Sunday, September 30, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Happy Birthday, Maya!
This is one of the songs she requests the most and it fits her perfectly! We have always called her our Sunshine Girl and she loves to have a good time!
Happy birthday, 6 year old! We are so much sunnier with you in our lives! xoxo
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Don't miss these cookies
We have several cookies that we enjoying making and eating when the season turns to autumn.
One of them is Hershey's Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies. I first found Hershey's Cinnamon Chips when we lived in Texas 10 or 11 years ago. They were only out in early fall and disappeared quickly. I even had my mom send some to me the first year or two that we were in Canada because I could not find them there (thanks, Mom!). Well, that's been awhile and I was surprised recently when a friend posted on Facebook announcing that they were back.
To my delight, a few days later, I came across them in my local Walmart. Yahoo!
I was at Walmart again today and they were completely sold out. I checked the Hershey website and they have stores listed that carry their hard to find products. In my area Safeway, Wegmans and Martins were listed.
HERE is the link to check for stores in your area.
HERE is a link to the delicious recipe. Enjoy!
And if I can find any more packages of this yummy treat, I am going to stock up for the winter. :)
P. S. I found a couple of options on Amazon:
One of them is Hershey's Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies. I first found Hershey's Cinnamon Chips when we lived in Texas 10 or 11 years ago. They were only out in early fall and disappeared quickly. I even had my mom send some to me the first year or two that we were in Canada because I could not find them there (thanks, Mom!). Well, that's been awhile and I was surprised recently when a friend posted on Facebook announcing that they were back.
To my delight, a few days later, I came across them in my local Walmart. Yahoo!
I was at Walmart again today and they were completely sold out. I checked the Hershey website and they have stores listed that carry their hard to find products. In my area Safeway, Wegmans and Martins were listed.
HERE is the link to check for stores in your area.
HERE is a link to the delicious recipe. Enjoy!
And if I can find any more packages of this yummy treat, I am going to stock up for the winter. :)
P. S. I found a couple of options on Amazon:
Monday, September 24, 2012
Our Hero
I just want to take a moment and dedicate a whole post to honour my wonderful, handsome, wise, patient, loving, and fun-to-be-with husband. The last year and a half have been CRAZY for our family! Bob has led and supported our family in such incredible ways. We have been on an adventuresome journey with the Lord and even though many, many times it has not made sense to our human logic, Bob has guided us to follow our God, even when it was against "reason." Even when people said we were "taking a risk" or being "presumptuous."
Thank you, my love, for leading us in unusual but God-honouring ways, especially since January 2011, but for the past amazing 20 years, as well. We are thrilled to have you as the head of our home. The way you serve and support our family is exemplary. Most people do not know how many hours you work every day, since you have taken on a second job as a delivery driver. We are so proud of you and thank you for all your hard work! We thank and praise Jesus for you every single day!
Ben: Dad is my hero because he works so hard for the good of our family!
Ava: My favourite thing about Daddy is he loves me and I know because he watches movies with me!
Maya: Daddy is my hero because he is SO funny!
Austin: One of my favourite things about Dad is that he is a lot of fun, like when he surprise attacks us and starts wrestling with us!
Emma: My favourite thing about Dad is that he continually marches on, always trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead him. He's funny, he listens and he supports me, and even when I'm wrong, he's always there. Love you, Popsicle!
You are our hero! XO
Thank you, my love, for leading us in unusual but God-honouring ways, especially since January 2011, but for the past amazing 20 years, as well. We are thrilled to have you as the head of our home. The way you serve and support our family is exemplary. Most people do not know how many hours you work every day, since you have taken on a second job as a delivery driver. We are so proud of you and thank you for all your hard work! We thank and praise Jesus for you every single day!
Ben: Dad is my hero because he works so hard for the good of our family!
Ava: My favourite thing about Daddy is he loves me and I know because he watches movies with me!
Maya: Daddy is my hero because he is SO funny!
Austin: One of my favourite things about Dad is that he is a lot of fun, like when he surprise attacks us and starts wrestling with us!
Emma: My favourite thing about Dad is that he continually marches on, always trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead him. He's funny, he listens and he supports me, and even when I'm wrong, he's always there. Love you, Popsicle!
You are our hero! XO
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Time for Autumn
No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~John Donne
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~John Donne
Autumn
Now the summer is grown old
the light long summer
is grown old.
Leaves change
and the garden is gold
with marigolds and zinnias
tangled and bold
blazing blazing
orange and gold.
The light long summer is grown old.
-Charlotte Zolotow
Autumn Fires
In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires,
See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The gray smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!
-Robert Louis Stevenson
May you experience all the blessings of this new season!
Friday, September 21, 2012
School Week in Review
We have been reading How To Make An Apple Pie And See The World this week for the little girls' Five In A Row (FIAR) book. If you are not familiar with FIAR, please feel free to ask questions in the comments section. I will be happy to tell you ALL about it. We have used it as our main curriculum for K-Grade 8 since we started home schooling Emma, 11 years ago. It has played such a huge and beautiful part in our lives over all these years.
Here are some of the fun things we were able to share together this week at Maple Glen Academy...
Buy this fabulous book here:
We also made note of the 150th anniversary of the Battle at Antietam, which was on Monday, September 17. We watched this DVD, Antietam, a Documentary Dvd! James Earl Jones and learned more about the bloodiest single day in our nation's history. It's also available here. (A big thank you to my father-in-law for our copy!)
Find out more here and here.
The battlefield is located not far from where we live and we hope to take a field trip up there soon.
Today we celebrated autumn, about 24 hours early, with a traditional game of Fall Bingo!
Here are some of the fun things we were able to share together this week at Maple Glen Academy...
Buy this fabulous book here:
Supplemental books:
We also made note of the 150th anniversary of the Battle at Antietam, which was on Monday, September 17. We watched this DVD, Antietam, a Documentary Dvd! James Earl Jones and learned more about the bloodiest single day in our nation's history. It's also available here. (A big thank you to my father-in-law for our copy!)
Find out more here and here.
The battlefield is located not far from where we live and we hope to take a field trip up there soon.
Today we celebrated autumn, about 24 hours early, with a traditional game of Fall Bingo!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Last few days of summer...{books}
Even though today definitely feels quite fall-ish around here, I was thinking back over the summer and all the good times, the hard times, the fun, the uncertainties, the sun and the guests who came to stay. One of the (many) things that made me smile was remembering all the good books we have read or listened to during the last few months.
We have made it a habit and part of our routine for years now, whether in the school year or in the summer months, Christmas break, or whenever, to have at least one, but often times, two books that Emma and/or I read aloud to the whole crew during lunch time. This is then followed by an hour of quiet reading time immediately after lunch every day. I have already mentioned a few books the boys have recently enjoyed (look here). Here are a few others we have read either at lunch time for our read-alouds or individually during reading hour in the past three months.
This is one that we read five years ago when it first came out and it quickly became a favourite. The little girls listened to it on CD this summer, at least twice, and maybe even a third time.
Again, we had read this aloud a couple of years ago, but because it is a favourite, we read it again this year.
Another one we delighted in is an older one, but one that was new to the children and I, alike.
Emma thoroughly relished this one...
We have made it a habit and part of our routine for years now, whether in the school year or in the summer months, Christmas break, or whenever, to have at least one, but often times, two books that Emma and/or I read aloud to the whole crew during lunch time. This is then followed by an hour of quiet reading time immediately after lunch every day. I have already mentioned a few books the boys have recently enjoyed (look here). Here are a few others we have read either at lunch time for our read-alouds or individually during reading hour in the past three months.
This is one that we read five years ago when it first came out and it quickly became a favourite. The little girls listened to it on CD this summer, at least twice, and maybe even a third time.
And the third in the series just came out in May, so it was new to us. The characters are so real and endearing and I laughed and cried my way through reading this one to the children.
Another one we delighted in is an older one, but one that was new to the children and I, alike.
Emma thoroughly relished this one...
Our current read-aloud...
Here are a few that I have read in the past few months. I recommend them all...
Of course, any of these would make great autumn reads, too, especially when curled up with a blanket and a cup of hot cider! Enjoy!
And please share the favourites from your summer reading list in the comments!
And this one, too, in anticipation of the movie coming out in December...
Here are a few that I have read in the past few months. I recommend them all...
Of course, any of these would make great autumn reads, too, especially when curled up with a blanket and a cup of hot cider! Enjoy!
And please share the favourites from your summer reading list in the comments!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Bald Eagles over the Potomac River
I wanted to share this spectacular sight the children and I were blessed to see last week on a hike near the Potomac. This is a brief clip.
Enjoy!
(Our videographer: Benjamin)
Enjoy!
(Our videographer: Benjamin)
Monday, September 17, 2012
Boys and Books
As Emma was growing up, I found it very simple to find books for her to read. She has always enjoyed reading and is fairly easy to please, plus there are shelves and shelves of "girl" books to choose from.
When the boys started getting older, I found the opposite to be true. Boy books are difficult to find. Good boy books, that is. There is an excessive amount of books that are silly or dark or just plain ridiculous. Not that silly is all bad, but because I had, thankfully, been introduced to "living books" when I started my homeschooling journey, I have a hard time with the ridiculous or even just dry material. I have spoken with other moms about this topic, and apparently it is very common.
So, if you have boys and have been wanting to find some engaging reading material, I thought I'd share a few titles that both of my boys have enjoyed in the past few months.
The Trailblazer Books by Dave and Neta Jackson have been a big hit!
Kindle Edition:
When the boys started getting older, I found the opposite to be true. Boy books are difficult to find. Good boy books, that is. There is an excessive amount of books that are silly or dark or just plain ridiculous. Not that silly is all bad, but because I had, thankfully, been introduced to "living books" when I started my homeschooling journey, I have a hard time with the ridiculous or even just dry material. I have spoken with other moms about this topic, and apparently it is very common.
So, if you have boys and have been wanting to find some engaging reading material, I thought I'd share a few titles that both of my boys have enjoyed in the past few months.
The Trailblazer Books by Dave and Neta Jackson have been a big hit!
Austin's favourite was...
Paperback:
Kindle Edition:
Ben's favourite was...
Paperback:
Kindle Edition:
Another series they are both enjoying right now is The Kane Chronicles, by Rick Riordan...
Of course, these are favourites, for both boys and girls...
And these...
If you have young men in your home who enjoy reading, please share their favourites in the comments! We are always looking for more great reads.
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