Saturday

This was the day of friends.

I got two long distance phone calls today from friends who have moved. Wait - THREE - Charly called twice. ::snort:: Charly's daughter does these amazing history fair projects. This year's project is on "conflict and compromise". They are going to use Queen Esther as her historical character. She needs four sources for information - original are best. We brainstormed. If any of you know of good resources...please leave them in the comment section. The book of Esther in the Bible refers to the "Book of the Medes and Persians". Has anyone located this book?

Julie H (as opposed to Julie O) also called. What a joy to hear from old friends....we were in AK together. She and her family are going to GREECE for two years! An ACCOMPANIED remote assignment. They offered for Michael and I could fly out for a second honeymoon sometime in the next two years.

This evening Michael took Jared and his friends: Matt, Steven and Mike out for a few rousing rounds of paint ball. What a dad! Steven and Mike are the sons of my friend, Debbie, whose husband deployed last week. She came over and visited, with the younger ones and I, while the older ones fought it out.

Stacia cracked us up yelling at her birthday bird. She was telling it to "stop it" and "no" and "quiet" and it kept parroting her. That had all stopped by the time I remembered video...but here is the infamous birthday bird.

Friday

Curves. No produce co-op. Michael's day off - he only went in for 3 or 4 hours. ::snort:: Actually, he had a suspense that needed to be met - that's the way life is in today's short manned military. There is talk of taking some time off next weekend. We'll see what happens.

In school the younger ones made "snake throwing sticks". It was another great day with paint. I need to buy some varnish and then we'll play a game with our snake sticks. This activity was a God-send. I'd been praying in the a.m. that I'd like to find some games that were played in Ancient Egypt. I've not had time to really read TOG. I didn't want to order more things. Arielle was thumbing through *Old Testament Days - an activity Guide* by Nancy Sanders, and asked to do an activity. The activity was to make snake sticks and there are directions to play an Egyptian throwing game. We've enjoyed all the things we've done in this book to date. We talked about how Moses would have grown up throwing snake sticks and how God later gave him confidence by telling him to throw his stick which turned into a real snake. (Note to self - buy new wooden spoons). Stacia covered herself in GREEN paint on Friday.

Michael came home and decided he needed to get me out of the house for a bit. We went out to lunch and then on to Sam's club.

Mike had missed *Facing the Giants*, it came out when he was deployed. We watched it last night. Then we set up for Hogan's Heroes. I went to get into jammies and came back and they had on WALTONS!!!! What a fun surprise for me. They watched Hogan afterwards and I went to bed.

We are getting a very late start today. I did make crepes. We'll see what else the day brings.

Palacsinta (Palacheeta- Hungarian Filled Pancakes - Crepes)

Palacsinta (Palacheeta - Hungarian filled Pancakes - Crepes) Given to me YEARS ago at Malmstrom AFB by Sarah H. 

 5 eggs 1/2 C sugar (honey, rapadura, agave nectar all work- adjust liquids) 1 tsp sea salt 1 tsp vanilla 2 1/4 C Flour (I use soft white wheat - but any would work) 2 1/2 C milk Beat eggs. Add sugar, salt, vanilla. Beat well. Add flour and milk gradually beating until smooth. In a lightly greased pan put 3T batter, rotate pan to cover evenly. Brown on both sides. Keep crepes warm until all are fried. Serve with jelly, fruit, butter/Cinnamon, Peanut butter/Syrup, or cheese filling (authentic choice ::snort::) Cottage Cheese Filling 1 carton cottage cheese 1/2 C sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla pinch of salt Mix well. I wouldn't know what the cheese filling is like - we've never tried it. I have no trouble keeping these warm, they disappear as fast as they are done. Horrors - my children LOVE these and I've not made them for quite a bit of time. Nolan asks for them every Saturday and often during the week. I decided to make them and couldn't' find the recipe. I thought it was on the blog and it wasn't - now it is. And now I'll go make some crepes for breakfast. Thanks for sharing your old family favorite with us Sarah, it's become one of our family favorites. And to think those little kids running in base housing are now GRADUATED adults. LOL

Thursday - Funschooling...

Jodi introduced me to the term "fun schooling" vs. unschooling to explain how we school. (If you want a great glimpse into funschooling read Jodi's blog. I get lots of ideas from watching her school. LOL) I've been working all week to get the books that TOG recommends into our home. Somehow, I felt we were behind because we didn't have the right books. BUT education is taking place....everywhere.

This is a glimpse of what funschooling looks like in our home.

Stacia continues to be incredibly jealous of the older children's school time...

Math U See blocks continue to be a favorite!

I sort of "plant" books.....and they find them and ask if they can read them. I tell them in a sort of reluctant tone, "O kayyyy.....but save some for school". ::snort:: Today our younger 3 students (4th, 3rd, and K) began reading A Place in the Sun, finished Bill and Pete, they thumbed through several books on Ancient Egypt, made pyramids from leggos, and we made Egyptian Paddle Dolls. The only activity that required me was making the dolls. Normally, I WOULD read with them - but today I was still trying to find used books. ::snort::

Painting always makes it a special day

Stacia tastes the paint (she won't do THAT again) then

Stacia wears the paint

Arielle's paddle doll (the boys decided THEIR MAN dolls didn't need hair! Middle aged, I guess! ::snort::)

Stacia insists on trying her hand at beading too

Group Paddle Doll photo

They began learning the vocabulary for studying Egypt, they learned a bit about the Nile, about cobras, Egyptian toys, pyramids and the afterlife according to the ancient Egyptians,....and we're off. We reviewed last year earlier in the week by tying and hanging our history quilt. They've been doing math and spelling on their own. They are picking up books to read. Zander really needs hands on projects, so we'll be doing lots of those again this year. They'll outgrow them eventually.


The older boys are also funschooling - but their idea of fun has changed over the years. Jamin wants to graduate early. He loves writing and so he is doing a LOT of writing and filmmaking, graphic design, Movies as Lit .... He also spent a good amount of time today offering his services to do free book reviews at various magazines and newspapers. No takers yet. He may begin a blog to publish his reviews and such - it's part of a class we are creating. Jared wants to attend the Air Force Academy. His fun is lots of science and math and the Civil Air Patrol leadership/ aeronautical science courses. College has got to be the ultimate funschooling - I don't know why anyone would go if they didn't WANT to be there for some very important reason. ::snort::


Hmmm...though I say we have five students this year, it appears that Stacia is determined to be counted in the mix.


After school we ran to the airport and spent some time with our friends the H family. Steve found out Tuesday that he would be deploying today. Debbie, is the one who took me out monthly while Mike was deployed - you may remember her earlier appearances in the blog. Shoot - Michael was missing last Christmas and Steve will be missing this year. We're sad for them, but oh so very proud of all our troops!!!!!


We had a bit of time between the airport and having to run Jared to Civil Air Patrol. Michael and Nolan worked on rockets.

We had dinner in the Fellowship Hall at the chapel. Michael and Jared are still on base. It will be another late night.


Zander insisted on helping with the windows (Oh yeah - I cut his hair!)
We're about to end the night with another chapter of *Boyhood and Beyond* and a couple more chapters from, "Peter Pan in Scarlett".

Adult Children Update

No, I don't plan to update daily. I realize that millions of youth are in college, ministry programs etc, and our situation isn't totally unique. I realize that the 70% who found my blog via SHS or email links may not be interested in updates, but the 20% who read the blog and are personal friends and family will be......So here's an update....

~The girls report that they met a delightful blog stalker at church on Sunday. ::snort:: Way to go, Candy! It brought home for BreAnne how easy it would be for someone they don't know to find them via info on the web (MC links, Church links, My Space etc).

~Krista has been given a 1980 Chevy Luv truck. Nicholas has helped her through the maze to get it registered and titled.

~The girls are staff this year and are busily preparing for 2nd and 1st year students to return.

~Nicholas (not a son but courting our daughter Krista) is preparing to move down to Eugene Bible College. Mom, he's been prepared that you and Dad will want to get to know him and is thinking of trying your church. Maybe it will be a good fit.

~Josiah attended his FIRST day of lectures at college. Keep in mind he is NOT taking political science but is taking a math, English, and history course. The topics of discussion were gay marriage, abortion, and why the troops should get out of Iraq. ::snort:: While he told us about the lectures, I kept thinking "He's PAYING for THIS?" but he'll be fine and is wonderfully able to sort through the junk he hears and compare it with the truth in the Word of God.

~Josiah reports that he's figured out the parking situation. You have to pull up to one of the buildings and then stalk a student who leaves, allowing you to grab their spot as soon as they pull out.

~Josiah came home last night with a pay check that contained a bonus, another $1 per hour raise, and some very nice kudos. I thought it was nice of God, through Tim O, to send him some affirmation as he begins a totally new venture, which can tend to bring a bit of insecurity - though Cy isn't admitting to feeling out of sorts.

~A funny at college (besides the lectures)? Josiah was standing nearby while someone went on and on about these "little freshman", then he bumped into Josiah, looked UP and said, "I'm sorry, excuse me." Josiah bit his tongue but had a great response ready about these "little freshman cluttering up the place". LOL

I thought that with so much of our blog taken up recounting daily activities here at home (which by very nature focus on the children still at HOME) it would be nice to include an update of what our adult children are up to.

Friendship in Proverbs 4 and 6

There are not a lot of specific verses in these chapters on friendship. There are lots of verses on various relationships. Here are two that could speak to friendships.

Prov 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.

Watch - guard - keep - be DILIGENT - does this relationship benefit my heart or is it allowing things contrary to God's will and plan into my heart?

Prov 6:12 - 15 presents a list of characteristics of a worthless/wicked man. I want to avoid these things in myself, and also in my close associates.

1. walks with a perverse mouth
2. winks with the eyes (deceptive)
3. signals with the feet (deceptive)
4. points with fingers
5. has a perverse heart that continually devises evil
6. spreads strife

Wacky Wednesday

It's SO much work to pull life together around here on some days! I don't know about all of you but there is this feeling of adrenaline in the pit of my stomach. It begins as I rush out the door to get a work out in, and doesn't end until the last child falls asleep. I think I used to handle it better. I've always been a fairly "high energy" person. I used to thrive on multi-tasking. I thrived on being around people. Now, I only want to have a clear plan and have it work for one day. ::snort::

It's about dying to oneself...and dying to one's plans for the day! I'm not sure I'm making a lick of sense here...but that is how I'm feeling tonight. I've been rushing and pushing from the very minute the alarm clock went off. Even my time in the Word feels "rushed" this week....."Hurry, hurry, get something out of this before Zander calls for breakfast." I know it's all about adjusting back to our school routine. Really, the "lazy days of summer" never materialized this year....but still I feel rushed and hurried as we adjust back to school.

I'm so thankful that God checked me when I planned to join more activities this fall. I simply can't keep up with "life" around here very well this week. I know that eventually Zander will adjust to doing school and Stacia will adjust to not having playmates....I've been on this road before....but just this evening, I am exhausted. I'm called to deny myself for this season of raising and schooling children - and it's good. It's just tiring on some days. ::snort::

What DID I do today? We all did math, phonics, and some reading. We began reading "Bill and Pete" - an old favorite of older kids who are now reading "Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Literature". ::snort:: We ate. I actually forgot to eat until I grabbed a roll at 6:00 p.m. I ordered more books. I searched for other books. I called Rosetta Stone and maybe, just maybe, they will send an upgrade for the discs that quit working...and maybe not. We shall have to see. I did get our TOG books ordered. We sat and talked about how we were organizing notebooks, vocabulary, and time lines this year. Jamin listed out for me the 20 topics he plans on studying - makes my head whirl. We organized Math U See blocks and books and discs. I FOUND a disc and a teacher's manual for Geometry.....YES. It pays to organize. I talked to Krista on the phone.

We ended the day by starting the sequel to Peter Pan and reading a chapter from a book on becoming men. Arielle wasn't so sure about this book choice - but it has to fit in somewhere. I told her to listen and learn what to look for in a man. I'm not sure she bought it, but really the chapter had good insights for all of us.

I need to bring this rambling entry to an end and go pull 36 pages from the SAP to send to Tapestry of Grace so that I can get my 50% off coupon for the redesign. Hmmm...if that sentence makes no sense to you, don't worry about it....It's homeschool mumble jumble.::snort::