This school year we have taken a year off from making history our main focus and instead, it's all about geography. We're traveling the world, visiting 65 countries using Winter's Promise - Children Around the World curriculum. Not only are we learning the culture, but we talk about the needs of the kids in each place we visit and how we can be praying for them. Read aloud missionary stories are inspiring us all.
We just finished our visit to the British Isles and celebrated with a "tea time" complete with homemade scones.
Off to Ireland next!
This picture is unbelievable. The two brothers wearing these self selected matching new shoes have NEVER been buddies. As a matter of fact their previous relationship could be characterized as simmering hostility.
So no one was more shocked than I was when they went arm in arm through the shoe store and picked their new matching shoes together. The kind of thing you would do with your best buddy.
And to what do I attribute this new liaison? I can only guess that this being their first year homeschooling together has worked some magic. They are together all day - learning together, playing together and just maybe becoming friends.
The last few weeks of summer are slowly ebbing away and I'm enjoying each precious minute. The skateboards, scooters and bikes are still getting a workout and Lauren caught a few rides down the driveway with Ezra. Layla learned to ride the scooter and I just sat on the porch loving the day.
Stay a little longer summer.
Little Madisyn is settling in here beautifully. There is nothing as calming (in the middle of a house full of people and noise and chaos) as holding a sweet newborn baby. I have fallen completely in love with Maddy and often spend time ignoring everyone around me to stare into her little face.
Her mother, on the other hand, is often tired from the expected night time feedings (that I happily miss) and was glad to set up this swing that rocks Madisyn off to sleep. Maddy loves the motion and her Uncle Ezra has become an expert at inserting the binky and restarting the swing.
This weekend we celebrated at church with Kelly and Eugene as they dedicated their daughter Isabella.
It is an incredible privilege to stand with your grown children and agree to help them bring your grandchild up to know and love the Lord.
Isabella had her part in the whole affair, which was to look adorable and she did it exactly right.
Last week we had an earthquake that shook the house and had everyone running around screaming. It was exciting and we talked about and studied earthquakes for days. Nothing was damaged including the cups on my open shelves that often fall off and break when you tiptoe through the kitchen
And just a few days later hurricane Irene came through. We put all the pool stuff away and hunkered down ready for the high winds and rain. We had a day of drizzle.
Again no damage. Here is Jeremiah with his Bob the Builder umbrella that looks like the winds tore it to shreds. No. Jeremiah rode his bike up and down the street during the hurricane (along with all the other kids) and had his umbrella open behind him until it turned inside out.
It's all been a little of a let down and the umbrella went into the trash shortly after this picture was taken.
AnnaClaire turned 19 this week and didn't like the feeling of being so solidly an adult. She's doing all the adult things - bought her own car, has a good job, going to college full time- but it's that growing up thing that scares her.
So, she ordered a "princess birthday" complete with crown and scepter and watched the movie Tangled with her brothers and sisters for the evening.
Who says kids are growing up too fast these days? Not around here!
