Everyday Life

Today is rainy and cool. In my opinion, the perfect Autumn day.

We have finished school today, a big thanks to Liberty's Kids for taking over History for us today :)

We've finally(!) started painting around here. No beautiful colors, but fresh paint always feels so nice.

The boys wrapped up their fall soccer. We did Upward this year and absolutely loved it. They learned so much more than soccer. They loved it so much that we are started basketball in a few weeks. They've never played, but I'm sure they'll love it!

Speaking of a few weeks. Uh hm. The holidays are already upon us!? I kinda thought this year just started.
I am pretty excited about sharing another holiday season with the boys. They absolutely love this time of year. It's so special.

I'm reading Women Living Well and joined the Bible Study over at Biblical Homemaking. I am learning SO much. I truly appreciate the wisdom of godly women.

I found these pictures Tristin took of Brighton last week. Oh these boys make me smile!

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Balloon Glow

We love the annual balloon glow in our little city. Every year we wake up before sunrise and head 30 miles south. We follow a long line of cars down into the canyon. It's dark, it's freezing, but it's beautiful.





We loved this spider pig :)







This is one of our favorite traditions!

Take a look at last year's beautiful photos.

A NINE Year Old in the House

He's been counting down the days. Every single year-no fail he starts the countdown sometime in the summer.

I think every year he tends to get up earlier and earlier too ;)

We love to celebrate him. He loves to feel special, so we try and make sure he knows he is. He brings such joy to our lives. He is so very helpful and is turning into quite a young man. He has worked extremely hard this year and is trying so many new things. I can really tell he is growing up.









I love:

his smile
the way he treats his friends
the way he asks adults how they are doing
how I can hear him in the mornings doing his chores without me asking
the way he is truly enjoying school this year
seeing his art work (he loves to draw, paint, and got to art class)
watching him play soccer
to see him make his brothers laugh
to hear his laugh
when he tells me all about the book he is reading
how excited he still gets over all the things us adults forget to be excited about
that he brings such light in our home

We love you Tibby. Happy Birthday!

Homeschool Series: Projects & Handicrafts

Yesterday, I showed you how I fit certain projects in our day. The ones that we don't finish in our morning gatherings are usually worked on in the afternoons.

I wanted to include beautiful art and handicrafts into our days so I've made a simple list of 1 art project and 1 handicraft that I'd like to get to per month. In addition to this, the boys have an actual art class they take on Mondays.

Art:

I purchased Simply Charlotte Mason's beginners art video on pastels. It's called Creating a Masterpiece and I've heard great things about it.

I also search pinterest  for other ideas. Last month we tried this oil pastels cow and LOVED it!





Others on our list:

rooster or watercolor
sunflowers or these 
landscape
flowers
fall landscape
scarecrow
bubble wrap corn
textured landforms
basket of apples

Handicrafts and Projects

hand stamped leather bracelet
pressed flower magnets
sun catcher
veggie basket
paracord bracelets
sharpies on plates the ideas are endless!

These are all valuable projects. They can be used, gifted, or even sold. Tristin wants to participate in Kid's Business next summer so he could sell the bracelets or any of these if he wants to. I'll post when we do these projects projects and if I add more to the list!

Homeschool Series: Morning Gatherings

In the past I've had a hard time getting the "extras" in our week. Those things like art projects, fine arts- composers, artists, poetry, and hymns.

I happened across this blog where she shares her morning time routine. I loved this idea and adapted it to our day. This is basically a time where we all sit together and talk about goals or upcoming events. We'll do prayer requests and our Bible time.We then go over our habit that we're working on.  We'll study our poet, composer, hymn, or artist. Then, I'll read from Shakespeare or any other literature we're on at that time. I also include our short geography lessons.

It's casual and so much fun. Really. It has changed the whole atmosphere. We fit these extras in and have loved every second of it!

They usually last about an hour. We don't do each one of these things every day, so if we have a project to work on then we don't do literature or maybe geography that day.

Here is an example of our day with Morning Gatherings:
(the hours are not exactly this all of the time, but close)

7:00 make beds, get dressed, eat breakfast
8:00 do daily chores
8:15 daily quiet time (we all read our bible on our own)
8:45 math
9:15 morning gatherings. Bible study, memory work, habit, fine arts study, geography, literature or projects
10:15 language arts
10:50 Read Alouds and History or Nature
11:30 or 12:00 Lunch

That's it. I'm not sure how something so simple has helped our day so much, but I'm so glad we started these. We've been doing this all summer (without the regular schedule) and it is one of my favorite things about our day!

Every Day Life

We have had the busiest summer. I think every single day had somewhere to be in June. If you know me you know I don't love being busy all the time. I find you can't make time for what's most important when you are going 100 miles an hour. This month, thankfully, is a bit slower. Although this week is still quite full, it's full of important things like celebrating the life of a wonderful man and hugging his sweet family...our family. And then a date night with my husband. It's been a long time and I just can't wait to see him. Then on Friday I have a family day planned. In fact I have one planned for the next 3  Fridays in a row. I found a card for $20 each we can get into 3 area water parks/pools. We've never been to any of them and the boys have no clue. I can't wait to surprise them!

For Father's Day the boys picked a one on one date each with dad. This one picked ice cream and the zoo. They loved having dad all to themselves. I love this picture because it shows the stick collecting phase this boy is in!



We finished soccer! this was Brighton's first year. He did a great job and had a really cute little team.



We spend many mornings and evening out here on the porch. It's one of my favorite spots!



Sometimes he just needs a few minutes to himself. I find it so nice that he's taking the time to regroup when he needs it. I remember at his age walking alone in the dark around my block just talking to God. I loved it.



One night we decided it was time for a good ol' shrimp boil! No reason at all, just because it's summertime.



After the shrimp our neighbors asked if we wanted to join them at the splash pad for a bit. So we did.



It's been unusually chilly for July in Texas so I think they spent more time on the playground than in the water that evening, but still so much fun.

This week is in the 70's and rainy. That's my kind of weather!!

Summer of the Birds

Sometimes I have a hard time with nature study. We don't live in a place with just a whole lot going on, but just like the old saying goes, if you "stop and smell the roses" you will find some interesting things.

God really does have a lot going on no matter where you're at.

One morning I went out to water my hanging fern and a little finch flew out and right over my head. So I gently lowered the plant down and sure enough, inside were the four sweetest little eggs. I called for the boys to come see, and from then on we watched that nest like a hawk. :)



At first we thought this was a sparrow, but after seeing the beautiful daddy with red markings drop by we researched and found that this was a House Finch couple.

I never got a picture of him, but he really was beautiful.



A week or so after the discovery we peeked in and there they were!



We thought there was only three. A few more days went by before we finally noticed the forth little one was in there.



We loved watching the fledglings as they were developing their wings...and fuzzy heads.



And just like that, they were ready to go.



Our boys have learned so much about birds this year. They are loving every bit of it, and so am I! We picked up Thornton Burgess' Bird Book and can't wait to read it!

Linking with Nature Study Mondays!

Show and Share Saturday

Vacation Part 1

Last month we packed up the car and headed to Branson, MO! It was quite a drive, but we have tons of audio books, coloring, and snacks to keep the boys happy.

When I was little, my family went to MO. The thing I remember most was the drive there. My dad is a back roads off the map type of man, and it really was the most gorgeous drive ever. So that's the way we went.

We went through the sweetest town in Arkansas. Eureka Springs. If I didn't have such antsy boys, I would have loved to explore the whole town!







We did get to stop in and see the Thorncrown Chapel. Made of glass! I had been in it when I was a little girl. It sure is a stunning place.











On our way out of town, we stopped at one more place just to take in all the beauty.



And this beauty was amazing to sit and watch!
The Pileated Woodpecker





We spent our days exploring and swimming! It was low key and very fun.
Jaiden sure had his moments though ;)





Brighton is terrified of heights and didn't want to join us climbing this wood tower. Its melted my heart to see Tristin encouraging him to do it. He helped him all the way to the top!







And we found a little friend :)



Be sure to check back for the 2nd part of this trip! It gets more beautiful than you can imagine!

Summer Reading List (not for homeschool)

Last week I posted our reading lists. One for the kids, and then one for me as a homeschooler.
This week I wanted to share what is on my list for spiritual growth and my just for fun reading.

We read the Bible as our daily devotions with the boys and have just started Created for Work with them.

I have already started reading Anything and joined the online Bible Study over at Good Morning Girls. I'm actually doing this with a wonderful friend of mine!

I also started Cold Tangerines. I relate so much to this book. You know, I'll start living when... we have the money, I lose weight, the boys are a bit older etc..

Follow Me. I really like when I can feel Jesus in an author's book. I've read Radical, so I'm excited to read Follow Me now.

I'm finishing The Kitchen House. Really enjoying this. It's such a well written story. I love it when a story draws you in so much that you can feel the air, smell the smells, and really feel the emotion.

Cleaning House. I am on a huge kick to get organized and have a place for everything in our home and want for nothing. No more stuff.

The Paris Wife. Because I've always wanted to read it, and I just may be the only person left who hasn't read it yet.


The Lost Husband. Because really I can't pass up a summer story based in Hill Country can I? Must be the Texan in me :)

Daily Life and Goals

We have been having such a wonderful Spring! The weather has been a little funny, but that's to be expected in Texas :)

We have started a (very) small garden. We have a ton of shade at our house so we have to use containers, which is nice for a beginner like me.

We have kitchen herbs. Basil, cilantro, and mint. And outside we planted onions, spinach, and lettuce. I'm planning one more container with tomatoes and peppers in a few weeks.



We're moving right along in school, and loving it more than ever! Of course there are many really hard days, but the good outweigh the bad. It still amazes me to see how much the boys are learning and I'm so thankful I get to see it right in front of my own eyes!

I have been praying for a while for God to give me a heart completely for Him. It amazes me how much he's teaching me about loving others, having friends, and serving my family. I am an introvert. I love to be home, but I also realize that relationships are really very important, and God is teaching me how to reach out to others more and be more hospitable. Another area he's working on is making plans and being a good friend. It seems everyone is so busy all the time which made me feel uncomfortable to take the first step to actually make plans. He's leading me to step out and at least ask :)

If you've been around for very long at all, you know my love for setting goals. It's such a great challenge for me, and helps me grow. I'm usually not too open to share them though. Maybe for fear of failure? I don't know. But, not anymore. I want to share my goals with you in hopes that I'm kept accountable?? hint hint ;) and maybe to encourage each other. If you have any goals, please feel free to share them with me? You can bet I'll pray for you and check up on you if you want me too!

So my goals and lists of things to do for this week were:

Daily:
   *read the word - right now I'm reading lasts months' she reads truth study on prayer
It seems God really brought prayer to my attention these past few weeks, and I know I was really needing help in my prayer life.

   *Cook for my family.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know how I LOVE cooking healthy meals for my family everyday. Morning, noon, and night. Honestly, I don't think their are many days when I actually leave the kitchen!
Some meals we loved this week were: Edie's honey garlic pizza, mango basil shrimp served with rice, and these easy pork chops (I baked ours).

   * cleaning. Of course. I've been working very hard to make a schedule that works for me. I'm finally think I'm getting there, and will post my new schedule next week!

   *homeschool. Lots of reading, writing, math, nature study, a few science videos, and I've finally made projects a priority, and oh how we've had fun with this! I'll share more of that soon too.



   * eat well, drink water, exercise 3 days a week, do my hair and get dressed hehe

This week:

Memorize: (with the boys)

The LORD Is My Shepherd

23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green [1] pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest [2] my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. [3]

Visited 2 friends (Tuesday and Thurs)

Went vacation shopping for snacks etc for our upcoming trip to Branson MO!

Jaiden had a dr appt. (please be in prayer for him as they have to test his thyroid)
Get our dog groomed
Call the bug man to come spray

Clean out our school stuff and get rid of anything I don't need.

That was my week! I did almost everything on the list, but still need help getting my workouts in.

Oh and if you're wondering? I wrote this post Monday...had some trouble with the pictures, and finally got it all finished today.I almost didn't post, but I guess it's better late than never!

Winter Holiday

A few weeks ago we headed to Angel Fire NM for our annual ski trip.
The boys and Dan just love to ski. I, sadly, do not love it.
I am a water, beach, warm weather girl.
I used to enjoy skiing, but took about a 10 year break from going, and haven't enjoyed it since. Since my boys and husband do, it is something I want to work on.



We took Brighton to ski school, and he did fantastic!



I think he looks adorable on his little skis just zooming past us.



I loved hearing about his day every afternoon, and he was thrilled about the jello with whipped cream and the hot chocolate they served him!



Dan and Tristin stayed out all day. They had so much fun, and I think Tristin really adores having dad all to himself! (I stayed in with Jaiden and found Waldo, read, watched movies, and went swimming.)



He even worked on his own tricks!



We had a fine time. We went before spring break and it was really easy going there.