A Bushel and a Peck

The kids and I went with some other homeschool families to a local orchard today to pick apples and peaches. We had a great time!





They took us on a wagon ride out into the orchard where the kids were able to each pick a bag of fruit(mostly apples, a few peaches and a couple pears).






We loaded up with a couple bushels of apples and a bushel of peaches to make lots of yummy things to can for the winter. I'll be busy the rest of this week! Elijah could resist eating the apple he picked right away.




On the way home we saw a tractor trailer that appeared to be on fire! Luckily, the driver had been able to get out and put out the fire. There was so much smoke!

Random picture from the past just to keep the post from being pictureless and just because it makes me giggle.

I've been in a fog for a few days now. Elijah has had a hard time sleeping over the last month or so, but it's been especially bad the last few days. Last night I got a whopping 4 hours of sleep. *yawn*

It's also been pretty rainy around here the last few days. That added up with sleep deprivation just makes a person positively comatose.

Yesterday the final book in The Hunger Games series was released, so I declared a Teacher's Workday and read that book. I was interrupted often and had to feed the kids, but I finished it by evening. I read it so fast I didn't even have time to update my little gadget on the side of my blog that shows what I'm reading and what I've read, so I just put it on the finished list this morning. What a good book. If you haven't read the series, I highly recommend you do!

I've done quite a bit of reading during August, so I think I need to take a little break and give September to another hobby. I have sewing I need to do for my daughter who has given up pants and it's the kind of weather that makes me want to knit. Wonder which will win out for the month? It seems like there is only really enough time to focus on one hobby at a time.

Science Rules!

For our Science lesson yesterday, we talked about the different states of matter and then did an experiment. You've probably all heard of the cornstarch and water experiment. We mixed cornstarch, baking soda and water in a bowl to create a suspension that acts like a solid when pressed, but acts like a liquid when left alone.

They played with this for quite a long time!


Eliljah liked to watch, but he definitely didn't want to touch it. (Yes, Spencer is still in his PJs. Haha!)


They would squeeze it into a ball and then watch it run from their fingers.






Things got a bit messy. ;c)




Luckily, it was very easy to clean up!

The new school year!

We started our homeschool year on Monday. It's a bit earlier than I had planned, but the kids were excited to start. It also means we've gotten to have a nice, relaxed beginning.

We started with our traditional IHOP breakfast.


Elijah did what he likes to do most these days... play games on my phone.

He's slowly learning what buttons he is NOT allowed to push.



Then we came home and jumped right in!


We finished by lunchtime, so after we ate, we headed to the pool.



We didn't get to stay long before it began to rain. We headed home and had a relaxing afternoon.





Ok, there was a little boredom. ;c)

Katelee's BFF is visiting from Virginia Beach, so they had time to play. These two have been friends since they were about 4.

Her room had been clean. Haha!

New York/Ohio continued

We had more family photos taken in our 4 day New York/Ohio trip than I think we've ever had. :c)



Elijah loved this little chair made out of a tree stump. I might have to make one for him. :c)


I liked the big one.


There are still more pictures to edit and upload from our trip, but they are mostly just pictures of things we saw. I'll upload them to our SmugMug and who knows if they'll get a post of their own. ;c)

Happy Anniversary!

It's Friday the 13th! That means it's another anniversary for Kirk and I. We celebrate every Friday the 13th, because our first date was Friday, September 13th 1996. It's been almost 14 wonderful, fantastic, happy years!

Vacation!

We've been having a blast on our vacation to New York!


Niagara Falls is beautiful.


We met so many sweet and wonderful children that I felt like I already knew.

(L to R: Tyler, Elijah, Isaac, Elisabeth, Matthew, Cayman, Owen)

And their moms... oh, my goodness. It was so neat how we all just fit together like old friends even though most of us hadn't met in person before. These are some amazing women. I am truly in awe of their strength and devotion and I have to say that I love each of them so much. (I apologize if this isn't the best picture of everyone, but it's the only one I got!)

(And those are my daughter's fingers behind my head. Little goof!)

I have many more pictures to edit and upload, but I'll leave you with one more.

DOUBLE RAINBOW!!


What does it mean?!?! ;c)
(P.S. If you haven't seen that You Tube video yet, you really should go watch it. Trust me!)