frog joke...or story...from JDaniel4's mom! love it!