fall trip to the zoo

Granted these pictures are a bit dated but I just got them off my dad's camera. The last one makes me laugh. It seems like no matter how old my youngest gets he still takes every chance to investigate. Its his curiosity that gets him into trouble most days. Here, as you can see, I am intervening BEFORE he jumps in the tank with the diver to help clean.

days long ago

When Greg and I were younger and without kids we use to frequent a restaurant/pub called McGlinns. Every Wednesday they would have a live jazz band and singer. Our favorite menu items were the beer bread and fresh pressed apple cider. Ever since then I have been on the look out for the perfect beer bread recipe. Last week Greg found it. It was so tasty I had to share it with you!! click to view

beach day

We have had the sickies at our house for quite a while, my girl was feeling friend deprived so we snatched up two of the Dante' kids and headed for the beach....germs don't spread on the beach right?! It was so nice that the wind was not blowing and the sun stuck around. All five ran and ran.

haiku Tuesday

three silly kids play

happy to see some sunshine

bath tub filled with dirt

click for Kristen

some fun things

My girl- "unca Dan!! Its the greatest day of my life! I got a mandolin strap AND a case!"

Music and kids

Every other night the kids hop into my Dad's closet and pull out all his instruments. He is a collector of sorts and has accumulated quite the orchestra pit. Its a lot of noise...but through it my girl has finally found something that fits her. A mandolin. She wanted to play the guitar (a bit big) violin (urgh the noise....*eyes crossed*) and then tried at banjo. She settled on the mandolin. Why? Well, its tiny and jumpy and exciting just like her. Thomas is still wavering between a few different choices, Mr. Steel on the other hand is all about the trumpet.

Loud Loud Loud Loud Loud.

If you have ever spend time around him you would know the trumpet is just the right pick for him. I can handle a trumpet more than a set of drums. You hear that dad....NO DRUMS. 
 Thomas will probably settle on the violin because he of all the kids is able to make a sound that doesn't resemble a cat being strangled by monkey.

  Music is fun, important and relaxing.

 Who cares if they get to the professional level. I only care that they have the ability to enjoy the gift for years to come. For my 17th birthday my parents bought me the banjo I own today. Regardless of the fact banjo music is...well....corny, It gives me joy. I like to sit down in the evenings and plunk on it after my kids are in bed.

Haiku Tuesday

Countdown starts today

packing, moving, a new outlook

we are all so changed

click for kristen

special time

My kids love their mommy movie nights. At least once a month I keep a kid up later than the others and we do nails and watch an old movie. Last night my girl and I watched the old parent trap. It was fun to revisit a classic.  I love family traditions. This was one of the first for us. My girl and I have been having mommy movie nights since she was two. My parents use to wake us up in the dead of night to be pulled in the sled on a walk or watch a meteor shower. My sister takes her kids to town. What do you do?

So there is this thing

Everyone has a bucket list of sorts. Mine has the attainable and the unattainable on it. This year I am hoping to complete one of the easy ones in order to have that feeling of accomplishment again. My three things to decide between are as follows; taking up painting again, working on my writing skills (rather resurrecting them) or playing my banjo at a professional level. Decisions decisions, any thoughts?

origin

The kids decided where we all came from after Greg casually mentioned that Mr. Steel had been raised by wolves.

My girl- wild monkey princesses
Thomas-evil scientist
me-flowers (so glad since my breath usually smells like coffee stink ;)

homeschool vs brick and morter

This is my third year homeschooling. It sounds like a great accomplishment, but really I have been cheating and doing it through the state. Okay, not cheating, just staying accountable. This year was my first to do all the kids at once. Academically the ORVA program is fantastic and free. Usually we have no problem keeping up with it but this year has been a bit harder. My girl is struggling with her spelling and needs a change. If it takes her a month on one spelling list so be it. With public school pressing on is more important. Getting through the lessons is priority. It took me a bit of prayer to decide to go rogue next month and truly home school. We will technically be living in our house 'full time' by then. That state tends to be more sympathetic to homeschoolers. What happens if I hate it or the kids need something else? I am keeping my options and my eyes open. When we visited the cousins this month my girl got the opportunity to attend class with her cousin. She had so much fun. If only I could have been a fly on the wall in that classroom. Betcha she didn't flop on the table and say, "I don't know hoooowww (sad face sad face)" If my girl needs to be in a class room with a teacher to succeed will I trust God to take care of her? God has placed the need to pray for guidance on my heart. Only He knows what will happen in the coming year. All I know is this year I am embracing the challenges that I face instead of ignoring them until they go away.

haiku Tuesday

 dead, cold, still, quiet

springtime is so far ahead 

unearth your beauty!

 click for Kristen

cousin fun

1-1-11 so fun

Yes its true, I am up at camp again. Its the old home away from home for me. These past two or three years we have bumped up our regularity of coming in order to soak up every precious moment with family members we cherish and love. Why? Greg's grandparents are growing old. Each year we can hear Gods voice calling them louder and each year we beg for just one more season. This month marks eleven years of knowing them. Greg brought me up to the snow and ice in his beat up Toyota truck and I fell in love. Not just with him. God showed me people who loved and accepted me just where I was, without knowing me. They welcomed me into the family with stories and hugs. It was easy with them. Now eleven years later I treasure every bit of it. The time grandma thought I found it acceptable to have food fights in the lodge (chuckle) the time grandpa slipped and said he loved me on the phone (its a biggie with him) the times I woke up to find them hunkered down in their chairs watching the sun come up. I could not have imagine a better gift.
  Okay enough with the sap. On this trip we have experienced COLD weather. -1 all the way up to 15 degrees. Mr. steel got nipped by frost. Many tears were shed. Although the temperatures are balmy the six cousins all rush outside to sled down the hill and play without halting. Not even frozen hair could stop my girls enthusiasm. Bren (2) has been run over several times by the sleds and simply brushes himself off and keeps at it. Got to love a third child. The drama level is greatly reduced. My sister and I have yet to spend time alone together, but we are taking in the fun by racing up and down the hill. I better go now, I have several kiddos who need a helping hand with the layers upon layers of snow gear.