pumpkin patch

Our homeschool get-together this month was at the pumpkin patch.

It was a warm day!

One mom joked that up North the children's faces would be flushed

from the cold;

here the kid's faces are flushed from the heat.

Henry loved the patch so much!

He found some fantastic pumpkins but was only able to choose one.

Marcail and Toby with our friends.

I'm thinking hard about this pumpkin.  I didn't even know anyone was taking my picture.

Esther, Toby, Marc and Abby

Our whole group!

After we were all finished at the patch we drove to a nearby park

for a picnic and play time.

I always enjoy the fellowship with these mom's as much as the kids love the playtime

with their friends.

apple day 2012

Our homeschool group tries to get together once a month for some type of activity.

Last month we gathered for apple day.

We had so much fun!

We had a story time, led by the hostess' eldest daughter.

After storytime, all the families dispersed to go participate in the various centers that

us mom's had organized and put together for the kids to do.

We had an apple magnet craft.

Apple science.

Apple painting.

(Put together by yours truly.)

We made an apple empanada out of

apple butter made fresh from the apples we all brought and taste-tested

and rolled up in a croissant.

They were a delicious snack!

Here my friend took this picture of me acting like I'm mad.

I was being a dork.

(Aren't I always?)

I totally knew I was photo bombing this group picture.

 Pots on their heads in honor of Johnny Appleseed!

toby is 6 months old

I don't really have a whole lot to say about little dude

except that he's just such a happy baby!

He was in a pretty serious mood when I took these photos, though.

He's sitting up so well now.

Hardly ever falls over anymore, unless he's getting tired.

He is grabbing for absolutely everything!

He does this cute little thing where he shakes his head

when he's in a silly mood.

It's adorable!

Toby is a talker too and loves to babble and coo and spit.

Sometimes it sounds like he's saying "mama" but I know

that's a long way coming.

Sweet boy, love your eyelashes and sweet dimple.

So thankful for your happy self!

ordinary days

God gave me these four children as a blessing.

I don't deserve them.  They are great kids.  Really.

I pray that I would enjoy them and savor these young years.

It's already gone so quickly.

It's sped by!  Just a second ago I was holding my twin in the crook of my arms

in the hospital.  

Now, they're 6 years old, in first grade.

Being a mom certainly isn't glamorous.

Baby blow outs will put you down a notch or two.

A sink bath after such blow outs and a splashy baby

always makes the poop mess so much better.

Have I mentioned that Marc has entered the squirrely, giggly stage of kidhood?

Yep!  That silly, uncontrollable laughing about who knows what is here!

It's pretty amusing at times.

She is such a great help with Toby.

When I just can't hold him or tend to him right away,

she will keep him occupied until I can.

She loves it, can you tell?

School time makes for a hungry mama.

Sight word flashcards for the kids,

a bowl of oatmeal for me!

On our walk the other day, we saw this little fella on the shore 

of the intercoastal.

These guys are everywhere right now.

I think it's mating season or something.

Toby's feet are so adorable to me!

They are always moving.  Always.

I spy with my little eye not one, but two bald heads.

Like father, like son, eh?

school edition

School is underway up in here.

I'm not gonna lie.

The first month has been really rough.

My heart/attitude has not been totally in the

right place.

I have been feeling overwhelmed, tired, stressed

and *sigh* irritated.

It's gotten way better in the last week but

this did not come without internal battles and releasing of

what I feel is the "perfect" homeschool scene.

These kids are sponges and it's hard for me to relax and just

show them the beauty of learning.

I think I'm rambling and making no sense, but that's where I am.

If they can read Hop on Pop and Go Dog. Go. fluently then

I am a happy mama.

And if they can tell me what 3+4= then I have decided that I can feel

like we are getting somewhere.

Truthfully, they're making me very proud with their achievements in the past 30 days!

I'm quite impressed with how much they've retained and what they're improving on.

They all 3 have been really improving in their addition skills.

It doesn't come easy for Marcail.

I really feel for her since I am exactly the same way.

We have been learning to work around and over Toby.

He is sometimes loud and needs attention

but, thankfully, he naps for a good 2 hours of our morning work.

This table makes me happy.

Crayon box, pencil boxes, my stack of books with a paci on top...

Marcail likes to "teach" Toby words.

Here, Naomi and Toby are her students.

The favorite part of school for the kids is

computer games.

I love starfall.com!

Naomi is 5.  She's technically kindergarten age.

But, she's keeping up pretty well with her siblings who are doing 1st grade work.

I couldn't be more proud!

Marcail picked up The Cat in the Hat one day and read the first 10 pages.

This was a great test of character.  She showed major perseverance.  There are a lot

of sight words in that book that she figured out almost all on her own!

Henry likes to do "arting" as he calls it.

He does a pretty good job drawing planets and the nighttime sky.