Spies Like Us

Brogan asked for a Spy Kit for Christmas so I set out to see what I could do.  Her Grandpa sent me a cool briefcase and we got her a camera, binoculars, pocket knife, funny glasses and made her some passports with funny names.  From her Spy Kit she took some pictures and then she sat down and made this slideshow. 

Here is her spy introduction:

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Made by Brogan!

Reflections on "2010: A Year of Service"

So, our goal was 2010 acts of service for Twenty10.  How did we do?  I don't know.  We quit tallying.  But, I do know that, according to our standards, we did good.  I also know that we could have done more. 

With all that said, here are some of the things we did do...
volunteered at the Hospitality House, several times
took food to the Hospiatlity House every month
Brogan collected toys for her birthday party, rather than getting presents, and donated them to the Hospitality House
cooked meals for our elderly neighbor and took them to him, several times
had the same neighbor over for dinner and visited with him
Codey helped another elderly neighbor down the road with her yard
baked muffins for FCA meetings
made taco soup for the BSM luncheon
I took pictures for families at no charge just to bless them
made dinner for several families with new babies
organized and made dinners for several families that have adopted
organized and took pictures for an adoption fundraiser
served in the Children's ministry and First Look ministry at UHBC
supported missionaries
supported those going on mission trips
Joshua, Codey & I went on a mission trip
made 14 boxes for Operation Christmas Child
started our Blessing Bags for the car
donated items to the Bridge Ministry of UHBC
donated items to the Good Shepard Mission
donated items to a church for their garage sale benefiting their Youth mission trip
Jeremy & I started serving in the Youth ministry at church
made cookies for our new neighbors
took our surplus of veggies from the garden and shared them with others
served each other around the house without being asked


I am not writing this to boast.  Just simply so that years down the road we have a way of remembering how our life service began.  We have blessed by each one of these acts of service just as much, if not more than, the ones that they were given to.  We have also been the reciepient of many acts of service over the past year.  Each one has been very much appreciated and has shown us just how much people, random people, people we know and do not know, care for us.  Each one that has been given to us or that we have given is a true living example of who and what Jesus is.  My prayer is that we continue to serve joyfully and that you find somewhere to serve as well.

Gingerbread Houses

Our annual Gingerbread House making day with Mrs. Shannon was a success!!!

This lady is so super sweet and we are truly blessed to have her as a friend!

We love you, Mrs. Shannon!

The Sleeping Man

Christian is so funny.  He walks around quoting the movie "Night at the Museum 2" and his favorite phrase is "I'm thinking, I'm thinking" so, when he feel asleep like this...

I couldn't resist taking a picture.  I could just hear him "I'm sleeping, I'm sleeping."  Anyway, just had to post.

Sewing Practice

Brogan has been practicing sewing lines by making pillowcases out of scrap material that we have.  We didn't have a pattern so we had to make one ourself which was a great learning experiece.  This is her first one that she made (and had to resew twice).  She worked through it though and it turned out great!

Our Thanksgiving Vacation

We don't usually get to take family vacations but this year we planned way in advance and made sure we had the time to take one.  Jeremy, Joshua and Codey missed two days of school and we headed out to West Texas to the mountains.  We were gone a week and visited three state parks and several other neat places.  Brogan had lots of great things that covered history and science and, most importantly, we enjoyed God's creation.  We spent Christian's 5th birthday camping and he loved every minute of it.  here is just a little recap of our mile-filled week...

Digital slideshow customized with Smilebox

My Little Turkeys

I've had a canvas sitting in our craft closet for awhile so I got it out and we created this last week.  I think it turned out so cute...

(hands from left to right: Rylen, Christian & Brogan)

It is hanging in my kitchen.  Just a reminder to not eat to much this weekend y'all!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!

Happy Birthday, Christian!

Our little boy is growing up.  Our little turkey.  He is 5 today. 

 (at 2 yrs. old)

Five years ago at midnight I woke Jeremy up and told him I was in labor.  His response "You're joking, right."  He had this grand plan for our Thanksgiving turkey and this just wasn't in the plan.  Our plan that is.  But, it was in God's plan.  And, just a few hours later we welcomed Christian Julius Winston.

(at 3 yrs. old)

He is such a sweetheart.  A kind-hearted, soft spoken little guy.  He has such a great heart and is so eager to learn.  I can't wait to see wait the future holds for him!

(today!!!)

Happy 5th Birthday, Pappy!!!

We love you!!!

Holiday Cards

My favorite holiday cards are the ones that are personalized. You know the ones. The ones with pictures from the last year, the ones that give you news about what the family has been up to. My favorites though are the ones that show the family as themselves.

I have to say that I haven't been that great at getting our cards out the past few years. I mean, I have great intentions. I get everything together, make the card or newsletter and admire how great I think it represents us for that year. But then it happens. The business of the season and my wonderful cards never get sent out. Only I have been left to admire it.

Well, not this year!

This year I am using Shutterfly (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards) to do my cards. I have the perfect one picked out...
...or maybe this one...  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
...or maybe you will just have to wait and see if I choose something different!
 
 
The great thing about Shutterfly (other than their prices!) is that they have tons other great things to choose from too!  For instance, if I get busy and forget the great Christmas card that I picked out, (*ahem* NOT gonna happen this year!), then they have these great New Year Cards (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/new-years-cards) and I'm still doing good!

And, another thing that I'm eyeing...

These calendars.  Not only are they pretty, but they are functional too!  With the kids busy schedules I have to keep a calendar and I think this may be the perfect one!  (http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars)  
 
Another great thing about Shutterfly...Everything is customizeable so it shows our family's personality.  They even have labels to coordinate with the card you choose.  Love. Love. LOVE it when there is a time saver involved ;) ! 
 
This year they are even giving you 50 FREE Holiday Cards!!!  That's right...Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… just apply here: http://bit.ly/sfly2010
 
 
I can't wait to pick out the perfect card to send...just in time for Christmas!  Now all I have to do is get that perfect picture!  But, that would involve having perfect kids so I think we will just get one that captures our personalities best! 
 
Betcha can't wait to see it!!!!  I know I can't!!!!
 

Blessing Bags

Okay, so I have this plastic tote in the back of my car.  I have had it for almost 14 years now.  It has held diapers, wipes, toilet paper, undies, changes of clothes and an emergency kit for all of those "oops" moments that you seem to encounter with babies and young children.  It has been shuffeled from vehicle to vehicle as we have had to trade up in size.  Now that we don't need any of those things Jeremy thought it was time that I got rid of it.  Somehow I thought it might still come in handy.  I cleaned it out today and instead of taking it out of the vehicle I replaced its contents.  This time hopefully it will come in handy for someone else and not just us.


Today Brogan and I decorated some bags...

Then filled them with some food and drink items and added a little note...

All ready to go...

Our "Blessing Bags".  Bags that are filled with some of the extras that we have.  Bags that we will give to someone that doesn't have the extras that we do.  Now, next time we encounter someone living on the streets, begging for food, hitchhiking down the road we can stop and give them something.  Something that they may need, want or be indifferent to.  Something that might just be the one thing they needed for that day.  These bags have filled the space in that tote for just the time that they are needed.

Reflections on our "Year of Service"...so far!

Our family motto this year was "2010: A Year of Service"

Taken from Matthew 25:40 where Jesus is talking and says “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

As 2009 ended and 2010 began I felt that our family needed to be serving others more.  The kids, like us all, seemed to be in this "what's in it for me" state and I wanted to put an end to it quick.  We started by volunteering with some friends at a place in Houston that serves the homeless hot meals.  We started on Christmas Eve 2009 at 5:30 am in downtown Houston, kids in tow.  They loved it!  It was a blessing to us all. 

As 2010 started I made service our family mission for the year.  I started out tallying each act of service that we did both individually and as a family. I didn't know how else to keep track but as I was doing so I started feeling convicted that by tallying our service acts we were boasting in a way. The whole point was to get the kids into the habit of serving others joyfully. Not so that they could be rewarded with things or even "atta boys". So, I quit tallying. I don't know how many acts of service we have done. But, I do know we have done them because we have found joy in doing them. We have served because we want to and enjoy doing them together. We have served each other and others we do and don't know. We have meet new people and become involved with a wonderful organization here in town. Our "year of service" is becoming a "life of service". That was the point after all!!  I know the year isn't over, and, neither is our service to others.  We have much more serving to look forward to and at the end of the year I will let you in on some more of the things that we have done!

This is Olivia.  We meet her at the Hospitality House where we have been volunteering this year.  Brogan wrote her one of the letters.  They made friends quickly and I hope we get to see them again! 

A Friendly Note

Kids love receiving mail.  They get this huge smile on their face whenever something comes for them.  (they odviously haven't heard of bills *choke*)  Today Brogan recieved some mail from one of her friends.  It was "TOP SECRET" mail!  Once she finished reading it she decided she would srite back.  We also added a few friends for her to write to that she doesn't get to see very often.  We don't have any cards so we made our own.  She too awhile to pick out just the right paper for each friend and then cut it to the right size to mail.   

Next, she set out to write her letters.  She wrote six friends.

She is so excited to get them in the mail just in time for Thanksgiving!

Operation Christmas Child

Take a moment to view this video and find out more about this great outreach...

See Oksana's Story

This year we packed our annual shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, an outreach of Samaritan's Purse where shoeboxes packed with candy, necessities, school supplies and toys are sent to children all over the world so they can learn the love of Jesus Christ. 

We started packing boxes 10 years ago and packed just one for each of the kids.  But, over the last couple of years we have been saving and collecting items all year long for our shoeboxes.  The kids even remember to give me their shoeboxes to save so we have enough come this time of year.  This year we packed 14 boxes to send to children around the world! 

What do you do with your empty shoeboxes?  We would encourage you to pack a shoebox or two but, if you throw them away we will take them for next year!!

The Huntsville Item

We went on a fieldtrip with some pre-school families from our church to the local newspaper.  It was a very intersting tour and the kids really enjoyed it.  This picture below even ended up in the Sunday paper!!

We started with a talk about what the newspaper is and does...

Then there was so much for the kids to look at...

Thanks Sarah for organizing it!

Week In Review

This week has been a busy one with our school.  I have had Rylen busier this week than I normally do and it has worked out well.  I made some new file folder games and organized my craft/school manipulative closet and found some great things. 

Here he is playing one of the new games.  He has to categorize the animals by "land" and "sea".  Brogan explained to him what to do, asked him the animal names, and then asked where they lived.  he then put them on the right part of the game board.  I also have several other matching ones and color matching games.  Now he can do them all by himself since he knows the directions for all of them.  this is a great help when I am doing something with Brogan or Christian and just need him occupied.

Brogan worked on lots of stuff this week buth the most fun for her was more in depth work with fractions.  we have touched on fractions a little each year but this week had more comparing than normal.  We also touched a little on reducing or simplifying fractions.  She got it after only a little instruction!  When I told her that the concept was one that they do in 5th grade she was all smiles.  Math is not her favorite subject.  She is a high B/low A student most times and she is like her brother Joshua, a perfectionist.  She expects to get A's or it isn't "good".  So, when I told her that she was so excited!  Math the rest of the week was not as "grumbly" as it usually is.

Christian has some new games as well.  Like for Rylen, these are great when I just need him occupied.  He is so eager to learn.  I love that about him!  Except when it is when I am doing something that has to be done.  I'm not talking laundry.  I'm talking the absolute musts that come up.  He thinks we should school all day.  I hope that eagerness stays, but in the meantime I need him occupied some too.  This is one of the games that he can play by himself or with Rylen.  The cards must be laid out in alphabetical order and they simply match the letters on the spoon to the correct card while saying what the picture is.  He has a few others as well.  Maybe you can see those next week ;p 

This was our P.E. one day...

While cleaning out the closet I found this game.  The kids have gotten it out a few times, can't find the DVD, and put it back.  I asked Brogan about it and she said the DVD was missing so I was going to throw it away.  But, before I did that I was going to use the pieces for something else so I was going through the box when wouldn't you know it...I found the DVD amongst the floor mats.  So, we had impromptu P.E. on a cold and rainy day! 

It's great!  They follow the instructions on the screen and I awarded the game tokens if they did so or at random times according to the "host".  Here is a version of Simon Says...

Rylen keeping hydrated...

That one was to make a silly face.  Simon didn't say though so he didn't get a token.  Still, he was cute.

Still hydrating... 

                                  

 Yeah, we're done!

After we finished the games we counted our game pieces we collected.  *oops, snuck math in there ;)*

Brogan is doing great in her 4H classes!  This week she helped to prepare dinner the night we had spaghetti.

And they made items to take over to the Senior Center.  She made this pillow.  All. By. Herself!  She evn hand sewed the part where she stuffed it.  Way to go, Bro!!

So, Brogan loves, Loves, LOVES Science.  So Friday we started a science experiment notebook with this rusty, dirty knife they found in the woods...

 We put it in coke to see what, if anything, would happen...

And started documenting everything.

Then after day one we observed that the dirt and rust weren't coming off but it looked like the brass was turning pink.  We put it back for another 24 hours. 

24 hours later...

Daddy had emptied our cup and put water in it.  No more experiment.  My response "You are in a homeschooler's house.  Don't you know not to change something unless you ask first?"  He thought maybe he had done it and forgotten about it.  Oh well. 

Our next experiment we did in just a few minutes so we didn't have to worry about it.  Christian has been bugging me to do more M&M math.  So, with the holiday we did.  First Rylen and Christian sorted them by colors. 

Next, they had to estimate which one they thought had the least and the most.  The least was pretty easy to see without counting because of all of the "leftover space" they said. 

The one that they thought had the most was split though so we counted those two bowls.  Rylen thought the yellow had more (he is a bumblebee fan remember) and Christian thought the red had more.  The results...the yellow had 167 and the red had 141.  Yellow wins!

Next, we did a science experiment.  What will happen if we put all of the M&Ms in a bowl?  Will they sink or float?  What will happen to the colors?  What about all of those little m's on the candy?  What will they do?  The results...

Brogan said the M&Ms would sink.  Christian said they would float while Rylen said they would "swim".

Brogan was right.

They all said the colors would make brown together.  Good job guys.

And those little m's?  They float!  See all of the "swimming" m's?!

You really can tell the m's!  Pretty cool huh!

And, we saved a few to eat...

Brogan had her second "Reading is Fundamental" program this week.  It is a program for area 3rd graders and is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.  Each time they learn about different library programs and get to choose a book.  She was so excited to go this week.  I think a lot of it had to do with our time is the same time that AOA goes so she gets to be with her friends.  Needless to say, she enjoyed it.

Well, that was just some of our week.  Our newspaper post is seperate.  Hope you enjoyed hearing about our week!