I'm finally up to date! and other misc.

Whew!  I feel like that I have not written in forever.  I know it has been a long time, but life has flown by so fast these last few months.  I'm glad that school has started and so hopefully it will slow down long enough for me to blog.

I have been busy cleaning (still have tons to do, or at least is seems that way) out closests, cabinets, etc.  It seems like when I get one area done I need to start back at the beginning.  Or I stop on a project, because I need to buy an item or move some items and another area is not ready...well you get the idea.

Last week we had some relief to our triple digit weather that we have had most of the summer.  But it did not last long. :(  We are now back in the triple digits and praying for rain.   I love fall weather (even though it is the shortest season we have here) and hope it will come soon.

My Mother, has been gone since the last week in August.  She went to Ohio to my cousin Raelynn's wedding over Labor Day weekend.  Before the wedding my Aunt Darlene, Raelynn's mother, had a heart attack.  Long story short, her son-in-law, had to preform CPR on her.  They (Raelynn and Paul) went ahead with the wedding while Steve (the son-in-law), Doug (her oldest son) and a family friend went with her to the hospital.   The rest of the family went immediatly following the vows.  Aunt Darlene is now home and is recovering, it was touch and go at first, but the Lord touched her and we are so very thankful.
Mom is not sure how long she will be staying in Ohio, but hopefully it won't be too much longer, she is leaving at the end of the month for Fall Campground with her traveling friends.  :o)

School Time!!

This post is mainly for me to remember what we are doing and what we have started our school year off with.  :o)

Well, it is that time of year again, School Time!!  We officially started on August 29th.  On Friday, August 26th,  Makaela's classes started.   We are also went on a field trip to our Museum of Natural Science to see the "Texas" exhibit.
This is what we will be using for our school this year.
Makaela will be using Teaching Textbooks for Math again this year, along with Sheppard Software (Allen Jr. will be using this too).  I'm adding Easy Grammar and using it with our Spelling Power for her English.  We also bought the Vocabulary Cartoons book for her Vocabulary.  Bible Truths from BJU Press, Wisdom Booklets (as a family) and of course the Bible.  We are doing Texas History again this year along with our Mystery of History.  Hopefully adding the audio part to our MOH this year to help out and Allen Jr. will enjoy that as well.  One thing Allen Sr. bought at the Homeschool Conference was Makaela a Science program....Exploring Creation with General Science by Apologia.  This book is a little overwhelming for me, so not sure how it will go, thankfully we have the audio and a companion cd as well, so that should help.  For Geography we are using the Trail Guide to World Geography.  We have decided to do something different for writing/penmanship this year...we have writing prompts, silly starters, etc.  that Makaela will use for writing.  She also will be doing outlines and drafts in writing, but then all Final copy work on the computer.  Makaela and I will be doing a book study together using the "Beautiful Girlhood" and Companion guide.  I have several other I'm looking at, but wanted to start with this one.

For Allen Jr., I'm going to let him do some of the same things as Makaela...Texas History and Mystery of History, but on his level.  He will continue to have Before the Code books, some Critical Thinking pages and I bought him some books from Rod and Staff at the Conference.  Allen has some preschool ABeka curriculum that we will do as well.  In addition to some work pages, Allen will have several activities he can do each day or sometime during the week.  Those are: Dry Erase board (he loves this), File folder activities/games, matching (cards) , lacing beads/boards, puzzles, Geo Safari Learning card system, Leap Frog learning items, sorting items, unifix cubes, play dough, learning games.   Allen also has some learning computer games that he likes to do.  So hopefully that will be enough to keep him busy.  Lol

Well, I pray everyone has a blessed school year!

Happy21st Birthday Allen Jr.!

Happy Birthday to my little man!  I cannot believe he is already 21.  Allen is so happy about his birthday and birthday party.  We are having a few family and friends at one of his favorite restaurants.....Spring Creek Barbeque.   We have also decided to redo part of his room and make it a little more grown up.  He will still have horses and the western look, which he loves, so we don't want to take that away.  We love you Allen and hope you have a blessed day.

Love ,
Mom, Dad and Makaela

** This post was done on August 2, 2011 **  I know a month late, etc... :o)

What we have done over the summer!

Makaela and friends. 

 I have had this post ready to go, just forgot to go back and post it.  :o)

Church Time

Allen and Doug Riley working to lend a hand. 

Bro. Mark telling me how to do something.  Lol   

Makaela and Kallie working breakfast!

June - we went to the campground and was wonderfully blessed.  We all enjoyed being in church and working at the campground.  I so enjoyed seeing friends I have not seen in years and catching up with them and their families.  We came back and went straight into VBS.  It was a very good, but crazy week for all who went to the campground.  We were all tired and some were even sick (including me) other than that all the children had a good week.

July - we then had our 4th of July fellowship at the church.  Very HOT, but other than that good times.  At the end of that week, our family had a seminar that we attend every year.  During that seminar we got word that our Assistant Pastor had passed away (which we knew could possibly happen) and the funeral was going to be that Sunday.

On Tuesday, we left for our mini family vacation to Glen Rose, TX.  We opted to stay in a cabin instead of a hotel.  So much better for us.  Other than the heat, since Glen Rose is further north and west, it was a lot warmer there than here.  So we had to plan our days accordingly.  At the end of July we went to the Homeschool Conference and had a very busy and full weekend.  Allen and I did make a few changes for our school year, but not too many.

Allen Sr. 

Makaela coming from the loft where she slept

Allen enjoying the living area

The front of our cabin.  It was nice. 

Dinosaur Valley State Park

In the River Bed. 

This Giraffe wanted some food!  So he came in our "moon roof"  Lol
It was a neat and fun experience. 

Makaela's favorite! 

We loved this place, it was so much fun. 

At the Look out center and restaurant! 

More of the cabin - I took this from the loft. 

Creation Museum

Makaela and one of the explorers (and his son) for the Creation Museum

August - well, Allen Jr. turned 21 on the 2nd.  We had him a small birthday party with family and friends at one of his favorite restaurants.  He loved it.   Since then we have been busy getting ready for school and getting things in order in our home. I have been cleaning out closets, etc wanting to get to a much simpler way of life.  :o)

So that has been our summer...

Summer Time = Busy

We have been off to a running start this Summer.  Allen Jr. and Makaela went on a short 3 day trip with my in-laws.  Last Friday, they left for Oklahoma and will be home tonight. I'm glad they are coming home, I have missed them, but was able to keep busy with packing and cleaning.  We are leaving for the Campground this weekend, when we get back we will have VBS the next week.

Our church is having a July 4th celebration, so we will be here for that.  So needless to say, not sure we will get a family vacation in there, but if we can hopefully after the 4th.  If not we will still have a fun Summer.

We are going to the Campground! YEA!

We (Allen Sr., Makaela and I) are headed to the Campground.  Allen and I have not been since we were first married, it has been because of his job, he was able to get off for the three days he would be working and will make them up in July.  Makaela has only been to the work week, so it will be her first official Campground.  We are all excited and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store and see our friends.

Community Service - A Blood Drive

On April 23rd, our church had a blood drive for a lady in our church that is having several health issues.   Makaela had the privilege to earn some community service hours.  The couple that was organizing the blood drive ask her to work with their daughter, since both girls are in Girl Scouts.  I was glad that she wanted to volunteer and was able to learn more about serving God's people.  The girls greeted the donor's, helped give them food, drinks or whatever they needed done.

* Side note - Normally, we would not have Makaela in Girl Scouts, but this is a small group.  The leader homeschool's her daughter, one of the others is in private school, the fourth girl is in public school.  They are all sweet girls, it also helps that I'm the co-leader, so I have a say in what we do and if we do any of the activities. *

Happy 12th Birthday Makaela!

April 25, 1999

Makaela, I cannot believe you are already 12 years old, it seems like just yesterday you were 5.  Time has gone by fast and you are turning into a young lady.  I'm very blessed to have you as my daughter and thankful to the Lord for you.  You are a sweet, helpful daughter.  You take time to help with brother when you can . I know that it is not easy living with someone with disabilities like Allen and you are learning many character qualities because of it.  I pray with the Lord's help it will make you a strong young lady.

I will stop and not go all mushy, but just wanted to say Happy Birthday dear one.

Love you,
Mom

Spring Break + Texas History = Family FUN!!

We had fun over "Spring Break" as a family.   We stayed home, but did Day Trips (we love to do this as a family and the children enjoy our "adventures"). Since we are studying Texas History this year and next we combined the two.

Monday - Was a day to run errands, and Allen Sr. had to work at the Residental Treatment Facility for Boys.

Makaela and Allen at the Plantation House

Tuesday - Varner-Hogg Plantation in West Columbia, TX.  This was a Sugarcane Plantation back in the day. It was founded in 1824. We went to Angleton as well to see the statue of Stephen F. Austin.

Dad and Makaela at the Oil Field Manager's House on the Plantation. 

Allen Jr.

We are coming up on the Plantation House

Makaela with Stephen F. Austin in the background. 

The front veranda (porch) of the Plantation home. 

Wednesday - Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, Barrington  Living Farm and a Museum. We also went to Chappell Hill and toured the Historical buildings. Washington was where they signed the "Texas Declaration of Independence" on March 2, 1836 and the government of Republic was formed.   Lots of good history here. :o)

Independence Hall where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed. 

Barrington Farm

At the Museum

We are at Barrington Farm

What is in here?

Allen Jr. using the  "old" day tools. 

Makaela washing clothes (really a rag)

In front of the farm house.  I love the way it is open in the middle, with a breeze way. 

Thursday - Huntsville, TX - Sam Houston and the Sam Houston Museum and park at the University.

I believe this pictures speaks for itself!  Lol 

Friday - San Jacinto Monument (and Battleship Texas) east of Houston. San Jacinto was where Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836. The battle lasted about 18 minuets.

We had a fun filled week and have many memories as well.