Showing posts with label Luke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Luke. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Luke, My Boy

Do you ever have those days when you just want to brag on your kids?!  I sure do.  Today was one of them. 
 
We had the craziest of crazy days today, in the car for more hours than at home, running all over the place for a variety of reasons.  Each of the children deserve a reward for good behavior and long suffering from being strapped in for so long. 
 
One of our first stops was to the dentist for the four bigger children's bi-yearly cleanings.  The boys are pros and love going to the dentist.  Sadie has only visited one time and that did not go so well.  The hygienist and dentist were so good with her, but she just wasn't having anything to do with it. 
 
 
I assumed that today's visit would end with the same result given the torrent of tears before we even left the house this morning. 
 
While Luke was having his teeth cleaned, Sadie sat in the room with him watching and talking up a storm with our hygienist.  As soon as it was Sadie's turn, she got all shy and teary-eyed.  The hygienist was so gentle and patient with her when she was refusing to sit or even come over near her.  I suggested that maybe Sadie would like to sit on Luke's lap and have her teeth cleaned because I was holding a snoozing baby boy.
 
Luke has this sweet way of saying, "Sure" and getting right on Sadie's level to talk with her, big brave brother to little nervous sister.  He convinced her to sit on his lap and squish him like a pancake so the hygienist could count her teeth.  Sadie eventually opened her mouth for a quick cleaning in the safety of her brother's arms.  I just wish I had my camera to capture how securely he was holding her and speaking encouraging words to her.  Our dentist was just in awe of how well he cared for and loved Sadie. 
 
He makes me so proud.
 
 
Luke, my compassionate boy, the one who loves little kids and babies and kitties.  Luke, my gentle boy, who instinctively knows how to comfort little ones.  Luke, my man child, so mature in some ways, yet a still a little boy.  Luke, my sensitive heart boy, you empathize with others and do your best to encourage.  Luke, your compassion is a gift from the Lord.  I pray that you will use it for His glory as you grow into a man.
 
And just for a more rounded picture...Luke, my loud boy, who has some crazy dance moves and loves to sing worship songs heard on the radio.  Luke, my athletic boy, who is not afraid of a good rough and tumble game.  Luke, my big, strong boy, whose feet almost fit perfectly in my shoes... 
 
Someone freeze time.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

{Project 365} Day 30: Third Quarter

We've made it to our 3rd quarter of school!  It seems like it's taken us for. eh. ver!  Adding a newborn to our mix has certainly made life more busy but we're finding ways to make it work most days... 
 
I've created my own record keeping documents for the past few years so I can tweak them to meet our specific curriculum and academic goals.  As we complete lessons I record them on each boy's weekly list.  I list enough check boxes under each subject to meet my weekly goal of completed lessons, like four grammar lessons or three science activities/lessons.  We don't always check off every box in every category each week, but we try our best! 
 
 
{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

Monday, January 28, 2013

{Project365} Day 25: Classes and Clothing

 Our history studies are so much fun this year!  We're using Project Passport: The Middle Ages by Homeschool in the Woods.  I love the variety of activities and audio tours.  It's a little strange for me to read our "text" straight from the screen rather than having a printed copy even though printing is an option.  I'm trying to save a little paper, ink, and time by not printing more than necessary. 
 
Elijah and Luke cover some of the material in their history class at our weekly co-op.  The rest of the week, with Isaac joining in, I add on to what they've all ready completed in class - living books and the more time consuming projects.  Below are "puppets" depicting the different classes of people and the clothing they would have worn.
 
 
 
{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

Monday, January 21, 2013

{Project 365} Day 21: On the Trail

 
 
{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

Thursday, December 6, 2012

The Fab Five

I've been wanting to take photos of my five on our bed for some time now.  This morning brought sunny skies to brighten our room, caught up laundry for bright colored shirts, and no agenda other than living life at home today.  Perfect elements for an amateur photo shoot!
 


Honestly, I can't decide which is my favorite shot...
 
I'd love to purchase one of these photos as a large print or a wrapped canvas print to hang in our family room or living room.  In large part, that's why I chose the bright colors for their shirts...love me some color!!!
 
Love these faces even more...can't imagine life without them!!!  

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Creationary

Lego lovers love Creationary.  At least mine do.
 


The boy who generally doesn't like board games likes this game...he loves Legos and he has a great imagination for building.

Monday, August 13, 2012

First Day of School?!

Today was our first day of school.  I wanted to get a head start on the year in order to take a few weeks off when the baby arrives.  I knew going to bed last night that our first day might not go as I had planned due to sniffles and coughs bothering all the kids.  Despite a rough night for Sadie and Luke, and consequently, myself, we plunged in to the day...

I actually hesitate to call this our first day but since we did accomplish a few things, I say it totally counts!!!  Oh my, were there bumps...schooling and otherwise, but I'm ending the day feeling good overall!  I spent much of the day just smiling and chuckling over how "imperfect" it truly was.  I kept thanking the Lord that I have the privilege of teaching our children at home and the ability to be flexible throughout.

At morning wake up, the kids enjoyed scrambled eggs, cinnamon rolls, and strawberries.  Each one found small buckets of supplies at their seats...pencils, colored pencils, scissors, erasers, glue sticks, writing paper, personal wipe boards,  Kit Kats, and a special note from Mama.  I forgot to buy chalk to write their names on the buckets, however, Luke remembered that we had sidewalk chalk in the garage!

Sadie received a few different items than the boys - Dora Band-Aids, markers, and purple Play dough but no writing paper, pencils, or colored pencils.  She was quite thrilled with her school stuff!

 Luke is starting 3rd grade!

Isaac is tackling Kindergarten/1st grade! 

Elijah is in 5th grade! 

Target's dollar section had these cute 24pk. note cards for lunch boxes.  One side is printed with encouraging words while the opposite side has space for a hand written note. 

I have been thinking I would send along a note in the boys' lunch boxes on Tuesdays when they go to co-op for the day.  We are all excited for the opportunity they have to take part in a school day each week at The Home School Academy.  Isaac will be participating in the Kindergarten/1st Grade class combining science, children’s literature, geography, history, music, and art using fun interactive unit studies.  Both Elijah and Luke will be take part in history, science, writing/literature, gym, and art/performing arts classes.  I couldn't resist using one of the note cards for each of their buckets this morning! 

Sadie loves the ABC's!  Her favorite letter is...can you guess???  It's "S."  She still isn't quite sure if she's right or left handed - she kept switching back and forth to color in these letters - however she has great fine motor skills with both hands.  I am hoping to keep her busy with some preschool activities this year as well as with a whole bunch of hands-on play. 

Isaac, my not-so-willing-student, did a wonderful job matching, naming, and coloring shapes.  I'm always thankful for the first few weeks of review to help us ease back into school mode.

Elijah often finds quiet space in the boy's room to help him concentrate.  Who doesn't love to do schoolwork lounging in bed, right?!

"Look, Mama!  I colored it!"

Our Luke had his first sick day of the school year.  Nothing much accomplished except sleep and 15 minutes of piano practice.  Poor guy!  In the afternoon, I implemented "rest time" for everyone...oh, yummy!  Mama got a nap!!!  If you would, pray that we all sleep better tonight!

Finally, on our agenda tonight, with bellies full of homemade chicken noodle soup...

The boys always plead with me to read "just one more chapter" of our read-alouds during the day.  With daddy gone all week, it will be easy to meet their request in the evenings to help settle everyone in for the night.

I'm so glad I took pictures of our first day...we did, indeed, accomplish some things!  It really makes the rest of the "bumps" of the day seem not so big a deal...

Monday, March 19, 2012

If You Make a Bowl of Popcorn...

Are you familiar with the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff? It's a humorous story about how a mouse keeps getting distracted and moving onto other projects/thoughts because the current project/thought makes him think of something new...

I've written my own personal version of this cute story...one I think is very worth telling.

If You Make a Bowl of Popcorn...


If you make a bowl of popcorn, your kids will want to sit with you to hear a story...

If your kids want to hear a story, you'll tell them about how you learned to make such delicious homemade popcorn at the beach with Aunt Margo...

Thinking about the beach will remind you of that summer when you realized renting a house on the beach was the vacation of all awesome vacations and how mama and the other two aunties were hoping to get pregnant at the same time...our longed-for beach babies...

Thinking about beach babies will remind you how excited you were to find out you were expecting your fourth baby due in July 2009...a girl...

If you tell the story of Sadie Kathryn's arrival, you'll have to tell about how excited you were to have a son join your family in August 2006...and how you "laughed" about having your third boy...

If you tell about Isaac Joel, then you'll have to tell about how shocked you were to find out Luke Daniel was going to arrive in May 2004...just eighteen months after his older brother was born...

If you think about your oldest son, Elijah Michael, arriving in November 2002, you be reminded how nervous and excited you were about having your first child...

Since you've taken so long telling the beautiful life stories of Sadie, Isaac, Luke, and Elijah, you'll be asked to make just one more bowl of popcorn...

When you are making the second bowl of popcorn, you'll be reminded that now is probably a good time to tell about one more beautiful life...the precious one that will arrive in October 2012...

When you are telling about the new baby coming, you'll be reminded that life is to be celebrated, that all good gifts come from the Lord - the Giver of Life, and that this baby is dearly loved and wanted...no surprises, no regrets...just love, excitement, and anticipation...

And when you share how excited you are about your fifth baby, you'll pray that others will share in your joy and excitement, too...

Baby and Mama looking all springy and bright...11.4 weeks.

Isaac's prayer journal from church...March 18. 2012

Monday, March 5, 2012

Defending

We're the first house on our cul-de-sac street. By default, that makes us the defenders of the street...a responsibility we take very seriously.








The only downside is deciding in a split second who is a neighbor and who is an invader...I fear we may have fired upon several allies since we have only lived here for six months...




*In truth...the boys are allowed to aim and fire when there aren't any cars pulling into our street...when a car does turn in, they are supposed to cease fire and aim elsewhere...*

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pretty Little Pillow

The pillows that came with our couch are, well...too matchy, too stiff, too coordinated, too monotoned, too expected, too boring, too ugly. I already gifted three of the five to the thrift store...the remaining two don't stand a chance of surviving much longer in this house.


Especially after last night...I made a pretty little pillow. It's so sunny and bright!!! Just what my self-prescribed prescription ordered: "Saturate yourself with color...lots of color...to beat the winter brown and grey days."


Recipe for the pillow:
*(2) napkins - @19" square - these were from Target last winter. 4 napkins/pkg. About $9.

*(1) 18" square pillow form - definitely not the cheapest one you can buy otherwise you'll make a brightly colored pillow that is as stiff as your ugly, matchy couch pillows. My pillow form had a mix of silk in it's stuffing...feels like it's down-filled. About $9 at Joann's (50% off sale).

*needle & thread


Directions:
(1) Place napkins right side together (printed sides together). Pin along three sides.
(2) Pin fourth side in about 3" from each end. (you will need to leave the remaining 12" in the center of the fourth side open to stuff your pillow inside!)
(3) Sew straight stitch along pinned sections remember to leave that fourth side open
(4) Trim corners or any extra folded hem from the napkins.
(5) Turn your pillow cover inside out, poke out corners with a chopstick, and stuff with pillow form adjusting to fill corners.
(6) Pin the 12" opening closed with straight pins.
(7) Use needle & thread to close the opening with a slip stitch.
(8) Realize that it only took you about 30 minutes to complete this project that's been sitting around for a long time and shake your head at your silliness...



Just look how squishy and soft that pillow is...perfect for lounging and studying your karate student manual!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Wanted

Spotted some cowboys with rifles pokin' 'round the ranch. They posted these here things on my corral...


...now I'm afeared for my life.