So Sweet!

To say that my little boy loves his daddy is an understatement. He absolutely adores him and it is evident in everything he does- even during school time. He is constantly drawing hearts with "dad" written on them. He builds things with his Legos and gives them as gifts to daddy. During writing time, his focus is on things he has done or would like to accomplish with Daddy.  When we go to the store with his hard earned cash to purchase something, he always asks if I think daddy would like the toy he has chosen. At least once a week, my husband takes our little boy with him to work. It is so exciting for him, and it makes me smile to imagine what "manly" things they are doing and talking about.

He looks like him-

He acts just like him-

He wants to be just like him-

The other day during school, my little guy and I did a writing activity and he had to come up with the last part of the last sentence. This is what he wrote-

Such a simple,  yet perfect sentence. He could have said anything- I love pizza. I love cars. I love playing. But he chose the one above- I love Daddy. What a blessing to have a daddy like yours.

American Girls Everywhere!!!

Our girls have always loved all things American Girl. We do not live anywhere near the American Girl store and it has been their lifelong dream to go there someday! They both saved up their hard earned money to buy dolls for themselves, which is no easy feat, considering the price tag! But unfortunately, all the accessories, etc... are just too much for our budget. Our younger daughter received the gift of a lifetime yesterday, when the FedEx man delivered 2 large boxes. And what, might you ask was in these boxes???

Three American Girl dolls, along with a TON of accessories and clothes! Being a younger cousin definitely has advantages! Do you see that smile on her face? That stayed there all day long.

Allow me to introduce you to Felicity, Elizabeth #2, and the "no name" doll- now known as Maria.

For our little girl, it was as if she had won the lottery or something. There was lots of joyful screaming and excitement- so much so that we did not get much school work done! Even our little boy was thrilled!

All 3 kids immediately got to work, setting up an American Girl mall. This above was the shoe store. And below, Kanani is selling accessories.

Our daughter spent the entire day, sorting clothes, trying on all the different outfits, etc...

This makes for a very exhausting day, if you are an American Girl doll. Good night Elizabeth, Elizabeth 2, Kanani, Felicity, and Maria.

We hope you like your new home! One thing for sure- you will be loved and played with every day! Thank you E and J- you have made a little girl happier than she has ever been. And by the way- you will both be happy to know that they arrived with their hair-do's still lovely as ever! And now you can sleep peacefully, knowing they are no longer "watching" you!



Thoughts for this Week

Out my window... I see the neatest thing! There are two baby woodpeckers and their mommy on one of our trees! We recently had a lot of wind, and unfortunately their nest was blown out of the tree. Thankfully though, the babies were just old enough to learn to fly and so now, there they are with their mother just bouncing all around the tree trunk while she squawks noisily at them. It really is a sight...

Places we've been...The girls started soccer this past week and so we have been busy going to the sports store to get all their equipment, as well as attending their twice a week practices. We also found time to get to the library and pick up several books on Portugal so the kids can start their HEART Homeschool Group projects. Finally, I was a substitute teacher for one of our local elementary schools twice this week. I am a former public school teacher, and so I have been substitute teaching periodically over the last few years. It is such a great job because you only need to work twice per month in order to stay active and on the list. But if I ever need to work more days, I can just take on more sub positions. You wouldn't believe how many jobs are available each and every day! And by the way, while  I was out "playing teacher", my husband took the kids to a local grocery store grand opening celebration. They had a blast, tasting all the free samples and getting balloons. They even had their picture taken with the store mascot!

In our homeschool... We have now gotten into the full swing of things! It took a bit of adjusting with schedules, etc... but now things are rolling along! I am loving our little guy's writing program- Write Shop Primary. He is doing fantastic with it and is already writing his own little stories! Our oldest started Rosetta Stone French-Homeschool Edition this year, and I have to say it is a really great program! She is speaking in full sentences and I love the fact that I can evaluate her progress through the parent-teacher controls section. Our little girl is reading Ginger Pye right now, and she is doing so good with her spelling this year!

My favorite thing this week... I think it would have to be our Keepers at Home club meeting. We didn't have meetings for a month while we were away, and it was so nice seeing all our friends again. Our girls were really excited about it, and I really just feel that our club has such a nice bond. All the families are very sweet and the girls get along so nicely.

Things I'm working on... I have been busy working on lesson plans for Keepers at Home, as well as our weekly homeschool lesson plans. With so many fun, creative fall and Halloween activities available out there,  it is really hard to chose what to do! I try not to duplicate anything we've already done in past years, unless it is something the kids REALLY want to do again!

I'm reading... Right now I am reading through Ginger Pye (so I can stay ahead of our little girl and be able to discuss the story with her!) as well as The Story of the World Volume 2. I've also been reading through several of the different chapters in the Keepers at Home Handbook.

I'm grateful for... After travelling overseas, I have a new sense of appreciation for our country, and I am so proud to be an American, and live in this wonderful nation. We really are blessed to be Americans and most of us don't realize the freedoms we have compared to other nations.

I am praying for... The Kitson family in South Africa. They are a missionary family with two small children and one on the way. Such a sweet family!

Well, those are my thoughts for this week.  This next week will be quite busy with Keepers meeting, soccer, piano, and more so stay tuned!

Thoughts for This Week

Out my window... I see signs of fall! The sky is a bright, beautiful blue with not a cloud in sight.

Places we've been... We traveled through three different airports this week in order to get back home from Europe. Once home, I have been to the grocery store, Target, to church, Panera Bread,  and Michael's Arts and Crafts.

People we saw... We saw my parents, friends at church, and several family members! The kids really missed their cousins and were so happy to see them again.

In our homeschool this week... I have been in planning mode since returning from our trip, as we start school tomorrow! I have also been laminating like crazy, sorting vocabulary word cards, and getting things ready for our first week. The kids seem pretty excited about starting a new school year, and we have lots of fun field trips and activities planned for this year.

I'm reading... The Story of the World- Volume 1.

Things I am working on... Well, the photo at the top of the page should tell you what I have been working on for the past several days- laundry, laundry, and MORE laundry! We had five large suitcases full of clothes, all needing a good cleaning.

I am grateful for...  I am really thankful for having such a wonderful trip with our family. I am also so grateful that none of us were hurt or became sick while there, and that our flights back were on-time and the security screenings went well.

I am praying for... A great school year!

Thoughts For This Week

Out my window... I see our two younger children chasing each other through the back yard and squirting each other with their squirt guns! So much fun...

In our homeschool this week... we did absolutely nothing! The kids like to read a lot during the day, but we did not do any structured or planned activities.

Places we've been... My husband and I made the decision at the beginning of the week to "quarantine" the children until we leave for our trip overseas. There is a lot of sickness going around, and our kids frequent what I like to call those "cootie breeding" places. So, I was the only one allowed to venture out to do errands which included going to Michael's Arts & Crafts, Walmart, Target, Ross, Old Navy, Home Depot, the veterinarian's office, the dog groomer's salon, and probably other places that I just can't remember. The kids have been real troopers, entertaining themselves all week with dress-up fun, games, playing outside, etc...

My favorite thing this week... talking to my parents on the phone! We are really counting the days now until we see them again. It has been way too long- 2 months! But in just a few short days, we will be with them.

Things I'm working on...Packing around here is in full swing now. Since we will be gone for a month, we are trying to fit as much into our suitcases as we can, without going over the weight limit!

I'm reading... My Fundamentalist Education. I have read this book several times already, and it is such a funny reminder of my childhood days.

I'm cooking...spaghetti and meatballs with salad and garlic bread- YUMMY!!!

I'm grateful for... the opportunity for our family to travel to Europe for a month. It is such a blessing and I am so grateful to my parents for this gift! I know our children will see such wonderful, historical places and learn so much from our trip.

I'm praying for... a safe, and easy experience at the airports this next week, and for all of us to stay healthy! I'm also praying for our dog Buddy. He is like our baby and I think it is going to be a little sad for him while we are away! I know he will be in good hands, but we sure are going to miss him!









Thoughts For This Week

Out my window... I see some really dark storm clouds heading right towards us! Rain storms are a daily occurrence in the summer here, and I never tire of watching them.

Places we've been... My little girl had an emergency dentist visit to remove a tooth that had cracked in half and was bothering her. Thankfully, it was a baby tooth and so we had the tooth fairy come by for a visit. Dentalina- that's our tooth fairy's name- has been quite busy at our house. This was her 3rd visit in a week! Our little boy and girl sure are raking in the money! Other places we went to this week are shopping at the mall with some homeschool friends, church, and to Border's Book Store to grab some great deals before they go out of business. Last of all, we went to Steinmart to see our daughter's book Tampa Bay From A to Z on display and for sale there. So exciting!

In our homeschool this week... my little guy finished reading his first chapter book- The Tortoise and the Hare. I am so proud of him! Lots of reading going on these days. We also have been working on math, and we've been re-organizing the school room for the new year. More on that to come in a future post.

My favorite thing this week... My uncle who was 98 years old died this year. No, that's not my favorite thing this week. But something my son said is! Our children were pretty close to him and enjoyed seeing him weekly. Well out of no where, my son asks "Hey where is Uncle Larry! I haven't seen him in a while." So, I again explained to him that he is in Heaven and doesn't live here anymore. My little boy looked at me for a second and said "Well, that explains it then." Too cute...

Things I'm working on... Yes folks, I am STILL laminating and cutting apart all those word cards. I see the end coming soon though! And the packing has officially begun for our trip.

I'm reading...The Story of the World Volume 1

I'm grateful for... my parents, who we soon will be seeing again after 2 long months apart.

I'm praying for...The next 10 days to go smoothly, and enough time to get everything accomplished that I need to before we go away on our trip.

Thoughts For This Week

Out my window... I see my daughter mowing the grass. It seems to take on a life of its  own during the summer months and she really has to be diligent about mowing it. She actually has her own little lawn service business and does 3 different yards per week. Some nice spending money!

Places we've been... This was another wild and crazy week with lots of running around. My oldest and I went to a baseball game together, which was great fun! Other places we went include Target (still looking for luggage), the grocery store, the book launch party for our daughter's new book, the Orthopaedic Doctor, the park to celebrate our Back To Homeschool Bash with our HEART Homeschool Group, church, the mall to do clothes shopping for the kids, and out to dinner. It makes me tired just remembering all of that...

People we saw... We saw our Keepers at Home friends, some family members, the doctor, and we got to finally meet the publisher of our daughter's book. Such a wonderful, sweet woman!

My favorite thing this week... That is a no-brainer. My all time favorite thing this week was going to the book launch party and just watching our daughter present herself with such confidence and maturity. I wanted to cry as I watched her sign the book for everyone.

In our homeschool this week...We were able to get some more math completed, and my little guy did his reading and a bit of math as well. He loves playing any kind of games, so I took advantage of that and we played Math Dominoes.

Things I am working on...Yes, I am still cutting all those vocabulary cards up, sigh... The pile just never ends. I am also starting to make my list for our trip overseas, which is in 17 days!

I'm reading... This week, I spent a lot of time reading the teacher manuals for my childrens' writing programs. I also read several articles on line regarding Scoliosis. More on that, coming very soon.

I'm grateful for...Being part of such a nice homeschool support group. It really is a blessing to have friends you can turn to for not only homeschool advice, but support and friendship.

I'm praying for...God to put my mind at ease regarding some serious issues involving our daughter's health.

Thoughts For This Week

Out my window...  I see our mango tree getting taller and taller! Our neighbor was so kind as to give us a little mango tree last year, but it died in the winter. Recently, he showed up with another mango tree, and I think this one is going to make it!

In our homeschool this week... we have not done much in the way of any math this week, sigh... Our kids read a lot each day though and our oldest has spent quite a bit of time writing stories. She so desires to be a "famous" author one day.

Places we've been... My goodness we've been to a lot of places this week! Let me start with the least favorite- the ER so my husband could get stitched up after losing a battle with a 2 x 4 board, Grocery shopping, Target (looking for luggage that doesn't weigh too much), the pool,  the dentist (as you can see from the photos), bowling, church, gymnastics, the girls had a sleepover at Mamaw's house, Applebee's, etc... Whew! I'm exhausted just thinking about all the running around...

People we saw... we saw family members, friends at our Keepers at Home meeting, the lovely ER staff (they really are very sweet there!), and the dentist!

My favorite thing this week...Taking our son bowling one night. He just absolutely loves to bowl and it is so cute to watch. His enthusiasm is contagious.

Things I'm working on... I am quite busy laminating dozens upon dozens of vocabulary word cards for this next school year. I'm also enjoying looking through all our new books and school materials.

I'm reading... The Story of the World 

I'm cooking... breakfast for dinner! Pancakes, potatoes, scrambled eggs, fried hot dogs- yummy!

I'm grateful for... my husband not being more injured than he is.

I'm praying for...our daughter's doctor appointment next week to go well, and for my husband to not be in too much pain from his injury.



Wow, things are really picking up speed now. We are starting to think about packing for our big trip overseas, and I am really getting excited! 23 days and counting!

Thoughts For This Week

Out My Window... I see our little "nutty" dog trying to catch a squirrel. Buddy has not been blessed with the gift of finding things or catching anything. He will actually "lose" his toys while sitting right on top of them! Too funny...

In Our Homeschool This Week... We have of course been working on Saxon Math and my little guy started reading his first little chapter book to me! Our two girls have also been working on some stories for their entries in a writing contest.

Places We've Been...We went a lot of places this week- grocery shopping, our local amusement park, to our girls' piano recital, swimming at a friend's house, to name a few!

People We Saw...I always enjoy seeing our Keepers Club friends each week and talking with the moms. I also got to attend our H.E.A.R.T. Homeschool Group meeting and we really had a productive discussion, with lots of planning for the new school year!

Things I Heard... The beautiful sound of our girls practicing for their piano recital. I especially enjoy hearing them play duets together. Move over, girls- in the fall their little brother begins his lessons too!

My Favorite Thing This Week....Watching our oldest daughter being interviewed on live TV, promoting her new book Tampa Bay From A to Z. It really brought tears to my eyes to see her so calm, so composed and so well-spoken. I know this is a dream come true for her.

Things I'm Working On... I have received all our shipments of homeschool materials, and so now I am thrilled to be going through all of the various books and curriculum, and coming up with some lesson plans!

I'm Reading...Crazy Love by Francis Chan. An absolutely amazing book!

I'm Grateful For...A husband who works so very hard so that I can be with our children and homeschool them.

I Am Praying For...the next few weeks to go smoothly and for none of us to become ill before we leave for our trip.

Thoughts For This Week

Out my window... I see a beautiful blue jay! We have several birds that call our backyard home.

In our homeschool this week... we are continuing on with Saxon Math. The kids spend a lot of time reading each day and my little guy particularly enjoys looking at his Civil War magazine and having me read Sam the Minuteman to him daily.

Places we've been... We took the kids to a local amusement park at the beginning of the week. It is always a fun time there! My little girl is at VBS this week and is having a blast. I also took advantage of the great sale at Office Depot this week and stocked up on some great school supplies!

People we saw... I was glad to see my friend Ruth again! Oh, and the UPS man is fast becoming a daily visitor, as all our homeschool materials have started arriving!

My favorite thing this week...listening to our oldest playing on the piano. She plays with such gentle hands and I genuinely enjoy listening to her throughout the day.

Things I'm working on... I am reading through some of the various textbooks that have come this week and I am getting more things printed out for next year.

I'm reading... The Tree of Freedom

I'm grateful for...air conditioning!

I'm praying for...the Lord to give me an answer to some questions I have and for Him to provide me with the right words.




Thoughts For This Week

Out my window... it is raining. I just love watching the rain!

In our homeschool this week... we have continued working on finishing our Saxon math. My little guy has also been reading daily to me as well as doing some random activities.

Places we've been... we took a nice trip to visit family this past weekend. We have also gone to church, grocery shopping, to Target, and to the library.

People we saw...lots of family!

My favorite thing this week... watching our 2 youngest play out in the rain!

Things I'm working on... I am trying to get all the vocabulary cards created for my children for next school year. I also have a TON of laminating to do!

I'm reading... my Bible and a book called The Five Love Languages

I'm cooking...carne guisada which is a beef stew-type of dish served over rice. Yummy!

I'm grateful for... being able to be home with my children on a rainy day!

I'm praying for... our oldest daughter's back to be healed.