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P365 – Day 47 (Co-Op & Friends)

This is NOT David’s birthday blog. This is my daily Project 365 posting (slightly behind since it’s Friday’s set of pictures). Just wanted to clarify things as I’m not going to post any pictures of David’s day of birthday celebrating.

We had a busy day of homeschooling co-op. I am teaching three classes for co-op this semester. Rachel is in two of my classes, Sarah, Daniel and Joshua one (but not the same one) and David none. Rachel has made some new friends this semester and is thoroughly enjoying them. The friendship is new but the family is not – we’ve both been at the co-op for several years. I guess the girls haven’t overlapped classes prior to this semester. How pleasant to discover some new friends.

In one of my classes we’re going through the Young Peace Makers curriculum in one class. I am co-teaching with a great homeschooling mom. She and I take turns each week preparing and presenting the different lessons. We have both been surprised at how much the kids enjoy participating in the class. Much of the teaching is done through skits and charades. The students LOVE this and beg for parts in the mini-plays. The first thing they say as we come to class is “Are we going to be doing any acting today??” Here is a pictures of Rachel working on the Bible verse of the week.

Rachel in class

After co-op we brought our poor, vehicle-less friends home with us. The grown-ups played a game of Citadels. Tim was off work so he joined us.

citadels

At this point I should note the winner of the day’s game – ME!! Yes, I know normally I would be too modest to mention this fact but I just had to point it out. Oh, I guess I did happen to sneak in “mention” of my win in another blog or two. That is the prerogative of being the writer of the blog (or blogger) – you can report the important facts as need be. With this group of cut-throat players, you have to grab whatever win you can. We won’t go into the fact that two of the players were totally new to the game and the other fact that we didn’t really finish the game (ran out of time) so I only sort of won. Hmmm, that seriously detracts from my great victory but if I conceal those two little tidbits my lovely dh (desiring to keep this blog honest and me humble) would certainly post a comment or two giving the ‘bigger picture.’

Back to the afternoon’s events. David told me that he really wanted some new soldiers for his birthday (we won’t go into the fact that we already have hundreds of those little soldiers – I guess none of them were David’s so he wanted his own collection. Sigh). Tim surprised David with a package of soldiers at co-op. Daniel, David and Adam played some complicated game involving the new soldiers and various cannons. They stopped long enough to pose for a few pictures.

they look innocentheap of soldiers

Rachel and Abby also had an army of soldiers set up in Rachel’s room. Their game, however, involved dolls and a castle. The soldiers were body guards of some sort, I would imagine.

rachel and abby

Downstairs the little ones ran around being cute. Really, is much more expected of them?

sarah, elise and issac

A busy Friday (why do I feel like I use the word “busy” a LOT in my blogs??).

Kathy

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P365 – Day 46 (Friends and Fun)

We had a busy day on Thursday. School and cleaning in the morning (the kids did school, I did the cleaning). Around lunch time we went and picked up some friends who had their car in the shop. The kids were thrilled to have playmates come over in the middle of the day. Sarah and Elise dressed up in the wonderful animal costumes.

sarah and elise

We enjoyed lunch together and some visiting. Sarah and Elise have a sweet friendship. Fun to watch four year olds enjoy each other. What do you think they whisper?

sarah and elise

Later in the afternoon Tim’s parents came by with an offer to see Charlotte’s Web at the theater. They took the children while I dropped our friends back at home. I met up with the group and was tickled to see we had the entire theater to ourselves. “David,” I quickly exclaimed, “we rented the whole place out for your birthday!” What a fun treat!! We sat in one big row and thoroughly enjoyed the movie.

theater to ourselves

I enjoyed the slow, easy pace of Charlotte’s Web. It reminded me of movies from a gentler time. Lol! There was lots of humor which had us all laughing. Tim met us afterwards and swooped off the children to go buy presents for David’s birthday. David and I went home and fixed dinner. We were delighted to have Tim’s parents come over and join us for dinner.

movie

I had a meeting in the evening so Joshua made the cupcakes for David’s co-op class. How fun to have his birthday fall on a co-op Friday. Joshua was a tremendous help and worked on decorating the house. Rachel made a sign for the stairs and Joshua put up streamers. I fixed a cherry French toast casserole for breakfast. It was a mixture of cobbler (had an oatmeal, crumb topping) and French Toast casserole (egg, milk and cubed bread). Looked very promising.

Friday we will say Happy Birthday to David!!

Kathy

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P365 – Day 42 (4 Kids in Red)

This is my blog from Sunday. I couldn’t post it because the link I was pointing too wasn’t ready (trouble loading pictures). Better late than never .

On Sunday there was a benefit concert for The Refuge (Olympic Mountain Retreat and Conference Center) by pianist, Diana Walker. The children were asked to help – Daniel and David handed out bulletins and Sarah and Rachel presented Mrs. Walker with flowers after her beautiful performance of Beethoven’s Sonatas.

daniel and grandpa

daniel

david

Of course, the true treat of the day was the delectable feast Tim’s mother (and a few friends) put on for the reception. You can see the children are barely containing themselves.

give me some food

Are they praying or preying??

please

Please, may we have some MORE!!

It really was a beautiful concert ending in a delicious collection of desserts. It has been almost two years since I went off sugar and this feast about sent me diving off the deep end, into a plate (or two or three or four) of chocolate. Yum! This picture is still incomplete – there are 3 or 4 more dishes that have yet to be added. I counted 34 platters full of scrumptious sweet somethings by the time the reception began. True sugary heaven!

dessert

Tim managed to get a sweet picture of the children sitting outside the chapel. Joshua was off at a middle school retreat so he’s missing from the Cute Kids in Red picture.

cutie pies

You can read the blog by Tim’s folks (they are the builders/directors of the retreat center) for more information and pictures about The Refuge. www.olympicrefuge.org

Kathy
P.S. Thursday’s blog will have to wait for another day. I’ve run out of computer time for the evening.

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P365 – Day 45 (Happy Valentine’s Day)

The other day my 5 year old (6 on Friday) asked why the movie we were watching was so “romantic.” I think it was Calamity Jane (known for it’s high romance) and the main characters were sharing a kiss. Thankfully Tim jumped in with an answer about how God loves us so much and the greatest thing He gives us is His love. He told David that God created us to love Him and care about love. One way we learn about God and His love for us is by loving other people. Love is so important to the Lord that He lets us participate in it as well.

David waits

David is VERY eager to open presents!

David seemed to accept this and we finished the movie. As I thought about this Valentine’s Day blog I reflected on romance, love and the greatest gift of ever – Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us on the cross. Not exactly the stuff of flowers and candy but how much more life-changing.

sarah book presents

Sarah sits amidst presents and school books.

Tim and I have stolen a Valentine’s Day tradition from my parents. When I was growing up my dad would always give a card and gifts to the girls in the family and my mom would buy treats for the boys. I loved being included in the holiday. My dad made me feel special, like his sweetheart. I was tickled to share the day with my mom.

valentine's day presents

A table full of gifts!

Today we had a Valentine’s Day lunch. After the meal Tim and I gave presents to the children. It was fun. Of course, I wish I was more organized. I didn’t have cards for any of the children. I bought the boys gifts at Walgreens (while they were waiting in the car no less – I managed to hide them). I didn’t have anything fancy for lunch or breakfast. Wednesdays are busy (that’s my excuse) but then life is busy. We did have pink pancakes for supper but they weren’t heart shaped (like Emily’s in FL – awesome Valentine’s Day breakfast, Em, and lovely decorations).

sarah's present

Sarah learns early on that the small boxes are often the most valuable.

I don’t know. Life seems to be full of small moments that add up to a large tapestry of memories. The big holidays are just one of the many threads. In some ways our Valentine’s Day celebrations probably won’t be so powerful in our children’s minds because Tim and I are both ‘present buying people’ (if there is such a thing). We celebrate Bonus Day and Special Birthdays and Traveling Day (treats for the backpacks when we fly), Back to School Day and so on. When I buy curriculum I usually add in a present or two for the children. Nothing extravagant – just little things here and there – but it does possibly detract from grander celebrations.

joshua's present

Joshua is laughing because we forgot to take his picture and this one is “staged.” Get working on that math, young man!

It has been endearing to see the children develop the spiritual gift of generosity themselves. They love to give presents and think quickly of how they can bless others. At Christmas they bought for each other and friends far and wide. David’s birthday is on Friday and the other children are worried since they haven’t had the chance to go shopping for him yet.

david's presents

A flashlight and chocolates, does it get any better than that?

This evening, instead of a romantic dinner for two (or even a fun family dinner for seven), Tim and Rachel went to church to serve a meal to the Prime Timers (seniors). I stopped by and was able to see the 5th and 6th graders in action. It was lovely watching the older and younger generations mingle. I’m not sure who was serving whom and just who was really doing the ‘ministering’ this evening but it was a beautiful picture of another type of Valentine’s Day love.

rachel's present

Pink Indian Girl

Tim’s parents came by earlier this week with a bag full of Valentine’s Day presents. The kids were thrilled with their bag of goodies. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa, you spoil us!

grma's presents

group shot

daniel

It was a lovely Valentine’s Day. Maybe next year I’ll have those cards ready and a special dinner all prepared.

Or maybe not.

Either way I am thankful that the Lord has brought Tim and these beautiful children into my life to teach me about love. And I am eternally grateful for His love.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Kathy

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P365 – Day 44 (Worms)

Motherhood is unpredictable. There are moments of great joy in the midst of absolute craziness. Motherhood also provides a hilarity that borders on insanity (surely no one else would ever think these moments are anywhere near funny). At times you never know what is going to come out of the mouths of your dear children. Today one of my precious little imps came into the kitchen and informed us that she and her partner in crime, I mean discovery, had found a “family of worms.”

sarah closeup

“We found a whole family. A mama and a papa and a baby.”

Ah the joys of raising little explorers.

innocent

They look innocent, don’t they.

A short time later the other animal lover came in to report on the situation.

David--worm man

“Well, I smashed a worm. It was the daddy.” The rest of us looked on in a mixture of horror and amusement.

The gentle assistant came along and quickly informed us, “It wasn’t the mama.”

“Oh good,” we chorused. The papa must have been considered a combatant. It brings to mind a line from an old movie, True Lies, where the wife asks her husband, whom she has just discovered to be a secret operative, “Have you ever killed anyone?” and he, treated with truth drugs, responds, “Yes, but they were ALL bad.” No doubt the papa was one of those “bad” worms that spoil the rest of the bunch.

Obviously it was time to take a break from school and survey the damage. A healer was rushed to the scene but it was too late for the family of worms. They were buried underneath a pile of rocks. “To keep them from being taken away by the birds,” we were told.

daniel and sarah

looking closeryuck

Tune in with us next time as we share more precious moments.

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