Duck Pond Outing

We took a quick trip to the Duck Pond one day when we had a little time to spare.  I caught some cute pics of Rylen and Christian just hanging out together.

Make a Smilebox collage

Caramel Apples

Jeremy made a surprise dessert for the kids the other day.  They had never had caramel apples before so they weren't really sure about them at first but ended up having fun eating them.

Make a Smilebox collage

Muddy Fun...Or Not!

Codey and Joshua wanted to take their bikes over to the pond and Brogan thought she had to follow.  She didn't know their plans involved mud biking but decided it would be fun to participate while she was there.  I didn't know they went over there but caught a glimpse of them out the kitchen window when they were on their way back to the house.  I couldn't see them real well but I saw them well enough to know that it was definetly a camera moment.  When I got outside this is what I saw...

Make a Smilebox collage

Baking 101

The Wynne Home Arts Center provides some great enrichment classes for our community.  The Fall classes offered some great classes as enrichment courses for our homeschool program so Brogan opted for two of the baking classes that were offered.  I didn't stay the entire time but went a little early to pick her up to get some pictures of the fun she was having.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Thankful Thursday "H"

Well, I haven't been doing my Thankful Thursday posts, or many others for that matter, because I have just been so busy.  I know that really isn't a good excuse but it is my excuse and an honest one.  So, being that I have fallen behind I am now committing to remember to do Thankful Thursdays even if everything else does just get put to the backburner.  (Honestly, I say that but we will just have to see if that is the way it goes!)  So, here goes:

This week I decided on the letter "H"...

I am thankful for...

Honesty-  Honestly, honesty is the backburner of all relationships and the only way true relationships are formed.  I am thankful for the honesty that my friends and family give me each day.  And, I hope, that they feel they can be honest with me no matter what and, that I can be honest with them no matter what.

Holidays- Because they get family together when they otherwise may no want to.  Because they bring friends together when it was least expected.  Because, even though I may scoff at some of the things I "have" to do, I do them because the holidays bring traditions that only come a few times a year.  Because each holiday is different and creates memories that will go on for years, and maybe trough stories even generations.

Hope- Hope that tomorrow will bring more joy and happiness.  More healing and comfort.  More of a chance for me to be vulnerable and grow and learn.  Hope that through the hard times and the valleys lessons learned will glorify and uplift my family, friends and my almighty Lord Jesus Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Open Ended Art- Turkeys

I have been watching some art activities on Open Ended Art and thought at some point when I get the courage I would try it with the kids and incorporate it for a school activity.  I say get the courage because I am definetly no artist.  My kids however, LOVE art!!  So, though our first contribution to Open Ended Art is not that creative, it is a start and will hopefully continue on my part.

Here are our Turkeys for this week's Open Ended Art theme:

Brogan's new art curriculum included this picture and concentrated on shading and staying in the lines. 

It was perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday and this week's theme.

Brogan also made this turkey at Parent's Night Out at church.  It turned out cute!

This is Rylen's contribution to our turkeys from Sunday School.

Happy Birthday, Christian!

Christian is having a birthday TODAY!!!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY PAPPY!!!!

Four years ago today, on Thanksgiving Day, my little man arrived.  When I woke Jeremy up to tell him I was in labor he thought I was joking.  He had worked so hard on preparing our turkey a new way and had been up every hour checking on it.  It was around 1:00 am and he thought I was messing with him.  My entire family was at our house so he told my dad to keep checking on the turkey so it wouldn't burn.  When we got to the hospital he kept wanting to call him to make sure he was checking it.  I wouldn't let him and when he finally did call noone had checked it since we left.  They were smart and had gotten some sleep!  When everyone came up to the hospital to see our new turkey baby Jeremy finally was able to find out how the turkey turned out.  It turned out burnt and he was so upset.  It is so funny to think of that each year as these two days roll around.  It makes me smile even more this year as I think of that slyish grin my dad had when Jeremy asked about "the turkey".  Today I am so very thankful for you Christian and of all the memories we have had over the last four years.  I can't wait for what the future holds for you!! 

Here he is at 2!

Here is our BIG 4 year old today!!

Thankful Thursday- "4"

I found this cute idea of doing "Thankful Fours" in the November issue of Family Fun Magazine. I thought it would be a cute way to teach Christian what the number four looked like as well as focus on the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  I also thought it would be a cute addition to Thankful Thursday, even if it isn't focusing on a letter.

I cut out the number four on different designs of scrapbooking paper so that everyone would have something for their personality.  Each member of our family got two fours to write what they were thankful four on the back of.  The responses were so cute!

After they wrote what they were thankful for I punched a hole on one side and hung it from the lattice in our kitchen with yarn.  Now when you look into our kitchen you can see what our family is thankful four!  It feels so good to walk into a place where thanks-giving is not just one day of the year.  Hopefully we will keep this up and not limit it to just this month! 

So, you are probably wondering what everyone was thankful for. 

Here are some of the responses...

My Cup

That Momma and Daddy are willing to help me with 4H

Everything

God and Heaven

Family

Basketball

That God is Good

Jesus

Daddy's Job

Nap Time (YEP!!!  That on is mine!)

So, take the challenge...

What are YOU thankful four?

Miss Unappreciated

Yesterday I had Brogan helping me with a long to-do list in her bedroom.  The same bedroom that she begged to share with two of her brothers because she didn't like being in her bedroom by herself.  The same bedroom that required 4 others to move everything around so she could be happy.  (Granted, the boys were happy with the swap too but we won't let on to her about that!)  Mostly I was doing the to-do list but I had her putting a large, very large, load of clothes on the hangers.  The pile had been split up into two parts and when she finished the first part I brought her in the second half of her job.  She immediately went into pout-mode and started whinning and crying "No one in this house appreciates me!"  I actually thought it was pretty funny coming from a 7 year old.  I thought it was so funny that I left the room trying not to laugh and went to email her daddy what she was saying.  I had planned to go help her when she finished the drama.  Nevertheless, while I was emailing she went into even more drama about how "No one in this house loves me!".  What?  I mean really come one.  What does she expect?  It only gets worse when you become the Momma!  This is defintely one that I will have to remember to remind her about when she calls me complaining about her kids and how they don't appreciate her, or when her kids call me complaining about her I will defintely have a story to tell them!  She never disappoints...now this is true!!  And, here she is...Miss Unappreciated...

Pies For Sale

Joshua is selling homemade pies for Thanksgiving to raise money for a trip that he is taking to Washington D.C.  The pies cost just $10 each, a great deal for the holidays!  Delivery is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 24.  You can place your order by posting a comment and we will get back to you by email about delivery times.  Choices include: apple, cherry, peach, pumpkin, and chocolate.  Thanks so much for your order!  It is a huge help and benefit to him for the trip.

The Best Birthday Gift A Momma Could Get

My birthday was last week and I am not ashamed to say my age...35!!  As I look back I can say that I loved each and every year for one reason or another.  They are each special in their own way and are to be treasured.  That is why I am never shy of telling my age when others ask.  On another note, The picture above is what Brogan and Christian gave me for my present.  Definetly the best I have ever received!  It included a ABC Creation coloring book, lotion, half of a bookmark, a Bible cover with some verses inside, cheese soup mix, a flower girl basket, a picture of a kitten that Brogan colored and a Jonas Brothers pencil all wrapped nicely in a princess bag.  They had gone through their room and picked out the things they loved most and gave them to me.  And, they were the first to give me a present and say Happy Birthday.  No one had to remind them or tell them to, they did it all on their own!  I am the luckiest and most blessed Mom in the world!!

Small Town Texas

This was on a sign in Navasota, Tx.  I just couldn't resist getting a picture.

Muffin Tin Monday- "Perfectly P"

Today was Muffin Tin Monday!!!  The kids were soooo verrrry excited that we had it today as it has been many weeks since they have seen the muffin tins.  The theme for this week was "outer space" and I was not prepared so instead we did the letter "P" since that is the letter Christian is working on mastering right now.  Oscar is visiting for a few days and he wasn't quite sure what I was doing by putting things in the muffin tin for lunch but once the kids explained to him and I told him our theme he was excited. He and Christian ate everything in their muffin tins!  This is such a fun part of our week.  If you haven't yet tried Muffin Tin Monday you should.  You can click on the link on my sidebar to find out more information.

Our muffin tins this week included:

popcorn, peanuts, pineapple, pears, pb&j pinwheels, and purple popsicles to celebrate the letter P!!