We Made It To Tennessee

It's been over 1 year since we traveled to Tennessee to visit family.

We were LONG overdue.

It was a great visit.

Sawyer did well.

He checked out Uncle Bryan's bike!
(I missed pics with Uncle Mark but he was extremely excited to see him too)

He visited his grandfather!

He rode in the golf cart.

He visited the park!

He got to visit with his grandmother, great aunt, great uncle,  and his cousins but
I didn't get pictures.

We couldn't have asked for anything better.  

Just a Few Pics

Lots going on.

3k Race for Judson, Ansley, and Turner

Ansley becoming a Junior Girl Scout

Turner moving up in Cub Scouts

Here are some pictures

Don't have any pics of Turner at his Cub Scout ceremony.

Take The Time To Enjoy The Little Things

It's A Wonderful Life

I am Blessed!

This was Mother's Day 2014

180

The Magic Number

That is the day we shoot for in our home school.

By law, we must complete 180 days of school each year.

WE.DID.IT!

Friday was out last day for the 2013-2014 year.

I had pictures but alas, something is wrong with the camara or Picasa.

For our last day, we went to the local international farmer's market.

It's HUGE.

I let the kids pick out what was interesting to them.

We picked out food to make a Chinese inspired meal.

We picked out food to make an Ethiopian inspired meal.

We picked out food to make an Italian inspired meal.

So far, we've made stir fry and wontons and spaghetti.

Sawyer had to go into the hospital for platelets and blood, so we've been slightly derailed for Ethiopian inspired food but hopefully sometime today we will do that.

It has not been a banner year for home schooling.

We've been more into 'survival mode'.

We made it.  

Next year we are making some changes that we hope will be for the better.

Judson will take 2 days in a home school Co-Op.

(fully accredited and he will have more of a brick-mortar experience

without the things we dislike about our public schools)

Ansley, we will tweak and add a few things to her routine but she will stay similar to this year because she likes the autonomy. She will get to benefit from some of the things we will be doing with Turner but without changing up the things she likes about her current system.

Sawyer we will tweak somewhat.  Although, I'm not 100% sure how.

Turner will get the most changes.  The semi-autonomous route we've taken with Judson and Ansley are not a good fit for him.  Nor are many of the books that have worked with them.

So he will be given a more classical approach.  Lots of literature, lots of Mom time, lots of exploration, and lots of music and art. Copy work.  Memory work.  Think-modified Charlotte Mason.  There are some things that did work for him this year and we will be keeping those.

That is how we home school.  Each year we try to re-evaluate and decide what worked, what didn't.  Who needs what. How can we get it to them.  We have never followed a complete boxed curriculum.  More of a adhoc approach.  It works for us.

  While we are on vacation, I will be researching and ordering materials.  We will probably start back late July or early August.

Meanwhile, it's SUMMER VACATION time!

Having Fun

This took me to my happy place

I found a store close to Judson's school that sells injera and shiro powder.

Life just got better.

Since my Mom was in town this week, we declared Spring Break.

We went to the zoo

 

 

This time of year, there are lots of babies.

So cute!

Judson took most of the pictures!

We also went to a game ranch near us.

It has been a great spring break.

We have 20 days of school left.

Then SUMMER!

How Long Has It Been Since I Posted?

Sorry.  Life is happening quite quickly these days.

 But here is a quick update.

Judson is now a Boy Scout.

I know, Where did the time go?  Right?

He had his ceremony last weekend.

He started when he was Turner's age. 

Now look at him.

So big.

Yet still so young.

He is already participating in Boy Scouts.

He and Dad are enjoying it, as far as I can tell.

The kids are all doing well.

We are cruising into summer break.

We only have about 26 more school days.  

I think everyone is looking forward to a break. 

Mom and Dad are doing well too.

For our anniversary, we got a new back porch!

Believe me when I say, it was not a minute too soon. 

This picture was taken with my iPad2, so not a clear picture.

They Make Me Smile!

Crashing the neighbors yard to shoot a few hoops!

Sunshine!

Hint of Spring in the Air

Yesterday was one of those perfect days.

Sunny.

Warm.

We just HAD to play outside.

It felt good to have the sunshine in our faces.

Interesting Winter

Here in the South, we can go many years without snow or even cold weather.

It's been several years since our last snow.

This year, we've had 2 significant snow events.

Our latest started yesterday.

Sleet began yesterday early.

It continued for about 15 hours. (practically non-stop)

Late last night it turned to snow
and snowed throughout the night.

We are the lucky few.

We still have power.

Because we did not get much freezing rain.  

Here are a few pics..

Early, a wee bit of snow but mostly sleet

Early afternoon, still sleeting

Afternoon at the birdie feeder

Notice the ice on the bush

Sleet accumulation

with some icing

We woke up to snow this morning

So we HAD to play in it before the big thaw this afternoon

My only rule was, stay in our backyard but NOT under the trees

They say it should be above 40 by this afternoon.  Hoping the roads are clear since I have to take Sawyer to clinic tomorrow for chemo.  We've already postponed it once due to weather.