Knowing My Children - Kent 2013

How old are you?  "nine years old"

What is your favorite subject in school?  "That would be...there's one part in science I like, but probably the most favorite part right now is mystery for reading."

What do you like about it?  "because I can help solve mysteries"

What is your least favorite thing about school?  "That would be...math sometimes.  I don't really like space that much so it's part of science."     Why?  "because I don't want to go to space and float around like that.  I don't like math because I don't understand everything.  I like to figure it out on my own and not ask for help."    Does that work out for you?  "Well, not really."

What is your favorite color?  "Green, I have a few, but my most favorite is pretty much green."

What is the last book you read for fun?  "Mandie and the Invisible Trouble Maker"

What is your favorite food?  "birthday cake"

What is something you like to do?  "watch football!"

What is your favorite article of clothing?  "Socks, I guess, I don't really like any of them.  One of them I thing is weird though.  You wear it all the time unless you change it."

What is something you do not like?  "watching the Denver Broncos lose in a football game"

What do you like to do with Daddy?  "play Halo"

What do you like to do with Mommy?  "watch a movie"

What do you like to do with your siblings?  "play card games"

Do you like hugs or kisses?  "um, hugs"

What is something you are thankful for?  "I am thankful for Daddy."

Is there anything else you want me to know about you?  "I like the number 9 and the number 3 and the number 27, because it is made of 3 9's."

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "a football player or a soldier"

What do you want for Christmas?  "A Halo Lego set or a pet dog (which probably won't happen)."

Knowing My Children - Katy 2013

How old are you?  "eight"

What is your favorite subject in school?  "reading"

What do you like about it?  "I like to read."

What is your least favorite thing about school?  "math"      Why?  "because it is hard, especially third grade math"

What is your favorite color?  "red"

What is the last book you read for fun?  "um...I'm working on it.  It's Winnie the Pooh's Stories for Christmas."

What is your favorite food?  "hmm...still thinking...chicken legs"

What is something you like to do?  I like to draw pictures and write stories, especially about horses."

What is your favorite article of clothing?  "This horse shirt."

What is something you do not like?  "chores"

What do you like to do with Daddy?  "play games like a matching game or skip-bo"

What do you like to do with Mommy?  "color"

What do you like to do with your siblings?  "play hide and seek and tag"

Do you like hugs or kisses?  "both"

What is something you are thankful for?  "The pilgrims since they had the first Thanksgiving."

Is there anything else you want me to know about you?  "I like horses."

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "a writer"

What do you want for Christmas?  "The Molly movie"

Knowing My Children - Kaomi 2013

How old are you?  "six"

What is your favorite subject in school?  "reading"

What do you like about it?  "I like to read interesting stories."

What is your least favorite thing about school?  "Math"      Why?  "cause it's way too hard for me"
How come you do it really easy then?  "Well, I don't know."

What is your favorite color?  "blue"

What is the last book you read for fun?  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

What is your favorite food?  "birthday cake"

What is something you like to do?  "play with Quinky"

What is your favorite article of clothing?  "all skirts"

What is something you do not like?  "having to work"

What do you like to do with Daddy?  "play games with him"

What do you like to do with Mommy?  "read a book"

What do you like to do with your siblings?  "play games"

Do you like hugs or kisses?  "kisses"

What is something you are thankful for?  "my family"

Is there anything else you want me to know about you?  "I like to read and eat and color."

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "a cowgirl"

What do you want for Christmas?  "a rocking horse"

Handmade Christmas

We have been very busy this month making Christmas presents.  I have been enjoying spending one on one time with each one of my children and my husband as we complete the projects of their choice.  I wasn't sure if we would be able to get everything done on time, but I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  My goal for the kids is to have their projects completed by Saturday.  That means we only have three days to finish.  I think we might make it.  We have been busy hammering, stirring, painting, gluing, building, stuffing and sewing.  I'm unable to show you any actual pictures of products due to their secretive nature, but I did get a couple of action shots.

Knowing My Children - Felicity 2013

How old are you?  "thr-eeee"

What is your favorite subject in school?  "learning about God"

What do you like about it?  "It will make us happy."

What is your favorite story?  "The Mary and Joseph nativity"

What is your favorite color?  "pink"

What is the last book you read for fun?  "One Wintry Night"    -She just looked at the pictures.

What is your favorite food?  "Peanut butter and jelly and bread"

What is something you like to do?  "play with dolls"

What is your favorite article of clothing?  "wear dresses"

What is something you do not like?
"I don't like the book The Twelve Days of Christmas, it's boring."

What do you like to do with Daddy?  "play cars"

What do you like to do with Mommy?  "do projects"

What do you like to do with your siblings?  "be nice to them", "play cars and trucks with them", and "read stories to Quinn"

Do you like hugs or kisses?  "hugs...and kisses"

What is something you are thankful for?  "cake"

Is there anything else you want me to know about you?  "I don't like all of this choices.  We can do some of those tomorrow.  Okay?"    -She was talking about these questions.
"I love having a birthday."

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "a princess"  Anything else?  "I love reading books, and I love going to the playground, and I love finding animals at the zoo."

What do you want for Christmas?  "I want...hmm...I like a watch for Christmas."

Knowing My Children - Clark 2013

How old are you?  2 1/2

What is your favorite subject in school?  "ctivity box" (activity)

What do you like about it? "train "ctivity""

What is your favorite story?  I like most stories, unless they are long.

What is your favorite color?  "black"

What is the last book you read for fun?  truck

What is your favorite food?  "tacos"

What is something you like to do?  "play trucks and football"

What is your favorite article of clothing?  "shorts"

What is something you do not like?  "pants"

What do you like to do with Daddy?  "go in Daddy's truck"

What do you like to do with Mommy?  "work on me projict"

What do you like to do with your siblings?  tackle Kent, play with Lissie, play in the car that the girls can push me around the house, give hugs to everyone

Do you like hugs or kisses?  hugs

What is something you are thankful for?  "helcopors"  (helicopters)

Is there anything else you want me to know about you?  I'm learning to go potty.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  "have a beard"

What do you want for Christmas?  "helcopor"

Ice Strom Pictures 2

On Saturday, December 7th, after the ice storm my brother and his family came over to enjoy playing outside with us.  I didn't get any pictures of their older boys, since they weren't around when I was out taking pictures.  We also took Quinn outside for his first picture in the icy white weather.  He was interested in it, but wasn't to keen on sledding on a cookie sheet or sitting on the ice.

Quinn, Jeff, and Ben

Jeff and Quinn

Quinn sledding on a cookie sheet

Zach

Lisse and Jojo watching out the window

Samarah and Quinn

On Sunday we had a worship service at our home, since church was canceled.  We had one family who tried to come, but struggled to walk out of their driveway and decided it was safer to stay home and not fall and potentially get hurt. 

Knowing My Children - Quinn 2013

How old are you?  10 1/2 months

What size clothes do you wear?  12-18 months,  but that seems soon to change

What is your favorite subject in school?  any subject that I can interupt

What is your least favorite subject in school?  The subject that Mommy puts me in bed while they have fun in the other room is my least favorite.

What is your favorite color?  My assigned color is brown and my favorite blanket it blue with brown trim and a monster on it.

What is something you like to do?  eat, crawl and pull books off the shelf

What is the last book you read for fun?  I read a book that sings and has a light up button on it.  It is one of the few books Mommy lets me have all by myself.

What is your favorite food?  I haven't found anything that I don't like yet.  I wish I could eat what everyone else is having on their plate.

What do you like to do with Daddy?  cuddle and sing with him

What do you like to do with Mommy?  eat and laugh

What do you like to do with your siblings?  smile and scream and touch their faces

What is something you don't like?  being roughed up by my siblings

What is your favorite article of clothing?  Daddy likes me in overalls.

Do you like hugs or kisses?  definitely both

What is something that you are thankful for?  snuggles with Mommy in the middle of the night

Is there anything else that you want me to know about you?  I like to scream really loud.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Maybe I'll be a chef since I like to eat.

What do you want for Christmas?  I like to have fun.  I would like to be able to read more books all by myself.  As long as there is good food available for me to eat and milk for me to drink and people to hold me I will be content.

Ice Storm Pictures 1

These pictures are from last Friday.  I enjoyed seeing the delighted faces of my children as we played outside.  We went out while Quinn was napping, so I could enjoy being out, too.  I didn't even hear anyone say they were cold until they had been out there for a while.  Thanks to some ski pants that Aunt Rebekah sent with Mimi and Pa back in April, Kent and Katy got to have the experience of sliding down the ice.  We also couldn't resist getting some kind of sled to use on the ice, so we tried out my laundry baskets.

Kaomi holding sleet

Felicity with an icicle

Christmas lights Friday night.

A True Stay-cation

We've been iced over in our area of Texas.  We are thankful to all be together and safe with food, shelter, and electricity.  Highways around us have become temporary parking lots.  The truck that delivers our Bountiful Baskets orders is out there on one of them.  There were no deliveries on the route that we are on today.  Pray for safety and peace for all those who are still stranded.  We get to stay home and enjoy doing things together.  We've worked on Christmas projects, watched movies, played outside, chatted with a neighbor, played games and had close by family visit.  I have no desire to go out onto the treacherous streets to drive and become stranded or worse.  Church has been canceled for tomorrow so we have invited those who are close enough to come and join us in worship at our home.  The weather forecast is predicting that we may have a new layer of thin ice on top of what we already have and they are staying the roads will continue to be unsafe for travelers through Tuesday morning.   I've taken pictures of the children playing outside and am hoping to share them with you soon.

Peace in the Storm

The pittering sound on the window is peaceful.
The sleet continues all night.
Even Quinn must have thought it was peaceful,
for he slept a little over 5 hours.
He woke with his usual scream,
but quickly began unusual chattering in his bed.
The peaceful sounds lull me back toward the land of sleep.
I realize that I should get up with Quinn.
Then I notice the soft glow through the window.
Everything is white outside,
reflecting the little bits of light from houses
and the street light on the corner.
The Christmas lights on the house across the street
reflect off the accumulating sleet, making it look like Christmas.
It is a peaceful view.
The pittering sound continues,
giving knowledge to the treachery of the roads and sidewalks.
The sounds and view give understanding of the
freezing temperatures to be felt outside.
We will spend the day cozy at home,
enjoying the peacefulness and prettiness
of the ice storm.


Linked with:
Five Days of Christmas Blog Hop    

Day 28 in Our Homeschool - Fall 2013

Here are a few homeschooling resources I use as encouragement and guidance for me as the teacher.

1.  My Bible has God's wisdom, guidance, and encouragement for me.  This is where the foundation is for me to learn how to be a Godly mother/teacher.

2.  A Mom Just Like You by Vickie and Jayme Farris.

3.  Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Terri Maxwell

4.  Training Children to be Strong in Spirit by Michael Pearl.  I haven't read this yet, but am anticipating that it will be helpful.

5.  Raising Arrows by Amy is a blog that I enjoy reading for the homeschool and mom factor.  I find it encouraging.  It is one of a very few that I subscribe to because I enjoy reading it each day.

6.  Homeschool Giveaways is another that I subscribe to.  I almost never visit their homepage.  They feature a once a week freebie and many of them I have been able to take advantage of and use in our homeschool or home.  Since it comes to my e-mail I can quickly decide if it is something I am interested in or not and take action at that time.

7.  Large Family Mothering  by Sherry Hayes.

8.  Toliver's to Texas by Gwen Toliver.  She provides reviews and a look into their family and school that can be encouraging and entertaining.

I'm sure that there are other resources out there that are great and I have yet to find them.  Sometimes I find a resource that is great for a season in my life and then I pass it on or stop using it when it no longer adds to my criteria for being helpful.

Day 27 in Our Homeschool - Fall 2013

We use binders to help us organize the school papers that each of the children have.  The older kids have 3" binders and the toddler/preschooler have 1" binders.  At the beginning of each new school year everyone decorates a cover page for their binder for the year.  I put tabbed dividers in them to separate the different subjects from which each child will have papers.    The binders help us to find completed work quickly if we need it and it helps keep the paper trail combined.  I have a drop box for completed, corrected papers that we put them in and then I sort and file them in the binders when I get a chance.  Every week works well to file the papers in binders, but more often than not there are a couple weeks worth of papers to file when I stop to do it.

2013-2014 school binders

Counting it Joy in November - Week 4

1.  Clark's thinking he's starving every morning between 9:30 and 10:00 and wanting to make lunch.  He likes to get out the bread and put it on the counter and sometimes he gets out chips or peanuts, too.  He's usually satisfied for a short time if I give him a piece of bread or a couple crackers or fruit.
2.  Projects plans
3.  Shopping trips with all the kids
4.  Assembled Christmas project kits that the kid will take to work on
5.  My Dad cut himself with a knife and was able to get the follow up care including a simple surgery
6.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 26 in Our Homeschool - Fall 2013

We often use toys in our play that go along with things we have been learning in school.  We might build with Lincoln Logs or Legos.  We might dress up or play with dolls.  Last week when we were learning about Thanksgiving we made pilgrim hats for our craft.  So I pulled out my scrap box and found some white scraps and quickly made some pilgrim aprons and hats for the girls dolls, too.

Day 25 in Our Homeschool - Fall 2013

Sometimes when the big kids are busy with an activity that the little kids will just mess up I give the little kids something fun to do on their own.

This week Clark made all the big kids jealous with his activity when they finished playing a game and realized that they were missing out on the fun he was having.  I quickly pointed out that they had been doing something fun that he couldn't do and they needed to let him continue his activity in peace.

Watercolors on cardboard is fun.  A piece of card board holds up longer than a piece of paper.  I add some food color to a little water and give a paint brush.  If they are wearing a light colored shirt I put a paint shirt over them, since food coloring can stain.  For paper I just use a couple drops of food coloring, but when we use cardboard I put several drops since the cardboard is darker colored.

Day 24 in Our Homeschool - Fall 2013

I have a large whiteboard that we use for school.  Sometimes I use it for teaching purposes and sometimes I write assignments or copywork on it for the older kids.  I also write messages pertaining to school on it.  Yesterday I wrote the following message:

Starting Monday we are OFF school until after Christmas!
Have a great vacation working on homemade presents.
(That means you'll be busy hammering, stirring, tying, etc.)

I was still in the gameroom when Katy came in and saw there was a new message.  She was so excited that she started jumping up and down and flailing her arms.  I think she might have wanted to yell excitedly, but it was quiet time and that wouldn't have been the best idea.