Our Sunflower House

We decided to plant a sunflower house back in April.  We had our first bloom today!  The kids have been excitedly waiting for this day.  The sunflowers have taken a long time to grow.  We pruned a lot of them several weeks back to see if that would help them grow better.  There is this one super sunflower that has always been almost double the size of the others and that one decided to make it’s appearance today!

Here is where we plotted out where we wanted the house walls.  We used a tape measure to decide the size.  Next, our soil was really hard so we had to dig for several days to trench out the hard soil. 

The neighborhood kids came over to help dig out the trench.  We used water to help soften the soil.  The kids enjoyed playing in the mud!!

After we finished trenching, we added potting soil into the trench.  We then planted various types of sunflower seeds and also morning glories. 

 

Ryan enjoyed eating the extra sunflower seeds.  

Next Arianna watered the seeds.

 

Our house has really grown…we can’t wait until it gets a little bigger so we can work on the roof.  We plan to run twine across the top so that the morning glories can wind it’s way across. 

Today Arianna sitting inside the garden.   

Here are the stepping stones the kids made for the entrance to the house.

Ari and Ryan excited about the bloom.

The  beautiful sunflower…

Here is the book that we used to plant the garden.  I highly recommend this book.  We got it from the library but hope one day to own it:) 

Do All Lizards Bite?

Ryan loves these small DK Pocket books. I bought him one the other day on Reptiles. He takes it everywhere:) Here is a conversation between Chris and Ryan using Ryan's book...
Ryan: "Daddy does this lizard bite" (points to lizard in book)
Chris: "All lizards bite"
Ryan: "Daddy does this lizard bite?" (points to different lizard)
Chris: "All lizards bite. If ALL lizards bite do you think that lizard bites?"
Ryan: "Daddy does this lizard bite?" (points to different lizard)
Chris: "Ryan if ALL lizards bite then yes that lizard bites"
Ryan: "But Daddy that lizard is dead." (we all begin to laugh because Ryan has found the exception to ALL)
Chris: "Then I guess that he doesn't bite since he is dead"
We all cracked up laughing!!

Ryan used his money today and bought a second DK pocket book on Insects. He is now excitedly looking at the different butterflies and insects in the book. He is full of questions! He loves to take these books everywhere even while riding his big wheel!

Scope and Sequence

I have been evaluating lately my mission for homeschooling. I am one of those crazy homeschoolers who have taken the leap of faith and don't follow any particular scope and sequence. It is a scary step but so refreshing and in my opinion much better for my kids. Really I can't say it much better than this blogger. She really put into words what I haven't quite been able to get out. Please hop over and see what she has to say regarding why she chose to not use scope and sequence.

Field Guide to Homeschoolers

I happened upon a creative homeschooling carnival called Field Guide to Homeschoolers. Hop over there and enjoy this bloggers creativity!

Army Girl

We bought Chris a army set for Father’s Day.  It goes with Ryan’s nerf gun that Chris likes to play with.  Arianna came downstairs all dressed up with the accessories.

Arianna’s First Sleepover

Arianna counted down all week for her first sleepover.  She was so excited!!  She wanted to dress up and wear jewelry to the sleepover!  I got a call at 10:30pm from her that she wanted to come home.  I told her I would be right there.  On the drive home, I told her I would always come get her if she needed me.  She said even if I am at Nana’s (5 hours away).  I assured her that I would even come get her if she was at Nana’s.  My sweet girl is growing up and yet learning that there comes huge scary responsibilities when you grow up.  

At Mema’s Farm

Mema’s farm reminds me so much of what I value in life…God, family, nature and animals.  My Mema has cultured all of these into my life. 

We went to the farm to visit my Daddy for Father’s Day.  The kids had so much fun playing outside with their cousins. 

 

Ryan mad because Ari tagged him. 

Ari thinks it’s funny and tags him again.

Isn’t it great to play outside without a toy in sight…

My wild daughter…She was on the roof of this car at other times. 

What would the country be if you couldn’t pee on a tree:)

Happy Father’s Day Daddy!

Amazing that 6 months ago, I didn’t think my Daddy would still be alive today.  He is doing amazingly well! 

Four Generations of Stocks

 

I love this picture…it is my Mema (Grandmother), Daddy and kids.  Four Generations of my family…time and time again my husband says that Ryan looks like my Grandaddy Stocks.  We found out on Sunday that his baby toes are just like Grandaddy’s.  My Grandaddy Stocks was one of the rocks in my early childhood…funny that my son should take so much after him!!

Thomas Edison

Did you know that Thomas Edison was kicked out of school because the teacher said he was retarded and too dumb to learn. His Mom (a previous teacher) homeschooled him and because of him we now take for granted light. You may have already known this but I just learned it today...encouraging to me:)