Thursday, February 4, 2010

Homeschooling First Hand Lessons

There is talk of closing our library. We use the library very frequently!!!

We went out yesterday to exercise our first amendment rights with other homeschoolers. We discussed with Ari about what these rights mean. The kids made signs and we went out to try to show our support. We made it on the news (sort of). We were at one end of the group and didn't make it on most of the video. My friend took some pics but I haven't gotten them yet. I will post the pics once I get them.

Monday, February 1, 2010

10 Happy Years

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We recently celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary.  Funny thing is that we had tons of snow the year we got married (26”) and this year we also got lots of snow!  We went up to Banner Elk to enjoy some time together.  We beat the snow storm by just hours.  We had a great time relaxing by the fire together!  

I have the best husband!  I am grateful to have such a loving, serving and humble man to lead me and our family! 

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These are views from our cabin…Above is when the snow began, and below is the next day.

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Our kids stayed with Yaya and Papa.  They enjoyed building a snow man and playing in the snow with their cousins.  DSC_0545 DSC_0553

When we got ready to come home, we had to take the snowman’s hat since it was Ari’s and Chris left behind a new style. 

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Life Lessons with Legos

Ari and Ryan have been wanting this Lego pirate ship that cost $99.99.  We made a chart with how much was needed to buy it.  Whenever they got money, they filled in a space.  Recently, they were able to save enough money and off we went to Borders.  The Lego store was sold out and I get an educators discount at Borders.  They ended up being able to get the pirate ship and 2 accessories to go along for the same amount at  Borders thanks to the discount.

I love it that they both love legos!  They work as a team to save their money to buy different lego sets.  They also spend many, many hours together playing with the legos (yes I do realize the proper name is Lego Bricks but they will always be just legos to me). 

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Homeschooling Rocks

One of the many things I love about homeschooling…spontaneous field trips.  It was a cold January mostly except for 2 beautiful warm high 60s days.  On the first of those days, my friend asked that morning if we wanted to go to the zoo since it was such a nice day.  So we packed a lunch and headed to the zoo which is about 1.5 hours away.  The kids were so excited!  They had a blast with their friends.  They ended up spending most of their time enjoying being together in the warm weather.  We were all tired of being cooped up inside for so long. 

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a couple attempts at group picturesDSC_0474

Mommy is that real…he isn’t moving.  This is Arianna’s favorite animal…an alligator.  We were amazed at how completely still it was.  We eventually saw one of them blink.   DSC_0476

Ryan was talking to the turtle that was greeting him at the glass.

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Ari was so proud that she climbed up this rock.  She had trouble at first but persevered. 

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She taught Ryan how to do it.  Boy I have 2 dare devils.  Don’t you usually only get one???

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We watched the sea lions being fed.

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We spent a long time on the playground.  Below Ryan was calling “Mommy I’m Stuck”  of course I had to snap a picture.  It went something like “Hold on just a minute and let me get a picture.  Then I will help you down”.  DSC_0526

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The next day we spent most of the day at the park with friends.  Then the cold weather returned and we are back to only short stints outside before we get too cold. 

Girl Scout Cookie Rally

These are Ari’s Daisy Buddies after the Cookie Rally at Monkey Joes!  These girls have a blast together!  Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera so these are taken with my phone which isn’t the best quality.

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Happy 4th Birthday Ryan

We celebrated Ryan's 4th Birthday on December 28 (yes I am behind on blogging). My sweet sweet boy turned 4 not a moment too soon. He has been anxiously awaiting the day when he would finally be four. We spent the morning with Yaya, Papa, Aunt Leigh, Uncle Jeremy, Katelyn and Graceson. In the afternoon, we went to Monkey Joes with Katelyn and Graceson. After Monkey Joes, we went to Fat Daddy's for dinner. It just happened to be kids' night. The clown made a light saber and hat for Ryan and Ari. Then of course we went to the Lego store and Ryan got a minifig of Darth Sidious. Ryan's big birthday party with friends is in June which is when we celebrate his 1/2 birthday.

I am so proud of Ryan. He is an amazing boy! His heart amazes me daily. He is such a caring and compassionate little guy! He melts my heart with his beautiful full faced smile! I love his hugs!

His favorite things right now are Star Wars and Legos.

Enjoy the slideshow

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

More Christmas Day

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Ari making one of our mosaics. 

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The pups love Christmas too.  Below Sara is hanging out with the pups!xmas 2009_1225 4448 xmas 2009_1225 4449

Above Daddy is putting together a Star Wars vehicle.  Below Ari is taking a break with a pup.

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Papa and Arianna coloring.  xmas 2009_1225 4453

Ryan got the Star Wars movies for Christmas.  Here he is watching one of them.  xmas 2009_1225 4454

He crashed during the movie.  yes he is really asleep here.  This is what the family Christmas tradition does to little ones:)xmas 2009_1225 4455

My sister joined us Christmas night.  Here Graceson is playing video games the next morning with Ari and Ryan.  xmas 2009_1225 4456

Everyone watching another Star Wars movie.  We watched all 6 during the few days everyone was visiting. 

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Christmas Day

Wanna know what we did all day Christmas Day… xmas 2009_1225 4441 xmas 2009_1225 4443 xmas 2009_1225 4444 xmas 2009_1225 4445 xmas 2009_1225 4449 xmas 2009_1225 4450 xmas 2009_1225 4451

…put together legos, legos and more legos!

Christmas Morning Part 2

The kids were so excited to open their presents! 

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Above Ryan shows off one of his new star wars figures.  Below he is excited about his new slingshot.  xmas 2009_1225 4428 xmas 2009_1225 4429

Arianna is excited about new clothes and shoes for Sara.xmas 2009_1225 4430 xmas 2009_1225 4431 xmas 2009_1225 4432 xmas 2009_1225 4433 xmas 2009_1225 4434 xmas 2009_1225 4435

Above Chris shows off the gift from Ryan.  Below Chris has his new mug…Everything tastes better with dog hair xmas 2009_1225 4436 xmas 2009_1225 4437

Above,Ryan is dressed up as a Ninja.  Below Arianna is already building with legos.

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We were glad to have Yaya and Papa with us for the festivities.  They were the beginning of this goofy family tradition many, many years ago!xmas 2009_1225 4439

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Christmas Morning Part 1

Our family tradition is that you can get up anytime after midnight for Christmas.  Well Arianna was up at 12:01am.  I guess she stayed up and watched the clock.  So we were opening gifts while you were probably visions of sugar plums were still dancing in your head.  This year we changed things up a little bit in that we didn’t leave special gifts under the tree.  Instead there was a Star hanging on our tree for Ari and Ryan to follow to try to find the presents similar to the three wise men and how they found Baby Jesus.  My husband is really good at making up clues.   The kids enjoy following the clues!  Ari keeps saying can we do this every Easter and Christmas?

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Christmas Eve

This was the first Christmas Eve (that I can remember) that I spent with my Daddy.  We enjoyed the time with family!  xmas memas_1224 4416

Above is my Mema…she is one of the strongest women I know.  I love spending time with her.  I always learn so much from her!

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We all shared a meal together. xmas memas_1224 4412 xmas memas_1224 4413

The kids were excited to open presents together.  xmas memas_1224 4414 xmas memas_1224 4415

My Dad wasn’t feeling very well…he has been fighting Shingles in his face and eye.  I didn’t even get a picture with him but thankfully there will be many more times together unlike what we thought this time last year!

More Christmas Happenings

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This is our countdown to Christmas “thingy”.  Each day they gave me a kiss on the cheek and they got to eat a Hershey’s Kiss.  DSC_0002  more crafts_1221 4403

Ari making snowflake ornamentsmore crafts_1221 4404

The gingerbread house that Ari made

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Goliath and Arianna were helping fill the puppies’ stockings. 

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First Snow

The kids were so excited that it was snowing back in December.  Unfortunately what you see is what we got.  The kids were hoping to make snowmen.  It has been cold enough as of late to snow but we haven’t seen a drop since that day.first snow 2009_1218 4402 first snow 2009_1218 4401

American Girl

My American Girl got her very own look alike American Girl from Yaya for Christmas (Thanks Yaya).  This was Arianna’s favorite present.   After she opened the present, she said…”I didn’t think I would ever have an American Girl doll.”  This was her big wish for Christmas and I told her that it was very expensive and I wasn’t sure anyone would spend that much on a doll.  When Yaya asked Ari what she wanted for Christmas and an American Girl doll was one of the three things Ari wanted…guess what…the rest is history.  We have a new family member.  Arianna named her doll Sara (meaning princess).  Most days Ari and Sara can be seen sporting the same outfits:)  Ari takes Sara with her most places.

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from Droid 063

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Denying a Child Wisely

During my quiet time this morning, I had an epiphany...it is a disservice to my children that they are given so much. I am poorly preparing them for when they are older.

I am reading Hints on Child Training by H. Clay Trumbull. Here are some quotes from my current chapter...

" A hard thing in training our loved children is to deny him that which he longs for and which we could give him but which he would better not have."--wow, it is frequent that my kids get little gifts and indulgences.

"Wise withholding is quite as important as generous giving". Chew on that one for a while.

"Few grown persons can have everything they want, everything that love can give, everything that money can buy. Most of them have many reasonable wishes ungratified, many moderate desires unfilled. They have to get along without a great many things which others have, and which they would like. It is largely the early education which gives one proper control over himself and his desires. If in childhood one is taught to deny himself, to yield gracefully much that he longs for, to enjoy the little that he can have in spite of the lack of a great deal which he would like to have, his lot will be an easier and happier one, when he comes to the realities of maturer life, than would be possible to him if, as a child, he had only to express a reasonable wish, to have it promptly gratified."

"For this reason it is that men who were the children of the rich are so often at a disadvantage, in the battle of life, in comparison with those who have risen from comparative poverty."

I grew up wanting often. We didn't have very much and honestly I probably received the same amount of Christmas gifts in all of my childhood as my children receive in any given year. I tend to over-compensate with them. I love giving gifts, it is one of my love languages. I give my children way to much stuff out of love. But boy do I hope that changes now that I have come to this new realization.

My children enjoy their toys. But they do not treasure any of their toys. I can remember treasuring my doll that was rags and ratty hair because it is all I had. I can rememeber treasuring my one wrapped Christmas gift. I want my children to have that experience despite their wealth. (I wouldn't consider ourselves wealthy but our children definitely live in wealth between ourselves and the grandparents.)

"It is not possible that he should think as highly of any one new thing, out of a hundred coming to him in rapid succession, as he would of the only gift of an entire year."

I want my children to be grateful for all they have but even more I want them to be happy and content in adulthood despite not having all they desire. I hope that I can undo what has been done in the last 5 years and truly teach them to be content with a little and to better prepare them for adulthood.

I went through their rooms and the playroom to prepare for Christmas but now I plan to go through it again in light of this new teaching.

This new teaching will be a challenge for me but I hope to be able to look back next January and see a difference. I haven't unloaded my camera from Christmas yet so I haven't blogged about it. When I get around to blogging about that, you will see why changes are necessary. Arianna has a birthday coming up, it will be our first challenge.