Our Girls "Reading"

Have you ever seen those big reading pillows that some people have for their kids? Well, here are my girls with their own specially handcrafted reading bed.

The Beauty of Nature

Here are two photos I took on our walk today. We also heard a woodpecker but didn't see him.

Our Boys

Curtis

Samuel

Alexander

My favorite of each of the boys from the photo shoot today.

Our Girls

Briana

Julissa


I took these pictures of the girls today.

Our Family Zoo

Alex and Briana's Zoo! They set up their own zoo last evening. They had a great time playing with all of these animals and blocks.

Springtime Blossoms

This is the Thundercloud Plum tree in our front yard. I took this picture today as we were heading out for a walk around the block. It is a beautiful day. It is 61 degrees out. While it might feel a little chilly to some, I find it refreshing.

Ancestry

This is a scan of an old photo of my husband's great grandparents.
C.C. and Maria Epp

C.C. came over to America from South Russia back in the late 1800's.

I am not sure, at this point, where Maria was from.

Daffodils

Daffodils
by William Wordsworth

I wander'd lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced,

but theyOutdid the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Sunday Dinner

Lord, we thank thee for this thy bounty which thou has given unto us. Amen!

I'm Home!

A distant view of the place where they held the 1st Cincinnati Homeschool Convention.

A nice quiet place to sit and "reflect"!

A tree in bud.

I am home from the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and learned a lot. I went to four sessions that were an hour each in length. The sessions I went to were all given by Susan Wise Bauer of The Well Trained Mind. There were many sessions to choose from but I felt that these would be most beneficial at this time. It is not often that she comes to a convention nearby. I feel that having heard her speak, I will be better able to understand her book "The Well Trained Mind" that I have owned for quite some time. I have read the pertinent sections several times but I plan to read them again as I endeavor to put together my curriculum for our next school year. One thing I learned during the sessions was that my note taking skills are extremely rusty. It has been about fifteen years since I finished college. Oh my, where has time gone?

I really enjoyed the somewhat relaxed pace. They gave a 1/2 hour break between sessions which was very helpful. It was nice to be able to leave a session without having to race to the next one. Another thing that attributed to the relaxed feeling was the setting of the convention. While the buildings look old, they were set back a long winding drive and the place was surrounded by trees such that you couldn't see the surrounding city or interstate. It gave one that relaxed feeling that one gets out in the country.

The pond in the middle photo is right alongside the drive before getting up to the parking area. There was a manmade waterfall along the drive before getting to the pond. I had wanted to take a picture of it but it wasn't running on Friday when I went back. The tree in the last picture reminds me a little of the tree in the book "Sky Tree" by Thomas Locker. This is a book that we have enjoyed together. Check your library to see if they have it and if they do borrow it and enjoy it with your child(ren).

While in Cincinnati, I spent Thursday night at my sister's house and enjoyed the little time I had visiting with her. On Friday I drove down through rush hour traffic in the rain (people in Cincinnati seem to have great difficulty driving in rain or snow), picked up my sister, and then we went across the river to get fuel and supper. We ate in the car on our way back to drop her off so that I could get back to convention in time for the last session. I left the convention to drive my “20 minute” one way drive to my sister's place with 2 hours and 5 minutes in which to get there and back. Needless to say, due to traffic I spent almost that entire two hours in the car.

Cincinnati Homeschool Convention

I spent this afternoon and evening at the 1st Cincinnati Homeschool Convention. These are just a couple pictures I snapped of the some of the buildings that are there. It is being held at a place called Landmark. On the drive back into the place there is a really neat manmade waterfall which I will try and get a picture of tomorrow. I went to one session given by Susan Wise Bauer which I thoroughly enjoyed. I then spent the rest of my time browsing the exibit hall looking through various curriculum, etc. I made a few purchases and then headed to my sister's for the night. Tomorrow Jeff and the kids will join me for the afternoon.

My Three Sons

My Little Firegirl

Julissa enjoying being outside this first day of spring. The weather was a beautiful 72 degrees.

Last Fire of Winter

We are trying to burn all our remaining firewood before the weather gets too warm.

Weekly Art Work

This past week's art assignment from Harmony Art Mom was to draw a coin. This is Samuel's drawing of an old coin. It was drawn from a photo.

Then for fun Samuel designed and drew a coin in honor of himself.

A Photo Collage of Julissa

Sisters

I took this picture today after we got home from church. The girls have on matching dresses and I imagine this will be one of the last times they will wear them. A bittersweet moment.

Signs of New Life

A chilly but gorgeous day. Our Maple trees are budding. What a beautiful sight! The sight of new life!

Trees
by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Update on Alex

They believe that he has a virus along with what they think is an allergy induced asthma. They are not labeling him as an asthmatic at this point but are going to put him on Singulair which is a preventative allergy/asthma medication. They have also presribed him an albuterol inhaler just in case we find it necessary before the Singulair kicks in. In looking back through his chart, we found that he had gone in for this same thing last March 21st so they plan to just go ahead next March 1st and get him started on the Singular again in hopes of elimating these initial flare ups that seem to come with spring weather.

Spring Rain and the Creek

As the thunder crashed, the lightning flashed, and the rain came down throughout the night our creek rose up above its banks. It has since receded some throughout the day. If I would have not been in such a hurry to get out the door this morning to a doctor's appointment I would have taken a picture of the creek this morning. As it is one can see some of the wet areas along the bank and get somewhat of an idea about where the water was at one point this morning. We also went from a beautiful seventy some degrees yesterday to a cool forty degrees today.

Briana Relaxing!

A picture I snapped of Briana today was she was relaxing in the recliner.

Alex Not Feeling Well

Alex is not feeling well today. He has been running a slight temp and has a sore throat. He also complains of his chest being hot. So we are going to see the doctor tomorrow to find out what is going on. Last year, I think it may have been around this time of year, they ended up putting him on an allergy/asthma medicine because they thought he might be asthmatic. It seemed to really help him but then he didn't need it through the winter so has been off of it for quite some time. I think maybe the warm weather and being outside quite a bit this week has triggered some sort of allergy response. I don't know for sure but hopefully we will find out tomorrow.
Obviously, he didn't do any school today other than listen to me read one chapter of the book "Little Pear".

Dress Up Time

Julissa with big brother's sunglasses, another brother's slipper and her dress up shoe.