California 

Land of….. 

Beaches that roar with the sound of the breathtaking waves

Forests of the great, huge, stunning redwoods

Mountains that are monstrous and almost reach the sky

Rivers that run briskingly on the side of the mountains

Sunsets that are pleasing to the eye. 

California, land of…

People who work diligantly and people who protect California

God bless California, my great state.

Late in August, my mom always took my brother and I to Gemco (remember Gemco? Great store) to pick out our backpacks, notebooks and lunchboxes for the new school year. I remember huge displays of metal lunchboxes. I always picked out Holly Hobbie or Strawberry Shortcake. My backpack was always red and I felt really lucky when I got a Trapper Keeper. Those were the days. I loved my metal lunchboxes, there was no such thing as smooshed sandwiches. And it seems that my school supplies got me through from September to June.

Last year, I bought AG a new backpack from Target. A cute pink one in a camoplage pattern. I filled it with new crayons, markers, pencils and paper. She loved it. The backpack was on sale for $8. What a deal! So I thought. The backpack lasted only two months before it got holes and fell apart. And since we homeschool, she is way lighter on that stuff than she would be if she carried back and forth to school.  The one I got for T was also from Target that I got on sale as well. It's still going well almost 6 years later. Go figure.

I am one of those moms who would rather buy better quality  for a bit more $ and have it last then to go back to the store at Christmastime to replace what I bought just a few months earlier. For two years, I've been eyeing the back packs at Lands End and saved up my money this year. DH also gave me some so that I had enough to get  all backpacks and new lunchboxes. I even bought a set for me for the fieldtrips.  Fun!

I also made my Tapestry of Grace order. As soon as it comes in, we're all set.

Yesterday our pastor spoke about legalism in the church. One of the things he mentioned is that for some in the church community , homeschooling  is essential for Christians. Of course, my husband and I agree that Jesus is all that is needed for salvation. I am not a super Christian or even a super mom because I homeschool. I don't know any of my homeschooling  friends who think this way.  I have never heard of anybody judging another for not homeschooling. But I guess it's out there.

What I have noticed is that we homeschool parents are an enthusiastic group of people. We have found something that works for us for a variety of reasons. We can't help but be happy. Even though this takes a lot of work and sacrafice, we have the privelege to educate our precious children in the Lord. We see many of our dear friends who struggle and complain about what they are dealing with in the school system.  So maybe our enthusiasm spills over and those that choose public school feel that  we are judging and get defensive and maybe they feel a little guilty.

It's sad that it comes to this. It's silly that people can feel that this is a salvation issue, when it's cleary not. While I don't think that homeschooling is for every Christian family,  I do feel that every Christian family should prayerfully consider it. I'm sure thankful we did!

Every week I have T write a theme for composition. This week he had to choose a family member to write about and he chose his sister, A. Yesterday he made a list of what she looks like, what she likes to do, and what type of person she is. Today he finished the rough draft of his story. I read it and tears came to my eyes as I read this 8-year-old boy's thoughts on his little sister. Here is his composition, including the cute little spelling and punctuation errors.

My Sister

I wan to tell you about somebody. Her name is A.

She has a pouty face, but a very nice smile. She has Blond hair, and she weres her hair in braids, and is my little sister. She also has smooth skin and......out of that I say she is very pretty. She olso likes to play Star Wars with me. And....Play camping too. And she loves to do what were doing tomorr go to Disnyland!  She loves to play with stuffed Animals. Sh likes to eat too, smell flowers, Play outside and play soccer! Shis is a kind person and sometimes happy. Shes curious an loud. she doesn't like naps. And she's funny, Determid and wants  to be like me I love her. the end.

Think way back to the beginning of summer. Yup, that far back. That's when we had our Civil War party to celebrate the end of TOG's year 3.

Several families participated in wearing period custumes, making food for potluck, and playing games. We all had so much fun. T gave a little speech about  his great-great-great grandfather who fough in the Civil War. He did such a nice job. Here's a copy of his speech:

Hello! My name is W.H.W.. I am T’s great-great-great grandfather. I was born in Alabama in 1841. I fought for the Confederate States of America in the War of Northern Aggression or as many of you now call it the Civil War. My father and brother also fought. My brother and I were captured and sent to Rock Island near Chicago. We survived Rock Island and at the end of the war we were told to either join the Union Army or walk home. We walked home. My brother grew sick on the way home and he died. It was very sad. I buried him on the side of the road in Tennessee and continued to walk home. I married Mary-Jane Bennett and together we had four children. I was a farmer, like my father before me. Though we did not have much money we were very happy and we loved the Lord. I died in1920 in Clay County, Alabama. I was 79 years old."

The big finale of the day was the marshmallow war. Our good friends B and L made the marshmallow guns and the kids all had a blast shooting/blowing marshmallows at each other.

Here are some pictures of the day.

Group Photo!

Family Photo

T fighting his way through the Great Marshmallow War.

A taking a little walk. My mom made the dress. Isn't it pretty?

Where did the time go? How is is possible that T is done with second grade? It just felt like yesterday we were sitting in the kitchen with his new books and I was using our new dry erase board that has since had plenty of use.

Tomorrow T will have his promotion night. He is excited and he is hoping he will get a chance to speak in the microphone. No, he's not shy!

On Saturday we will be having our TOG year end party. It will be a Civil War party with about 50 people. Everybody, including adults must come in costume. The older kids will be giving oral reports and speeches and some of the the younger kids will be giving shorter reports. There will be lots of activities for the kids. I will be teaching an embroidery project. One of my friends will be making pea shooters. I know there will be a scavenger hunt based on the Underground Railroad. And of course there will be lots of yummy food. I'll be bringing fried chicken and Bryan's grandmother's famous sweet potatoe pie.

All week long I have been working on the final details of our costumes. Those that know me well know that if there is a costume involved, I'm there. I guess I still have not grown out of the joy of playing dress up, only now I get to dress my whole family up! T will be wearing a Robert E. Lee costume I picked up for 75% off at one of those Halloween stores after Halloween. (Always go after Halloween for the very best deals!)  T has worn it so many times this year and he has really enjoyed it. B has seriously considered doing some re-enacting after he is done with school. I had save up money to buy a beautiful Confederate costume from C & C Sutlery. It's very well made with 100% wool just like they would have worn in the 1860's. I have no idea how those poor men wore such clothing in all that heat and humidity. My mom made a beautiful costume for A.(Thanks Mom!) Her dress is a blue calico that looks perfect with her blue eyes. The pattern we used is a reproduction of one from the 1860's. It also has pantaloons and a petticoat. She looks adorable in it and she just can't stop spinning to see the skirt fly up.  I will set her hair to make those long ringlets that were so popular. My costume I got from E-bay. It's a "camp dress" which is a skirt and matching blouse and an apron. The colors are peach and green. I have a hoop that I will wear under the dress. You know, wearing a hoop is actually pretty comfortable.

Next week I will post pictures and tell you all how it went.

A few weeks ago we went with our History Club to the Leonis Adobe. The Leonis Adobe was a very large sheep ranch in California in the 1880s. Today it is a museum of what life was like for the California rancher many years ago and many things have not changed. They do wonderful field trips for children.

Our history club kids aged from 6-17 really enjoy learning about many things. The boys enjoyed the barn, backsmith shop and learning to rope cattle/sheep on a hay bail and designing their own brand. The girls enjoyed stone grinding corn to make homemade tortillias, looking at the house, and making their own little yarn doll. All the moms enjoyed the gardens. They were beautiful. All the kids enjoyed the varioius animals.

We had such a fun time learning about ranch life. Can't wait to go back again..

A grinding corn for tortillias

T at the water pump.