Lunar Eclipse & Dance-Sing-Piano Time

Studying eclipses quite some time ago we had previously bookmarked the link for NASA and marked the dates on our calendars for this years Lunar and Solar Eclipses, nearly forgetting to check what time it would be happening tonight we were happy to get a reminder email from Grandpa. Night came and about 11:45pm Momma went to go wake the two kids- our daughter mumbled not getting up- too tired...our son promptly got on his robe and said let's go...he used my camera and took a picture although with not a great camera and the moon so very far away all we got was a bright circle in the midst of dark black background but he was still very happy to capture the moment. We watched for a few minutes then he laid on the couch asking me to wake him when the whole thing was red/orange...waking him he exclaimed 'Wow'- he said it was much better in person that the pictures in his books or the video's we saw online then he said he wanted to return to bed. Yes- what an experience- his first time viewing a Lunar eclipse.

Our son's photo-

Picture below taken from video here: footage-of-rare-blood-moon - Weather.com

In the eve before the eclipse excitement, we spent the time with home made pizza and a movie - Happy Feet 2...afterwards we all danced, sang loudly and our son and I replayed a song from the movie below and found the keys on the piano, playing along with the music as our daughter sang and laughed.

And then our son ripped out the dance moves to the ending song...and it became too much for our daughter exclaiming 'you guys' as she giggled even more! Its fun just to let loose, dance, sing, be crazy happy together!

An end to a great day- singing, dancing and sharing in a wonderful new experience seeing the lunar eclipse.

Weekending...Family Church Outdoors

Saturday found us mostly inside, catching up on chores, venturing to Target for a little wandering....us girls being silly trying on sunglasses, hats and scarfs and our son looking at beach toys.

Today, Sunday morning, asking to go to the water again I thought it a great idea- so I packed up our bible, snacks, bottled waters and toys and we headed to the water. Their Dad being extra tired still trying to get into the groove of a new job slept, in a few weeks once settled we'll try heading back to church as a family and see if its do-able while on this shift- otherwise just another 7 weeks and he'll adjust to another new shift that may work best for attending Sunday morning service. But for now, even if we don't praise God in a church on Sunday, we certainly live each day with God and teach our children about his love. So at the sandy shores we laid out on our blanket and before play the kids laid and listened as I read from the bible...the kids choose to focus on Easter, being that its next week...we read about Passover, and we read about the Crucifixion and we read about Jesus rising again on that 3rd day, Easter Sunday. Our son drew in the sand as I read...he drew the cross and Jesus on it, he drew the tomb with the stone in front...and then he drew it moved to the side. As I finished reading, we talked for a few minutes, about sins, about forgiveness, about love and about faith.........

.....and then we played in the water for the remainder of the morning together.

 Happy Weekending to all, may you find a moment for praise and prayer and teaching of Gods word.

Laying Hens & Lake Time

Upon our usual morning rounds outdoors, feeding, watering, holding, caring for, cleaning up after...our son found two little surprises from our 4 month old hens...eggs! The first eggs they've laid since we got them as new little day old chicklets. Being their very first eggs, they are slightly smaller than a regular bantam egg but will get bigger- our son laid out previously saved and blown out- Regular size chicken egg, regular sized bantam egg and then both of these first eggs to compare the sizes...

 After hard work of chores were done and all the animals were happy, momma caught up on some computer work while the kids both read books and patiently waited to go on our afternoon adventure...a picnic trip to the lake. Thinking the water would be warmer than the river we were wrong...by next month it should be a little more comfortable. At this point for our daughter and I up to our knee's was quite far enough..but our son doesn't seem to have a temperature gauge and was fine up into his belly with no complaints! We ate lunch, sunbathed, played in the sand, talked, played frisbee and catch with the football. It was a wonderful afternoon and only missing one thing..daddy- he messaged to say let's go again on Tuesday on his day off- Perfect- that sounds like a wonderful plan!

 And this momma who lately has little time to read and is missing it dove into "Growing A Farmer"..a light read with farm humor about choosing a tractor, thinking you are going to cut down 8 acres of weeds by hand, big dreams and living off the land, growing your own food and starting a small business. Light, funny and inspirational.

Into the weekend we come...typing this the sun is rising as the children are sleeping and I'm enjoying a steaming hot cup of coffee and enjoying the quiet of the house...the crow of the roosters and the soft nuzzling of a pup at my feet.

Thursday - Another River Picnic

Picnic at the River for the 2nd day in a row...I think so! Soaking up the gorgeous sun, cooling off in the cold river and checking out duck friends...chatting, reading and playing. A beautiful day.

{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. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Linking to Soule Mama

Outdoor Schooling - Catch up Wednesday

Wednesdays are always an adjustment...dad going back to work...us going back to our somewhat normal schooling routine..I also take more time off on Mondays and Tuesdays from work so that we can all be together as a family so there's much to catch up on by Wednesday. But that's the beauty of homeschooling and working from home- the flexibility- we make our own schedules. Kids were up really early - the baby roosters who are now nearly grown are crowing quite proficiently now- so every morning- even before the sun comes up there they go- an alarm going off and its noisy. 6 roo's outside in the yard in pens- yeah I'm sure our neighbors none of which have chickens much less roosters just love us to death! But we love them. One little boy even surprised us by jumping up on top of the chicken nesting house which just so happens to be an old doll house and claiming that as her crowing perch- quite comical as this is the tiniest guy of the bunch (they are all bantams). Enough about the chickens....after our morning animal chore ritual our daughter got caught up on her voice lessons she takes online and her Japanese lessons. Our son and I read about Bugs and building Bug Houses then we decided to go on a 'field' trip before diving into a science experiment we found. So we let Sis finish her lessons, she packed up her conversational Japanese book and he packed a bag complete with nature study book, pencils, magnify glass, bug box, bug book, gloves, tweezers, baggies- all prepared to hunt out some buggies. We ventured to the river- it was the most beautiful day. We sat on a blanket, feet in the sand, in the cool water- we read, we talked, we played.

 Getting home we ate lunch together then went back to E is for Explore website - solar-energy-balloon-blow-up experiment. We have been studying all types of electricity and power this year and so we pulled out our How Things Work book and read about Solar Power once again before doing this experiment.

 After reading about a 'Bug Box' that was partly made by bamboo shoots- he collected some at the river and brought them home to cut and use in his project.

 More bug reading...this one had some very interesting and disgusting facts. The kids both were saying 'eww' multiple times...

 The afternoon wrapped up with our daughter laying in bed immersed in a book while I gave our son a piano lesson from my old beginner books as a child. Even though he can play by ear he has made the decision that he wants to know how to read music well...so that is what we've been doing for about a week so far- a lesson a day. He is doing well- he is very patient, a good listener and smart....I'm a proud momma.

 A beautiful day- outdoors and indoors getting caught up on this Wednesday!

A Week gone By - Crafting, Reading, Fishing

I can finally say that this week is starting out feeling normal once again! Hubbie is feeling well, the kids are feeling well, everyone is healthy, happy and rested from illnesses. Last Friday we even ventured with friends to the park, had an outing to the library. Over the weekend we worked hard on animal chores- divided one of our large chicken pens in two making room for other birds and started to spring clean/deep clean the house. Yesterday on dad's day off we enjoyed a lazy day, raking in the yard, watching a movie, cooking dinner together, daddy showing his son how to clean a pistol and teaching him about the cleaning materials/brushes then playing video games with his daughter in the eve while this momma caught up on some computer work. There is nothing better than hearing happy children's voices enjoying time spent with their daddy- his days off are much cherished around this house! Today, this morning we set off to go fishing, explore, enjoy the sun, the beautiful day together, have a picnic lunch then prep the house and materials for 4H meeting in our home tonight with friends.

Over last weekend...we made cinnamon muffins for breakfast, our daughter found a bow tutorial and crafted and our son and I started his bug books and explored the yard then he played outdoors while this momma enjoyed the sunshine, reading two books checked out from the library.

 Sheep/Goats...someday...but for now just reading.

 Today...some studies before heading out to fish.

 Happy chickens.

 Perfect fishing weather.

Happy Spring beautiful week to ALL! Hope it finds you outdoors exploring and soaking up that sunshine!