My Precious Children

I love all my children equally and try very hard to be fair in all decisions, time spent with them, etc.....but I am loving this special mother-daughter relationship with Abby.  Yes, I do realize that she is only 5 months old and I anticipate that our relationship will only grow, get sweeter and be tested over time, but it sure is nice to look into her chubby, little, round face with her tongue hanging out.....as she tries to eat every magazine she can get her hands on.....and her socks.  LOL  She is a perfect snuggle bunny......all of my kids are......I just love her to pieces.

Now Bear, he is being incredibly cute lately.  My personal favorite is when you compliment him and he says "awww shucks".  It is too cute!!!

Greg caught a tame rabbit in his live trap yesterday.  That is good because the little bugger got out a few months ago and they couldn't catch it.  Lee is looking forward to his first year deer hunting with his bow. 

So much going on here as my children just keep growing.  Everything changes :)  I guess that is enough rambling for today.  It is a beautiful fall day and we have soccer games to attend.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day :)  And a wonderful week!

Back to School

Lee was back to school this week so that means we went back to the books here at home too. I thought that I would give a run down of what was accomplished this week. Keep in mind that our little snowstorm canceled school on Thursday and Friday so we had a short week :)

Greg - 4th Grade
We are one chapter from being finished with Caddie Woodlawn. I guess we will finish it up next week :) Amazingly he has been able to see several birds and gotten good use out of the bird field guide that he got for Christmas. In history we are studying 1865-1890's - and all the exciting things that changed our world during that time. In science we are studying feathers.

Bear - 2 years old
This would be tot school. This week Bear has spent quite a bit of time working his Melissa and Doug puzzles, play doh and pegs. We used the pegs to sort colors. He also loves to build towers with blocks and sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Very cute.

Baby
We have been very blessed today to find out that the baby is a GIRL :) According to the ultrasound she is about 13 ozs. We are eagerly anticipating her arrival in a few more months.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful weekend!

1st Birthday

We are home and settling back into a routine. I have major housecleaning to do! We are enjoying the last few days of Norman's vacation too!

Norman Matthew will be celebrating his first birthday tomorrow! I can't believe it has already been a year. He already looks like a "toddler" rather than a baby and I am so sad that he has grown up so quickly!

He really took to Nemo at Disney so he is having a Nemo birthday! Amazingly, we never owned that movie, and it is difficult to find now. I bought KMart's last copy :) He is getting a look-and-find board book, wooden stacking pegs, stuffed Nemo, Nemo bathtub toys, Nemo movie and Shamu bucket hat (couldn't find Nemo!). That seems like a lot, but he didn't get any souveniers on the trip because they were all for his birthday :) I figure he would like to unwrap them!

So, I need to get to work. I promise to be blogging regularly soon. I have lots of new reviews to post, so watch for that!

Leland David

My oldest son, Leland David, turned 11 yesterday. Once upon a time, I didn't think that was possible. My husband and I sit and wonder where 11 years must have went.

Lee was born around noon on the 9th of August 1997. I was induced, and in labor for over 24 hours. There was talk of a c-section, but God allowed a natural, drug free delivery. He was precious and such a joy to us. He still is.

Lee is an independent, perfectionist sort. He loves taekwondo. His goal is to be a lawyer. I think that he will make a very good lawyer.

He loves God and believes in Jesus. He made his confession 2 years ago. He almost always tries to think of the other guy first.

Lee is the perfect big brother. He puts their needs and cares before his own more often then not. He is their defender, and protector. Wrongs against himself he may let go, but he doesn't tolerate a wrong against his brothers.

Lee isn't perfect, but none of us are. I am so very thankful for the last 11 years with Lee. I am reminded again of the wonderful blessing that God has given me by allowing me to homeschool. I can't imagine everything that we would have missed if he was gone all day.

Thank you for allowing me to "brag" about Lee. Yesterday was his day. We love you Lee!

2nd Degree Black Belt

This afternoon, at approximately 5:00 p.m., my oldest son Leland will be testing for his 2nd degree black belt. This is a huge accomplishment and I am terribly proud of him :)

Way to go Lee!!!!!

I am the Most Protected Woman in the World

Most of you know that my 10 year old son is a 1st degree black belt. My 7 year old son achieved his 1st degree black belt in Oct. On Dec. 20 my dh also earned his 1st degree black belt. I am not sure that there is another woman on the planet that is as safe as I am :)

Our New Black Belt

Gregory successfully completed his requirements to test for his 1st degree black belt in taekwondo and successfully completed his testing last night at Master Newberry's Black Belt Academy in Champaign IL. We are so very, very proud of him and all that he has accomplished! Now I am the very proud momma of 2 1st degree black belts :)

We are proud of you Greg! Keep up the good work!

Political Activists

I know that a lot of homeschoolers are politically active, championing causes that they believe are right and good. My boys also have this tendency as well. Here are the causes that they are championing:

Lee:
He wants there to be unlimited peppermints at Ryan's restaurant. My dh tends to agree. Just last night he was again reprimanded by the staff for trying to take a small handfull of mints. Now mind you, he was getting the mints for all of us, not just himself. We had also just paid $30 for a buffet meal that we didn't eat near enough of (did you know that Ryan's has "repriced" their buffet??). He was so steamed that I thought he might blow his gasket. My dh was a little distrubed also. We might have to take this up with management next time that we are there.

Greg:
Greg is very upset by the Nike shoes sign that is on our local athletic shoe store. He has been upset about this sign since he learned to read. He says that it is pronounced Nike (long i, no sound after the k) and thinks that the shoe company is doing a great disservice to all the beginning readers of the world by not spelling correctly. He thinks that there should be a y at the end of Nike (Nikey) so that it will be phonetically correct. This sign drives him bonkers every time we pass it, and it is on the way to Walmart so that is frequently.

I really do hope that eventually they channel this outrage at something that we might actually be able to change :)

Blessings,
Carie