Remy started his first school reader!

I have awaited this moment! :) He did lesson day 75 yesterday and I was able to surprise him with a new book. :) We have of course borrowed library books and he has read those with me and he has read lots of sentences and stuff on the magnet board with me and in his phonics workbook. But this was exciting because he LOVES Eli's readers and to have his own was very exciting to him. :)

I like how they start out slow to build confidence and to allow the child to feel big and smart. I will keep everyone updated on the reader situation! :)

Elijah learned about the plot in a story yesterday and he had fun with that.

I thought I would post some updated pictures of our little turtles we adopted a year back in Dallas, Texas.

Matthew cut up this watermelon but he did it differently than normal. When he cut it in a circle shape he noticed this natural filagree pattern in the watermelon! Can you see it?

And this is a purple flower that stunned us all! We have a ivy like plant out back that blooms yellow. This one was there but we didn't know it! But there is a different vine on the trellis!

And of course I have some natural and free time outside to share. :) The boys are in the "creek" out back, it runs into a marshy body of water down the road. It was empty this day. :)

And here is Eli showing great brotherly love and helping Remy up the bank with a stick. :) I love these moments.

3 more days and we leave for VACATION!

Quotes that say it all...

“If we continue to send our children to Ceasar for their education, we need to stop being surprised when they come home as Romans.” ~Voddie Baucham

“To educate a child in mind and not in morals, is to educate a menace to society.” Theodore Roosevelt

“Let us give our children that great edge other kids go into the world without: A sense of what they were created to do.” Chris Davis

“I feel ashamed that so many of us cannot imagine a better way to do things than locking children up all day in cells instead of letting them grow up knowing their families, mingling with the world, assuming real obligations, striving to be independent and self-reliant and free.” John Taylor Gatto

“It’s a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.” Albert Einstein

Turtle Conservation in the Spring!

Okay, so the turtle that Remy found too far away from his water source the other day, was set free. He was so upset that his favorite creature find ever was leaving him for the wide open wild. But we told him how by doing this he was doing a grown up job called conservation. That is was a conservationist! He liked that idea...being caretaker of his small outside world.

Matthew took them down to the water before he left for work and this little turtle smelled the water and went NUTS! *laugh*

Today we had a normal Saturday at home. We are staying home more often so we can afford some splurges during vacation. We live for Disney this coming Saturday! YAY!

I did take them to the library because I had some movies on hold for them. And then I went and bought the bathroom stuff we would need on our trip.

Matthew had work early and then a photo shoot at a Prom for the local paper. He just arrived home.

On my way out to the library today I checked the mail. And a very interesting spider was flung onto me. I was shocked, but thought it was only a bee. It was quite stocky. I flung it to the middle console and saw it wasn't a bee! I was a very suspicious spider!

I put him in a playdoh cup with a lid and brought him into the house. Here he is.

I haven't had a chance to look up what it is just yet, but I do think Remy has a spider book. This thing had a web bundle on a Dominoes flyer in my box. I think he traveled a bit! I will update when I find out what he is...but I am sure Rhonda will come through for me. :)

While in the front yard I had to take some photos of Spring once again. Enjoy!

I wonder if the strawberries will bear some fruit???

Update on our Spider from What's that bug website:

Jumping Spider(03/01/2005) bug definitionI have these Spiders in my Garage. Last year my wife flipped out and killed one that was between 1/2" and 3/4". All the ones that we have seen since have bee half that size. We live in the pacific Northwest. If it helps any, these spiders are very aware. I had one on the hood of my car while I was waxing it. I tried to sneak up on it. As I got about 4 feet away it turned towards and me and reared up it's head as if it had no fear of me whatsoever and wanted me to know it.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/jumping_spider_nw.jpg

You have a species of Jumping Spider from the Family Salticidae. They are small, often colorful, do not build webs but stalk their prey, and are harmless to humans. They have excellent eyesight and have very rapid movements

Here is the page:

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/spiders3.html

Bourbon Street Star

About 2 weeks ago Matthew had a photo shoot with a bride in Shreveport. The bride wanted the boys to come along so they could ride her fiances horse, Bourbon Street Star. Her fiance loves this horse...he is a world champion award winning horse. BEAUTIFUL!

I jumped at the idea of it. Remy had been watching the old "Indiana Jones" movies and he was dying to ride a horse since he was about 2 years old. As he boarded that horse without any scent of fear I saw the twinkle in his eye! He came alive. The BraveHeart within was ignited! As he came trotting towards me I sang the "Indiana Jones" tune:

I can't get the player to work...to hear the song push the pop-out player. :)

He was for a moment wild and free...he was fierce and strong....he WAS Indiana JONES!

A good moment!

He then said, I am not going fast enough! HEE HEE!

It was then Eli's turn. He was very scared, but we made him get on! And he was so happy after he realized he was not going to die. :)

Remy now wants a horse of his very own. :)

More Creatures for Remy and Pool Time

Okay, so http://www.youtube.com/ was up tonight and I have video for your viewing pleasure. I know pictures can't always capture the cuteness of the kids the way I want, so sometimes video is a must. :)

Yesterday we left school to the public kids during the day. We were FREE and and soaked up the suns goodness, the wind was sweet and delicate, the air fragrant with spring, and a blissful day was ours for the taking. These are the days my kids will say meant the most.

Remy is trying to build himself back up to the bravery statis he had at the end of summer last year. He can't bring himself to jump again just yet. Here he is practicing!

They also do lots of silly things in the pool and report to me how clever they are. :)

They have this spinner thingy that gives them alot of enjoyment...look at their faces!

They of course had to take a break for snacks TWICE! Eli was able to have chips and then a fudge pop due to the energy he burns while swimming, all without a drop of insulin. He loves this. Summer gives him lots more treats. :)

What day would be complete without the daily creature photo of Remy? He found a red and black stink bug and enjoyed him crawling all over him. This child is a neat boy, fearless and full of love for his world.

WE heard the school bus drop of the kids and I smiled with DELIGHT that my boys had enjoyed the day! They swam for another hour and then we went in to do our schoolwork and have dinner.

Elijah finished his book "Bunnicula".

Remy had his full lessons and was done in 15 minutes with it all. Look at this handwriting!

He taped the toothbrush and toothbrush he cute out on his bathroom mirror.

And then we have today! Look at what our Doggie Reese found!

A WILD red-eared slider!

She was trying to get at something on the other side of the fence, wouldn't give up. Matthew and the boys walked around by the "creek" and on the bank found him all huddled by our gate. We assume he was trying to get to our pool. The water has went really low out there and into the bayou/marshy thing down the road. We think he was up here during the rainstorms and was stuck!

And here is my yummiest man with Mr. Turtle.

Our kids have two little pet turtle of the same kind in their room. Remy said that this was the best creature find EVER! Hee hee!

We went to the library, Eli finished his book on Mononucleosis, and then we went grocery shopping with Matthew. It was another sweet day! Oh and Remy did more handwriting work. :)

Matthew is off tomorrow, I have a meeting with my doula clients, but I am sure we will have some sort of post tomorrow night. Until then!

Best Snippets of the day...

I had a whole wonderful Sunny day to post, but YouTube is down for maintenance and I can't wait.

So I thought I would blog a few cute things I have come across in my blog reading today. :) The family's that blog their homeschooling adventures are just so dear to my heart. They make my world bigger by sharing what they do. And I have people who are like me and my "different" family.

Rhonda blogs about her sweet little kinder aged daughter. She spells out something that was very unexpected by her mother and siblings. VERY funny and you can read it here:

http://alstonacademy.blogspot.com/2008/04/no-no-words.html

Rhonda has a sweet family and her blogs are always fun and beautiful. :) And she lives in the same state as me. Big plus for her! Hee hee...

In another blog kept up by homeschooling mama Karate Mom, the topic that caught my mind was prayers. This family has prayer time before the start of school. Here let me quote it.

OH! And we always start out school with prayer, each of us taking turns giving our day to God. This morning, Deco says "Lord, some people trust in cherries...and even bananas or apples or even horses, but we trust in the name of God!" Somehow I think he misunderstood his Sunday school teacher just a smidge, but he's got the right idea!! (For those who may not know, there's a verse that says something along the lines of how some may trust in horses, and some in chariots, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.)

Read more from this sweet family here:

http://morningstar2006.blogspot.com/2008/04/today.html

A Sunday like No OTHER!

My family and I had a PERFECT Sunday. I mean every bit of it, every moment, PRICELESS!

It started with church that morning and I sat next to my MYKA and ASA! I love looking at her with her baby, she holds him like a trophy! One would have to see it to appreciate it. But she is in love and over the moon with this baby! He makes the sweetest noises. :)

After church we went to the mall and shared a chinese food meal at a DEEP discount due to the guy knowing Matthew. You can't beat a whole tofu meal with veggies and rice piled high, 2 eggrolls, 1 BIG eggdrop soup, and 2 biscuits for 6 bucks! It filled us all up and we then got a starbucks. Eli loves the caramel frappe'.

We walked around the mall and I bought some clearance shirts for Remy for our vacation packing. After that we went to Target and I found two pairs of shorts really cheap for him as well. I am done with his shopping. :)

We came home and the boys helped Matthew clean the pool. I was mowing the grass and they just BEGGED for some swimming! Guess what, we gave in!

The water was almost 70 degrees, but TOO COLD for me. Matthew and I did yard work and the boys moved through the water feeling free and very cool. The birds were singing and flying around. The sun perfect in the sky. Magical. What else can I say?

In the pool the boys found a...

CRAWFISH!

In the pool! Best we can think is he was blown in during the storm we had here a few days ago. Can't believe the chemicals didn't kill him.

I found a cicada larva while cleaning up outside.

The kids LOVED this! I guess we will be bombarded by them yet again this year. They were out in huge numbers when we moved in the house in late summer. The birds just have a feast!

We came in and got ready to go out for dinner. We went to olive garden and it was YUM-O! As we were leaving Remy saw baby house geckos all over the wall eating the bugs. He caught one and brought him home. :) I took pictures today. :)

So there it is...a day like a mini vacation. A taste of what is to come and I can't wait to leave for out BIG vacation!

Sweet Saturdays...

So, how do you spend yours? I am very blessed to have Saturdays with my two sweeties! Daddy was at work and we decided to forego the household chores aside from laundry. We had school instead.

Eli read his Bunnicula book and the book on Mononucleosis again today. He is almost done with them both. I could hear his cute giggles over Bunnicula as Remy and I did a phonics sheet together. I love the way Elijah laughs, it tickles my heart. :)

Remy has swapped his Lizard out for a Frog. Mr. Lizard was very thankful to make it back out into the wild and out of human hands. Hee hee. He better run far away though, Remy will catch him again. I have to share this video of Remy with the frog. My sweet little Steve Irwin. *sigh*

After all of the froggy fun and Remy's core stuff we moved on to some of our Story of the World stuff. We are almost done with Akkadia and Sargon the Great!

Here is our map of the area.

And of course Sargon the Great...

Daddy is off tomorrow! Thank goodness, we miss him.