Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
School Stuff
School is in session here at Faith Mountain Academy. We are having a fantastic year thus far...it's amazing how far a little planning can go!
Anna does reading with Jacob every day...this is early on, reviewing letters and their sounds!
It feels like we've been in this astronomy book forever...maybe we have been! But, we're nearly done! Here, we were doing an experiment to see how clouds are formed.
Anna does reading with Jacob every day...this is early on, reviewing letters and their sounds!
It feels like we've been in this astronomy book forever...maybe we have been! But, we're nearly done! Here, we were doing an experiment to see how clouds are formed.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Today's Funnies
Some completely random sayings around here today:
Anna was struggling to get her underwear on, as they were inside out. "Mom, these aren't getting on me."
We were out berry picking this afternoon, and Anna was plopped down in the middle of a good patch of crowberries. Jacob is picking away, trying to fill his little bucket with enough berries to make berry crumble. He said, "Anna, you could try picking them and NOT eating them."
Tonight Anna was looking through one of her preschool books. With every new page turn, she would exclaim "Oh, this is so easy!", and then show me the page. "Oh, this is so easy, too!" On and on, through the whole book. Perhaps preschool isn't challenging enough for her. :)
Anna was struggling to get her underwear on, as they were inside out. "Mom, these aren't getting on me."
We were out berry picking this afternoon, and Anna was plopped down in the middle of a good patch of crowberries. Jacob is picking away, trying to fill his little bucket with enough berries to make berry crumble. He said, "Anna, you could try picking them and NOT eating them."
Tonight Anna was looking through one of her preschool books. With every new page turn, she would exclaim "Oh, this is so easy!", and then show me the page. "Oh, this is so easy, too!" On and on, through the whole book. Perhaps preschool isn't challenging enough for her. :)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Pace Yourself
If you haven't been here in a while, or even if you faithfully pop in here, a few notes:
- I'm sorry I've been so inconsistent about blogging. Unfortunately for our blog writer/blog reader relationship, my primary purpose is simply to record family memories, much as a craftier, more time-endowed mom might scrapbook.
- Given my primary purpose, if life is too busy to allow time to blog about said life, blogging gets the back-burner until I either get so overwhelmed at all that has happened that I won't have to time to blog about before NEW stuff happens that I have a crazy spurt of blogging. Or I get so overwhelmed that I just skip everything I'm behind on and start where I'm at. (Today was the former. I did the latter last year, and didn't want a repeat of big chunks of our life missing).
- Usually when I have a spurt of blogging, I schedule the posts to publish a few a day, so as to space things out and not get overwhelming if you've just stopped by after a long hiatus.
- I did not schedule the posts for this spurt. I'm just movin' em out, lettin' em fly!
- I know I rarely do over 30 posts (between 3 blogs) at one time. Over the course of 36 hours would be more precise.
- Pace yourself. There's a lot here. Enjoy or skip at your discretion...I'll never know otherwise!
- And with that, I am blogging from the current month's events! Yee-haw!
First Day of School!
The kids were SO excited to start the school year...presents wrapped on the table the first morning helped. :) I can hardly believe that Andrew is in 3rd grade this year! Jacob is in Kindergarten, and Anna is in preschool!
Oh, Jacob...
...you're the winner of the "first day of school injury" award this year. Granted, we hadn't officially started...I just woke you kids up and kept you on a similar schedule to my plans for our school day. It was an "in-service day," and you all were "in-service" cleaning up the school room with me! Alas, you were enthusiastically running to get your Bible to do your devotions, and you fell into the trunk by the piano. You cried really hard, and I certainly couldn't blame you. *sigh* At least it's not a trip to the ER...
Giraffe Artists!
No, not giraffes that are artists...just artists that can create giraffes!
While Aunt Becca was working on the giraffe in the girls' room, Jacob decided he needed to make a giraffe, too! He hurried off to get his art set (a well-loved and used gift from Uncle Tom and Aunt Jenny last Christmas), and before we knew it, he
was back with an amazing picture of a giraffe!
While Aunt Becca was working on the giraffe in the girls' room, Jacob decided he needed to make a giraffe, too! He hurried off to get his art set (a well-loved and used gift from Uncle Tom and Aunt Jenny last Christmas), and before we knew it, he
was back with an amazing picture of a giraffe!
Anna's New Bed!
We've been going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class, and it remarkable how God starts providing when you commit to following His money principles.
One basic principle that seems so simple yet can be so difficult: to save money, stop spending money!
Well, some folks Mark knew through Ace were moving out-of-state, and they had a practically brand-new set of solid oak bunkbeds for sale. They knew Mark had kids, so they offered them to him for $350 OBO...would he like to come see them?
Well, he went and looked at them, and we debated offering them $200. Much less than they're worth, but for us at this point, they were not a necessity. Anna would have been fine in her toddler bed until Karis was ready to move out of the crib. So no, we didn't need them, but we could spend $200 on them just because it's a really good deal, right?
We prayed about it and felt that we were definitely NOT supposed to buy them...stop spending money, see?
But you know what God did? They came back into the store to ask Mark about them, and he thanked them for the offer but politely declined. So you know what they did? You know the punch line because you see the little girl in her new bed...they GAVE them to us!!!
An added bonus was that at that point, we weren't ready to move them into the house because I wanted to paint the girls' room first, so they would have just sat in the basement. But Amy and Nathan, living in the trailer at the church that we used to live in, were going to be having houseguests from MN, and were trying to figure out how to sleep everyone! Voila! Bunkbeds for them! Thank you, Lord!
One basic principle that seems so simple yet can be so difficult: to save money, stop spending money!
Well, some folks Mark knew through Ace were moving out-of-state, and they had a practically brand-new set of solid oak bunkbeds for sale. They knew Mark had kids, so they offered them to him for $350 OBO...would he like to come see them?
Well, he went and looked at them, and we debated offering them $200. Much less than they're worth, but for us at this point, they were not a necessity. Anna would have been fine in her toddler bed until Karis was ready to move out of the crib. So no, we didn't need them, but we could spend $200 on them just because it's a really good deal, right?
We prayed about it and felt that we were definitely NOT supposed to buy them...stop spending money, see?But you know what God did? They came back into the store to ask Mark about them, and he thanked them for the offer but politely declined. So you know what they did? You know the punch line because you see the little girl in her new bed...they GAVE them to us!!!
An added bonus was that at that point, we weren't ready to move them into the house because I wanted to paint the girls' room first, so they would have just sat in the basement. But Amy and Nathan, living in the trailer at the church that we used to live in, were going to be having houseguests from MN, and were trying to figure out how to sleep everyone! Voila! Bunkbeds for them! Thank you, Lord!
Goat Obstacle Course
One of the reasons we enjoy the fair is that we love the animal barn...it's one of the influences that started us on our path to raising goats!
One of my "goat world" friends organizes a goat obstacle course at the fair, to both raise money for their goat club (which sponsors shows, helps 4H kids, etc), as well as to get more people handling goats! So, Andrew and I entered, and we both really had a great time! The winner in each category wins "half the pot," and as the winner among the adults, I came away with $12! Andrew was one of the youngest in his age bracket, and he did really well!
Andrew's race was recorded in two segments...
One of my "goat world" friends organizes a goat obstacle course at the fair, to both raise money for their goat club (which sponsors shows, helps 4H kids, etc), as well as to get more people handling goats! So, Andrew and I entered, and we both really had a great time! The winner in each category wins "half the pot," and as the winner among the adults, I came away with $12! Andrew was one of the youngest in his age bracket, and he did really well!
Andrew's race was recorded in two segments...
Our Day at the Fair!
It has just become tradition to go the Alaska State Fair in Palmer every year...the kids love it, and there's a lot about it that we enjoy, too!
Andrew especially loves to see his own handiwork and the ribbons he's been awarded in the 4H building!
You can save a lot of money at the fair by making the kids bring their own spending money for any rides they want to go on! And it shortens up your time in that area of the fair...two or three rides and they're done!
It was so fun to watch Anna's expressions, as this was her first year to go on any rides...she certainly was thrilled!
Andrew especially loves to see his own handiwork and the ribbons he's been awarded in the 4H building!
You can save a lot of money at the fair by making the kids bring their own spending money for any rides they want to go on! And it shortens up your time in that area of the fair...two or three rides and they're done!
It was so fun to watch Anna's expressions, as this was her first year to go on any rides...she certainly was thrilled!
Lovin' Hotel Life!
One of the many perks of Mark's new job is that we can accompany him on overnight trips if there's no extra charge for us on the hotel tab. On the last Friday of each month, Mark needs to be on a web/conference call meeting at 6 a.m., and be at his Anchorage store by 8 a.m. The only way (well, other than leaving the house at 4 a.m.) to make that happen is to get a hotel in Anchorage for the night prior. We decided to coordinate our trip to the fair for that day to make our "fair day" a little shorter and more manageable.
Andrew reading a bedtime story...
"There were three in the bed and the little one said..."
Breakfast is easy! Paper bowls, a box of cereal, and a box of milk!
After we ate breakfast, we moseyed on down to the pool to splash the morning away while Mark was at work! The kids have very fond memories of this weekend!
Andrew reading a bedtime story...
"There were three in the bed and the little one said..."
Breakfast is easy! Paper bowls, a box of cereal, and a box of milk!
After we ate breakfast, we moseyed on down to the pool to splash the morning away while Mark was at work! The kids have very fond memories of this weekend!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
"The Whistlers"
During the drive to Anchorage on our way to the State Fair, Andrew took it upon himself to teach his brother and sister how to whistle. I remember teaching Andrew how to whistle, and the wondering forevermore why in the world I taught him a way to annoy me. Needless to say, I was not necessarily pleased with the developments being made in the back of the van. They were getting it. They were practicing. They were being cheered on by Andrew. They were...whistling. And they were ever so proud of themselves!
If you need a quick laugh, check out the videos. If the sound of children mustering a whistle around nearly hyperventilating, you may want to skip it. But I dare say that the very last second of the first video of Anna will be worth the annoyance and dark picture...listen carefully as she tries to stop laughing so that she can whistle!
And then they practice some more once we get to the hotel!
If you need a quick laugh, check out the videos. If the sound of children mustering a whistle around nearly hyperventilating, you may want to skip it. But I dare say that the very last second of the first video of Anna will be worth the annoyance and dark picture...listen carefully as she tries to stop laughing so that she can whistle!
And then they practice some more once we get to the hotel!
Belugas!
On our way to the State Fair in Palmer at the end of August, we were treated to a beluga whale pod sighting!
It was Anna's first time ever to see them, and the boys were pretty excited, too. Despite the fact that the wind was very cold and blowing very hard, we stopped to watch them for a while!
Of course after the fact, the kids kept singing and singing and singing Raffi's song "Baby Beluga!"
A few weeks after this, I went to Anchorage with just Anna. As soon as Cook Inlet came into view, she was clamoring to see the belugas, and would not be swayed that the white she saw out on the water was just from waves...and she was most disappointed that I wasn't about to pull over to watch for them. It was a relief when she fell asleep for the remainder of the time along the Arm!
It was Anna's first time ever to see them, and the boys were pretty excited, too. Despite the fact that the wind was very cold and blowing very hard, we stopped to watch them for a while!
Of course after the fact, the kids kept singing and singing and singing Raffi's song "Baby Beluga!"
A few weeks after this, I went to Anchorage with just Anna. As soon as Cook Inlet came into view, she was clamoring to see the belugas, and would not be swayed that the white she saw out on the water was just from waves...and she was most disappointed that I wasn't about to pull over to watch for them. It was a relief when she fell asleep for the remainder of the time along the Arm!
Thank you, Nathan and Amy!
We are so grateful for the friends the Lord gave us this summer. While we knew we were being blessed with a co-laborer for Christ in this building project, we were surprised with the blessing of such amazing friends. We miss you! There were many tears after you left!!!
Trying to stop time!
More fun times with Nathan, Amy, and the boys in the last week they were here!
Anna still talks about Timmy all the time!
Sharing their mutual love for Toy Story.
Sleepover! We actually managed to swing two sleepovers for the boys in the last week. First Jacob spent the night at their house with Josh while Caleb was here with Andrew...regrettably, no picture! A few days after that, Josh spent the night here with Jacob and Andrew spent the night there with Caleb. It made it more manageable than trying to get four boys to settle down for the night, and I think it made all the more special for them!
Celebrating Amy's birthday!
Anna still talks about Timmy all the time!
Sharing their mutual love for Toy Story.
Sleepover! We actually managed to swing two sleepovers for the boys in the last week. First Jacob spent the night at their house with Josh while Caleb was here with Andrew...regrettably, no picture! A few days after that, Josh spent the night here with Jacob and Andrew spent the night there with Caleb. It made it more manageable than trying to get four boys to settle down for the night, and I think it made all the more special for them!
Celebrating Amy's birthday!
Campfire
The last week the Voights were here, it seemed to suddenly dawn on us that hey, it's really their last week here. So, we spent a lot of time together! One evening after having dinner together, we headed down to the lake for a campfire.
These kids have a blast together! They would all run up the hill and try to hide (even Anna started scaling the "cliff"), and then Nathan would sneak around as the "bear" and chase them all down. They played it over and over again!
It was a nice diversion for us, as it was one of Mark's first overnight business trips. But I sure missed having him there for the good time!
And these two boys just seemed particularly photogenic that evening!
An enjoyable campfire on a rare sunny evening!
These kids have a blast together! They would all run up the hill and try to hide (even Anna started scaling the "cliff"), and then Nathan would sneak around as the "bear" and chase them all down. They played it over and over again!
It was a nice diversion for us, as it was one of Mark's first overnight business trips. But I sure missed having him there for the good time!
And these two boys just seemed particularly photogenic that evening!
An enjoyable campfire on a rare sunny evening!
Anna's Hunting Story
If you have a minute or five, this is pretty hilarious. This girl can talk, I tell you. Where she comes up with this stuff is beyond me!
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