Happy Thanksgiving!

The Eve Before the Feast of Thanksgiving I thought it would be fun to have a fancy tea party. Decorated with a Cornucopia, and fall leaves. A Real Table Cloth too! :D

The Menu Included Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Apples drizzled with Carmel, Homemade Chocolate Chip Scones, Orange Juice, and Lady Grey Tea. And we topped the scones with.....

Authentic English Clotted Cream. A Co-worker of my husband told me that Whole Foods sold it. I have always been anxious to try it. And my husband picked some up for me.
He did have a slightly disgusted face. He thought it looked like "Rotted cream" instead of "Clotted Cream" ;-)
It was actually quite delicious. More mild than cream cheese, not as heavy, but at lot more thicker than butter.

Care for some Apples?

Our tea party was followed by a reading from a children's book on the History of Thanksgiving. Sweetie about has that thing memorized.

Looking forward to the feast in the morning. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

~In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you~
I Thess 5:18

Fire Station Field Trip

Last Friday many of the home schooled kids from our church went to our local fire station. We all had a blast. I don't know what it is, but I think it is more fun to watch the kid's pleasure and delight than it is to experience such things for myself.
Here the fireman asked the kid's to shout if they were ready for the tour of the fire station and for a good time.

After taking a peek in to fire station and hearing the emergency signal broad casted out over the intercom, we were led out for the kids to take a turn at the fire hose.
Tiny Boy was in respectful awe towards all the firemen that day. He *truly* appreciated this field trip. Just look at his face!
And I think I know what Sweetie is *really* thinking in the back of her mind while holding this hose. She probably is wishing she could squirt her brother and sister with it. It's one of her favorite things to do with the hose at home, so why not this one?
A walk through of the cab of the truck. Tiny Boy didn't walk through. Instead he buckled himself up, ready to take a ride around the block. He was sort of disappointed to learn that he couldn't go for a ride.

But they did let him sit in the driver's seat. Pure joy is written on that face.

This picture cracks me up. The kids are looking at all of the truck's equipment. Look at Tiny Boy's pants. Those things *used* to fit him in the waist, but were too long. Now they are too short, and too big in the waist. He is three and a half, and I bought him those when he was 18 months old. Talk about getting the most ware out of your children's clothes. I guess I should invest in at least a belt?Again awe and respect.
More awe and respect. Sweetie thinks it looks a bit silly. The difference between boys and girls! LOL!





Trying on the gear
More awe. I don't know, but I am wondering if he is one of those kid's that won't change their minds about what they want to be when they grow up? I think he is at least seriously considering his career path.

Build A Fire Truck

Early Saturday morning I did something that I haven't done since Tiny Boy was a little baby. I got up early. I took the kids to our local Lowes store for their *FREE* (Yup that's right free!) "Build and Grow" workshops for kids. This months project was a fire truck.

We met up with a friend (who happened to be the one who told me about this) and her little girl who also attend our church. It's always more fun when you have a friend! ☺

Since this program is free, you can expect alot of people to show up and they only have about 50 kits to give away. I was warned to show up a half an hour early. I showed up 40 minutes early and there was *ONE* lady and a little girl waiting outside. Of course, I didn't know that this is where they would be building their project, so I went inside the store to ask customer service where the Build and Grow workshop was going to meet. As soon as I found out where, I ran back outside, and like out of nowhere 10 more families showed up.

Then as I was standing in line, I realized I couldn't find my slip of paper showing that I had already signed up. Let's just say, "frustrated"! I ran back to the car as quickly as I could, and by the time I arrived back to the line, it had doubled in size. No kidding. And I was parked up front! Wow!

We did make it though. But barely. But all the hassle and early morning wake up were worth it. My kids *thoroughly* enjoyed building their little firetrucks.


As you can see they are all in deep concentration, and working diligently. And this is so weird. I am in the picture! My friend (who is an amateur photographer) took these pictures for me. Thanks Mrs. S!
Bean pounding away

Tiny Boy is going to give it a go now. Sweet patiently awaits her turn. She was very good at building this. She really didn't need much help. Just some guidance
Who can resist laughing at this face?
Once he knew the camera was on him, look how quickly his expression changes. ;-)

Lowe's even had the city's fire department show up. That was Tiny Boy's highlight I believe. He really enjoyed building the firetruck, but he was awed by the real deal. On Friday we are going to take a field trip to the fire station. Stay tuned. :)

Second Year in "Offical" Homeschooling

Monday, the 14th, we started our first official day back to school. I am trying to make this picture a yearly tradition.

Here is the First year of "K5" and Preschool for Bean

http://heartofamommy.blogspot.com/2007/10/first-day-of-kindergarten.html

Last year was the official "legal" year of Kindergarten for Sweetie. Legal meaning, I had to keep records and report to the superintendent of education.

http://atranquileducation.blogspot.com/2008/09/our-first-day-of-school.html

How much they have changed over the years. Oh my soul, I just cannot believe how fast they grow up and change. This year Sweetie wants to grow out her bangs, which makes her look two years older right off the bat as I brush them to the side and clip a Barrett in them.


Every year, I *try* to find a good deal on back to school clothing that goes on sale after the public schools are in session. I always tend to start a wee bit later than the public school does. The dresses the girls are wearing I found at Target for $7.00 each. And Tiny Boy got a new Shirt and Shorts as well. His little outfit was about the same price as the girl's dresses put together. I guess they don't put toddler clothes on sale after everyone goes back to school?
This is Bean's first year of "official" Kindergarten. I'd rather she wait until she was six to start Kindergarten. But her Birthday falls "just" in the time frame of having to begin school. Our state law is that children need to begin Kindergarten if they turn six on or after February 16th. I think. I can't remember the exact date. I do know that Tiny Boy can wait if need be as his birthday is February 1st. Which I am grateful, because Tiny Boy...well, I think he's just going to need that extra time. (whispers, if you know what I mean?)
Our curriculum for this year includes:

Math U See
Explode the Code Online
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Memoria Press Copy Book #1 (Both for Sweet and Bean)
Home school Coop Choir
And a little bit of unit studies for history, science, and other "electives"


For our first unit study, Sweetie wanted to study Germs. So I bought a "Germs" lap book from In the Hands Of A Child, and will be using that as my outline. (How Appropriate! Just in time for Swine Flu Season!)

Something that I started last year and got the idea from my best friend Esther, who got her idea from another blog; (I have been pounding my brain to remember the name of the blog, because it's a neat one to share!) is to have a back to school tea party. This year I set the table with a real table cloth and real china.

We had Mint Oreos, and Gingersnap Cookies, along with Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Really easy recipe...just open the box and put on a fancy cake stand. I served our refreshments with Apple Cinnamon tea, Sweetened with a bit of Stevia, and yummy smooth cream.

One of my friend's saw these pictures on my facebook and thought I was a cool mama because I did this. Well, I have never considered myself "cool". I have always been a bit "nerdy" But if she thinks I am cool, I'll take it! ;-)
At each place setting I had a fancy gift bag filled with special school supplies, and a few little extra goodies. All found at the Dollar Spot in Target. I also made them a little name tag for their place setting. Of course Sweetie's real name was on her card, and it was hand written in my ugly handwriting. But to keep her anonymous from wacky people, I used photo shop. ☺Next to her name is a left over princess sticker I had. Bean had the same concept. Tiny Boy had Smiley face stickers on his.

All in all it took about 10 minutes to put this tea party on the table...including the time it took to boil the water in the tea kettle, and brew the tea bags.
Here they all are. Patiently waiting. Patiently, as they *REALLY* want to rip open those bags to see what was inside.
Here's the loot. It included, New water colors, and cutesy puppy school folders, and little scotty dog notebook, cheapo rubber stamps, sparkly pencils, new crayons, and a sheet of stickers

After we cleared all the loot away, we had an enjoyable lovely afternoon tea. Which included good treats, good conversation and good memories

PS. Here is another lady who shared her back to school tea party on her blog as well. ♥

Show and Tell Friday~My Cute Cow Clothing.

Today I would like to show you the outfits I sewed for my kids for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A. The framework of the idea came from my oldest daughter Sweetie.

This is such an easy romper to sew. It takes about an hour from cut to finish! It's completely lined as well!

This is the dress that my daughter's Bean and Sweetie wore. They both wore identical dresses. I appliqued' the cow faces on a T-Shirt, and then sewed a cow print skirt onto it. It is such fun learning how to applique' with my sewing machine.

All dressed up and ready to head out to Chick-Fil-A. I am asking them to say "Moo" here.

When we got to Chick Fil A the cow spotted them right away, and wanted them join the "herd".

And this is the picture that I have entered into Chick-Fil-A's Show us the Cow photo contest. I would be SO VERY MUCH appreciative if you would click over there and give us your vote and help us make it into the finalists! Here is the link: http://www.showusthecow.com/photos.php?view=browse&tag=CHURCH

To see what others are showing and telling about it on their blogs, please visit Kelli at There's No Place Like Home. ♥

For My Friend

So. I was commanded asked by a friend of mine to post on my blog. ;-) I know it's been awhile. But....its been one of those months. You know? Actually, I am very flattered that people are reading my blog. So thank you for sticking with me. :)

During Thanksgiving my Sister came down for a visit. I haven't seen her youngest for a year. He and Tiny Boy look like sooooo much alike! The only difference I see is their mouth. So I made a little digital scrap page of the two of them together.

The funny thing is that they both share the same first name. So When I saw one of them out of the corner of my eye getting into trouble it didn't matter whose name I called, because they both came, LOL!

In case anyone is confused, my sister's boy is on the left, and Tiny Boy is on the right.

Wordless Wednesday~Princess Power!

This can't be such a Wordless Wednesday. I have to explain these photos. Look in my Sidebar, and see the description of Sweetie? Do you see how I described her? Now look at these photos. Am I not correct? ;-)

For More Wordless Wednesday Pictures visit Five Minutes For Mom

Simple Woman Daybook

FOR TODAY~November 3rd 2008...

Outside My Window...

The Sun is starting to burn off some of the fog outside. It is a bit overcast, but it doesn't look like it will last very long

I am thinking...

That life can be so complicated at times... Sometimes people can misunderstand you or your intentions. I have had two experiences this past week with that sort of thing. It doesn't feel very nice. :(

I am thankful for...

A husband that sticks up for me. Weather it is the kids who aren't listening to mommy, or other matters. He loves me, and I can tell. :)

From the learning rooms...

I am going to do the "bare necessities" this week. If we get to do the extra stuff; great. If not, at least I got something done.

From the kitchen...

Not sure yet. Probably something fast, easy and simple. It was a long busy weekend again, and I need to catch up on other things.

I am wearing...

My Pajamas again. ;-)

I am creating...

A grocery shopping list :-P

I am going...

To get groceries today. Tomorrow I am going to vote. (Don't forget!) unless your voting for Obama

What? I didn't say that, did I? Nope. Must be some other blogger got into my account somehow. ;-)

I am reading...

This week, I have done much of any reading. I have glanced through a couple of magazines. But that's about it. It was another busy crazy week.

I am hoping...

That Obama isn't elected

I am hearing...

My kids watching "Martha" on PBS kids. Once I am done with this entry we will be starting our normal day activities. With Fall back they were up "an hour early" this morning.

Around the house...

I will be doing some laundry, school, and other things here and there

One of my favorite things...

A nap where it felt like you slept forever, but was only an hour or so

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Work on the bare necessities of schooling, Go vote, shopping, craft day with a friend, and working on making Christmas gifts.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Packing our Operation Christmas Child Shoe boxes
Dressing up for a fall festival at a local church. A princess, patriot, and Ballerina.

March For Jesus. Our church spread out on a 5.8 mile trek in a popular city and walked holding signs that said, "Jesus Christ, Your Best Choice".

After the march we went back to the church building and had dinner on the grounds, and games. It was an ALL day event, but was lots of fun. My husband headed up the game of Water Balloon Volley.

To read more daybook entries go visit The Simple Woman. Have a great day! :)

Wordless Wednesday~Admiration

For More Wordless Wednesday photos, visit Five Minutes For Mom. Have a beautiful day!

Show and Tell Friday~Our Doggie Fritz

This is our puppy "Fritz". A while back I posted a quick picture post about him, but never "told" how we came to get him.

There is a little story behind him. Actually an adventure. ;-)

After Keyotte died, we were feeling a bit empty in the house. Before Keyotte even died though, I had started to research about different dog breeds. I was planning on getting a dog sometime after Tiny Boy turned three. I figured that was a good age to puppy train a puppy, since Tiny Boy hopefully wouldn't need so much attention by then

My dog breed list had very certain criteria that needed to be stuck to:
1. Good with children!!!
2. Small dog breed
3. Doesn't Shed
4. Has very few genetic problems
5. Travels well

So that was my list, and I came across the miniature schnauzer breed. I checked into a breeder here. $800! WOW! That was something that we would defiantly have to save up for.

Then Keyotte died. The house was Quiet, and Sweetie was kind of depressed. So I started on the lookout for a dog.

I checked into Petfinder; but couldn't find a puppy schnauzer. They were all adult dogs, and the people putting them up for adoption were very adamant about not putting them in homes with small children.

So I sort of gave up. Then one day about seven days after Keyotte died, I decided to just look for "puppy" in petfinder. Perhaps I was being too picky about a specific breed?

One of the first pages to pop up there were *two* schnauzer puppies!!!

So I called up the human society that were offering them up. One was female and the other was male.

The lady told me that the female had been inquired about eight times. The male had no inquires.

There was one catch to getting the puppy. It was a first come first serve basis, and they either went through Petco, or a local flea market to adopt them out.

Fritz was at the flea market, which wasn't local for me. About a three hour drive.

So on a Friday night, I loaded up my van with the girls, and left Tiny Boy at home with Daddy. I went to stay overnight at my mom's, as the city was only an hour and a half away from her. She and our good friend also accompanied us to this city.

We got there *just* as they were unloading the dogs, and I grabbed up my little Fritzy and told them that I wanted him.

He was only $250, including new puppy shots, neutering, and a micro chip implanted into him.

Fritz has been the best little dog for our family. He has fit right in. He is good with the kids, he is affectionate, and also warns us of *every* *little* *noise* that is out of place, LOL!

I believe the Lord allowed us to have this doggie. The Lord knew *how much* I wanted a schnauzer puppy. He also knew that we couldn't afford to buy one full price. And he just happened to give me the idea to look for "puppy" instead of schnauzer on petfinder.com. Jesus hand picked out Fritz for us; I believe. Fritz has grown on all of our hearts. :)