I LOVE THIS LINK.

Taking a break from blogging for a while but I loved this letter that a friend linked to her blog.

It's almost Nap time.

Snow Week

Like everyone else in our region we have been covered with snow and have been house bound. Now being housebound for us is a little challenging, but not at all unusual, we do after all homeschool. However, not being able to go to an activity or our Co-Op (see link for pictures from our co-op) was tough. Like every one else we had cabin fever, however we still had school to do.
So in between movies, and crafts and work sheets and books, we try to do things in creative ways when it comes to school to make things interesting and keep the kids motivated.

This tent and tunnel came in handy and was used for lots of exploration especially when fending off space aliens.

We had friends come over and keep us company.

They were so cute.

This poor little guy was so sick this week, he couldn't play in the snow at all, not that he probably would have liked it being over his head but he might have been OK if he stood on top. However because he had been wheezing we put him on a nebulizer treatments and gave him some steroids he was much better. Took him to the doctor for a follow up since his nose seemed be a wreck from the sickness, turns out he had an ear infection, never once did he complain about it. He loves Kaleigh's old back pack and Michael thought it would be funny to put him in it. He thought it was hysterical.


We have been studying the 1700's for a while now, we read through the first book of Felicity and American Girl series book (the girls really enjoy these books) but we expanded on that idea and took it to this. First we made our own paper (a gift from my mom for birthday many years ago).

You have to take paper shred it and put it in the blender with water.

Then you put it in the box with water to strain and mix (I can't really explain it, but its sits on a wire thing).

Then you put it on a surface and squeeze the water out and push all the paper pulp together.

Last step is to try it between two other thicker papers and squeeze out the excess moisture.
This is the final result, its a little stiff but it's fun.
Then we put indian markings on them (I wish we would have had costumes) to get them to pretend they were the colonist who were disguised when they were throwing the tea over into the harbor at the Boston Tea Party.

They really liked this part.
However once the king decided to institute the Intolerable Acts they decided to write their Rights and Grievances.

Each of the girls wrote about how they have a right to play and how they have a right to be heard (I thought those were pretty good).

Then we explained how the revolution began and here they are reenacting the Battle of Bunker Hill. (We'll be going to Boston in May so we will get to really see some of these thing in person).

Michael and Jaden were the British soldiers and the girls were the American's.

This part was a really big hit.

We also did some scrabble because not only does that help with vocabulary and spelling but we had the girls add up the scores for math. Jordan loved the game, Kaleigh liked it too but she got a little squirmy mid way through but she hung in there.

We had more fun with monopoly (which always works for counting money) and crafts for valentine's day.

We had some rough moments and we could not wait to get out of the house over the weekend, we went to a wedding yesterday (very low key but nice none the less) and now we are getting back to our routine. I feel bad for the kids who have to walk to the bus stop in our neighborhood because there are no sidewalks clear, when they plowed they dumped the snow on the sidewalks so I'm praying for them that they don't get hurt in the process, but as for us school goes on at Cole Academy.

Not Going to Complain

I'm not going to complain about the now almost 4 feet of snow in my front yard, or what the electric or water bill will be this month (at least I'm almost caught up on my laundry), or how much weight I'm gaining because I keep snacking because I'm bored or the fact that they didn't even plow our road from the last snow storm.....because at least...

We have electricity in our house to keep us warm.

We have clean water to drink and bathe in.

We have plenty of food so we are not hungry.

We actually have a paved road on which to travel.

How many people don't have any of those things...how many children will go hungry today...or be cold or have fresh water to drink... I will be grateful for the blessings he has provided for us today.


.....I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile...Job 9:27

Thanks Liz for reminding me.

In a Funk

Gotta get out of this snow it's putting me in such a funk...there is no sunshine to be found. Maybe it's the warm blooded creature in me but I desperately need some nice warm weather, to get me out of this rut.

Hoping this picture from the beach last summer will do the trick.



Love Madison's smile and I wish I were sitting on the beach in the warm weather now.

19 Months

OK I took this picture on the first but did not get to post it until now.

He's growing so fast and he is so cute, his vocabulary is crazy how much is speaking, he's walking around like a little parrot. So stinkin' cute.

Valentine's Hearts

Made these pillows with the girls last week (copied from my friend Courtney) and every day we have been reading through our bibles on everywhere it says love ie..fruit of the spirit..1Corinithians 13..as well as Michael and I have been putting notes in the pockets each day so the kids will have them up until Valentine's day, its been a good exercise all of us.

SNOW, SNOW and more SNOW

After getting 32" of snow we are due to get more snow tomorrow night. We managed to make it out today but tomorrow we are due to get another 10 - 20". I'm so over it.

Do you see the snow is up to our tires.

Untouched snow out my front window.

Furniture Redo

BEFORE

Our $50 piece of furniture that we bought to store our school stuff and some toys. It needed some work but with some sanding, a fresh coat of paint and some new handles, it works great.

AFTER

Last Pictures of Madison's Birthday Party

Elefun is one of their favorites.

As well as girafalaugh - limbo.

My sweet little girl.