Always a Reason to be Thankful

The other evening I was heading out to a meeting and my father had come over to watch the children until Mark made it home. I was scurrying about collecting things and Dad commented, "You look just like your mom, always on the run." I hurriedly replied, "There just never seems to be enough hours in the day." Without missing a beat, Brent added, "Well, just be thankful you don't live on Uranus. It only has sixteen hours in a day!"

Of course that followed with a conversation between Brent, Devin and Opa, about how they may have shorter days, but their years are longer, so maybe they actually have more time.

I didn't hear the final conclusion. I still live on earth and had to run.

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day
listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky,
is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock

Summer's Over...

and school has begun. This year one of the greatest additions to our curriculum is the internet. Over the summer we were FINALLY able to find a high-speed provider that didn't' cost a fortune to set up and gives reliable service. YAY for Roger's Portable Internet!!!!

Here are some websites that I've found and will be using this year. Sorry to those still fighting trees, high hills and dead spots. I know how you feel. Don't forget...you're always welcome to come over here and have some fun in the fast lane (except that it will probably make your dial up seem even slower when you get home).

HOME SCHOOL BUZZ: For all you home schooling mom's this is really cool. A search engine that searches only home school related sites! You can even refine your search to just curriculum, resources, support groups. Very neat.

STARFALL: Shannon is doing JK type activities this year and is starting to learn her letters and their sounds. Here's a site I found that fills in wonderfully while I'm busy teaching the boys. It is phonics based and goes from letter sounds to "I'm Reading!" Best of all...it's free. You don't even have to give your e-mail address.

NATIONS OF THE WORLD: This YouTube video was recommended in a home school chat room, and has become our world geography for this year. Devin has really latched onto it and has memorized the first verse already. Challengers anyone?

ANDY STANLEY: (yes, the son of Charles) As mentioned in a previous post we were introduced to Andy at Camp Mishewa earlier this summer. I looked him up on line and love to listen to him while doing my dishes. This is the first part of his series entitled: "What you can expect from God," an interesting approach to the growing "Health and Wealth" philosophy. (look for parts 2-5 in the "Related Videos" section over on the bottom right)

CAKE WRECKS: This is a site of professionally made cakes, gone bad. Nothing educational, some comments not even necessarily kid friendly but I have to admit, many made me laugh...out loud. It's a huge site, so here are some of my favorites:

A Failure to Communicate
Inspiration vs Perspiration
and
Handwriting Class?

Fabulous Summer (#3)

The Civic Holiday Weekend is set aside for camping with the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins on my father's side. Although we don't always make it out (because it is held in Cambridge...6 hours for us but 1/2 hour for most of the others) we LOVE it when we are able to make it fit in our summer schedule.

We went up a day early and treated the kids to a day at African Lion Safari, and honestly, FABULOUS is the best word to describe our day. It is such a well laid out park, with lots to see and do, and our children seemed to be just at their targeted ages. They, well, actually, we ALL loved the bus tour through the game reserve, the different animal shows, and especially the splash pad which made a fantastic cool down intermission.

Camping was equally great, with only a few quick showers on Saturday afternoon (it's all about the rain this summer!) The boys made fast friends with their second cousins and spent the entire weekend playing Star Wars in the bush, or riding their bikes down the paths, leaving lots of time for us to sit and chat and catch up with the adults.

Family, Fun, Fellowship....FABULOUS!!!!!

You'll REALLY like the water Daddy! Come on. PLEEEEEEASE!!!!!

Couldn't NOT put in a picture of the Lions!

"The Dark Side" ready for battle.
There were 4 more boys similar in stature already in the bush posing as the Jedi...