Photos galore!

Like many bloggers, I feel like a post just isn't a post without at least one picture. That's actually what keeps me, many times, from posting...I don't have a picture ready to go along with it...or I'm too lazy to download and upload. :) But that's not the case today! I'm loaded!

Ok, first, we bought a "new" van this weekend. We had gone to EC shopping on Friday, and I told Barry we could stop and look at some vans. We've wanted a van again for awhile. But I really wanted a Honda or Toyota, cuz they're always ranked #1 and #2 and apparently are very reliable. I was raised to buy used, and pay it off. If Barry had his way, we'd lease a new one...but that's another story! We had convinced ourselves that we couldn't afford a Toyota or Honda, because in order to get it into "my" price range, it would have a LOT more miles on it than Barry was willing to accept. So, we were planning on looking at other makes.

Well, we ended up at the Honda dealership, where we drove two vans...a 2000 Honda Odyssey with 182k miles, and a 2002 with 203k on it. The 2002 was cheaper at $5500 because of the miles (well within and below our budget). After thinking on it overnight, reading reviews, etc., we decided to go back Sat am for the 2002. Yes, it's a lot of miles. But, supposedly, the Hondas go 300-400k, and we don't put many miles on our vehicles. Besides, at that price, we're still ahead of the game. So, we now are happy van owners again! The kids are THRILLED...they have space to spread out, they have plenty of cupholders, they think the automatic side doors are "awesome", and they have their own REAR AIR CONDITIONING!!! Yeah!!! So, here's the new member of our family...

Today starts a homeschooling experiment. We're going to try "unschooling"...otherwise known as "child-led learning". After doing mucho research, I've come to peace with a trial period. Basically, the idea behind unschooling is that the kids decide when and what they want to learn, instead of being "spoon-fed" what some bureaucrat says they should know at what time. Theoretically, everyone, especially kids, have a natural-born curiosity and desire to learn what they want to know. Even though my heart agrees with this thought process, my mind is still "school-trained", hence the trial period. :) Alana has been showing unschooling tendancies for some time. She LOVES animals, wants to be a vet, and really wants to have a farm! So, when she decides she wants goats, for example, she'll read about them. In the picture below, she's looking on Petfinder.com to find a puppy...then uses the map of Wisc to see if the town the dog is in is close enough to go look at. That's unschooling.

Yes, I'm a bit petrified. So, I've installed certain rules. No more tv than they've watched before. They must read an hour a day...30 minutes of non-fiction, and 30 of their choice. And they need to keep a daily journal. And we keep morning Bible devotions as before. Math worries me more than anything...so that may go back to being "regulated". Part of my support for this idea comes from our lifestyle. My kids live a very controlled life currently. They are with me 24/7. They are told when and what to eat...way beyond the limits of "normal" Americans. I feel like they should have some kind of control or choice put back into their own hands...before they burn out or rebel. Besides, if I'm going to try an experiment like this, I should do it when they're this young, so that they don't lose too much ground. And, it IS summer afterall...this could be considered their summer vacation.


This is a picture I snapped of Alana last night at soccer. I think she's beautiful....

Speaking of soccer...it was Erin's last game last night. Her team did not win a game. Poor thing. That's tough for Erin to take, too. Unlike Alana, who's laid back, Erin is VERY competitive and serious about sports. Last year her soccer team won every game. But, I think it's good for her to learn how to lose...and besides having a few episodes of "I made the team lose!", she handled it very well. Here are a few highlights from the season...

By the way....she's SO fun to watch. And she grunts when she kicks the ball (totally reminds me of Serena & Venus playing tennis...I love it!)

And it was extra fun this year because her best friend, Claire, was on her team...and her dad, our friend, Corey, was the coach...seen here doing a very important equipment adjustment! :)

Already half-way gone????

Summer I mean. Wow. Actually, I'm kind of glad. You see, around here, we're pretty used to moving at our own pace. So June has been a bit crazy for us with swimming lessons, church softball, t-ball, and soccer. Swimming lessons are done, t-ball will be done on July 18, church softball on July 19, and soccer next week. :)

We enjoyed a mini-vacation at my parents' this past weekend. Friday we spent in the boats fishing, swimming, reading, etc. We even enjoyed a little picinic (and some shade) at a little park on the lake.

We always have a camp fire there and roast marshmallows and make smores. Mmmmm, smores. Of course, this year, they were NOT on the menu. So, I wracked my brain for something yummy to replace them...just to give the girls a bit of "fun eats". I came up with roasting little weinies...and it was a HUGE hit. :)

We also had fun with a new bean bag throw game...cheap entertainment. As usual, Cassie ran/explored/played herself into exhaustion....

Saturday morning, Erin went fishing with the boys, while Alana, Grandma and I visited a craft fair and book sale in Balsam Lake (which is also where we go for fireworks). Mom and I both came home with a wooden cross...pics to come soon...while Alana stocked up on trinkets for her and Erin. Saturday afternoon, I walked the girls across the highway to the winery (yes, a whinery in small town Wisconsin) to watch a polo match. (Obviously, my first ever.) :) It was interesting...enough so that Erin decided she definately wanted riding lessons. Anything to compete! Alana just wanted to buy the horses that were for sale.

Saturday night we journeyed back to Balsam Lake for the fireworks. I believe the last time we were there, it rained and we watched, disappointed, from the truck. And the time before that, Erin started screaming immediately after they started...so we watched them while making a hasty exit back to the car. (sigh) But this year we made it through its entirety...and the mosquitos weren't even bad! (For once!)

Here are a couple of recent layouts I did for my friend Jenn's etsy store...her blog is here http://creative-chaos.typepad.com/creative-chaos/ She makes the coolest journaling spots for use on cards and layouts! She's mega talented!

I've been debating and praying about venturing onto etsy to sell my cards online. It probably isn't that big of a deal to most people, but to me, it is. Firstly, I don't wanted to get sucked/trapped into spending too much time with the business...it causes me to neglect my greater priorities...like family and school. Second, it would mean totally putting myself out there, risking failure. I don't like failure. At all. Third, I'm working really hard to live my life according to God's plan. His way is perfect, afterall. I still haven't received a clear answer, so I'll keep praying. In the meantime, I've been creating cards. Below are from a couple of card packs I made up. You can see the entire sets from my other blog http://melissakay-designs.blogspot.com/

Well, gotta end here. It's lunch time...and I haven't started it yet! T-ball after that...hopefully a nap for mama....and then I meet with my Bible study group again this evening. Yeah! Tonites topic: Miriam.

Have a great week!

Yes, It's Been a Long Time!

I could offer you an array excuses: I had a couple of days of sicknes, a couple of days of sporadic internet (where you just know if I spent any amount of time writing here, it would be lost to the world in mere seconds!), and many days of summer-running. Just like with everything else, the longer I put it off, the bigger the job seemed. So, let's just get this over with, shall we?

The girls finished up their swimming lessons this week. Compared to last year, when we were nervous as heck that they'd pass, this year was a breeze. Alana's teachers actually used her as a demonstrator, and both girls were probably the best in their classes. They both passed this level with flying colors. :) Of course, now this means that I'll have to make more of an effort to bring them to the pool in the afternoons.

Erin is still playing soccer once a week, and they both have T Ball twice a week.

Waaay back in May, at Lexi's graduation party, one of the kids found (and picked up) a bird egg found under a tree. Alana was aghast that someone would pick up an egg (doesn't everyone know not to do that?). But she was intent on saving the baby birdy. So, the egg was immediately placed in front of the electric heater in our basement, and she commenced building a nest in a cage for it for when it hatched.

This many weeks later, I finally had to order her to shut off the heater (as we had the A/C on) and take down the cage. But, we do still have the egg...she still has hope....

My hubby, unlike myself, reads only two things...fishing & hunting magazines and the weekend paper. On this particular Sunday afternoon, the paper contained a couple of articles of slight interest to Alana, too....

Otherwise, let's see...what's new? Well, two Sundays ago, at church softball, Martha, the pastor's wife from another church (where the girls participate in their Christmas musical...directed by Martha...and she also homeschools) invited me to a weekly Bible study/support group they have. As I knew 3 other women involved (from that church) it didn't seem so scary. And also, I had been praying to God a lot about this, as I had been feeling "spiritually lonely"...my mother being my only "go-to" on the subject. Apparently, God heard my need and put it into Martha's heart to think of me. Although a little out of my comfort zone, I sure as heck wasn't telling Him no! So, I went. The women were all gracious and kind. It was a good thing. :) I'll be going back.

Ummm...still no more work on the house. We still have the intent to sell (or try to) but apparently motivation has left the building. Ugh.

I've stayed busy reading (I highly recommend "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World"), working on curriculum decisions for fall, and organizing the new curriculum for our Rotational Sunday School starting in September. Oh, and we are still homeschooling. The girls are thrilled (not) but it's the best way to keep things fresh in their minds, and keep from from getting too bored and fighting. Oh, and it allows us to only work half-days throughout the year! :)

We're still on the diet. I'm close to 20 lbs down. I feel fantastic! Of course, the cravings just never go away.... The girls are both doing great on it...whiney at times, but I probably would, too, if I didn't have to be the "strong mom".

When I get a free minute (and my creativity is still within reach) I still scrapbook and make cards. I'm currently in the throws of deciding whether to push a business selling my cards. Is this the right time? Will I have to sacrifice too much of mom/wife/teacher/homemaker time and energy? And bottomline...is this what God wants from me??? It's exhausting...really.

Looking forward to heading north to Mom & Dad's for the 4th (can you believe it's already here?!?!) Wow.

Have a good weekend!

I'm pleading for your attention!

You see, I couldn't sleep last nite. I tossed and turned, fighting an unwinnable war in my dreams. It's all Glenn Beck's fault. For those of you who don't know my friend, Glenn, you should. He's got a show on Fox News. Now I know all of you liberals and Democrats are rolling your eyes, preparing to skip right on through this babble of mine. But please listen. You see, Glenn is NOT a Republican. He's a Conservative, yes. But his anger and distrust is focused on the Republicans as well as Dem's...as it should be. Anyway, his show was really bad yesterday...and not much better today. I tend to believe that most people don't know what's going on in this country. Either they just ignore anything political because they don't want to be bothered/distressed by it, or they are too busy watching important things, like American Idol and 24. Or it could be that they trust the old standbyes, like NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC and CNN to report the truth.

If you just don't care....I beg you to try. Things that are happening will affect you. Soon. And not in a good way. And if you trust those other media outlets, DON'T! They are not telling you the truth!

For instance, do you know that when the gov took over Chrysler and sold it to Fiat, it blatently broke the law? Do you know that the secured lenders (the first people that should have been paid when Chrysler went bankrupt) were screwed? See, the govt gave the UAW (an unsecured party) the most, including ownership, while totally dissing the secured lenders. Well, you might be thinking, who cares about those rich, evil rich bankers! But those secured lenders included the state of Indiana pension fund...as in teachers. Those teachers, who all Dem's love, just got hosed on their retirement pensions. It's illegal. That's not what's supposed to happen in a bankruptcy. So, there's checks and balances, right? Wrong...the Supreme Court just today, refused to get involved.

And why would they with the heavy-handed mob-like techniques that Obama has been using. Like with the GM bankruptcy. Gretchen Carlson (an anchor on Fox News) is personally affected. Her parents own a GM dealership in northern MN...it's been in the family for 90 years. It was just terminated. You'd think they were a loser dealership, right? Nope. They met their objectives this year at 103%. They were given NO reason for their termination. Oh, and they need to sign a waiver, by Friday, or they lose all warrenties on the 10+ million in cars on their lot. (By the way, that's illegal, too). And this waiver includes a gag order. I wonder what the govt doesn't want us to know? Oh, and in the GM bankruptcy the same thing happened. The UAW got the lion's share, and ownership, while the secured lenders got ripped. Nice.

And have you noticed all of the czars that Obama is appointing? Yeah, so? Did you know that in our checks and balances system (remember, Executive, Legislative and Judicial)? Well, these czars report to Obama. That's it. Not us, the people who the govt is supposed to represent. And, by the way, if you remember anything about history, you'll remember that "czar" sorta has negative connotations...as in Mussolini, Hitler...you get the idea. Now we have a Pay Czar. Oh, good, now those rich, overpaid executives will know what it's like!!! But truly, this is killing capitalism, what has made our country great all these years.

I'm not pointing fingers. I'm confident that if you voted for Obama and all of these weak Democrat Congressmen, you really didn't think that his change would include killing capitalism and burning the Constitution. BURNING THE CONSTITUTION!!!!!! No, I'm not hysterical. This is really happening. I hope I'm wrong. I pray everyday that I'm wrong. I don't know why I even bother writing about this...I feel like no one listens. But I feel called to do what I can...and this is what I can. Please, please please pay attention! Check out Fox News. Check out Glenn Beck http://www.glennbeck.com/ Just educate yourself. This is important. This is our country, our freedom...our Constitution. Please.

Nature Study

I'm trying to adopt more of a Charlotte Mason style of teaching. Basically, in a nutshell, this involves shorter lessons, the reading of quality literature and living books instead of watered down textbooks and a focus on nature study. The girls each have a nature notebook to draw in, and we use field manuals and wildlife books to research the things we draw. Most importantly, they learn the habit of slowing down and really seeing, hearing and appreciating God's creation. I love these pictures I got of the girls.

In comparison, there were two boys "fishing" in the creek nearby. They were actually quite busy throwing things into the creek. Logs. Rocks. Branches. It wasn't done in a playful "skipping rocks" way, or experimental "watch it float!" way. They were hellbent on destruction. I thanked God then and there that I had children that appreciated His beautiful creation, instead of being ignorant and destructful.

Memorial Day Pics

Erin marched with the Girl Scouts in the Memorial Day parade a couple of weeks ago...and I'm finally getting the pictures uploaded. :) She had an OK time, but nothing thrilling...

Now while we waited for the parade to begin, we had a little fun, born out of frustration. To me, it's common sense, in a small town, to NOT park on the streets that make up a parade route...at least not within a half hour of the parade start time. Well, it seems that many, many people do not share my view of common sense. We parked on a side street, walked to the parade route and set up our chairs on the sidewalk. Car after car pulled in front of us and parked. Seriously? So, finally, Alana takes her chair and sits in the parking spot directly in front of us...essentially keeping all of the cars out. That's my girl!!! :)

It rained on my parade....

Well, not exactly my parade...just my thrift sale that I've been planning for a couple of months. It was cold, too. By the end, I was a popcicle in need of a nap and cup of tea. The good news was that it also rained on my just-planted garden...and we made over $350, which considering I had zero moms with little kids come, was pretty impressive. We're still debating whether to give it another shot this weekend before donating. As long as it's all set up.....

Sadly, on Friday we were in Burnsville MN to say goodbye to my Great Grandma Louise. Although I was not close to her, I loved her deeply due to the love my mother had for her. She was a wonderful woman....a virtuous woman. If you're at all familiar with Proverbs 31, that was my grandma. But I makes it much easier knowing that she went home to her Lord happily and very willingly...she's in a much, much better place. These are the most recent pictures I have of her, taken in Aug of 2007 and 2008...but they are not how I will remember her. I will remember her sparkling blue eyes...her soft, French-accented voice...and loving smile.

Today is a cloudy, cold and windy day...rain is coming, I'm sure. A perfect day for a Sabbath! We have our first church softball game tonite...hopefully it won't rain. I have school prep to do today, hopefully some scrapping or card-making, and definately some reading...I have 3 new, fresh-from-the library books just screaming for me to climb in bed and read! I have "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" by Peter Walsh (the genius on Clean Sweep), "Christian Unschooling", and "God's Master Plan for Your Life" by Gloria Copeland (I've never read her before...). So, I have plenty to keep me busy today. I should do laundry and housecleaning, too, but I just may gratefully receive the Lord's gift of a Sabbath rest today! :)

Our summer schedule starts tomorrow with tball practice for both girls. Next week swimming lessons and soccer for Erin begin. We'll still have school...I do school year-round...but I do try to make it lighter and more fun. It keeps them from forgetting half of what they've learned...and it keeps the "I'm boooooorrrreeedddd's" at bay! :)

Happy Sunday and God Bless!