Make Life Meaningful Monday

I am joining Michelle at Changed by the Maker with "Make Life Meaningful Monday."  Come over and share what makes your life meaningful this week.  :-)

When she invited me to linkup, my first thoughts went to my children and special things that they said or did that I want to remember and cherish. 

like the incredible photos taken by kiddo #1. (the first one taken during our visit to the Nature Center, the second during his daily airplane watch (he researches where the airplanes are going, where they have come from, their make, etc.  Have I mentioned he loves all things flight?  lol, and the 3rd just gazing up at the moon with my new camera)

Here is Kiddo #1 with one of the airplanes he built and flies.

I thought of the sheer excitment of kiddo #2 when we decided to go to the Nature Center and he went to find binoculars to investigate everything he could,

and his love of all things sports.  This kid can tell you the teams who played in every single Super Bowl (yes, all 46 of them!), who won and the score!  (sorry some of the photos say 2011.  They were actually taken in 2012, but we set the camera's date wrong, lol, and didn't realize it for a couple of weeks!)  :-)

I can't think of Kiddo #3 and not think of his love of elephants and making amazing powerpoint presentations.

Our Kiddo #4 and her "Pigie" are inseparable (we are planning a first birthday for him on Tuesday, lol!) and she just loves making creations for everyone with her perler beads.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."
(Matthew 18:10)

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 18:1-3)

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."
(Psalm 127:3)         

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly-Wrap-Up February 10

In my life/homeschool this week: Friday was a great day.  Firstly, we did some wonderful scientific experiments on sound.  I found the experiments on NASA's website.  We did the "Dancing Wire."  We filled glasses with water and when we rubbed our fingers on the side of the glass, the sound produced made the wire dance all around, in addition to some lovely sounds.  I also told the kiddos all about artists who perform musical works on glasses and we watched some videos of them and the glass armonica invented by Benjamin Franklin.

Kiddo #2 created a family game night on power point.  It was so creative and fun!  He came up with word puzzles that we had to solve.

(just in case you were wonderfing, the answer here was "Chosen Few," lol)  :-)

Saturday was a special day-- Kiddo #4's Father-Daughter dance at church.  We are so blessed to belong to a church community that has such events.  She and her daddy had an awesome time.  You can see how beautiful she looked here.

Sunday, of course was church and then preparing for the Super Bowl.  Kiddos #2 and 4 made decorations, put out special plates and napkins and Kiddo #1 baked a special cake.  We are Philadelphia fans here, but since the Eagles were eliminated in the first round and my hubby is originally from New Jersey and the Giants play in New Jersey, we routed for the Giants!

On Monday, we started work on our Jamestown Notebooking project.  We wrote about the ships, identified Jamestown on the map, started a timeline and read about Pocahantas.  We are hoping, that as we continue the study, we will add in all of the pictures from our trip to Jamestown back in November.

Tuesday's highlight was a trip to the local Nature Center.  The weather is supposed to a little nasty(maybe snow?) tomorrow, so we wanted to take advantage of another beautiful, sunny and pleasant day. 

We hiked the trails,

went to the Bird Observatory,

saw the pond

 and the indoor exhibits. 

We are lucky to have such a gem right in our township.

On Wednesday, we baked homemade Valentine's Day cookies for the kiddos' classmates at their classes at church.  You can get my recipe and see photos of them making their cookies here.

Thursday was an uneventful, just get down to the grind kind of day, with Kiddos 1 and 2 studying for a Biology lab quiz and doing Pre-Algebra assignments.  Kiddos 3 and 4 continued with their Apologia Zoology work.  We learned about bears and otters today.  Did you know that a polar bear and grizzly bear mix is called a Pizzly bear?  Neither did I.  :-)

Friday, I am hoping to complete the work that we were doing on Thursday and make some special St. Valentine's Day craft.  I will include photos in next week's journal! 


What's working: Definitely this beautiful weather!  We have been out and about and getting lots of fresh air.  Love it! (especially after 2 record-breaking winters.)  The kids, on the other hand, are wishing for some snow.  :-)

What I'm reading: A Mother's Rule of Life, The Imitation of Christ

What I'm cooking: My favorites this week were veggie stir fry tortillas and pasta and peas.

What I'm praying for: Those who are ill, needing/having surgery, who are grieving......

A quote or photo to share: "When our knowledge cannot traverse the distance from our heads to
our hearts, we are suffering from spiritual emptiness. Smart is not one of the fruits of the Spirit." - Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr.

Just a sweet photo of Kiddos 2 and 4 sharing some time together.  :-)

I am linking up with the Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.



Thankful Thursday - February 9

This week I am most thankful that our church is so active and vibrant.  We were welcomed from the first moment we entered its doors and truly felt God's presence in more ways than one.  We knew we were home.  :-)

This past Saturday, our church had its annual Father-Daughter square dance.  Hubby and Kiddo #4 have gone for the past 3 years.  They always have a wonderful time.  From what they tell me, the caller keeps them all going and active!  When the dads need a break, lol, it is the girls' turn for numbers like the Chicken Dance and Hand Jive.  The night wouldn't be complete without "Daddy's Little Girl" and God Bless America.  Makes my heart smile just thinking of them dancing to that and singing that song together.



I am linking up today with Theresa at Red Oak Lane.  Come over and share what you are thankful for today!

Look! What we did! Wednesday

I am happy again this week to be linking up at Red Oak Lane about something special we did on this "Look! What did! Wednesday."  :-)

Today we baked Valentine's Day cookies.  My children have classes at church on Thursdays  (except Kiddo #1, who now volunteers as a helper  :-))  and they asked about bringing in special treats for their friends.  I thought we could make homemade cookies.  Who could refuse delicious home-baked cookies?  :-)  And, especially on a cold and wintery day?  We are baking lots of batches so we can enjoy them, as well.

Here is my recipe:
1 cup butter softened
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla (I usually put a little bit more)  :-)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour (one cup at a time) mixing after addition. The dough will be very stiff, blend last flour in by hand. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball in a circle approximately twelve inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Dip cutters in flour before each use. Bake cookies on cookie sheet on top rack of oven for six to seven minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.

(yes, Kiddo #3, the elephant lover, made his class elephant cookies instead of hearts.  :-))

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly wrap-up February 3rd

It is February already!  When did this happen?  :-) 

What I did just realize is that my camera was set to "2011" instead of "2012."  OOPS!  Hubby gave it to me for Christmas.  We picked it up on the 12th day of Christmas (yes, I was singing the song, lol) and I guess I was still used to 2011 and I was thinking Christmas because that is what I programmed in.  My kids just realized it, so the first month of photos taken all have the wrong year.  :-)  I did just change it.

It has been an event-filled week in our family.

In my life/homeschool this week: On Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting two of my bloggy friends IRL.  You can read about it here.

On Saturday, our daughter made her First Penance.  What a beautiful and touching service.  Kiddo was chosen to read parts of the Prodigal Son story.  She did a beautiful job.  We were so proud of her!

Saturday was also my parents' 45th wedding anniversary and my dad's 71st birthday.  The kids each made something to celebrate the occasion.  Kiddo #1 baked a special cake.  Kiddo #3 made them an amazing powerpoint presentation with animation and effects.  Kiddo #4 wrote and performed her own songs and Kiddo #2 made them an animated movie.

After church on Sunday, Kiddo #4 did some volunteer work there and then came home to join us in a nice, relaxed afternoon of play.  Sunday night found us watching the Pro-bowl together to pizza and other bad-for-you snack foods.  :-)  Hey, you have to indulge every now and again, right?  Kiddo #2, the sports fanatic, is already counting down to next week's Super Bowl.  If this kid doesn't become a sportcaster...if you name him any Super Bowl (and there have been 45 of them so far), he can tell you which teams played, who won, what the score was....Wow.  He makes powerpoint presentations on the seasons of various teams, their statistics, etc, all with pretty impressive animations and effects!

Monday was music lessons for all of the kiddos in addition to the bi-weekly biology lab for Kiddos #1 and 2.  This session they were learning about starfish and preparing to dissect them.

On Tuesday, we were blessed with amazing spring-like weather.  We took advantage of this and went to the park after lunch.  I love how the kiddos organized their own little baseball game.  Kiddos #1 and 2 patiently pitched to the youngers and "allowed" them to reach base, lol.  :-)  Very sweet.  They also all had fun on the playground equipment.  What a gorgeous day!  Glad we got to be outside and enjoy it.

On Wednesday, we did a fun experiment as part of our study on sound waves.  You can read about it here.

Since Thursday was Groundhog Day, we did a couple of activities to commemorate it.  :-)  The younger two made "Groundhog booklets" filled with facts about groundhogs (did you know they also are called woodchucks?) and pictures to color.  The older two had a grammar worksheet on groundhogs to complete filled with synonyms, antonyms and homonyms having to do with the day.  Both were found at Enchanted Learning.  We also watched Phil on You-tube since we weren't up early enough to see it live.  Now the kids want to visit Punxsutawney.  :-)

What's working: Definitely the hands-on activities.  I need to keep up with the ideas and planning to be sure my children have these learning experiences.  They remember and learn so much more when they are completely engaged and involved in that learning.

What I'm cooking: My favorite this week was a stir-fry I made over rice.

What I'm praying for: there are so many people who are suffering or who are ill and have asked for prayers.  I also keep my family and friends in my daily prayers.

A photo or quote to share: I actually have one of each to share this week:

Kiddo #1 took this with my new camera.  Wow!  Did I mention he loves to take photos as well as bake and build and fly airplanes?  lol!  :-)

"What a sad life does he lead who wants both to please the world and to serve God! Apart from the fact that you are going to be unhappy all the time, you can never attain the stage at which you will be able to please the world and please God." - Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)

I'm happy to be linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.