A Visit with "Great Nann" and "the cousins" :-)

My husband's grandmother, whom I love as if she was my own, comes to visit us every year at the shore. And, thankfully, this year was no exception.

My husband's cousin, wife and two children bring "Nann" and we always spend a wonderful day together. It was nice to see my husband, his cousin and my dad really enjoy each other's company and I got to spend time chatting about "mom stuff" with my cousin-in-law, who has become a dear friend over the years.

My children began waiting anxiously at the windows from the minute we returned from Church for "the cousins" to arrive. The girls are 9 and 11, and fit right in with my crew. They play so nicely together.

They swam

and swam

and swam...

After a delicious homemade Italian meal by my mom, the kids played hide and seek and found places to hide that we didn't even know existed, lol! :-) They so entertained each other with games, art and Thomas trains.

They all wanted photos together as the day/evening was winding down. And we all made promises to get together again soon.

Here is a picture of Nann and the 6 great-grandchildren with whom she shared her day.

Did you have some special family time this weekend?

Homeschool Mother's Journal

 

Thank you to Sue for hosting the HMJ!  :-)

In my life this week: we are blessed to be on vacation in Ocean City, NJ.  There has been swimming in the pool, lots of time on the beach, walks on the boardwalk and rides on the amusements.  :-)

In our homeschool this week: We haven't done a full load here, of course, but we are reading some of our literature from Sonlight every day and I did bring down the materials for an ocean/beach lapbook that I am looking forward to.  One of my sons found a sand crab on the beach.  We brought him back to the apartment overnight, watched him and looked up their characteristics on the computer.  That was fun and they were learning, too!  :-)

I am inspired by: This week, there are little things that my children are doing to inspire me.  After we saw a magnificient rainbow over the ocean, my 7 year old daughter drew a picture with a rainbow that said "thank you God" on it and hung it up in the window.  If that doesn't give inspiration, I don't know what will!  :-))

Places we're going and people we're seeing:  During the remainder of our vacation, we are planning to do more of what we have already done in addition to going to the local zoo and aquarium.  We may even rent a boat for a ride.

Questions/thoughts I have: I am trying not to stress about the boxes of curricula that lay waiting at home or the two classes I will be starting to teach at co-op, teaching Sunday school and teaching a class at the university two nights a week.  It is too overwhelming if I think about it all.  Right now, I am trying to focus on vacation and having fun with my kids.  :-)

I'm reading: "Beyond Band of Brothers: Memoirs of Major Dick Winters", the new Duggar book, in addition to finishing "Raising Real Men"

I'm grateful for:  a wonderful husband, our 4 children, God's beautiful creation, sunsets over the beach/ocean and so much more.  I actually posted a "thankful Thursday" post yesterday that you can read where I listed so many more of the "little things" for which I am grateful.

A photo, video, link or quote to share:

We took the kids to Hershey last month.  I thought this was an awesome pic of the 4 of them together.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for so much in my life, but am really focusing on the little things today, the things that we may pass by on a daily basis, but are truly beautiful and such gifts from God.

So, today, I am thankful for:

the beauty of God's creation all around me

my 9 year old son, who when seeing the colorful sky in that last picture said to me, "it is beautiful mom, but it isn't as lovely as you." (sniff, sniff!)

the sheer joy in my children as they make sand castle "villages"

seeing their excitement and exhiliration as they jump over waves again and again

teaching them fun games to play (ones that I knew as a kid before playstations and ipods, lol!)

special reading time together every day

my 13 year old grilling our dinner

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."-- Colossians 3:18 

What blessings have been showered upon you today? 

Wordless Wednesday

First few days at the shore

It certainly is overwhelming packing the whole family for a vacation. With a family our size, it wouldn't be feasible for us financially to buy 3 meals a day, so wherever we go, we try to book a place that has a kitchen, so we can bring food from home and cook or defrost whatever it is we need. So, it is like moving (except for the beds and the kitchen sink, lol!) since we have to take everything down to the toilet tissue! :-) This photo doesn't even include the 4 coolers full of food!  :-) I just tried to keep repeating to myself, "the kids will have fun!"
:-)

We arrived down late in the evening, as we had to wait until Mike was done work. But, it wasn't late enough to where the kids couldn't get a first walk on the boardwalk and enjoy some amusement rides. Our daughter actually saw a friend and they got to enjoy a balloon ride together. :-)

Sunday was a rainy day, but the rain held out long enough for Church and a swim in the pool. And, what an end to the day to witness an incredible rainbow right over the ocean. It was so bright and vivid, unlike any I have ever seen. Our daughter grabbed her markers and made a picture of a rainbow with the words "thank you God" on it. Sometimes, it is the parents who learn the greatest lessons, isn't it?

We were blessed this afternoon with some unexpected sunshine, so we went out for a walk and some amusement rides, followed by more fun in the pool.  Our daughter hung up another sign thanking God with a big bright sun on it. How wonderful that she has such gratitude. We are looking forward to the beach in the next couple of days if the weather cooperates. I can't wait to see what picture she will draw then!  :-)

Goodbye and Godspeed, butterflies!

We were blessed with sunshine today after a dreary and rainy yesterday, so we thought it time to release our butterflies.  8 had emerged as of this morning, with 2 to go.  :-)  The butterflies have been such a source of joy for the kiddos, watching their every move, from emerging, to learning to fly, to drinking the sugar water and oranges we provided them.

It was touching to see the kiddos wish each one goodbye as they flew away.  Kiddo #4 had tears in her eyes, but understood that she wanted them to have a bit of freedom before they died in only a couple of weeks, but she made sure to tell them how much she would miss them and how happy they made her.  Ok, now I'm tearing up!  :-)

One butterfly, as if on cue, to say goodbye and thank you, paused long enough on the fence to open its wings to us before flying away.

We also were so blessed to have #9 emerge right before our eyes as we were outside.  What a gift to witness it!

This has been a wonderful experience in so many ways!

We have butterflies and other musings....

Wow!  What a lesson in the virtue of patience for both children and their parents, lol!  :-)  Seriously, though, every day for the past week or two, the kiddos have peeked in on their "babies" and have asked when they were going to emerge.  This morning when I awoke, going to check on them was the first order of business and lo, and behold, there were 5 of them looking absolutely beautiful.  5 more to go.  What a lesson, not only on the mystery of metamorphosis, but on the miracle of it.  What a gift from God, an unexplainable, but wonderful transformation that no scientist has been able to explain or duplicate.  Is it any wonder?  To witness it first hand is a privilege and to witness it first hand through the eyes of my children is a gift.  What amazing things around us that we take for granted everyday!

This past week, Kiddos #3 and 4 put on a couple of "shows" for us.  They love to practice and set up their "stage" and "audience" areas.  They even made homemade snacks for us each night and labeled our chairs.  Kiddo #4 even put her sweet Jesus doll on a chair and labeled a chair just for Him.  I know He was watching and enjoyed every minute, as well.  :-)

Kiddo #3's show was reenacting some favorite children's songs.  Kiddo #4's show, the following night, was the story of Noah and the Ark, complete with a rainbow at the end.

I am really proud of their creativity and am cherishing each of these moments!