fun in the sand (2)

of course the beach was top priority
lots of pit-digging
river-making
and
shell-finding

the community sandbox came in a close second to the beach
i probably could have left Ava there for an hour and she wouldn't have noticed!
she particularly enjoyed playing in it with friends (Elizabeth and Benji)

recreation al fresco (3)

the shuffleboard courts at Lakeside are nationally recognized, so they say
we just think they're lots of fun!

the kids had opportunities to paint paper and rocks in outdoor studios

on the shore by the lighthouse (4)

visiting Marblehead lighthouse is an annual tradition
as are the attempted group shots of the kids on the rocks there

we did just happen to get a great family picture this time...

group activities (5)

we had the privilege of spending the week there with friends of ours
they generously offered seats in their jumbo van (they have two boys, triplet girls and an exchange student for the summer)
and a ride to a close-by private beach for the evening
tons of fun!
(can you find my three kiddos and Marvin?)

the kids all really enjoyed playing together and my three loved the cultural experience of spending time with a non-English-speaking child
{top row, left to right: Grace,Benji, Alec, Elizabeth, John, Joshua, Olivia}
{bottom row: Yuto, Ava}

one of our favorite spots in our summer cottage
this was the only time we let kids be up there unsupervised; the cottage was built in 1881 and has had very few updates!
we don't mind, though

enjoying one last pizza from Sloopy's on the last day
pizza for 13, anyone?

this is the amazing family we spent the week with
Jennifer home educates their five children
and is constantly providing cool opportunities for them like bee-keeping classes, chickens in the back yard, and a Japanese exchange student for the summer!

fishing on pier was a favorite activity
Marvin was always the man with the bait
and the willingness to thread it on the hook!

I wasn't there to see this, but I'm guessing that
Benji's pole caught the fish and he didn't want to touch it!

scenic views (6)

what the boys call the "eye cannon"
free telescope can be used to view Perry's Monument
or approaching pirate ships

oh look, I was on vacation too!
I always forget to have Marvin take pictures of me

S-O-S!
{save our sis!}

on the rocks (7)

the first day we were there, Joshua (from the other family) started stacking these smooth stones by the shore line
by the time we left at the end of the week, there were probably 50 or more stacks like his covering the boulders
I don't have the skill or camera equipment to do the display justice, but it was really cool!
I'm sure we'll go down and stack a few next year...

first day of {home} school

I know, I know...we're back from vacation, so where are the beach photos??

Well, slightly more important things have taken precedence, like our first day of school! I really wanted to get started a little early so that I could take my time and not feel rushed and pressured to finish on time.
I'm still getting used to the notion that it's totally up to me when I do and what I do.

I have a massive white board on the door of the closet in the kitchen with our family, school, and my schedules written on it. It was an absolute live saver today as I was bouncing through the school day.

To give you a rough idea...

I now get up at 6am
I am exercised, showered, dressed, laundry started, dishwasher unloaded, email checked by 8am when I start breakfast.

The kids are dressed and full of breakfast with their laundry downstairs and beds made by 9am when we start our school day with Bible.

At around 11:15 we break for lunch, and finish up the school day by around 1. We've covered Bible, language arts (reading, spelling, handwriting), geography, science, math, art, and music. And probably a couple hard-learned lessons in patience and grace for momma!

I'm teaching a third grader, a Kindergartner, and a toddler.

The afternoons are still a bit of a jumble. I left them loose on purpose until I get farther into the school year and figure out how we're going to do field trips, errands, and such.

I'm not perfect, but I'm following the perfect will of my heavenly Father, who chose this path for our family to walk. I'm looking forward to seeing how He provides for us during this journey!

We're leaving tomorrow for our week at the lake. We're all super excited. I can't believe it's finally here; I think about this week all year until it finally comes again!!

I'm mostly packed, my lists have served me well again. I still need to pack our personal care items and vitamins and food in the morning, and then we need to stuff ALL of it into our van.

For some reason Twitter won't let me post anything right now...ARRgh!

AND, my 80% of my hard drive is now taken up with my pictures and won't let me load any more in. Which means we have to find some sneaky way to get rid of some so I can empty one of my CF cards before the trip. Last year I filled two, 1GB, cards before we came home!

So, no pictures and no Twitter! What's a girl to do?

See y'all later! Peace out.

Treasure in his heart

Benji loves treasure. Anytime we’re at a craft store, he begs to look at the “cwystals”. I had him with me tonight on a quick trip to get some office supplies and other little stuff. I got sidetracked in a “make-your-own-jewlery” aisle and of course we had to look at all the “cwystals”. Benji chose a glass cross pendant.

In the car on the way home, I said, “So Benji, what are you going to do with your treasure? Are you going to hide it in your castle?” As the two action figures in his hands waged a deadly battle, he said, “No, I think I’m just gonna look at it all day and night.” I said, “Oh, and will it remind you of Jesus since it’s a cross?” All I heard this time was “arrrgh, oooof, kaPow!”

Trying again, I asked, “Benji, did you know that Jesus died for you on a cross and it means that if you ask Him to be in your heart, He’ll forgive all your sins and be with you forever?” After a few more battle noises Benji commented, “Well, He’s most likely in my heart already because I have this cwoss” Chuckling to myself, I corrected him. “No, honey, you have to ask him to be in your heart.”

“Jesus, will you be in my heart? Fwa-poom! Bammm! Whumpf! Is that how I ask?” said Benji and his action figures. “Yep, it sure is honey” I said, stifling my laughter. So, in a sweet, sincere tone, Benji said, “Jesus, will you come in my heart?” and after a brief pause, in his deep action figure voice said, “Yes I will son!”

I’m not sure if it was Benji or Commander Rex that made a life-changing decision on the car ride home, but someone’s going to heaven!!

Summer fun, anyone?

ava's been naked and the boys have been covered in sand and scabs for the majority of the summer

it's been awesome!

we've had millions of playdates, lazy days in the wading pool, and time at the zoo

things are speeding up now

time to pack for our week away at the lake cottage

time to finish my year of lesson plans for my maiden voyage into home schooling

time to squeeze my eyes shut and wish that summer would last just a little bit longer

time to really, really start missing my missing friend

time to say goodbye for a while

till things slow again