Unexpected Blessings

Wednesday night at church Anastasia was playing and fell and hurt her foot really bad. (Bad enough Jay wanted to take her for X-rays). I had stayed home with Tasha so Jay brought the other kids home to me and then headed to the ER here in Casa Grande. He didn't get there till almost 10:00pm. Well they were so inundated with people looking like they had the flu that Jay was not about to sit there and wait 2 hrs. for an X ray. So he decided to take her to the Gilbert hospital ER which we really like and have been there before. They guranatee door to dr. in 31 minutes. It took them about 45 minutes to get there so by this time it was close to midnight. They did X-rays and nothing was broken but she has some damage to her growth plate and has to be in a walking boot for minimum of 3 weeks. We are praying it is only 3 weeks the kids are so ready to go swimming!!

The really cool blessing in this is the nurse that was helping them the whole time actually lives in our exact neighborhood and she has a daughter just a year older than Anastasia. Her birthday is on Christmas Day (Anastasia's is Christmas eve). What are the chances of that!!! Anastasia has been praying to meet some girls in our neighborhood around her age and her she goes to an ER almost 45 minutes away and her prayers were answered! God is so awesome.

Now Anastasia is really anxious for her foot to heal so she can go ride scooters and play with her new friend!

ABC Photo Meme-- The letter J

 

J...J...What begins with J ???

Joshua our  Jr. Chef

 Joshua has been learing how to cook eggs all by himself.  I turn on and off the stove and dump the finished eggs on a plate but he does everything else by himself!  He loves to eat eggs everymorning for breakfast.  I started to let him help and now he can crack, stir, melt butter, pour the eggs and stir them in the skillet all on his own!!  He is very proud of himself and does a great job.

Savannah is 4!!!

 Wow Four Years old!!!  We had a busy weekend starting on Thursday.  Thursday afternoon Jay's sister came in town to stay with our kiddos.  Jay and I had a conference for new pastors it was just in Scottsdale but we got to stay the night in a hotel and it was all paid for!    We were gone all day on Friday and came back Saturday afternoon.  We had a great time but missed the kids.  I didn't get any pictures?!  So below is a slide show of this weekend.   I was sad not to be home on Savannah's birthday morning because we always decorate the birthday person's room and do gifts and cake but her Aunt Jutem and big sister took good care of her.  We always make the cake and Anastasia did a fablous Cinderella cake all on her own!!  We had just a couple of people over last minute between church and choir practice on Sunday for a small celebration.  Then on Monday I took the kids to Dariy Queen so Savannah could use her gift card from Pawpa and Grandma.  She was so excited and the kids loved the ice cream!!

Happy Birthday  Big Girl!!!

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!

We are going to Disneyland......okay not until September but we are so excited!!!  We love Disneyland and have not been in 4 years.  If you want to go too for a great price check out this Site.  It is South West Home Educators Association and they are sponsering their 3rd annual "Not Back to School Days" at Disneyland in September!  They have great parkhopper rates and you do not have to be a memeber of their group to participate.  They have great things planned.  Did I mention we are so excited!!!!!!

Top Ten Reasons Not To Give Up!

This is an excellent list and a good reminder for us all!!

Top 10 Reasons Not to Give Up!

 

This week's excellent Top 10 list comes from Erin Mewes.

1. Your children would never find a teacher who loves them more than you do.


2. 
   
   Those bad days? You would still have them even if your child went to public school--probably worse.
   
   


3. 
   
   If God has called you to homeschool, then NOT homeschooling is a sin.
   
   


4. 
   
   Your children are cultivating a "learning lifestyle"--everything is interesting, and their curiosity is always piqued.
   
   


5. 
   
   Your children are learning not just "school stuff," but life: choices, self-sufficiency, budgeting, time management, etc.
   
   


6. 
   
   Your schedule can be flexible, allowing your children to actually spend time with their father--no matter what kind of schedule he has.
   
   


7. 
   
   You have got the best class size of all--one-on-one.
   
   


8. 
   
   You can correct problems as they happen--not as you happen to notice them (which could be weeks after they've made it a habit).
   
   


9. 
   
   Your children are encouraged to be kind to all age groups, all races, all capabilities, and all viewpoints, regardless of what other children are doing.
   
   


10. 
    
    Your children can focus on their schoolwork without worrying about the troublemakers in class, what they're wearing, or being "behind". 
    
    

(The Homeschool Minute e-newsletter - April 15, 2009 edition)

What a great reminder and thoughts to focus on at the end of the school year!

Thanks to Karen for first posting this.

Co-op this week---Three Billy Goats Gruff

How many of you remember reading this book as a kid?? I love this story and so do my kids. Every time we walk across a bridge anywhere they start saying "trip trap, trip trap whose that crossing over my bridge?"

To finish up this month of co-op this is the book we read. It tied in nicely with Goldie Lock and the Three bears from last week since the number 3 and the letter G. We did a lot of fun activities.....after reading the story the first time the kids made finger puppets and then we went out on to the play ground and acted out the story. The play structure has a bridge so it was perfect. I think the kids favorite activity was making their own troll face. They had a good time with this and were very creative.

It has been an awesome year with co-op next month is the last month already and then summer break. It has been so enriching for my kids and myself we have all built wonderful friendships through learning, faith and fun. We are looking forward to next year!

You can read about what Joshua did this month in co-op by looking at my ABSee Photo meme the letter I.

A B See Photo Meme.....I

 I...I...What begins with I ???

Interesting Insects Inside and outside our house!

This month at co-op Joshua was learning all about Insects and bugs and boy did it keep him hopping around our house!!  It is time to find an exterminator as we have been finding too many grasshoppers, crickets and moths around and inside our house for my liking!!  But the kids love it!!

Joshua's class had a bug/Insect party on the last day.  They wore bug hats and even drank bug juice and made ladybug cookies.  Joshua would not drink the bug juice I think he was too grossed out!!!  LOL

Thank you Ms. Jennifer!!!  He loved this class and learned so much.  He loves his lapbook and had a great time this month!!

Interesting ....

It is hard to tell in this picture but this is our back sliding screen door and one morning we woke up to find 13 (Joshua counted them) grasshoppers on our screen on the INSIDE!!!!  I didn't know how they would get out because I was not about to open the door.  But finally they all made their way off and out!

The Bible and the TV Guide

Our pastor shared this poem in part of his sermon this morning and it hit home as to what to we let take precedence in our lives.  We tend to the urgent things more than the important things a lot of times.

The Holy Bible and the TV Guide

They lie on the table, side by side

The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.



One is well worn, but cherished with pride

(Not the Bible, but the TV Guide.)



One is used daily to help folks decide.

(No not the Bible; it's the TV Guide.)



As the pages are turned, what shall they see

Oh, what does it matter?.....turn on the TV.



Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree

on what they shall watch on the old TV.



So they open the book in which they confide

(No, not the Bible.....it's the TV Guide.)



The Word of God is seldom read.

Maybe a verse e'er they fall into bed.



Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be...

not from reading the Bible - from watching TV.



So then back to the table, side by side,

lay the Holy Bible and the TV Guide.



No time for prayer....no time for the Word.

The plan of salvation is seldom heard.



But forgiveness of sin so full and free

is found in the Bible...........not on TV.

Beauty and the Beast

Anastasia performed this past weekend in another play. This time it was Beauty and the Beast. She is really enjoying being in theater productions no matter what size role. This particular play she was happy to have a part in as it was mostly cast with high school students. The girls her age got to be wolves. As excited as I was for her to be a part of it I am also glad it is over! Only because of the drive since we moved and they had play practice everyday the last two weeks before the show. So Anastasia stayed quite a few nights at Papa and Grandma Donna's because they live a lot closer and were able to help get her there! THANK YOU!!!

We went as a family to watch her on Saturday afternoon and the kids really enjoyed it. Alexa kept saying "The beast is nice, the beast is nice." I think she was trying to convince herself! LOL

Great Job!!!!

Now we will have to be on the look out for some drama productions in Casa Grande.

Co-op School this month- April

I am teaching in the preschool class again this month.  The first Monday we did all Easter activities.  These next two Mondays I will focus on Fairy tales.  This week we did Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  It was so much fun.  I told the story using a felt board kit that I have.  The kids made stick puppets to retell the story.  Then we made porridge (oatmeal) for snack.  They loved it.  They got to add toppings to it such as chocolate chips, granola, brown sugar, flax seed and nuts.  They practiced writing the number 3 and colored their own bowl of porridge.  Next week we are going to do the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  My own kids love this story.

Joshua's class is learning all about bugs this month and Anastasia's class is putting together the yearbook.  They are learning all about taking and editing pictures and puting them together.

I can't belive we only have one more month of co-op before summer break.  I remember being so excited about going to the first meeting and now our first year is almost over.  Wow how time flies.

Here is a picture of them with their snack:

 

Happy Resurrection Day!!!

What a glorious day it was celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior!  Jay and Anastasia left early for church our choir was singing a special contada for both services (East to the West).  The other kids and I went for the pot luck breakfast and then stayed for the later service.  Ok I have to stop here and brag a little on my husband.  Of course I give all the credit and glory to God but it is so awesome to see Jay using his God given talent and heart's desire.  He has worked so hard and so has the choir in bringing this music all together for today.  It was not an easy piece of music and they did great.   Anastasia also did great on her solo/duet.  I am very proud of them both!!!  

Opening worship

 

Pastor Don singing his first solo ever.  He did a great job!

Anastasia and Takota and their solo/duet

Getting ready for an egg hunt after the breakfast pot luck

 

 

The easter bunny comes while they are at church and just leaves a few small treats.

Natasha's first easter she got some gold fish crackers and a bunny. (A funny story about Tasha:  Friday night we had a special Good Friday service at church.  It was a quiet and reserved service and I sat towards the back with the kids.  I was standing holding Tasha and everytime she would see Jay up front she would wave her and and say "II  dadda"  "II dadaa"  It was so cute but needless to say we didn't stay in the service.  I just love how she recognizes us and gets so excited.)

 

Papa and Grandma went to church with us and then came over for lunch.  Papa always pulls something from behind the kids ears whenever he sees them.  Today he found an egg behind each of their ears. 

Easter Celebrations

I love celebrating Easter and teaching my kids about Christ's sacrifice for us.  My favorite things for doing this is using the Resurrection Eggs along with the story Benjamin's Box.  I hide the eggs in the living room and they each get to find 3 and then we come together and as I get to their color egg they get to open it and see what is inside.

We also had fun coloring eggs and making pictures.

 

 

Easter pot luck and egg hunt

Each year on the Thursday before Good Friday my homeschool group gets together for a pot luck lunch and egg hunt at a local park.  It was a beautiful day with lots of yummy food and lots of eggs to find!