Hi everyone.  Last month I got a rabbit!  Only Mom, Daddy, Jeremey and I knew about it so everyone else was surprised.  My rabbit's name is Mopsy.  I don't know what kind of rabbit she is but I know that she is a short-haired rabbit.  Mopsy is white with black and sand colored markings. She is friendly and very active.  When I put her on her leash she walks me!  I let her run free at the park (it's fenced in) and she can really move.  It's quite a site seeing us try to get her back on the leash.  That's all for now!

This summer we have been going skating at a skating rink.  Basically it's just a whole bunch of people going there.  There are games and races.  You can request songs if you want to.  It's called the Florida Wheels Skating Rink. 

My birthday was in June.  It was really fun.  I woke up when everyone else was asleep, except for me and Jaimee.  We ate some grapes and watched a movie.  When Daddy got home we opened some presents.  I got a Marvel poster with a whole bunch of super heros on it, a devotional, a movie called Motocrossed, some Good and Evil coloring books, Good and Evil book (Bible comic book), a Jonathan Park book, a set of harmonicas, a capo for my guitar, some money, a set of Odyssey tapes, and a jellyfish pick for my guitar, a SpiderMan puzzle.  That's what I remember right now.  With some of my birthday money, I bought a BMX (bicycle motocross) bike at Good Will.  It's got pegs.  I give people rides on the pegs.  I bought the bike for $30-they were asking $50.  The bearings weren't very good and it would have been a piece of junk, but Daddy got it fixed at a bike shop.  Gram came on June 14th for a late birthday party with her.  We went out to eat and went to see Night of the Museum 2-Battle of the Smithsonian.  I thought it was a good movie.  It was really funny.  She got me some dirt biking guys when we went to WalMart.  That's what I'm into right now. 

Jeremey and I got promoted to a gold belt at our karate class.  We're on break right now.  Classes will start again in September.

That's it for now.  Bye!

 Hi everyone!  Sorry I'm so late in posting.

On my birthday Gram came over and we went out for some time together.  Later everyone went to the library and out to eat.  After that we went to Siesta Key Beach for a sunset.  It was nice but the water was cold.  Mommy and Daddy gave me a Purity Ring for my 16th birthday.  Daddy read something to me then gave me the ring.  The ring symbolizes a promise to stay pure and be pure for my future husband or if I don't get married.  So that means I won't be dating and that may seem weird to some people but not dating also means that when I get married I can give my husband my whole heart and not have any regrets.  The ring has a pearl and two small diamonds on either side of it.  It's really pretty.

I bought a serger a few months ago.  I haven't done anything "real", just checking it out. 

In school, I am currently working through Algebra 1.  The course I am taking is really nice.  I watch a video for each lesson that teaches the problems that I will be working on.  I like math, so I think it's kind of fun.  Janna loves the song that plays before each lesson.  Another thing I have been working on is Sign Language.  Jaimee and I are the main ones learning it but I think that everyone has learned a little.  We watch videos from the library, my favorite series to watch is called Say it With Sign.  Jennifer watches the shows with us sometimes.  She got scratched on something and she started doing the sign for hurt.  One of my favorite signs Jen does is 'the bear catches the food'.  We've also been trying to teach Janna a few signs.  She knows the sign for eat and Daddy (sort of).  She can't do Mommy though.  Most of the time if we tell her to do Mommy, she will say (sometimes sign) Daddy instead.  Well, we'll have to work on it.

Ever since we have been to the Kennedy Space Center, I have been really interested in the space program.  I've read books by some of the astronauts and the one I am currently reading isn't by an astronaut but the first flight director, Chris Kraft.  We have been able to see a few shuttle launches while we have lived in Florida.  The most recent one we saw was really cool.  We could see it really well and even see the two rocket boosters fall off.  Jennifer enjoyed seeing the rocket.  There was another launch that has been scrubbed a few times, but it is supposed to launch sometime in July.  I signed up to get email updates from NASA to keep informed.  Mommy asked me "You're not going up are you?"  (Space lingo for going up in space.)

We went to a book sale for a home school group this month.  We had a table to sell some things.  We didn't sell much -- we sure had fun shopping though!  I got some books and a few other things (most of them were added to my 'space' library.)

I'll finish up this entry with a recipe.  It is a very easy and healthy snack. 

2 TBLS raw almond butter

2 TBLS or more of ground golden flax seeds (I love flax seeds so I use a lot.  You can grind them up in a coffee grinder.)

Raw honey to taste

1 apple

You mix the almond butter, flax, and honey in a bowl.  Then cut up your apple into slices and dive in.

Jennifer came up and asked me for my favorite apple mix and told me that it needed almond butter, flax seeds,  and honey (counting on her fingers as she says each thing.)

Well, that's all for now.  Bye!

Hi.  I had a birthday on May 1st.  I was sick on my birthday, though, but I started feeling better. 

On April 25th, Gram came over to our house.  She took me and Jordan out to eat and out to WalMart to buy some stuff.  Mommy said when we were leaving that when I got home there would be a big surprise for me.  I was asking Jordan, "Do you know what it is?"  She said, "Yes, I do know what it is, but I'm not going to tell you!".  We came home and I got my big surprise.  It was a BUNNY!!!!!  I was really excited.  I got it for an early birthday present.  I was so surprised. 

We went to the pet store to get a cage, some food, some hay, a salt block, a minerals block, and a toy.  Her name is Floppy Joanne King.  She had already been named Floppy before we got her, but I always liked Joanne.  The rest of the family calls her Floppy Jo, but I don't like that because it sounds like sloppy joes and that has meat in it and Floppy will not be meat!!!!  The boys joke about having a rabbit stew.  I don't like that.

We also bought a leash.  I take her outside every single day with her leash on so she can exercise.  Our friend Macey from Tennessee raises rabbits.  She said they like carrot pulp and banana peels, and that they could eat pretty much any fruits and vegetables as long as you don't give them too much.  Her favorites so far is cabbage, apple, and banana.  She also has rabbit food and treats.

Then after my birthday was over, we celebrated my birthday because I was feeling better.  Daddy and I went fishing just us.  I caught 2 fish and Daddy caught none!!!!!  We came home and had a brunch.  I opened some presents, I got clip on earrings, music box, some clothes, blendy pens, cd player and earphones (from my brothers), and some money. 

Now about school--I am starting 2nd grade.  My favorite thing to do in school is Math.  Handwriting is my least favorite.  Mommy said I was a whiz at 1st grade Language Arts in reading.  We still do our school time during the summer, then we get to take off other times--like our Indiana trip. 

That's all for now.  Love, Jaimee

I've been wanting to make a post about the music on this blog for a long time, but never sat down to do it.  If you are like me, I usually turn the volume off when I'm reading online because I can't concentrate on what I'm reading as well and end up listening to the music.  Every song that we have on here has a special meaning to different members of our family.  They like to go to the blog and listen to their songs once in a while, so that is why it is there.  If it is annoying to you, as it probably would be to me, just mute it on the computer and come back to visit.  Because....

I am going to be turning this blog mostly over to the children.  They used to write an article in our newsletter every month, but since we switched to the blog, it seems they aren't as involved.  So, I decided to let them update you on things going on with them and with school, etc. from time to time. 

You'll be hearing from Jordan soon.  Jaimee has a big announcement to make, plus a birthday coming up, so you will be hearing from her soon, too. 

Jeremey and Jason are now yellow belts in martial arts.  They just started taking lessons this last semester.  It lasted 12 weeks, and in that time they have earned their first belt.  They are excited about continuing on with the next semester, which starts in January. 

We attended their presentation last night.  I was impressed with all they have learned in a short time.  I really like the place where they attend class, because they teach self defense versus taking people down.  Their website explains it this way.  "They teach non violent conflict resolution skills that affirm vital Christian family values.  It instills confidence as well as a sense of humility and disciplined effort to work well with others."  Of course, they COULD take someone down if they had to, but that is not the emphasis.  One of my favorite things I heard during the presentation was when they were demonstrating some different throws while the instructor explained what they were doing.  When it came to the end when the perpetrator was down the instructor said, "At this point they would call for help, or render them unconscious if necessary."  

It's a good thing for our boys to do together.  They are learning that their partner is the most important person.  They look out for each others safety.  Not only are they learning important skills, but also building their relationship at a different level.  And that's a good thing.

If you have a minute, check out the website for Grace Martial Arts to learn more about where they are attending class.    www.gracemartialarts.org

We consider every day life part of our "school" and normally schedule our school time year round.  We have been on a more relaxed schedule during the summer--that is the time when I take to plan for the next year's heavier book schedule.  I am currently studying about teaching junior and high school as well as deciding what each of the children's needs will be for the upcoming year.

Being organized is a necessity for me--for my sanity for one, but also for our home to even be able to run productivly.  So, I was excited to learn about a virtual seminar going on this weekend.  I love it that I don't have to go out and be away from home to attend.  It is all on line and can be listened to "live" or downloaded later. 

Here are the details for those of you who haven't heard about it:

It is this weekend, July 11-12.  It is called "Let's Get Organized for the New School Year Virtual Seminar" hosted by Cindy Rushton.  You can learn all the details at Cindy's website (sorry I am not able to insert the link for some reason, but here is the website--www.CindyRushton.com/LGO2008.html). 

Jason and Jaimee recently made up several batches of homemade playdough.  They mixed, stirred, kneaded, and bagged up their goods--then went right to work making all sorts of creative things with them, including masks.  I was never that creative when I played with playdough.  I will share our favorite recipe for the playdough.  We use Kool Aid packets to make different "flavors".  I like using them because they are inexpensive, they smell good, and they make the playdough different colors.  I don't add additional coloring--I always simplify everything all I can.  They also tried making a "chocolate" playdough this time.  Of course, it was brown and smelled like chocolate.  It looked kind of like brownies.  It's not a favorite of mine, but they liked it.  Here is the recipe and some pictures of their accomplishment.....

1 C Flour

1/4 C Salt

2 T Cream of Tartar

1 Envelope Unsweetened Kool Aid (I use the off brand)

1 C Water

1 T Oil

1.)  Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan.

2.)  Cook over medium heat until mixture pulls away from the side of the pan.  Be sure to stir constantly.  (We add glitter to some of the batches at this stage.)

3.)  Knead.

4.)  Store in an airtight container.

Here are the ingredients for the chocolate playdough.  (The same steps are used to make it.)

1 1/4 C Flour

1/2 C Cocoa Powder

1/2 C Salt

1/2 T Cream of Tartar

1 1/2 T Oil

1 C Water

It's hard to believe, but our "newborn" turned 3 months old.  Along with cooing and smiling and just being generally cute to all of us, here is one of the latest things she has taken up:

Notice it's just the 2 middle fingers....we've never had one to do that before! 

We spent the weekend camping in Titusville and visiting Kennedy Space Center for 2 days.  Now we are "launching" into a unit study on space travel.  It was great this time because we got to see a shuttle on the launch pad--last time we were there, there was no shuttle there.  I think the launch date is the end of this month.   We learned a lot about several of the Apollo Missions and about the International Space Station.  We went to hear Astronaut Al Worden speak.  (He was on Apollo 15.) 

We also spent some time at Canaveral National Seashore.  It is the longest stretch of undeveloped beach on the east coast of Florida.  There are more than 500 species of wildlife on Merritt Island.  We saw a bobcat and some alligators.  John spotted an alligator on the shore on the other side of some water.  We turned around to go back and get a picture.  Some other people stopped before us and actually got out of their car to take a picture.  We were in our van behind them.  All of a sudden, the alligator went in the water and started swimming toward them.  Of course they went running back to their car.  The alligator stayed in the water with it's head peering out, I guess waiting to see if he would actually get lunch or not! 

While we were at the beach a helicopter flew by pretty low.  I thought it was kind of neat so I tried to get a picture of it (although it didn't turn out).  Anyway, John asked me later what I thought about it.  I hadn't seen it close since I was focused on getting the picture.  Come to find out, there was a machine gun pointed out with people scanning the beach!  We think it was probably security because there was a shuttle on the launch pad, but still.......

Jordan wanted to go to the Manatee Village Historical Park over her birthday weekend, but we never ended up going.  They were closed for a wedding the day we tried to go, so we made plans to go this weekend instead.  I got stung by a wasp on my toe right when we got there, but other than that everyone had a good time!    Here is Jordan to give the highlights of our trip:

We started our trip by going to the General Store which was pretty cool.  They had old shoes, wash boards, a butter churn and much more.  Also inside was a playroom.  Jaimee and Jason dressed up in pioneer clothes and Jennifer cooked on the wood stove.  Next we went to an old church.  I think some people have weddings there.  After the church we went to the one room schoolhouse.  We enjoyed looking at old books, drawing on the chalkboard, and sitting at the desks.  Jaimee put wood in the stove and made a 'fire' and Jennifer liked the teacher's 'apple'.  Our next stop was a courthouse which is the oldest building in the park and the oldest remaining building built as a courthouse in the entire state of Florida.  Jennifer took the gavel and hit it on the board and said, "Quiet!  Quiet!"  After the courthouse we looked at the other buildings they have, looked at their garden, and went to the little museum above the General Store.  Then before we left we climbed up into an old train and looked around.  The Manatee Village was a cool place and we'll be going back again sometime.   

It's Jackie again.....we don't have any pictures to post, although I took a bunch.  I dropped our camera on the way out the door and it is NOT taking good pictures now......  I'm thinking maybe they should have left me at home.....

Jordan has been spending a lot of time the past few weeks studying for her tests to obtain her driving learner's permit.  She successfully completed the required course on line and then passed both of the required tests.  She and John (and Jaimee went along--she always wants to go to everyone's appointments and outings ) headed to the Licence Branch early this morning to get her permit.  She just had to take the vision test at that point, since she did everything else on line.  John let her drive part way home from the License Branch.  Jordan is on the road! 

I have been working on things to do with a 2 1/2 year old during our "school" time during the days, specifically when I meet with each of the older children for their individual time.  Before Janna was born, we had a system that worked pretty well, but I knew I needed to make some changes.  Since we are redoing our schedule anyway, I figured this was the time.  Before, the general set up was that each person had time with Jennifer in 1/2 hour segments while I was with each of the older children.  They basically got to do whatever they wanted.  I decided I wanted her to have a little more structure with planned activities during that time, so I have been looking into "what to do with a 2 1/2 year old?" 

A few of the things that we have come up with include:

~Before Five In A Row....Jaimee went through the Five in a Row, Volume 1 series, and really enjoyed it.  Someone will read the same book to Jennifer 5 days in a row (we will have different people each day do it), then there are activites related to the book to go along with the reading each day.  I think this will work well because they have 1/2 hour and that should be the perfect time to read the story and lead an activity.  I will also take a day or two doing this with her, as I wanted to be a part of it as well.

~Activity Bags.....These are basically a complete activity with instructions all put together in a large ziplock bag.  So, Jennifer along with whichever older child is with her for that time segment, can choose a bag and they can sit down and work  the activity for their 1/2 hour segment.  I am able to be included in an "activity bag swap" which means I will just make up 20 of one kind of activity bag, send them to a coordinator, who will separate them into 20 different groups and mail all the participants 20 different activity bags.  It is more economical and easier to do it this way as you can purchase the items in bulk and just make 20 of the same thing verses having to go and make 20 different bags yourself.

~Rice Bin.....We made one of these when Jaimee was younger and everyone enjoyed it.  Basically, we got a big bin, bought a 50 pound bag of rice from Sam's and dumped it in the bin.  We then added things like measuring cups, funnels, nested cups, etc.  The person this was intended for is the 2 1/2 year old, remember?  Well, it seems to be a big hit with the older children as well!  Jason spends a lot of time out there just for fun (without Jennifer along).  He has his little army men in there and has a big time with them in the rice. 

Jason had a great day today.  He was John's helper all day long.  They accomplished a lot of things that needed done around here.  Here is a sampling of some of the things he did today:  he raked leaves and filled 4 trashcans with them, he cut a hose with scissors to fit it in the trash, he mowed the whole yard-front and back, he picked up misc. wood pieces that were in the back yard, he cleaned out the lanai, he helped fix the couch in the family room, and he helped fix Jennifer's dresser.  He was excited and proud to tell us that he got paid $5 for his efforts.  He's a good worker and we loved the good day he had. 

Tomorrow he and John are headed to Tropicana Field for a major league baseball game between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Chicago White Sox.  We will report back on that!

We are enjoying the citrus season here in Florida....although it will be ending soon...always a sad time for me!  We have been blessed again this year with a steady supply of grapefruit, and some oranges and tangerines.  Jeremey is our official grapefruit juicer--he makes me at least 1 quart every day.  John gave him the job of juicing the grapefruit for the freezer this year.  So far he has 8 gallons frozen.  He will be doing more as we get more containers.  It's not as good frozen as it is fresh, but we still enjoy it.   Beth, my sister, got hooked on it also when we took grapefruit to Indiana.  I wish there was a way to get it to her--last time we checked the shipping was outrageous.  Well, she is coming to see us in June--we'll have to be sure we save some of our juice from the freezer for her!

(Update:  As of 4-15, Jeremey has 17 gallons of grapefruit juice in the freezer!) 

Janna loves to listen to Jeremey play his guitar!  If she is fussy, she calms right down when she hears him play!  He is doing a great job playing--he just got his guitar in November of last year from Grampa Bill and he plays every day.  He has learned a lot from Grampa Bill and Uncle Chris, and from books and dvd's he has gotten from the library.  We all like to listen to him play--even little Janna!

Our newest addition, Janna Grace, will be 8 weeks old in a few days.  These first 8 weeks since she has joined our family have been full ones.  Along with me recovering from my first c-section ever, we have already made a 1200 mile trip to visit our extended family and friends in Indiana.  (can read more details about that at our family blog:  www.homesteadblogger.com/kingfamily)  The older children have kept up with their daily lessons that they do themselves, but it is now time to get back in full swing again.  I have been pondering how to put everything together.  I keep telling myself that there are many people who have many more children than we have (we have 6), that somehow manage to homeschool along with taking care of a newborn and keeping the home running efficiently.  I tell myself that at times when I am working on the schedule and think I have it all fit together with everyone in a slot all day and then remember, "oh yeah....what about Janna???".  I still have the final touches to put on our schedule.  (I know that the schedule is not set in stone, but we have to have something to keep us on track.)  I've been working on revamping our chore schedule as well to include all the children sharing all the jobs instead of the brunt of it falling on the older ones just because they do a good job!  My friend, Rebecca, shared their "zones" with me and I was able to glean some great ideas from her, plus from my trusty Emily Barnes books, along with incorporating all that we already do that is working.  So...now that this is on paper at least, I will turn to the daily schedule and get that on paper, then it's time to put it all into practice.  It's just making the transition to our new "normal"......I'll let you know how it goes!

Here are the broomstick skirts that Jordan made for all us girls.  She made all 5 of them in about a week.  We took them on our trip to Indiana with us and all wore them on Easter.  I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but Janna's (the baby) skirt matches mine.