Pastorless Pastor's Wife

It's always a bit "strange" to go to church without Mike. But that's what we did today. It was fun to hear Ch. B and hug on Mandy. They of the dream assignment. ::snort::

I got up bright and early and started a crock pot full of yogurt. I FORGOT that I did this and discovered some very nasty smelling milk this evening. ::snort::

Josiah and Jamin went to the rodeo with friends.

Jared and the rest played games.

Zander had an adventure at Walmart - a mommy blog that I'll write later.

I kept working on coming up with something that would look like a Viking Longboat for the lapbook. I also put together a hand out of lapbook resources to put on our table tomorrow night. Jen pointed out how funny it is that 2 - 3 years ago I was congratulating myself on 3 years with TOG and NOT HAVING MADE ONE LAPBOOK. ::snort:: Then came Zander...and Nolan....

The kids all enjoyed a round or two of Spy Alley. Then Josiah had to go home and study for three exams that he takes tomorrow. (Some of those spies are very sinister looking, aren't they?)

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

SCORE!

After seeing THIS last night....

Nolan told me he thought it would be best if we put his viking lapbook in a "normal" folder. ::snort::

Zander is REALLY into Vikings...which is why we've moved into the Renaissance but are still spending oodles of time reading about Vikings etc. I figure if I can turn the alphabet into Viking work, I have a fighting chance of teaching him to read - or at least recite the alphabet. ::snort::

I combined Thoughtful Mom and Debbie's ideas and this is what I came up with.

Not bad? I used legal size file folders. I still have to figure out how to connect it at the bottom....stapler won't work. I think Mike has some leather in the workshop and I'll stitch it somehow...or something. I'm going to find a stick for the mast and let Zander decorate the sail. And if Nolan repents and wants a Longboat book? I guess I'll let him make one for himself. ::snort:: Nah, I'll help. This would be much easier with card stock...I thought copy paper would be too flimsy.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

My Exciting Day...

...seriously, I tend to get more done on the weekends when Mike isn't home. We have no reason to break our routine of work and play and work and play. LOL

This a.m. found the chaplain spouses from our base at Denny's. It's amazing how we seem to congregate once a month at a breakfast hot spot. ::snort:: The big news today (if you didn't read the chat box in the sidebar) is that I will NOT be going to my number one hoped for spot - Italy. How can I be so sure? Another chaplain found out two days ago that he is to report to Italy ...and they weren't even expecting orders. Soon.....very soon....we'll begin making a lapbook of our new location....or so I told the kids. ::Snort:: Anyway, I told them to cross Italy off their dream list as it is unlikely the AF would send TWO chaplains from our small base to the same follow on base. I also explained that our best bet for an overseas assignment would have been when Mike was a Captain. There are simply more captain slots in general...than Major or etc. Trying to prepare them for Oklahoma....but they'll have none of it...sorry, Liz. Jared said if he has to leave his friends he wants to move FAR AWAY....not sure how to fight that sort of logic?!???!!

Zander told us today he is no longer praying for Paris. He's praying for Alaska. I smile and tell him, "We'll see."

Dinner is done. Kids are in bed....

Before bed Zander lets Stacia read his dragon book


I'm still working on HOW to make a book big enough for all the mini-books shaped like a longboat...this was playing around and the boys tell me it will not do at all.

They are heading for a boring folder book - whoever told them they could make them any shape they dreamed up???? I need directions. I made this shell and 4 inserts...but it's still not big enough for all the booklets....and I can't figure out how to join it all together anyway. I think I need to go look for the right tool in Mike's workshop. ::snort::

I have a new book that's calling my name...I think I'll sleep on this viking problem and go read, "Desperate Pastors' Wives". Catchy title, isn't it? ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Vikings and Spies...Oh My!

We've spent a good part of the day working on our "Viking Books". The boys ASKED for this. I can never seem to find time to work in all the hands on things they want to do during the school week...so this works well.

I'm trying to figure out HOW to make a lapbook in the shape of a Viking Longboat and STILL have room to get all the little booklets attached. If you cut the SHAPE you just won't have much room to attach extensions. Ideas? We may settle for a nice photo or drawing of a longboat on the front. ::snort::

Jared has been valiantly working away on school all day. We had a 2 hours history discussion today. Good stuff.

Spies? The kits from Rainbow Resources and Home Science Training Tools arrived for Nolan and Zander's birthday. They have a new game - Spy Ally, fingerprint kits, spy handbook, kit that teaches codes and a kit with a zillion projects to do and supplies. I thought it may be better than all the plastic spy kits we've invested in. I am seriously thinking of buying CSI/Forensic kits for science next year. ::snort::

Time for dinner...and then we may try to finish Viking booklets so that we aren't distracted for "school" on Monday. ::snort:: I found a TON of stuff I'd like to do on the Internet...dye some cloth with beet and onions, make a sail, make a daub and wattle model hut...but honestly...we are 6 weeks behind where I want to be...and it could very well be that all these bunny trails are going to have to dwindle until after our move. Can I have a bunny trail award? ::snort::

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Care to Guess....

...when we'll know where we are moving this summer?

We had been told early - mid February. All around us others are getting orders. Now that Mike is gone the kids (and I) are worried that someone will forget to tell us where we are moving....or that we'll hear where we are going through the grapevine.

Maybe a contest would help pass the time. ::snort::

Leave your best guess - and really it's totally random here - as to when we'll find out the location of our next home.....

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Two Earth-Shattering Comments

1. Yes, Bre....I remember that black is an "old lady" color and brown is the new black....but I like this look for now. Never fear, I am not wearing this color combination. ::snort::
2. 2. My memory is SOOOO bad. Honestly, it's worrisome. I've been informed that JAMIN was NOT hit on the head by a brick resulting in stitches (see birthday blog). Jamin threw the brick that landed on JARED'S head...resulting in stitches.
3. 3. Mike is asking me to figure out how to back up/save the blog. Any ideas? I don't want to necessarily make BOOKS - far too much money..... Of course, if everything we write on the web is archived...it is a simple matter of finding the archives. LOL
4. Did I warn blog readers that when Mike is gone I suffer from a severe word usage deficit? Expect more verbiage than strictly necessary.
5. This is more than 2 thoughts.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Friday Update

Jamin is 18! He and I went to the gym.

Nolan, Zander and I worked on our Viking Lapbooks.

We picked up produce. The kids enjoyed a power play date and I enjoyed a power "mommy date". LOL

We picked up Jamin and Jared and went to Jamin's favorite Chinese restaurant. Josiah called when he got out of his last class and joined us for lunch.

Josiah and the older two boys went out to target practice with his new toy.

Mike called. Check the update at the top of the blog.

The older boys called us and we met them at the lake. Photos below. We didn't have gifts or a party today for Jamin. We'll do that when Mike is home. The day was practically perfect. It was a treat to sit and visit with Josiah....always good to get the insight of adult children while you still have children at home to benefit from that input. LOL

We came home and watched El Dorado and Hogan's Heroes.

Photos (tried to limit it to one per subject...I do like the quality of the D70 photos....and I've taken to carrying a back pack so it is a purse camera. ::snort::)

Peaceful Play Structure

The gang hatches a plan.....


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Stacia was clueless most of the game...but she had a blast! It was fun to watch everyone include her in the wild game.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.