Happy Fall, Y'all!

While it's still pretty warm around here, we're doing the best we can to take advantage of the fall!  My mom and I took the boys to Country Critters Farm in Alvarado today.  We had a lot of fun petting animals, doing a maze, picking out pumpkins from the patch, bounce house, hay/tractor ride and such!

End of Summer 2015

I just realized I haven't posted the blog in a while, though I post them often on Instagram.  Here are a few from our summer to get you caught up.  ;)

ECCHO (Ellis County Christian Homeschool Organization) had an end-of-summer reading celebration at a little splash pad/park in Corsicana so we took a bit of a road trip to check it out.

We started Enrichment Classes with ECCHO here in Midlothian.  Preston is taking Scooby-Doo Mysteries, Singing, P.E and Board Games.  Callen is doing Storytime Activities, Scissor Skills, Creative Play and Little Builders.  And so far (after one day), they LOVE it.

I took the boys to the American Airlines/C.R. Smith Museum for the Lego Castle Adventure Exhibit.  We had the place to ourselves for the most part, and the boys had a blast!

The boys have had a great time just being creative and playing.

Our little town was in the spotlight for a little while, when a hate group demanded the local elementary schools take down their dedication plaques because they mentioned God and has the words "Soli Deo Gloria" on them.  There were several prayer rallies and peaceful protests, and, for now, the plaques are back on display.

First Week of School 2014...

Last week kicked of our first official week back in school.  At least for Preston.  We started My Father's World Creation to the Greeks, aka "4th Grade."  Callen will start doing more preschool type stuff once we get back from vacation in a few weeks.  All in all, the week went pretty smoothly, and Preston seemed to enjoy it.  As did I. 

We were blessed with unseasonably cool weather.  Like, we went outside, in the middle of the day, in July... and didn't die.  It was cuh-razy, but awesome!  We also learned about celebrating the Sabbath and what that entails, and tried our hand at having a special Sabbath dinner together on Friday night.  Because of our crazy busy schedule, it ended up being Hot 'n' Ready pizzas and crazy bread, but... the idea got across just fine.  It was a neat experience.  I hope we are able to do more of these feast celebrations as the year progresses!

Here are a bunch of pictures of the week...

All ready to go the night before!

Preston is a 4th Grader!

Keeping Callen busy!

Art, a lesson in frustration!

Chalking outside in the middle of the day, in July!

A google.

Worn out.

A puppet show at the library on Friday.

Sabbath dinner on Friday evening.

Flowers from my front garden bed for our center piece.

December 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Dec 1st - Our new home doesn't have a fireplace, so we improvise. #fireplaceTV http://instagram.com/p/hZ1hMyovIU/

Dec 3rd - 1up mushroom cupcake for Preston's birthday party tonight. I tried. http://instagram.com/p/heUYNvovC_/ 

Dec 4th - Preston James Clark, you are eight years old. Happy #Birthday, buddy! http://instagram.com/p/hgUMTvovFI/ 

Dec 6th - My snowflake lights look awesome in the ice! http://instagram.com/p/hlQi0yovB1/ 

Dec 6th - He gets a way with so much thanks to this face. #littlestinker #DFWiceday #latergram http://instagram.com/p/hm0gkjIvIw/ 

Dec 7th - My first Bountiful Basket. Grateful that my husband was willing to brave the ice to go pick it up.  http://instagram.com/p/hpJDVeIvHp/ 

Dec 14th - See... I DID take down the #fall decor after all. Except my white #pumpkin. #Christmas time is here.… http://instagram.com/p/h6e-lrovCn/

Dec 18th - This is how three-yr-olds play Trivial Pursuit. There are flashcards in the other room that met the same doom.  http://instagram.com/p/iE4DUMIvEP/

Dec 21st - Shopping is tiring. http://instagram.com/p/iMwQFFovKX/ 

Dec 22nd - Yep, Grandma and Grandpa are here. Kids have officially welcomed them. http://instagram.com/p/iP1hGhIvLf/ 

Dec 23rd - Michael was not amused to see #ValentinesDay stuff on Dec 23rd!! #Target has lost their mind. http://instagram.com/p/iVKh50ovKy/

Dec 24th - Loving our Jesus Storybook Bible #Advent branch. This was the best Advent reading we have done so far… http://instagram.com/p/iT6X2-ovLn/ 

Dec 24th - These boys are so ready to dig in to these presents! #MerryChristmas http://instagram.com/p/iVKKWnIvKI/ 

Dec 26th - #Superhero room is nearly complete. #brothers #boys http://instagram.com/p/iafXnpIvMz/

Dec 30th - Playing with Teagan. http://instagram.com/p/ij7vvtovC7/ 

Dec 31st - #MedievalTimes on #NYE2013 http://instagram.com/p/inLGyXIvMa/ 

November 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Nov 1st - Not yet, not yet, not yet... Too late. D'oh! #TotinosPizzaRolls KaBlam! http://instagram.com/p/gMOXgoovGG/

Nov 6th - A 1/4-Acre yard takes much more effort to mow than our previous yard. #IAppreciateMyHusband… http://instagram.com/p/gOXp_OovAY/

Nov  7th - This is the porch life. http://instagram.com/p/gbObBMIvMn/

Nov 8th - The long lost address book has been found! #Hallelujah #PraiseTheLord http://instagram.com/p/geT-LbovMc/

Nov 10th - His super model look. http://instagram.com/p/gjGHW7IvHL/

Nov 11th - #Squee! Their own desks! Annnnnd, we have internet in our house now! Happy #Monday! http://instagram.com/p/glMQAyovBs/ 

Nov 15th - Don't forget to stop and smell the roses. :) http://instagram.com/p/gv_msgIvMC/ 

Nov 22nd - Oh, just hanging in the door frame... With a bow on his head. #idontknowwhy http://instagram.com/p/hCC6OAovNu/ 

Nov 26th - Super awesome #hubby comes home from a long day of work... And then works some more. #lovehim http://instagram.com/p/hPGnKUovOx/ 

October 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Oct 3rd - So far, about 8 of the 10 boxes I've packed are CDs/DVDs/Vhs/books. I haven't touched P's books/DVDs.… http://instagram.com/p/fAzOg1ovAA/

Oct 5th - #Hotwheels Racetrack, earthquake edition? #boymom http://instagram.com/p/fF-RHmovF7/ 

Oct 6th - I walk around the corner, and this is what I see. He's #reading. Um... OK then. Carry on, son. #boymom http://instagram.com/p/fJmdi2IvOZ/ 

Oct 9th - Packing things up, but I had to bring this in from its hiding place. Priorities. #PUMPKIN #ItsFallYall… http://instagram.com/p/fRLNKmIvLI/ 

Oct 11th - Preston is sharing the book called If Everybody Did...with his cousin Trey. http://instagram.com/p/fVqgAUovDB/ 

Oct 11th - Look who we found! #Grandma Jill is here! http://instagram.com/p/fWeFyIovEq/ 

Oct 14th - About to enjoy a movie w/ #grandma http://instagram.com/p/feBfJTovJZ/ 

Oct 21st - Celebrating the closing on both properties with bubble tea at Fat Straws! http://instagram.com/p/fvL6yTIvIo/ 

Oct 26th - We live across the street from a park now. Those swings are squeaky. WD-40 to the rescue, lol. http://instagram.com/p/f8c2KKovAg/ 

Oct 27th - I can't find my pants, shoes and a host of other things, but... totally worth it! #ILoveMyNewHouse http://instagram.com/p/f-aJshovA7/ 

Oct 28th - My monkeys enjoying their new trees. http://instagram.com/p/gBjkmoIvCQ/ 

Oct 30th - Carnation Instant Breakfast, you're gonna love it in an instagram. #harhar http://instagram.com/p/gGQTWvovCW/ 

Oct 31st - I love these two monsters so much it's scary. ;) #Fall #boys #pumpkin http://instagram.com/p/gIzPDUIvK0/ 

Oct 31st - Happy #Halloween! Superman and a wolf. He is not a fox! He doesn't know #WhatDoesTheFoxSay. http://instagram.com/p/gJhboUIvOd/

Homeschool Recap, Weeks 5 and 6...

These past two weeks we have focused on Mexico and Central America for our geography studies.  We learned about climate and physical features of the land, a little about the people, and have started reading about Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators, who started his work in Guatemala.  We started playing a fun Geography Game, and I have already started seeing an improvement in knowing where certain countries are located. Preston continued work on his multiplication tables.  I didn't really do anything structured with Callen other then coloring, and having him tag-along with the rest of our studies.  He knows how to spell his name, still working on the hard 'c' sound when he says it, though.  Also, he is doing great at memorizing scriptures he learns at Sunday School. So proud!

We were able to surprise the boys with a visit from Grandma Jill last weekend... they had no idea she was coming until they saw her come out of the airport.  They were thrilled.  She was with us from Friday evening to Tuesday morning, so that was pretty awesome.  Otherwise, the rest of this past week has been all about packing and attending to things to get our house sold and buy the Midlo house.  We are supposed to close on Monday!!!

Sunday night planning session.

Love Preston's detailed coloring on this one!

String art. I did the puppy w/Callen, Preston did the star.

Seeing how turtles stay cool and warm in shade and sun.

Geography vocabulary illustrations.

Preston reading a favorite book to cousin Trey.

Grandma Jill's surprise visit!

Enjoying their time with her!

Playing Geography Game!

Letter writing assignment.

We will most likely be taking the next several weeks off for the move, so we won't be moving on to Canada just yet!

Homeschool Recap, Weeks 3 and 4...

Week 3 and 4 are all about the United States of America, so it made a great review from last year's studies.  We talked about forests, trees, the states, and a variety of other topics all centered in the USA.  I didn't take many photo of school-related activities, at least not terribly exciting ones... we were on the go quite a bit and rushed through a lot of school.  I'll share what I have from the past few weeks, though...

Playing a massive game of memory w/all the cards at once!

We walked with Team Elise for JDRF, they met Bugs.

Around the World Sticker Book fun.

Illustrating a "butte."

A little abstract art.

Starting to pack up the house!

Getting some reading done.

Spelling Team Work.

No colors can touch each other. We win!

And then the Legos got packed away for a while!

September 2013 Tweets & Instagrams to Remember...

Sep 1st - Sweet boys watching #WipeOut together. Getting along for a brief moment. http://instagram.com/p/dusg3hIvOW/

Sep 3rd - They distract each other. Sigh. #YouGottaKeepEmSeparated http://instagram.com/p/dzbrpfIvO_/ 

Sep 3rd - How can you be sad, Orange? #PUMPKIN FLAVOR ALL THE THINGS!! #nomz #mms http://instagram.com/p/d0MvO4IvCu/ 

Sep 8th - Ready to start back to #homeschool tomorrow. My preschooler and 3rd grader. :) http://instagram.com/p/eBJh2WovA9/ 

Sep 14th - When Callen is quiet for long, I know he is up to no good. But when Preston is quiet for a while, he's… http://instagram.com/p/ePmUtnovJN/ 

Sep 17th - When Callen is quiet for long, I know he is up to no good. But when Preston is quiet for a while, he's… http://instagram.com/p/ePmUtnovJN/ 

Sep 19th - I do not recommend having this creamer in your first cuppa of the day. Who, boy! #InternationalDelight… http://instagram.com/p/edGc0nIvI9/ 

Sep 20th - Mike Herrera, or as we call him, Mx. @ House of Blues http://instagram.com/p/egLGIaovPi/ 

Sep 20th - Jesus, thank you for this happening right now. fiveironfrenzy #skalives @ House of Blues http://instagram.com/p/egSm0LIvLc/ 

Sep 21st - My boys! #GrandPrairie http://instagram.com/p/eivsZCovBT/ 

Sep 22nd - This is what sleeping w/the windows open will get you: Snuggly munchkin. #57degrees #HappyFallYall!… http://instagram.com/p/ekEBK8IvLs/ 

Sep 22nd - Gonna kinda miss this view out of my bedroom window. #GrandPrairie #MovingSoon http://instagram.com/p/ekFFIGovNI/ 

Sep 30th - Three weeks till we move... Its not too early to pack up the #Legos, right? Gah. #boymom http://instagram.com/p/e5auukovNG/ 

Homeschool Recap, Weeks 1 and 2...

Alright, in previous years I have managed to post a detailed, weekly recap.  Well, I have a feeling that's not gonna happen this year.  So, maybe, just maybe I can shoot for every two weeks, and go easy on the details as well.  Plus, our themes are about two weeks long, so it kinda makes sense anyway.  We have finished our first two weeks of school for the year.  Woo hoo!  It went smoothly.  Just a few whines, grumbles (from Preston) and shenanigans (from Callen). 

Callen (Preschool):  Callen is doing a laid-back version of Before Five in a Row and tagging along with us through some parts of MFW ECC.  Our first book to row has been Molly Bang's Yellow Ball.  The first time I read it to Callen, I wasn't sure he'd be interested in reading it more than once, but I was wrong.  He asks for it by name and gets excited when it's time to read it again.  There are only a handful of words in the book, and he seems determined to memorize them.  He points to the word "What's this say?"  So far we have played catch, throw and roll the ball, used punch balls, done a few of the lapbook type activities I found online emphasizing 'y' and yellow, above/below/high/low, and Callen stamped some yellow balls in the big, blue sea using a bottle cap and toilet paper roll printing.  He also colored a bunch of worksheets of the continents since that's what we're going over with Preston.

Callen's handprint

Coloring Yellow Balls

Playing Topple with me.

Preston (3rd Grade): Preston officially started My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures.  We are learning about maps and continents these first two weeks.  Plus, some of the main religious groups in the world.  We had a worm niche to observe how they churn up the ground for a week, ewww!  He is doing great at getting the concept of multiplication down using Math Mammoth.  His Spelling Power work is going well, we started on the last few groups in Level B. 

Observing a section of our backyard habitat.

Learning about animals, like frogs.  Eww!

Worm niche.  Eww, again!

Lots of reading time!

Working on a detailed map.

Map from our house to church.

One of the fun things about homeschooling is getting to school wherever we want.  We had a house showing from 10-11am on Thursday, plus a homeschool group lunch/playtime at 1130, so we needed to be out of the house for a while.  We were going to go to the library to do school, but I forgot they didn't open till 1pm.  We ended up Starbucks and got our schoolwork done there!

Taking school on the road.

Preston concentrating on spelling, Callen enjoying a treat.

All in all, I have to say that the first two weeks went well!  As well as I could hope with the distractions of a 3-yr-old and having to be in and out of our house because of the showings and other activities.

Preston got a bug/spider bite this week that got infected, just like mine.  Took him to the doctor and had her drain it and get him on antibiotics.  Poor guy, it's right on the back of his leg so when he sits, it rubs and hurts.  Dunno what's getting us, but it ain't nice!  Hoping his heals a lot faster and easier than mine since we caught it earlier.  Mine is still in the process of healing.  Blech. 

Also, we have a contract on our house again, so we will be launching into hunting mode this weekend, gotta find US a house now, pronto!  But first, Preston and Callen are going to spend the night with my folks and Michael and I are having a date night.  We're going to see Five Iron Frenzy, House of Heroes and Mike Herrera in concert.  What?!  I know, right?  So excited for tonight!