Happy Easter!

We have had a fun and full week and now it's time to play a little catch-up on my blog.  :-) 

We spent Easter week-end with our dear friends in VA.  It's a new tradtion we started after they moved.  The kids all look forward to this and really appreciate it and look forward to spending the holiday together!  We weren't sure it was going to happen this year due to some sickness.  Thankfully all who were sick were well enough by Fri morning and so we decided at the last minute to head up. 

The kids spent a lot of time playing outside and just having fun.  I didnt' get a lot of pictures, but here are a few. 

 

I loved the group effort in helping Joshua to skate!

Eliana loves playing in sand.

She is not alone in this either as Aaron and Caleb also love the sand!

Some of the kids decorated eggs.  First, we blew out the insides.  (Not everyone was interested in doing this part of it!  Catherine had to do more than her fair share of them.  lol )

The kids wrote their names or drew a picture on the eggs with a wax crayon before dipping them in the colors.

They were very pretty, but I didn't take any pictures of the finished product!

We attended a play at their church called The Lamb of God.  It was in Spanish.  We still understood most of the story, but it would have been helpful to have known more Spanish.  I think I knew the most and mine is SUPER rusty!  The benefit though of my learning Spanish to do missions work is that I know a lot of words that aren't taught in Spanish 1 or 2 - like sin, miracle, cross, etc.

He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!  Someone took my camera and made some beautiful pictures.  I loved this one.

We attended church on Easter Sunday and heard a convicting and encouraging message.  Jesus chose just 12 ordinary men - ordinary - just like me and just like you.  They falled him and turned away, even after having walked closely with him for three years.  Jesus saw not their failures, but all that they could become with the power of His Spirit.  This is true for us too.  We each have a destiny!  We each have access to His power to accomplish His will and purpose in our lives!  I love that.

Pretty little girl in her pretty Easter dress.

After church we had a lovely lunch.

Then we did an Easter Egg Hunt.  Each child had a different color egg to look for.  We thought this might make it easier. 

It certainly helped us to be able to choose what each child would get in his or her eggs.  They were very excited about the hunt.

This girl was thrilled that there was candy in her eggs!

Joshua's eggs had some candy, but more of them had a variety of snacks (with a piece of paper including the carb counts on them).  Thank you Catherine for getting these for him!  He loved trying new things and found two new things that he really loved!!!  (He wanted three !!! on that sentence.  lol )

I'm thankful that he is flexible and willing to do things a little differently.  I sometimes hate that we even have to.  Others are asked to give up far more though and we have much to be thankful for!  (One of the little things I'm thankful for is that there are no more candy holidays or birthdays for a few more months!)

I hope you were able to celebrate our Risen Lord!  We do have much to be thankful for indeed.  Happy Easter from our family to yours.

Blessings

Leslie

Arabella - FIAR Co-op Vol 4

We had beautiful weather for our co-op which was really nice since the story, Arabella, took place on an island.  It gave the children the chance to explore some island topics in a beautiful, sunny setting (which our hostess had decorated to the nines!!!)  As always, it was an amazing day - only diminished for us by the absence of Isaiah who wasn't feeling quite up to par in the morning.  (Thankfully he was much better by the afternoon.)

We started the morning by reading the story which is about a little boy spending time with his grandfather on an island.  During a storm, the Grandfather's prize possession, a model boat made by his father is swept to sea.  The little boy goes out to find it.  The ending of the story is both surprising and beautiful.  It's one you would enjoy reading!

Our first lesson was on rope - the construction of it, the variety of types and materials used to make rope and the different types of ropes.  Below the children are examining ropes.

Of course, learning about ropes led to tying knots. 

And more comparing of the ropes.

Next we talked about the location of the story - an island.  The children talked about where the story could have taken place.

Instead of exploring a specific island, we were treated to going to our own new island!

Can you see the detail in how this room is decorated to look like an island?  The attention to details is so beyond me - and such an expression of this sweet friend's gifts! 

The children learned about a variety of sea creatures from whales to anemone, from mollusks to jellyfish.

More of the display of the room. They were treated to video of the great coral reef.

The children were given so much good information.  (It made me think that I really need to do more in-depth with some of mine!  I love that I'm learning from this co-op too.  Not just facts but ways to improve my teaching and our homeschool.)

As they were learning about various creatures (below is coral), they were able to handle some coral and shells.  It's always fascinating to learn about shells!

The children were then split into teams to see how much they remembered.  They were asked questions and then were to work together as a team to come up with an answer.  This is a great way to do it so that you can rely on the strengths of others - as some information may have stuck with one and not with another.  They all did a great job - and these were NOT easy questions either.

It is fun to watch them work together - and even more to just enjoy learning. 

Had to show you this!  She even had her own "Arabella" for the window!!!

The children learned about sound and resonance. 

Rebecca helped keep the little girls happy.  Aren't they all cute?

The lesson on sound continued with learning about how sound travels on a string in this old game that most of us have enjoyed at one time or another in our lives. 

Snack time was an amazing spread!!!  All of the foods related to our story or its themes from pretzels that were twisted like rope or knots to tropical fruit to "fish".  And my sweet friends also keep Joshua in mind at snack time too which really touches my heart. 

Meat is a "free" snack for Joshua for the most part - and very few other things are.  I try to keep the carb count of his snacks low enough that he doesn't need a shot (this will be changed by the pump!).  The free snack were little octopuses - and Joshua LOVEd them!

The last lesson of the day was expanding a little more on knots as the children learned how to tie various knots to make a macrame keychain or bracelet.

The children were all proud of their work!

Rebecca enjoyed doing this one too.  I watched Eliana while she learned and then she went home and showed Isaiah how to do it too. 

Amazing day.  Amazing friends.  I'm thankful, so very thankful to be blessed by the creativity and talent of these sweet friends.

Hope you are having a blessed Easter week-end!

Leslie 

 

 

April Fool's Day

I just wanted to start by saying Happy Birthday to my Dad!  I'm glad you had a fun day with yummy food!  Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you!  We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

April Fool's Day.  I'm not a big one for playing pranks, though I will do some.  This is probably because I don't really like them played on me.  I don't really think I can expect to initiate them and not get them back.  However, I did start the day with a small one.  I added green food coloring to Joshua's cereal bowl and then put the measured cereal on top.  I then put a measuring cup with his milk beside it for him to add when he was ready.  He added the milk and began to eat.  I snapped a couple of pictures.  He continued to eat.

I left and did a few more things and then walked back to Joshua and asked if he had looked at his cereal.  He did.  He said nothing.  Rebecca and I are giggling at this point, but not really sure what to do with him.  I speak to Joshua again and ask what he thinks of his milk.  He looks again and notices that it is green.  (I'm not sure if the color doesn't show up as well because he is colorblind???)  Finally he asked why his milk was green and I was able to say April Fool's Day.  LOL  This worked really well for those looking for a fun prank.

We had co-op this morning (more on that in another post).  Rebecca went with her arm in a sling.  (She is one that does like pranks.)  She is so sweet that you just want to believe all that she tells you!  She also had plans for dinner.

During the afternoon, Christopher (who also likes pranks) struck with a few of his own.  The first one involved the computer.  I was trying to print something for school and the mouse/buttons/etc just weren't working right.  So I rebooted.  It does fix a lot of problems.  I called Christopher down and he was already chuckling.  He has done something to the mouse to switch the buttons - the left button did the functions of the right button and vice versa. 

He had more computer tricks up his sleeve too.  He put black tape over the bottom of the mouse to make it non-functional.  Thankfully I was able to figure that one out on my own.  He also messed with the icons on the home page and made them all "images" instead of icons so that they didn't work.  He also put the buttons in different places.  He told me that Daniel was able to figure out how to get to his game though!   Way to go Daniel.

Rebecca worked hard on dinner.  This was all her plans from finding the menus to helping shop last night.  She made wormy apples.

And cupcakes. 

We told the boys that since it was Papa's birthday that we were starting with cupcakes.  They loved this idea!  The skepticism came quickly though when they looked at their plates.

Isaiah looked at his plate and quickly stated "This is not a cupcake".  Once he found out that there was meat in it though, he was very excited!

Daniel was skeptical too and took a cautious nibble to see what it was.

Joshua tested some of the "frosting" and told us that it tasted like potatoes.

It was meatloaf on the bottom and tinted mashed potatoes on top.  It was really  yummy too!!!  Most of us really enjoyed them.  Daniel was just not convinced though.

It was a fun day and we are thankful for the time to laugh and play outside and just spend time together as a family.  I hope your day was filled with fun too!

Love
Leslie

Enjoying the beautiful spring day!

Today I thought we'd do a little something fun.  I had not taken Rebecca to an optional function and was feeling a little guilty.  I thought I'd make it up by treating everyone.  I encouraged them to work to finish their schoolwork and we would go have a picnic lunch at a park.

We worked and then we focused on heading out.  To top off some school frustration, some arguing and not listening was added in.  I felt my frustration rising.  By the time we all finally got in the car, I was really aggrevated with them.  And I let them know it too.  :-(  I had promised to take them out though and I want to make sure I keep my promises.  I will say that I didn't want to however. 

Why is this such a struggle sometimes?  Why can't I just go with the flow, let things roll off my back and not get so frustrated?!  Even yesterday as I was praying, I asked God to help me be more patient and then even clarified that I didn't need additional opportunities to practice patience as the days had enough of those!  LOL

We picked up lunch and headed to the park and it was a beautiful sunny day!  Windy too.  As soon as we stepped outside, I could feel my frustrations melting away and I apologized to my children.  I know it's good for them to have me apologize, but I sure wish I could get things right with them all the time.  I know that I would be unbearable then as this surely keeps me humble.

After lunch, the children played some on the playground.  (I should mention that Christopher stayed home to work, though he was also given the option of coming with us.) 

Then we went for a hike on a piece of the American Tobacco Trail that is near our house.  Its a lovely walk and I hope to make this a regular part of our weeks - hiking, biking or searching for geocaches.  I want to enjoy the lovely weather before it gets so very hot.

Isaiah found this large stick at the beginning of the walk and carried it the entire time!

We saw some beautiful flowers and stopped to get a closer view.

And my camera got me even closer.

Next time we'll need to bring our nature notebooks and make a drawing.  Of course, then I'll need to figure out what things are and I'm terrible at that!  Any suggestions for helping me?

On our way back, Joshua felt low.  We stopped and tested him.  53.  That came out of nowhere.  I'm so glad he felt it!  I do hope that he will get to where he can feel all of them as I would hate for one to go unchecked.

I'm thankful we have the flexibility to go outside and enjoy God's creation.  I'm thankful that God loves me and is quick to forgive me.  I'm thankful that my children are too.  I'm thankful for my precious family and that I get to spend so much time with them.  Thank you God for blessing me abundantly.  Give me your eyes to see and your heart to love that I might live more fully.

Blessings

Leslie 

JDRF Easter Egg Hunt

Yesterday we went to the JDRF Easter Egg hunt.  I had hopes of meeting some other kids there, but honestly it was hard with moving from activity to activity.  Its alright though as it was fun anyway!  I'm hoping maybe a picnic or something will be coming up with more opportunity to just hang out.  We'll see.  I know God will provide all that we need and I'm trying to just be content with that.

The weather was threatening all day - but thankfully the rain  held off and we were able to have a fun time!  We arrived and checked in and there were lots of different activities to enjoy.  There were bags to decorate (in case you didn't bring a basket).  We had baskets and none of mine wanted to decorate bags (no surprise there!).

There were balloons and my boys each chose to have one made into a sword.  LOL  No surprise here either. 

Eliana got a balloon flower.  She probably would have been happy with a sword too.

There were bubbles, hula hoops, chalk and face painting areas.  The hula hoops captured the attention of my crew.  I think it's been a long time since we've had a functioning hula hoop and this was fun.

They picked it up pretty quickly - well, some of them did.  Even Eliana wanted to try it out.

Soon it was time for the hunt and everyone lined up.

When it was time to go, it was chaos!!!  Things move so quickly that it is hard to get good photos!  The little children had playdoh set out in addition to the eggs.  Eliana was thrilled to get some "day-doh".

After the hunt, the kids showed us their eggs.

Then they looked inside to see what they had gotten.  It was a sugar-free hunt - so NO candy.  This was a bummer to one of mine, but I thought it was great.  They received stickers, little toys, chalk eggs, bubbles and play-doh.  As we sat down to look inside the eggs, we noticed a father walking up with his children and their baskets.  They had missed the hunt.

I quickly asked the boys if they could put some things back into the eggs (we had been asked to empty them and return the eggs) to give to these children.  I was glad that they were happy to do this and then go give the full basket to those children.  I stopped and talked with the Dad for awhile.  His little girl was just diagnosed a few weeks ago.  I was glad to have the opportunity to chat with him.

Next on the agenda was games.  I had no idea that there was going to be so much going on!  First up, were the sack races.  Mine loved this!

Even Eliana, who just walked in her sack.  (She had a great big sister helper with all of this too!)

They also did egg and spoon races.  If your egg fell off you had to go back and start again.  This was hard as it was really windy.

There was also an egg toss.  It was a plastic egg filled with birdseed and the goal was to move further and further from your partner without your egg cracking open.

After the races, there were prizes that you could pick out.  It was a fun afternoon.  I'm thankful for this organization and the volunteers behind it that work to help these kids have some "normal" fun.  So many holidays seems so focused on sugar and it can be hard to break these traditions.  I guess though, it's a good time to learn some new traditions that are better for all of us. 

In other diabetes news, we got a call today to schedule our pump training class.  It will be in mid-April with the doctor that we saw last time.  I was really hoping it would be with my favorite endo.  Oh well.  I'll let you know more when we get closer.  He should walk out that day with his pump functioning.  :-)  I'm nervous and excited at the same time.  Even as I write this, there are tears welling up.  Why do so many things make me teary?!  I didn't use to be this way.  LOL

Hope you are all having a delightful spring day!

with love

Leslie