Back To The Grind....................

Schools out, schools out, teachers let the monkey's out......no wait that's what I was singing in May.

Schools in, schools let the insanity begin!!! Ya' that's more like.

Ryanne started 2nd grade and Morgan 5th. This is our 4th year home schooling and I love it more each year. Maybe it's because the kids are getting older and more independent or maybe because I am more confident in my ability to teach and not kill the kids in the process. I also like the fact that as they get older the subjects get more interesting for me. I mean let's be honest; none of us remember all the state facts or the history of all the wars. So it's like learning all over again.
When I meet people that tell me they could never home school I just smile and say,"Ya' I suppose it's not for everyone." But in reality in the back of my head I am thinking,"Good luck with that sister. The last time I told God I could not or would not EVER do something he called on me to do it!" Heck, that's how we ended up teaching the girls at home in the first place.
But never fear the girls only suffer slightly through the year. That is after they get done with their super fun PE class on Wednesdays, piano, ballet, art, and the science field trip to Catalina and Disneyland. It's a rough life but heck, someone's gotta live it! :)

"Mom, take my picture!"

Ya' forget that she TOTALLY lives up to her blonde locks and focus on the fact that she is posing in front of a map of CA at least! Ha!

Ya' were getting so much geography done now!

Our class mascot is laying down on the job..............worthless really.

"Hi mom! So ready to rock the 5th grade!"

"OK mom, go away now your bugging me. No really I'm so over it."

"OK maybe just one more."

Something funny Morgan said
Usually it's Ryanne that says funny stuff but Morgan is soooo drama right now so she may not think so but I think it's hilarious!
Me: BURP!! "Yuck that tasted like beans and bananas!"
Morgan: "Oh my gosh, you disgust me! Can I please roll down the car window so I can just jump out?"
He! He! I love messing with her. I'm the mom, that's my job!

Bye-Bye Summer Vacation...................

Good bye summer break. We'll miss you. You were a good summer break. Sniff, sniff...........
So many memories, it seems like only yesterday we were saying good bye to school for the year. *Sigh*
To cap off our summer we rented a cabin up at Hume Lake for a week. We just got back and started school on Monday. A week at Hume means so much to do.......

There were tire swings to swing from.......

Yahhoooooo!!!!!

Higher Daddy!

My mom went with us and so of course we tortured her every chance we got. :)
"Look Grandma, one hand!"

I made Dan take a turn. There is just something about flying through the air on a swing that reminds you how good it is to be a kid.

There were baby ducks to follow around and feed..............(6 to be exact)

We climbed to the top of Buck Rock fire look out. It is 172 steps straight up the face of those rocks.........the look out sways on the rock if the wind is blowing.......

We had a picnic at the bottom first................

The view is SOOOO worth the climb (and fear of falling) :)

Yup' it was high, the signs don't lie.

Did I mention my mom went with us and we tortured her? She is not a fan of heights so maybe this was a little scary of a climb for her. She did it though and was still smiling after.

These dandelions were GINORMOUS!!

That has to count for a LOT of wishes right?

There was camp to go to every morning and night............

Major photo ops............

Great reminders...................

Self portraits to take...........

Sister dips in the lake.........

Stand up paddle board to master........

If you have never done this activity might I suggest a "non-blustery" day?

Father daughter canoe dates out to the dam.

Ummmm....more self portraits?

Rocks to jump from.........

Mama deers who brought their baby around for dinner on our back deck each night......

Time with Grandma at King's river..............

Time to ponder life.............

Caves to explore............

Give me your, "I'm so excited vacation is almost over and we get to start school face!"

This is the cabin we rented. See the stairs to the right? I tripped and fell down those face first. Carrying a chair. Yup' I'm good.

Dives to master.............

Running front flips to master..........(just not this picture, OUCH!)

Cowgirl theme nights at camp to dress up for............

Time to hang out at the Hume Burger joint............

Ahhhhh....more photo ops..............

Silly pictures to take...........

Good bye Hume Lake........

Good bye summer vacation...............

Until we meet again.........*sniff*

Latest Project.....

I have seen this idea in multiple places and have always wanted to try it. The reason I am just now getting to it is because 1. I was nervous about how it would turn out and 2. I wasn't sure where it would get the most use.
Every school year I change up the classroom in some little way to make it fun and new for the girls. Last year I painted it a sky blue, this year a magnetic chalkboard.

First I had Dan draw a perfect rectangle on the wall for me since I am soooo not capable of getting a straight line on a wall. Then I added 3 layers of magnetic paint that I purchased at Lowe's. After 24 hours of drying time I added 2 layers of chalkboard paint also purchased from Lowe's. When it was all dry Dan cut the wood and framed it in for me. The girls LOVE it!!!
I figured they could take their spelling tests on it sometimes when we needed a change of pace.
Total cost of project: $50.00. Well minus the $20 spent on the original magnetic and chalkboard paint in spray paint form. Ya' that was a disaster. If I can give you any advice with this project; don't try to save money and buy the spray on kind. Roll it on. Trust me!! :)

Next year's project? Don't tell Dan but I want to pull the carpet up and put wood floor down with a bright cheerful rug and huge pillows for the girls to lay and read on. Shhhh.......he's still recovering from the announcement that I want to paint the side of the refrigerator with the chalkboard paint so the girls have a huge art display. Whaaaattttt???? ;)

Really God?

My week, OK two weeks.....well if I'm being totally honest the last THREE weeks have found me asking, "Really God?" about every three minutes. You know how sometimes in life it just seems like a bunch of little things add up.
Those things seem to be what has been causing the extra acid "stress" in the pit of my stomach lately.
Just the little things that seem like they should work out or be obvious that are making me say,"Really?"
Situations with the upcoming married life retreat, friendships hitting a fork in the road, new friendships growing and being stretched, trying to get ready for school to start and having our ES at the charter leave.
All these little things are all fine and good on their own but all at once?
Grrrrrr......
I've been reading through Job and I can totally picture him standing there with his head cocked, hand on his hips looking up to the sky saying,"Really God?" LOL! OK maybe that's me acting like a 2 year old when God is growing me.

I decided to take control of the only thing I could this week; well my attitude and response to people is the other I suppose. But the second thing is my hair. I asked my mom why I always want to make major changes to my hair when life is stressful........yup' you can guess the answer to that; C-O-N-T-R-O-L! So here is the new and improved "control freak."

Took about 7 inches off and can I just tell you how liberating loosing that hot pony tail was! So much cooler on my neck too! Oh I'm still standing here with my head cocked, hands on my hips saying,"Really God?" But at least my hair looks cute now! Ha! :)