Caleb Cam: First Cheeto

Caleb has lived a deprived life. Before visiting Grammy's house this summer, he had never eaten a Cheeto. Well, Grammy took care of that little deprivation right quick! Grammy always seems to have Cheetos around.

Meeting Biscuit

I realized upon looking at my memory card yesterday that I hadn't posted our pictures from this summer's visit to Big Daddy and Grammy's house. We had a great week! Caleb met Biscuit for the first time. Here is Caleb's first encounter with a real horse!

Biscuit is pretty far out to walk to him carrying Caleb, so we hitched a ride in Big Daddy's hunting mobile, formerly known as Grammy's golf cart. Big Daddy did a "pimp my golf cart" move and turned the white golf cart into a camo mobile, complete with lift kit and new paint job...

Caleb loves riding in the camo mobile, but when we got out to Biscuit, he wasn't quite sure what to think...

Then, he got used to it and laughed every time Biscuit got close to him...

He is watching Biscuit frolic around. I'm pretty sure he's thinking, "Yep, some day I'm gonna ride that there horse!"

1 week down, 35 to go...

We are past our first week of school and starting our second. I made some changes to our routine from the last couple of years and those changes are proving to be good ones. Fresh starts are always so nice!

Here are some pictures of our school room.

I LOVE the tall ceiling and giant window in our school room...

We are trying a new science this year. We are using Apologia Science and are doing the year on Astronomy. The kids are really liking it. Here is the picture of our balloon model Solar System.

I asked the kids to give their comments on our school year so far...

Blane:

Well, I like piano the best out of all of our subjects because I like the way the piano sounds. I also like math. I am pretty good at it. Umm...and I like science, too. It is the best science we have ever done. I love astronomy and studying about God's amazing universe.

Ally Beth:

I like school, so far. My favorite subject is...umm...history. We are studying about Native Americans. Some people call them Indians, even though they are not really Indians. But, I still like to call them Indians. It is more fun than "Native Americans." I also like Science. We are learning about astronomy, which is the study of the stars and the universe. My favorite science activity so far is our balloon model of the solar system. I loved blowing up the balloons!

Growing Up

We have just finished our year on American Pioneers. We school year round, taking breaks and light days as needed. For history and literature this past year, we studied the Pioneer era (Westward Expansion). We read through the Little House series and did a lot of geography activities and cultural activities to add to this experience. We loved the Pa's Fiddle cd's and the Little House cookbook. We also read a few other books from this time era of Westward Expansion. This summer, we read "Caddie Woodlawn" by Carol Ryrie Brink. I just LOVE that book! It was a favorite of mine when I was their age. And they loved it, too.

I love revisiting some of my favorite books with my children. My how perspective changes when you read them with an adult mind! There is so much depth and truth to these sweet books.

If you read the post below, you will know that I am trying to savor each passing day, for the days pass by all too quickly. Very soon, my little girl will be a young woman. I want to inspire and encourage her in her task of becoming a woman. How blessed are we moms of little girls!

We must be careful not to give them the impression that being a woman, a wife and a mom is a tiresome, joyless task. We must inspire them with all of the joyful prospects of womanhood. This thought first came a few years ago from our niece. When she and my sister in law were talking about what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said, "I don't think I want to be a mommy when I grow up. It is way too much work and you never get to have fun." Wow. That put Jenny and I in our place! We resolved to face our tasks of motherhood with a lot more joy!

In "Caddie Woodlawn," the main character, Caddie, is faced with "growing up" and she just doesn't want to do it! She has been a tomboy for years and now must become a lady. Her father says this to her to encourage her,

"It's a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys. It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It's a big task, too, Caddie- harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things. They have them just as much as the men who build bridges and carve roads through the wilderness. A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's. But no man could ever do it so well...I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind. Do you think you would like to be growing up into that woman now? How about it, Caddie, have we run with the colts long enough?"

Suddenly Caddie flung herself into Mr. Woodlawn's arms. "Father! Father!" Hot tears poured down her cheeks...

It was all she could say, and really there was nothing more that needed saying. Mr. Woodlawn held her a long time, his rough beard pressed against her cheek...In a few moments she was fast asleep.

But something strange had happened to Caddie in the night. When she awoke, she knew that she did not need to be afraid of growing up. It was not just sewing and weaving...It was something more thrilling than all of that. It was a responsibility, but as Father spoke of it, it was a beautiful and precious one, and Caddie was ready to go and meet it...

My desire is to give my Little Woman this same noble view of her life's calling. I hope this quote inspires you mothers, too, as you raise up the culture shapers of the future.

Firsts and Lasts

I find myself at the precipice of a new school year...our 7th year home schooling. We had 2 years of preschool, then K, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades for a total of 6 completed years so far. Some days it feels as if I have been home schooling for twice that long (days can crawl by at times), but mostly I feel that time has flown.

Just yesterday it seems I was teaching the kids how to read three letter words. Now, Blane is devouring huge novels. Just yesterday, I was teaching Ally Beth basic spelling, now she is independently writing "books" on her own (really just stories, but they are her "books").

As parents, we relish our children's "firsts." First smile, first tooth, first word, first steps, and the list goes on. I must say that one of the things I love about home schooling is getting to be there on their academic firsts...first time they wrote their name independently...first time they read a sentence....first time they read a whole book aloud without my help...and I could go on with this list for days. It is a thrill to be on the front lines sitting right there with your child at those light bulb moments.

I look forward this year to some more of those moments. Yet, as I look ahead, I can't help thinking of all the many things behind us that we will never revisit with Blane and Ally Beth. For example, they no longer need me to help them dress, they don't need me to put band aids on "boo-boos" (which they don't even call them "boo-boos" anymore), they don't need me to buckle their seat belts, they don't need me to turn on the water for them to help them wash their hands...etc.

We acknowledge all of our kids firsts, but do we realize when they do things for the LAST time and we will never go back and do those things again? For example, Blane never tells me that he wants to marry me when he grows up. He used to do this when he was younger. At some point, he told me that for the last time and I didn't even realize he would never again say that to me.

I never pondered their lasts until my sweet friend Melissa read us a book in our Sunday School class one Sunday. It is by Karen Kingsbury and is entitled, "Let Me Hold You Longer" There wasn't a dry eye in the room. It is a book that reminds parents to relish every moment with their children, for it might be the last time some things occur...such as the last time they slept with their favorite blankie or stuffed animal. Or, the last time your daughter sits and plays with her baby dolls. If you think "I'll Love You Forever" is a tear jerker, this one will make you bawl!!! I highly recommend it to all of you...

This book encourages me to cherish each moment, as they are fleeting. I don't want to hold my kids back from growing up, but I also don't want to let moments pass without relishing them.

This is my challenge to myself as both mommy and teacher this next school year... cherish each and every moment and savor each day as a gift from the Master Teacher...even the difficult days.

Bethany is here!

My sweet little niece Bethany arrived safe and sound on July 25th. She is too cute for words! I have never done newborn portraits, so this was my first venture...no pressure! But Bethany was the perfect little subject and I had a blast photographing her.

I will include a few photos here. To see all of her newborn pics, visit her web page at http://www.bethanypayne.shutterfly.com/

We love you, Bethany!