Nutty November

I would love to write pages about each fun and funny episode that goes along with each picture, but time just won't allow it. So, let's hope that a picture really does tell a thousand words. Enjoy a re-cap of our last month or so. No, sadly Wilbur wasn't involved.

Homeschool Co-op Fun

We adore and treasure the precious family we meet with once a week for a fun homeschool co-op. We then gather every few months for dinner, a celebration and for the children to give presentations of what they have learned. We are doing a missionary and geography study together this year and celebrated recently with a Mexican Fiesta.

The little ones showing off their Mexican dance.

The bigger kids studied up on various missionaries and gave presentations of their lives.

Salt dough maps of North American topography.

They're a crazy and studious bunch!

Christmas Baking

Trying to pull a tooth

Caleb is one crazy kid. He decided to tie a piece of dental floss from his tooth to a chair and then knock the chair over. Didn't work.

Igloo making

Sugar cube igloo creation by Logan as we studied Canada.

Quiet Sit Time

Rebekah practices how to sit still every morning with hands folded and a timer in front of her. She's expected to sit with us in church and we don't want to be 'practicing' on Sunday morning at the expense of everyone else around us. (By the way - she is doing great. Finally!) Anna still sleeps in Daddy's arms through church, but soon it'll be her turn with the timer.

Jumping Beans!

Mother/Daughter Date Week-end!

Several months ago Ellen and I started planning and praying about a special week-end together. One of our prayers was to spend the time at a 'free beach house' since our budget was not huge for our time together. We were blessed with a family that we hardly know from our homeschool support group who graciously provided their beautiful beach cottage for the week-end. Thank you God! We had a wonderful time eating out, talking, scrapbooking, talking, cross-stitching, talking, watching movies, talking, going for a walk on the beach, talking, going for a go-kart ride, talking, shopping, and lots more talking!

Check out this fondue dessert - that's dark chocolate folks with marshmallows and Oreos mixed in!

Time to potty train?

Anna has never liked her pants to be stinky. So she has now taken it upon herself to go to the cabinet with the diaper changing supplies, pull out the pad and wipes and sit patiently on the pad hoping I'll happen by to clean her up. Think it's time to potty train??? I'm not ready!!!

Thanksgiving

Daddy and his little pilgrim. We called Logan "The Governor" all day after Governor William Bradford. He loved it.

And, of course, Caleb was Massasoit and Anna was Oceanus.

Toogoodoo Christmas Tree Farm

Our 10th straight year chopping down our Christmas tree at good ol' Toogoodoo. Very much a family tradition - complete with a train ride, Toogie the talking Christmas tree and, of course, the hunt for the 'perfect' tree.

On the hunt for the perfect tree with the little ones carrying the measuring pole - a comedy in itself.

We found it! This tree now sits in our living room full of lights and ornaments. Strange tradition - isn't it?

Picking out the perfect Christmas tree is hard work!