Outdoors

What is it about swinging that sets you free, makes you feel like you can do anything. Feet swaying in the wind as you hold on, breeze through your face and hair, seeming to go so very high to the sky yet coming back down to ground your feet on the floor. While our daughter went to a friends house to swim for the day my son and I had a day together- gymnastics, lunch and the park. Asking me to swing with him, I joined him and we both swung quietly....listening, watching, relaxing, enjoying. Then all of the sudden ginormous bursts of laughter erupted from him as he found if he leaned back a little, the wind caught his pants and filled them with air, blowing them up. His laugh is contagious and I couldn't help but join and laugh as well- each time the pants blew up, his laughter erupted even louder. Such simple things amuse. Some times as adults we need to just let go and laugh at these simple things- the laughter sets your soul free, lightens everything going on around you.

Pure enjoyment with my son.

The weather was so beautiful as the sun began to go down, so we spent the eve outside. The kids drew pictures while I worked on some paperwork, and we all talked, laughed and enjoyed being outdoors. They took turns between climbing the tree, playing tag and drawing pictures.

We marveled at how the farmers work so quickly on the fields next door- last night they were barely bailed and this morn, the entire field was complete with bails covering the land. It never gets old watching them work.

To more glorious weather so that more outdoor adventures can be had.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Linking to Soule Mama

Ice Skating!

So, we told the kids for their congrats on completing the school year, their first full year home schooling, they could choose any outing/activity they wanted and we'd do it as a family. They decided on ice skating. So we all headed to the rink today for fun. It was a blast, not only for the kids but for myself and hubbie as well. What a joy to see the kids pick it up so quickly, both kids haven't skated for 4 years or so...and our son was so little that I held him up most of the time, this time he was skating on his own by the end and our daughter only spent a few minutes on the wall then skated freely and happily the rest of the time. 

A great family day spent together.

Homeschool Corner, Bathroom Bunnies, Water Fun

 Today was a productive day, we worked hard taking care of the animals, cleaning cages, scrubbing down everything, sweeping and both kids were so very helpful. There were no complaints in this house today. Then we headed out to the Library and park, had a picnic lunch and came home to work a bit more on our daughters homeschool corner. Now that our 'year' has unofficially ended, it is time for a new, and to start fresh- so we are 'making over' their little corners to prepare for some Summer studies and next years learning.

Our Daughter's Homeschool Corner..in progress

Our daughter's has tons of color, material and thread, animal pictures and is coming along nicely, all the way she wants, decorating it herself.

Bathroom Bunnies...YES Bunnies are IN the bathroom

 The heat is insane and we just can't keep up, so everyone moved inside...everyone meaning the rabbits and cavies. Cavies are in the kids rooms as well as our old boy bunny 'Jet' and the rest of the 4 bun's are in the bathroom and shower in the kids bathroom. Funny yes, a little crazy sure, but we want to make sure they are well taken care of, comfortable and not over heating this Summer.

Entrance to the bathroom....one bun sits on the cabinet

 3 more buns in the shower area

 View of them all, works nicely, so we can deal for a few months till its cool enough to get them back outside!

 Weekly Library Trip

We made out!!

Inspired by a friend, our son checked out several Origami books. Our Summer is going to kick off with reading Robin Hood as a family, and our son has a huge interest in bows and arrows, so we are going to learn how to make our own, and all make them- our daughter even thought this sounded fun and wants to join in on the story time and bow/arrow making! Awesome! Some history books, fun and more in depth reading for our daughter and I always love to make out on cheap for sale magazines and books when we are there too! Got a few history dvd's for $2.00 and a few Time magazines for $0.10! Can't beat that deal!

 Spray Park Time

 And a little reading and relaxing for Momma! Finding awesome recipes and reading about homesteading, listening to my children laugh and play...ahhh my kind of day.

Tomorrow we venture ice skating for our 'end of the year' family party just the four of us, then its off to Ballet class this week along with 4H with friends. Busy but fun. We'll also be working on getting the now fast growing ducklings into a new enclosure as well!

Hope this week finds you well, finds you happy and finds you loving life.

A Blessed Moment....

Take care that every moment of each day is precious, to be remembered, to be lived in fully. I believe that's one of the greatest things that has changed about myself since we moved out of state to a slower paced life. That stop and smell the roses has really awoken in me. Although I pursued this in our busy past life it was more difficult as the city had a way of pushing even when I was trying to stand still.

On our visit to Cali, we had a morning at the park. I love to run on the playground, swing on the swings, play tag and explore with both my children- but on this day, they both were so engaged with new friends I was able to take a quiet moment just to sit, to be, to watch.

With no older children at the park, several little girls who exclaimed to be 3, 4 and 5 took interest in my 12 nearly 13 year old daughter. A few years back her attitude may have been slightly different, to be annoyed or disinterested, but growing up more so now and being a part of our home school community where age does not limit us, have any boundaries and everyone is the same, she gladly accepted these young girls friendship and taught them, led them, encouraged them.

What a blessed moment to see her in this role. 

Be thankful and take to heart all of the blessing you have each day.

Plant Viewer, Duckling Fun, Car Check for Road Trip

Last week went by in a flash, only home for Monday and Tuesday then we traveled most of Wednesday, spent two nights at my parents, the kids grandparents house and were back on the road on Friday by lunch time. Always wish these trips lasted longer, but we are truly looking forward to our June trip in which we'll be staying a week or so. Hopefully with some more time it won't feel so quick, go by so fast or leave us missing every one as much! Even short, we love and cherish all the time and moments we get with our family.

Plant Viewer

Before heading out on our mini vacation, we did a little indoor 'gardening', using a Plant Viewer bought a while back.  The instructions were easy and our son was able to follow them and do this project with minimal help.  He really liked that it came with a chart to chart the growth of the plants. Science is one of his loves, anything he can really get hands on with.

Duckling Fun!

We can not get over how much these little ducklings have grown each day, each week. They are full of personality and so much fun. We have begun to put together idea's on enclosures and where they will move soon once too big for their plastic tub which currently houses them! 

 I love the pure enjoyment they bring my children, I love the expressions on my kids faces...

Car Check, Boy Time

I hold high appreciation for my husband who can fix just about anything and if he doesn't know how, he'll find out. My son, following in daddy's footsteps- quickly getting on his shoes yelling out 'wait for me' when daddy went to check my car out before our road trip. I couldn't help snap just a few pictures as I listened to my son ask questions about the parts, what they were going to do and how everything worked.  While listening I felt a warmth in my heart knowing that my husband's dad, recently passed would be so proud, would be smiling and if he was here, would be right there helping and being with my two boys. 

Now rested from our quick trip, we look forward to spending the week, taking care of some errands, heading to the library, planning a lake trip and learning together. 

We unofficially are saying this is our last week of school- next week we will be heading out of town to go ice skating for the day and out to lunch for an end of the year party just us and the kids, but our learning as always will continue year round, throughout the summer we will play, read, and learn as well go on vacation, visit family and have fun!

 

Our Week: Art, Snacks, Water Time

Snippets from our week...

This week was easy going yet extremely productive in schooling, learning and enjoying life. 

The kids missed their daddy, as did I, my husband as he was out of town for most the week but we kept him in our thoughts and prayers as he spent the week amongst family, burying his eldest sister.

Some proud moments of the week....
* Our son has an amazing grasp on his multiplication tables with only a few explanations, once a few months ago then again this week, he's got his 1, 2, 3's down. So very proud he enjoys math so much.
* Our daughter received her 'ARBA' (American Rabbit Breeders Association)(for Rabbits and Cavies) Member card in the mail this week that she paid for with her own money she won for showing her animals. She also received an awesome study book- she was so proud to check off step 1 on her list to get her closer to becoming a Cavy Judge. She is adamant about studying, learning and clerking for judges at as many shows as she can. I am so proud and love to see her excitement and passion for animals.
* We went to youth group again this week and I'm so proud that my son felt more at home, more comfortable and that his sister was so positive and encouraging towards him, and praising him. A mother always praises, but its something truly special when your sibling praises you as well and this he soaked up and was beaming from!

Art

Both children love art, drawing, painting, being creative. I enjoy it just as much as them. This week with our daughter checking out multiple crafting and painting books from the library we embarked on water color painting as well as a paper mache project that is still in progress....The kids water color art, to be displayed on our mantel as we took down all our of Easter decor and the kids decided it should be an 'Earth', Plant, and Nature decor instead. This coming week they'll paint their paper mache projects.

Snacks

With so much wonderful fruit from our weekly basket, we had great smoothies this week- the kids all time favorite so far- Orange Juice, Banana, Pinnacle, Mango- YUM. So this week, afternoon snacks were kettle corn and smoothies!

Water Time

Beautiful weather, sunshine, not too hot with a light breeze- we did light morning studies, some reading and some math then packed ourselves up for a few hour trip to the water. We were the only family there, but there were a decent amount of boats in and out. The kids paddled around, working on their swim strokes, playing then my son made a 'rock shop' and sifted, cleaning rocks and had his sister and I be the customers as my daughter attempted to build a huge 'bath' of sorts to warm the water! Enjoying some mommy reading time, and playing with the kids time it was a joyous day for us all in the sun.

Next week, we venture to California, see family, see animals and relax. Then we have unofficially one more week of school left and we will celebrate with the children the completion of their year home schooling....of course just like last summer the learning never ends and we will have plenty of learning and adventures throughout the summer until we unofficially say again its the start of a brand new school year.