El Paso, Texas

Dad and Mom flew to El Paso, Texas this past weekend.  Thanks to some good friends, our children were left in safe hands and with lots of playmates.  We flew out early Friday morning and returned in the weeeeeeeee hours of Monday morning.

We had our camera with us the ENTIRE time but only managed to take three photos.  Still not sure how that happened.  It was Dad's first time that far west in Texas.  I think his favorite discovery were the rock gardens for yards.  Now he's wondering if he could get away with that here at home. 

(Rock garden + no grass = no mowing!)

We had some yummy food the entire weekend.  These were taken at the top of the hill where we had some scrumptous Texas BBQ.

And we had plenty of Tex-Mex.

We had so much good food that we never even made it to the store to get Blue*Bell.  You know we were eating good to miss Blue*Bell!

And we made some new friends.  Dad preached that Sunday morning (the purpose of our trip) and it was a powerful service.

Our 4-H Officer

Our 4-H Club had it's new officer installation today.  H is old enough now to serve the club.  She was nominated and elected to be the Parlimentarian.

"Will you keep the meeting in order and keep the other 4-H'ers on task?"  Translated - You may bang the table with the mallet if it gets too loud.  She's very excited about the mallet!

Our 4-H'er.

Concert and Covered Bridge

The kids and I drove south of Raleigh to hear Jeff and Sheri Easter in concert.  (Dad had a deacon's meeting.  Missed him being with us!)  When we walked in the auditorium, the front two rows were empty.  We walked up there to see if they were reserved.  No reserved sign.  So guess where the kids wanted to sit!?  Front row!!

Madisen, Sheri and Jeff

Madisen, Morgan, Sheri and Jeff

On the way to the church, we saw a covered bridge.  Since we didn't know how much further we had to go, I told them we'd stop on the way back.  The concert lasted longer than I expected it to last.  By the time we got back to it, the sun was down just enough to make it dark with all the trees around us.  So I left the headlights on and we walked across the bridge.

It was exciting to see a covered bridge.  But the concert was even more exciting! :)

We have two new cd's for our listening pleasure.

Family Fun Day

The church where Dad is Interim Pastor had a Family Fun Day today.  They had bounce houses, balloon animals, bean bag toss, and lots of other fun things.  There was a magic show that was quite entertaining.  The "magician" always brought the lesson back to the Truth.  Magic is illusion, Jesus performed miracles.

He used the crowd in most of his "tricks".  H was part of one.  The funny part is that she never put down her snowcone.

Ready...

Set...

POOF!  (Snowcone still there!:)

They were also giving wagon rides.  Our kids rode two times.

Fall is almost here....

The Christmas Battle - December 1914

One of the joys of our home school journey so far has been our co-op.  We all use Tapestry of Grace and meet each Friday to do some learning together.  This is our fourth year in the co-op.  TOG is a 4-year curriculum so we're finally in the 20th century.

This year I am one of the four teachers for the Lower Grammar class.  Today we were taken on a field trip to the backyard of one of the other teachers.  She had plastic spread across the yard to represent the "trenches".  The kids reenacted the battle that happened Christmas 1914.

The "bullets" were mini-marshmallows.  The "grenades" were bean bags.  The medics used toilet paper for bandages.  Once a "soldier" was "hit", they were "dead" until a medic "bandaged" them.  They immediately came back to life for more "fighting".  (Since we only had 6 on each side, they had to resurrect or else the battle would have ended after less than a minute.)  No one was actually injured or harmed during the reenactment.  But I'm quite certain several of the soldiers didn't have an appetite for lunch because they ate too many of their "bullets".



Firing on the enemy.  B was using a tree to block himself.

The girls, two on each side, were the medics.  Here's E running out with her friend to care for their wounded.

No time to waste!  Get back to the trenches!!

E out in "no man's land" caring for a wounded soldier.

Christmas Day - both sides came out and played soccer together, exchanged gifts, some received hair cuts, and the battle was forgotten.

After Christmas, the General arrived.  "These are not our friends!  They are the enemy!!"

New troops arrived who had not played on Christmas Day.

The battle resumed.  FIRE!!

C caring for a wounded soldier.

The kids had a wonderful time and remember so much about the battle now that they have experienced it.

Thanks, Eve, for a great lesson!  (For our three and me!)

Uncle Stephen's Surprise

Look what Uncle Stephen sent home with Dad and B when they came back from Tennessee!

Our front porch is already looking like fall.

Thanks, Uncle Stephen!

Vocational Ambition

At lunchtime today, C said,

"When I grow up, I'm going to be a police girl so I can drive fast and run red lights!"

First Day of School (Co-op)

We officially started back to school this week.  Today was our first back to co-op.  The kids were so very excited to get back.  Mom was happy that they were happy.  (Still wondering what happened to summer!)

Our two kindergarteners

A brand new year...2nd grade, 4th grade, and kindergarten.

Salon Oo-La-La

All three girls quit biting their fingernails this summer.  So when they told Miss Laura that they had "long" fingernails, she told them they could visit Salon Oo-La-La.  And they kept her to her promise.

Saturday morning they spent well over an hour with Miss Laura (also known affectionately as Miss La-la) making their fingers and toes pretty, then they headed upstairs for their hair to be fixed.  Oh, and a little perfume too.

They sure did have a fun time.

 Pretty girls with fancy nails.

B found other things to do while the girls were having fun with Miss Laura.  But he and Miss Jane did join them for a photo.

We love our beach house and beach hostesses!! :)

Summer Beach Trip

We had not been to the beach this summer so we decided to make a quick trip to our beach house (a.k.a. Casa de la Waylands) for some fun in the sun and sand.  The weather was questionable a couple of times but decided to cooperate with us.  We enjoyed two days of beach fun.

I'll let the photos do most the "talking"...

 First time in the water.  It was cold!

 A little beach Smashball for B and Mom.

 H loves to be buried in the sand.

 C in H's hole before they buried H.

 Dad and his peeps.

 E was H's right-hand-girl while digging for sand crabs.

 The family.  Virginia Beach = good times!

 E built this sandcastle all by herself.  She insisted I stand in front of her to block the sun so she could take a "good picture" without squinting her eyes.

 Why leave for dinner when you can have pizza on the beach!?

 Ummm...ummmm...good!

 My sweetheart.

 Photo time...while B shows the waves how strong he is.

 Our babies.

 Some more Smashball.

This was early evening.  This beach was packed just a couple of hours before this photo was taken.  A family dug a very deep hole but then filled in part of it before leaving.  Our kids enjoyed playing in it after the other family left.  (Now Dad wants a sand shovel to dig an even deeper one next time.)

 Sisters.  Twins.  Inseparable.

 Sweet girls.

 The end of the day.

We had such a good time at the beach.  Thank you, Miss Jane and Miss Laura, for letting us invade your home once again.  We sure did enjoy our time with you.  We love both of you!

Good-bye, summer vacation!

Happy Birthday to Mom!

Today is Mom's birthday!  Whoo-hoo!

This morning she opened cards and gifts...

Mom ordered herself a copy of her favorite childhood book, Judy's Journey by Lois Lenski.  She was delighted to unwrap it!

And then there was the big surprise...

...CHEESECAKE!  My favorite!

Lovely voices sang "Happy Birthday" then out went the candles.

The kids and I spent the afternoon at our back to school pool party for co-op.  We came home to homemade pizza and ice cream.  (Saving the cheesecake leftovers for tomorrow.)

Thanks for all the cards, emails and phone calls today.
I am loved!

This One's for Nana

This is for Nana...

E wanted you to see her in the dress you made for H.  She is enjoying wearing it this summer.

It will probably still fit C next summer.

The other kids just wanted to be in the photo.