Can you tell I LOVE nativity sets???

Every year I am on the hunt for the perfect nativity set. I really want to get the Fisher Price Little People nativity set (that one NEVER goes on sale). Last year I got the one where the kids play in the sand. This year I found a nativity set from Ethiopia carved out of wood (in the middle). And one of my favorite ones is the simple one made out of flower pots.

Tristen has been spending Tuesday afternoons at Grammy's house. She goes there before her art class. Each week they work on a different project. Sometimes they cook or bake. Often they will make an art project together. A few weeks ago I sent her with some supplies I had saved up to make a nativity set. I have had these ideas to make this set for years but never got around to it. Good thing Grammy was willing to help her out.

When Tissy came home with her project, I just about melted. I LOVE it. It turned out so cute. They did a great job. I am hopeful that this will keep for years and years.

living nativity

Chuck built a beautiful (but very simple) creche for our churches living nativity. I am always so proud of how he works at each of his sets that he has built. This one looked really big in our garage, but once he got it out on the location, it didn't look so huge.

We woke up on Saturday to a surprise snow and he bundled up to move his creche and manger to the church. With a few decorations the set looked quite authentic. About every 5 weeks, the church offers "Bethlehem Marketplace". They set up a biblical marketplace for the kids to experience some food, crafts and story in a historical setting.

The kids LOVED the animals. Tissy spend an hour walking the horse around and Tate finally warmed up to the goats. He was sure they were going to EAT him. And Tyce...well, let's just say he is in his element running around outside with friends and animals.

around the house at CHRISTmas time

picture updates

We had to get some pictures for our post placement reports. Getting 4 kiddos to look at the camera all at once is so hard to do. And getting the picture in focus is even more difficult. I LOVE taking pics on the stairs here. The lighting is always so pretty.

Tyce always has such a ready smile. There are very few pictures of him where he isn't grinning from ear to ear.




Now getting a picture of Tate...not quite as easy. He is quick to pout for a picture and looks away. And when we get one of him smiling it looks forced. These are cute ones though.




People often ask how the girls are doing with our adjustment with our new boys home. And honestly...they are doing great. They have grown into the rolls of big sisters to 2 little brothers perfectly. The bond between the 2 of them is even more obvious. And they are growing up to be beautiful inside and out.

gardening

OK...so this was months ago (actually, mother's day to be exact). But I have been wanting to get these pictures up here on the blog. I just ordered another blog book from last year so it has motivated me to keep up on the family journaling. For some wonky reason my comments are gone. I had some problems with spam and I did some things to take care of it and tried to bring the comment option back and even though I have enabled the comments to exist, it isn't working. If I can get a few hours to figure it out, I will. But for now...yayyyyyy for pictures.
And speaking of pictures...loving the new photo collage. My kiddos have been sick today, so I spent some time uploading pics and getting some old posting taken care of.


I just LOVE how Tate is holding onto my arm in this pic. He is by my side or on my hip every moment of the day.
Tyce is the hardest worker I have seen. He will dig right in and help out in every situation. I wanted to have a garden to provide us the opportunity to work side by side and bond together. He has shown how much he loves plants and flowers and I thought he would really thrive at tending the garden.

reading together

Love it when I see the big girls be so tender to our little ones. Notice Tally is showing Tate how to sign the pictures in the book.

it kills me...

...that these 2 are growing up so fast...sigh.

Our 6th year of homeschooling

OK...so seriously...I have become a VERY BAD BLOGGER. I have spent so much time focussing on our new kids and new family dynamic, it is still at the bottom of the list. But I am trying...I will get back to it. But schooling 3-4 kiddos and all...it keeps me busy.

We are in full swing of our SIXTH year of home educating. WOW...how does the time fly by. It is going well and I try to keep some kind of a record here to show what we are doing each year. We have done about 40+ days of school so far.

Our curriculum (for the big kids) this year includes:

Spelling - Sequential Spelling
Handwriting - Handwriting Without Tears (focus on cursive again)
Grammar - Easy Grammar (Tally is trying to do 2 years worth this year)
Reading - Pathway Readers (Last year for Tally on these)
Bible - Precepts for kids - Names of God
History - Story of the World vol. 2 - Middle Ages
Science - Apologia - Botany
Math - MUS Epsilon (Tally is trying to do 1.5 years worth this year)

Extras -

Tissy takes an art class on Tuesdays (drawing)
Tally goes to an enrichment class on Thursdays t0 focus on hands on learning for science, art and life on a farm.
Both girls are taking Karate (working on their yellow belt)
We meet with another family a few times a month to do some learning together (focus on habitats this fall).
Fall field trips - pumpkin farm, old village, science center, park days, bird banding at the nature center

Tyce (our preschooler) is also homeschooling 2 days a week (Tues and Fridays).
Primer book for MUS - number and shape recognition
Reading - Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons (about 1/5 of the way through)
Handwriting - preschool book for HWT
Fall soccer at the Y
MDO (simple preschool) 2 days a week

summer camp

Somehow we found money in the budget to allow our 2 oldest sweet peas to go to summer camp again. It was the HIGHLIGHT of their year. What a blast they had. Swimming, hiking, archery, rock climbing, singing, bible time and lots of hanging with their friends.Tally made it to the top of the rock wall again this year.

We joined them on the last day to get the tour and enjoy the fun for a little bit ourselves. The only down side...it was HOT. And with a little guy strapped to you...it is even more HOT.


The boys didn't quite know what to think about this place. I wonder if Tyce will be able to attend some day. I think he would love the adventure.

The girls opted to attend day camp again. Maybe, just maybe, they might be interested in overnight camp one of these times.


I love it that even though they have a great time with their friends all week long, they still love having a great time together.These two girls are truly best friends. I hope they will always look back on their memories of camp and think it was one of the best places on earth ( that is how I think about my years at camp).

Look Mom...no training wheels.

Since the training wheels feel off and broke...we figured we would let Tyson give it a try. Just to see if he could do it.

I mean...come on...he's 4. That's kind of early to be able to do this kind of thing.

And off he went. Right across the grass (just in case he fell). He is an instant pro.

He is amazing. He has a determined spirit. And look at that smile...he is so proud. He even tried to pop some wheelies the first day. Good thing he has a helmet to keep him safe. What a treat to experience this with him. Daddy teaching his son to ride a bike. Precious.

All American Fourth of July

Remember doing this as a kid?



Decorating your bike for a small town parade.


Wearing red, white and blue.


Waving flags.



Passing out candy.


Having fun as a family on a hot summer day.

I hope that's how my kids remember their childhood.