Some comforts of homeschooling....

When it comes to homeschooling my favorite things have to be ....the luxury of NOT having to rush off early in the morning to a cold building.... The fact that we can wake up, make a hot meal, choose what we would like to work on and then do it!!!! No, having to wait by the bus stop in the rain, cold, or hot mornings!!! Not having Morgan sit in an uncomfortable chair and sit and sit and sit..... looking outside and wishing you could play in the snow or beautiful weather!!!! I know these things not because Morgan has said this (she has not gone to school at all) but because I spent too many days that turned into years doing this very thing..... Why should I send my daughter into a building for her whole childhood when the fact that when we grow up we are out in the world and not spending time in a building all day long? Okay, thats enough rambling....

Here are some times in our house:


Nothing like working by the fire in your pj's!!!

Then spend as much time as you want painting!!!

Spending the afternoon birdwatching!!! Morgan loves to find new birds and look them up to see what they are called.... she has started putting a sticker new to the picture in her guide book, every time she sees the same bird!!!

Here is Morgan at our HAHSA bookclub meeting... This past month we read Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry. The kids got to dress up like Gooney Bird... they had a blast... we told "absolutely true stories", gave ourselves new names "gooney bird style". etc....

Whenever I start to have doubts about if we made the right choice about homeschooling (and yes, sometimes I rethink it) it is only for a minute because I come back to these awesome times that just can't be replaced by public school!!!
Okay there is many more awesome things about homeschooling but at the moment these are the only pictures I can get my hands on !!!! LOL

Happy Homeschooling!

Overdue Photos

Lake House (September 16th -20th)

In September we went on a mini vacation.... Morgan, myself and my dad went to our families lake house in Va.... It is a beautiful private lake that is such a joy to visit... I would love to move there....
We had such a relaxing week.... We went through the whole week on a whim.... nothing planned!!!!!! We brought some books down with us, played the license plate game on the way down and back, talked about our George Washington (as we drove through DC), talked about the "poop plant" in the city, played board games, and really just chilled out!!!!! We went fishing (something my Dad and Morgan love to do) and really enjoyed nature and each other.......
Here are some photos:

I love photos like this.... I look at this and I see just how truly beautiful she is and what a great gift God as entrusted me with.... To look at her and realize that He is saying "Kate, I love you so much that I want to give this treasure to watch and love and I know you can and will enjoy her and help create a wonderful woman in days to come" ... It makes me cry with overwhelming joy!!!

More updates.....

Okay, A couple weeks ago I was venting about a situation that occurred at the local football game.... (you can read it all here) Well I am updating you all of the situation.... my friend and I emailed the Rec council and someone actually paid attention!!!! She was very receptive to what we had to say... she even took it up with the County and not only was the song banded from the play list but the man (who is the commissioner for the football league) was reprimanded!!!!! Good huh? Well I am just happy that something was done and that someone else acknowledged that I am not crazy!!!!

Pumpkin Patch (October 28th)

We went pumpkin picking at a new place this year..... The past years we drive up to the big
maze quest in PA... but that was just a little too big for us old people :) and they were pretty expensive in my mind.... we never left with out paying about $80-90.... for an afternoon activities and pumpkins (not including eating)!!!! So this time we went to Brad's Produce...
They had a maze with an activity sheet. The maze wasn't too big and not too small!!!! Prefect.... We finished and maze and grabbed hotdogs and waited for the hayride to come (free hayride by the way) we took that out and hung out at the pumpkin patch for a while
and came back to the barn..... they had mini mazes too that were cute..... we bought 2 pretty large pumpkins, cider and we left with spending about $35 for the whole day!!!! I was a happy costumer and the service was nice!!!!

Okay enough with my rambling ... here are some pictures





Which way now?



Morgan was determined to pick out the perfect pumpkin!!!!




A little help from Daddy.....


And she found it!!!!


Here is my husband in deep thought over another maze!!! Don't hurt yourself there Chris!!! Your brain is going to blow!!!! LOL


Here is what he was trying to figure out...... you can only make right turns and you need to get to the middle of the maze..... Good luck!

I love going to the pumpkin patch each year because it reminds me of Morgan's first real Halloween and he went to get pumpkins .... it was only the 3 of us in the whole place and we spent the afternoon walking around with Morgan while she tripped over the vines..... It was a sweet day and a great memory for me..... Here is a picture of her and Chris then!!!!

Pumpkin caving and caramel apples (October 31st)

This year Morgan cleaned out her own pumpkin..... Chris won't even do his... I have to for him!!!! What a whimp!




And we made caramel apples... and I have to say they were gross!!!! but we had fun and made a mess!!! Isn't that what really counts?

I need to play catch up.....

I have really been out of it lately... between being stressed out and busy with things I haven't been posting so I need to get back into the habit......
Morgan's 7th Birthday Party (October 13th)

Here are some photos from Morgan's b-day party..... She wanted to have a Harry potter party with the neighborhood kids and that was fine by me!



Here "Hermione" is with her Quidditch cake.... She wanted to use bubble blowers for the goals!!!! Creative... huh? Don't worry we washed them first ... LOL


Morgan wanted to make Magic slime ... This was a huge hit and a really big mess... Thank the Lord it was a pretty day outside !!! LOL


Here is my little sister... she turned 13 this year.... Lord help us all!!!! The boy next to her is a neighbor that Morgan has had a crush on for a year or so now... He is really sweet and loves to play with her... I told him that I am going to file the paperwork for an arranged marriage!!!! He's a little older but hey, it won't matter when she 21 .... :) He and I talk alot about all sorts of stuff... he is really big into reading so he and I swap books alot.... when the last Harry Potter book came out over the summer we would discuss the book after each chapter!!! It is really cool to see a kid that excited about reading.....


The kids played red light green light and Morgan "flew" on her broom!!! They were so funny!


Morgan opening her presents with her best friend.... They are only 2 months apart and have so much in common....


That night my sister spent the night and we had roasted marshmellows and watched a movie.... Not bad for turning 7 huh?

Halloween (October 31st)

The past 2 years we have gone trick or treating up at Mountain Christian Church for their Trunk or Treat event... My neighbor belongs to the church and we really enjoy the event.... They have food, great music, moon bounces, car decorated tastefully and a good clean environment. Morgan enjoys the neat "treats" she gets here.... This year she got: play dough, a worship Cd, pencils, stickers, toothbrush, bracelet, mini Mr. Potato thing, etc..... Also lots of candy!!! but for some reason we can't find most of it.... hint hint .... I ate it!!! LOL The pleasures of being a Mom.... no wonder some people have more kids..... more kids = more candy.... What have I been thinking.... LOL


Here is Morgan and her best friend, Mackenzie....who was Pippy Longstocking

Here are the girls at the first "trunk". The family live on a farm that raises miniature horses.... She allowed the kids to pet the horse and believe it or not she was so soft!!!!

Morgan and Mackenzie got their faces painted....

Okay that is two updates ... I hopefully will get my butt in gear and do more tomorrow..... See ya!