Day 275-281

Day 275, Sunday, October 3rd

No picture - boo! Sundays!

Day 276, Monday, October 4th

We have recently joined a science co-op with some friends and this was our first project.  Chicken bones in vinegar!  After 3 days they turn rubbery - very fun, but dangerous?!  I don't think L really likes the results (or else it was the vinegar smell!).

Day 277, Tuesday, October 5th

No picture, but a very busy day!  BSF, science co-op, work! 

Day 278, Wednesday October 6th

Our history lesson today was about Egyptian mummies and pyramids.  Time to build a sugar-cube pyramid!  They were disappointed that we didn't allow them to use icing for the glue so they could eat them!  Seriously?!  Where do they get these expectations? 

Day 279, Thursday, October 7th

Karate day - and a belt test too!  It was a little tough keeping Baby Girl quiet and occupied.  Thankfully, a little friend was generous enough to share her new crayons!  Can you see Baby Girl's bottom lip sticking out?  So intent!

My favorite part of the test - dropping the old to accept the new!

Great job L!

Day 280, Friday, October 8th

Some of our pumpkin crop.  For 3 nights this past week we had a frost, so the garden is officially done, though I think we were all done about a month ago!  There is something nice about seeing it all plowed under and cleaned up.

Day 281, Saturday, October 9th

Happy Birthday to my mother!  We thought since she is leaving on J's birthday to visit her siblings in Florida, we could celebrate his birthday on hers!  What a serious group of boys - NOT!  J will be turning 13 on Wednesday!  How did that happen?!

Day 233-239

Day 233, Sunday, August 22nd

Well, no picture again . . . Baby Girl was not feeling well all weekend :(. 

Day 234, Monday, August 23rd

This is a common site now - J doing homework!  Notice the ice pack on his legs for his shins.  He is participating in cross-country along with adjusting to school - busy boy!

Day 235, Tuesday, August 24th

Baby Girl "helping" M empty the dishwasher. 

Day 236, Wednesday, August 25th

We had a visitor for the afternoon - my best friend's daughter!  I'm excited that these two are going to be growing up together! 

Day 237, Thursday, August 26th

Baby Girl was finally feeling good enough to get out of the house!  And boy, was it needed!  What a gorgeous day to enjoy the park!

Sometimes, they are so cooperative - look at them posing for this pic!

She loves the swing!

One blessing that has come out of J being at school, L and M's relationship has really blossomed!  I love watching them play together!

Ending the day with Karate dodge-ball!

Day 238, Friday, August 27th

The garden has been full of butterflies this week!  The boys have spent a few afternoons out catching them - here is my catch!

Day 239, Saturday, August 28th

See - sometimes they can be so uncooperative!  It sure was nice having J home all day today!

Day 185-91

Day 185, Sunday, July 4th

We didn't do much for the holiday, just hung out and relaxed.  Baby Girl loves to play in her pool . . .

until she tries to get out of it . . .Daddy thought it was funny that she ended up with a face full of grass!

Day 186, Monday, July 5th

What a long weekend is good for - getting some projects started around the house.  The plants will come this fall.  And the big patch of grasses and flowers to the right will come out sometime. 

Day 187, Tuesday, July 6th

I have Hydrangea envy!  These beauties are from my in-laws.  I planted 6 a couple of years ago and they are no longer around . . . can't help but wonder if they could have looked like this!

Day 188, Wednesday, July 7th

It's been hot around here the last couple of days - time to hit the pool! 

Day 189, Thursday, July 8th

Karate belt test for L today!  He went from blue with a white stripe to . . .

all blue!  Way to go!

Day 190, Friday, July 9th

The boys spent the afternoon and night with their cousins . . . which means somebody was missing them!

Day 191, Saturday, July 10th

Time for a birthday party!  Baby girl is turning 1!  And of course, that means cake with lots of pink icing!

Sharpie Party - Revisited

After my Project 365 post, I had some comments about our Sharpie party for Karate.  Hopefully, this will fill in some details!  At Karate there is a game they play called knife fight.  Yeah, I know, sounds great, but the boys love it!  Your hands are your "knives" the goal is to not to get hit.  Once hit, you either are out or lose an appendage depending on which version you are playing. 

The Sharpie party was an extension of that game with Sharpie's as the "knives" and t-shirts to prove a hit!  (Caution:  Sharpie's will "spray" if shook - that is why everyone is outside!)  Everyone brought a Sharpie or two.  They played as individuals, teams, partner's and even ran the Sharpie gauntlet.  Sometimes they were only allowed one Sharpie and sometimes two.

Not only did they playing a game they love, they have the shirts to prove it!

Day 101-107

Day 101

Sunday, April 11th

Spring is here and with it comes lots to do!  Time for fishing with Dad on a Sunday afternoon.

Day 102

Monday, April 12th

Today we went back to mom's to start our seedlings for our garden! 

Day 103

Tuesday, April 13th

So sad, all I took a picture of was ice cream I didn't have time to eat it at work, but savored when I got home!

Day 104

Wednesday, April 14th

Picture Study:  We are studying Claude Monet this term and I think Toby really likes this one!

Day 105

Thursday, April 15th

Baby Girl is finding her own sleep style (well, that plus teething made for an interesting nap time).  Usually, I lay her down, cover her up with her afgan which she proceeds to pull over her head and fuss for about 1 minute and then is out for a good hour or two.  I had already turned her back over once because she was stuck and mad!  I'm not sure if she even slept for 45 min.   

Karate Sharpie Party!  J and L have been looking forward to this for a long time!  Here is most of the group . . .

in action . . .

"did I really get tagged"?!

Day 106

Friday, April 16th

Me, Baby Girl and my nephew.  They are 5 months apart and all she wanted to do was poke him in the eyes!  Terrible picture of me, but I chose not to be vain and crop myself out!  Hopefully, I don't regret that someday.

up until today, J was the only one who had found a 4-leaf clover.  M found his first . . .

and L found two in one day! 

Day 107

Saturday, April 17th

Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival!  Pancakes, Martin's sausage and maple syrup - all you can eat!  I think is was worth the wait! 

Day 14

J had his belt test today.  He was testing for his blue belt.  Hanging out before the big test.

Standing in show.  This is part of the test, to see if they can stay still and focused, but not pass out!

He did great!  In fact, they all did great!  Here they are in their new belts!

Life with . . . Luke

Here is Luke taking a break at the Life for Christ Karate kick-a-thon. He did great this year - 1256 kicks!


Luke and his science Christmas present(thanks Rach!). I thought the reactions would be a little bit more noticeable, but he was happy with the results.


Every Friday the boys write in their Journal. The subject matter is up to them unless they need help with ideas. Luke needs to write at least 3 sentences. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes not so much. If they want me to read their journal that week, they leave it out with their pencil marking the spot. Occasionally I go through and read the ones they didn't leave out for me. This was Luke's entry upon returning to school after Christmas break! I love his honesty!

Self-Defense

Did you know that 90% of women attacked know their attackers?
Only about 10% of attacks come from someone they do not know or have ever met!

This last Saturday, I participated in a Rape prevention and Environmental Awareness Seminar put on by Life for Christ Karate and their Women of Dignity and Hope program.

I was able to learn about becoming aware of my surroundings, getting in touch with my "Mama Bear" side, and learn and practice some techniques to use if I am ever assaulted. I would explain some, but as they put it, that would be giving away my "bag of tricks".

I learned that above all, one nver wants to get in a situation where they need to use these techniques, to run away if possible, then use techniques until one can get away and the threat no longer exists. I also got a really neat tool called a kubotan

A great read for moms pertaining to this would be Protecting the Gift by Gavin DeBecker. I had read this book a few years back, and taking this class brought to mind many things I had read about and had learned from this book.