October

Here are some highlights of our October.

A drive through Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park and seeing lots of elk. October 2

New Hope's Fall Kick Off, October 4

Jeff even sported some tattoos!

Jeff's Entrance

Bum Day with our first dusting of snow.

Joyce Meyer conference with Delirious October 15-17

Our First Snow Storm October 28 & 29

I think we got between 12 - 18 inches.

More to come on...

Preston's Birthday

Sledding

Our Family Night

"The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

~Zephaniah 3:17

Christmas List

It's that time of year that family is asking what the kids want, so it is Christmas list time.

A couple of nights ago, Aunt Tammy called and was asking if the kids were going to get her their list. The two oldest boys had made their list already but Landon and Kaylie still need some help with writing all they want.

I've heard a few things from Kaylie on what she wants but Landon I haven't heard a lot from. When Jeff and I have been talking about what big gift to get them I am stumped with Landon and Kaylie. I keep throwing questions and suggestions to Landon but he really doesn't throw much out there to bite on.

Landon is just that way. He doesn't really care if he has "stuff" or not, and when he gets something, once the newness wears off he'll let anyone have it. He just doesn't care.

Back to talking to Tammy... I thought it might just be best to let her ask Landon herself and then maybe I'd get some ideas.

Aunt Tammy asks Landon what he wants for Christmas. Now on my end I can see the wheels turning in Landon's head.

Landon finally says, "My very own pack of gum!"

After some more prodding he also shared that he wants some people, like army men. That's not much of a list to go off of.

I then got back on the phone and said, "If all my kids would be like him, I could do Christmas for $10.00."

The rest of the kids then had to share what they wanted for Christmas with Aunt Tammy. After about 15 minutes I got back on the phone with Tammy. We had to bring back up Landon really only wanting a pack of gum and laugh about it. As we were about to wrap up our conversation Landon pops in the kitchen and says,

"Oh yeah! Tell her to buy me an ipod!"

Laugh, laugh, laugh we did! To go from wanting his own pack of gum, a Christmas under $10.00, to I want an ipod. (Which he totally gets from Madagascar 2.)

He's a funny boy! and my Christmas will no longer be under $10.00.

A Renewing of Vows

Monday evening, our family was part of a "Renewing of the Vows" for some friends. It was a surprise to Kevin, the husband, so Marty was planning it all. She had asked Jeff and I stand up with them, and she knew it would take Jeff to get Kevin to the church.


Jeff shares a birthday with Kevin and Marty's anniversary. Last year, we surprised Jeff on his birthday with taking him out, kid free. So the "plans" were made for the four of us to go out again.


Kevin was suspicious and knew something was going on, he just didn't know the magnitude of it all.


Here comes the problem... if Jeff and I are both standing up front, who's sitting with our four kids? I decided that I would let them pick who they wanted to sit by, then I would ask that person if they were OK watching that kid(s). At first they all chose Ms. Dallas, who is one of the teachers in our KidZone. I asked, and she was fine. I gave each of my kids "the rules" 1) Stay in your seats, DO NOT get up until it's all over. 2) Be Quiet. This is like a wedding and do not talk during it.


At the last minute, Kaylie decides she'd rather go sit where all the girls are. So I take her over to a family that is a part of our lifegroup, and actually the mother had offered to have the kids sit by them. I reminded Kaylie of "the rules".


The time came where Kevin and Jeff showed up to the church so all the lights were turned out for the "big surprise". Kevin came in, some lights were turned up and he was surprised by the number of people who were there.


I was also surprised because my daughter was running up and down the aisle doing cartwheels! Then she moved to front and center to do cartwheels. Not ONLY was she doing cartwheels, but gone were the nice clothes she left the house in. No she wasn't naked, thank God! But she had some pastel purple shorts and a bright purple and pink shirt on with Simba (Lion King) on it. She had those under her nice clothes (unbeknown to me) and she had decided she was hot.


I finally got her back in her seat with my words. Kevin then made it to the front and the ceremony began. TJ, a man from our church, starts talking and doing the whole "love" thing, and then I start hearing "Kiss the bride! Kiss the bride!" Not only was I hearing it from the front (Kaylie), but I started hearing it from the back, which was Tanner. I think Ms. Dallas put a stop to him pretty quick but Kaylie seemed to keep going on and on.


I had to step forward to look around TJ to get Jeff's attention, who was standing about 3 feet from Kaylie, I had to give him "that look" that said, "Do something about her!" He then was able to get her to be quiet.


I don't know what Kaylie was thinking. Maybe that this was a circus and she was the acrobat? I DID NOT think it was funny, it was rather embarrassing, but when I was telling my sister she made me see the humor in it. So here is the story, so she can read about it in the future and remember. :o)

Living History

I'm still trying to catch up!

Back in September on the 25th, Jeff and I took the kids to Living History Days. It is put on by homeschooler's for homeschooler's and anyone else who'd want to be a part. I didn't really know what to expect but what we saw was far superior then I ever imagined it would be.

There were adults involved but most of the participants were teenagers. The time was set back to right after the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1772. It began with a short production of the signing of the Dec. of Ind.

There were seven different stations that we rotated around to learn different things about the era. Those who put this on were dressed to fit the part and they constantly talked like they were actually back in that time. When asked questions about whatever they were sharing that were still in the part when they answered. They never said "they" they always answered "we". We were very, very impressed!

The Longhunters -

At this station we learned about how they hunted, how they used animal pelts for different things and how they made clothes with the leather. We also saw how they made their guns.

The Militia -

This was the boys' favorite. Here we got some of history of what was going on from a Frenchman. The boys then took part of a "battle" with the Redcoats. While they were part of that the girls learned what roles females paid during the war.

Agriculture -

We got to hear what they used gourds for, what foods you would have seen. We also got to see someone spinning yarn. The kids got to hold chickens, feed a goat, pet a bunny and puppy. They also got to search for eggs and shuck some corn.

Wood Shop -

I missed a lot of this because Kaylie kept going back to the chickens, but I believe here they demonstrated the different tools they used and what it took to actually make things with wood, like benches and they even got to put some mud on a cabin.

Music -

The boys' were not into this at all and they just went back to the Wood Shop, but Kaylie sat right in the front and LOVED it! I was amazed at how enthralled she was with the music. She even was instructing them with some of their music and she made sure to clap after every song.

Candle Making -

Because the boys got to be part of the battle against the Redcoats, only the girls got to make a candle. So Kaylie was in a line that would go and dip a wick into wax and then would get back in line and that continued to happen for 20 minutes. While the girls were making the candles the boys were actually learning about how they made different candles, like with bees wax etc. I think they got into it because they stood there and listened the whole time.

Games -

Here they played some games of the time. Of course there were checkers but there were also hoops you used a paddle to role, there was another game that Jeff and Preston loved and it was made up of a small hoop and each person had two dowel rods. They would shoot the hoop in the air and the other person would catch it with their rods and they would shoot it back. They got that hoop pretty high.

I was amazed at the technology back then! ;o)

The whole family enjoyed the day and hopefully the kids learned a lot. The next time this is put on, we are definitely going and then we'll go all day rather then just half of the day.

God Bless America!