1st Time Skiing!!!

I coordinate a home school group of about 30 families to ski at an extremely discounted price at the nearest ski resort here, Badger Pass.  I tried to get Levi on skis last year but he would just sit on them and let them slide down.  This year he was ready.
Our first day out it was beautiful and it had just snowed the night before.  We have gotten record snow this year and there was quite a bit of powder which slowed things down a lot. 
The instructors are wonderful and patient here and it is so fun to watch someone else teach my kids for once.

Really Awesome Jewelry

Head over to lisaleonardonline.com for a giveaway she is having and look at her awesome and simple jewelry.  Anything on her website would be a nice gift to get : )

October Recap!

Here's my monthly post and I'm doing a little better, huh?  October was a busy month.  What month isn't these days?  With 4 kiddos, life is sure full.
  We are well into school and I just praise God that He is teaching me daily to be flexible and to let Him rule NOT my schedule.  That is a hard lesson for this VERY task driven gal!  I think after 5 years of home school I just may be getting it.  I truly am enjoying this year so much more.

 
  We are finally enjoying our patio after a very loooong summer of waiting.  It is wonderful and I see many winter nights spent out by the fire pit.

   Isaac has been in a Lego robotics club and is really enjoying it.  He also has a soccer game every Sat. and he is still enjoying it and learning much.  I have been helping a friend out by watching her two sons so she can have a break one Saturday a month.  We've gone pumpkin picking, berry picking, and enjoyed spending time with our fellowship group especially over the last weekend where we had an old fashioned harvest celebration complete with chili eating, caramel apple making, pumpkin carving and watching "Charlie Brown and The Great Pumpkin".

  I've been teaching a P.E. and anatomy class to some other home school families the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Fridays.  I have a dear friend who is teaching my kids drama on my "off" Fridays so I have been getting a 3 hour break a couple times a month.  That has been truly a blessing.

  I've also been mentoring a dear young lady and leading a bible study, Beth Moore's "Jesus the One and Only" with a few gals.  If you've never done any of her bible studies I highly recommend them.  She is an anointed teacher and student of the Word.  

  Our big news is that we have joined with a dear couple from our fellowship group to help them out with their on-the-side bbq business at fairs and events.  We worked two this last month and it was a lot of work but a blast and we are able to earn a little extra money considering the cuts John has had because of our state's (and his district's) financial situation.  I usually take the orders and John makes the order with our friend Rae while her husband Joe is out at the smoker/grill.  The food is amazing and they are wonderful and fun to work for.  Unless we get a catering job we won't have another fair until Memorial Day.  The last job we did was over this past weekend for "The Tarantula Festival" which the kids dressed up and  had some fun activities for (a Lego block, ballerina, Tigger, and fireman).

  God bless and may November be an especially full month of counting your blessings.

Prayer Request

I know I rarely post on here as is but if there are a faithful few who still read, I ask for your prayers.  I have 2 nieces (Tenaya, just turned 15 on the right and Shaylee turning 13 in Dec.) who are making incredibly bad choices.  This picture is over a year old, they do not look like this today.  Their hearts are becoming hard and their outward appearance reflects that.  My heart aches and breaks and longs to see God "restore what the locusts have eaten".  I don't know what part to play, I don't know how to pray, I don't know how to encourage and love without being harsh and wanting to shake them until they comply.  I want God to do a miracle.  I know He is God no matter what but I want these girls to experience Jesus' abundant life!  I want it NOW not after they have a wake of consequences that they have to wade through. 
  Please pray for whatever the Lord leads on your heart to pray and please don't stop.  I'll post any changes but until then, "don't grow weary in doing good" and pray, pray, pray! Thank you!

Reading, Writing, and Rithmetic (that's not even a word)!

Yes, with the end of Labor Day Weekend comes the beginning of our school year! Here's how we started the school year this week...

"Class Pictures" was the first order of business.

That was followed by Alphabet Pancakes (the first letter of each child's name is all this Mom/Teacher could accomplish).  Each student also received a little "goody" folder with new school supplies.
     After that we proceeded to establish our schedule.  It is always difficult to get back into the swing of things but I think this week went pretty well.  The subjects for this year are Bible, Math, Language Arts, Writing, World History, Spanish, Geography, Atronomy, Anatomy, P.E., Drama, Art, and Piano (Isaac and Abby).
Let the 2010-2011 school year begin!!!!

Summer Fun!

Well, is there anyone still out there wondering if I'm going to post anything any time soon? Sorry for the LOOOOONG absence of posts. This summer has been a little crazy and uncertain at times. We spent most of it waiting to see if we would get to go back to see our family on the east coast. It was not to be (Lord willing next summer for sure :D). We still managed to pack A LOT into this summer ie. building a patio, camping, swimming, road tripping up north to see family and friends, VBSing, entertaining, visiting, riding, and just enjoying all being together. Here's a few pictures to recap.

Gymnastics Recital

Abby and Mimi had their recital. This year they were able to be in the same class which was VERY nice for me. They did a good job and I'm so proud of them. I especially love to see how very close they are getting. They really are best friends. I took this video during the dress rehearsal, they did even better the next night.