Pond Life

This week we took a day off from "school" to spend a day studying nature. We hiked, collected leaves, caught tiny minnows, waded in the pond, did leaf rubbings, and had a picnic lunch. I think we're going to go again next week and the week after. Its so much fun to watch the changing of the trees during this season. This week was probably the last one warm enough for wading, so next week we can concentrate more on the trees along the trail.

 Wonder what lives in that hole....

 turtle, crayfish, snake???

 Checking out the minnows.

 Levi shed his jeans to go wading.

 Trying to catch his own minnows.

 He lost his shirt and diaper along the way too. Call me a horrible mother, but I enjoyed watching his innocent delight in running naked in the sun by the pond. I think its sad how seldom kids get these opportunities in this day and age!

 A couple pics to show off baby's chub rolls....he's getting so big!

Apples, Airplanes, & Autumn

A quick update here on my busy little crew. School this year is going well so far, it's been getting real, very real! When you think you have all the answers try teaching a six year old to read....no the word "you" doesn't follow any of the rules! A shout out to my mom and mother-in-law, this was no small or easy thing you did, thanks! A couple weeks back we had one of those perfect fall weekends, when the sky is just the right blue and the air is just crisp enough. My grandparents were here and we spent a fun Saturday in Owensboro going to the orchard, playing at the park on the river, and watching the air show. I've got a new hobby recently too! Soap making, as well as learning about herbal medicine and essential oils. Lots of fun and so much to learn!

Reid's Orchard

 We asked for a big smile....we got one!

 My little pumpkin.

 Airplanes!

 Seven months and almost five teeth! He's really trying to crawl, but so far only reverse is working.

Our finished tree for all seasons.

 Pumpkin and orange spice soap with oatmeal.

 She butter and Crisco soaps

Workin' man.

Second Field Trip

During out current school unit we are studying Orderliness,  1Cor. 14:40 "But all things should be done decently and in order."  We are covering sequencing, the order of building, the order of seasons, measurements, etc. Konos suggested a trip to a factory to see orderliness in action and we just happen to live down the road from Toyota! The tours are free and Aaron and Rebecca had a great morning exploring the world of car manufacturing. Levi is also into building cars, but his are, of course, the toy variety. New in Isaiah's life, tasting watermelon! For Aaron the new news is crossing the decade line, I'm now married to a 30 year old!

 Hands on in the visitors center was her favorite.

 A machine demonstrating how metal is stamped, she brought home car doors made from cardstock.

Lots of pieces put together orderly makes a Truck.

 Little man has learned to "cheese".

 Helping out in the kitchen.

  My happy, chubby, lovable, baby boy!

 Brand new Bible and cover.

 Waiting for the show to begin at the drive-in.

 Hard at "work".

 He takes this very seriously and is needing less and less help to complete.

 Okay, tasting watermelon......

 OH ITS SWEET!......

 BRAIN FREEZE.......

 That's pretty good mama.

My old Man. ;-)

A Tale of Two Cities & A Birthday

    Need I say its been a busy month. That is probably beginning to sound old, but seriously with three little ones.......just keeping everyone safe, fed, clean, clothed, and entertained makes for a busy day. Here are picture from the county fair this year. I can't believe its my 8th fair in Vanderburgh County. My roots may actually be digging in??? Rebecca of course hasn't missed a fair in her life and the boys are on the same track. I'm so looking forward to this fall when Rebecca starts mini 4-H a program for those who aren't yet old enough for proper 4-H. She also ran in the kids tractor pull this year. She came in a close second and had it not been for her smiling at the crowd she may have won. Next year will be a bit more challenging because her legs are getting too long for the little pedal tractor. Speaking of growing, my baby girl turned 6 Sunday. Rebecca is such a grown up little thing! Last week also saw us in Georgia tagging along for one of daddy's classes again. We got to visit an Ikea store....LOVE! We also went to the aquarium as a field trip for our current unit on oceans and met up with some old friends from Columbus for a playdate. Mama knows how to plan a trip! ;-) Here is the evidence of all the fun we've been having:

 Italian Ice at the Fair....the taste of summer!

 Yeah, this fair thing isn't so cool.

 He sat on nearly every tractor!

 Our church's t-shirts, designed by yours truly. We had a booth too, but sadly no photo.

 This little piggy went to the fair.

 And so did this little piggy.

 The barrel tractor train....thing?!

 His ornery look.

 Having a blast!

 Not having a blast.

 Having a blast.

Waving from a safe distance.

 Nothing like cartoons in the morning in the hotel!

 He takes his cartoons very seriously.

 Five months old and one little tooth already!

 Real, life, beautiful, sea stars.

 Everyone loved the aquarium.

 Whale shark, largest known fish species...bigger than it looks in the pic.

 Isaiah loved riding in his stroller through all the fish tunnels.

 Sea horses!

 Getting a close look!

 Not wax, and albino alligator!

 boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp gumbo,

 Touching stuff.

 Riding MARTA through Atlanta. Every few minutes he'd let out a "choo, choo".

 Big city lady!

Fun with friends. Their mama stayed with us once while mom and dad were out of town and now we both have three little ones in tow!

 Little Chef

 Cupcakes, with pink glitter icing.

 Very proud of her cooking set and chef clothes. New favorite show is "Chopped" on the Food Network.

 Maybe I won't be the main cook for long!

Okay, Okay, its not actually all fun and games here. I read somewhere recently that we can really beat ourselves up by comparing our 'behind the scenes' to others 'highlight reels'. Not one to ever want anyone to feel bad about themselves, I'll give you a peek at our behind the scenes day this week. Sorry, not pics....we don't seem to have the camera around for those not so cute times. huh.

So running errands on Friday was nutty! It was a busy morning of cleaning house, a quick bite of lunch and out the door to return some seriously over due books to the library and then to Aldi. In Aldi things were..."normal".... Rebecca begged for cookies until I let her buy them with her own cash, Levi insisted on toting a bag of giant marshmallows through the store and detected my sly move at the checkout to rid our cart of them. So yes, we have a bag of giant marshmallows in the pantry! Levi also ducked behind every stack of boxes he could and had to be nabbed from under the pastry shelf. Then I loaded the groceries into our bags with one hand while balancing a crying Isaiah on the other hip. Got everyone successfully loaded into the car and headed for Wal-mart. Again "normal". Levi ducked under a shelf and got a handful of cat litter to eat, I broke down and bought a kiddie pool on clearance, and after back tracking a couple times we were ready to check out. Guess whose wallet was still in the car??? Hauled all three kiddos back out to the car and don't you know I park way out so I have room to load and unload? Back into the store, now huffing and puffing to pay for my cart of necessities. One more trip to the car to open the back door and have our watermelon from Aldi drop out and roll to the aisle where two people stopped to let me know my watermelon was in the way. Thanks! I really didn't care because while our watermelon was apparently rolling Rebecca got herself in the car and shut her door completely. on. Levi's. Hand. From the scream I knew what had happened I raced around  to that side of the car to see him jumping and yanking frantically trying to free his hand. Once free, my first thought was "he's maimed for life". Can't get a hold of Aaron for advice, no cell reception in Paducah Kentucky. Decided to try urgent care to check for breaks. Good news, no fracture, but the story isn't over yet. We get down to the xray part of the visit, one hour into the visit, of course. Baby is screaming for dinner and I'm trying to hold him on one hip, keep him covered with the lead blanket, and hold a two year old boy's hand still for the xray. Are you laughing yet?! The tech calls in a nurse to help with Levi because Isaiah is adamantly screaming about getting the blanket off! Take Isaiah down to our room to leave him with Rebecca, because once the door shuts Levi goes into panic mode with mama not around. Race back to tend to Levi when I hear a thunk and a screech because Isaiah got himself bounced into the door knob. (I know she was trying to help, but she isn't quite able to bounce him like mama.) So there I was with boys screaming at both ends of the hall. The doctor comes in shortly to let me go "You've got your hands full so you can just go home, we'll call you if we see a fracture". Haha They probably thought I was the old lady in the shoe and needed to get back to the shoe. Grabbed some pizza on the way home, didn't geel like cooking, put the groceries up and CRASHED! Thankfully everyone arrived in bed that night in perfect health, if not somewhat bruised.
 Well, off to have another crazy month or more before I get time to post again. Hope your summer ends on a high!!!