Following a long-established (well, this is only our second year doing this) tradition, here is our first day of school photo:

We began our new school year last Wednesday.  Yes, I know that was four school days ago.  I'm very behind on my blogging.  Sigh.  I have tons of photos downloaded and blog entries written in my head about them, but little time to sit down and actually blog. 

Ah well. 

The kids seem to be enjoying the school year so far.  Well, Daddy called after we finished classes the first day and I was appalled to overhear Claire's end of the conversation:  "Yeah, we had school today.  It was pretty boring."  Gads!  They had seemed to enjoy everything we read at the time -- they had lapped up Shakespeare, especially.  If nothing else, she could have said something good about A Midsummer Night's Dream!  I felt better at dinner, though, when happy reports flew across the table of what they had learned that day.  Whew!  A successful day at the end! 

This is Anna's first year as a real student using the AmblesideOnline curriculum.  She is very happy to be "official" and enjoys our school time together.  Claire gets excited when we bring out her old books.  "Oh -- Paddle-to-the-Sea!  I loved that one!"  or "Just So Stories were my favorites!  Can we read the one about the rhinoceros today?"  These are statements I hear from Claire all the time now. 

Anna announced today at dinner that reading was her favorite subject.  Funny, since two weeks before school started, I asked her to read something for me and she appeared to struggle.  I was disappointed, believing that all our efforts last year were in vain.  I don't mind that my children are late readers, but she had seemed to do so well last year, and we took the summer off not by choice but by necessity, so I took this regression hard.

So I took out her reading book on the first day and she read through the first story (The Little Red Hen) without stumbling once.  Little stinker.  She can read.  She apparently just didn't feel like reading when I asked her before. 

Claire seems to be enjoying herself as well.  Her favorite subjects so far are Health and Shakespeare. 

It looks like it's going to be a good year.  Audrey and Drew keep each other occupied while I work with Claire and Anna, so in that respect it's already much better than last year.  We are spending quite a bit more time on school work than last year, partly because I have two official students this year and partly (gasp!) because we're actually completing everything scheduled.  I'm amazed everytime I realize we've checked off every item.  That never happened last year.  Drew has been a very good baby, but he certainly did make school last year difficult.  Thank goodness for a bit of maturity!

That's my rambling first-day-of-school post.  I'll try to post more often from here on out :-)

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It's nice to be able to share good news!  First, from my Aunt Becky about my 17yo cousin Robert, who is now staying in an apartment near Duke Medical Center until his treatments are complete:

"Day30 Post Transplant - More Good News! Dr. Martin called us last night and told us the test results came back showing 100% of Rob's blood is J.B.'s cells which is a very good sign that the transplant has worked. They will test this again in 100 days.

"I was checked off this morning to give Rob's infusions and draw bloodwork. Nurse Sharon said I did a good job, so now Rob and I both can care for him outpatient.

"We are at Clinic again and will come daily for awhile, then 3X weekly, etc. Please continue to remember us in your prayers as we care for Rob and keep him infection free."

And now from my mother, who is halfway through breast cancer chemotherapy treatment:

"I am feeling wonderful this morning, something like my old self.  Went out to grocery and Sam's and Home Depot this morning and acquaintances told me that they love my hair and I tell them it's a wig (or not).  My internist thought I looked great yesterday.  I say "not quite up to normal but good enough, all things considered."  I have the rest of today and then tomorrow and then it's chemo again. Then I only have two more.  YES.  Getting there.  Radiation after that but I hear it's not as bad as chemo. Odd the things we look forward to when pressed really hard.
 
"It's good to have a day when you feel well.  We  never appreciate our health until we are unhealthy."

As always, we appreciate and covet your prayers!

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From my cousin Robert's CaringBridge site this morning (updated by his mother):

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This is what the kids are up to:

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Our homeschool group sponsored its annual activity at a local water park a couple of weeks ago (I'm obviously behind on my blogging!).  The kids look forward to this event all year.  My four-year-old asked me for weeks, beginning with the warmer weather, when we would go to the water park again.  Obviously, the event made a big impression on her last year!

The park is only sold out to half capacity, and open only to fellow homeschoolers, so the lines are short and the company good :-)

Here are some pictures of the fun the kids had!

Audrey loved everything about the park.....she even rode down the big slide with me!  She especially loved the water spouts.

Drew had lots of fun, too!

Claire met a "long lost friend" at the park and was excited to get reacquainted with Noelani.

Did I mention that Audrey really enjoyed herself?

Anna had so much fun that she only slowed down for this one picture.

Then I had to put away the camera or risk serious water damage!  Audrey has been asking since the ride home when we're going back.  It's going to be a long year until the next event!

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Last week was Vacation Bible School at our church.  The kids had a blast!  Mom was worn out by the end, but had fun too LOL.  I helped teach the toddler group, so most of my pictures are of Drew.  The kids loved the songs, which is why I added two of their favorites to my Playlist. 

Claire had fun....so much so that I only got this one shot of her!

Anna and Audrey are enjoying the closing ceremony.

Daddy helped with parking duty, so he was able to visit during the toddlers' outdoor pool time.

Everyone wanted to attend VBS!  At least we got some nature study in during the week ;-)

This is everyone on the last evening at the Big Event.  After the kids sang, they scattered to enjoy free food, bounce houses, water games and even fireworks at the end.

Drew even enjoyed cleaning up at the end of each day!

 Now all the kids are looking forward to next year.  Me?  I just want to rest for a couple more days ;-)

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As a Yankee (from Michigan) transplanted to South Carolina after a four-year stint in Florida, this video just cracked me up!  Check it out!

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From Robert's mother, my Aunt Becky:

Tuesday night was another rough one for Rob. Temp of 104, throwing up, shakes.
They almost have to kill him to cure him.  He is hanging tough.
Radiation today and one last day of ATG - the bad one.
Nurse Jayne just stopped by and told me his fevers are due to the fact he had such a strong immune system.  The treatment has to tear it down so he will be able to accept JB'S cells without too much of a fight.

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This note came from my mother last night:

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My husband is a yard sale junkie.  That's usually a good thing, but never as good as yesterday!  Wow!

He brought home two large boxes full of books.......which he got ABSOLUTELY FREE!  And even better, these books were unabridged classics.  And even better yet, 27 of these titles are books that are on the Ambleside Online curriculum booklist!  I was like a kid in a candy store as I was cataloging these books yesterday!  You can't even imagine what a great time I had checking off books that we now own....and marveling at all the money we'd saved!

So I'm truly counting my blessings today, in spite of many trials.  (I couldn't find the Bing Crosby version of this song on Playlist, but I hope you enjoy the one playing now.) 

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My mother greatly senses the need for prayer to cover her right now.  She is in the middle of her chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer and appears to have a yeast infection (she wakes up with a white film covering her teeth and mouth) and is fighting a cold, which is not good when you're already immunocompromised. 

Also, while she trusts her oncologist, this man has no bedside manner (or much of a personality, according to Mom), and this makes communicating with him and getting information from him difficult -- not good when you're already fighting for your health.  She is also noticing problems with her vision, which may be chemo-related.

Please pray that God will heal her cold, that this yeast infection goes away quickly with the new medication she's just begun to take, that God will protect her organs (including her eyes), and that any other complications would be kept at bay. 

We truly appreciate your prayer support through this trial!  Thank you.

(Also, for those praying for my cousin Robert, I've corrected the link to his CaringBridge page below.  We appreciate prayers for Robert, also!)

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For those who are following my cousin Robert's progress, please take a moment to visit his CaringBridge page.  There you will read more of his story and diagnosis, and even get a feel for what a fun kid he is :-)  

Here is a picture of Robert, so you can put a face to this young man we are praying so fervently for:

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This is supposed to be a homeschool blog.  Specifically, a Charlotte Mason homeschool blog.  Even more specifically, an Ambleside Online Charlotte Mason homeschool blog.  But summer has obviously distracted me, and what was once 75% homeschool/25% personal has become 0% homeschool/100% personal ;-)

So I decided to get back to blogging about our homeschool journey.  This is a small first step:

Here is Anna cleaning out the aquarium.  We moved our tadpoles into this aquarium several weeks ago, creating a very nice habitat for them.  Two weeks ago, we released the frogs back to the duck pond.  I didn't get any pictures of that.....not sure where my head was.  Watching the metamorphosis of these tadpoles was a wonderful science education for everyone in the house, from Daddy all the way down to little Drew.  I'm sure we'll do it again next spring!

Under the category of handicrafts, Claire and Anna enjoyed an impromtu sewing project a couple of weeks ago.  They took some old rags, needle and thread and created some Barbie clothes.  Here is Claire's proud creation:

I was impressed!

Besides these, Claire is continuing math through the summer, getting "caught up" after our switch to Math-U-See a couple of months ago.  We are also continuing history, so that we can start on schedule next month, when Claire will begin 5th grade (and Ambleside Online's Year 3) and Anna will begin 1st grade (and Ambleside Online's Year 1). 

I'll post more of our schedule and the books we'll be using on another day.

For now, I'll post two fun books I've recently acquired to supplement our homeschool studies.  I found both at Sam's Club.  I don't have time (or patience with kids in tow) to browse large bookstores, so I enjoy the selection Sam's Club offers me.

About a month ago, we found a bird book that even two-year-old Drew loves.  The Backyard Birdsong Guide is part field guide, part audiobook and is truly a wonderful book!  You can actually see the picture of a bird and listen to its song.  I've discovered that we have more birds in our neighborhood than I normally see, thanks to this handy audio field guide!  We are still having a lot of fun with this supplement, even a month later, and I'm sure we'll be using it often in the months and years to come.

Yesterday, we found Then Sings My Soul, a book of "150 of the World's Greatest Hymn Stories."  We learn one hymn a month throughout the year (this month's hymn is "The Sweet By and By," which is why that will show up on our current PlayList), and I'm thrilled to have found this book!  It has a devotional-type history for each hymn.  I'm always trying to find some historical information to go with each new hymn, and this book has just that.  It also includes music and words to the hymns and a CD containing the music to several of them.  I think this will be a good supplement to our hymn study for years to come!

All right, then.  Now I feel like I can justify keeping a homeschool blog ;-)

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For the second year in a row, we spent the evening of July 4 with several neighbors.....enjoying our own little community fireworks display.

Here are the kids just before we left the house. 

The men put on our own fireworks display.  Between that and the other displays other neighbors and neighborhoods were igniting, we had quite a show!  Claire and Drew loved it....he giggled the whole time. 

Anna covered her ears during the loudest crackers, though she enjoyed everything else.

After a while, Audrey decided that she did enjoy the sparklers, after all.

Then, we walked back home and tucked everyone in bed....no traffic jams!  I may like this better than the big city-sponsored events!

Happy Birthday, America!

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Claire officially turned 10 in March.  She wanted a pool party.  Not just any pool party.....a PIRATE pool party.  Even here in the southeast, it's too cool in March for a pool party.  So we postponed her celebration until this past weekend.  Claire and Drew had a combined party.....a pirate party, of all things!.....and fun was had by all!

A man from church made the pirate cake.  We were impressed!

Claire and Drew blew out the candles together.

Drew and friend Daniel sparred by the pool.

Happy Birthday, Claire-Bear and Bubby-Boy!  We love you both!

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My sweet baby is two years old today!   He's been such a joy.....the kind of baby that makes you want dozens more just like him!   Here are some highlights from his first two years.....

Happy Birthday, Bubby!

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This just came in from Mom:

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My mother sent this update today.  I'm sharing it here for all who are following her recovery and praying with us toward that end:

"Finishing up a lot of last minute details here.  Heading to Berkley Springs to stay at an inn this weekend.  David gave this to us as a Christmas gift.  Spa massages included.  Must pack and clean up.  Will stop by my parents on way up or down or both. ...... I don't know when I will get to see them again with this chemo and thought I'd better go now before I feel worse, if that happens, or my hair falls out. 

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Twelve years ago today.....

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