tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46792387536495077242024-02-07T23:52:27.278-06:00The Simpson 6Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-40799221576814422922022-01-18T08:34:00.003-06:002022-01-18T08:34:47.364-06:00<p> Jumping back into the blog as a means of keeping myself accountable for writing every day.</p><p>I joined the Hope Writer's Instagram Writing Challenge. Each morning I get a prompt delivered by text and email. The goal is that you would not just write but also tag yourself in an instagram post. Not sure I'll do that part, but I do want to participate in the writing challenge. So here goes...</p><p>Day 1 prompt: Slow</p><p>More often than not I feel the pull to slow down. My life is not particularly hectic or over scheduled, but my nature is one that desires slowness. I don't like to feel rushed in the mornings in particular. I want to linger over my Bible, my prayer time and my coffee. My desire is to ease into the day. But I have 3 children still at home, 2 who need me in some way as they get off to school and sports practice. I also work outside the home some hours per week. I want to take care of myself, exercise and eat well. How then do I schedule, or structure my day so that these things are being taken care of? I don't know. I have wrestled with and through any number of potential options. As of yet, none make complete sense. Even in being "flexible," I find something ends up falling off the list. I feel like a prize fighter who knows they have what it takes to win the match, keeps getting knocked down but not out, and staggers to her feet to go at another round. With Christ in me, I know I have a capacity that doesn't come naturally to me. How then do I channel His strength, perseverance and endurance so that I can live life abundantly and not have these key things falling off my plate? </p>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-31148414769065850052016-03-07T08:29:00.000-06:002016-03-07T08:29:09.176-06:00Happening Lately<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happening Lately...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since Jack returned to public school a year and half ago, I noticed that how we do school at home was not the same. As a student, he required much time, attention, and structure in his day. The three who are home now do not. We still have a rhythm to our days and we have a plan for each day, but I'm finding that we have drifted away from the strict classical model and are moving toward Charlotte Mason's idea of education. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We enjoy reading, being read to, and discussing what we've encountered in books. I'm trying to weave more of this into our day, still acknowledging that my personality requires a plan! I love a good plan, and have to work hard with Christ's help, to work the plan, otherwise I just have a good plan:)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is good to help me, reminding me that this is my vocation, and with grace it is important work that cannot be sloughed off. I am grateful to have Him in my corner, refining me and guiding our days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's really the most important lesson I've learned in these 6 years of home schooling - I must bring my days before Him, asking for His wisdom and His will to be done. I fail, often. But I do see the fruit of His life in mine! And that is what spurs me on! Hopefully the children see this too - an imperfect person being sanctified by God as a result of His love and grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-24505305439992272822015-06-03T06:52:00.002-05:002015-06-03T06:52:45.132-05:00Hard ThingsA letter to my oldest:<br />
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Jack,<br />
This school year is drawing to a close today. Dad and I cannot be prouder of you! When you first started hinting that you wanted to go back to public school, I'm not going to lie, it was hard for me. It felt as if I had failed you, failed to make homeschool this thing you wouldn't want to leave. Eventually, the Lord opened my eyes to how selfish that thinking was: it wasn't about me:) You needed something, some place, different. You really are a social kid and while you do have siblings, it was those peer relationships you were missing. And, let's be really honest, you and I can clash spectacularly in our day-to-day interactions. <br />
So after much prayer, and a few tears on my part, we decided to send you back. I tried not to envision lions in the gladiator arena circling you, waiting to snatch you up. But it was hard. I was scared of how that place would change you. Again, I didn't trust that those years at home and laid the foundation you would need to navigate those hallways. And here's the thing. You wrestled so many lions, but YOU did it! You encountered discrimination (against homeschoolers of all things), and bullying, and so many transitional challenges in the classroom and in the lunchroom and everywhere. But you did it. You even went out for the football team, a sport you knew nothing about and had only played as a 5-year-old. And again, it was hard. You had no idea what to do or where to run or where to stand and who to tackle. But you never complained or didn't want to go. <br />
You know who you are and what makes you feel connected and fulfilled. You trusted the Lord and I didn't. But now I know. You showed me God and His unfailing love and His promise that He has only good for us. <br />
So today you wrap up this amazingly hard thing. We love you. You are prayed for and loved by so many family members and friends and you're on to the next hard thing. This time I'll remember - God is with you and for you and you are awesome and amazing and no matter what that next hard thing is, you'll be just fine.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-31370871329507592262014-10-24T12:33:00.001-05:002014-10-24T12:33:37.526-05:00ProcessingIt's again been so long since I've taken the time to sit down and write. We have moved, a fine house that suits our purposes for now. But, it's not a house that I would have chosen had we had more time and more money:) We are however debt free, and that is what counts! <br />
With the move came a change for Jack. He started public school this fall and that has proven to be about more than I can handle. During our first public school experience and then as we homeschooled we were certainly aware that he had some issues which made "normal" learning a challenge. We tried many different things and found some success and much failure:( The classroom environment has been a huge adjustment. No longer can he just ask one person (me) for help - his teachers are great but they have other students to attend to as well. I can't hardly write this without crying as I imagine how challenging it all must be for him. He's been tested through the school and now we are pursuing help via a psychologist referred to us by our pediatrician. There's talk of medicating, diagnostic tools, anxiety, ADD, ADP...the list goes on...for far too long. I feel such a tremendous amount of guilt for having not seen the depth of his issues before this. I feel guilt for being hard on him, for telling him he was being lazy and not giving us his all. I feel confused because as I research these various disorders/issues so many of the "symptoms" do not fit him. He seems to be this giant jumble of several significant issues, each on its own would be too much, but altogether seems impossible to sort out and make sense of. <br />
And yet, here we are. Moving forward to find some answers and trusting that God is sovereign and loves Jack even more than I do. Staggering to think on that one:) And I am so very, very proud of this boy. School and all of the social junk that accompanies it, it difficult for a "normal" brain. Yet, this boy gets up everyday and does it all over again - even when he's teased and made fun of, and even when his "friends" are not those I'd choose for enemies. Oh this boy.<br />
No one tells you when they're born just how much your heart will expand to love and how many times it will literally be ripped open for the pain that you feel for something they're going through or how cruel someone has been to them. There are no words. Yet God. He does know. He gave His one and only son. I'm not literally turning my boy over to be crucified, even if it does feel that way sometimes. I will choose to rest in the understanding that even in the midst of pain and trouble, He is with Jack and He will always be for him. And I will too. We will choose to laugh together, as we did in the doctor's waiting room yesterday, and we will puzzle together over how far to let someone push you before you stand up for yourself (a very interesting discussion about who Jesus was talking about/to when he told us to turn the other cheek - in regards to bullying and being picked on). So Jack, my sweet boy, I choose you, and I will choose you again and again until we figure this thing out together:)<br />
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<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-28949245688499935882014-07-10T07:01:00.000-05:002014-07-10T07:01:32.070-05:00House HuntingI just needed to sit down for a minute and get these thoughts out. We have been coming to terms with the fact that our 3 bedroom home is simple no longer a good fit for our family. We put it on the market and sold it in 7 days. And then the journey began. Quickly we found what we thought was a great house for our family of 6 - lots of room and rooms, and while it needed some TLC, it would be a good fit for us. Then we found out that where we live, the septic systems are often outdated and don't match the advertised bedrooms. We ended the contract and happily went on to find another house. Rejected offer due to the property being bank owned - they don't like contingencies and we had one, that our house had to close. We decided we needed to look outside of BV - away from septics:) Found another house - right school district, good price, but again bank owned. We were out bid I suppose - didn't get that one either. And then we searched the county high and low. Literally from one end to another. Left no stone unturned. Imagined how closetless rooms could become bedrooms etc. All the while asking for God's direction and guidance, and wisdom. <br />
Here I sit, 5 days away from the closing on our home, and we are still without a place to move. This has been a trying month and a half. As we look at one more property, friends are dealing with children with cancer, foster children whose issues feel insurmountable, and babes going off to college. House hunting pales in comparison to these trials. Yet, I know He is in the details of our lives, not just the big ticket items. He has a place, a house, and neighborhood. So I will wait upon the Lord.<br />
As I walked Chewie last night, I got a little teary when I hear the birds chirping in the twilight air, the gentle breeze moving through the trees. I looked back at our home, the house that Jeff and Dave built. What a blessing this house has been! When we moved in it was just 4 of us. Little did we know 2 more Simpson boys would join our family:) It's hard to remember bringing those sweet babes home from the hospital. So many tearful prayers for our Ryan went up, waiting for him to be strong and healthy so that he could come home. My mom's last Christmas was spent here in this house. With Laurie and Gran here too. So many decisions were made under this roof, joyful celebrations of birthdays and holidays. Because we moved around so much growing up, I think I have a soft spot for "place" in my heart. Yet, it is also because of those moves, I also know how to adapt and enjoy the adventure of a new place. Praying for God to prepare the way ahead of us, to our new home, our new neighbor, new friends.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-9659968419733446732014-03-04T19:45:00.001-06:002014-03-04T19:45:38.597-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've had quite a winter this year. The kids, of course, have loved it. Sledding, snowball fights, etc. The public schools won't get out until June this year. We will just keep going:) That is troublesome for these kiddos. When they hear that public school is out for weather, and we just keep going. Oh well. They will get over it:)<br />
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Will is reading independently now. So sometimes he settles on the couch with his little brother to share a story with him. So sweet. <br />
We continue to deal with Ryan's tantrums. Daily. Well, maybe not daily anymore. But often. He just becomes consumed with <i>his</i> way and he lacks the ability, in the moment, to garner enough self-control to communicate clearly what it is that he does want. Hmm. It is so true that God uses our children for our own refinement. How many times do I lose my self-control. Unable to stop myself from <i>over</i> communicating - emotionally manipulating my children, or distancing myself from them. I am seeing just how broken I am. I cannot, in my own strength, become whole. With age and maturity I see more clearly my great dependence on Christ. In His power, I can hold my tongue and keep my emotions in check, in order to clearly and calmly communicate with my children. For them to become healthy adults who can thrive in their adult relationships, they must too realize their own incapacity to be whole without Christ. <br />
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by this task. Pointing our children continually to the Lord. Whew. It is tiring. But it <i>shouldn't</i> be overwhelming. Tiring, yes. Exhausting, yes. But never to the point of undoing us completely. Because then we are surely not operating from a place of residing in trusting our Lord. Then we are trying to do all of the work, instead of trusting in His grace to redeem what we cannot accomplish, and to rescue from sin those who chose Him. We cannot force salvation on our children. So for now I work on how to show them the holy work of our days. The seemingly mundane tasks we repeat each and every day - that these are sacred too.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-21239634634993555252014-01-17T10:35:00.001-06:002014-01-17T10:35:41.772-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy 12th Birthday Jack!</div>
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As always, it is simply unbelievable that you are yet another year older:) My dear first born! We anxiously awaited you those 12 years ago. We were living in a duplex in Fayetteville, AR. I was in Grad school and you hear so much Shakespeare, Old English poems, and Post-Modern jibberish in-utero I shouldn't be surprised at all that you pick up foreign language just by ear! <br />
Jeff was working for the Sheriff's office by then and on the eve of your birth, had gone in to work for a meeting. When he came home, I told him, "well, I've never been in labor before, but I'm pretty sure this is it." We headed to the hospital some hours later, and they tried to get rid of me, claiming I wasn't dilated enough. Ha! Little did they know about this mamma. I had packed a bag and had your daddy drive us through the icy streets - I wasn't leaving that hospital for nothin'!<br />
Our midwife was out of pocket til later, so the nurses kept checking me/you and sure enough things were moving along - slowly, but surely.<br />
After midnight GG and Poppy showed up - GG had woken up with a feeling that she needed to be at the hospital. Thank goodness she came - her nursing experience and calm demeanor helped daddy and I stay calm too, even though we were a bit nervous. Finally at around 2:30 I told the nurses that it was time! They told me to hold on ! Are you kidding me!?!? The midwife was on her way, so in the meantime the ER doc came up - he had on one of those plastic face shields and I thought I was being examined by a welder:)<br />
Marni arrived - our dear Irish midwife, who had just returned from a trip to the Caribbean and had a head full of white blond corn-rows with beads click-clacking every time she turned her face!<br />
It was time - after a few good pushes and some pretty ugly facial expressions, you arrived!<br />
Our first born son, Jack Wingate Simpson. And now you are 12, and then you will be 18, 21, 30...<br />
It is so true that the days are long, but the years are short. <br />
While school may not be your thing, we have been blessed to see you keep at your studies every day. It may not always be a great day, but you always get your work done. This demonstrate diligence and perseverance, and it has been a joy to see this develop in your young heart. We know the Lord has great things in store for you - amazing ways you will serve and glorify Him! <br />
Some fun facts about Jack:<br />
He ride dirt bikes and enjoys racing Motocross. <br />
Enjoys hunting/camping/hiking/being outdoors.<br />
Likes video games like Need for Speed, MX vs. ATV, Castle crashers, Rise of Nations, and Paintball<br />
Favorite music - contemporary Christian<br />
Favorite color- red<br />
Favorite Dirtbike - Kawasaki 85<br />
Fave racer - Ryan Villapoto<br />
Fave food - cheeseburgers<br />
Fave place - dirtbike track and church<br />
Fave movie - well, tv show, Psych the Musical<br />
Fave thing about this past year - buying his dirtbike with money he made from his lawn mowing business<br />
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He's a great kid and we love him!<br />
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<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-70035417037122418942013-10-15T14:08:00.000-05:002013-10-15T14:08:34.555-05:00When I Think of YouThe past month has been a whirlwind in the truest sense of the word. My life was blown apart a bit, and now slowly it is beginning to come back together. <br />
We celebrated Will's 6th birthday back in Sept. And while I say this every single birthday, for every single child, I simply cannot believe that he is now 6. There are so many things tied to him, from his rough beginnings (failure to thrive!) and his presence in the room when my mom finally breathed her last breath, to the crazy boy he has become, so scrappy and strong and smart! It is, most days, a joy to teach him. He grasps most numbers/math with ease, and is becoming a proficient reader. He sees and thinks outside the box, which challenges and rewards me. <br />
A couple of pics from his bday party:<br />
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Just prior to his birthday we had to say goodbye to our sweet Hap. Hap had been with us since the summer we married; through 4 babes, moves, life. </div>
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We all got to say goodbye, here at home and then again at the vets office. Jeff met us there to be with the kids, while I stayed in with Hap. Ryan kept asking Jeff why he was crying, adding, "Policemen don't cry." It was the first time Ryan had ever seen his daddy cry - he wasn't born when mom passed away, and he has no memory of all the tears we shed over him in the NICU. </div>
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Life continued on, and then in late Sept, my friend Mel's mom came up for a visit, ended up contracting CDiff, a lethal bacterial infection, and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. She only this past weekend returned home to TX. </div>
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Two weeks ago, my other dear friend Kimberly, lost her mom. Suddenly, she was gone. Her service was last Thursday and Kimberly did what I wish I could have done at my mom's service; she gave a loving, thoughtful tribute to her mom. She was so brave and amazing! </div>
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Ryan came down with an ear infection the Monday before the funeral, and then this past weekend I succumbed as well:( I sound rather manly, and feel rather shoddy. The Zyrtec-D prescribed to me yesterday kept me up all night. I will not be taking that tonight:)</div>
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We did squeeze in a camping trip somewhere in late Sept - can't even recall the exact day now.</div>
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Love this one- the 2 littles wanted to go swimming like the bigs were doing, but I had already run back to the campsite once, so I told them to swim in their skivvies. They thought it was a hoot, but that water was chilly!<br />
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What happens when you try to take a selfie of a family of 6? This many outtakes:</div>
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Whoops, no Jeff or Will...</div>
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Ok, no Jack, or Will and half of me and Jeff<br />
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Yay, everyone's in the shot, but EK, you're not looking!!!<br />
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Oh well, maybe we should just give up...<br />
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Almost...Ek, we need your eyes...<br />
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Hooray! Blurry, but all in!</div>
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And that is how it's done! </div>
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So, now Oct is here and we are trying to stay on top of school (we missed many days while helping our friends as they walked through their troubles.) Dad and Theresa come this weekend and we are all so excited to see them!</div>
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I'll leave you with this handsome face - finally got a haircut and looks so stinkin' cute!</div>
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<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-5011128461152285192013-08-15T13:21:00.000-05:002013-08-15T13:21:07.213-05:00Happy 9th Birthday Ella-Kathryn!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our sweet girl, born in the wee hours of the morning. Your heart condition that was diagnosed in utero, disappeared after you were born, and while you had taken in some yucky stuff during the birth, you perked up quickly. Jack was so excited to meet you:)<br />
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Your first birthday - we had a party in FL even though we had moved back to AR, and you REALLY liked the frosting on your cupcakes!<br />
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Second birthday, at Grandma and PaPa Simpson's house, since we were still in the little blue house, almost ready to move into our new house on Hanover.<br />
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Your first birthday celebrated at our home on Hanover - you turned 3 and GG, Gran, LaLa and Aunt KK, came with Emily and Case. <br />
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4th Birthday - your hair was finally really growing long:)<br />
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Your 5th birthday - you were so sweet and understanding as Mommy and Daddy tried to juggle your baby brother Ryan's arrival and hospitalization with some kind of normal life at home. We did manage to have a birthday party for you, and I think you felt good about it all, but man was it hard to be fully present here with you, knowing your brother was in the NICU alone. You quickly became my biggest helper once he came home - always eager to help feed him, or change his diaper. You started kindergarten that month too!</div>
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Birthday #6 - you had a Hannah Montana party:)<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL9Ljk2tzwhT1LSwzLq4kUlEIymgmdgd_qpF3zZJdAJA5Vb8nNXoHyNV3FpkZPBnNyuN8LVRTihxQYrwL2X7IIilBP11TcnIyEsMDFOPBU4OTXRMpPSkILh4yVLViCNDOxChwxi3YtrK5/s320/august+birthdays+010.JPG" /><br />
7 - you had a Rock Band party with your sweet friends.<br />
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Last year you headed to the pool with your friends - so fun!<br />
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This year you will go skating on Sat with 2 close friends. We had the family party on Sun to celebrate all of the Aug birthdays. <br />
Ella-Kathryn, I cannot believe you are 9! You are becoming such a lovely young lady. You continue to be the encourager in our family - always cheering everyone else on! You are usually of great help to me, and do very well with your studies. You love to read, and still enjoy playing with your dolls. But you also love music and movies, and of course your friends. <br />
Happy birthday sweet girl!<br />
<img alt="Photo: Happy 9th birthday to my favorite daughter!" src="https://sphotos-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/1174553_10201635116102311_230013698_n.jpg" />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-18259932898742239182013-08-08T17:13:00.002-05:002013-08-08T17:13:21.506-05:00The Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Top: First dance for Dad and Theresa.<br />
Middle: Ryan and Mary Kate<br />
Bottom: Harry and Evan dancing with the little cousins - Will, Emily, Case, and EK. <br />
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I didn't want to forget to detail Dad and Theresa's wedding. The ceremony was at 7:30 AM on the beach - at Peter's Point. It was overcast, but that helped keep the temps down, so I don't think anyone complained:) Dad and Theresa's families all gathered on the beach, and then Theresa made her way down the boardwalk to Dad. It was a very sweet ceremony. Theresa's niece and nephews read scripture selections that Dad and Theresa chose for the day. <div>
We headed back to the house for a catered breakfast - delish and a fun time to meet the new family:) We got to hang out at the house with them until the afternoon reception, which was held downtown Fernandina in a swanky bar. There was dancing and more yummy food, and dancing, and dancing! I had to sit out because of my broken toe:( But, the kids has a BLAST! They boogied for most of the 3 hour reception! And sweet Ryan had his first dance with a girl other than his momma. Theresa's precious niece Mary Kate was kind enough to dance with this little boy who had developed a HUGE crush on her that day. She heads off to college this fall with a 4 year old's heart in her hands:)</div>
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We ended the night back at the house, Karen and family, our family, and the Caulers. While the whole day was rather surreal in so many ways, it was a joy to get to be a part of such a special day for my Dad and Theresa. They are making changes to the house, and I know that it will look significantly different when we return next, but that too is good for me. A new life deserves some fresh pages, and I'm excited for Dad and T and their future together!</div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-21941864320525407442013-08-06T21:15:00.001-05:002013-08-06T21:15:19.915-05:002013-2014 CurriculumAfter last years disappointment with Learning Adventures, we returned to our Classical roots. I have to say that LA was really a great program - it's all inclusive, except for math, and would have worked wonderfully if not for one of our students. This students is a predominantly auditory learner who does not enjoy reading at all:( This curriculum relies on the teacher reading the "core" and then the students must do further reading in each subject from a selection of books chosen from the library on those set topics. Again, fine for those who can handle the independent reading, but it became overwhelming for me - I was reading from each subject out of the "text" provided by LA and then having to prod the slacking reader or do more read aloud time to feel like we were on top of the scheduled topics. I loved the flow of the curricula and it truly is well done - thorough and well planned. It was so sad to abandon it! However, this is one of the important lessons I'm learning in this homeschool journey. You must know your students and know when to cut your losses and move on. <div>
So about mid fall I realized we need to make a change, and I again felt drawn to the Classical model. And really we are eclectic homeschoolers - pulling from Classical mainly and throwing in a dash of Charlotte Mason. I think the main appeal of Classical education, is the structure. I need the accountability of a series of subjects to pursue and check off. So, without further ado, our curricula for this school year:</div>
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Jack - Grade 6</div>
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Bible - family reading time, followed by independent bible study time</div>
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Math - Teaching Textbooks 6. This is our first year using TT. We have tried MCP, Saxon, and MathUSee, all with little success. Jack is finally caught up grade-level wise, so I'm glad we did what we did, but he's really enjoying TT and I'm hopeful it will give him more independence in math this year.</div>
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Spelling - Building Spelling Skills book 6 - used last year to mixed reviews from the kids, but it's thorough and at Jack's level introduces so many different words it's been fun to learn along with him navigation terms, world capitals, and tree names.</div>
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Grammar - Rod and Staff. Tried and true, the one curriculum we have never veered away from.</div>
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Writing - Writing Strands. Jack loathes writing, so we started this program last year. Still hates writing but the books are clearly written for him to follow along with little intervention on my part. EK also uses this.</div>
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Handwriting - A Reason For Handwriting - more cursive practice, using scripture as copywork, so I stuck with this for this year. </div>
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History - finishing up Story of the World Vol. 3 (Early Modern) then moving on to Vol. 4 the Modern Age. Looking forward to finally getting into the major wars that I know will intrigue and capture Jack's attention. He will continue to outline from these and the history encyclopedia, as well as do more independent writing based on the books he's checked out on specific topics.</div>
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Science - Christian Kids Explore Physics. We started this late spring and so far it's been easy to use and the kids seem to enjoy it. There are some fun projects/experiments which keep them engaged and they are not too complex or expensive which I appreciate.</div>
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Latin- Latin Christina. We did Prima Latina over 2 years, but I intend to complete this one in one. We will get into declensions and I admit I'm a tad nervous!</div>
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Logic - Critical Thinking, books 1 & 2; more teacher intensive this year, but I did see improvement in this are of Jack's test scores and I do think it's beneficial to his over all academic performance.</div>
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Art - weekly art study of some kind</div>
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Music - piano lessons, taught by yours truly.</div>
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EK</div>
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bible - same as above</div>
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Math - Saxon 5/4 (what Jack did last year as remediation, but it's target for her)</div>
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Grammar - R&S4</div>
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Handwriting - ARFH</div>
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History - same as above with less writing and no outlining</div>
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Science - same</div>
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Latin- same</div>
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Art/Music - same</div>
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I am hoping to get her interested in the kids book club at the library and we will continue to learn knitting and sewing together.</div>
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Both big kids will continue memory work on the following:</div>
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Beginning of the Declaration of Independence</div>
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US presidents </div>
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Major wars 1600-present</div>
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Preamble to Constitution</div>
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The Gettysburg Address</div>
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Amendments to Constitution</div>
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US states/capitals</div>
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Will</div>
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All same as above unless listed below</div>
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Math Saxon 1 (he probably should be in 2, but I goofed, so we'll see how quickly he finishes the first grade stuff)</div>
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Language Arts - Primary Language lessons 1 - loved this for EK, and it's so homeschool friendly. So far, so good.</div>
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He will sit in on history with us, but will only narrate to me and I'll write down what he remembers.</div>
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Science - we will study animals together. Physics is too much for him:)</div>
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Ryan</div>
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Continue pre-k activities but mainly just reading to him and having him participate in Family Math when we do that once a week.</div>
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Ok, I'm exhausted! It seems like a lot and it is, but if we don't have set goals and schedules we wander. I hope to let each big kid pick a small scale unit study for some of the weeks we have off from our regular school time - something that interests them but we don't have time to study fully yet. </div>
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-8785814878336076602013-08-05T14:52:00.000-05:002013-08-05T14:52:10.092-05:00Back to SchoolIt seems I've got some updating to do around here! <div>
June brought some sad news - my Gran passed away in NJ and so we all headed up north to spend time with the family there. We were able to remember her, share stories, laugh, and just be together. We were also able to get out and about a bit - took the kids to the park my sister and I went to as kids.</div>
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Spending time with cousins, aunts and uncles, great aunts/uncles, and poppy made for a fun trip, amid the sadness of losing Gran. </div>
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On the way home we made a quick stop at the American Motorcycle Museum. A fun place to see the history of motorcycles - riders, bikes, and the progression of the sport. </div>
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We tried to get back into the swing of things upon our return, but just couldn't seem to find a way to complete a few school subjects. The pool and friends got most of our attention! We celebrated Father's day with a special meal for Jeff.</div>
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And then hit up BV's annual 4th of July parade. </div>
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And of course had some firework fun of our own!</div>
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Ella-Kathryn entered and WON her first motocross race! Very proud of her!</div>
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Then we headed out to FL, making a couple of stops along the way to visit with friends. First, we go to hang out with my sister's sil and her sweet kids! Here's EK with Olivia and Naomi - such dear girls. </div>
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The we crashed with my friend from school and got to play with her super sweet boys, J and A. I feel confident posting this pic since her son is incognito:)</div>
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Jack in disguise first...</div>
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then A got in on the action!<br />
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When we got to FL we spent time with the cousins again, got to have special dates with Aunt LaLa, celebrated Poppy and Theresa's wedding, and even squeezed in a fishing trip with Poppy and jet skiing with daddy!</div>
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Will practicing his floating in the deep end.</div>
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Beach time with Poppy!<br />
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Boogie Boarding fun!<br />
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Ry's crazy beach hair:)<br />
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Will's catch of the day all fried up for lunch.<br />
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On our way home from FL we stopped again at Karen's and were able to join in with Emily's bday party. She got to take her friends to Skyzone and they all had a great time. Sorry for the blurry pic:(</div>
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Then we finally made it home and we began our light homeschool schedule - math, spelling, reading and that's about it. In the midst of that, Jack was able to buy his first dirtbike - he's worked so hard all summer mowing yards and it finally paid off!</div>
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As we wrapped up our first week back to school, I had to snap this pic. It's Will and his very first official spelling test! He did great on it too!</div>
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So, I will post our curriculum for this school year another time, but suffice it to say, it's been hard putting our nosed back to the grindstone. </div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-73349256759578931132013-05-14T09:06:00.000-05:002013-05-14T09:06:29.999-05:00Photo dump<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The kid's participated in the Buddy Bass Fishing Derby again this year. Sadly, not one fish was caught:( But they did have a fun time and it was a beautiful day!</div>
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Love Jeff's expression in this one!<br />
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Ry got bored fishing so he played with some bait!<br />
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My Mother's Day breakfast-in-bed. So sweet of them to prepare and deliver it to my bed:) They also made a plethora of cards and sweet notes. And I got a new watch to replace my broken one.<br />
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With Jeff's busy schedule I haven't been able to take as many walks on my own. The weather has been beautiful finally, so the kids and I just pack up and head out for a 4-5 mile walk most days. The trail system here in Bentonville is so nice - paved and well-kept. There are several different trails we take and here's a shot from yesterday's adventure. This one of Ry running makes me smile - he has such a cute running pose and I am so happy I could capture a bit it!<br />
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My allergies are in killing me! Or it could be allergies plus the nasty cold Jeff had last week. Either way it makes walking/jogging really hard. But, I am finding that I really miss my exercise when I don't get to do it, so I'm pushing on through the "pain." Ha! Seriously, no pain, just a pain in the rump to deal with the crud, but AR spring weather is so unpredictable, I can't bet on tomorrow being nice. We just have to take advantage of today! Sounds like some proverb doesn't it?</div>
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We are all so excited about the summer - getting to spend so much time in FL and the kids are super amped for Poppy and Theresa's wedding. Jack wanted to be the best man! We have pulled Jack from scout camp - just too homesick and with all the time away for FL it just didn't seem like the best time. I'm sure we'll find many other things to do - swimming, parks etc. Ok, off to meet a friend and her son for a walk!</div>
<br /><br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-69146524840105260402013-04-10T11:10:00.002-05:002013-04-10T11:10:28.986-05:00Jeff took Jack and Ella-Kathryn on a practice hike before Jack's Scout hike last weekend. These two make me smile:) They do fight, they're normal siblings after all, but man alive they love each other and miss one another when the other is elsewhere. Hope they are always so close!<br />
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Ryan loves to sort and organize his tackle box! About once a week he gets it from the garage and goes through everything. He tells me he's got to get his "hookers" in the right spots! Ha!<br />
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We finally had gutters installed! A friend of Jeff's owns his own guttering business and was able to fit us in a couple of weeks ago . The kids thoroughly enjoyed watching him in action! Jack was so sweet to, inquiring as to whether or not the man knew Jesus, what church he attended etc. Mr. Minnick called us a couple of days later to tell us how impressed he was with Jack and his bible knowledge!<br />
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These two faithful friends. Hap continues to show his age - slower to get up and going, lots of naps, and he's rather lumpy these days (fatty cysts.) But he's still as sweet as ever! Chewie was diagnosed with a tick disease and after being on antibiotics for 3 weeks we will find out tomorrow if he's ok.<br />
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The one pic from Easter! I think my sister in -law may have snapped a few so I'll see what I can come up with.<br />
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Ryan teaching Will how to play the piano! Ryan is actually rather musical. I'm giving lessons to the older two, and just letting the younger get the feel for the keyboard right now. <br />
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Out for walk one afternoon, I'm pushing Ry in the jog stroller and Will and EK are behind me. Will says "Mom, I just kicked a fake snake!" What??? I walk back to him and sure enough there is the snake - NOT FAKE WILL!!!!!! Luckily it was just a little guy, but still - not a fan!<br />
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Ryan waiting for the pumpkin to grow:)<br />
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Just a little randomness from our house to yours - Ken's head on a an Indian warriors body? Make's total sense to me:)<br />
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And the update:<br />We are all over the place these days. Scouts, karate, school, Jeff's 3 jobs! It is easy to feel out of control and off kilter pretty quickly. Yet, when I map out our weeks, I can see clearly where we have time, when we need to be certain places etc. Sometimes, things do fall between the cracks, but Jeff and I are being much more intentional in checking calendars, texting appts to one another and we are doing ok. Remembering that God did not give us our days to be wasteful and lazy, yet balancing that with His reminders to rest in Him and take a sabbath - this is a delicate see-saw! One more activity and we all fall with an abrupt thump on our rears. Deciding to 'rest' and we all fly wildly into the air with a lack of direction and chaos ensues. These people under our care require some structure and discipline in their EVERY day lives! So do the adults:) Jeff and I are working diligently to get our health back on track. To date he has lost 10 pounds and is using an app to track his eating habits. I too have lost pounds and am faithfully walking the hills of Bella Vista. It is truly quite the interval training around here! With my 40th coming in just a few months, I decided I didn't want to drag my wimpy self into this next decade. I really desired to show up strong, healthy, and confident that God could use this body for his glory without worrying whether or not it could keep up! I even made myself a hair appt for Fri so that I can cover up these gray hairs:) I know it shouldn't bother me to see them taking over my head, but I just can't shake the feeling that they are tattling on me! Ha!<br />
We put in our garden this week and the little boys are so very excited to see the various veggies grow. They cannot understand why the pumpkin isn't here yet:) they bickered all day yesterday as to who would water the plants too! It's going to be a long spring! <br />
Jack had another camp out for scouts. This was a big backpacking trip and while he did better this time, it is still a challenge for him to not be homesick. We are still praying about another upcoming overnight trip as well as summer camp. Not sure which would be the right call for this tender boy of ours. We are trusting God to make it clear to us - we don't ever want Jack to feel that he has to hide his emotions, yet he also must learn self-control: not every emotion we feel needs to be expressed. And he's only 11. Much to think over and process. <br />
Ella-Kathryn continues to amaze me in her diligence and independence. She is truly a homeschooling delight! She gets her books, heads to her room and then hours later comes out with the completed work. Quite a contrast to our first born! And i say this not to say she's better than Jack, just in amazement in how different two kiddos can be. She still loves animals and after a recent visit to the vet, was asking about how old one needed to be to work there. <br />
Will and Ryan keep me hopping! They are both so energetic:) Will is wrapping up his math curriculum for the year - he did extra work every day so that he could begin his 1st grade math sooner! He is doing well in his reading too - I'm remembering how fun it is to listen to a little one sound out words. <br />
Ryan continues to make us all laugh out loud every day! He is so smart and talks NON-STOP! I have to be really careful to mind my own mouth, b/c there are times when "yes, Ryan?" becomes "WHAT Ryan?" because I am so tired of answering his questions! Oh but that boy is so cute:)<br />
We have been off school this week since we never took a spring break and the older two have their state testing on Thurs. They did a little math and reading each day, but today I think we'll just do our read aloud. Ella-Kathryn is nervous, and Jack is just Jack! We keep telling them that we really dont' give two hoots about these tests so not to worry, but I'm afraid they are their mother's children! Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-43593520646220188512013-03-05T12:09:00.001-06:002013-03-05T12:09:56.882-06:00TimeTime just seems to be slipping through my fingers. I really wanted to make this journal a daily practice, but find that while I think often of writing, I always put it off, replaced by other things.<br />
Like attending Jack's Cub Scout crossover ceremony. I got a little teary up on stage with him and the new Boy Scout troop he would become a part of. I think it is a pretty big deal - Boy Scouts embody so many of the qualities I hope for Jack to possess. To be self-assured, confident, capable, handy, inventive, thrifty, and thoughtful. His troop seems to be a group of like minded boys, all working towards these common goals. Jack is already talking about setting goals - wow! That right there is enough for this mom:)<br />
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This little man was attempting the Scout salute during the pledge of allegiance at the crossover ceremony. He, as well as the little boy in the background there, want to be "Scub Scouts" when they get bigger.<br />
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This is from a hike we all took last year - fall obviously, but for the life of me I can't remember when. We went to a trail Jeff and I hiked frequently in our dating years. This kind of photo, taken through a hole in a tree, was a fun tradition for Jeff and I - so we decided to pass it on:)<br />
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Oh, New Year's Eve! What fun we had with our cousins, staying up late (11:00 central time, but midnight on the east coast!) and eating candy and junk food! <br />
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Also during our time with the cousins over xmas break. We all headed to the Crystal Bridges trails, did some hiking and then grabbed some yummy lunch at the Flying Fish.<br />
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Jack and Ella -Kathryn have been doing karate since Jan. They really enjoy it! They've learned so much in such a few short months. I'm really impressed with their dedication and desire to learn. Belt testing is in a couple of weeks - I'm nervous for them, but whatever the outcome I'm glad they're having fun!<br />
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Valentine's Day celebration, mommy style. Some homemade hearts hanging from the chandelier; strawberry muffins and hot cocoa with red and white striped straws for breakfast; raspberry soda with heart shaped grilled cheese and strawberry fruit leather for lunch. Homemade Valentines for all:)<br />
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Our first real snow of the season - finally enough to build a snowman! He melted and collapsed only a few hours later:( But they had a blast while it lasted!<br />
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Mother/Son Scout dinner and dance. So much fun and such a special night for us. We got to tour Crystal Bridges Art museum first, then headed to the church for delicious dinner and even dancing. The boys learned the box step at their troop meeting, as well as the wiggle. We did some crazy group dances (the cupid shuffle?) and of course the bunny hop. It really was a fun night, and Jack was so sweet - the boys all wrote their moms a special letter - of course I cried! can't believe how big he's getting and how quickly time is passing. <br />
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Some other things I want to remember:</div>
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*Will accepted Christ - 1/26/13!!!!!</div>
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*Jeff has three houses listed and is closing on his first house this month.</div>
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*Jack had to have 4 teeth removed! Poor kid:( They were impacted and had to go.</div>
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*During family devo we were talking about Ryan's time in the NICU and I said "seeing you in there broke my heart." Ryan replied, "mommy, I'm sorry I broked your heart"</div>
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*Ryan got out of bed one night and came to our room asking me to help him blow his nose. Afterwards, I said it was time for him to go back to bed to which he replied that he wanted to see me. I said, well you've seen me, so back to bed. He then told me "No I want to see you. In your bed. All night." Ha!</div>
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*While working on a grammar lesson, I asked Ella-Kathryn what the punctuation marks were that indicated that someone was speaking. She said "Italian marks" HAHAHA!!!!! She is so funny:)</div>
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*Jack asked his patrol leader what he needed for the upcoming camping trip. #2 on his list was "gillotine" I looked at him and said you have to bring something to behead someone???? He then confessed that has wasn't sure what his leader had said, something for carrying water - I said " a Nalgene water bottle?" Jack, "Yes!" Oh brother!</div>
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*Jack's 11 Year stats:<br />Height - 5 ft</div>
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weight - 77lbs</div>
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He had to get two vaccines (Dtap and bacterial meningitis) and took them in the shoulder. Ouch! He was sore for days!</div>
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-74182148636934668572012-12-25T11:37:00.003-06:002012-12-25T11:37:52.458-06:00Christmas Morning 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-74692753390179819002012-12-20T15:57:00.000-06:002012-12-20T15:57:05.173-06:00Winding DownWe are only 5 days out from Christmas and we are winding down our homeschool term here. The changes we made, leaving our unit study method, and returning to our Classical model, has made a huge improvement for me. We are also pretty well scheduled, using the Maxwell's "Manager's Of Their Homes" as our model. Our master schedule is color-coded and hung where we do school so everyone, even the littles, know exactly what they should be doing and when. While there are some days that are a bit less rigid than others, we all know the schedule is there to keep us on track. It's helped my mood and attitude tremendously, in that I was definitely feeling some burn-out symptoms after Thanksgiving. Part of it was due to the curriculum issues but the other was certainly because I felt so out of control when it came to how our time seemed to be wasted day in and day out. <br />
We have also been able to work in fun stuff, like the Christmas parade, almost daily walks after lunch, mommy/daddy Christmas shopping, and even a couple of child/parent dates.<br />
Here's Ryan on one of the garden sculptures at Crystal Bridges museum.<br />
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Jack and Ry<br />
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Ella-Kathryn and Ry...Will was there too, I just never got him to be still long enough for a pic!<br />
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Jack's scout pack went to the reenactment at Prairie Grove Battlefield. It was a huge production, to commemorate the 150th anniversary and we had a great day. Here are the kiddos at the one room school house.<br />
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Jack and Me waiting for the battle to begin! <br />
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Managed to squeeze us all in this shot:)<br />
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Sweet Ella-Kathryn covering Will's ears during the last skirmish of the day. He really does not like loud noises and I forgot the big ear protectors that we usually have on hand for this kind of thing (and 4th of July:)) The re-enactors were literally right in front of them - I filmed some of the fight and it is quite loud!<br />
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This silly boy wearing his daddy's motorcycle helmet. Jeff rides for the Sheriff's Dept and does so for some of the local xmas parades - sadly we missed the ones he was in this year. <br />
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Here they are bundled up for the Bentonville parade. Doesn't Jack look thrilled:)</div>
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My little human chain - stacking firewood on the back porch. It was so cute to see Jack loading Ryan up into the wheelbarrow for the trip back to the wood pile. Ryan loved it! On Wed. we had temps in the 60's and that night we even were under a tornado watch. Then Thurs. it was in the 30's and we had snow flurries! Welcome to AR! Thank goodness we got a fire going early this morning because right as our lunch was finished cooking, our power went out for a few hours. School was officially declared out for the rest of the day! Ryan is napping, and the other kiddos are out playing with our neighbors - it is eerily quiet in the house right now...just waiting for one of my people to need me:)<br />
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So now we have one more day of school left and then the weekend is devoted to cookie baking, present wrapping, and waiting...to celebrate Christ's birth and for our family to arrive from FL and TN. We are so excited to see everyone!<br />
A few more things I want to note:<br />
*In our advent reading this year we've been tracing Christ through the bible from Genesis on. One of our stories included Jacob's death - ryan remembers this at every reading now and reminds us to pray for his family:)<br />
*Ryan said "awww poor baby" when I told him that baby Jesus had to sleep on hay when he was first born.<br />
*While math continues to be a difficult subject for Jack, I have definitely seen improvement this year. Praise God! He is even beginning to do work independently - this is huge for him!<br />
*Ella-Kathryn loves to do pre-school with the little boys and so I've scheduled a half hour for her every day to have fun with them.<br />
*Will is learning to read - it is so much fun to see the light bulb moments when the letters form words in his mind and then he realizes that he's just read a sentence!<br />
*Jeff passed his real estate exam!!!!<br />
*I got to have a night out with Mel and Kimberly - God has blessed me greatly with these friendships - I am so undeserving of this gift, but I will take it gladly!<br />
*I have a bad case of babyitis...crazy I know, but I am missing having a newborn in the house.<br />
* the kids beg Jeff on a weekly basis to please adopt a baby girl. He is still a firm no in this area:) Although I count it as nothing short of a miracle that he admitted that he had prayed about adoption!<br />
*I was on the phone with Karen one morning and she had to hurriedly hang up because something had happened with Case. While explaining to my kids that I was off the phone and didn't know what had happened to Case, Will piped up, "I bet I know. Emily probably put make up on Case." What in the world?!?!<br />
*Ryan is still coming into our bed at night - never the same time or anything, and I am of two minds on this. One part of me is tired of the bed hog visiting each night. The other is holding onto this because he is the last baby in the family and very soon will genuinely be too big for this! One night I did say to him, "let's go back to your bed like a big boy." To which he very politely said, "No thanks. I like your bed." Sorry folks, I can't say no to that!<br />
*Ryan is struggling lately with using the word "hate" - which we don't allow in our house. Last night I finally broke down and put some vinegar on his tongue and told him that his ugly words made us feel yucky like the vinegar did in his mouth. then I gave him some honey and reminded him that God tells us that our words show others what our heart really looks like - and that when we used our words to tell others nice things etc. they feel loved. He seemed to understand (we'll see how long it lasts) but the funny part was as I was coming back into the living room, Jack turns to me and says "Mom, I really liked how you handled that. What a great teaching moment. Dad should learn from you mom." Ha!! Thanks Jack!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-73434440392377442872012-11-29T14:19:00.000-06:002012-11-29T14:19:04.476-06:00Working it outAs any follower of Christ knows, this walk, this life is sometimes so hard. Death of a loved one, difficult financial situations, broken relationships, disappointments...sin brought so much ugliness into our world. We have to choose, daily, to see God in our lives. It stands to reason that there are going to be days that this choice "feels" easier and those when it seems almost impossible! Having godly friends can help greatly in this area. As does having parents and other older relatives who demonstrate how to live out one's faith, in the midst of life. So it goes here at the Simpson house:) The daily challenges of homeschooling, character issues, and the overall weariness that can arise in mothering 4 people day in and day out - they all can lead me to feel burnt out and empty. My friend is writing an ebook which sets out to encourage and demonstrate how to have a quiet time. My sister is faithful in rising early to spend time with the Lord, and my dad is never far from the scriptures early in the morning. My time too is before the day really gets underway. Will often joins me and then the others trickle out. This time really does prepare my heart for the challenges of the day as well as getting my eyes ready to see the blessings. <br />
Right now we continue to parent through some character issues - lack of diligence, ugly tempers, and negative attitudes. Unfortunately, God continues to remind me that where the mom goes, so goes the child:) Where I show a short fuse, so will the boy. When I feel lazy and cut the lesson short because I'm frustrated, so will the child think that cutting corners is acceptable. Time and time again, this "one-piece life" (Ann VosKamp) shows me how lacking I am in every area. Yet, the hope comes in knowing that I don't have to be enough. Christ will be glorified in my shortcomings. I must only remember to rely on him moment by moment and extend his mercy to myself and my children. In this, we pray that they will be drawn to the gospel. <br />
Ok, so some things to remember:<br />
Ryan asking if we know the movie "Black Harry" - finally realizing that he means "Charlie Brown"<br />
Jack working with Poppy to complete his toolbox for scouts - it's really amazing!<br />
Hearing the kids encourage one another<br />
Watching Ryan shadow Jeff - all day long, every move he makes, Ry is right there! Oh how he loves his daddy!<br />
A great Thanksgiving visit with dad/Poppy - relaxed and fun, we all enjoyed our time with him.<br />
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Looking forward to the coming Advent season - trying to prepare our hearts and minds in a way that honors Christ's birth.<br />
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<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-26449928683452531732012-11-17T09:39:00.001-06:002012-11-17T09:39:15.492-06:00DreamsI had another wacky dream this past week. Nothing unusual there, but this one made me laugh out loud when I woke up. Back story: when I was in high school my whole family, one of my aunts, and my maternal grandparents all traveled to Europe. It was wonderful trip getting to see so many amazing places. Back to the present, I just finished reading a memoir of sorts: an American author and professor, her professor husband and their 2 children move to Paris for a year. I'm a sucker for a travelogue/living abroad story, and Eloisa James (Mary Bly) is a fantastic writer, both touching in her honesty in the passages about her mother's death as well as her own cancer story, and hysterically funny in the bits on her own family, parenting, and the faux pas that come from those cultural and linguistic nuances. So I can only imagine that these two things, amid others I'm sure, were the roots for this dream. Ok, so we are living in some city, New York sort of but not quite. I am walking through this huge library which also operates as the subway station - side note: I think this is a lovely idea, forcing people to spend time in rooms full of books while waiting for their transportation. As I'm wandering, I am thinking about the fact that my Aunt and I are flying to England later that day and I have neither packed, nor decided which, if any, children I am taking with me. I am also unsure of whether or not I have a valid passport, but this detail is dismissed from my mind when I become side tracked by a shelf of books, historical romances (this is where I'm sure of the Eloisa James influence, as she writes this kind of fiction) and a woman with her newborn. Babies will side track me every time, dream or reality. I find a book that looks interesting and ponder the idea of somehow having another baby, even though it is biologically impossible now. Then I'm in my Aunt's apartment and we are trying once again to determine what to pack and when to leave. It occurs to me at this point that we should have already gone to the airport because we think our flight leaves in an hour and being an international flight and all, well, security etc. we should have been there hours ago. Oh well, I think, lets just go now. Oh, and pack a few things. And decide if I'm taking children. Then this woman, Beverly, Bev for short, whom I apparently know and rather well at that, chimes in "I'm taking my 3." Children that is, and it is completely fine that a) this woman is traveling with us, and b) she is bringing the children, and c) this would have some sway over my own decision to bring/not bring my own. I woke up at this point feeling both a tremendous sense of relief that I didn't have any major packing to do for that day and that my children didn't need to fear that I would or would not choose to take them to the grocery store that day. Otherwise I was also disappointed in myself for being so woefully unprepared for my dream trip. It made me think about those yucky thoughts I have about myself: that I'm a flake and typically fly by the seat of my unprepared pants. No worries, I was quickly able to dismiss the thoughts, but I remained saddened that there is no international travel in my future.Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-18333039097689908202012-11-10T15:23:00.001-06:002012-11-10T15:23:21.319-06:00When You Just Want To Throw In the TowelI really do just want to throw in the towel. I just want to sit around and read my books, haphazardly selected from the libraries we visit regularly. A biography about a writer whose family lived in Paris for a year, check; a novella about an turn of the century boat wreck cum survival story, check; a slash and dash murder mystery, check. Unfortunately I cannot merely curl up on my couch and read. At the root of my discontent is that our curriculum is really not working for us. I can't put my finger on it exactly which is probably the real root of my discontent. I hate NOT being able to pinpoint the problem. If I could then I could merely excise it like a tick - pick the offender off, pinching it between my fingernails and then washing it down the sink. But I can't. All I know is that we are all edgy and crabby and not learning. The unit study method was selected so that I could join the bulk of our learning time into one group session which would be made either less or more difficult based on the child. We did a couple of units and it seemed ok. But the main issue is that there is much independent reading to be completed by the students - again an ok principle but a flawed practice in a home where one child is primarily and auditory learner. I can only read so much in a day. and I love to read aloud so that in itself says something. More than that, I think, is that the books are not particularly engaging - I wouldn't want to read a biography of Isaac Newton that spent whole pages detailing mathematical language and infinite equations. It also doesn't feel rigorous enough either. Ugh - i struggled just typing that sentence because I struggle with this whole idea of rigorous academics vs. an educational environment. So I guess what it filters down to is that I am bored, not learning, and don't really know what I want our homeschool to look like. And that, my dears, is a ginormous problem. if the captain don't know where she's headed, the whole crews going to mutiny:( Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-36922879069644643932012-10-06T10:54:00.001-05:002012-10-06T10:54:46.278-05:00Ack:(So much for posting every day. I just can't seem to make this a priority - which is sad since I don't have any other means by which I jot down "memories" for the kids. <br />
*Since I last posted, we have yet to reschedule Will's trip to Fastlane. The sweet boy hasn't even asked about it either! Jeff's parents came up that Sunday after all, so he did get a bit of a party that weekend. <br />
*Jeff got his first deer of the season. Small doe, but we'll take it! The funniest moment of the day happened when i looked out the window to see the deer strung up on the end of the swing set and Will and Ryan happily swinging on the swing right next to it as Jack and Ella-Kathryn helped Jeff gut it etc. Crazy! <br />
*Will continues to enjoy soccer and we've been really impressed with his hustle! He is not afraid of the ball and will run like the wind to get a goal!<br />
*We are back in the groove with homeschool - getting our days done, even if it takes ALL day:) I got my new "Ultimate Homeschool Planner" and that's been helpful in just getting it all down on paper to see our goals and how the days should be lined out. It's always a challenge getting the work done with the little boys first - but as the old adage goes, if you teach them first, they are much more likely to play etc while I spend time with the bigguns.<br />
Ok, photo dump...<br />
Ella-Kathryn wanted to try her hand at pumpkin pie. We bought a ready-made crust for her first time, but she made the filling on her own and baked it etc. It was delicious! As you can tell by the picture - i didn't even get a chance to take a photo of the whole pie as it was cut and served as soon as it had cooled enough to eat!<br />
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Poor Aunt KK had ordered Will's bday gift forever ago and it was back ordered so it didn't make it to him until a week or so after his actual birthday! But when it did arrive he was thrilled! A new watch - camo, of course, with a light! </div>
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This goober smooch... oh where to begin! As we were sorting through clothes for the cooler weather, we also went through the hats/gloves to see what still fit/what needed to be replaced. Ryan found his mitten, but we couldn't locate the other. He was enthralled with it and wore it for naptime and in the car on our way to soccer practice. what a silly boy!!!<br />
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Well, we've had quite a turn in the weather in the past two days. On Thursday it was in the low 80's and by yesterday it had dropped to the 50's and this morning it's barely 40 right now at 11 am. We are headed to the soccer game - bundled up for sure! I really like this weather, but it makes me want to bake and eat all day! Jeff is on the motorcycle for the Sheriff's office this morning - poor guy:( It's wet and cold and the event is just a motorcycle safety thing, so he's barely moving. Good thing he's hot natured - hopefully it's not bothering him too much!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-43002939862510293202012-09-20T21:30:00.000-05:002012-09-20T21:30:24.801-05:00GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!Will's soccer season is in full swing, so I wanted to get a video of his fancy footwork. Here is one of his 3 or 4 goals that he made at tonights game:) He's #5, and I apologize in advance for the shaky camera work and the loudness of my voice! <br />
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<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-36780414245602780472012-09-15T12:07:00.002-05:002012-09-15T12:07:38.241-05:00Will's 5th Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy 5th Birthday Will!!!!</div>
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Your BIRTH day:) </div>
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First Birthday!</div>
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Second...</div>
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Will,<br />
You are such a dear boy! We thought you would be our last baby...and then you became a big brother! Most days you do a terrific job in that role:) Some, of course, you would rather that you had been the last Simpson born! It is so sweet though, on those days, and in those moments when you lovingly take Ryan under your wing and teach him how to do something, or share an adventure. You still have that Jekyll and Hyde thing going on too:) One minute you're an angel and the next...watch out! Mean boy on the rampage!! Thankfully, you are getting much better about getting control over your emotions and you are usually so quick to demonstrate a contrite heart. You love to be read to and of course are following your dad and brother's footsteps in the love of the outdoors and hunting. You were anxious to begin school with Jack and Ella-Kathryn, so you began a kindergarten math curriculum as well as a reading program. You are so much better about being dropped off at church etc, and for the most part like to try new things. Your two "friends" are Will Bankston and Annabella Tyburski. You are playing soccer for the first time and at your first game scored three goals! It was so much fun to watch you play even when you stole the ball from your own team-mate to score! <br />
Ella-Kathryn says "he's the second funniest kid in my family" (she puts Ryan in first place:))<br />
Jack - He is a nice, kind person and sometimes tries to hurt me:)<br />
Ryan - Will plays with me (this was a coaxed answer which came after he said that he liked Will's haircut, his spider man t-shirt, and that he was a fish:))<br />
We love you Will! Happy 5th birthday! Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-41164441283931213562012-09-12T20:54:00.001-05:002012-09-12T20:54:28.669-05:00Daily<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">First day back to school after a LONG summer break. We began back in June - did a unit and then ended up having one thing pop up after another. So we just said we'll wait...and wait... and then finally September rolled around and we really needed to get back to school! We are studying the Middle Ages and enjoying learning about knights and castles:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">This goof ball had a blast at the lake on Sunday. The family who opened up their home for all of us, also had a great dock and the kids could step off and right into the lake. It was the perfect depth there for them to walk around and splash a bit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Jack has enjoyed playing with airsoft guns for a while now and of course the little guys had to get in on the action. Will bought his first gun with some mad money he got from his Pappa (Jeff's dad). Here he is ready for action:) I will say that on this day they had been driving me bananas wanting to actually shoot one another and finally I caved - 1 minute after this pic was snapped Will came running up to the same door screaming that Jack had shot him in the arm! There was a decent welt there for days:( But he hasn't asked me to shoot at each other again! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> Ryan does NOT have an airsoft gun, but likes to hang with the big boys. He mashed his face up to the front door and yelled, "mommy! Take a picture of me! I'm cute!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">and before I forget - Will and Ryan and I were headed to a friend's house to pick up the big kids. It has been a really hot and humid summer here and Will was telling Ry that it was so hot out still, at 6:00pm, and that the reason it felt so hot was because it was also so "human" - or humid as the rest of us like to say:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09540123385776519527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679238753649507724.post-82630472015085416542012-09-09T19:34:00.001-05:002012-09-09T19:34:56.645-05:00Baptism!Ella-Kathryn attended VBS a couple of summers ago. She told us that she had accepted Christ as her lord and saviour:) We were so excited for her - there is no greater joy than knowing that your child her relationship with the Lord and how that will carry through her life. What tremendous peace comes from knowing that you can have hope in this seemingly hopeless world; that you have a divine purpose; and that you will be immeasurably loved, beyond the love that you feel from your parents, all the days of your life! She wanted her daddy to do the honors of baptising her, as he had done for Jack. Jeff was not excited about getting up in front of our huge church family to do this again:) Crowds and public speaking are not his thing! So this opportunity presented itself - to baptise her at a local lake with friends who would be baptising their daughter, who is a dear friend of Ella-Kathyrn's! Yes, we were in! So today, Sunday September 09, 2012, Jeff baptised Ella-Kathryn. <br />
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