Good Morning

I would like to ask all of you to pray for Lori and her family today. Today is the funeral for their baby girl Vera who passed away last week.
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We had a great time yesterday biking and walking around town. We biked in the morning and walked at lunch, which includes walking up steep hills. We stopped at the coffee house to sit and relax for awhile and then Katie and I biked to the library to exchange some videos for the weekend.

My knees aren't doing to well this morning. I guess I'm getting old. Katie and I are going biking again. It is quite windy so maybe it will give me a little push so I won't have to peddle as much! ~LOL~
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We hardly ever sign up for sports, camps, etc. because we can't afford it ... I have never done this before... "but" I am in the process of trying to get scholarships for the two girls to attend an equestrian riding center. The center "caters" to children and adults who are disabled, affected by autism, etc. and others. This would be so good for Katie. I did talk to a woman there and I told her that I wanted to try and get both girls in, to keep them together and she said to try for 2 scholarships and for scholarships for camp. I'm also trying for a grant through the state. I am very excited for this possibility. I have not discussed it with the girls because I don't want them to get all excited and then it doesn't happen.
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Off to the kitchen. I am in need of some heavy duty chocolate. I'm going to bake some gluten free chocolate, chocolate chip Muffins. Yum!

~Margarete~

Another school day....skip

Yesterday we had so much fun biking and walking around town. It was nice to get out and enjoy the fresh air. We walked to a creek and the girls forgot that it was still wintertime. ~I posted pictures last night~ they got to stick there feet in water and walk through snow with barefeet; better them than me. We were on top of a very small "bridge" which had a railing on it but a child could go right through it. Well, Tom was having a fit because he thought they were going to fall in. The one side was deep but not deep enough where I couldn't just jump in and grab them. They probably would have gone under but would have been able to pop back up. That sure would have been interesting.

On our bike ride, we found a "fairie house". The picture is in the last post. As we were riding, I looked to my right and saw this "house." It is so neat. Katie jumped off her bike and looked inside to see if any fairies were there. I thought that was funny. I should take a small fairie that I made and put it in there. That would surprise some kids! Tom just rolls his eyes. ~smile~

As we were walking home, we have to walk a very steep hill. Well, Katie decided she wasn't doing it anymore. She thought I was going to push her bike and pull her; I don't think so. Anyway, She was sitting on the sidewalk "having a small fit" (yes, my children do that), and I walked around the corner. I could just peek around and see her. Well, I waiting about 30 seconds and when I looked around the street there was a young teen boy walking towards her on the street. He saw me and made a "bee" line back to the other side. I don't know what he was going to do. He didn't say anything to her and she didn't even notice him. I have no idea where he came from. There wasn't anyone else walking on the street. Well, I woke up in the middle of the night having a very weird feeling about that incident. I'm going to keep my eye out for him, or anyone else for that matter.

We are getting ready to enjoy this day, skipping school. I'm a little slow and tired this morning. It looks like it's gong to rain but I thought it was going to be a sunny hot day today. I'm praying the sun comes out.

Have a very nice day today. Enjoy your kids and get out and enjoy the beautiful weather!

~Margarete~

Pictures from the day

We skipped school today and enjoyed the beautiful weather....

Tom is teaching Ana how to ride her two wheeler without training wheelsSo, who do you think painted Spencer's (the guinea pig) nails?The girls are thinking summer is here!

Katie has to test the waters...

We found this fairie house while we were biking riding. Pretty cool, huh?!This last picture is for Ed...

Beautiful Day

At this moment I am contemplating doing schoolwork or going outside to play. It is a bit chilly this morning but this afternoon is supposed to be really nice. I can feel the sunshine calling me outside "Forget the schoolwork, it will be there when you get back." LOL! "Come, feel the warmeth of my rays on your skin, and the soft breeze of the wind in your hair." Now, who can stay in with a calling like that? ~~LOL~~

See Ya!

~Margarete~

Another "Video of the Day"

Today we started watching 'Cities of the Underworld: The Complete Season One'; from the History Channel. This is really cool. This has the cities under Scotland, under Rome; I bet if people could get down there, they would be able to live there. Hitler's Underground Lair...I have to say that he had an awesome (if I may use that word), vision of "Germania", and lastly, Catacombs of Death which we did not see yet. This held the attention of a 7 yr. old and 5 yr. old. Ana was a little scared of the places. They are quite dreary looking, especially to a little one.

By the way. We do not have cable so we have to rent these from the library; I'm glad they are free. ~smile~
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On another note, our dryer decided to malfunction. (that was Tom's wording). Anyway, I've been drying my clothes by the coal stove. It is somewhat slow but it works. LOL!
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Gotta go. Tom's been sitting here dying to get on this computer. Maybe I'll let him suffer with waiting a little longer....

~Margarete~

February 14, 2011

Early today the 2 girls were outside getting their bikes ready for the week. We are supposed to have nice weather. They had built a little fort on the deck and Katie actually changed into shorts and a t-shirt! (it wasn't "that" warm) I tried to explain to them that we could still be getting snow, It is only February, but they didn't want to hear it. LOL!

Today we were watching "Jeff Corwins Experience: The Amazon: Aquatic Ecosystem. This by far is the best one yet. He actually was able to hold 2 sloths. The kids, and myself were amazed at how cute, small, and ssslllooowww.....they were. ~smile~ We laughed so hard when the one sloth came down from the tree, usually only about 1 time a week, and yes, went to the bathroom. It had a smile on its face! The kids were rolling on the floor.

It was good for us to see these animals because Katie has been doing some lapbook booklets about sloths. She was so excited to actually see one that was alive.

After this we put in 'Eyewitness: Rainforest Jungle'... As Ana was watching she told me that God created the animals and us. It talked to much about evolution, the kids turned it off.

Someone on WTM mentioned that Scholastic was having their $1.00 deals this week. I ended up getting 13 downloadable books! I already printed a few things. The one thing I'm excited about is that I got a few of the read-aloud play books. Tom needs to do speech and I'm going to have the family do this together. Ed's going to be soooo thrilled. ~smiled~ I think it's going to be quite interesting.

Now the kids are watching 'Bach's Fight for Freedom video. Last week they watched and enjoyed 'Strauss: The King of Three Quarter Time.

Now, I'm off to the kitchen to make some gluten free/casein free cornbread, which by the way is delicious.

~Margarete~

Baby Vera Update

It with saddness that I must tell you that Baby Vera went home with Jesus.
Please continue to pray for Dave, Lori and their family.
A very short update is found at http://isaiahs-journey.blogspot.com

February 10, 2011

I finished reading 'The Light in the Forest'. This was a sad book in our opinion. I will not give away the ending. ~smile~

Our next book together is 'Guns for General Washington.'
I will be reading 2 short books to the girls: 'Daniel 'Boone' by Katharine E. Wilkie copyright 1960; 6th printing (this book) 1964 and 'Old Whirlwind: A Davy Crockett Story' by Elizabeth Coatsworth copyright 1953; 1st printing (this book) 1964. .... I edited the copyrights...I had the wrong dates before.
There is an update on baby Vera at: http://isaiahs-journey.blogspot.com/

There is a fundraiser being developed for Noah (look at my right sidebar)...the website for the fundraiser is: http://www.wheelsfornoah.com

I just found out yesterday that our evaluator is not evaluating anymore. This is so sad for me. We have known her for years and she has been evaluating school for us for 9 years. She knows my children so well. She knows how we school...not traditional...and now I have to find another one. I was talking to her yesterday and she was saying how she was so confused the first year she evaluated Becca. Everything was so different than what she knew. (She was a teacher for at least 30 years and evalutor/test giver/etc..) She was so surprised at how my kids were learning. For some reason PA wants her to update in a class (?) and it is too much money. She'd never get her money back in evaluations, which I understand. So, now I have the task to find a good evaluator, not someone who just goes through the checklists. Do you know what I mean?

~Margarete~

New Update on the Baby

There is a new update for Lori and her baby
http://isaiahs-journey.blogspot.com
They have a long way to go and need a lot of prayers.
Their message is very strong in faith, though.

Today I started reading "Light in the Forest". The kids don't want me to stop. ~smile~ I usually sit next to the coal stove so while I'm reading I start falling asleep. ~LOL~

I noticed that Katie is really understanding what is read to her. I usually ask her questions afterwards or even a day or two later. She does a good job.

With Ana, I'm not to sure. At least she sits there and listens.

I have also been reading about horses to her. She is obsessed with them.
I wouldn't be surprised if she worked with them some day and/or owned some.
I've been looking into riding lessons. Some how I will get her and Katie lessons. ~smile~
They are $30 to $40 a lesson. WHOA!
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I had finally bought the KnowledgeQuest Maps. The Atlas and Cd came about 1/2 weeks ago and I'm so excited to print these out. Only one thing; my printer decided to get jammed and now I need a new one, again. This one was a Canon MP250. I may just get another one. It was cheap.
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I may have mentioned that we lost Tom's Editor in Chief Book. I have no idea where it went to. I'm still searching but can't find it. Ed told me to order another one. Tom is not happy over that.
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I need to post some pictures of the crafts Ana has colored and made. I just need to do this when the girls aren't around me.
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Gotta go....The girls are getting rough with each other.
~Margarete~

A Few Things

We had some ice today. I don't think is was as as bad as the weather people thought it would be.

**If you have been following Lori and her baby, Lori is now out of the hospital and on her way to her baby! Please pray that they get many answers to what is happening with their baby girl.
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My kids just love the Jeff Corwin videos. They have laughed, and screamed (actually, that was me screaming at the snakes), and totally enjoy these! Right now they are watching the Insects and Arachnids. I have to say, Mr. Jeff, you are crazy! There is no way that I would put a spider on my face! Anyway, there sometimes is reference to evolution but I'm not going to stop watching a video because of this. We explain this to the kids and move on. We would be missing out on alot of educational information if we worried about this.

Yesterday, I finished "The Children of the Longhouse" by Joseph Bruchac. This is another one in which I didn't think we would like. It was very good. We "followed" a young indian boy (in the late 15th century) while he was being hasseled by older boys, his relationship with his sister, and becoming a young man. I wanted to cry near the end but I held it in knowing that I would be teased unrelentlessly. ~LOL~

Our next book is going to be "The Light in the Forest" by Conrad Richter.
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Next week I will be taking Katie to a nutritionist. She really needs to get back on vitamins and we need to help her get proper sleep. She has been taking melatonin but I think I'd like to try something else. She also has an upcoming dr. appt. I honestly do not want to increase her medication. I know she is on a very low dose compared to other children but I really don't like medications. This dr. is very good and listens to everything I say. He also has a child with autism.
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Enjoy the rest of your day!
~Margarete~