100th Post! First Day Back to School

It was really nice taking a Christmas break, but I was pretty ready to get back to the routine of school. My kids definitely need structured stuff to do each day. When they're left to their own devices they're more likely to argue with each other and generally run around crazy. So, back to school!

I don't actually do official "school" with Joe. I just have different fun activities for him to do that help him learn a skill, too. He has a baggie with pony beads and pipe cleaners to help him learn colors and patterns, as well as helping with fine motor skills. He also has a bag with colored glass pebbles that he uses to sort and count and make patterns. In the pictures here, he has out his scissors and paper to cut. I drew lines -- squiggly, straight, curved, jagged -- on half sheets of paper and he uses those to practice cutting. He starts at one end, and cuts toward the shape (flower, heart, cloud, star, etc.) at the other end.






Katie is doing her handwriting -- she starts cursive soon! And in the other picture she's finishing up reading Little House on Rocky Ridge by Roger Lea MacBride. She's also reading Aesop's Fables today, and learning a bit about Australia.

Happy New Year!

Here's a link to a blog that sums up exactly how I feel about the new year. Well, except for the part about Georgia football. I can definitely take a pass on that. :)Though Jeff certainly disagrees!

Our Trip to Virginia

Well, we got back a couple of days ago from our whirlwind trip to Virginia! It really was a wonderful trip and we had a great time with our family. We visited with my Uncle Eugene and two of his girls, Kelli and Sara, in Mechanicsville. We played a fun game of Uno Attack (one of Kaity's Christmas presents) with the girls. They are beautiful, witty young women, and they make me feel old -- I remember when they were babies and their nicknames were Stinks and Smells! Eugene took us to see a couple of battlefields from "The War Between the States" (as Jeff is adamant it be called). We visited Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill. It was compelling to see and read about the personal, individual events that happened inside such a monumental event.

After my uncle's, we drove over to Joe and Jennifer's home in Newport News. We all went to a fun, interactive Living Museum, which the adults enjoyed as much as the kids! I think the precocious little otter was the unanimous favorite, with "Afro-duck" coming in second. He was this cute little black duck with a stand of white feathers on his head -- we could never figure out what he was actually called. Anyway, I whistled at him to get his attention so Jennifer could snap a picture and he flew right at us! I squealed and Kaity was so startled she flattened herself against the glass trying to get away.

The next morning Joe actually cooked breakfast for us -- grits, eggs, bacon, the whole nine yards. Even burnt toast -- which was my fault, though I didn't 'fess up at the time. Sorry, Joe! We also visited a cool transportation museum on Fort Eustis -- whose main attraction (at first) to our son was a rock with letters on it.

After Joe and Jennifer's, we drove south to North Carolina and crashed overnight with our friends Nathan and Leah. We always look forward to spending time with them -- the conversation is never boring! Their little girl, Georgia, is absolutely adorable. We had a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant after which we unfortunately had to leave to head back home.

We had a fabulous trip and we really hope to get back up there this spring or summer to visit again. There were so many things we wanted to do that we just didn't have time for. Most of all, we just wanted more time to spend with everyone! Ah, well, there's always next time!

Ring Christmas Bells!

The Saturday before Christmas, Jeff and our friend Chad played their instruments at a local restaurant. The owners of The Fat Finch, Kelly and Kim, had asked Jeff to come in one night to play Christmas carols. He recruited Chad to join him and they had fun decided which songs to play and talking music together.


Christmas morning! The kids were so excited! Joe came hurrying down the stairs, and I woke up to him saying, "Katie, look! We both got bikes!" Precious. Kaity has gotten really good on her bike, and she loves to ride. This was Joe's first bike, and there's not even a good picture of it. (The tricycle he's actually riding is the one he's outgrown.) The horse he's riding in the other picture was a huge hit. He stayed on it all Christmas morning.

A New Digital Camera

Jeff's work rewards him with "Safety Points" which he can use on-line to "purchase" various items. Previously, there was a catalog to order from that contained cheap watches and useless gadgets. Apparently they've updated since going on-line! Earlier in the fall, we went shopping and among other things, got a nice Canon digital camera. I finally used up all my film for our other camera and have started using our new digital! Following are just random images from us playing around with our new toy.


This is Kaity talking on the phone to Grammie. Kaity takes after me in that when she's on the phone she is constantly moving. (Just not in this picture!)


Me in the hat I wore in last year's 1940's era Christmas pageant. It was on loan from a local antique store but Jeff went and bought it to give to me for Christmas. The picture was taken last week sometime.


Joseph being a pretty little boy. He's completely charming!

Of Socks and Candy

"'The time has come,' the walrus said. 'to talk of many things.
Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax and cabbages and kings.
And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings.'"
--Lewis Carroll

Yesterday I told Katie to put her socks on over her ballet tights so that she would not tear her tights on the sidewalk going into the house. She complied, remarking casually, "I'll probably still tear the heels, since my socks have massive holes in them."

This morning Katie asked if she could have a piece of candy. Before I could answer, Joe poked his head up between his sister and me and whispered, "Say 'no', Mommy!" Can you guess who had already been denied a request for candy?

Self Portrait by KGP

Random Kaity and Joe Moments

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth ..."



Lunch at the bakery! Isn't Joe just too cute in his hoodie?



Katie and I made sugar cookies and decorated them while Joe was napping!



Joe loves getting "fuzzy kisses" from Daddy! Jeff is a disciple in the Christmas pageant at church, so he's growing a beard for the occasion.

Fall Festival

This year's fall festival was a "Wild West Fall Fest". Our Sunday School class was in charge of having a haystack for the kids. We piled up a few bales of hay, then tossed in candy and toys. I think it was a big hit! Even the children's minister, Greg, belly-flopped into the haystack. Jeff got his bug running and brought it to have for the "Trunk or Treat". We handed out candy from the trunk in the front. Greg kept threatening to fill the car up with the hay after the festival was over.

As you can see, Kaity, Joe and I dressed as scarecrows. The chicken in the pictures is one of our friends from the SS class, Rachel. She's hugging our friend Kelli, the pirate. I ran out of film so I didn't get good pictures of everyone, but they're in the background!

Burt's Farm Field Trip

Last week, our homeschool group went on a field trip to a pumpkin farm. It was an absolutely gorgeous fall day in North Georgia! The Cospers rode with us and along with several other cars we made our way up to Burt's Farm in Dawsonville. Johnny Pumpkinseed taught us about how the pumpkins are grown and the different varieties. Then we went on a hayride where "Autumn" and "Gourdy" told us some more about the farm and that God makes things grow. At the end of the hayride we got to pick out "sugar pumpkins" to take home with us. (I cooked mine and made yummy pumpkin bread with it!)

After the tour of Burt's, we drove over to Amicalola Falls and ate a picnic lunch at the playground. Then everyone loaded up and drove to the steps to walk to the top of the falls. One of the moms had hurt her back the day before, though, so she and I stayed behind and kept the three three-year olds.

All in all, a beautiful day to be outside, and a great field trip!