Windmill Farm

We had a field trip to a windmill farm last spring.  It was, um, very windy :)  The windmill are big enough that our entire group of about 20 could fit inside the base of one of them.  They are huge!

Going in...

Archery

C, D, & A took Archery lessons through 4H.  They loved it!

 

Don't worry, the person behind D is far away, not really shooting at his head :)

S&B played in the mud. This is what happens when your brother drops a bucket of mud right in front of you!  

Seeds of Homeschooling

 
I grew up in the public schools in the 70's,  an only child. I had never heard of homeschooling. But I
have this vivid memory as a teen girl. I was at home watching an I Love Lucy rerun. It was the
episode when Little Ricky started school. Lucy was so
upset about him leaving. I remember my heart breaking
at the thought of having to send my own children off
to school someday. Seeds.

In the late 80's, single and in my mid 20's, I met a
local family from my church that homeschooled. I sat
at their dining room table while the two girls did
their school work. We talked about the new age
influence in the schools. Water.

In the early 90's, while working overseas with Youth
With A Mission, several of the missionary families
homeschooled their children. More water.

In 1991-92, I attended a small Bible school.  The teacher and his wife homeschooled their 4
children and he really explained the benefits and
reasons to homeschool. My future husband was there,
listening, too. Lots of water and growth.

Later that year we married. The Lord gave us 5
children and He is giving us the "increase" of those
seeds of homeschooling way back when. :)

 

Tree planting

We helped to plant trees at a new local park last spring.  We planted 8 or 9 trees. 

Mourning Doves

Mourning Doves made their nest on my hanging bicycle last spring.  These are the babies.  It was so neat to watch the male build the nest while the mama sat there. 

Then later we watched the last bird leave the nest, slowly, hopping down off the nest to the bike, flying to the edge of our back porch, finally to this shed in the yard behind.

Lego faces

D made these faces out of legos. :)

Sectionals bring families together

Before getting our sectional couch, we had a regular sleeper sofa from Ikea and a recliner.  As our family grew, it became harder for all of us to fit on the couch.  We could squeeze five of us in while I read to them, but someone was always on the recliner.  Or worse, when we watched a movie together, someone would have to sit on the floor.  That's ok sometimes, but sometimes, especially in winter, it's nice to cuddle on the couch.  Now we all fit on our sectional!  And mommy and daddy get to recline, too!  Reading books is much easier, though it doesn't help the fact that I only have 2 sides!