Monday, July 25, 2011

$100 Hearts At Home Curriculum Giveaway


Want to win $1oo to spend on books and supplies for homeschool? Then click here and sign up to win $100 from Hearts at Home from The Crafty Classroom (also an awesome site for fun craft ideas and more!). Hearts at Home is owned by a Christian homeschooling mom of two girls. They have super fast shipping - same day/next day on all in-stock orders. They have a wide selection of curriculum at affordable prices. Right now they are having numerous sales including 30% off Apologia curriculum... I'm hoping to get this for our science unit! and also planning on getting Mystery of History for our Social Studies. I can't wait for school to start! (But my kids are sure enjoying summer!) Hearts at Home also has two sister sites: Homeschool Giveaways (who doesn't like something free?!) and Curriculum Share a really neat idea to share books with other homeschool families.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Just like Daddy

Tobiah is always wanting to be a helper and to be doing just what you are doing...

Yesterday it was shaving like Daddy

"Look at me! Me shaving!"

Day at the park

We try to get down to the park as often as possible in the summer during the week to enjoy the splash pool. We usually meet up with our friends the McMillins to enjoy the water, sun, and fellowship.


Isaiah is often coming up with new games and activities.... this one: see how many kids I can hit with the water spray!

And Jana just loves to lay around and be cute

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Welcome Baby Jana

On May 17th we welcomed our newest family member... Jana Ruth. She was 6 lbs 8 oz, 19 in long, and absolutely perfect. I had invited my best friend and her family for dinner and had it mostly ready when my labor started (about 6pm). Thankfully they were able to watch kids until my parents arrived. My dear friend and neighbor, MeeSook, drove me to the hospital and provided support until John arrived 16 minutes before Jana was born. He was about 2 1/2 hours drive away when I called when my labor started, and she decided to wait until her Daddy was there. (and no, he did not speed at all on the way! )

Monday, May 9, 2011

Parade time... again

Parade time again...
This time Isaiah and Lydia were invited to ride with a relative:
L-Bow the clown in his cool jeep
We had an exciting time trying to find L-Bow's jeep amidst all the parade entries in the staging area. Fortunately I knew what color his Jeep was... bright red! that made it a bit easier to find.
Cool balloon hat, and ready to rock.
practicing waving with new friends
On our race down to the end of the parade route... about 2 miles.
Tobiah loved the mascots and the big trucks... but not the pirates
Enjoying the sun...
just being cute... and then, when Isaiah and Lydia finally came by...
there was a sudden downpour!
Hoping the next parade isn't quite so wet!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Science Experiment


Day one of Isaiah's new science project... growing Triops. Right now we are just trying to get the water to the proper temperature before adding the triop eggs. It will take almost a day for the eggs to hatch and about several days before they are full grown (about 2-3 inches). Hopefully they survive! This will be a good lesson for following directions and learning to take care of living creatures.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Fun Family Day

There was a fun local festival that had a lot of kid-friendly booths, craft areas, the firetruck and ambulance...

and a spot where you could learn about bugs (always a favorite with our kids)

Enjoying the show, fruit from the Farmer's Market, and a balloon animal from...

...my long lost cousin! Actually L-Bow the clown really is my cousin. I never really lost him, just hadn't seen him in awhile!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Surprise Lake and Deception Falls Hike

In August (yes, I know it is now 7 months after the trip!) we took a grand hiking adventure on the Surprise Creek and Deception Falls Loop. 4 days, 3 nights and nearly 18 miles! First stop: Surprise Lake. We ended setting up camp in the dark, and had many mice visitors during dinner hoping for a few crumbs.

The next morning (while John broke down camp) I set out with 3/4 of the kids, got on the wrong trail and ended up losing one of Tobiah's shoes down a very large hole between a couple of boulders. Thankfully he still had a good pair of strappy sandles that were actually descent for walking!

Our longest and toughest day ... tackle Pieper Pass.

Hard work riding in a backpack!

Can you guess the mountain in the background?

Spirits are always high after reaching the top, a couple of granola bars, and beginning the trip downhill.

Our fearless leader leads the way.

Second stop... Deception Lakes. Nasty mosquitoes. But smoke sticks made it bearable!

Having fun throwing rocks and trying to splash Daddy

Yet another log "bridge" crossing before reaching our third campsite near the Upper Deception Falls.


Tired, dirty, but only a 1/4 mile left to go!
The kids and I waited at Deception Falls Interpretive Trail while John hiked back up the road to fetch the Suburban. Definitely the scariest part of the hike... crossing Hwy 2 with 4 children and walking about 200 yds from the end of the trail to the Deception Falls area along the highway.

The End
Where will our next adventure be?