Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up- June 15

In my life/homeschool this week:  Did you see the garden pictures here?  My "little" seedlings finally made it into the garden.  Now to continue to nurture them....I know they will give us a good yield.

On Monday, we had a very nice playdate with some friends at a park and then back at their house on their trampoline.  I shared more photos and wrote how thankful I am for good times with good friends here.

We came home and baked some delicious sugar cookies.  You can get the recipe and see all of the other great recipes that were linked up here.

On Tuesday, I made some great math worksheets for the kiddos (for 1 and 2- area and perimeter of a circle, kiddo 3- two and three digit multiplication and kiddo 4- adding and subtracting 3 digit numbers)  I love how the website allowed the complete customization of the worksheets, including a personal little message I wrote to each of them.  :-)  The website can be found if you click here.


On Wednesday, we also added to our bird study with the Mourning Dove.

My (almost) Wordless Wednesday post was about the cardinal family we observed.  You can see the dad and baby here.

I helped hubby get all of his gear together and packed for his 2 week Army training. 

On Thursday, we had Kiddo #2's follow-up with the cardiologist at CHOP.  Thank God, he is doing very well and we don't have to see the doctor again for 6 months! 

:-) 

There is nothing as humbling, however, than a trip to the Children's Hospital.  I can never step into that building and not be changed; changed into a more grateful person for what we do have, certainly not feeling sorry for myself or for my children because we are very blessed indeed.

Hubby was able to come home for a few hours on Thursday night, as his unit will pull out during the wee hours of Friday morning for Fort Bragg.  Kiddo #4 couldn't wait for him to come home in July so, she gave him the special gift she made in sewing class.  It deserves its own post.  I will share that all on Monday, along with some other special photographs.  Come back and take a look.  I know you'll like them.  :-)

What I'm reading: several books on gardening, canning, etc (it's that time of year!) 

:-)

What I'm praying for: my husband and everyone in his unit's safety, our nation, for our freedom of religion and conscience.

A photo or quote to share: "Love your country. Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart, blushing, whispered the first word of love; it is the home that God has given you that by striving to perfect yourselves therein you may prepare to ascend to Him." ~Giuseppe Mazzini

I hope everyone has a wonderful day with their husbands and dads on Sunday.  Celebrate them!  :-)  We will have to wait until hubby gets back to celebrate with him.  As I mentioned on my post on Thursday, since he has missed 11 of the past 14 Father's Days, we do not celebrate on the day that Hallmark deems is appropriate.  We do that on a day that we choose and it always is just as special.

Linking up with Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-up and NOBH.

Thankful Thursday- June 14

We were blessed to be able to spend the morning with some good friends on Monday.  The kids played in a local park and then they invited us back to their home where the kiddos all had fun jumping on the trampoline! 

Kiddo #4 really likes hanging out with these friends because they have 4 daughters. (their 2 sons are pretty little)  It makes me laugh to see a photo of the 5 girls together.  Kiddo is the only brunette.
 :-)

I am very grateful for good friends and good times together.  It is so rewarding to spend time with those with whom you can openly discuss your faith.  Our children all know each other from church and retreat.  It was a wonderful way to start the week.  :-)

I would also be grateful for your prayers for my husband (and for us, too!), who leaves today for 2 weeks of Army training.  After the year in Iraq, I thought that the 2 and 3 week trainings would be a piece of cake.  Wrong.  :-)  He has missed 11 of the last 14 Father's Days.  That being said, we are very happy to celebrate with him whenever he comes home and make our own special day.  I guess we don't need to do what Hallmark says, lol.  :-)

Linking up with Theresa at Thankful Thursday

Wordless Wednesday- June 13

Ok, almost wordless.... As many of you know, the kiddos and I have been doing a nature study on birds.  We are blessed to have so many different ones that we see in our backyard everyday.  We photograph the bird and then notebook all about it.  Well, one morning, we saw a baby cardinal in the driveway and a very protective, defensive daddy keeping guard.  We knew to keep our distance.  It was a real lesson and an awesome one to photograph and see unfold before our eyes.  :-)

Linking up with Nicole at Mama to 4 Blessings, Judy at Judy H-J's Thoughts, and Jill at Frugal Plus,

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- June 12

It's Tuesday again!  That means it's time to share your favorite recipe.  I look forward each week to all of the great recipes.  :-)

On Monday, my kiddos and I baked sugar cookies.  It is always much fun.

My recipe for the cookies can be found here.  The kiddos made some really unique cookies, didn't they?  I love the ones that they actually used 2 and 3 cutters to make.  :-)

Now, it's your turn!


Linking up with Raising Mighty Arrows, Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays and Kids in the Kitchen.

Make Life Meaningful Monday- June 11

Gardening.

Gardening has certainly become meaningful to me/us these last few months.  Back in February, as you can see in the photos above and here when the kids and I planted all of our seeds.  We have nurtured them, watered them, taken them in and out as the bizarre cold and rainy spring weather hit.

It has become quite a job, but one where the results of the efforts are so visible and obvious!  The fact that the "fruit of our labor" will help feed the family and that it was done naturally and with no chemicals of any kind is very important to us, as well.

Yesterday, the rest of the "babies" went in the garden.  My hubby got them all in.  Some may be a little smaller than one would normally transplant, but since he is going away for 3 weeks for his Army duty later this week, he wanted to get it all done.

I have found gardening much like raising children.  :-) You help give the plants life, you nurture them, feed them, protect them from harm.  But, once they are out in the "elements," you feel a bit hopeless, but hope and pray that you have raised them strong enough to weather the "storms" and yield much in their lifetimes.

Joining Michelle today with her Make Life Meaningful link-up.

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up June 8

Each week I say that I cannot believe that it is Friday and today is no exception.  The weeks are just flying by!  :-)

In my life/homeschool this week: Kiddos had piano and guitar lessons on Monday.  They really are progressing quite well.

The question I had today was do you think this is a good enough reason not to put away laundry?  I thought it was, lol!

I also posted about our weekend here in a post called "Make Life Meaningful Monday."

On Tuesday, while Kiddos 1 and 2 worked on their history and Algebra, Kiddos 3 and 4 worked on book reports, synonym and antonym matching cards and learned more about marsupials in their Zoology study.

I also posted my "Try a New Recipe Tuesday" linkup.  There were dozens of delicious recipes posted this week.  Come and see them here.

On Wednesday, we continued our bird study.  We try to photograph a different bird each day, research about the species and then notebook about what we have learned.

We also played a game I made called "Bird Bingo."  It was a fun way to reinforce our knowledge of the different species we have studied so far.

I posted more photos of our Bingo here.

Thursday was a busy day, including schoolwork and haircuts.  Kiddo #4 also had her sewing lesson.  She finished a tote bag that seriously looks like it was professionally made.  I know I am biased, but it is really beautiful with two side pockets and a zippered section in front.  She is really doing so well!  She is making her daddy a special father's day gift next.  Can't say what it is, lol, but promise to post pics in a couple of weeks.  :-)

I also posted my reflections on the D-Day anniversary for my Thankful Thursday post.

What I'm reading: finishing up "31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha house the Mary Way" and "A Mother's Rule of Life"

What I'm praying for: those who are ill, suffering, out of work, our nation.....

A quote or photo to share: My husband took this amazing photo of a dragonfly

Linking up with Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly-Wrap Up.

Thankful Thursday- June 7

June 6, 1944.  Not many people today know why the day is significant or why we should be so thankful.  Perhaps it got 30 seconds on the news.  I noticed that the newspaper gave a small blurb on page 5.

We lost more men on that one day than in the last 8 years in the war on terrorism.  That is so staggering to try to imagine.  The courage, valor and bravery demonstrated that day on the beaches of France is something we should always remember.  What those young men endured and how tragically so many of them died to defeat a madman should resonate within every American's heart and soul. 

This is the legacy that has been passed to each generation since our Founding Fathers defeated a tyrant in the 18th century-- that freedom is not free, that it is something worth fighting for.....worth dying for.  To love the ideals upon which this nation was founded more than life itself is what makes a real hero, not being a sports figure, or a celebrity.  I read an email today that said, "real heroes don't wear capes; they wear dogtags."  How true.

Let us never forget D-Day.  I am grateful for the enormous sacrifice that was made for me by the soldiers of the past and present.  May God bless them all.....

 

Joining with Theresa at Red Oak Lane for her Thankful Thursday linkup.