Inks Lake

Well, we are home from a beautiful weekend at Inks Lake. First camping trip for the kids and for the most part they did well. The weekend wasn't without its ups and downs, but it was still fun. Inks lake is very pretty. If we didn't have a 2 and 4 year old tagging along, Gabe and I would have done more hiking and exploring. Maybe when the kids get a little older. We spent most of our time just relaxing, swimming, and playing. Will and Pat are wonderful people and a joy to be around. Here are a few pictures from our weekend.

Priorities

We are off for a weekend of camping this afternoon with our friends Will and Pat. We have been at REACH all day and busy most of this week, so I haven't gotten much packing done for our camping trip. On the way home from REACH I told Isaac that after lunch he could start his quiet time while I pack and then I would come read to him when I was finished packing. After a few moments of silence, Isaac quietly responded with....

"Momma, I am more special than your packing"

Enough said. Packing can wait!

Heard at the Landes House

Momma: "Good night Isaac"

Isaac: "Will you snuggle with me?"

Momma: "I can't tonight, I need to go to a meeting"

Isaac: (with determined, demanding face and attitude) "I WILL NOT GO TO SLEEP UNLESS YOU SNUGGLE WITH ME."

Momma: "Isaac, you don't get to give me an ultimatum"

Isaac: (with wide grin on his face as he holds out his cupped hand) "Here's your old tomato!!"

Momma: (stifles laugh, quickly turns out the light so Isaac won't see the snickering)

Don't ask me why I chose to use that particular word with my "too smart for his own good" four year old. I got what I deserved for sure!!

Home School Update

Two words...... LOVING IT!! Isaac, Julia, and I are in our grove. Yes, even Julia participates on some days!! This year seems so much more fun and rewarding already compared to last year. I guess it is because Isaac is older and better able to focus longer. Also, he has accomplished and learned so much that he has built up some confidence to try new things. The first week was one big battle though. I knew it would be. We all had to settle back into our routine and schedules after a lazy summer. To help smooth that transition, I made these.......




These charts helped tremendously to work as an incentive to stick it out even when faced with something challenging and new. Isaac can tend to be a bit of a perfectionist. So if he can't do it just right the first time, then he doesn't want to do it at all. Creates an interesting challenge for his teacher!! If at the end of the week Isaac has earned enough happy faces then he gets to choose one thing from his treasure box. Julia's chart is similar in concept but has more self-help goals on it. (BTW - she is doing great with potty training!!!)

So we are in our fourth week. I plan to do two more weeks of regular home school followed by one week of "Isaac's choice". We are going to spend that one week digging in and learning about something that fascinates and intrigues Isaac. First up.... outer space!!

After being frustrated last year by my own inconsistency and discipline with home school, I was worried that I would loose my passion for it. Not so!! I love teaching my own children and being very aware of what they are learning. I am doing the two things I was created to do, be a Mother and Teach. Thank you God!

Here is a few pictures from school this morning. Isaac is working on handwriting and Julia is being his lil' copy cat. I am still amazed at how well she holds a pencil and has never been taught how.

Here they are being scientists. Isaac got this "Totally Weird Science" kit for his birthday last year and we are still working through all of the experiments. Today's experiment is called.... Test Tube Sunset.

You Wanna AWANA?!!

Isaac's second year of AWANA Cubbies started last week. For those that don't know, AWANA is a program at our church that starts at 3 years of age and goes through high school. The Cubbies (3-5 yr olds) learn a memory verse each week and participate in learning actiivties each week that go with that scripture. We learned last year that Cubbies can be a bit crazy and chaotic with lots of kids hiped up near bed time. Isaac does not handle new situations well, especially ones with crazy chaos. So this year Gabe and I decided that one of us needed to be apart of AWANA with him. Strangely, I have managed to overcommit myself this year and sat in the living room one night a few weeks ago with tears in my eyes thinking about all that I had to do and how little time I had to do it. Gabe graciously volunteered to be a leader for AWANA with Isaac. Thank you Gabe. I think it worked out as it should. Isaac adores Gabe and to have him there involved in Isaac's Cubbies is a wonderful blessing for all!

Please Pray for the Judd Family

This family has experienced a tragic loss. If you feel led to do so, please lift them up in prayer.

Judd Family

Miller Family Reunion 2008

Thanks to Hurricane Ike we had to cancel our family trip to the coast, which was planned this year as our family reunion. Instead of canceling all together, we decided to meet up in Coleman this past weekend. It may not have been the coast, but we still managed to have a grand time at my folks' house. Because we are not often all together during the holidays it is important for us to get together like this. (We missed you Bobby. Wish you could have been there.)

What made it even better was that we got to celebrate Gabe's birthday this weekend. He turned 36 on the 21st. I made him a cake and scrounged around the house until I came up with 36 candles!! That's a lot of fire and smoke!! (love you babe)

We all had fun playing games, laughing, and just relaxing. Gabe and I introduced everyone to Settlers of Catan and it was a hit. What is it about that game that is so addicting?! We got in a few snickers while playing Catch Phrase with everyone. My Mom is so funny!! (I won't go into details.... you just had to be there!!)

Isaac spent every moment possible climbing trees. He reminds me of myself. I loved those trees. They were my playground as a child. Isaac came away with a few scrapes and scratches, but well worth it for good tree climbing fun. Julia ventured outside on a few occasions. (outdoor adventures are not quite as much in her blood as in Isaac's) However, at one point I looked out the back window to see Julia walk by carrying an orange toy pistol followed by Isaac with a toy rifle leaned back on his shoulder. Gabe's comment, "There goes Bonny and Clyde". I don't know if we actually got a picture of that, but just use your imagination!!

It was a great trip and I would do it all over again and again. Every time we leave family we get this deep down feeling of wishing we lived closer. We love you guys (Granddaddy, Grammy, Karen, Bobby, Kendall, Jared, Jason, Melinda, Meagan, and Savoy) and look forward to seeing you all again very soon!

Piano Lesson

Gabe is taking on the new title of "piano teacher" at our house! Isaac got his first lesson the other day. We are using a book recommended by a friend, Music for Little Mozarts. Gabe, admittedly, was a bit rusty with the piano. It has been quite awhile since he has played. That didn't bother Isaac in the least. He was elated to just get to sit next to his Papa, whom he adores, and play the piano with him. Lately, Isaac has become more and more of a "Papa's boy". I LOVE it!! I am completely taken aback with how blessed Isaac is to have a father that wants to spend time with him and cherishes each moment he does. Not all little boys have that. Gabe and Isaac have a very healthy father/ son relationship. It is special for me to watch the bonds strengthen between them.

Wiped Out

I captured this picture of Isaac yesterday when I went into his room to tell him that quiet time was over. He is not required to take a nap during quiet time, but apparently he needed one!! He was sound asleep on the floor with his big rig truck on top of him. I took no less than 5 or 6 pictures, and he didn't stir a bit. Completely wiped out!! Earlier that day we played at J&R Gymnastics. (Isaac filled his 'Good Choices Jar'!!) That boy was a blur of busy activity through the gym. I could barely keep up with him.

Silly Kids

Just some random pictures of Isaac and Julia being silly.......

They are quite entertaining! Where do they get this silliness? Gabe and I are always so serious!! ;)

Who needs Toys R Us?!!

I am sure we have all heard those stories from our parents of how we played with the box that the toy came in for hours and only played with the toy for a few minutes. My kids love boxes too, but really all they need is some wide open spaces, some blankets, and some pillows. Isaac and Julia will entertain themselves for hours making boats, mouse holes, mountains, forts, you name it!! Pretty inexpensive fun, I must say!

REACH

Look at my little sweeties ready for their first day of REACH.(our home school co-op) I think they are pretty cute with their backpacks on! Both woke up at 6:30 this morning. Normal for Isaac, not so much for Julia. Isaac got up and said he couldn't sleep anymore because he was so excited to go to REACH. They both seemed to have a wonderful day of fun and learning. It is rewarding to see Isaac and Julia enjoy their time with their classmates and teachers.

Julia, listening to the lesson about the Fruits of the Spirit.

Yep, that's my boy not paying attention to the teacher and being goofy for the camera!!

Isaac's Story

So this week during home school we have been reading The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese. We spent one day looking at the illustrations and tried to do our own using colored pencils. I told Isaac to draw a picture of whatever he wanted, then tell me a story to go along with his picture. This is what he came up with.......

The Boy that had a Dragon
By: Isaac Landes

Once upon a time, a dragon popped out of the water when the sun was setting. He spit some fire out of his mouth. The fire rose up and made the sun set prettier. The dragon gave a boy a ride, a boy with a red shirt. The boy's name was Pumpkin Patch. With his eraser, Pumpkin patch erased some red. But then the red appeared again without having to draw it. Then a stairway to the moon appeared in the air. Pumpkin Patch and the dragon went up the stairway all the way up to the moon. They flew over to a planet farther than any planet. It was Pluto.They climbed all over Pluto looking at all the meteors. And they had another stairway that led to another planet farther than the sun. It was an invisible planet. They saw rockets bumping into it in the air. The rockets could not see it. It was invisible. Pumpkin Patch and the dragon punched a rocket out of the planet and flew back.

The End!

Pretty good for a four year old, huh? It was fun listening to his imagination come to life through this story. I am going to laminate a copy with the picture he drew and start a collection of Isaac originals. I tried to scan his picture to add to this post, but our computer apparently hates me. It has seriously had it out for me lately. So much so, that I am beginning to side with Gabe on needing a new one. He has been trying to convince me for some time that we need a major upgrade. I just thought his "need" was more of a "want". Not so!! Our computer is dying a slow and miserable death and taking us with it!! I jokingly told Gabe the other day that I was suspicious that he had planted some type of virus to mess with me and make it go extra slow. He laughed an evil laugh!! You never know!

One Day

So I get bored easily. What can I say?!! I do like to change the look of my blog often. And in doing so, this time I also changed the name. The lyrics to "Better is One Day" say it all.

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty
For my soul longs and even faints for You
For here my heart is satisfied within Your Presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere

One thing I ask and I would seek
To see Your beauty
To find You in the place Your Glory dwells

My heart and flesh cry out
For You the Living God
Your Spirit waters to my soul
I've tasted and I've seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You
I will draw near to You, to You

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him" Psalm 34:8

By the way, the blog template came again from Simply Fabulous.

McAllister Park

On Labor day we took the kids to McAllister Park in San Antonio. We picnicked, played, hiked, and even launched a few rockets.(I got to launch one too -- loved it!!) Other than the sizzling heat (I vote for an early appearance of fall), it was a pleasant day. Well, except for the screaming 4 year old and 2 year old on the hiking trail. I don't know whose kids they were, but man they sure ruined a peaceful walk on the trails!! ; ) We ended our day with friends and a BBQ....using our new kazeebo, of course!! Lots of fun!

Blowing Bubbles




Playing on the Playground


Picnic Time

Hiking

Such a "girly girl"!!! Julia had a MAJOR fit about getting "mud" on her feet. There was no mud in sight, just plain ol' dirt. She absolutely refused to walk on the trail. We are going camping in a few weeks, so she better get over this "I don't want to get dirty" thing!

First Day of School

Here we go again!! We started our second year of home school. Things went well today for the most part. Isaac is starting more kindergarten type curriculum. If he was going to public school, he would not be in kindergarten yet, but that is the beauty of home school. We can do what fits his learning style and needs.

If he had it his way, I think Isaac would do math or science all day.... handwriting, not so much! He acts like I am torturing him. (which I am not, I promise!!) He can also tend to be a bit of a perfectionist, so if he can't do it right the first time he would rather not try at all. Bit challenging I must say!! Our motto is, "It does not have to be perfect, but you must try your best!"

All in all, I am happy to be getting back into home schooling. I enjoy teaching so much. What a great gift it is to me to be able to teach my own children. I am also glad to have more focused time with Isaac and Julia. Great excuse to just stay home and be with my kids.

***9/3/08 On Mondays and Wednesdays we do school in the mornings, so Julia is right there with us. She too wanted to be apart of school. Her current project is to make a "Brown Bear, Brown Bear....." book. She takes her work pretty seriously! I couldn't get her to look up and smile.