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For the second year in a row, seven-year-old Alexandria is a published book reviewer! Her three book reviews came out today in the San Francisco Book Review’s Children’s Book Week. Here’s the link:
http://1776productions.com/docs/SFBR_May2012.pdf
Alexandria’s reviews are on pages:
Friends Forever 2: Page 29
Dinosaur World: Page 30
Dinosaur Pet: Page 33
I also have a few reviews in this month’s issues:
In the King’s Name, pages 14-15
The Homeschool Experiment: A Novel: Page 18
The Art of Duke Hunting: Page 93
The Scandalous Countess: Page 94
I am so proud of my little writer! She’s proud of herself too. She treasures last year’s copy of the paper and was really excited to see herself in this year’s issue. Not only did she get three new books, but it was the perfect opportunity to practice writing skills. These book reviews made up more than one school lesson. I’m hoping she can continue to do this for years to come. It’ll look great on her college application one day to have been writing book reviews since kindergarten!
Check out Alex’s reviews and let her know what you think! 
May 3, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Book review, homeschool, Kids Book Reviews, Literary criticism, San Francisco, San Francisco Book Reviews | Leave A Comment »
Two years ago today, we welcomed a baby girl into this world. She was induced so that she could meet her daddy just before he left for a long deployment. I was scared about raising her alone. I didn’t know how I would survive a caring for a newborn with no help… and three older kids to care for. I remember that when we found out we were expecting, I was terrified. The pregnancy was certainly not expected. Our first deployment as a family was right around the corner and the timing couldn’t have been worse. Who would be there when I had the baby? Who would help me out if I had to have a c-section? It was a big deal. Do you know what is amazing? Looking back, it wasn’t that big of a deal after all. I looked at it as a hurdle to conquer…. when in reality it was a gift. Bella has grown into a beautiful, sassy, smart, creative, and VERY energetic little girl and I can’t imagine life without her. There were moments of intense frustration, but there were many more moments of joy, amazement, and bliss. If this isn’t a lesson to leave things in God’s hands, I don’t know what is. There isn’t anything you can’t do. There isn’t anything that is impossible or too hard. If you let God take charge, it will be just fine.
I need to remind myself of this daily. I am a planner and a worry wart. It’s hard to let go and not know what will happen next. I think that’s part of growing up and developing spiritually. Sometimes a challenge is actually a gift in disguise, and sometimes that gift comes wrapped in pink ruffles and a diaper. 
Today our little lady turns two. She’s a handful, but she’s one of the most loving little girls I know. She loves to he held (on her terms) and adores her baby dolls. She loves frilly dresses and digging in the mud. She never stops moving and has a whole lot to say. Bella was the perfect child to finish off our family and I thank God every day that things worked out as they did.
Say a little prayer
What have I learned in the process? It’s not impossible to survive deployments (and all the workups!). It’s hard, but not impossible. I learned to be fiercely independent and to do things for myself. I became a better mother. I learned to have more patience and to appreciate my kids more. I learned to search for strength from within– and from God– when things get tough and how to fix practically anything.
Hubby can’t share this big day with us, but that’s okay too. We’re a family no matter where he is. I’ve learned to be more flexible and to accept that sometimes things don’t work out exactly as I’d like. I was miffed when I found out he’d miss her birthday, but learned to accept it. There’s no point being mad at Hubby for things he can’t control. We’ll celebrate with the great friends we have here and know Hubby’s celebrating from afar. There will be many more birthdays where he’ll be home, I’m sure. Plus we can celebrate together later, right?
I’ll say the taboo: being a military wife sucks sometimes. It’s really hard to explain to a child why daddy missed their birthday but was home for their sibling’s birthday. The kids get emotional and moody and don’t understand why things have to change so much. But do you know what else? It’s also great. I love my Hubby and am extremely proud of what he does. The challenges can be overwhelming, but we always overcome them. Always. No military wife knows what she’s getting into when she marries her man. It’s impossible to know what it’ll feel like to go through deployments and separations. It is hard. I’m thankful for those who have reached out to lend a hand… or an ear.. along the way.
If you’re facing a deployment and feel overwhelmed, fear not. It will be hard. It will be scary. But it will NOT be impossible and it will not last forever. Soon you’ll be together again and it will be a memory. If you need support or have questions about surviving deployment, email me! It will be a challenge, but sometimes a challenge is a gift in disguise. You’ll soon discover that you’re made of much tougher stuff than you ever imagined. Two years from now, will it really seem so bad?
April 21, 2012 | Categories: Parenting, Uncategorized | Tags: Deployment, family, Military family, Military Life, parenting, photography, Surviving Deployment | Leave A Comment »
Books are an important part of our every day life. Seven-year-old Alexandria tears through books at lightening speed, reading a chapter book in a day or less (thank goodness for libraries!). The American Girls books are her favorite series. Not only does she have many of the American Girls books, but she also loves the dolls and learning about the historic time periods in which the girls lived. When we discovered an American Girl book club, we knew we were on to something great!
One of our favorite homeschool websites, http://www.currclick.com, offers a wide variety of live clubs and classes. We joined their American Girl Club for Homeschoolers this week and today was our first meeting. Alex reminded me all day. “Mom, don’t forget my club meeting at 4 o’clock!” It was hard to forget with 5, 552 reminders.
We had a little drama get in our way right before her club began. My laptop is about to die and keeps overheating. I turned it off in the early afternoon so that it would be nice and cool and would stay on throughout Alex’s class. The problem arose around 3 when I tried to turn it back on. It wouldn’t turn on. I tried over and over and over again but to no avail. Finally, at 3:55, it rebooted. Alex was jumping for joy.
Alex’s club has its own webpage, complete with a large portion for the teacher’s power point, video messaging, and text messaging for her and all the other girls in the club. It was pretty darn cool! Her teacher led the group in discussion and the girls typed in their answers, thoughts, questions, etc. I was impressed!
This month the club read Meet Josephina. We were emailed study questions and related activities before the meeting. We’ll be studying Josephina through May. The Club meets once a month.
Alex had a complete blast. I had to remind her to keep on task and not chat with the other girls about horses and dolls when she was supposed to be participating in the book discussion. Oh, Alex. Their discussion was quite in depth! They learned all about bartering and life in 1800s New Mexico. They learned useful Spanish phrases and talked about the new Spanish words they came across in the book. They even planted flowers during class! If you read the book, you’ll understand the importance of that.
Alex’s American Girl Club took a bit of planning and preparation on my part, but it was totally worth it. Not to mention that the club is free! Alex was all giggles but also contemplated the book she finished just this afternoon. She worked on her typing skills and worked well in the group. She’s been talking up a storm and has already begun the next book in the series.
I was happy with our first experience with a CurrClick.com club and signed Little Miss up for a bunch more. We love to keep things fresh and interesting!
Planting flowers!
March 21, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American Girl, American Girl Book Club, American Girls Series, book, Book Blub, Book discussion club, CurrClick, Homeschool Book Club, homeschooling, Literature, Reading Groups | 2 Comments »
The kids have been learning all about habitats this month, so MOSH’s March homeschool class was the perfect tie in. Today’s topic: Happenin’ Habitats. We learned about all sorts of different habitats and the animals that live within them.
Raar!
The Cross-Eyed Opossum!
What do you mean I need to sit in my stroller, mom?
The class was pretty interesting today and the children were happy to participate. They had all sorts of animals up front, and the kids got to sort them by habitat. They also talked a lot about the basic needs every animal has and how habitats are different for various animals.
This was a good opportunity to practice our classroom skills, such as only answering when called upon and also listening and participating. This is a hard concept for Ethan. He just doesn’t pay attention to what’s happening around him. It’s a frustration we face often with him. I’ll ask him a question about what the teacher is talking about and he’ll not have a clue what I’m talking about. For example, when a child told the class in which habitat a certain animal belonged, the rest would have to raise their hand if they agreed. Ethan didn’t get this at all. This was a chance to practice listening and engaging. We have a ways to go there.
All the kids enjoyed the animal encounters. They met a cross-eyed opposum, a snake, and a tortoise. They got to get up there and touch each of them (besides the snake, which they didn’t want to touch). It was a cool way to tie in our lessons on habitats!
The auditorium was packed with homeschoolers today! How exciting. I know there are 5,000+ homeschoolers in the city, but seeing this many in one place really shows how big the homeschooling movement is becoming. It’s really quite thrilling. I love how many homeschooling opportunities there are in Jacksonville.
Derek checks out the opposum
Alex and her friends are silly!
Ethan makes a goofy face
Friends!
MOSH was packed today! There must have been several school groups having a field trip this morning. After our class, we explored the main floor of the museum. Not only was it crowded, though, but we’ve been there so many times it is getting a tad dull. We need some new exhibits. The kids did have some fun goofing around with friends from Jacksonville Homeschool Kids.
It was a great morning out of the house. I hope wherever the military sends us next has great opportunities too. I think that Jacksonville has left us a tad spoiled. There is so much to do, learn, and see. The adventures never end. I hope the kids are making some great memories… and learning a thing or two along the way.
Derek pets a tortoise
My Alex
Look how much water weight our entire group weighs!
March 14, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
We love Dr. Seuss’ timeless children’s books and last week marked the late-author’s 108th birthday. Navy Housing (Balfour Beatty) sponsored a Dr. Seuss craft and storytime today at a park in base housing and we joined some of our neighbors at the event.
Some of our favorite Dr. Seuss books include “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham.” I don’t know how many times I’ve read them over the years, but it must be over 100! I remember my mom reading them to me too. I still remember when I was in first grade and overheard my teachers talking about the fact that Dr. Seuss had just died. It really made an impression on me! I love the stories for the kids because they are so readable. Each of them has their own favorite. Which was yours?
The children colored Dr. Seuss pictures at this morning’s events, enjoyed some snacks, and listened to stories. They also spent a lot of time running around the park! It was very windy, but still fun.
The kids had quite the morning out of the house. Between gym time, our walk, and story time at the park, we didn’t get home until lunch time. We made up for lost time and did school in the afternoon. The freedom and flexibility homeschooling offers is great!
Did you know that despite writing timeless children’s books, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) had no children of his own? Sad. Here are more things you never knew about Dr. Seuss: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/03/02/happy-birthday-dr-seuss-9-facts-to-know-about-the-famed-author/.
It’s fun living in Navy housing most of the time. I especially like the community events they throw. It really does bring the community together and is a great chance to get out there and visit with neighbors. We’ve made so many great memories here. It’ll be hard to leave.
March 6, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Balfour Beatty, Cat in the Hat, Children, Children's Literature, Education, Green Eggs and Ham, homeschooling, Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel | Leave A Comment »
Arg, Matey!
Little kids love dressing up. Whether it’s costumes, jewelry, or mom’s old clothes, dressing up allows them to be imaginative and pretend to be someone else. Role playing and imaginative play is great for little kids, and playing dress-up is actually very beneficial to a child’s growing brain. With dress-up play, a child can be anyone they want: a princess, a knight, an Army ranger, a pirate, and so much more. Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else, if even for just one day?
Derek Made His Crown Himself During Preschool Time!
Where's the Fire?
A well-stocked dress-up supply is a fun part of any preschool classroom. We have several large bins of dress-up supplies in our home. Alex has her own in her room full of princess and fairy supplies, which she would not try on for the camera because it’s “lame.” The younger kids have an overflowing bin in our play room, brimming with hats, shoes, and outfits of all types. I love stocking up on costumes and accessories after Halloween and paying a fraction of the price. My husband always rolls his eyes and wonders what I could have possibly found that we “needed.” I do always find something.
Derek loves to get out the dress-up bin and cover the entire living room floor with his supplies. I love watching his imagination at work. Bella loves playing dress-up now too. Watching them play, talk, and take turns is so cute (there is plenty of fighting too, of course). When Derek dressed up as a doctor, he grabbed the doctor’s kit from the playroom and gave the rest of us “check ups” for the next half an hour. When he was a fireman, he ran around the main floor making siren sounds and putting out imaginary fires. So cute!
Bibbiti Bobbiti Boo!
Dress-up allows kids to try out different roles and to apply what they know about the world around them. They learn best through play and through imitation. I don’t direct their pretend play but go along with the story lines they create. If Derek wants to take my “blood pressure” or listen to my heart for the millionth time, I let him. If Bella wants me to watch her dance for the millionth time of the morning, great. There will always be laundry to fold, dishes to wash, and articles to write… but they won’t be this small, precious, and curious for long. It seems like yesterday that my 7-year-old loved dressing up and now she thinks it’s for babies. Sigh.
Doctor in the House!
Mama's Princess
I haven’t been good about posting many pictures this week, but I couldn’t resist sharing these. These are memories I want to remember. If I could bottle them up and store them forever I would. After all, I’ve never seen such a cute pirate princess in my life nor been treated by such a dashing doctor. It’s quite an exciting life.
Dressing Up is So Tiring!
March 6, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Costume, Dress-up, Dressup, homeschooling, preschool, Preschool Dress Up, Preschool Imaginative Play | Leave A Comment »
Exciting news! Our butterflies and ladybugs have hatched! The ladybugs have been breaking free from their pupa throughout the week and emerging full grown. Their spots emerge over a day or so and their shells harden to protect their soft, filmy flying wings. I haven’t been able to get a super great picture, but here’s what they look like today:
We studied lady bugs last week for science, but I figured I wouldn’t post pictures until they actually did something interesting. The larva turned into stationary pupa about a week ago and just sat there, transforming on the inside. We read books about the ladybug lifecycle and found some great related printables at www.enchantedlearning.com. Learning about ladybugs from our books and literature really added a lot of depth to our experiment, and the hands-on aspect of our science experiment made the project very meaningful!
Look what we made!
Learning About Ladybugs
Alex got a shot of me reading to the crew
The butterflies have been resting within their cocoons for about a week or so too, peacefully sitting on the desk and nearly forgotten. I was gathering the children’s drawing pads this afternoon, looked up, and this is what I saw:
Two tiny butterflies fluttered their colorful wings from within the mesh habitat! Two more cocoons are yet to hatch. The kids ran over to see the new butterflies. I gently set the habitat on the middle of the table and all four kids crowded around to see the miracle.
Our fun insect experiment is coming to a close. The kids have learned so much about how living things grow and change. The child who got the most out of it was Derek, I think. He talks about the insects a lot and also compares their changing forms to how he is changing and growing up. Score!
We’re going to release our insects early next week when the rain stops and the sun brightens beautiful Florida once again.
I think we’ll miss our little friends. It has been an eye-opening experience and I’d recommend it to anyone with little kids.
February 17, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Butterflies, Education, homeschooling, kids, ladybugs, parenting, raising butterflies | 1 Comment »
You’ve seen them at supermarkets, in restaurants, and at the park. They thrive in the halls of elementary and middle schools across the nation as well as on the television screen. They control their families with every scream, demand, tantrum, and fiery outburst of an attitude-in-need-of-adjustment. Just what species of pest am I talking about? Entitled children. I’m talking about this crazy, modern form of American parenting where the children call all the shots and behave like monsters. What happened? And more importantly, is there a way that we can raise happier, more respectful, and well-behaved children without all the anxiety?
“Why was it, for example, that in the hundreds of hours I’d clocked at French playgrounds, I’d never seen a child (except my own) throw a temper tantrum?” writes author Pamela Druckerman, “Why didn’t my French friends ever need to rush off the phone because their kids were demanding something? Why hadn’t their living rooms been taken over by teepees and toy kitchens, the way ours had?”
I came across a really interesting article in the Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition this morning: “Why French Parents are Superior” by Pamela Druckerman. (Here’s a link if you’d like to read along: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204740904577196931457473816.html.) I tore through the paper and pulled out the Weekend Review. What secrets way within its pages? The French have already given us the language of love, delectable cuisine, the Statue of Liberty, and help winning the Revolutionary War. Could they possibly hold the secret to easier parenting as well?
Research has shown that American middle-class mothers consider it more than twice as unpleasant to deal with their kids than do French mothers. One group of parents even said that housework was more pleasant than child care. I’ve met so many mothers who balk when I say we homeschool, proclaiming “I couldn’t stand to spend so much time with my children!” What gives? When did spending time when one’s own children become a terrible chore? Why is this not a problem in other countries, such as France? Perhaps it’s how we approach parenting.
Middle-class French parents are much like us. They talk to their kids, read to them, and take them to lessons and classes and museums. Like us, they want their child to grow up to be an educated, well-rounded individual. The difference? “The French have managed to be involved with their families without becoming obsessive,” writes Duckerman, “They assume that even good parents aren’t at the constant service of their children, and that there is no need to feel guilty about this.”
Here are some things that really stood out to me:
-French babies sleep through the night from 2-3 months. Their parents don’t pick them up the second they cry, allowing the babies to learn to fall back asleep.
-French children don’t throw tantrums in restaurants because they’re taught to sit happily. They aren’t allowed to snack all day like American children. They have one snack a day and have to wait until meal time to eat.
-French children learn to play by themselves at a very young age. Parent’s don’t have to entertain their child 24/7!
-While self-control is increasingly difficult for American kids, French kids are taught how to delay gratification.
-French parents hone the virtue of patience. They have firm boundaries and the parents have authority.
-French parents teach their child manners! Children should say hello, goodbye, thank you, and please. It helps them to learn that they aren’t the only ones with feelings and needs.
One thing that stood out to me the most in this article is the authority French parents hold. They’re not afraid to tell their child that “It’s me who decides.” ”Many French parents I meet have an easy, calm authority with their children that I can only envy,” the author writes, “Their kids actually listen to them. French children aren’t constantly dashing off, talking back, or engaging in prolonged negotiations.”
How does this work? When a child misbehaves, tell them no sternly and give them a look of admonishment, widening your eyes and trying to look disproving. Don’t shout. Speak with conviction. Don’t be afraid to say no!
For you bleary eyed parents out there who are up with your child many times a night, it’s time to say no longer. For you parents with the screaming three-year old, strop giving into his demands and teach him to wait. For you parents of disrespectful adolescents, take back the reigns of control and tell them, “It is me who decides.” There is another way. Parenting doesn’t have to be so hard, nor so miserable.
When Druckerman’s new book “Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting,” comes out on Tuesday, I can’t wait to buy it and dig right in. I love learning about how people do things differently around the world… especially when they do them more successfully. Despite their problems, perhaps we American parents can learn a thing or two about child-rearing from our French counterparts.
Excuse me now, I need to go practice my stern look of admonishment. I know a certain toddler who needs to see it next time she decides to run full-steam-ahead out of the playground and toward the street.
February 4, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Bringing up Bebe, Child, Education, French parenting is better, homeschooling, Pamela Druckerman, Parent, parenting, Wall Street Journal | 4 Comments »
Hubby got me a new camera today and I’ve had a ton of fun experimenting this afternoon. I love how clear and focused the shots are. I have a lot to learn, but here are some of my first shots with my first DSLR!
Alex
Bella
Derek
Ethan
January 21, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Canon DSLR, homeschooling, photography | 4 Comments »
I couldn’t resist sharing these pictures from our impromptu photo shoot this afternoon. As I was working out in the living room, 21-month-old kept running into the room and yelling, “Peek!” and then running away laughing. After the third of fourth time, I grabbed my camera.
Everyone needs an adorable baby sister, right? Bella sure thinks so. I can’t believe she’s going to be 21-months old next week. It doesn’t seem possible. What happened to my newborn? She talks, makes “jokes,” and plays now. She’s turned into a real person with opinions and a little attitude too. I love my little lady.
Peek-a-boo!
I am soooo funny, I crack myself up!
"Hiding"
Mama's Lovey
January 14, 2012 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Children, Photo shoot, photography | 1 Comment »
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world, with over 60 exhibits, a musical, choreographed dolphin show called Dolphin Tales, and a 4-D Under-the-Sea presentation complete with splashing water and other effects. It opened in November 2005. There are more than 8.5 million gallons in its tanks and 120,000+ sea animals. Impressive, right? We couldn’t let our time in Northern Georgia pass without a trip to the famed Georgia Aquarium.
We drove to the aquarium first thing in the morning in hopes of beating the crowd. It was sooo cold! Barely above freezing and windy, we bundled up tight against the bitter winter air. The poor kids were frozen! We were shocked when we reached the aquarium and there were huge lines of people both waiting to buy tickets and waiting to get in with prepaid tickets. Our winding line had at least 100 people ahead of us. We stood out there for a good 30-45 minutes waiting to get tickets before proceeding through a purse check and a metal-detecting body scan. Interesting. If you go, keep in mind that the Georgia Aquarium is really, really expensive. Adult tickets are $29.95 each and children’s tickets are $23.95 each. Even after our military discount, we dropped a lot of money to get in. Ouch!
We were given specific times we could go to the shows, so we immediately headed upstairs for Dolphin Tales. The musical presentation opened earlier this year and is amazing. The story of the “Star Spinner,” a man who spins stories into the stars and whose ship was sunk by an evil sea monster. He must defeat the sea monster to raise his ship. Dolphins leap from the 1.3 million tank, dramatically flipping and magestically taking their trainers on high-speed rides across the tank. We were up close in the packed-auditorium and the show was truly amazing! The kids loved it. I think it was way better than Sea World!
Bella checks out the dolphin tanks before the showA dolphin!
Unfortunately, there was no photography allowed during the show. We’ll just have to keep it in our memories. I’m glad we went!
Next, we headed to our 12:00 show, “Deepo’s Undersea 3D Wondershow.” It was actually a 4-D presentation because there was splashing water, falling confetti, flashing lights, etc. “Deepo’s Undersea 3D Wondershow” was the story of Aquarium Guide Deepo, who knows nothing about the undersea life he teaches others about. He meets a orange fish and is magically turned into a fish as well. They go on an undersea adventure, meeting all sorts of sea life and learning all about living in the ocean. The moral of the story is cute and the characters are adorable. The kids loved it and it was just long enough to capture their attention.
After lunch in the aquarium (very expensive!!!), we began touring the exhibits. Cold Water Quest was first.
Derek and Alex check out an exhibit
The Beluga whales were fun to watch!
Cold Water Quest is home to four funny Beluga whales, two of which were competing for a play ring next to the exhibit’s glass. The large male, Beethoven, and the young Qinu both wanted the ring and stole it back and forth from each other. Beethoven loved swimming through his ring! A speaker also taught us all about the Beluga whales, their life cycles, habits, and needs. It was crowded but educational! We also saw penguins, lots of fish, an octopus, and more.
The Ocean Voyager Exhibit was absolutely awe-inspiring. We walked through an acrylic tunnel where we could see sea creatures all around us. These weren’t just your average fish! Giant Manta Rays soared overhead. Giant sharks and groupers amazed us. It was something you really have to see to believe! There were giant viewing windows all around the tank as we continued through the exhibit, allowing us to see a huge variety of creatures. The boys loved the sharks and shrieked every time one swam by. I liked the graceful spotted eagle ray. Alex liked the colorful fish and Bella fell asleep in her stroller. It must have been too much brain stimulation for a little girl! This was definitely my favorite part of the aquarium.
Ocean Voyager
Look at that!
Tropical Diver was so crowded, we didn’t enjoy it as much as we could have. Seriously, it was so thickly packed with people we had to wait a good 5-10 minutes just to get near to a display and then fight our way out. Some displays were so crowded we couldn’t even get near them! Of the things we did see, we enjoyed the jelly fish and the garden eels a lot! The colorful fish were fun too.
The River Scout exhibit was neat. I liked the intricate tree-like woodworking through the exhibit and the crawl-through portions for kids. The animals here weren’t much different from what we see at the zoos in Florida, including an albino alligator, a boa, otters, and fish.
Georgia Explorer offered lots of hands-on activities and a play area too. The kids touched horseshoe crabs, starfish, stingrays, and shrimp. We saw sea turtles and lionfish too. The play area was so cram-packed we didn’t even try it.
Overall, we loved the Georgia Aquarium. Although very expensive, the exhibits were well-kept and flush with sea life, the shows were world-class, and the facility was sparkling. It was an amazing experience! The only drawback was that the aquarium was sooooooo crowded. Looking at reviews on travel sites, this is a common complaint. I wish it had been less crowded because we would have had more time to enjoy the exhibits. We spent about 5 hours exploring the aquarium. By the time we left, the boys were tired and getting naughty. It was a good time to call it a day and head back to camp. Each of us had a great time.
If you’re ever in Atlanta, you should definitely check out the Georgia Aquarium! It’s something amazing, a true feast for the senses.
The temperature continued to drop throughout the day, and by evening it was below freezing. With hiking and outdoor play out of the question, we headed to Bass Pro Shops Atlanta after dinner. We love Bass Pro Shops and don’t have one in Jacksonville. It was a drive, but a fun way to spend a cold evening! After all, we needed something to do to keep the kids from driving us crazy in the RV all evening long! We explored, looked at some animals and fish, and had a shoot-out at the shooting arcade.
Alex warms up by a roaring fire!
Derek says, "Daddy, can we buy this?"
Daddy instructs the kids at the shooting arcade
I can’t believe how cold it was! The night was 22 degrees with a chance of snow. The kids slept snuggly in their beds, piled with blankets and tired out from an exciting day on the town. I think we made some great memories today! Atlanta is a great place for family fun! We’ve had an amazing vacation.
January 3, 2012 | Categories: Field Trips, RV adventures!, Uncategorized | Tags: Atlanta, Beluga, Beluga whale, Dolphin Tales, Georgia, Georgia Aquarium, homeschooling, Manta ray, RV'ing, Stone Mountain | Leave A Comment »
Happy 2012! The campground quickly emptied this morning as weekend campers headed back to their everyday lives. The campground was so crowded yesterday there wasn’t an empty lot… today it’s more than half empty. I like it because the Internet connection is quicker…and because we have a straight shot to the lake now without having to walk through people’s yards. It’s quieter too and we don’t have to feel like the poor kids on the block surrounded by $200,000 A-class RV’s while we hang out in our $15,000, 23-foot Camper. All around, it’s a good day.
A beautiful Canadian Goose on the Lake
The view from our camping lot
Stone Mountain Lake
Our little home away from home!
Our morning got off to a slow start and consisted of doing laundry at the little campground laundromat and cleaning out the dirt and sand packed into our floormats and tile. Ick. Kids are kinda gross and they go through so much laundry, especially when playing in the dirt and forest. Ew. Everyone made their beds and picked up their belongings. When the laundry was done and we once again had spare clean clothes, we headed out into the wilderness on a nice long hike. The kids love, love, loved climbing little rock formations and fallen trees and carefully making their way over tiny creeks. I thought they’d get worn out but no such luck. Derek in particular never stopped running! I love spending time in the great outdoors with them. It’s so healthy and so fun too. Even bitty Bella hiked today!
The boys love hiking!
Explorer Girls
A Family of Hikers
On the drive home, we stopped by the Stone Mountain Children’s Playground. It was a ton of fun! The kids ran and climbed for another hour before we dragged them away for some lunch!
We love a good playground!
After lunch and rest time, we headed out to visit the Antebellum Plantation. Stone Mountain Antebellum Plantation is a collection of historic homes from all over the state of Georgia, built between 1783 and 1875. Each house is completely decked out in period furniture and decorations and is in great repair. I love the Antebellum Plantation!!! Here are some of my favorites:
The Dickey Plantation Home:
Look how gorgeous the entry is!
Now let’s take a look inside this historic beauty. I would like to live here.
Bella and I in front of the parlor
Every Lady Needed a Fine Parlor!
The kids and I in the Dickey House Gardens
The one-room schoolhouse was neat and the kids loved pretending they were at school. Alex makes quite the “Headmistress.” She is bossy enough! ;-)
Headmistress Alex
The farm area was fun, full of goats, pigs, and sheep to pet. I had to constantly remind wild child (aka Derek) to “Stop running! Stop running! Stop running!” Eventually we had to just take him out of the petting area. The other kids were calm and really enjoyed the animals. Bella thought they were super cool. I loved seeing the old carriages.
Here are some more random shots from our time in Antebellum Plantation:
Slave Cabin
Colonial Home
Pioneer Log Cabin
Beautiful Old Home
My Handsome Derek, Age 3 1/2
Our whole family in Antebellum Plantation
Dinner consisted of grilled turkey burgers, pasta salad, and vegetables al fresco by the fire. We roasted smores too and finished our meal by the light of the fire and lantern. These early sunsets are killer! Since neither of the boys took naps and it was showing, they went to bed a bit early. Bella “helped” me with the laundry and dishes while Hubby and Alex went to the last night of Winter Village. They had so much fun, and Hubby brought the camera to get some pictures for me!
Winter Village
Alex next to an awesome tree
Another day down, another adventure done. Tomorrow: Atlanta!
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January 2, 2012 | Categories: RV adventures!, Uncategorized | Tags: Campsite, RecreationalVehicle | 1 Comment »
Happy New Year! I can’t believe 2012 is finally here! We’ve been talking about 2012 for years. Why? 2012 is the year we finally PCS out of Jacksonville. It’s been a far-off idea forever and now it’s here. Crazy! We celebrated New Year’s Eve by exploring Stone Mountain Park ALL day. Literally. Our first outing lasted over 5 hours! That’s huge with little kids! They all did awesome and each of us got quite a workout climbing these hills! Our legs are so not used to elevation (Florida is so flat!). We definitely got our 10,000 steps in today!
We started our morning at Summit Skyride, a steep ride in a Cable Car to the top of Stone Mountain, 825 feet above the rest of the park (there was a fence so we couldn’t fall off the mountain, don’t worry). The kids thought it was really cool to be up so high! We explored the rocky mountain top and saw Atlanta and the Appalachian mountains off in the distance. Stone Mountain is really tiny by Northwest standards, but it’s a neat mountain nonetheless. The Confederate carving in the side of the mountain was really neat! It was really, really cold up there, so we didn’t stay too terribly long. We caught the next cable car down the mountain and continued exploring the park.
Here's our cable car!
Arial view of Snow Mountain
Memorial Confederate Carving
The kids look out over the mountain
Shadow view of our mountain-top perch
The Kids Atop Stone Mountain
Atlanta Skyline
Next, we hiked down the mountainside to Winter Village, a city decked out with Christmas lights and selling all sorts of cool things. The hot chocolate was amazing and I found an adorable Father Christmas ornament for only 66 cents. We watched Polar Express in 4-D, complete with blowing wind, falling snow, spraying water, and shaking seats. Alex and Ethan loved it while Derek and Bella were a little overwhelmed.
The train tour was calling our name and we climbed aboard for a tour before lunch. We got adventure arm bands as part of our campground deal which allowed access to everything but the snow area (we had separate tickets for that). The kids love trains and really enjoyed the ride. I’m sure it’s gorgeous in the spring and summer when the trees have leaves. There wasn’t a whole lot to see in the winter. Bella fell soundly asleep in my arms for her morning nap. The older kids loved the bumpy ride.
Here comes the train!Weeee!
The boys love trains
Mommy and Bella
The winter landscape
After lunch, we headed to Snow Mountain! This was Ethan, Derek, and Bella’s first time with snow. Our passes gave us access to the sledding area from 1-3 pm and unlimited access to the free-play area. We hit up the free-play area first and the kids had fun making snowballs, sledding the small hill, and making piles of snow. It was kind of cool but when it’s 60 degrees out the coats and hats get very warm. Plus, the snow area was pretty small for the price (we got a great deal with the campground package but still). I hope next year we’ll be somewhere that has real snow.
Alex Loves Snow!
Hubby helps Bella walk through the snow
Ethan's snowballSnow!
Derek My Snow Baby
Derek had so much fun sledding!
The line for the giant sledding hill was huge and I wasn’t comfortable with Bella riding down it, so I kept Derek and Bella while Hubby took the older kids down Snow Mountain. They hadn’t been gone a minute when Derek said, “I done. Snow not fun.” Seriously? Bella agreed, holding out her cold, mitten-less hand, “Done.” Well, drat. We plodded out of the snowy area and back to the stroller. What would we do now? The conductor called, “Last call for Stone Mountain Scenic Train!” Derek’s face lit up and we ran to the train, dropped the stroller off in stroller parking, and jumped aboard just in time. Might as well! Derek was excited and it took up a good 30-40 minutes. We saw some deer this time too! Hubby and the big kids were waiting for us when we returned. They had so much fun on Snow Mountain!
We were all exhausted as we walked back up the mountain to the parking lot. My leg muscles were screaming! It felt so good to sit in the car and even better to collapse into bed in the RV. All the kids took a nice long rest. I slept too! I made the kids a quick dinner around 5:30 and got everyone ready to head back out to Winter Village for some evening festivities.
This time, the world was transformed into a winter wonderland. Everything was glowing with lights. The world twinkled brilliantly. It was truly the most amazing Christmas display I’ve ever seen and the perfect way to spend a New Year’s Eve. We watched a glassblower hard at work, drank hot chocolate, toured shops, and enjoyed the lights. We went on the train a third time to see the Christmas light displays adorning the mountain and listened to the Christmas story. When the train returned to Winter Village, the streets were packed with people. What was going on? We found a clearing and stopped for a moment. Music started playing and a Snow Angel flew down above the crowd! The kids’ mouths dropped open. She told a story and flew around a while….. and snow began to fall! Sure, it was artificial, but it was sure cool! The kids merrily jumped around catching snowflakes. Then a burst of colorful fireworks lit up the sky! The show lasted for several minutes and was spectacular. Derek was freaked out, “Mommy! Mommy! Save me!” I held him with my hands over his ears. Poor guy. For such a tough man, he’s sure scared of everything!
We got back to the RV hours past bedtime and with a car full of very tired kids. The evening was amazing. I unfortunately forgot the camera… but we’re going back again! January 1st is the last day and we’ll be there! This was the best New Year’s Eve we’ve ever had. Hubby and I were sound asleep by 10:30. No midnight revelries for us. We hiked for miles, chased kids through the snow, and had an absolute blast. Stone Mountain Park is an absolute treasure-trove of activities and family fun. I’m glad we made the trek.
Our Family in Winter Village
Stone Mountain Confederate Carving
January 1, 2012 | Categories: RV adventures!, Uncategorized | Tags: Atlanta, Georgia, homeschooling, New Year's Eve, RV, RV'ing, Snow Mountain Georgia, Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain Campground, Stone Mountain Skyride | 4 Comments »
Our kids are pretty rotten when it comes to road trips. Everything starts our fine and dandy. They’re happy, engaged with their books and activities, and talking merrily amongst themselves. After 2 hours, they begin to get restless. After three hours, they are beasts. The crying and screaming are annoying. The toys fly throughout the Armada and the tempers flare (ours and theirs). Our RV trips thus far have been close enough that we drive 3 hours max. Hubby wanted to take a trip to Stone Mountain, north of Atlanta, Georgia, this winter and I was skeptical. Stone Mountain sounded amazing, but it’s over 6 hours away from home. 6 hours! Ak! Bella screams in the car for a trip to the grocery store. The thought of 6 hours of her screaming really didn’t put me in the mood for camping.
We made a compromise: We would make a trip to Stone Mountain during Hubby’s Christmas leave AND drive 3 hours a day. How? We chose an overnight campgorund stop halfway through the trip in Metter, Georgia. It took exactly 3 hours to get from Jacksonville to Beaver Run Campground, a small but cozy campground in the middle of nowhere. There was a cotton field across the street and a dilapidated 1800s farm house on the property. The park was sparsly populated and was situated around a lovely pond. The kids and I enjoyed exploring and playing on the small playground. We chose the park because it got good reviews online, because it had a playground, and because of the open space to walk and stretch our legs. We were not disappointed.
Cutie Pie Plays With Mom' s Empty Coffee Cup on the Ride
Are we there yet? Are we there yet?
The kids were so happy to be out of the car, they could have ran and played anywhere. Derek was absolutely bursting with energy. We played and went on lots of walks that evening, then again in the morning before driving to Atlanta. Those kids have boundless energy! I also went for a nice run first thing in the morning, then took the kids on a walk. My legs get restless after sitting long as well.
Life is hilarious!
Who knew tires could be so fun?
Hubby at the pond
Happy Campers!
This RV trip is unique not only because of its final destination, but because we’ve never attempted a staggered trip before. We usually chose a campground, hookup, and stay there. This time we’re camping in Beaver Run for one night, heading up to Stone Mountain for 5 nights, and then returning to Beaver Run for 2 more nights so that we can visit Savannah. Our next two nights there will be free because Beaver Run participates in Tents for Troops, an awesome program offering free camping to military families. Woohoo! Considering the RV parks near Savannah got terrible reviews and Beaver Run is only 45 minutes from Savannah, it’ll be just fine. It was clean, friendly, and had great wi-fi!
My Little Explorers
Daddy and His Boys
Beaver Run Campground wasn’t the fanciest campground we’ve visited. Nor was it the largest, the most activity-filled, or and coolest. It did, however, meet our needs as a quick stop. It was well maintained and inexpensive and we felt safe staying there. There weren’t any creepy campers and it was quiet. We’d definitely recommend Beaver Run Campground if you need a quick stopover and are passing through Georgia.
The adventure to Stone Mountain, Georgia, continues!
December 31, 2011 | Categories: RV adventures!, Uncategorized | Tags: Atlanta, Beaver Run Campground, Campsite, Georgia, Metter, Recreational vehicle, RV, RV with kids, Stone Mountain | 4 Comments »
Happy Hanukkah!
This is our second year learning about and celebrating Hanukkah as part of our holiday season. Michael is a quarter Jewish, and I think it’s neat to learn about Hanukkah for that reason. Not to mention it builds tolerance and respect for other cultures and customs if children learn about them. We light our Menorah just as proudly as we trim our tree. It’s a beautiful season to celebrate for everyone, no matter what religion.
American Girl Rebecca celebrates Hanukkah!
We began reading “Candlelight for Rebecca” from the American Girl Series at the start of Hanukkah last week. Rebecca is an immigrant Jew living in New York (in the early 1900s I believe). The story is a great tale of learning about a new culture while staying true to one’s own beliefs. Rebecca and her family celebrate Hanukkah in the book, and it was a perfect tie-in. Not to mention Little Miss had a Rebecca doll waiting for her under the tree for Christmas morning. We truly enjoyed the story and had some great conversations. I LOVE the American Girl book collections! Alex is learning so much about American history. I loved them as a young girl too.
Alex was excited to get to light the Menorah each night of Hanukkah. She doesn’t usually get to light candles! We also read lots of books about the holiday and its meaning from the library.
Tonight, I fried up some homemade Latkes for dinner and the family loved them. They turned out really good and were very authentic!
Homemade Latkes!
After supper, we played a fun-filled game of Dreidel! We re-read the rules and got out the Chocolate Gelt (money) from the Harry and David store. Alex and Ethan were both excited to play for candy! We played for quite some time and had a blast. In the end, I had 7 pieces, Ethan had 2, and Alex had 1. I gave Alex one of mine to even things out between her and Ethan and saved most of the rest for tomorrow. So fun!
Dreidel! Dreidel! Dreidel
Alex loves to play too!
Ethan was very good at the game
We learned about the past through latkes, literature, and dreidel matches for chocolate coins and had so much fun doing so. The kids learned a lot about Hanukkah, as well as about Christmas and holidays in other religions and cultures around the world. It was a brilliant light in our holiday celebrations and one we look forward to again next year.
How do you teach your kids about holidays and Christmas celebrations around the world?
December 26, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American Girl, American Girl Rebecca, American Girl Series, Christmas, Dreidel, Hanukkah, Hanukkah gelt, homeschooling, Jews, Menorah, Potato pancake | 4 Comments »
Waiting for Christmas!
Merry Christmas! While we’ve been celebrating the holiday season all month, today was the day the kids have been anxiously awaiting all year long. Christmas! Christmas Day means they could finally open the pile of presents waiting for them under the tree. It’s the highlight of a month of holiday cheer. I was just as excited as they were for them to open their surprises!
Yesterday, Alex worked hard to frost and decorate a batch of sugar cookies with red and green sprinkles and make some homemade snowman ornaments for her friends in our neighborhood. We wrapped them up in little bags with bright red paper and we set out on a walk. She was so happy to deliver her gifts and was really touched by how much her friends appreciated her gesture. Christmas is about so much more than getting presents. You’d never know that by watching TV commercials nowadays (shop more, spend more, get more). The season is about giving.
Last night, we went to a Christmas Eve service at a church in Argyle and learned all about the virtue of generosity. This tied in well with our Christmas lesson perfectly. It’s important to think of others and to give to our friends, family, and even strangers. I want my kids to realize this.. and the church service really helped. It was a song-filled, colorful, funny performance that had all of them laughing and sometimes dancing. It also reinforced our lessons on the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Christ. We read the story of Jesus’ birth before bed on Christmas Eve as well, along with the homemade apple pie. I was happy when Ethan (Finally!!) answered correctly my question why we celebrate Christmas. I’ve been quizzing him all month and time after time he’s gotten it wrong. “Presents?” He’d guess. “Cookies?” No. Last night I asked him the million-dollar question, “Ethan, why do we celebrate Christmas?” His eyes lit up and he replied, “To celebrate the birth of Jesus!” Hooray! It only took a month, but I think the lesson may have finally sunk in! Too few of today’s children realize that there’s a deep, wonderful meaning to Christmas, much more special than Santa and his sleigh full of toys and dozens of expensive gifts under the tree. I hope these lessons resonate in my children’s for the rest of their lives. If not, I can cram them into their heads again next year.
All Four Kids On Christmas Eve 2011
It’s way too easy to get swept into the spirit of more, more, more. I love to shop and the endless hours of commercials advertising great buys on clothes, toys, and electronics that have been infiltrating our house since September make it awfully hard not to go overboard. The kids’ wish lists got longer with each passing day and we quickly broached (and passed) our $50 per kid limit. We had to consciously stop and say we wouldn’t buy any more presents. It was hard. There were small slip-ups. Christmas morning arrived with more toys per child than we should have gotten. They did love their presents, though! Perhaps next year we’ll stick to our guns a bit more successfully.
Bella loves her new ballet bear!
Look at Bella about to steal his toy!
Ethan really enjoyed his new coloring book
Alex was so thrilled to get her much-sought-after Silvermist Fairy Doll
While we do still do Santa, we try and make that a very minor part of our holiday. The main presents are from mom and dad, grandpa and grandma, aunts and uncles, etc. Not Santa. We talked about the Nativity story and thankfulness again today, amongst the hours of play time. The kids had such a grand time with their presents as well as comparing presents with their friends and neighbors outside. Each of them received gifts they’d been pining for. Alex was overjoyed to get a Silvermist Fairy Doll and a scooter. Derek was in heaven with his pirate play set and locking treasure box. He played with it all day. Bella was so excited about her baby doll, she could barely wait to get it out of its package and played with her dolly and stroller all day long. Tomorrow we’ll start Thank You Notes for every relative who was kind enough to send them a Christmas gift. Showing gratitude for what we’re given is so important, and also lacking in our culture. They may not enjoy it now, but I hope they learn the importance of Thank You notes and continue to go out of their way to tell others how thankful they are for what they’re given. A mother can hope, right?
Pure Joy
Bella loves her dolly!
My lil' pirate is all decked out now!
I hope that next year we spend less and that the children are thankful for fewer gifts. We do say this each year and maybe one day we’ll reach that goal. It’s not the price or the number of presents that matters, but the thought and generosity behind the gift. We’ve got a ways to go. We’re not perfect though and some Target sales are just too much for my weak willpower… but we’ll try and learn from our mistakes as we grow older and gain more experience. I know the kids had a phenomanal Christmas. I did too. I think it was the best in years. May they continue to be more special and full of wonderful memories in years to come.
We wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May 2012 be full of wonders and joy. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
December 25, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, homeschooling, Jesus, Merry Christmas, photography, Santa Claus, Teaching kids about Christmas, True meaning of Christmas | Leave A Comment »
Each December, Hubby’s squadron hosts a Children’s Christmas Party. Santa arrives on a fire truck and hands out gifts, the children gorge themselves on sweet treats, and fun booths and craft tables abound. I’ve coordinated the party for the past two years, both times with great friends. This year’s party was different in several ways. First, the squadron has been renamed HSM-74, so it’s technically the squadron’s first Christmas party. Second, rather than many squadrons joining together to put on the party it was only us. This was fun, but also expensive and a whole lot of work to come up with numerous booths and tables rather than just two. The kids had a blast and the party went off very well Saturday.
The hard work and long hours paid off. Saturday’s party went off without a hitch. The games and activity tables were all very popular and we had so many great volunteers. Our OSC really came together and did so much! It wouldn’t have been posisble without all the wonderful ladies who helped out! The desert table was heaping with homemade treats and all of our guests seemed to have a great time. We transformed that huge, empty hanger into a Christmas wonderland! My kids had an absolute blast. I was so thrilled with the results that I smiled all day… and went home after clean-up to take a nap. HSM-74′s First Annual Children’s Christmas Party was a huge success. It was our last Christmas party with this squadron and one to remember.
It’s also really great to be done. My house is clean once more and yesterday was a blissful, uninterrupted day of school for the kids. I can’t wait to hear how next year’s party goes and wonder where we’ll be for ours. I love our party keepsakes and the kids love their party memories. I came away with even more, I think. I made some great new friends.
So.. that’s what we’ve been up to and why we’ve been out of the picture lately. Friends and family, you’ll no longer be ignored. The perfectly perfect Christmas party is over and it’s time for life to go on.
My Handmade Entrance Sign
Alex and I made helicopter-shaped gingerbread cookies!
The MWR donated a bounce house!
What's a party without Santa on a Helicopter?
The picture frame craft was a hit!
Face painting!
Derek and his prizes
Hubby and the Kids at the Children's Christmas Party
Derek Hangs Out With the Winter Blow-ups
Hubby and kids at Sugar Cookie Station
Hubby and Bella
Bella and I
Here comes Santa!
The kids and Santa (Bella would have nothing to do with that)
Merry Christmas!
December 13, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Children's Christmas Party, Christmas, Entertaining, Holidays, homeschooling, Santa Claus | Leave A Comment »
Decorating the house for Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love the aromatic smells, the deep and vibrant colors, and the sparkly ornaments. I love the feeling of warmth and happiness that fills our home and the Christmas music and movies that come on only once a year. Most of all, I love seeing the joy and splendor in my children’s’ eyes as they help make the house a magical place.
The pièce de résistance of any Christmas display is the tree. We put ours up on the day after Thanksgiving and strung the lights, but got busy and left the ornaments for a quiet moment. That moment came this evening. It wasn’t quiet, really, but it was special. We waited for Bella to go to bed and cracked open the box of ornaments. The three older kids merrily bunched lots of ornaments all over the bottom half of the tree and I put the more delicate ornaments near the top. Derek spent most of his time ringing jingle bells. Good thing I’m not easily annoyed after 4 kids!
I love how most of the ornaments end up on one bottom, front section each year. I wonder what the kids will think of the pictures when they’re older? I for one think they’re precious.
Derek finds just the right place for an ornament
Alex has been asking to hang ornaments for weeks! Look, Mama!
Ethan sorts the "good" ornaments from the "ugly"... according to him anyway
Mommy and Derek
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! The indoor lights are glittering from the window panes and the tree boasts a few presents now. There’s a fire twinkling from the tv screen (no fireplace for us) and a sweet Christmas candle burning on the bar. Christmas kid art is beginning to decorate our house and Christmas books grace our library book bag too. It’s that time of year! I love Christmas and the warm, loving feelings it brings. What are you doing to celebrate the holidays this year?
Happy holidays!
Our Little Tree
November 29, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, Christmas decorating with kids, Christmas for kids, homeschooling, Ornaments, Tree | Leave A Comment »
Living across the country from family can be pretty hard, especially around the holidays. I don’t even know the last time we were able to be home in Washington for Thanksgiving. That’s life. Yet when my brother and his wife moved east over the summer, we were excited to be within driving distance (albeit a long drive) to family. Mike, Ashley, and the kids drove down to visit us for Thanksgiving and it was awesome. Thanksgiving 2011 was the best yet. Holidays with friends and neighbors are great, but nothing beats a house full of cousins!
The kids all played together from sunup to sundown. It was like they’d never been apart. They ran through the house and played until they dropped at the park next to our house. The boys loved being chased by Uncle Mike! My brother is so great with kids. They absolutely adore him.
Cousin Emily, 16 months
Bella plays at the park
Cousin Anthony, Age 3
Derek loves his Uncle Mike
Bella and Uncle Mike
I'm Thankful for My Amazing Hubby
Dinner was fantastic, and so much easier with my helpful sis-in-law to help! We put together a full spread in no time. Our main masterpiece was a tur-duck-hen. Yes, they actually exist. My hubby found it at the commissary. I was very uncertain about trying something so… so.. different.. but it was actually really good!
Bella, Ashley, and Emily
The Girls
Thanksgiving Dinner
The cousins had such a blast visiting. After a late lunch and lots of play, everyone was ready for naps. Everyone that is except the little girls! The adults visited and watched tv, then the ladies went on a nice brisk walk through the base to burn off some turkey.
Our visit was way too short, but it was a ton of fun. I can’t wait to get the cousins together to visit again soon. These are the memories I hope they cherish always.
The boys hang out at the little table
Derek, Age 3
My girls
November 29, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: family, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner | Leave A Comment »
Princess Bella, I love you so.
Your sparkly eyes and kissable cheeks,
Your quick-running feet and hugging arms.
Your little personality is blooming, blossoming
And your attitude is enormous.
Even your tantrums are adorable, so dramatic and determined.
You are amazing in everything you do and everything you are.
Has there ever been such a person as you,
So vibrant and loving and sweet?
I’m thankful every day that you graced our lives
And wish you could stay this way forever.
I love the way you cuddle in my lap and kiss your baby dolls,
I love watching you learn and play,
And am so happy to be your mommy.
I can’t believe how big my baby girl has gotten.
You make my heart sing with joy when I see your pretty face.
No matter how old you get, you’ll always be my baby.
Princess Bella, I love you.
November 17, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: homeschooling, parenting, photography | Leave A Comment »
Happy Veteran’s Day to all the men and women who serve our country, have served our country, or will serve in the future to protect our freedom. Without you, we would not have the same opportunities and freedom we enjoy today. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
We are a military family, live on a military base, and move every few years at the military’s whim. Our each and every day is engulfed in the military lifestyle. Still, it’s great to take the time to consider what we’re truly thankful for. It’s important to teach the kids about the sacrifices their fellow Americans made so that they could live as they do today. We talked about what Veteran’s Day means throughout the day. What does it mean to you?
November 11th, 1918 marked the end of World War I, an incredibly destructive time in human history. In 1926, the US Congress proposed making November 11th to be a legal holiday. The purpose of Veteran’s day was to commemorate the sacrifices the soldiers made with thanks and prayer, and to perpetuate peace and goodwill. It became a legal holiday in 1938, and was known as “Armistice Day.” In 1954, Armistace Day became Veteran’s Day, a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
For more information, check out: http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
My children are still quite young, so we haven’t gone into much depth about wars and casualties yet. However, we did talk about what we should be thankful for on Veteran’s Day in basic terms:
1. We’re thankful for our mommies and daddies in uniform, who work so hard every day to keep us safe from bad guys.
2. We’re thankful that these mommies and daddies sacrifice time with their families to keep us safe.
3. We’re thankful for the families of our servicemen and women who keep life going on the home front and provide love and support for their uniformed family member.
4. We are proud to be American and of our flag. We’re thankful to live in a country where we can vote and have freedom of speech.
5. We understand the dignity in military service and appreciate our family’s military heritage. We talked about the many generations of service members in our family tree, and a little about the wars in which we thought.
One of our favorite websites, www.enchantedlearning.com, has many crafts, worksheets, and activities related to Veteran’s Day: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/veterans/. It’s really a phenomenal resource!
Veteran’s Day reminds us to show our thanks and reignited our patriotism. We should be thankful for our veteran’s every day of the year.
What do you teach your kids about Veteran’s Day?
November 11, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Armistice Day, homeschooling, November 11th, photography, teaching kids about veteran's day, United States, Veterans Day, World War, World War I | 2 Comments »
As multi-cultural as our world is today, it’s easy to forget that people have vastly different customs and traditions in different parts of the planet. We were reminded of these differences when it came time to carve our Halloween Jack-o-lanterns at Grandpa Jim and Grandma Brenda’s Washington home. They have two high-school exchange students this year, one from China and one from Brazil, and neither boy had any idea what the whole pumpkin-carving thing was about. They were willing to get involved, though, and we had great fun learning from each other!
Alexandria was very excited to make a “vampire” pumpkin and busily sketched her ideas on newspaper. Grandpa Jim (my dad) helped the kids cut open their pumpkins and each of them busily scooped out the inside. The exchange students thought this part was so gross. “This never ends!” each boy bemoaned. I think they thought it was a weird holiday tradition. Brazilian exchange student Bruno asked my mom if he could search the internet for ideas for a pumpkin face. He found a super-complicated design. My dad warned him he’d need specialized tools to successfully create his design, but Bruno opted to try it with a knife. It didn’t exactly work out… but he had fun and it was a great experience with a common American Halloween tradition!
Chinese Exchange student “Little Jim” took his design slower and drew a dragon face and flames on his pumpkin. It was a simple design and turned out well. Alex and her cousins learned a lot and shared what they knew about the holiday as well. We talked about what pumpkins are used for in different countries. Little Jim said that while they don’t carve pumpkins where he’s from, pumpkin seeds are sold in traditional Chinese markets.
Not only was it special to carve pumpkins with Grandma and Grandpa, but it was a learning experience as well. We were able to relate to and bond with the exchange students over a common project. Alex liked both boys very much. She and Little Jim were able to relate well despite the language barrier. One evening, she and Little Jim were playing on the couch. She played a sonnet on her piano Ipad app and he would try to complete his Rubix Cube before she finished. Very little language involved, but lots of fun. She also liked playing ball with Bruno, who has a little sister just her age back home in Brazil.
I’m so glad that my parents got such great boys. Their nearly empty home is no longer quiet, but instead full of laughter and funny stories. Perhaps when the kids are older we’ll host an exchange student of our own. It was a great experience for me when I was a high-school exchange student in France. It’s amazing what we can learn from one another. Something as simple as carving jack-o-lanterns can be a new and exciting experience. I hope Alex remembers it for years to come.
Alex draws a "Vampire" Face on Her Pumpkin
Grandpa Jim Helps Alex Make a Vampire Mouth
Grandpa Jim Helps Anthony Too
Alex Scoops Out The Insides Like a Pro
Sis-in-Law Ashley and Cousin Emily Clean Out Their Pumpkin
My neice Emily and I work on a pumpkin.... I was bundled up because it was cold!
My brother Kent and Emily
My dad and his exchange students, Bruno and Jim
Brazilian Exchange Student Bruno and His Jack-o-Lantern
Alex's Jack-o-Lantern
Our Halloween Pumpkins Light Up the Night
October 29, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Brazil, carving pumpkins, China, cultural differences, exchange students, Halloween, homeschooling, Jack-o'-lantern, Pumpkin, Washington | 2 Comments »
Alex and Great-Grandma Bonnie
So many of my childhood memories revolve around my Grandma Bonnie’s little house in the prairie. I remember how big her house seemed and the tins of cookies she always kept in the kitchen, full of surgery deliciousness and jelly filled confections. I remember eating the scraps of the wedding cakes she baked and looking forward to her traditional Norwegian lefsa every holiday season. Grandma’s house has always been one full of delicious baking, enticing scents, and warm hugs.
Every time we trek across the country and visit home, Grandma Bonnie’s house is one of the first places we visit. It no longer seems so big, but it’s still just as magical. Grandma still has a plate of fresh cookies waiting for us and lots of hugs.
Now Alexandria is making her own memories at her Great-Grandmother’s house. She loved the cookies and always scouts out the delicate glass jars full of seasonal candy on the coffee table. She loves exploring the house and playing with the toys and books waiting for visits like hers. At home, Alex keeps her cards from her Great-Grandma Bonnie in a special box in her room. Still, cards don’t make up for a Grandma hug and a cuddly lap to sit on.
Mom: “Alex, why do you like to visit Great-Grandma Bonnie’s house?”
Alex: “Cause I like her. I like her curly white hair and her blue eyes like mine. She’s really nice and likes to see me.”
Mom: “What do you like most?”
Alex: “I like her hugs. I like to eat her candy and cookies too.”
Mom: “What do you like to do at her house?”
Alex: “I like to play with toys. She always has fun new toys. I like snuggling her sometimes and I like visiting. I love my Great-Grandma.”
My kids are so fortunate to get to know their Great-Grandparents. There are two Great-Grandma’s left and they have lived such amazing lives. My husband never even got to know his grandparents, let alone his great-grandparents. I don’t think we’ll ever tire of listening to their stories. My Grandma Bonnie in particular makes my life look boring, she’s been through and done so much! She outlived three husbands, worked and supported her children as a single mother in a time when that was practically unheard of, traveled the world, and continues to be actively involved in her church and community. I think she’s even busier than I am! I can only hope to be as happy, active, and involved when I’m her age!
I hope we get orders much closer to Washington this time around so we can visit our elders much more often. We miss out on too much when we’re this far away. I’d gladly give up the beaches and warm weather to let the kids develop strong, memorably relationships with their Grandparents and Great-Grandparents. Florida is lovely… but memories at Grandma (and Great-Grandma!)’s house last a lifetime.
Great-Grandma Bonnie and Alex, Oct. 2011
Cousin Anthony
Cousin Anthony and Great-Grandma Bonnie
Great-Grandma Bonnie, October 2011
Cousin Emily Cheeses it Up
October 29, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Cooking, elders, grandchildren, Grandparent, great-grandparents, homeschooling, photography, Washington | 1 Comment »
Wilfred Sarkkinen in Uniform, World War II
If there’s one hard thing about growing up, it’s watching those you love grow old. The circle of life is a vicious beast. Family is more important to me than anything else in this world. It was very hard last week when our Family Patriarch, Wilfred Sarkkinen, passed away at the age of 88. After all, he’s been around for my entire life. He lived next door throughout my childhood and was one of the first people we visited every time we went home. Although we knew it was coming, Grandpa’s death touched me more deeply than I ever thought it would. It was the first time someone close to me died.
What really surprised me was how deeply the loss of Grandpa Wilfred touched my 6-year-old, Alexandria. I didn’t really consider her feelings at first. She didn’t know him well, after all, and I thought I was keeping my emotions well-hidden when she was around. Then, Friday morning, she asked if she could begin school by journaling. What she handed me 30 minutes later brought tears to my eyes:
“One day my great Grandpa Wilfred died.
Derek kept on saying “Can we fix him?”
Momma said “God will fix him up in heaven. And he won’t come back to Earth.”
I felt sad hat he had died, because we didn’t see him very often.
And I felt uncomfortable because I didn’t know anyone that had died before.
It felt kind of scary.
It was hard to sleep.
Grandpa Jim called us when he died.
He was very sad.
Grandpa Wilfred was very sick.
It is sad when people die.”
Those are some pretty intense feelings coming from a six-year-old. Death isn’t a topic we ever really broached before, and now it was staring us in the face. It’s not that we avoid anything unpleasant. It’s just that in my 26 years of life, no one that close to me has passed away. I was lucky, I guess. No one Alex knew had ever passed away either. This was new and intensely emotional for us. We bought some last-minute tickets and prepared for our trip. My husband came home from a training mission and I left. Saturday morning, Alex and I boarded a plane and flew clear across the country to Washington State.
It was our first trip just the two of us. She was unusually quiet and lost in her thoughts. We were so happy to see the rest of our family, even though the reason we were together was tragic. My brothers flew in from all over the country. I think Alex was a little overwhelmed by Grandpa’s viewing and funeral and all the visiting surrounding the events. Grandpa Wilfred touched so many lives. The church was packed. His funeral ripped my heart in two. I know he’s so much better off now and he looked to be so much at peace. His pain and suffering was gone.
The hardest thing for me was realizing that I couldn’t get lost in mourning. I had this bright-eyed little girl who needed me to be strong. She needed to remember her Great-Grandfather for the strong father and leader he was and the only way that would happen would be if I kept his memory alive for her. Alex saw firsthand how the strength and bonds of family can pull us through even the darkest times and how we’re there for each other no matter what. That’s what I wanted her to remember: love, strength, and family. It wasn’t just about my feelings of loss and sorrow, but about helping her through her feelings. I don’t think she’ll ever forget.
It’s so important to me that Alex remember and respect her Great-Grandparents. They have such stories to tell. If they had not lived, we would not be here. My Grandfather was wounded in action during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. What would have happened if he had died from his wounds? I wouldn’t exist, and neither would my daughter. Elders do not get nearly enough respect in our culture. If we could just stop and think for a moment how much our past affects us today, I think it would blow people’s minds.
To remember Grandpa, my dad and I are putting together a memorial DVD. It’s a great way to heal and to commemorate a life well lived. I want to keep Grandpa’s spirit alive for his grand-children and great-grand children. I want them to know what he was like and the amazing obstacles he overcame. I want them to have a link to the past and to know where they came from.
Our visit home was full of sorrow, but also joy. Grandpa Wilfred gave us one last gift. He brought us all closer than ever before. We kids have grown up and have lives of our own. We live far apart and don’t see each other often. Grandpa’s passing brought us all together under one roof again and let us bond and realize how much we truly love and cherish each other. Life gets busy and we forget what’s really important sometimes.
Wilfred Sarkkinen in Uniform, World War II
He wrote letters home every day during WWII
Grandpa's Purple Heart
Grandpa's Bronze Star
Grandpa Wilfred and Grandma Dory with the first of their 12 kids
This is how I remember him, in his rocking chair
Grandpa and Grandma, several years ago
Grandpa Wilfred with Ethan, 2007
Grandpa Wilfred Reuben Sarkkinen was born on September 28, 1923 in Gackle, North Dakota. He was one of four children and had three sisters. Wilfred graduated from Gackle High School in 1941. He was drafted into the Army and served in World War II, when he was wounded in action. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Wilfred married Dory on September 3, 1949 and lived in Minnesota. He worked as a mail carrier for many years. In 1969, the family moved to Southwest Washington, where he lived until his death. Wilfred and Dory had 12 children and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were married for 62 years. He was a lifelong Christian who believed strongly in his faith. He was a moral light for all of us and someone we always looked up to.
Grandpa Wilfred Sarkkinen died on October 19, 2011 in Vancouver, Washington after a short illness. He was survived by his wife, one sister, his children, and over 100 grand and great-grand children. He was 88 years old.
Dad and Kent Before Grandpa's Funeral
Mom and Dad
Mom with Mike and Kent
All together again to pay our respects to Grandpa Wilfred
Alex, Auntie Laura, and Counsin Anthony before the service
Here is a link to his obituary: http://obits.columbian.com/obituaries/columbian/obituary.aspx?n=wilfred-reuben-sarkkinen&pid=154228992
October 28, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Death, death of a grandparent, family, Grandpa, Grandparent, great-grandparents, Momma, Purple Heart, World War II | 4 Comments »
