The End of 2009

November



We get a lot of leaves in our yard. The family actually works together (imagine that!) to clean it up. This year they worked harder than ever before. Even Bethany got in on the action.

We also did a photo shoot with our friend.



She got some of the cutest pictures of the kids.



And isn't this a handsome man!



November also was the month of Emma's first Synchronized skating competition. She was so excited. They are a very young team compared to the other teams on their level but they are learning a lot and getting better every week.



November is also Caitlyn's birthday.



December

Benjamin turned four.



Daddy took him to a Monster Truck Show



There are so many things that I can say about this year and I'm sad that I didn't post more often. Christmas was fun and, as always, overwhelming. I always gain weight, go a little crazy with all the stuff that gets brought into our home, and have tons of fun with my children. It snowed here on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Very pretty. Abbey received boots, Emma got a personal ATM machine, Caitlyn got an MP3 player, Ben got a wooden work bench, Bethany got a baby. I'm so thankful that we all have Jesus.

Big Brother Sweetness

Just in to show you something really cute. I'll finish up the rest of 2009 really soon.

More of 2009

September

There was a huge change of pace here as there is in every home with children come September. Abigail went to school. REAL LIFE SCHOOL. A Public charter school. We always knew that if any of our kids were going to go to school it would be Abbey. We also always thought that as each child got older we would send them to school eventually. It was definitely time for Abbey and we have seen her grow in many ways in the past few months.



October

The rest of September flew by trying to figure out how to do it all. For the rest of the children we joined a "sort-of" co-op called Classical Conversations. It was a life savor for our homeschool. I was floundering the last year or so especially when it came to history and science. We are in the foundations program and I am a paid tutor. Hear that people... I have a job. I don't really see any of the money though. It all goes to the kids tuition to the program and the books and flashcards that go with it. No matter though, it's really fun to do and keeps me on top of things. In this amazing program the kids are memorizing science facts, history sentences and timeline, math skip counting and formulas, Latin declensions, geography, grammar lists, doing science projects like dissecting an owl pellet and a crayfish, and learning the Tin whistle. Whew it seems like a lot but the kids really love it.

October is Bethany's birthday.



We also went pumpkin picking... well, at least we tried to.



It was pretty cold and muddy and most of the pumpkins were rotten. The fall weather didn't cooperate this year.

We can't forget about Halloween. My kids love it so much they consider the fall to be "Halloween time". I really dislike that way of thinking and try to dissuade those little minds. Futility.

2009... Continued

I'm here again. Two posts in two days. I am amazing myself! I think that I'm only going to post about our Vacation today. We had such a good time and did so many things I don't want to miss anything.

August

We were away from home for most of this month. We took our annual road trip and this year we went to NJ.

We met our cousin Lilly.



Spent time on the boat.



Went to the boardwalk.



Visited the Grandparents.



and went to the real beach.





When our time in NJ was up we headed back in our car and drove down to West Virginia to see some nature and visit our friend's parents.



Our last destination was family camp. It was our first year trying something like this and we really loved it.

We made crafts, sang songs, tried our hand at archery, target shooting, rocket building and launching, rode horses, and saw millions of stars. This camp was amazing for me. We had two family helpers that took the kids to play and sat back at our room when the little ones went down for a nap. We had a date night at the bowling alley in town (that the camp owned!) and I didn't have to cook (or clean up) one meal!