tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146468592024-02-21T02:33:48.080-05:00Coming and GoingCrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-73798570966421049502013-04-12T21:31:00.001-04:002013-04-13T22:13:02.287-04:00Boy in the Kitchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7wFY6ZX7cL1ii5AqOWV_Rc7XhIIhb108lgD5TsTsYUeHDFgQhBg6ceobWkTEdemE4rXE50ocegRzwLa3157ru0qdjkD51iTdN8oE4IE7Z2bEXbZbS9wjlg3nibWnoYznpylA-Q/s1600/IMG_9295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7wFY6ZX7cL1ii5AqOWV_Rc7XhIIhb108lgD5TsTsYUeHDFgQhBg6ceobWkTEdemE4rXE50ocegRzwLa3157ru0qdjkD51iTdN8oE4IE7Z2bEXbZbS9wjlg3nibWnoYznpylA-Q/s320/IMG_9295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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David woke up while I was in the midst of my morning quiet time a couple of days ago. Rob and I had already eaten breakfast together earlier that morning (quiche and a nonfat latte for me, cinnamon roll and mocha for the hubs from <a href="http://929coffee.com/" target="_blank">929 Coffee Bar</a> --the best coffee shop in town!), so I thought that it would be good for David to prepare something for himself and Aidan to eat. This would allow me to finish reading my Bible. :)</div>
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David was not interested in the options of oatmeal or scrambled eggs and toast (two things he knows how to make and prepares semi-regularly). His lack of interest in making scrambled eggs could have resulted in the fact that he nearly caught my oven mitt on fire the day before when he forgot to turn off the gas burner before dumping the eggs onto his and Aidan's plates...that's only a guess though. ;) His disdain for oatmeal probably stems from the fact that he tells me (all. the. time.) that he likes my oatmeal much better than his own. He really wanted apple puff pancake, but hasn't learned how to thinly slice apples yet. Plus, the cast iron skillet we use for apple puff pancakes is full of canola oil from our homeschool cooking lesson the night before--Indian Fry Bread. After much pondering on his part, I saw him grab <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hasty-Pudding-Johnnycakes-Other-Stuff/dp/0761303693/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365778851&sr=8-1&keywords=Hasty+Pudding%2C+johnnycakes%2C+and+other+good+stuff" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Hasty Pudding, Johnnycakes, and Other Good Stuff: Cooking in Colonial America</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pjm-K_b4Ol-XD8KYF0jhjlbAqqJZHvcwqc1sMA1UNBz7VgXS9lw0s2Ah5r2rPcjoge11bkmtO98lFidi3MkHcQMJUZ5VW8GHChNvBduRpm417pJufhWlov3NkqhLu2_CtiLx8Q/s1600/IMG_9289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pjm-K_b4Ol-XD8KYF0jhjlbAqqJZHvcwqc1sMA1UNBz7VgXS9lw0s2Ah5r2rPcjoge11bkmtO98lFidi3MkHcQMJUZ5VW8GHChNvBduRpm417pJufhWlov3NkqhLu2_CtiLx8Q/s320/IMG_9289.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
He told me that he was planning to make johnnycakes using the recipe from this book. Then he proceeded to get out all of the ingredients and got to work. My instruction was to use the griddle instead of my tortilla pan since I figured the surface would be easier to work on for my budding chef. David put everything together and only needed assistance pouring the batter for the first johnnycake. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David - waiting patiently for his johnnycakes to be ready to flip.</td></tr>
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He was so pleased with how they turned out, and with the fact that he read the recipe and made them all by himself. I love seeing him so happy with his accomplishment. He had an idea, set out and followed through until he completed it. True, his johnnycakes may not look as nice as if I had made them, but they still were good to eat. My kitchen may have looked like a bomb blew up in it. However, by allowing him to try, I was able to see the most awesome smile light up my 11-year-old's face. This mama is realizing that she needs to let go more often in the kitchen. She needs to relax, let go of control and let them go and learn and grow. Yes, the kitchen will be a disaster zone. Yes, there will be many questions asked, and not every attempt will end up as a glowing success. But in the end, as the mama, I need to let them <i>try</i>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan kept Quincy occupied so David could cook in peace.</td></tr>
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Now, to begin teaching and implementing kitchen clean-up skills! ;)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-8912658932343670122013-04-12T10:38:00.000-04:002013-04-12T10:38:10.418-04:00Making Cascarones - a Tutorial of Sorts.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Friends in the Rio Grande Valley introduced us to the Easter tradition of cascarones during the years we lived there. This Pacific Northwest girl had no clue what these were when friends first told us about them. However, after our first hunt and ensuing "battle," we were hooked and wondered how we missed out on such an awesome and FUN tradition to celebrate Resurrection Sunday! </div>
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Fast forward to last year--our first Resurrection Sunday living in the Hospitality State. The boys, Rob and I all missed having cascarones as part of our celebration. One cannot drive around Starkville to look for people selling boxes of these confetti-filled eggs like he or she could while living in the RGV. Truthfully, they are unknown around these parts. We had friends from out of town just before Easter, and I was in the midst of planning the International Fair for our local homeschool group, so I did not have time to sit down and make them. So sad. :( The boys periodically mentioned to me (hinting, begging...) the idea of making our own cascarones this year. At one point in time, David even brought me the instructions he found in one of their Boys Life magazines! Yes, this mama got the hint. I have written out the instructions of how we made these with the photographs below. </div>
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First, you need to have empty egg shells. If you are planning to make quantities in the hundreds and have the storage space, plan to save egg shells throughout the year. However, we live in a fairly small house, and the egg cartons housing the empty shells took up residence on top of my washing machine (which lives in my kitchen). Crack the bottoms of the eggs and peel the shell off. You don't want your holes to be too big because they are a bit more difficult to cover over later, but you also want to be sure that they aren't so small that you cannot get the egg out. After you crack the egg, use your finger or a butter knife to break up the yolk so it will come out more easily. Or, if you are more of the patient sort like myself, you can gently shake the egg until all of the contents come out into your bowl. </div>
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Once you have your empty egg shell, rinse it out thoroughly (this is crucial--you don't want your eggs smelling up your house!). I put a drop or two of dish soap into the egg shell, add hot water, shake it around and rinse well. Then, I set them with the open sides down onto a folded paper towel to dry. Once the egg shells are dry, place them (gently!) in a bowl, basket or in empty egg cartons until you are ready to use them. </div>
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The empty egg shells are symbols of Christ's empty tomb on Resurrection Sunday. The shells themselves also symbolize new life--just like the new life we have when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. </div>
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Now the fun begins. Dying the egg shells. You could also paint them, but we made almost 100, and dying them seemed to be the best way to ensure less breaking of the egg shells with my over zealous helpers! :) David is very excited about the color of his egg.<br />
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For the dye, we just followed the directions on the back of the PAAS (sp?) egg coloring kits for the vibrant colored eggs. A few of my friends pinned directions on how to use Kool-Aid to color eggs onto their Pinterest boards. I had one packet of cherry Kool-Aid left, so we mixed that with 2/3 cup very warm water and added it to the mix. The Kool-Aid tended to color the eggs a little bit faster, and the red was very vibrant. We are interested in trying other Kool-Aid flavors next year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXjPSigVc8Wdu1mWTyy1w_Vs6hBmRPUh87Zis5u8pDeceelyo0nj0KZgFzi-rH7Yng6nsG-3wLJcVOPHX2rtBIbfgM6VzN4lxbAq60Ur4qVpzLYlMsJ7Qanqdj1YAadoBUmeUTQ/s1600/IMG_9235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXjPSigVc8Wdu1mWTyy1w_Vs6hBmRPUh87Zis5u8pDeceelyo0nj0KZgFzi-rH7Yng6nsG-3wLJcVOPHX2rtBIbfgM6VzN4lxbAq60Ur4qVpzLYlMsJ7Qanqdj1YAadoBUmeUTQ/s320/IMG_9235.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Aidan wanted to color eggs red because red symbolizes the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross for our sins. :) I love how he embraced that symbolism.<br />
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<i>Ahem - please excuse the disorganized artwork and .22 targets from 4-H hanging on my fridge in the background. The fridge has become the boys' art and show-and-tell gallery. Oh, and that tired-eye look Aidan is sporting? The pollen that is currently floating through the air turning everything green outdoors is making each individual in this household miserable from allergies. :(</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xj1Z8b796pCSaxm1MH_z9bJs5QLpJveCKKh2LdcTVei7ckdCDDsKJAPY3ZwcKhOGc7tO7U9-v3GiUhR7VTe-lMgKOg9JHhm-jHJfBeZDj7IGKGv6klYilORYq005gU0PnfGYag/s1600/IMG_9237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xj1Z8b796pCSaxm1MH_z9bJs5QLpJveCKKh2LdcTVei7ckdCDDsKJAPY3ZwcKhOGc7tO7U9-v3GiUhR7VTe-lMgKOg9JHhm-jHJfBeZDj7IGKGv6klYilORYq005gU0PnfGYag/s320/IMG_9237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here are the boys in the midst of their egg-coloring operation.<br />
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Once the eggs have been colored, allow them to sit and dry completely, the open side facing down. Having the insides dry before moving onto the next step is very important!<br />
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Now that your eggs are colored and are dry, it is time to fill them! My amazing husband drove all over town looking for confetti; however, there is none to be had in Starkville. Had we been willing to drive to Columbus, Jackson, Tupelo or Tuscaloosa we might have been able to find some to buy, but since we were pinched for time (and were NOT going to drive out of our way for confetti), we used paper Easter grass instead. Rob and I cut the Easter grass into small pieces so it was more confetti-like, then we set up an assembly line around the "island" to fill them. Each of my guys was assigned a color, and they passed the egg shells around until some of each color of confetti was placed inside. I was standing at my post cutting more confetti. (The blister on my thumb is almost healed now!) <br />
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Once the eggs have been filled, you will need tissue paper squares. Any color will work (we chose purple to represent the royalty of Christ). You also need Q-tips, Elmer's School Glue and a paper plate or paper towel. Put a puddle of glue onto the plate or paper towel, and dip one end of your Q-tip into the glue. Spread the glue around the edge of the hole in the filled egg and place your tissue paper square over the hole. Add more glue, if needed to help hold the tissue paper in place. Put the egg, tissue paper side facing up into the egg carton and continue this process until you have finished covering the holes in all of your eggs.<br />
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Once they are dry, the eggs are ready to be hidden and hunted for. Once the eggs are found, break them on your children, parents, friends, etc. The confetti inside is a great reminder of the celebration and hope we have of salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ.<br />
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<i>"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV)</i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span class="text Rom-10-9" id="en-NASB-28198" style="background-color: white;">that <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28198A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup>if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28198B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>believe in your heart that <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-28198C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;</span><span class="text Rom-10-10" id="en-NASB-28199" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)</span></span></i><br />
<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-39454991128970316802013-04-10T12:05:00.002-04:002013-04-10T14:20:37.099-04:00Family Movie Night Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Maybe I'm using the word "fun" a little bit loosely here with regard to last night's Family Movie Night. :) I live in a house where testosterone runs rampant. This mama can only take so much of The Avengers, superhero movies, war flicks, etc.--those things that the male members (who outnumber me 4:1 now that we have a puppy) of my household enjoy thoroughly. So, when it is my turn to pick the movie, I tend to throw them a curveball. The 11-year-old member of my household usually says, <i>"Please, no movies with love."</i> or <i>"This better not have any mushy stuff in it." </i>The almost 9-year-old is not quite as opposed to movies with those types of themes as his elder brother.<br />
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Last night's movie choice was the musical <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brides-Brothers-Two-Disc-Special-Edition/dp/B0002OXVCS" target="_blank">Seven Brides for Seven Brothers</a>. </i>I think the last time I watched this was when I was either ten or eleven and was staying with my grandparents. Needless to say, it has been awhile since I have seen it. Oh my, how I enjoyed watching it last night though! :) Here are a few comments that I heard throughout the evening (or things that elicited laughter).<br />
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<i>"I really DON'T like musicals. They sing, like, every-other-word!"</i> said the 11-year-old. The irony in this statement is the fact that he sings nearly every-other word out of his mouth! Living with him is like being a part of a living musical.<br />
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<i>"Aidan seems to like [the movie]." </i>I said as my little man was snuggled up next to me on the couch.<br />
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<i>"Of course Aidan likes it. There's dancing. He likes anything with dancing, some fighting and a little romance." </i>explains the 11-year-old in his matter-of-fact manner. Said comment elicits much laughter from his parents. Aidan just smiles.<br />
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Millie, one of the characters in the movie, tells her six unmarried brothers-in-law things to say to the girl they are wanting to court. One of the things she said is to call her <i>"My Precious."</i> This comment brought out a loud guffaw from the couch. Rob and I look at each other and commented how David would probably use that very phrase with the girl he courts someday. Then David laughingly says, "Hey! <i>Gollum would have NO problems courting!" </i>I should probably mention that we recently watched <i>The Hobbit</i>, and that David has a bit of an obsession with Gollum--to the point that he calls all of us or anything of his current desire "my precious."<br />
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I'm happy that my guys humored the lone female of the house with watching this musical. Seeing it again brought me so much joy. I think that they all enjoyed it too. At the very least, we made fun memories! :)<br />
<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-53267413204147776252013-04-01T10:39:00.001-04:002013-04-01T10:39:30.076-04:00Potatoes RomanoffI offered to take a potato dish out to our friends' Resurrection Day celebration and potluck yesterday afternoon. After pondering my options for nearly 30 minutes, I decided to make something that has been one of my favorite comfort food side dishes since high school days (one that was an Almira Community Church potluck staple around that time). Potatoes, sour cream, cheese and green onions--can you go wrong with any of those ingredients?<br />
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Here is the ingredient list and recipe instructions with my modifications:<br />
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8 medium potatoes (boiled in salted water with jackets on--I baked them this time around)<br />
2 c. sour cream<br />
8 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts!)<br />
2-1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese (I probably used at least 3 c.--cheese is good!)<br />
1 tsp. salt<br />
1/4-1/2 tsp. pepper (depending upon your preference--I tend to err on the side of more)<br />
paprika<br />
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Remove jackets/peels from potatoes and shred them with a cheese grater. Combine potatoes, sour cream, onions, 2/3 cheese, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Place mixture in a greased 9"x13" pan. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and paprika. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.<br />
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You can make this dish ahead and refrigerate overnight. If you do this, you will need to bake the potatoes for 60 minutes. We would often "cheat" with the potatoes when preparing this dish while I still lived at home and would use store-bought frozen hashbrown potatoes. The frozen potatoes do work well; however, you need to bake the dish for at least 60 minutes. In my experience, fresh grated potatoes tend to absorb the flavors of the sour cream, onion and cheese more readily. This dish can't be beat whatever way you choose to make it though. Enjoy!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-60925898039302634742013-03-31T11:01:00.000-04:002013-03-31T11:01:33.870-04:00Family Vacation (Field Trip) to Virginia's Historic Triangle - photo heavy post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>(Catch - up post and follow-up to our American History studies part 1 post)</i></div>
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December 2012 - our family made the trek to Williamsburg, Virginia to spend a week vacationing and touring the historic triangle of Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown. Our final day was spent touring George Washington's Mount Vernon. This was a perfect way to end our studies on the American Revolution. Seeing things through new eyes, and then also witnessing the light of understanding turn on for the boys was incredible. :) I feel so fortunate to have the privilege to homeschool my children, and then to be able to take trips such as this one where we could help make learning come to life. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k177t8aACEWfNHIL9D45kWj68qxq7wXpujYNg4sVXbMNy8L3yCQqZbKYSvAz4rqNw5bBCx8OtoZg5qJtnn-Axj9F7yNjc1XnsUPa9TFYeHisp2_2N3js-tV3dPhP3CJWE0W66w/s1600/IMG_8875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k177t8aACEWfNHIL9D45kWj68qxq7wXpujYNg4sVXbMNy8L3yCQqZbKYSvAz4rqNw5bBCx8OtoZg5qJtnn-Axj9F7yNjc1XnsUPa9TFYeHisp2_2N3js-tV3dPhP3CJWE0W66w/s320/IMG_8875.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the cooper in Colonial Williamsburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Aidan enjoyed getting to drill as new recruits in the Virginia militia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllBoBkuWZKtNXgP5tB6nMzulVrhtT20IBy53-lFv05oJBrlNeUTDaXIOvscMomrWH4vqZ6bxcl0vANgl6ZLW1n1M5D2MyaOFncYN5fLabDLfZSDVj7YVONCELMttWWL2bXQzsIg/s1600/IMG_8888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllBoBkuWZKtNXgP5tB6nMzulVrhtT20IBy53-lFv05oJBrlNeUTDaXIOvscMomrWH4vqZ6bxcl0vANgl6ZLW1n1M5D2MyaOFncYN5fLabDLfZSDVj7YVONCELMttWWL2bXQzsIg/s320/IMG_8888.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys' senior officer - teaching the steps for preparing an 18th century firearm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Aidan were allowed to help out in the kitchen at the Powell House in Colonial Williamsburg.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More helping out in the kitchen at the Powell House</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1XtHY2LCjYOIt8iXJpyMZ27qDzJjr85v7f7o9N4ryNTVXLIxm_r97kuASdmJrhuOh-6xwC-T3WgOkB-mgBnzaHctgSqOtATiJcJkqOpLqhFxA3bzhZEJY-SaYfEEnm7GcvJB1A/s1600/IMG_8921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1XtHY2LCjYOIt8iXJpyMZ27qDzJjr85v7f7o9N4ryNTVXLIxm_r97kuASdmJrhuOh-6xwC-T3WgOkB-mgBnzaHctgSqOtATiJcJkqOpLqhFxA3bzhZEJY-SaYfEEnm7GcvJB1A/s320/IMG_8921.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a race with the wooden hoop in the courtyard area at the Powell House in Colonial Williamsburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDOQ0B1LG6WfN3zQvwM2KdrssXsdeWGyeyNknoqnx0quWDAqTWPQm2SDyYkPQMbfeO_Tl24DScSwdrlbEV2-9UyNM3fpdjTDXLXj38dUGPY8ronrVa6IsZ4otl6ZeRE1tZ_bzyg/s1600/IMG_8959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXDOQ0B1LG6WfN3zQvwM2KdrssXsdeWGyeyNknoqnx0quWDAqTWPQm2SDyYkPQMbfeO_Tl24DScSwdrlbEV2-9UyNM3fpdjTDXLXj38dUGPY8ronrVa6IsZ4otl6ZeRE1tZ_bzyg/s320/IMG_8959.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David wanted me to take a picture of the powder kegs in the magazine at Colonial Williamsburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMsmBzSxqIknH-0bA9PkSo2VGy-CWTu4vdMTriKjJa2fTNcdn9lh693LxqajSLR-6ERXLEsJcxvfwHfroIyjzJNZxCXwiq4dcKSaS7Ydcx6q8e8LsjH4Ja3gWgIdkIS_GZXUKOg/s1600/IMG_8954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMsmBzSxqIknH-0bA9PkSo2VGy-CWTu4vdMTriKjJa2fTNcdn9lh693LxqajSLR-6ERXLEsJcxvfwHfroIyjzJNZxCXwiq4dcKSaS7Ydcx6q8e8LsjH4Ja3gWgIdkIS_GZXUKOg/s320/IMG_8954.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys had to spend some time in the stocks for poor behavior ;) (just teasing!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBZMylCM6g9WKQG7xl7wJfGL0bWSq02bMgX_9ESCDST27-_Y7g1DfIbapk-3UMQ-LHhaINGbY6vHvlWCvBkYnC5WYpcXVzoU5bbBXBsbulTZ62aJxcBVEltumDuUP4fv2B_-eTw/s1600/IMG_8946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBZMylCM6g9WKQG7xl7wJfGL0bWSq02bMgX_9ESCDST27-_Y7g1DfIbapk-3UMQ-LHhaINGbY6vHvlWCvBkYnC5WYpcXVzoU5bbBXBsbulTZ62aJxcBVEltumDuUP4fv2B_-eTw/s320/IMG_8946.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan was learning how to play battledore and shuttlecock </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of the Governor's Palace at Colonial Williamsburg - I was very excited to get to tour the palace on this trip!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZHUaNYyGD52ityD69RBmbh38DTOBv-24OogVRHJYSJFGOMlAxT6gm6X4lE4N2PfazxsG2CLifJYby4CY0CCp2JaYTtkbcJKpRoiOfrMQK3IFmBR_th4AmXFGoiEapgcnJ6V6GA/s1600/IMG_8973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZHUaNYyGD52ityD69RBmbh38DTOBv-24OogVRHJYSJFGOMlAxT6gm6X4lE4N2PfazxsG2CLifJYby4CY0CCp2JaYTtkbcJKpRoiOfrMQK3IFmBR_th4AmXFGoiEapgcnJ6V6GA/s320/IMG_8973.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family out in front of the Governor's Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXkE3t1y-1dXJg1JCYaUA14YF-NTv3-yos4Uiftx1y_nEOQm3Q1A6Ze8Two_ngOqcL-B5cK3w3awnQo0RREidife4d1LPbf-4XFEhkL8XwdlM86Vy3yldxkrCYCuK7URI6QeZMQ/s1600/IMG_8983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXkE3t1y-1dXJg1JCYaUA14YF-NTv3-yos4Uiftx1y_nEOQm3Q1A6Ze8Two_ngOqcL-B5cK3w3awnQo0RREidife4d1LPbf-4XFEhkL8XwdlM86Vy3yldxkrCYCuK7URI6QeZMQ/s320/IMG_8983.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one happy 10-year-old at the Yorktown National Battlefield - he wanted his photograph taken with almost every piece of field artillery we came across!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog hanging lightly over the field at Yorktown </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That musket was HEAVY! I think that my purse accessorizes it nicely though. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc0S24qFj66FDN_9T19DxeuA5-Q6d9JV4VYNXYQhCKXKZD6_egcSdw3K0J6P2_JkQ1slmH2Gj5NFSbGz81IE5N7QXUI-wr2k2W7_sX0udv-LeKqgIjtJAF1GW4FPPSke4fUNozw/s1600/IMG_9030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc0S24qFj66FDN_9T19DxeuA5-Q6d9JV4VYNXYQhCKXKZD6_egcSdw3K0J6P2_JkQ1slmH2Gj5NFSbGz81IE5N7QXUI-wr2k2W7_sX0udv-LeKqgIjtJAF1GW4FPPSke4fUNozw/s320/IMG_9030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 3 of my guys were part of the gun crew at the Yorktown Victory Center - each one learned their role and did a practice run or two before they actually fired the piece.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_3k8M5LaOlawBGrIX0CyqdTdeRiqgIVRw-9NRbqBUUPihHGvsRVMdLgn8VRQd3Dqo-2z88Y2l-OZ6wh3LozZLN9b2WXfb1bv6axPNXnow1b9uIdGzhU9KlpG_WiZJlQfFn8gQA/s1600/IMG_9025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_3k8M5LaOlawBGrIX0CyqdTdeRiqgIVRw-9NRbqBUUPihHGvsRVMdLgn8VRQd3Dqo-2z88Y2l-OZ6wh3LozZLN9b2WXfb1bv6axPNXnow1b9uIdGzhU9KlpG_WiZJlQfFn8gQA/s320/IMG_9025.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one of the gun crew--very fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwO9tXqYGxmaYZdg7fSJo-2UDk145D1xjDwXIXNic7xwmw5VhrmZzCpo14PJWvESA2HFL_LqjvcbwBrrDBzgbdpA6nYIN9hGuL5Qp97VJlPUq1SJejj4di6ASQrjfKOVZJEkK7Q/s1600/IMG_9052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwO9tXqYGxmaYZdg7fSJo-2UDk145D1xjDwXIXNic7xwmw5VhrmZzCpo14PJWvESA2HFL_LqjvcbwBrrDBzgbdpA6nYIN9hGuL5Qp97VJlPUq1SJejj4di6ASQrjfKOVZJEkK7Q/s320/IMG_9052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glassblowers between the old Jamestowne Settlement and the new Jamestown Settlement and visitors center. The boys loved watching the artisans at work. David said that he would consider apprenticing as a glassblower, a blacksmith or as a gunsmith. I think it has something to do with the fact that they all work with fire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm-QtCY65avezXZHofjoEu9uKBxaVM4ANhgW9eYlfTVzM6hA4helOFXHKRLzBmLW2Ak9lSlX1fDV30iKKMnnTQG_AwEmZ3J96jisHfcmVyG1KNhCQ8VvDZeCOdFmM71hXUtodsg/s1600/IMG_9068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm-QtCY65avezXZHofjoEu9uKBxaVM4ANhgW9eYlfTVzM6hA4helOFXHKRLzBmLW2Ak9lSlX1fDV30iKKMnnTQG_AwEmZ3J96jisHfcmVyG1KNhCQ8VvDZeCOdFmM71hXUtodsg/s320/IMG_9068.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys wearing 17th century style armor at the Jamestown Settlement</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkXpJI2Pkh65n9Jm0OX9_SkLkjPOF9IBYJ__pNQXg9-Tj1cDHb1bKEAh04xcClTTjVKE2xscqa060Nf7NmvZ564rZQl9zLOJU2EPhFOXGHNxTQu8Xcdyl2WDRMmQy44PvZYq2tQ/s1600/IMG_9050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkXpJI2Pkh65n9Jm0OX9_SkLkjPOF9IBYJ__pNQXg9-Tj1cDHb1bKEAh04xcClTTjVKE2xscqa060Nf7NmvZ564rZQl9zLOJU2EPhFOXGHNxTQu8Xcdyl2WDRMmQy44PvZYq2tQ/s320/IMG_9050.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Aidan - holding Pocahontas' hands at Jamestown</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgHQwcb5coQ8qU2YvP9af4YLC8CdN1TilWbhyC-pflKMxvNiPvQ7GE_utz04K6JhRd_wiSAdLvF0KXj3_AafgasjJcuchZQB1YYIv8tUEcuYp05zX761U3hvP1u5boDRsuU7tMA/s1600/IMG_9078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgHQwcb5coQ8qU2YvP9af4YLC8CdN1TilWbhyC-pflKMxvNiPvQ7GE_utz04K6JhRd_wiSAdLvF0KXj3_AafgasjJcuchZQB1YYIv8tUEcuYp05zX761U3hvP1u5boDRsuU7tMA/s320/IMG_9078.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys with one of our interpreters at the Jamestown Settlement</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aye1DKchGig9hWuRiYSFt8ynQpLL0x1gxtadx1WZFHJqSv7sO_K4AqAy5QvHCgLLioBOUwIhgTDPcPyhKjRcaMU2x_kTYbvqMcoVWzvbCVlrg0SY8c5nPYw5Qutg9ACgskTZZw/s1600/IMG_9089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Aye1DKchGig9hWuRiYSFt8ynQpLL0x1gxtadx1WZFHJqSv7sO_K4AqAy5QvHCgLLioBOUwIhgTDPcPyhKjRcaMU2x_kTYbvqMcoVWzvbCVlrg0SY8c5nPYw5Qutg9ACgskTZZw/s320/IMG_9089.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and Aidan on the replica of the Susan Constant</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAToe7hiWdPpo1vyXMgLzwxZ8Y2WXpfbM0f1PnXl419RGtVk9PTZ2M3uBIKd3IAVpTZXQYqlRcwp-Dg2iW9S5_M8IdC-nNOmgqGmTHpAQEsgB4HHxJArQpKtGDn71wzZ3rwxPylA/s1600/IMG_9099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAToe7hiWdPpo1vyXMgLzwxZ8Y2WXpfbM0f1PnXl419RGtVk9PTZ2M3uBIKd3IAVpTZXQYqlRcwp-Dg2iW9S5_M8IdC-nNOmgqGmTHpAQEsgB4HHxJArQpKtGDn71wzZ3rwxPylA/s320/IMG_9099.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Susan Constant (from the dock) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I0kFUYotiXRjbySk0J031FY-v0FtxiCD8uAB9N0bk1m4EBVC65Ot65Gyf0LyQnOmBRp-Vy08FYuO8vhupInMINLyDEbXbcGau_dLsWYTqAopZw7kTxwTwaCWV9jpYFGG7evU8A/s1600/IMG_9120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I0kFUYotiXRjbySk0J031FY-v0FtxiCD8uAB9N0bk1m4EBVC65Ot65Gyf0LyQnOmBRp-Vy08FYuO8vhupInMINLyDEbXbcGau_dLsWYTqAopZw7kTxwTwaCWV9jpYFGG7evU8A/s320/IMG_9120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Vernon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KzUs6P_JM2y6zTsaez71bbhnFah-wkzd-NLu_L8MUsaZdJzgRyHT4kTNuNWgEdDWFM1z_xq3KMfTRCQ03Km5M-iZDnlvmOR6hnM_cOiGsQ9DSsHqtnfm1R37A2pP_CsnpFJu7w/s1600/IMG_9118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KzUs6P_JM2y6zTsaez71bbhnFah-wkzd-NLu_L8MUsaZdJzgRyHT4kTNuNWgEdDWFM1z_xq3KMfTRCQ03Km5M-iZDnlvmOR6hnM_cOiGsQ9DSsHqtnfm1R37A2pP_CsnpFJu7w/s320/IMG_9118.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Christmas camel at Mount Vernon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5UJDBQbhA9URmNSksfLtZb0cZF6FRfZ32hgxBa6_OJ3Mk93eoqO8nkBPGjoOPu4xBt2WKwqXMHtGAZuRhOZ5LAih9kz1XTTtUbSp1obJ_C-hoHIysFb2MnLinqc0LJLrrHU1_A/s1600/IMG_9126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5UJDBQbhA9URmNSksfLtZb0cZF6FRfZ32hgxBa6_OJ3Mk93eoqO8nkBPGjoOPu4xBt2WKwqXMHtGAZuRhOZ5LAih9kz1XTTtUbSp1obJ_C-hoHIysFb2MnLinqc0LJLrrHU1_A/s320/IMG_9126.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and David read George Washington's prayer for our country during the wreathlaying ceremony at George Washington's tomb</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfli_xa6EtlefN6pvPorNBKAHuW-vtaQCcNf2QgKzeED4xrEQ1w1vPPv_R6_yxE_gEUXRPEK6TbSYOnwDCr1RZV8eL1lWrS4VvCIDZ2ECT19EFd_0cgXydjWXfm1Skv-kemkaxA/s1600/IMG_9123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfli_xa6EtlefN6pvPorNBKAHuW-vtaQCcNf2QgKzeED4xrEQ1w1vPPv_R6_yxE_gEUXRPEK6TbSYOnwDCr1RZV8eL1lWrS4VvCIDZ2ECT19EFd_0cgXydjWXfm1Skv-kemkaxA/s320/IMG_9123.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys after they did the wreath laying ceremony at George Washington's tomb (the wreath is one they made with some of their friends in their Cub Scout pack here in MS - it traveled all the way to VA with no mishaps!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI243Iplgjs5PaW1Uv93EXtSp7ybni8wGs-_K4auaiPEphtLcCrW-LGYMs5fRwS6CjWbd1vJDZi8vQXAth6IQXuBm4HfUDaqBeTcP9sr-if4sItk6vnDHqDEwmO9h1-P-X7dZFA/s1600/IMG_9130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI243Iplgjs5PaW1Uv93EXtSp7ybni8wGs-_K4auaiPEphtLcCrW-LGYMs5fRwS6CjWbd1vJDZi8vQXAth6IQXuBm4HfUDaqBeTcP9sr-if4sItk6vnDHqDEwmO9h1-P-X7dZFA/s320/IMG_9130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magnolia, holly and evergreen shrub wreath positioned between Martha and George Washington's sarcophagi </td></tr>
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Overall, this was a very fun, albeit exhausting trip. My head hurt at times from all of the information I was learning. :) Colonial Williamsburg and the Yorktown Battlefield were probably my 2 favorite stops on this particular trip, although I did truly enjoy it all. I think I can honestly say that the others enjoyed this trip as well.<br />
<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-14502152178749395102013-03-29T10:37:00.002-04:002013-03-29T10:37:29.284-04:00Studying American History (part 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8iM8AnnR0hVehN_Qwzt1Fzvwx15_Pakp7tCEwZQpIoxT6WUPRkq6dFLy5UL_OErUJdlEUqmIiiFZp8Xm3bmOqgA6xwtcva-6-FsONKjTdQQoxLKG-DTLs0JaOva5oVzcyvUg9w/s1600/IMG_0380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8iM8AnnR0hVehN_Qwzt1Fzvwx15_Pakp7tCEwZQpIoxT6WUPRkq6dFLy5UL_OErUJdlEUqmIiiFZp8Xm3bmOqgA6xwtcva-6-FsONKjTdQQoxLKG-DTLs0JaOva5oVzcyvUg9w/s320/IMG_0380.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Revolution Lapbook Cover</td></tr>
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This month marks our 2-year anniversary of delving into American history for our homeschool. Yes, you read that correctly--2 YEARS! What we started out with in <a href="http://www.sonlight.com/" target="_blank">Sonlight</a> Core 3 (now called Core D) stretched into unit studies on Native Americans, Aztecs/Incas/Mayas, and early colonial history, namely Jamestown and Plymouth. I should have some grace on myself for having taken a year to get to Jamestown and Plymouth--we did move from deep south Texas to north central Mississippi during this time which brought so many adjustments (first preparing our home to go on the market and be sold, packing and moving, adjustments to living in a new town, trying to establish a new routine, adjustments to living in a new house with all of the unpacking and settling that needed to transpire...you get the gist!). The boys and I really seemed to start hitting a rhythm last fall when we were in the thick of the American Revolution, but I digress. :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi_a07hrWap6bBuu3umKFMYAIHbSpcDKVEO5SXpabj8Pc9u1lzWlzH2AQYvD0FifqBOMlc32eGCE15HCscADyKCtyh4sxG8HLezagcnvy_eJqRspEIxmNalddEw-rBVGwnLGZUg/s1600/IMG_8467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi_a07hrWap6bBuu3umKFMYAIHbSpcDKVEO5SXpabj8Pc9u1lzWlzH2AQYvD0FifqBOMlc32eGCE15HCscADyKCtyh4sxG8HLezagcnvy_eJqRspEIxmNalddEw-rBVGwnLGZUg/s320/IMG_8467.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan holding his 3-D model of the Jamestown Settlement</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupZXb_bbgKTJvd_jX-yOajfF6MWZvz8QCC4bD3kKtXSKP4jwDoPMZOEPEqpsz4K-Y2PnH7D_kdYvrb8zFUaL1IQyamae6N9-ZQiQuG4GTK76agN7Ch0eM-w2OwRpr19853YyeHQ/s1600/IMG_8455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupZXb_bbgKTJvd_jX-yOajfF6MWZvz8QCC4bD3kKtXSKP4jwDoPMZOEPEqpsz4K-Y2PnH7D_kdYvrb8zFUaL1IQyamae6N9-ZQiQuG4GTK76agN7Ch0eM-w2OwRpr19853YyeHQ/s320/IMG_8455.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David holding his 3-D model of the Jamestown Settlement</td></tr>
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While we were studying the Jamestown settlement and Pocahontas last spring, I stumbled across the Time Travelers History Study Series by <a href="http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/" target="_blank">Homeschool in the Woods Publishing</a>. Oh my, I was in heaven! Seriously, it was love at first sight. [sigh] :) Here was something that corresponded to our Sonlight studies that included projects. The materials were so thoughtfully put together and beautifully done that I took the plunge and purchased the American Revolution CD. The boys and I all love Sonlight; however, I find that I'm constantly scouring the Internet for project ideas to enrich our studies, so my discovery of Homeschool in the Woods was truly a blessing!</div>
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We took the first part of our studies fairly slowly, reading various stories about Jamestown, Plymouth and then the French and Indian War. We also spent a lot of time in Boston reading about the initial conflicts that occurred there, and read quite a few biographies and other stories about Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, The Boston Tea Party, John Hancock, etc. During this time, <a href="http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/" target="_blank">Homeschool Freebie of the Day</a> offered two vintage radio programs about Paul Revere as a MP3 download. The boys and I all enjoyed listening to those programs while discussing the events that were transpiring in the stories. </div>
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The boys and I were still in Boston on October 19. Yes, that would be just over 6 months after we "arrived" there in our studies. You can now see that we do take things a little slow. By this time, Rob and I knew that we wanted to take a family trip to Williamsburg, Virginia during Christmas break, so the push was on to get through the rest of the American Revolution unit before December 12. I created lesson plans (I will write a post about this process soon, especially since I will be going through the process again for post Civil War-WWII within the next month or two) to hold myself accountable, and so the boys could see what to expect each day. The lesson plans also included books I needed to check out from the library, which was really helpful to keep myself organized! I think I can honestly speak for all three of us when I say that we really enjoyed studying this era in American history. I know that I learned more about the history of my country going through this unit than I did in all my years of formal schooling (this includes college American history!). That being said, I am still thankful for my teachers and professors who invested their time, insight and passion when teaching me. Some of the information they shared in their classes ended up getting shared with David and Aidan. </div>
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Below are a few photos of projects and one of the games we did while working through this unit, courtesy of Homeschool in the Woods. You might be thinking, "<i>Did they ever finish studying the American Revolution?"</i> Yes, we did...in January 2013 when we wrapped things up with the writing of the Constitution and our Bill of Rights. We are now in the midst of the early 19th century. More to come on that later! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuAD2v77fq0Z8sNDl1FS6D8P4TltpqLtNTi8AlrwpOS92fcZH-Ce11YqIdyZArVnVI_CsHMh7h7XDD0kRkwzqeXIzmW80tfyK9Peu4MUCOzr97JS3iDMu4EHv0-MoYTldloSoAA/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuAD2v77fq0Z8sNDl1FS6D8P4TltpqLtNTi8AlrwpOS92fcZH-Ce11YqIdyZArVnVI_CsHMh7h7XDD0kRkwzqeXIzmW80tfyK9Peu4MUCOzr97JS3iDMu4EHv0-MoYTldloSoAA/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys playing "Taxation Frustration"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlz5z7RyKV2CPPm5mHTP4C2e5OFdvQk5yD9kZUTOwcXCpXz5K5ZgiUY3JfwkMw-F8lRKBW11-mNjgqnPXPRYHP7P-1pOm4sdwTPsyBFjuGDsgbZB9uWYm7cEK9K4LziQSBD9_3w/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlz5z7RyKV2CPPm5mHTP4C2e5OFdvQk5yD9kZUTOwcXCpXz5K5ZgiUY3JfwkMw-F8lRKBW11-mNjgqnPXPRYHP7P-1pOm4sdwTPsyBFjuGDsgbZB9uWYm7cEK9K4LziQSBD9_3w/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up view of the "Taxation Frustration" game - Aidan had the BEST quotes when we played this game! Let's just say that he was not overly fond of Parliament by the time this game was finished. ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeQxhdQQ2wQPbocshKGstKZAmiOPI88ZRqVssu-TfvSoIfiLPy3X2_7JbOW_4PX3DSFO01gKGhsIld5CHOx2ESlXD0aHcVxYo9mF9KYOSCr8hE4UkrGO7BL-KL9H2Q_lBiDEN2w/s1600/IMG_0186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeQxhdQQ2wQPbocshKGstKZAmiOPI88ZRqVssu-TfvSoIfiLPy3X2_7JbOW_4PX3DSFO01gKGhsIld5CHOx2ESlXD0aHcVxYo9mF9KYOSCr8hE4UkrGO7BL-KL9H2Q_lBiDEN2w/s320/IMG_0186.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan posing with his haversack he helped make.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K-tte6Yhnz9ELwtUMuM3j2ylq9k5RP8DjEEFnprlPhuSB7oCiBvEEd7QAdOIdPE89zVmyetXV0ErKtkPzdurlUdh81eCfRPDJOqFkHdQskJ_fujv22ASp4SvKV3ntCsV3SxdXg/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K-tte6Yhnz9ELwtUMuM3j2ylq9k5RP8DjEEFnprlPhuSB7oCiBvEEd7QAdOIdPE89zVmyetXV0ErKtkPzdurlUdh81eCfRPDJOqFkHdQskJ_fujv22ASp4SvKV3ntCsV3SxdXg/s320/IMG_0182.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David - hand sewing the buttonhole on his canvas haversack he made when we studied the soldiers of the American Revolution.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdApjd23iPrPgYpBMIuX9kzdEkjq08lXjkSm873jol17HmB7OFIbj74UAXOq9em72CYatITOSFn1REtkrxCmZZ26qP-hBKHKBApg6HTMhyphenhyphenZA3OiSOgeMttx4LaoemXu0AKk9qVhA/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdApjd23iPrPgYpBMIuX9kzdEkjq08lXjkSm873jol17HmB7OFIbj74UAXOq9em72CYatITOSFn1REtkrxCmZZ26qP-hBKHKBApg6HTMhyphenhyphenZA3OiSOgeMttx4LaoemXu0AKk9qVhA/s320/IMG_0231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter at Valley Forge dioramas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgu0zRJlMWP0H9qZDCjeHiQL0Z90AzRWdWMDMx7WHBTYxuaC52UeMQAAs2sb7poV89ghguTz_r9R2pIQ0qWuQ-eB1G7hd78IAV0nEJnYmhKpqEv2lbNNx6dHSksmg7a9shNRwFQ/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgu0zRJlMWP0H9qZDCjeHiQL0Z90AzRWdWMDMx7WHBTYxuaC52UeMQAAs2sb7poV89ghguTz_r9R2pIQ0qWuQ-eB1G7hd78IAV0nEJnYmhKpqEv2lbNNx6dHSksmg7a9shNRwFQ/s320/IMG_0381.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside view of the lapbook (sorry about not rotating the photo) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHKKZX1CRzwdKpr4mstpxhtqInW5xlVQmcPju27BJMS9u_CrKN3IPRSH4R-WXnsfYEPNg4-wqPrHiTdPmh8PekmMiH1DPhmgnnxdxNSxF3YpXqJ4wToVFHu92b24kdgiZmTEfyw/s1600/IMG_0382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHKKZX1CRzwdKpr4mstpxhtqInW5xlVQmcPju27BJMS9u_CrKN3IPRSH4R-WXnsfYEPNg4-wqPrHiTdPmh8PekmMiH1DPhmgnnxdxNSxF3YpXqJ4wToVFHu92b24kdgiZmTEfyw/s320/IMG_0382.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another inside view of the lapbook.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bik3pSCwNDnWrMThjZLiDLCiY9jxxYIeHvsBurU7DK_rJJ4zFNq0JpXrKyzSwts5lX8AnVGf7bcVqS2Pdc5K0R-_Ttm0bhqvsv-SY9X1rkfqIpZzZH6j4vRLQQYzLZjLUvtwVQ/s1600/IMG_0245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bik3pSCwNDnWrMThjZLiDLCiY9jxxYIeHvsBurU7DK_rJJ4zFNq0JpXrKyzSwts5lX8AnVGf7bcVqS2Pdc5K0R-_Ttm0bhqvsv-SY9X1rkfqIpZzZH6j4vRLQQYzLZjLUvtwVQ/s320/IMG_0245.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American flag "floorcloth" placemats--this might be my favorite project, even if David almost stitched over my fingers when sewing the hem on his!</td></tr>
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-48702453316985076072013-03-26T12:30:00.002-04:002013-03-26T12:30:35.203-04:00Happy Birthday to Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Meet Quincy. He is my sweet golden retriever puppy my guys gave me for my birthday. Ironically, however, he was brought home on the D-man's birthday 2.5 weeks before my actual birthday. I'm pretty smitten with this cute little chunky-monkey, ball of fur. :) The following photos were taken a few weeks ago--he has nearly doubled in size since then. When we tried to weigh him last night, the hubs and I figure that he weighs nearly 15 lb. That is 11 lb. more than he weighed at his first vet appointment. They tell me that he is going to be a big boy, but I'm hoping that they are a wee bit wrong on that. Quincy was the runt of his litter. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRmSW5_KJPn3N780BVnWBAgTMRpZxoUkzghrUdNpR1biRhyphenhyphenw4FjyH2KWY8WaL1PHU8nkpCg3fu6mRxEv71C3iZ8kE3aO7ba7kgX7SlppwKdzpSTyoPhW8w9gc7rOCbJyxLibMag/s1600/IMG_9207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRmSW5_KJPn3N780BVnWBAgTMRpZxoUkzghrUdNpR1biRhyphenhyphenw4FjyH2KWY8WaL1PHU8nkpCg3fu6mRxEv71C3iZ8kE3aO7ba7kgX7SlppwKdzpSTyoPhW8w9gc7rOCbJyxLibMag/s320/IMG_9207.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Quincy sitting pretty for the camera.</div>
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The boys like to remind me (often) that I am severely outnumbered in this house now. At least when Sydney was still alive we had another girl to help bring the ratio a little closer. ;) Oh well. I love my 4 guys and wouldn't trade a single one of them. </div>
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Having a puppy in the house has changed our school routine to some extent. I will be working with one on a lesson, then Quincy will wake up from a nap. I send the one I'm not working with at the moment outside with the puppy to play with him and to make sure that Quincy actually goes potty while outside so they don't have to help clean up any accidents in the house. When the child I'm instructing has finished his lesson, he goes out to relieve his brother, if necessary, then I work with the other one. I call these lessons in responsibility and cooperation. :) If the weather is cooperative, we will bring books out in the backyard and read or do math from the comfort of a lounge chair (or a tree stump, as was the case yesterday) so we can all be outside with Quincy. We have had to learn that one may not avoid school or other responsibilities by taking on "Quincy duty." Doesn't that cute face just beg one to throw everything else to the wind in order to spend time with him?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQaZ8J8KzaBkZZwRym2J1nMjWRf-2A-IPAjuQa1BCpeAHiSYAfgaoVuQs0HIilXnH_KT7qleuw0Mw9xviUPTi5zhdDHncdsFORm_OBd35RgDP_83sKS2PMZ1FetBuI68ll4KjTw/s1600/IMG_9212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQaZ8J8KzaBkZZwRym2J1nMjWRf-2A-IPAjuQa1BCpeAHiSYAfgaoVuQs0HIilXnH_KT7qleuw0Mw9xviUPTi5zhdDHncdsFORm_OBd35RgDP_83sKS2PMZ1FetBuI68ll4KjTw/s320/IMG_9212.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Not the most flattering self portrait of myself and the littlest man of our house, but alas, here we are sitting in the middle of the kitchen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmtG1ZOLunxK7vmBwqzojWbggUwi9RG5oIQbxpffeVcVmtvKdN5O9y14ihGny_YQ6QEbEv1bOgbZ25VLb-0r_mVOvin1CUnIRXO7njDAN1sIkJrychise2trKRxhIvrps8v02lw/s1600/IMG_9225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmtG1ZOLunxK7vmBwqzojWbggUwi9RG5oIQbxpffeVcVmtvKdN5O9y14ihGny_YQ6QEbEv1bOgbZ25VLb-0r_mVOvin1CUnIRXO7njDAN1sIkJrychise2trKRxhIvrps8v02lw/s320/IMG_9225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Running around on the drill field at Mississippi State University. He had a blast!</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">We are all learning so much and are having fun in the process. It is nice having a puppy again with the boys both being old enough to help. Sometimes I question my sanity at getting a high-energy golden retriever puppy when D-man was 20 months old while pregnant with the blue-eyed boy. Not to mention, we were also in the midst of an extensive kitchen remodel at the time! :) This time around is definitely different. </span></div>
Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-3670272155338651732011-07-08T11:33:00.001-04:002011-07-08T11:33:55.871-04:00Meant to Live Life Together.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOriD1Jn5Obo-ExvJHojTGCBQLBriqLkEOg40eWqlsOT6TQ0FJh1nTLx2nKXDaLUN3ieuvbjyq6a4A6odGUaCPEiPVbRh126o4-DyYOylLBqf92T5zj8y9UB6q6i7YKgEs7caAQ/s1600-h/IMG_1081%25255B25%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_1081" border="0" alt="IMG_1081" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i62og8N1a9wngHTEGV6eFnCxL9rbuV6c0IZuffJH8E6fb_GfhsApWLHmaj34AhPCYseR7ULLCw9XnxGNFFcIOSjJVUJLAD7bXlmou5zz4V44ubFHM9LEO9e5QKoZ8Q1DYecsJA/?imgmax=800" width="196" height="287" /></a> </p> <p>This idea is something that has been milling in my mind for awhile now, although the last couple of days have brought it to my more urgent attention.  We aren’t meant to live this life alone—God wants us to live life together.  He desires for us to be intentional with relationships.  He desires for us to first draw near to Him and to become dependent upon Him, but to then be relational people.  </p> <p>If I am to be completely honest, I find it easier to try to strike out on my own.  Why do I need to open myself up to potential hurt? When I allow myself to become vulnerable, I open up the door to rejection. What if people don’t like what they see? What if I allow them to see the real me and they then decide that I’m not worth their friendship or their time? I’ve been burned before in friendship relationships. I’ve been burned before in familial relationships. The scars run deep. The feelings of insecurity are real. However, the more I dig into God’s word I see that He desires more for (and from) me. He wants to heal those broken places in my life (our lives) and to have me (all of us)  be in relationship with others. Is it all going to be all pretty like rainbows, candy, roses and ponies? No. We are a fallen people living in a broken world. It’s going to take work. It is going to take intention and vulnerability. It’s going to take courage and walking hand-in-hand with the Father. It’s also going to take letting go of selfishness and pride and to: </p> <blockquote> <p><em>“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in <strong>love</strong>.” Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)</em></p> <p>“<em>Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)</em></p> </blockquote> <p>None of us have got it all together. We all have our shortcomings and failures. It is going to take the willingness to humble ourselves before God and before others and say, “You know what, I don’t have it all together. I need someone to walk alongside me on this journey of life. Are you with me?” (well, maybe not said in those exact words…). Also, we cannot become so shortsighted that we get so caught up in the immediate, here and now and forget other relationships.  I’m guilty of that and am praying for change. All relationships take work. They require our time and energy. I think that they are worth it in the long run. The eternal rewards are there.</p> <p>Hmmm…guess I’d better take a step of courage and walk outside of my comfort zone. Care to join me? </p> <p>**Quote from my friend Angela that I thought was good “food-for-thought.”  </p> <h6><em>Cicumstances vary, but the law of RISK is universal and eternal: The more you're willing to risk, the more GOD can use you. And if you're willing to risk EVERYTHING, then there is NOTHING God can't do in and through you!</em></h6> Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-7670151317551383282011-05-13T16:08:00.001-04:002011-05-13T16:08:55.359-04:00Endings.<p>Yesterday my great grandmother passed away.  I found out the sad news on Facebook (a good thing, not a bad thing).   We found out a couple of months ago that the doctors were giving her 3-6 more months to be with us here on Earth (I remember the timing of this news since it was right around my birthday).  Her breast cancer cells had gotten into her muscle tissue and were spreading (she was diagnosed last year at the age of 93). </p> <p align="center"><em><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_6440" border="0" alt="IMG_6440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId0DN7jPlH_FR87zFAepHtsPuQEuTsrDppMMFA92PgFs6v_fBOrWb3U2A5h7lmBLosRWsL9pCIJi-VOlZIgPjhdSetTxiBcxs8u1hsQPPaF6Cz-4MWz2tITxyppRYLEuRg9UjCQ/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" />Aidan with his Great Great Grandma Pearl Major – March 2009</em></p> <p align="left">My brother and I, upon hearing the news, flew to Seattle and drove across the state to visit her the first weekend in April.  I’m so very glad that we did.  We wanted our last memories of her to be positive ones.  We wanted to let her know that we loved her, and that although many miles separate us, we wanted her to know that we valued her.  </p> <p align="left">We had a great visit. It was fun showing up on her doorstep (she was very surprised—I had let one of my great aunts know that we were coming and verified that great grandma would be home). :) We laughed together. Enjoyed great conversation. Caught up on a few bits of family news.  Saw how blessed she was by the members of her quilting group (they made her a few gorgeous quilts—I got a little teary-eyed when I read the back tag and saw one of her frogs attached to the one that was pieced together by the group as a whole— my Grandma Velma was quite sneaky to “spirit” the frog away so it could be used on her gift). Apparently, she cried when they presented the quilt to her. I tried to hold it together so it wouldn’t set off another torrent of tears.  </p> <p align="left">We left her house completely amazed by the peace and grace that surrounded her (and her sense of humor!).  She was truly an inspiration to us.  I hope that I can follow her example and have a good attitude and be gracious under whatever circumstance might be facing me.  She was an excellent role model that I wish that I knew even better (although, what I did know – I adored!).</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1nMI959xvT0UZsJBeileSiEuYIvi1gsYgaB68VIpBIGZ9ci8ysWA9tCcou1m4whXf6RxoxS0XtBN9Y6EiGXNL3sOomJF3ibyFsxSb_rNK7kKlZTogSJ8JWS9JScyJhSHMRAOdw/s1600-h/IMG_8877%5B2%5D.jpg"></a><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1nMI959xvT0UZsJBeileSiEuYIvi1gsYgaB68VIpBIGZ9ci8ysWA9tCcou1m4whXf6RxoxS0XtBN9Y6EiGXNL3sOomJF3ibyFsxSb_rNK7kKlZTogSJ8JWS9JScyJhSHMRAOdw/s1600-h/IMG_8877%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8877" border="0" alt="IMG_8877" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqcPZdpO4nLnkkkAMzyL6YrnoQ1LMOYqxYvSel6lLen5ruxQyrTyjWehYkyA73yCSrA1ZDOWA452_OcAXu_JX2-AkZwx11WLy0ZDWcq-8zxzO0jZ9QZx4CQ6wvpg9OkDdc0JHQw/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a></em></p> <p align="center"><em>Me with my Great Grandma Pearl ,  Chewelah Park – Aug. 2010</em></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4brN90dLD9961eHTcajdx-TTD5_iV0NH8aG2cA1KPGTgUOyoVA6z1z0LmN9_cl88FyRESkJPzaZfQh1iGTLKoZY-bijTZyfavNqApRfRnvtU5U5_0oKNnDcDvKhtB2l6JujKcGA/s1600-h/IMG_8873%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_8873" border="0" alt="IMG_8873" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz65sVhO6qFR-qK5Xyr6abjdXr8k30R2_hq7zv6o7Czqj8-_rXj4tZwh1xB3TelhxrUkm1cSNJPQ7RdQ5EZXjKwDQakjIrkj9Ia4NNc-PvJhdbSknioIp7d80LOOdC0EyU84ugMA/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKFrfCVXaTGNxD0kd67iFdYqjS2CHntQIf2nQC__Ro9-TBu0c1YCieSp92KcNEvIjPcE5W_GSUmq1TG1KdsWM936B-WFR6IQZdnPJvVczoJnjso8pbooPXH3-brkjNWtLK94N2w/s1600-h/IMG_4058%5B2%5D.jpg"></a> <p align="center"><em>Aidan, Great Grandma Pearl, David and me – Aug. 2010</em></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZXjgKjTym_jVuzobMmGmy6Ensj6slu-eL1F-Yv7E2FZbsae-6d6X3iH1fZaHox_OX7k90xA6Vjdiiz9hfo1Yx_c0hevclF0eY3icKPlv2r_OTCgyQhVo9Qn57p1FzkRJAo8Xcg/s1600-h/IMG_4059%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4059" border="0" alt="IMG_4059" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBnUDBfS-yIiIKoy5dJAcZsA0SkJwSocB4Yoqm6IbvWHLOTkbH8z5QuMbT4RS5PPXLyiCJ0OlvtrEJl9YqU_wrxH83OegoO-qdyZy7ccFouYLU1Emse9wHwt8gXP_KQkMyyt0jg/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKFrfCVXaTGNxD0kd67iFdYqjS2CHntQIf2nQC__Ro9-TBu0c1YCieSp92KcNEvIjPcE5W_GSUmq1TG1KdsWM936B-WFR6IQZdnPJvVczoJnjso8pbooPXH3-brkjNWtLK94N2w/s1600-h/IMG_4058%5B2%5D.jpg"></a> <p align="center"><em>Dustin and Great Grandma Pearl – April 2011</em></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKFrfCVXaTGNxD0kd67iFdYqjS2CHntQIf2nQC__Ro9-TBu0c1YCieSp92KcNEvIjPcE5W_GSUmq1TG1KdsWM936B-WFR6IQZdnPJvVczoJnjso8pbooPXH3-brkjNWtLK94N2w/s1600-h/IMG_4058%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4058" border="0" alt="IMG_4058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7K5em1NxH8DszgtA7svcDqyt58p1QUdfkKIMq4HsIwPs1i2QhGM73aEJ8VspLOqS2zhAbWlAKB9VH7jz8t4_TM0ES-KUGGRp7PmTTLD4GTvaYjZYbLH9jwZ0cQ7WEyqX_nku8w/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><em>Me with my Great Grandma Pearl – April 2011</em></p> <p align="left">My great grandmother was a very special woman who will be greatly missed.  I am thankful that her time of pain and suffering was minimal.  I am thankful that she is no longer in pain. I am thankful that she was surrounded by family when she passed peacefully from this life.  She lived a full 94 years. This beautiful woman. I love you and look forward to spending an eternity in Heaven with you.</p> Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-78256044658694242532011-05-01T12:14:00.000-04:002011-05-01T12:14:00.369-04:00Cub Scouts go to Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge.<p align="left">  At the end of March, we went to Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge with our Cub Scout pack.  It was a beautiful day to get out into nature and to hike along the trails in the wildlife refuge.  We took a vote at the very beginning to see what hike the kids wanted to do.  The adults figured that many of the boys, the younger ones especially, would want to take the shorter hike and that the older ones would go on the longer hike.  However, only 2 of the moms wanted to take the shorter hike (one was 8.5 months pregnant, the other was myself who wanted to stay with her pregnant friend, just in case…). Since we were obviously outnumbered, she and I joined the rest of the group on the 4 mile hike.  </p> <p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBWCiWLcD8Y_pAix-IqFLunn9HPcMYag2EbwJ3R2VBTWH5gNmPDDNqb2BZu9s_jTP65yg81FnvFE1v9MJWB4D6lHdNEepjuEdz0uViB0VTh_QNUX4Y7i5Tu0g4Ip6R1SaF-QPMw/s1600-h/IMG_0539%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="stop_look_n_listen1" border="0" alt="stop_look_n_listen1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Kbatirc1D5iOlfyOkYTk4BinGqwKTfWRx97Iqf07BKKKsismp6220aloV-kUSo-6A5mdjv5uMYYOyUoat01Y9ZGAB4M9Ee4NGOZXOO2o0hI70RnACG0bLkPdFZa-K_d3vDcW6A/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p align="left">The kids did amazingly well going the distance and enduring the 90+ degree temperatures we had.  Our only problem was trying to get them to slow down to see what different animals could find!  It is awfully difficult to see things when one tries to race past them. :)  </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBWCiWLcD8Y_pAix-IqFLunn9HPcMYag2EbwJ3R2VBTWH5gNmPDDNqb2BZu9s_jTP65yg81FnvFE1v9MJWB4D6lHdNEepjuEdz0uViB0VTh_QNUX4Y7i5Tu0g4Ip6R1SaF-QPMw/s1600-h/IMG_0539%5B5%5D.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHJGtX3_XGBKKktYU6Eh-kDhaVH_YfB_TW9sAiNoQUi29dv6rT_wLgsO5Kycp2Z-NBuyZfQb-BrX1I5-joA-ZaMMFJNH66AlrsLX-4-LOhqfDLnpBr0iaJThyphenhyphenCbiBiliQspYdaQ/s1600-h/IMG_0541%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="stop_look_n_listen2" border="0" alt="stop_look_n_listen2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9B58P3Mfhl6bA6eI8Yh9jxWwaqaWhDzbK9svcdMjJCFe6jjNHKiGpsRylX9JUOXLvx2XYZAGGSQ2MIni0eexp2DINTvIOWYPJaDs3jxFc70ZSWMC_oLjWJQxwZ9AdmGh3s6MkA/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQSrQS2JOmnRn45V1HuO9169s44HtAn_nOIzQaUgOjni5QV0Z0IS0z9-Oq53y6Vhzp5VSdyNS3wyaVtlk_iqZIRv_Q-HQ_S3nWUCtBRBd3Pzgjbyks8EOsWj5TDyAsUUkbR8LnA/s1600-h/IMG_0541%5B2%5D.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-LJcMnrN3e5p6Vl8TrJFQrtpe-PDuVwn0gt80RozQKwZoD0_1KLbX43_UsGuR1lC0PPI3v6VhCsp8yE7Z0IxTiGgawAwpeOY3zMLVsPaFZgPlq5nKPuaFZJ8JzXR5XYMexHAuA/s1600-h/IMG_0553%5B2%5D.jpg"></a> <p align="left">There were several “Stop, Look and Listen” points marked on our trail.  Here, the boys were supposed to stop, look around at the surroundings and write or draw what they saw.  Did they see any birds? If so, what ones did they see? What types of plants were around in the area? Was there any water? </p> <p align="center"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="stop_look_n_listen3" border="0" alt="stop_look_n_listen3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0-Z-zzmBQQrIpdeH4H7KZQsiVia2-RQxye_9PSH_h84ImNdHwpQNCSX4UVUGfn6-IiRWRwR8g4nwcRSf6X79goSPZSvwGU9Ojx6FyUNM5WuGmwU0C2Nfap4oaxvq72hNzjubcg/?imgmax=800" width="236" height="156" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQSrQS2JOmnRn45V1HuO9169s44HtAn_nOIzQaUgOjni5QV0Z0IS0z9-Oq53y6Vhzp5VSdyNS3wyaVtlk_iqZIRv_Q-HQ_S3nWUCtBRBd3Pzgjbyks8EOsWj5TDyAsUUkbR8LnA/s1600-h/IMG_0541%5B2%5D.jpg"></a></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPCuDPX2yZ1o2uxDOAVJvdZ94tdqxx6BTXXB6jRCcRdobnmvvevEWRusiHx7SiF-gvhRdRoqRuZDhdtrQOhsx0CjQymmjKJmjWi3Ed6fOWRJ1e8mMrSjTT_hyFj6ek8kHaJgiYw/s1600-h/IMG_0550%5B2%5D.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-LJcMnrN3e5p6Vl8TrJFQrtpe-PDuVwn0gt80RozQKwZoD0_1KLbX43_UsGuR1lC0PPI3v6VhCsp8yE7Z0IxTiGgawAwpeOY3zMLVsPaFZgPlq5nKPuaFZJ8JzXR5XYMexHAuA/s1600-h/IMG_0553%5B2%5D.jpg"></a> <p align="left">We all saw and heard many different birds.  My David was very excited to hear a cardinal call while we were out on our hike since that is his favorite bird.  One of the boys happened to see a Texas tortoise alongside the trail about 2 miles in.  We had to work a bit to keep the boys from touching it, trying to pick it up, etc. :)  They were just a wee bit excited about their find!</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i7mu4PwfG47y-xuxxNYJNkEBMPu6ue2xqhjETjnTOcm_0-WxipV0vu-fwUZR6NYjkMX5hPxpomly0VT0X9CuxGbVH9LKtk1j0vJFDfmBVuRjzWLs_Q_w3ID6BcI6nouk4AFHyw/s1600-h/IMG_0550%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Santa_Ana_tree" border="0" alt="Santa_Ana_tree" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcOB9rfOnNjYaXdGnSEBVrlGfgNwELt35_blZN1UT9ByEwWwCa447O9GwchsZdBqLvVr52BDDhuZ7LAuYLEOs06h9dJLXS3StP7XBeQjpri3YonWCAtw_w4BFKAA-n1bkG59-8g/?imgmax=800" width="156" height="236" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-LJcMnrN3e5p6Vl8TrJFQrtpe-PDuVwn0gt80RozQKwZoD0_1KLbX43_UsGuR1lC0PPI3v6VhCsp8yE7Z0IxTiGgawAwpeOY3zMLVsPaFZgPlq5nKPuaFZJ8JzXR5XYMexHAuA/s1600-h/IMG_0553%5B2%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p align="left">I enjoyed visiting with a few of the moms on the hike, watching the kids have fun and also enjoyed seeing the beautiful flowers in bloom alongside the trail. Unfortunately for me, I forgot to grab a new memory card for the camera, so I had to be very particular about what photos I wanted to take while on the hike. Hopefully I will remember to pack a spare in our hiking pack next time!</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5Fuom6I-CS3KmiOpU1xH7SbMuZ5HudLGmXbd2w0mIsYsAedn9bVjaEjCF8q4dXgxEacqCIDswlPmiPUAJTg2GF0ji75b7Q79ASiIDwmffKxbjuZYE7z9uICGHKtD4yZGlkobKA/s1600-h/IMG_0552%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="verbena_on_trail" border="0" alt="verbena_on_trail" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfgtUDfvm5Xu5_FHwjDvH5oO-gUOBNPshk5sArI6VL2LZUrCDruDXR_m6GQsttry-ZBBvcE8XXTIG2p5ukJa8uCfdgfteMpZ7I-e-hVyH-N2VamsGyv9p5cD4_akS7GtPy0Mbyg/?imgmax=800" width="156" height="236" /></a></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p align="center"></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="left">When we arrived back at the visitor’s center for lunch, Aidan and I stopped next to one of the bird feeding areas.  A woman there quietly pointed out a green jay that was eating sections out of an orange to us.  It was mine and Aidan’s first time seeing a green jay in “real life.”  Honestly, it is one of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen!  We were fortunate to have stopped by the bird feeding area when we did, because the green jay flew away only a couple of minutes after we had it pointed out to us.  There were red-winged blackbirds in abundance, and I even saw a woodpecker!</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz9adumE_4Wh45Kizb9abnJ_4E3Rlhh4oIrOBARSDx92lfUVL14sYH46_1VqzajZzcr5gjaVF3rgxIBUvJOgfKRgxnbDoiKis4MYjZA-nz7ScpsOEL4r4dRDhicL2XTJoJXZWTw/s1600-h/IMG_0553%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Scouts_and_siblings" border="0" alt="Scouts_and_siblings" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0rMtSuv1rkttB0ZNuYOLBQ9m72R6CDA1VbL50cC-eYi2CepaMMJjaGRhKXE7RcU0Vaj3nhW0Cj1zV2qkHsV9DqLFHHOnXfw2Z0-pG9gc6ODffGkJp9P5QlGQ-XmnHryskfcXaQ/?imgmax=800" width="236" height="156" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>After the hike, we had a picnic lunch outside of the visitors center, then the majority of our group went on the tram tour through the refuge.  I think that the tram tour was one of the best parts of the outing.  Our guides pointed out different plants and animals to us, explained the history and other aspects of the refuge to us and really helped us to gain a greater understanding for where we were.  All in all, it was a great outing, and a good time was had by all who went. </p> Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-11901088762516639912011-04-30T23:34:00.001-04:002011-04-30T23:34:09.201-04:00Celebrating 7.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRTr2rk19ftnbPPxExiUe68xjxkxEQR8mwilpkKJtvj5enZpi250w6VMK41R2h0g_gnGwyhNDz2dJAyRdkwHJI4l89FKIlEbFnvpVJkP5Bya34u3EGBjkKv3JHH3Vyi4u7pf5Iw/s1600-h/IMG_4075%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="crazy_costume" border="0" alt="crazy_costume" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVKyLYHTGt2KII7ZoZqIAWcYQ1Gu6S3Cm40y11wfSv5xNlzT2VMkyvVCgB3Hmk5-vrRb_iHpzxhxeGTW-5ov6OKc9sFHWTcsTG1VZVajiTMElif3g0ZTRDjtrRdcg19DsP1dbnw/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwl7SLF3pons70RcGCtcpnBW2ag3ggCcI_Yx4qdlZ6l4KtS7pszWqZs2cwjCbMc9Hnp7VJCE_pAHwLljjXApWUi9-1QqstvTa_Hz483SXRuA8VhUonU0bATgwDvfeMBrbdyM6TBg/s1600-h/IMG_0672%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Thank you Nana" border="0" alt="Thank you Nana" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wXUTxoDj4xfwYRm23Jtw-k-OujUh0VxsKYyr4rqA7apY6rmLA6pNYao9czcRCp6rgT_6Zs3eTPeAIMT4eCItCk3rjsgFBMzVHHLyf3FgWo6CUxUPKvWTvkWRtb_f2tjhHDdzLQ/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD0X5xr5FYGMpgx5LvXQCusaz66fumYp4KwmB5xxsxpG1rRTVxUSSJRXJCseVi5mcT42_tzQi6hiVxGGftujmEBjC2RB1Dn5QbZR8XlO5-zJOPzSrBr-Jh32hpuTTmcaksdmKUQ/s1600-h/IMG_0678%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="birthday boy" border="0" alt="birthday boy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWBwJxlNpLAtKH3CdJuB7p26Bt9tbLMbyfEgkGV4t2jfboiIPKwdHO57oCIQap8shwlO1u6LXP5fs9yNIqSW_u2fEJMzCtgnFsfPJD5QjUxD2h0VTG8rOQMIO-u-x8THYB8UmwA/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf88Bze6jAxqkpQnhsxcvcsgg_h9T-KAnTHVBfwukfR2eI3ztxCNYgazDjuCedIu7qydBX6uBhvglXVK9RZqH_C8p2-e-oNihaQNTAUSCpD2RrRFq-Iyeuz4IBWZiwKJYwvx6Mw/s1600-h/IMG_0713%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="make a wish" border="0" alt="make a wish" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Xkf171nwxHJzn0V4WKIy_ugQhDeMl6zavb8eXj96Up3YlVigIG-BYKOhbNmbTekMT3TDlqffQAutoEDfWJC70LGlclGMhf-Cbqp4SRBF8slXVrAc7DC27PYNpvpxYwGSTB0t0A/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>Today we celebrated a very special 7-year-old.  For the mama, it is amazing to think that this baby boy can already be as old as he is (can 7 years have really passed since he entered the world?).  Aidan has enriched all of our lives and we cannot imagine life without him.</p> <p>Here are a few things that capture Aidan right now:</p> <ul> <li>He is full of joy.</li> <li>His laughter is contagious.</li> <li>He is mischievous.</li> <li>He is very animated in expression and with hand motions.</li> <li>He is <em>extremely</em> competitive.</li> <li>He likes things to be fair and equal and quickly points out any injustice (that he perceives).</li> <li>“Someday, when I am a dad…” is a phrase he says regularly.</li> <li>Every morning and afternoon require “cuddle time.”</li> <li>For every kiss I give him, he gives me 2 or 3 in return.</li> <li>He adores his big brother.</li> <li>He is a Texas Rangers fan (unless his cousin Kaitlyn is around, then he will cheer for the Mariners). ;-)</li> <li>Blue is still your favorite color.</li> <li>“Uncle” James turned him into an Auburn Tigers fan this past January.</li> <li>He is a full head shorter than his brother, but makes up for that with effort and heart.</li> <li>His reading fluency and speed has exploded over the last couple of months.</li> <li>“For real?” is something he says often.</li> <li>He’s a little LEGO builder.</li> <li>He wants to be a pilot for the United States Air Force when he grows up (and wants to fly the A-10 after seeing it in action at the air show last month).</li> </ul> <p>Most of all, he is loved so very much by his family.  Happy 7th birthday buddy!  May you grow in God’s grace, wisdom and knowledge this upcoming year.  </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:41945828-555e-464c-a75b-851214b8eb54" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Aidan" rel="tag">Aidan</a></div> Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-48633710514578704942011-04-27T09:08:00.009-04:002011-04-28T10:56:09.763-04:00Sprouts, Bugs and Lessons from a Movie.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVgG0sBvlD7ILUHNRzDB8f7I2jfkAr46zPVNZe4TckIaBy37xxZ5wyZx4_rVJr1YA1NizdncghGYclYZ4Ug76EHunhVlLTA0TaOU5aBdW8UMlawwpOHdDoWlJBtz2wleTgVkqoA/s1600/IMG_4130.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVgG0sBvlD7ILUHNRzDB8f7I2jfkAr46zPVNZe4TckIaBy37xxZ5wyZx4_rVJr1YA1NizdncghGYclYZ4Ug76EHunhVlLTA0TaOU5aBdW8UMlawwpOHdDoWlJBtz2wleTgVkqoA/s320/IMG_4130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600252027408891698" border="0" /></a>Yay! The radishes have sprouted and are now growing their next set of leaves. The lettuce, green onions, thyme and a few of the sunflowers that we planted have also emerged. The boys have enjoyed going out into the backyard with me to check on the plants' growth each day. It has been amazing to us how much plants grow from the morning to the early evening as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7s6Op-9KLrSPFTHR-0EOJlXIicwOlvYcnTU7I0k8RTHRrNdB-0vYpocgY6RKTGvm-eXpKS2aXtZSmOFXuimjt8Gln3bFFE7BBfYzJA3KHaP1Xp9u2ls8GCJGehmrTRRV1q06gQ/s1600/IMG_4129.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7s6Op-9KLrSPFTHR-0EOJlXIicwOlvYcnTU7I0k8RTHRrNdB-0vYpocgY6RKTGvm-eXpKS2aXtZSmOFXuimjt8Gln3bFFE7BBfYzJA3KHaP1Xp9u2ls8GCJGehmrTRRV1q06gQ/s320/IMG_4129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600252015763847410" border="0" /></a>Although we have been rejoicing over the sprouting and new growth of our garden, we have encountered a couple of hiccups along the way. When we went out to water the garden Monday morning, we noticed that something was eating the leaves of our radishes! We were so bummed (me especially, since I had just thinned the row the afternoon before...). I went and grabbed my book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vegetable-Gardeners-Bible-10th-Anniversary/dp/160342475X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303910658&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Vegetable Gardener's Bible</span></a> by Edward C. Smith, and looked up his recipes for Homemade Pest- and Disease-Control Remedies. I love that the ingredients for the bug sprays are made from ingredients that I have in my kitchen. Unfortunately, the only one I had all of the ingredients for this time took 2-3 days to steep! Oh well, 'twas yet another lesson in patience for me. :) There are others that you can use immediately that have similar ingredients to the one I made that I found when I did a little Google search on organic pest control methods, but this is one that we have had success with when we used it in years past.<br /><br />Here is the recipe for the bug spray I was finally able to use this morning.<br /><br />7 cloves of garlic<br />1 Tablespoon powdered cayenne pepper<br />3 cups hot (not boiling) water<br /><br />Crush the garlic and place it in a heat-proof container. Add the cayenne. Pour the hot water over the garlic and cayenne. Stir to combine completely. Steep your mixture for 2-3 days, then strain and pour into a hand-held sprayer.<br /><br />It smells good to me, but apparently, pests don't like the strong garlic smell, or the heat from the cayenne.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lBD1pkRQFc-3MJcRHl4qiIbfkXSQnF-JBb2pabyxl0FqOxiyOzo5XP7cFrFIvFnF80qMjesiB8ivMJ-L01U7xxf7RryITBo0b3ml3geu9ohNJOwVa1TlcH9znCPtR95RO6laOw/s1600/IMG_4128.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lBD1pkRQFc-3MJcRHl4qiIbfkXSQnF-JBb2pabyxl0FqOxiyOzo5XP7cFrFIvFnF80qMjesiB8ivMJ-L01U7xxf7RryITBo0b3ml3geu9ohNJOwVa1TlcH9znCPtR95RO6laOw/s320/IMG_4128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600252008194812146" border="0" /></a>My poor tomato plants were not to be left unscathed this season. :( The leaves were full of leafminer tunnels almost overnight! After doing a bit of internet research, I found out that the leaves with the tunnels in them needed to be removed and thrown away in a plastic garbage sack, and the soil around the plants needed to be sprayed with neem oil. You are supposed to spray every few days, fertilize your plants with compost weekly, and after a couple of weeks, can spray every 10 days or so (if I remember reading this correctly--truly, the Internet contains a wealth of information! It is one of my favorite resources.). Although the plants are looking pretty sad at the moment, new growth is appearing and we think that they are going to make it! Doesn't the LORD also prune things from our lives to allow for new growth to take place? Hmmm...I see a new Bible object lesson forming around this thought right now!<br /><br />Now you may be wondering where lessons from a movie may come in with regard to gardening. Please bear with me a moment. Rob and I recently saw the movie Soul Surfer. Just a little FYI--we LOVED the movie (and I bawled through about half of it...)! While I was outside watering the gardens this morning with Aidan, we noticed that there were more baby palm trees sprouting in the ornamental bed next to our pool. We literally pull anywhere from 10-50 baby palms a day. I had just pulled a bunch yesterday and was a little bummed that more sprouted up overnight. I'd get down into the garden, right where the palms were growing and would work the soil with my hand cultivator, loosening up the soil so I could pull the unwanted plan out, roots and all (some of them have very long and interconnected roots). Meanwhile, Aidan is chattering away. He is asking me about what I am doing, why we always have baby palm trees sprouting, if we are going to dig rock out of the section I was working in, etc. I stand up, thinking I was done working in one particular area and realize that I had missed at least 10 different little green spikes. I had been so close to the issue, that I didn't notice what I had missed until I had a change in perspective. The scene in the movie where Bethany and her youth leader were speaking about perspective came to mind at that moment. I realized just how true that statement was with not only gardening, but with so many other areas of life too. We can be working our wheels trying to work through some problem, thinking that we have it all figured out and then we step back and see that maybe there was something we missed along the way that we couldn't see when were close to it.<br /><br />The LORD has been speaking to me and has been teaching me (and the boys as well) so much this month through the work we have been doing in the garden. I wonder what will be next and what we will learn from that?Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-53532544800450708192011-04-22T00:06:00.004-04:002011-04-22T00:35:02.260-04:00A Fun-Filled Farm Field TripI like to have a little fun with alliteration, if you couldn't tell by the title of this blog post. :) <br /><br />This morning, the boys, my daughter for the day :) and I trekked over to Harlingen to tour <a href="http://www.yahwehsallnaturalfarm.com/">Yahweh's All Natural Farm and Garden</a> run by Saul and Diana Padilla. Diana was not there when we first arrived, so Saul introduced the kids and I to many of the animals who live on their farm. We were able to see chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, a cow and calf, a peacock, dogs, rabbits and turkeys (I am afraid that I'm missing something...). The kids were able to pick up a baby chick, pet a 3-day-old baby goat, pet and play with the baby calf, watch the pigs, chase the peacock (that would be David--we quickly put a stop to that!). The boys convinced Saul to catch one of the lambs for them to pet too!<br /><br />After Diana returned, we looked at the fruit trees in various stages of growth, bottle-fed the baby calf (and the boys sat on it too. Corrie was too scared to sit on it...until after it was put back into its pen. She quickly got over any sadness over that missed opportunity when she was allowed to bottle feed 2 baby goats! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTP30wIpF-rSOyrBfdz350hKgxaXkSf0GDPzNaovQnsvJknVpq46BhF5o4YJ89w95mgigi2lVVhLYfyvNGoeOALcOa3PYWfOXN0q20DlkrO7wvrwglZoivbrvSHqNQo9yhVaJPQ/s1600/soTX.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTP30wIpF-rSOyrBfdz350hKgxaXkSf0GDPzNaovQnsvJknVpq46BhF5o4YJ89w95mgigi2lVVhLYfyvNGoeOALcOa3PYWfOXN0q20DlkrO7wvrwglZoivbrvSHqNQo9yhVaJPQ/s320/soTX.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598255366458790306" border="0" /></a>A little view of some south Texas plant life. (photo by Aidan)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLZnWTN9V-ZAKVVHROLyzGE_2g60mvIAe98g9tWBUwSuPjKEjtnga3u0oUq3gWWl3Xjqy43lrVbN-ToFHAfCB7h6V5L23kXDs1dJ_YCEVxfo-iD_fdBUnhBLMK_yDzu9lafrUUA/s1600/peacock.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLZnWTN9V-ZAKVVHROLyzGE_2g60mvIAe98g9tWBUwSuPjKEjtnga3u0oUq3gWWl3Xjqy43lrVbN-ToFHAfCB7h6V5L23kXDs1dJ_YCEVxfo-iD_fdBUnhBLMK_yDzu9lafrUUA/s320/peacock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598255362998993714" border="0" /></a>The peacock, strutting his stuff.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RiU3s36LEUHodpbfIt93z8BKNmLgOi-mIRL7Bvwf_GK7n9-oWw6UhTd0SU4Xc-UmZmC3tCZO_9oa94oxKEfm5dCEwcaRBlGz2jQUvkCyE-0JOee_v0BXh5ajndjPXm2MmyJbUg/s1600/farmfun.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RiU3s36LEUHodpbfIt93z8BKNmLgOi-mIRL7Bvwf_GK7n9-oWw6UhTd0SU4Xc-UmZmC3tCZO_9oa94oxKEfm5dCEwcaRBlGz2jQUvkCyE-0JOee_v0BXh5ajndjPXm2MmyJbUg/s320/farmfun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598255354388545666" border="0" /></a>David bottle feeding the calf (I think he's practicing so Uncle Steve can put him to work next time we visit the dairy), Aidan pretending that he's a rodeo buckaroo, and the boys petting the lamb that Saul so kindly caught for them.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiha9Hne_cLf9y1vqVRwtUox5zAMO4YOBsfbVHjHZZCmbHoHw8aom_8kZong1CjlY4HysQ9D1wmlJU4I_SZIvXNwj6c240z_f2JskFMAdScQoypzQ9Xuv2Rj5cyoMZ8nTJ3SX3w/s1600/chick.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiha9Hne_cLf9y1vqVRwtUox5zAMO4YOBsfbVHjHZZCmbHoHw8aom_8kZong1CjlY4HysQ9D1wmlJU4I_SZIvXNwj6c240z_f2JskFMAdScQoypzQ9Xuv2Rj5cyoMZ8nTJ3SX3w/s320/chick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598255345632192498" border="0" /></a>Sweet baby chick we all were able to hold.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0pF0woLx3yhg55-5tr8hPeQeJBqYTwBuzwHg0QE5ty1Rzek2CfcKtw-PkibpXa3OIBctOXL-8HTkHsDRcnGHfi46O7sTLCEc_BGwqAj6qWkTKSxr-D35dGaCDLfxWzCi06oKDQ/s1600/animals.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0pF0woLx3yhg55-5tr8hPeQeJBqYTwBuzwHg0QE5ty1Rzek2CfcKtw-PkibpXa3OIBctOXL-8HTkHsDRcnGHfi46O7sTLCEc_BGwqAj6qWkTKSxr-D35dGaCDLfxWzCi06oKDQ/s320/animals.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598255338449041410" border="0" /></a>More animals we saw on the farm!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After having fun with all of the animals, we took a tour of the gardens. The big garden that they use for their CSA and for selling produce at local farmer's markets covers 3 acres. The kids and I were all in awe over the sheer size of the garden, and of how beautiful it was. Had it not been for the 2 youngest children needing to take a potty break, we could have spent so much longer walking through the garden, identifying plants and maybe even would have gotten to pick something too. Alas, nature called, and that portion of the tour was cut short. <br /><br />This field trip was truly wonderful. Saul and Diana are so kind and hospitable, and visiting their farm and organic garden made for a very pleasurable morning. The animals and the fun had, will be the talk of our house for days and weeks to come!<br /></div></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-62884595991225891862011-04-20T09:00:00.001-04:002011-04-20T09:00:01.660-04:00Gardening - Part 2: Rocks...Lots and Lots of Rocks.Introducing to you, the long, rectangular garden bed next to the pool. Before this weekend, it was full of 3 tall palm trees, 1 shorter palm tree (as can be seen in the first photo below), a hibiscus plant and LOTS of grass and other assorted weeds. Oh, can I mention that is full of something else too? It is full of ROCKS!!! The first time we weeded this flower bed, we noticed that it was really difficult digging in the majority of the soil. We kept hitting rocks. After awhile, we realized that there was quite a deep layer of river rock all underneath the 2-3 inches of soil that we could see on top of the bed. <br /><br />Apparently, the bed was filled at one time with decorative rock. Then, large bark chips were laid on top of the rock to help camouflage it. Later, a layer of thin landscaping plastic and a few inches of dirt were spread on top of that with a few plants thrown in for good measure. Most of the new plants that were there when we bought the house almost 2 years ago died within a couple months of us moving in. The one hibiscus that survived (okay, the Mexican heather survived, but I transplanted that to line my courtyard last summer) has not gotten any taller. The poor plants didn't have a chance to let their roots go deep. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. - Mark 4:6 (NIV)<br /><br /></span>Last weekend<span style="font-style: italic;">, </span>we began working on removing the rock again. After two solid days of digging, not even 1/4 of the garden is complete. The task begins to feel daunting, and the end seems to be nowhere in sight. However, what good lessons in perseverance and patience can be gleaned from this task. We also have been talking about the parable of the sower and why rocky soil is not ideal for plant growth. The people who tried to hide the rocks, who tried to make the garden bed look like something that it was not may not be ones I would currently vote "person of the year," but my Heavenly Father is teaching me lessons through this tedious task. I wonder what else He has in store? :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14BZPPRGatClLfPmI7Zlk7v6kd5SLjy1CG8gGMa1vCDxlqDoJKEJPW2JDPwgo2mQiaQEwJj0ncmVNVjKyRwEGlYjpWzI0VCKu_ea5ICDU4caLmGBjx8-thLnddi3y3EIDXi98wA/s1600/IMG_4112.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14BZPPRGatClLfPmI7Zlk7v6kd5SLjy1CG8gGMa1vCDxlqDoJKEJPW2JDPwgo2mQiaQEwJj0ncmVNVjKyRwEGlYjpWzI0VCKu_ea5ICDU4caLmGBjx8-thLnddi3y3EIDXi98wA/s320/IMG_4112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597380788461551298" border="0" /></a>See those last two trees where my man and my firstborn are? That small section is what we spent 2 days laboring over. Oh, and Rob is pulling up the landscaping timber--the edging is going to get a major face-lift! :)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8C4AE12NzVtvtRciedVQsuNQNVQh1RxdDj-UuCtbMmkExL5krYNjxCYg77uFeAVd-3RQ_o2rzUpVW8ftwcU-2DGnqfVaP-7EQNyDkFmuODiWKrEYheSkO_Tu5S64G9wjOFP66A/s1600/IMG_4110.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8C4AE12NzVtvtRciedVQsuNQNVQh1RxdDj-UuCtbMmkExL5krYNjxCYg77uFeAVd-3RQ_o2rzUpVW8ftwcU-2DGnqfVaP-7EQNyDkFmuODiWKrEYheSkO_Tu5S64G9wjOFP66A/s320/IMG_4110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597380795046431954" border="0" /></a>I love this kid! My firstborn and I had some great conversations while picking up rocks together over the weekend. (See the timber in the foreground? That is no longer there.)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4R9cfRis8EVnhR3jMasJ9C_3l6-024-rUPsLHQUZXRQhefJoteJGPf1ihcjkCF5nl2e56frvido2DUX0tNxAK055eOT91vM9uVokqnTARVVUOthhz9pq76HHf5PDzUShMWtptA/s1600/IMG_4114.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4R9cfRis8EVnhR3jMasJ9C_3l6-024-rUPsLHQUZXRQhefJoteJGPf1ihcjkCF5nl2e56frvido2DUX0tNxAK055eOT91vM9uVokqnTARVVUOthhz9pq76HHf5PDzUShMWtptA/s320/IMG_4114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597380798969163506" border="0" /></a>Where is the rock going? Rob and I pulled the waist-high grass (most of it was dead due to Rob's dumping the remainder of a bottle of Roundup on it), laid down landscaping cloth and started dumping the rock pulled up out of the garden on top of it. The area around the AC looks much nicer now!<br /></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-20070793788387524682011-04-19T12:00:00.000-04:002011-04-19T12:00:03.586-04:00Rock Cycle.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hdnAxeQtZ4s0ghpODnlOkit29iLVB_4KTZi_WueMZhYZQXgVKOr4LxfXJTgGOcyW73ZIFewonPBy0DKtYJTRjR4Hb6AKPFwD_PCulT6WDsrPjjcNZ-QLlibaBm-CNtbC_jUFHg/s1600/IMG_3987.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hdnAxeQtZ4s0ghpODnlOkit29iLVB_4KTZi_WueMZhYZQXgVKOr4LxfXJTgGOcyW73ZIFewonPBy0DKtYJTRjR4Hb6AKPFwD_PCulT6WDsrPjjcNZ-QLlibaBm-CNtbC_jUFHg/s320/IMG_3987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597130267208979490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The boys holding their foil "rock" packets over the candle flame to convert the metamorphic rock into an igneous rock.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoNsmKVOR2N5BncSRmSn0GnXqiP8QW0KXnV_UYQ1UIBVbkM5THx2FgLvLO0nr3nfvhFWJzdALw44TRPwwViwRlwAaSxVCk05pp9DcJqhH3IO7LBrjrNAAJ_fMW6qJp3nP6Qkrbw/s1600/IMG_3982.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoNsmKVOR2N5BncSRmSn0GnXqiP8QW0KXnV_UYQ1UIBVbkM5THx2FgLvLO0nr3nfvhFWJzdALw44TRPwwViwRlwAaSxVCk05pp9DcJqhH3IO7LBrjrNAAJ_fMW6qJp3nP6Qkrbw/s320/IMG_3982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597130259251629026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Little man is standing on the top board to change his sedimentary rock into a metamorphic rock (him standing on the board signified the pressure that metamorphic rocks undergo). The "big" little man is lighting one of the candles for the next stage.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUCdtkYwhb6kpsKhespobw91Kez90mP7DS5YnBmTANWD-SAJaccE3Qlxm8hKyQAWTQF5lLRXlYs_INlWPiDQZQg7Rb9EI1sb_ASkIH0va7s4dJUioN_KAO5okNcdGxMTQs4J1wQ/s1600/IMG_3972.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUCdtkYwhb6kpsKhespobw91Kez90mP7DS5YnBmTANWD-SAJaccE3Qlxm8hKyQAWTQF5lLRXlYs_INlWPiDQZQg7Rb9EI1sb_ASkIH0va7s4dJUioN_KAO5okNcdGxMTQs4J1wQ/s320/IMG_3972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597130243544971906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The packet of crayon shavings, er "sediment," was placed between 2 boards, then the boys pounded the top board with a hammer to cement the layers together to make their sedimentary rock.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_y9GXvi61WjSB41IY1Ek5UJGiNoxRsAMom-TgOB1YERTDnk8KjCzl3qPNURXo5bW0uNhpj-ADvGrlOV9gyfjmnd0iDmoYV4Wz7NP4NRr1lAppHCNVRrrEYRK7Um4QRcYKt9lXA/s1600/IMG_3967.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_y9GXvi61WjSB41IY1Ek5UJGiNoxRsAMom-TgOB1YERTDnk8KjCzl3qPNURXo5bW0uNhpj-ADvGrlOV9gyfjmnd0iDmoYV4Wz7NP4NRr1lAppHCNVRrrEYRK7Um4QRcYKt9lXA/s320/IMG_3967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597130235816151474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">D - pounding away to create his sedimentary rock.<br /></span></div><br />I have to admit that projects like this make me love homeschooling even more! It is SO much fun doing an activity with my boys and then seeing the light come on for each of them as they are bettering their understanding of a given subject. In this instance, we were studying <a href="http://crossler.blogspot.com/2011/03/school-views.html">rocks and minerals</a>. What better way to learn about the rock cycle than actually participating in an <a href="http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/rcycleact.html">activity</a> that illustrates a concept that seems abstract on paper. <br /><br />To prepare, I shaved crayons with my dad's old Boy Scout knife--we used 4 or 5 different colors (honestly, I probably only used 4...by the time I got to the last color of crayon, I was ready to be done). The boys both gave me a few crazy looks, then looked at each other to communicate in a way that only two brothers who are best friends can only understand--<span style="font-style: italic;">"Mama is at it again...here she goes with another crazy project!"</span> ;-) This project was surrounded by much intrigue. After all, how often do my boys see their mama break out a pocketknife to shave crayons? I would have had them do the dirty work if we would have had a regular crayon sharpener.<br /><br />After I finally finished shaving crayons, we drew a 4 cm x 4 cm square onto a piece of aluminum foil, they layered crayon shavings, one color at a time, onto their square, we folded the foil into a little packet, then were off to the garage in search of a hammer and 2 boards. The hammer and boards were found in short order, then the boys took turns hammering their crayon "sediment" packets that were placed between the two boards. One of the crayon sedimentary "rocks" broke, so we could actually see the different colored layers--it was really neat to see! After they inspected their rocks, they put the packet back between the two boards and stood on it to add pressure to the "rock." We discussed what we read in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-School-Bus-Inside-Earth/dp/0590407600/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303187665&sr=8-1">The Magic School Bus: Inside The Earth</a> about metamorphic rocks being created by heat and pressure being applied to an existing rock. Once they inspected their pressurized rocks, they were impressed by how much more compact it was. <br /><br />The final step was to hold the foil packets over a candle flame to melt the "rock" and then to let it cool to form an igneous rock. We clipped clothespins to the corner of our packet so our hands were further away from the flame. There was a time where the packets also rested on the lip of the candle. Be careful with this step--if you don't have a tight seal on your foil packet, or if holes or tears have been made to the packet during the sedimentary or metamorphic rock phases, hot wax will flow out, I repeat, hot wax <span style="font-weight: bold;">will</span> flow out if you are not careful. <br /><br />I hope that you enjoyed a little glimpse into one of our many fun school projects! :)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-86481688795190156882011-04-18T17:40:00.006-04:002011-04-18T23:10:12.361-04:00Gardening - Part 1: preparing and planting<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdiEVx_lwqEvb1KsiusrYvOvDEd8gZ79c3yuMCX3sbNHEvWLUoHK8K5WQCox2eGSfrnwQeh-EADuRVkjGELHBVZa2OlQgYEKw7CZ5rQjaQvJf0iJxbLkqT7tWFTHIFu04ripcBw/s1600/IMG_4116.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdiEVx_lwqEvb1KsiusrYvOvDEd8gZ79c3yuMCX3sbNHEvWLUoHK8K5WQCox2eGSfrnwQeh-EADuRVkjGELHBVZa2OlQgYEKw7CZ5rQjaQvJf0iJxbLkqT7tWFTHIFu04ripcBw/s320/IMG_4116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597045988906194946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mmm...tomatoes<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkQbJvQwADxPiJz-PhhMUdpMfNlTRRrQteOzYdPaQvj_dEBOJQGkHIiAvNv2JHbe1x-hqDNUECEuQzNg8kyj5Dk0LZJu7ShXGE4rtYl-waT0EwuXumj_MdAUGWOZs9IIYcqbi3Q/s1600/IMG_4111.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkQbJvQwADxPiJz-PhhMUdpMfNlTRRrQteOzYdPaQvj_dEBOJQGkHIiAvNv2JHbe1x-hqDNUECEuQzNg8kyj5Dk0LZJu7ShXGE4rtYl-waT0EwuXumj_MdAUGWOZs9IIYcqbi3Q/s320/IMG_4111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597045987601413330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My big helper picking up rocks from the pool-side flower bed.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNChe9i5hH9ax3exhjkYy9VwkWYzTDYgoWF7rjNNAtLpxn5sfbSdagN7yD58J47v-UjXPwYKdxyJBkbXnBq4dzq8Mq9MsZHysen1uxf40q1KKX2dUkUr3MJJyJ8y8pH7EqBNjdQ/s1600/IMG_4104.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNChe9i5hH9ax3exhjkYy9VwkWYzTDYgoWF7rjNNAtLpxn5sfbSdagN7yD58J47v-UjXPwYKdxyJBkbXnBq4dzq8Mq9MsZHysen1uxf40q1KKX2dUkUr3MJJyJ8y8pH7EqBNjdQ/s320/IMG_4104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597045983275911010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My little helper posing how a gardener or farmer would pose. :)<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl7EEq2T4MTF7JBblBrKM-L1z_Sm99RmwKIAoVmLt-EDN6iSx6CxmQ_MCIL7sXdwMRwsewXGCbzF84k9aUjyV_z9wmGe0ZIJp2a9JTMyPmPBjTIeSBgl2l7Y6Xqvo7vpabU7tjA/s1600/IMG_4102.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl7EEq2T4MTF7JBblBrKM-L1z_Sm99RmwKIAoVmLt-EDN6iSx6CxmQ_MCIL7sXdwMRwsewXGCbzF84k9aUjyV_z9wmGe0ZIJp2a9JTMyPmPBjTIeSBgl2l7Y6Xqvo7vpabU7tjA/s320/IMG_4102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597045975122600546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Some of the fun things that we planted</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbyt9BVI54zOumz9RN-cq5lCJIzOEPa8UF8V8NrpByEMmI02TGx6ems4b8cjlr7EOMwja6cnRbW5F3dT6qe2Pw7HVdUBwh6rMQJEVYgd7BWNn0EHTdN76lCvjYURsknsgFR4TnA/s1600/IMG_4099.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbyt9BVI54zOumz9RN-cq5lCJIzOEPa8UF8V8NrpByEMmI02TGx6ems4b8cjlr7EOMwja6cnRbW5F3dT6qe2Pw7HVdUBwh6rMQJEVYgd7BWNn0EHTdN76lCvjYURsknsgFR4TnA/s320/IMG_4099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597045967468404994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The garden after we weeded it and planted the basil. My rosemary bush has grown SO much since last year!!! The front bed is mine, the one behind it belongs to the boys this year.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Last Friday, we planted our vegetable beds. Before we could begin, we had to pull the grass and other weeds that had sprouted up in the raised beds that Rob and the boys built our first fall down here in the valley. We had to finish pulling out the dead tomato plants that the freeze killed at the end of January as well. My littlest helper stayed with me while his older brother had guitar lessons. He helped me pull weeds, cultivate the soil, plan what we were going to plant and then set the seeds and plants. The bed closest to the gate enclosing our AC unit is for the boys. My goal to get them to enjoy gardening was to give them a place of their own to plant whatever they wanted to. Sunflowers and other flowers ended up being the seeds of choice to plant in their space. They did leave me a little space to plant a heat-resistant variety of lettuce and some green onions. I planted herbs, radishes and lettuce in my area, although the radishes were really the boys' idea...hmmm...<br /><br />We had a few plastic pots lying around that we planted a few things in as well. Chives and parsley were planted in a couple of them, we planted a couple of tomato plants bred for patio planting and also planted some wildflower seeds that the boys were given on their tour of the recycling center a couple of weekends ago. There are still a few pots left that are crying out to have something planted in them, although that will happen after I quit using them as buckets for putting the rock in that we are taking out of the pool-side garden bed.<br /><br />After we planted the vegetable/flower garden beds along the side of the house, we moved to the pool-side garden bed. We managed to plant the daylilies that I purchased, the bluebonnets, my biggest little-man's honeysuckle vine and crape myrtle on one end. It took us a full day of digging up and carting out rock in one small section to plan the bird of paradise plant. :( That venture will take up an entire post of its own!<br /><br />Starting the garden is always a lot of fun. Planning and dreaming of what you want to grow, where you want things planted and how good things will look growing and how wonderful fresh produce tastes. Honestly, it's probably my favorite part (along with the harvesting and preparing of the produce!). I think that my kids would both agree.<br /></div></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-20140836894358251292011-03-29T12:37:00.003-04:002011-03-29T12:43:35.464-04:00Things we never thought would come out of our mouths......until having children!<br /><br />I was on the phone with my dear friend, Shannon, on my birthday when I said to David:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"You may NOT use my kitchen tongs to catch lizards!"</span><br /><br />Honestly, you'd think that would be a no-brainer. Things that I use for food preparation shouldn't be used to pick up live animals, right? Apparently, to my boys, things can be used for multiple purposes. There's no problem when it can be washed. Unfortunately, the very idea that the kitchen tongs could have potentially touched a live, squirming lizard just grosses this mama out!<br /><br />Then either yesterday at breakfast, or at dinner the night before (my memory is failing me at the moment), I had to say to Aidan:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Take that fork out of your nose! It's used for eating your dinner, not for picking your nose."</span><br /><br />Oh, some of the many joys of having boys. ;)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-32293843942316612432011-03-29T12:04:00.003-04:002011-03-29T12:34:52.870-04:00Poison ivy/oak, ticks and no hot water--oh my!That pretty much sums up last week--we had an awesome time camping up at Goliad State Park over the last half of spring break; however, 2 days after we returned home, my littlest man was covered in bumps and was itchy all over. While we were out camping, he got into some poison ivy or poison oak (not sure which) when he and his brother were out exploring on the bank leading down to the San Antonio river or in the little wooded area behind our campsite. Aidan fell asleep on the couch by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, his cute little face swollen and covered with flesh-colored bumps. He had a red rash under his right eye, on one of his ears, on each side of his chin, on his neck, spots on his legs, arms and hands. There was no crying (on his part)--he just itched and took his plight like a little champion.<br /><br />The hubster took a quick trip to Walgreens (or Walmart--one of those Wal-stores...) after we consulted with a good friend about what to use to treat it. He came home with Zanfer, or as we like to call it in our house: liquid gold. 3 treatments over a period of 3 days, and now you would almost never know that he had it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD29gQlmQT5YbTIbHzqxuctnlQ5hqV1vumTkQypDUMRz74ucbgcRHE8ofJXCgyQpJF14EWfO0gV2-CTwPbtrl7wcHuHYQq-JZ7i1E6fEzPNGawJ8YoJ_JkRXqz98-fbTSvK-Lyg/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD29gQlmQT5YbTIbHzqxuctnlQ5hqV1vumTkQypDUMRz74ucbgcRHE8ofJXCgyQpJF14EWfO0gV2-CTwPbtrl7wcHuHYQq-JZ7i1E6fEzPNGawJ8YoJ_JkRXqz98-fbTSvK-Lyg/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589535953702415554" border="0" /></a>Here he is after homeschool co-op on Friday<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now to the no hot water. When Rob got home from work last Wednesday, he saw a small water puddle out by the garage door. We didn't think much about it at first, figuring that maybe someone decided to fill up a water bottle or something with the hose that is on that side of the house. We ate dinner, got ready for Awana and then noticed on the way out the door that water was running off the step from the area where the hot water tanks are in the garage and was trailing out the garage door. He sent the boys and I on without him, and stayed behind to take care of the water mess. The tank was leaking from the inside, and needed to be replaced. However, the home warranty company's contractors were not going to be able to get it taken care of until Monday!!! Ugh. We are so thankful for friends who offered to let us take showers at their houses, even if we only took one friend up on their offer. It's such a blessing to know that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with wonderful friends. :) The hot water was fixed yesterday, so we could finally take showers at home. And, come to find out, someone had turned the water main down, so we now have more water pressure than we have had since moving into this house. It is SO wonderful! We can now run two showers at the same time, which we haven't been able to do before. Oh, the little things we get so excited about! ;-)<br /><br />Ticks...David found one on his stomach yesterday and freaked out a bit about it. To his credit, he picked it off himself and killed it. However, my little hypochondriac was scared that the bump was getting larger and redder (it was shrinking, but was only red where he was scratching it, every time that he thought about what had bitten him there). Today, the bite is nearly invisible--yay! I am unsure where he picked it up. He didn't have any in his hair or back or chest when I had checked him after our hike on Saturday, and he hadn't noticed anything until yesterday. Thankfully it is now gone, and we will now be on the lookout for more!<br /></div></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-4103886825742349632011-03-10T14:24:00.004-05:002011-03-10T16:44:19.082-05:00School Views...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FRtuFgJ5podc8FKBt-Aez4E4GdXQloqNy027x6dXcYrv-tehm5CyhxaSF4AScY5s_oeututm4tcnT-fGld-an3vSwWmxAzX4daqwNhQ-IG94K3STFzwrYNKzcwlwk8A7sNBB_Q/s1600/worksamples.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FRtuFgJ5podc8FKBt-Aez4E4GdXQloqNy027x6dXcYrv-tehm5CyhxaSF4AScY5s_oeututm4tcnT-fGld-an3vSwWmxAzX4daqwNhQ-IG94K3STFzwrYNKzcwlwk8A7sNBB_Q/s320/worksamples.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582537748515804274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We just finished up a geology unit and did so many fun things with it over the last 2 weeks! We grew a crystal garden, played a game to go through the rock cycle, modeled the rock cycle with crayon shavings (will do another post about that), made a lapbook (some of the pockets and mini books were printed from this <a href="http://www.homeschoolshare.com">site</a>--I found them under the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rocks In His Head</span> lesson plans and materials). I also purchased a <a href="http://www.hometrainingtools.com/rocks-minerals-project-kit/p/RM-RKMINKT/">rock and minerals kit</a> from Home Science Tools--the boys really enjoyed getting to do the different tests when learning how to identify the different types of rocks and minerals. We read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-School-Bus-Inside-Earth/dp/0590407600/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299792455&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Magic School Bus Inside the Earth</span></a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Road-Magic-School-Chapter/dp/0439560535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299792522&sr=1-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Magic School Bus: Rocky Road Trip</span></a>. There are 2 more things we have to do to finish this unit: finish our volcanoes and look at coal.<br /><br />A and I also made a lapbook for review on our studies about Ancient Egypt, and we are now doing spring-themed copywork for penmanship and writing practice.<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG03TCXr-_PqdzMzmKJWv1OCdlfPMa4mFgX6WRstioLlqxIim3eMuabV3qs54FonANsiqa-v8I36k4gUF_bShc0PWUeaBK8W3xgdL9T8PAhm12H7wanRsgiMVUKAuKgB8VeXqm6g/s1600/theboard.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG03TCXr-_PqdzMzmKJWv1OCdlfPMa4mFgX6WRstioLlqxIim3eMuabV3qs54FonANsiqa-v8I36k4gUF_bShc0PWUeaBK8W3xgdL9T8PAhm12H7wanRsgiMVUKAuKgB8VeXqm6g/s320/theboard.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582537745664717954" border="0" /></a>Here is a look at the "board" at the end of lessons today. D's spelling words are on there (A decided to write a few of them himself). A lot happens here--I don't know how I managed without it before now! :) I'm also going to start placing a few Spanish/English flashcards up here for the boys to grab to help them with learning Spanish. For the next week or so, we will be looking at colors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZlZskQ_LJkhDCdUhvz-4JJpV9ougswV9kcLPtQLYVfU3JQzTiNfAGq8rtT4uZKMCcuJ49dNgrblZ2H6GdlU921ZJBKczRinkOSydjVwIn1ufiO3gsmfs7Adzrl6MD3BhY0ctXA/s1600/scienceexperiments.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZlZskQ_LJkhDCdUhvz-4JJpV9ougswV9kcLPtQLYVfU3JQzTiNfAGq8rtT4uZKMCcuJ49dNgrblZ2H6GdlU921ZJBKczRinkOSydjVwIn1ufiO3gsmfs7Adzrl6MD3BhY0ctXA/s320/scienceexperiments.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582537743025820018" border="0" /></a>Science experiments - electricity with batteries. The boys had a blast making their circuit maze and the headlamp. We still need to make our buzzer game, make our electromagnet in addition to a couple of other lab activities. Some things require more planning and time to execute, but we all have been learning a lot (and Rob thinks I'm now ready to start changing out outlets since I am becoming quite adept at stripping wires, connecting them, etc. I may leave those sorts of fun tasks to him though).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RwLUzLVf-6M-4hrvb5_rwHurrIM4WwGqVb0VQicz4QQtrolnEUo6k2M6haXXpNTC2iiIJAF9ZcyhRfOJJhfahP4iERpQAws_b7zTLcsY_3QJnfm3yAXl8FRGjpAizsSdXE-KBA/s1600/math.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RwLUzLVf-6M-4hrvb5_rwHurrIM4WwGqVb0VQicz4QQtrolnEUo6k2M6haXXpNTC2iiIJAF9ZcyhRfOJJhfahP4iERpQAws_b7zTLcsY_3QJnfm3yAXl8FRGjpAizsSdXE-KBA/s320/math.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582537726350911298" border="0" /></a>Math. We are just finishing up the first unit in each of these books. A flew through Singapore levels 1A and 1B and is just starting out in level 2A. It is definitely more challenging for him, but he enjoys it. D is now in Singapore 3B. I have really enjoyed using Singapore and Miquon math. My only qualm with the curriculum, Singapore especially, is that there is not enough drill and practice for certain sections. We have been able to by-pass that through various math websites online where you can print worksheets for free. <a href="http://www.math-drills.com/">Math-drills.com</a> has been my favorite go-to site for the past 3 years when we need to do a little extra drill and practice. I think the boys like it best when they get to do speed drills with Daddy, or when we get to play other games.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-46653793315413404742011-03-01T23:56:00.004-05:002011-04-19T17:34:27.346-04:00D at 9.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rh50OjOU8wIr3Qa80UXzEPvHhmtD8H9mU8SacWm59nxrifHpa1A0U5MaZZ07MzHIOIOp_zgkOPYiOWcPu6OhMOINSW7Lu5hYlFjgaUl6Pzr6zqnUgs18lYyk1YIQ_4YE6tPjuw/s1600/IMG_3928.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rh50OjOU8wIr3Qa80UXzEPvHhmtD8H9mU8SacWm59nxrifHpa1A0U5MaZZ07MzHIOIOp_zgkOPYiOWcPu6OhMOINSW7Lu5hYlFjgaUl6Pzr6zqnUgs18lYyk1YIQ_4YE6tPjuw/s320/IMG_3928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579342755435987906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Holding the chocolate moose that Nana and I made for his birthday.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>You give amazing hugs!</li><li>You aren't too big to snuggle. </li><li>You are now tall enough to drive the go-carts at The Zone all by yourself (you come up to my collarbone).</li><li>You have a great sense of humor and love to tell jokes!<br /></li><li>You love to read--you just devoured Chuck Black's Kingdom series, the first 3 Harry Potter books, are almost finished with <span style="font-style: italic;">My Side of the Mountain</span>, and want to read through C.S. Lewis's <span style="font-style: italic;">Chronicles of Narnia </span>for the 2nd time in less than a year.</li><li>Your favorite colors are green and yellow.</li><li>You love the Texas Rangers.</li><li>You were a Minnesota Vikings fan, but have now moved your allegiance to the Seattle Seahawks (which has made your daddy proud). </li><li>I often find you shooting hoops out in the driveway--especially when it is time for us to pile into the car to go somewhere! ;-)</li><li>You love to play football too.<br /></li><li>You say that you hate math when people ask you about it, but I know better (you really do like it).</li><li>You like to catch frogs (and probably soon will like to catch lizards too).</li><li>You love to build with LEGO.<br /></li><li>I love the worship songs that you make up and now accompany yourself to with your guitar.</li><li>I love how you love your little brother.</li><li>I love your tender heart.</li><li>I love how inquisitive and creative you are.</li><li>I love YOU!<br /></li></ul><br />These are just a few things about you, my firstborn, my heart. Blessings to you over the next year. :)<br /><br />Love,<br />Mama xoxoxoxo<br /></div></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-68703197617827632382011-03-01T23:24:00.003-05:002011-03-01T23:55:46.755-05:00Spiritual lessons from the kitchen.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd47tC08PdIzbvXFd-G24aIsImb0QMIdRP1EkP77zN77dcqFS61V1bXj4mjAds26w6ehA_sCzOOFdu-RT9IKsyYglJWH5nZMcwLbswiFBYoTySzLiMeDKgjjUqcBpoXpnENIE9A/s1600/photo.PNG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd47tC08PdIzbvXFd-G24aIsImb0QMIdRP1EkP77zN77dcqFS61V1bXj4mjAds26w6ehA_sCzOOFdu-RT9IKsyYglJWH5nZMcwLbswiFBYoTySzLiMeDKgjjUqcBpoXpnENIE9A/s320/photo.PNG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579333961500945986" border="0" /></a>You may see this picture and wonder what pancakes have to do with anything spiritually related--don't worry, there truly is a connection. :)<br /><br />I have a confession to make. I am not the most patient person on the planet. There are times when I feel that God's fruit of patience is showing (and growing) in my life, but there are so many other seconds, minutes, hours, etc. where this fruit seems to be out of my reach. Especially when patience is required to wait on God and <span style="font-style: italic;">His</span> timing. <br /><br />God reminded me about how cooking pancakes requires patience while I was standing in my kitchen making pancakes a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure that I responded something like this: "Huh?' and had a blank expression on my face. Then, the Holy Spirit brought to my recollection the first few times I ever tried to make pancakes. Oh my, those pancakes of years past were so deformed and misshapen (thankfully the way they looked did not impact they way they tasted!). I'm so thankful that Rob ate my feeble attempts at what were supposed to be pancakes during our first year or so of marriage. ;-) I had no patience. I felt that it wasn't important to wait until they were mostly set with air bubbles popping on the surface before flipping them. I just wanted to get those things done so we could eat breakfast! However, cooking pancakes requires waiting. The task requires patience. It takes practice too, but they definitely require patience. For someone who likes to be in control of things to some extent, and who sometimes feels a bit overwhelmed when she has to relinquish some sense of control, patience and waiting can be a bit difficult. <br /><br />The common theme that my Father in heaven has been whispering to me over the last 2 months or so is to wait upon Him. I need to be patient. I need to trust in Him. God is trustworthy, I can put my trust in him and am learning (and practicing) putting my trust in Him. I know that he has a plan for me. His word says in Jeremiah 29:11, <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD</span>,<span style="font-style: italic;"> 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future</span>.'"<br /><br />His word also says: <span style="font-style: italic;">"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for you. His love for you endures forever--and he never abandons the works of His hands!" (from Psalm 138:8). </span><br /><br />And do you know what? He is trustworthy. I don't need to be fearful of whatever the future may bring. As long as I am walking day-by-day with God, and am submitting my dreams, plans and everything to Him it will be okay. Things will not happen in my timing, they will unfold according to His perfect and sovereign plan (of which he reminded me in Isaiah 55:8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD."</span>). <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><br />My pancake-making skills have improved dramatically over the years, and I would like to think that with the Holy Spirit's help, I have also grown more in patience. But, I know that there is still ample room for growth, as I am being shaped into the likeness of my Creator.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-27123043228762796342011-02-01T09:48:00.002-05:002011-02-01T10:20:23.800-05:00Word for 2011.Over the last few years, one of my favorite <a href="http://www.aliedwards.com">bloggers/scrapbookers</a> posts her word of the year and encourages her readers to do the same. I have chosen not to participate in the game, not to laziness, but because I have never been able to think of a word in particular that emulates what my goals are for the upcoming year. I have prayed and pondered, and have prayed and have pondered some more, and finally have a word to focus on for 2011. Discipline.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">dis-ci-pline - verb.<br /> 1. to train by instruction and exercise; drill<br /> 2. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.</span><br /><br />I desire to be disciplined through having a regular morning quiet time with the Lord. This is a HUGE stretch for me--I am NOT a morning person, but through discipline (and with God's and my husband's help), I can train myself to be. <span style="font-style: italic;">"She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family..." Proverbs 31:15a</span>. Rob has woken me up the last two mornings, and it has been refreshing being able to drink my coffee in a quiet house, to read my Bible without having my children squabbling in the background and actually having time to pray! When I have tried to have my quiet time at other parts of the day, I become very distracted by what the boys are doing, I'm tired, or I stay up too late and sleep in too long.<br /><br />Another area I desire to be disciplined in is exercise and eating well. To not eat cookies just because they are there (oh Girl Scout cookies, you are going to be testing my self control--thank goodness I already ate the Samoas!). ;-) I want to make healthier snack choices during the day, and to watch my portion sizes, even when I'm eating my favorite things! I want to get out with the boys to ride our bikes daily for part of our homeschool P.E. I want to walk with my friend, Angie, regularly. Once I get used to waking up before Rob leaves for campus, I'd like to wake up even earlier (eek--I can hardly believe I am saying that) to add yoga, weight training, etc. to my workout regimen. This will take discipline.<br /><br />Discipline is something that I also need to be intentional about creating within our homeschool. To have a regular routine. For the most part, we do well routine-wise covering our subjects, but we really need to stay focused (I need to teach the boys how to stay focused on the task at hand), and have a better routine for getting our work done. Yesterday, they really enjoyed being able to play all afternoon since we finished school and had lunch by 1. Not all days are like that, but I think that we would all do better if they were. This routine will also flow into bedtime. Having the boys be in bed by 8:30 so Rob and I can spend time together before we go to sleep. <br /><br />I have my work cut out for me this year. I know that challenges are going to arise; however, by writing this here, I'm hoping that there will be an added element of accountability.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"She sets about her work vigorously, her arms are strong for her tasks." Proverbs 31:17<br /><br />"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27<br /></span>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-3482635501149748782010-09-23T12:46:00.007-04:002010-09-27T02:23:40.367-04:00First day of school! First day of school!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4r75WYp5OoMPVChuBuHICjcjJmHjlYTRp3ZrAddTRRqHU69LdMw4ZWRmK7LHrRu3uyKATS_lzFidCI1sMthRZSn6sVFtDXrQ7RSggvKN1ftrSkKLPlWZgfsktNMPTwQ3B7tQOg/s1600/IMG_9064.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4r75WYp5OoMPVChuBuHICjcjJmHjlYTRp3ZrAddTRRqHU69LdMw4ZWRmK7LHrRu3uyKATS_lzFidCI1sMthRZSn6sVFtDXrQ7RSggvKN1ftrSkKLPlWZgfsktNMPTwQ3B7tQOg/s320/IMG_9064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520154000805955554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Posing for the 1st day of school photo out in the courtyard.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP6ByVHNd5XUQVf4eFHi-uVsR2v1z7tv9RrOwnE4907eSC4g-UKBFpmxai3gvuH24C6f-e0Ah-5iU2iYO3kb59KbUVJj0KfWHB1mgAN_daSP1wgWI5wrles1xnDPjs1jrhrFVbg/s1600/IMG_9060.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP6ByVHNd5XUQVf4eFHi-uVsR2v1z7tv9RrOwnE4907eSC4g-UKBFpmxai3gvuH24C6f-e0Ah-5iU2iYO3kb59KbUVJj0KfWHB1mgAN_daSP1wgWI5wrles1xnDPjs1jrhrFVbg/s320/IMG_9060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520153993853475602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rob letting the boys in the front door, welcoming them for their 1st day of school.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uyzQ7N2LyzodBcuQf5utjrHiNsFo6gFz_H79SpDrPJpy8xdWMGHN7p777XSjpFmaT2tDj-JFISeFXFLceWa2iuo2l1fF16rmzLeUvLdA9DMmifTRS5Q8fp4f9FX05v0ghcMqKQ/s1600/IMG_9055.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uyzQ7N2LyzodBcuQf5utjrHiNsFo6gFz_H79SpDrPJpy8xdWMGHN7p777XSjpFmaT2tDj-JFISeFXFLceWa2iuo2l1fF16rmzLeUvLdA9DMmifTRS5Q8fp4f9FX05v0ghcMqKQ/s320/IMG_9055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520153979096968898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Boys walking out in the back yard on their way to the front door so we can kick off our school year.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVrNbofs1Y2FRjqWFfhY3kowGHRIA3XJXpBhNBvgkv-BW8ScUogiDPF4iwimyLkuE8gtfPXMq2o7-2cEnedo0eHGHNhTiERBuMI0w3IomqKlHcYsumuY1HgPBFi2Il7QiVeLacA/s1600/IMG_9048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVrNbofs1Y2FRjqWFfhY3kowGHRIA3XJXpBhNBvgkv-BW8ScUogiDPF4iwimyLkuE8gtfPXMq2o7-2cEnedo0eHGHNhTiERBuMI0w3IomqKlHcYsumuY1HgPBFi2Il7QiVeLacA/s320/IMG_9048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520153974247641250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Box day! The boys open the box with our new homeschool curriculum. It is always exciting to see the new books we will be reading and studying from--Box Day generally happens a couple of weeks or so before our official start date.<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">August 25 marked the official start to our new school year. Although we had been doing school off-and-on all summer long, we decided to have the official new year kick-off date be the same day that Rob started teaching classes at UTPA. To celebrate, I fixed an Italian breakfast casserole for breakfast (that truly only Rob, Aidan and I appreciated--David complained quite loudly about the fact that there were tomatoes and olives in it!), then Rob sent the boys out the back door with their backpacks so we could greet them at the front door to welcome in the new school year. We had purchased a model airplane for each of the boys that was tucked into their backpacks. My initial intent was to have them build their planes after they completed all of their schoolwork; however, they were so excited to have the planes that I allowed them to build them before we started the day's lessons. Even with building their planes, they still had their assignments for the day completed by 11:00 a.m. It was so nice to begin our year on a good note!<br /><br />Last year, I read somewhere (either on a blog, or in a homeschooling newsletter that I subscribe to) about different traditions people have to kick off the new school year. Homeschooling is unique in the sense that many of us, intentionally or unintentionally, school year-round, so there is no real "first day" to prepare for like our private and public school counterparts have. So, I wanted to make the first day of what I considered our <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span> year to be meaningful and exciting.<br /><br />Sending the kids out the back door and welcoming them at the front was one of the traditions I read about and started for our family last year. This year, I added the "surprise" of the model airplanes in their backpacks to celebrate the special occasion. Next year, I will probably tweak things a bit, or will add something else as well to help make that first day special, memorable and meaningful for each of my boys.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-51386158431505338642010-09-23T11:20:00.003-04:002010-09-23T12:43:11.281-04:00A Happy Birthday and Celebration of Fall.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQNcaZahdvinA593pCCmh0D3x2l_02uImKodddDFIsoUPTVdxxvX1t4PwMgnmuW_Cvn1Pnk9gKixn14uCYVtssSTSvoVsgKs9rurAdL6kqUH_5wLvr9GsemQ6La5aHEk1axZR9Q/s1600/IMG_9112.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQNcaZahdvinA593pCCmh0D3x2l_02uImKodddDFIsoUPTVdxxvX1t4PwMgnmuW_Cvn1Pnk9gKixn14uCYVtssSTSvoVsgKs9rurAdL6kqUH_5wLvr9GsemQ6La5aHEk1axZR9Q/s320/IMG_9112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520132864794091970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My 3 guys in Gruene, TX - 2010<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMOokDegp0OqxWlwvevEYR1zQwPJvY1CCI3CMZCvzt-ZZ0AlNA0SgMQkdQlbN0nMas2tAaR8DcNdF-IQ1rFvhyHcCHv3FEWswHt1pWT0qORBhyWtQGYC2gFX3aq4AK0MS8SoWrg/s1600/IMG_1947.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMOokDegp0OqxWlwvevEYR1zQwPJvY1CCI3CMZCvzt-ZZ0AlNA0SgMQkdQlbN0nMas2tAaR8DcNdF-IQ1rFvhyHcCHv3FEWswHt1pWT0qORBhyWtQGYC2gFX3aq4AK0MS8SoWrg/s320/IMG_1947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520132859884714722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Glimpse of Fall - Taken in Virginia, 2005</span><br /></div><br />First off, I want to wish my husband a very happy birthday today--may your 33rd year of life bring with it many blessings and much happiness. Thank you for being such an amazing husband, my best friend, and an awesome father to our 2 boys. I love your servant's heart--how much you want to serve God and serve others. I love your sense of humor and how you bring immeasurable joy to our household each and every day. I cannot imagine my life without you, Dr. Cubmaster, Ph.D. You have enriched it more than I could have ever thought possible. God definitely knew what he was doing when he had our paths cross 11 1/2 years ago. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">P.S. You don't look a day over 25! </span><br /><br />Secondly, yesterday ushered in the first day of my favorite season--autumn. Sadly enough though, it's a season that I don't really get to experience where I currently live. So, I'll bring out photographs of fall scenes I have experienced in years past, bake my favorite fall treats, light fall-scented candles and will imagine the sights, smells and the feel of autumns of years past. That, and I'll excitedly wait for my trip to Boston next month--guess that the quote from the VeggieTales song <span style="font-style: italic;">The Pirates Who Don't do Anything</span> where they sing "...and I've never been to Boston in the fall" will no longer ring true for me. ;-)Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14646859.post-7316940550789114382010-09-16T15:53:00.002-04:002010-09-16T16:52:43.239-04:00More Vacation Photos...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElvFqvUURTEQkDWkGe_6NbyzN5753nBjNjNIjWtS3xzDcL_20m2CNkuekNKmBIXLV5SdmsY9d76Mthp8nhTO2FcwYr41B3vgRQRuFfjJ1cCWfcmru-97LaHORhioiSRvcl_MkfQ/s1600/IMG_8845.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElvFqvUURTEQkDWkGe_6NbyzN5753nBjNjNIjWtS3xzDcL_20m2CNkuekNKmBIXLV5SdmsY9d76Mthp8nhTO2FcwYr41B3vgRQRuFfjJ1cCWfcmru-97LaHORhioiSRvcl_MkfQ/s320/IMG_8845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517606981506982818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You know you're loved when Grams bakes your favorite pies for you! Huckleberry for me, banana cream for Robbie! Gramma Royleen baked my other favorite pie for me when we were in Idaho, peach. Yum!!!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMMi9Gn9V0ye9ndmtsGgIilbDJ2q-b7OSbw6Cv2XQC3xQHlaboDXMHrbAmsoEl21tlnXzWpGPJARRacRrAZws0ifsnx3KPz8zpGbHp1r7Jtt6K3O3YLHy5vxLxblIM-GRwdbfxg/s1600/IMG_8826.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMMi9Gn9V0ye9ndmtsGgIilbDJ2q-b7OSbw6Cv2XQC3xQHlaboDXMHrbAmsoEl21tlnXzWpGPJARRacRrAZws0ifsnx3KPz8zpGbHp1r7Jtt6K3O3YLHy5vxLxblIM-GRwdbfxg/s320/IMG_8826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517606976901261650" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">D with the little sunfish that he caught out at Waitts Lake<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVlbpXVQiAYJ04FOVqsJx7U2dNV6ZSIalGRkoqcUJG6GPxifLSAQf2K1Asd5zIgHKoEH1db2Xwvv6t8QzmkqZuKiNt8dq0ub6QPPZSKnbtRmaA-wMB5Sr8i0eoIPe9-IVNf26uw/s1600/IMG_8632.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVlbpXVQiAYJ04FOVqsJx7U2dNV6ZSIalGRkoqcUJG6GPxifLSAQf2K1Asd5zIgHKoEH1db2Xwvv6t8QzmkqZuKiNt8dq0ub6QPPZSKnbtRmaA-wMB5Sr8i0eoIPe9-IVNf26uw/s320/IMG_8632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517606966029105474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Boys playing in the Puget Sound (Whidbey Island in the background)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCHH_jcEeeaXucSCtvE8xny_ZvPXei8nuZ0lPVvMDyUQjiUguDDzWiDXAFuSscnFurQJtHpDO05VlknT_jcKoSmM0J2Asx0ZvZe39W0BpUNk1T2G4JaZpbT4GwUI_bV9epc_QDA/s1600/IMG_8719.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCHH_jcEeeaXucSCtvE8xny_ZvPXei8nuZ0lPVvMDyUQjiUguDDzWiDXAFuSscnFurQJtHpDO05VlknT_jcKoSmM0J2Asx0ZvZe39W0BpUNk1T2G4JaZpbT4GwUI_bV9epc_QDA/s320/IMG_8719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517606960151069058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Life is never dull with these two crazies around. :)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJol649dhKRuP4YBmwYNArw-LUPw5TAh3TyRFheBVaYI5Qi28jDaIiLOepvpor10cr5GUIEnwBEOR8UwcSjs3DEQPw3s7iAairJFg5Xy-1ptUvXb4nYvIubtIwJvtYIObtwAsPg/s1600/IMG_8677.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJol649dhKRuP4YBmwYNArw-LUPw5TAh3TyRFheBVaYI5Qi28jDaIiLOepvpor10cr5GUIEnwBEOR8UwcSjs3DEQPw3s7iAairJFg5Xy-1ptUvXb4nYvIubtIwJvtYIObtwAsPg/s320/IMG_8677.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517606947710916866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Family photo just outside Leavenworth, WA</span><br /></div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05162842084223241625noreply@blogger.com0