Hannah's 9th Birthday

This past weekend, we celebrated Hannah's 9th birthday.  How did it go by so quickly?  She is such a sweet and beautiful girl, a real joy to have in our family.  She brings smiles and happiness to everyone around her.

Hannah loves all things horses. She has for several years now.  So, we took her to visit some horses on her birthday.


She got to feed them cookies

She enjoyed every moment she had with the horses.  

This black one was her favorite. 

There were also other fun animals like donkeys.  We got them excited one time and they started "hee-hawing" quite a bit for us. 

Smile for the camera!!!!

There were also some Galapagos Tortoises on the farm.  This guy looks creepy...but he was just enjoying his breakfast when we came by.  

He loved having his neck rubbed! haha

This animal is so crazy big.  I couldn't believe how it could bare it's weight like this.  It was quite unbelievable!

We enjoyed walking in the gardens as well.  It was so pretty!

And, big treat here....we saw a pair of bald eagles!  Aren't they beautiful!

Me and my birthday girl!

We may not have it all together, but together have it all.  hahaha.  Cheesy line, but it was really nice to spend so much time together.  

Hannah got this idea a few months ago for her birthday cake.  She wanted a "family tree" cake.  So, we gave the idea to Publix and they ran with it.  It came out perfect!

Hannah's face when she saw her cake :)

Next year is the big 1-0.  We'll try to enjoy this year first...although she is already planning her 10th birthday party.  

Mother/Daughter Date #1

We are moving into uncharted territory for me as a mother.  Fully out of the baby/preschool zone, we are now facing the teen years head on.  I think I am more terrified than I was with the babies.  Well, almost.  I was pretty nervous about having a baby to care for.

I have a very strong desire to develop deep relationships with my children.  I don't want to "loose" them in these upcoming teen years.  I want them to know that I (we) are here.  I think that this starts now. Well, actually, it started almost 11 years ago, but I want to work hard at these relationships over the next few years.  It is one of my top priorities.

Nicole will be 11 in about 6 weeks.  So, today we went on our first Mother/Daughter date, using the book 8 Great Dates for Moms and Daughters by Secret Keeper Girl.  It was fun, and went really well.

Isaiah 64:8

We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hands.

We dressed up, and went to a little tea room, called Brambles, downtown.  We had a legit "spot of tea" with scones, curdled cream, preserves, and strawberries too.  We talked about the  beauty of the tea cups, and the intricacy of their patters and painting.  I then pulled out a plastic cup that was crumpled, and a 'normal' coffee mug.  We talked about the difference between these three containers, and that, although they would all hold the same liquid, they make you feel differently.  One is fancy and dainty, the other is disposable and easily crushed.  One takes care to keep it beautiful, the other was never made for beauty.

Then we talked about we are God's workmanship.  He is the potter and we are the clay.  He is creating a masterpiece in us, the same way the potter creates a masterpiece with their tea cup.  It may hurt to be molded, but under fire, painted, fired again and so on...but it is for one purpose, to be made special, unique, beautiful.  A proud creation of the creator.

We then spent some time talking about ourselves, our lives, and our friends.  Do we treat ourselves and other like the disposable plastic cup, or like the beautiful tea cup?

It was a sweet time, and one with a great object lesson.  I enjoyed my time with her, and I think she enjoyed her time with me.

We are both looking forward to our next date and praying that we grow close to one another and to the Lord.

School Work and Antics

We spent a lot of time learning about space this year.  We used a really fun Usborne book called "Astronaut Academy" to help us learn more about the training of astronauts and life in space.  Apparently, the kids were inspire.  They created a really fun (and funny) skit about the space shuttle taking off and landing.  I loved their creativity.  

They also practiced "docking" a space ship to the International Space Station.  The kids were each blindfolded, then their siblings had to give vocal commands such as forward, left right, up, and down to "land" the cup inside of a another cup.  Easier said than done!

Silly antics when you steal mom's phone.  Nathan love his stuffed animals, especially if they are soft :)

Just because we have a farmer's market, it doesn't mean that school is out for the day.  Nope, Nathan and Hannah always had a table set up for some math and spelling to take place.

Silly antics.  How can she look so adorable in this outfit.  I want to be Hannah when I grow up!

The kids and I attempted to build models of the rockets for US Space missions (one piece of their memory work).  We build Mercury and Gemini.  Apollo and others are still in the box, haha

Just a little photo of Hannah giving a presentation during CC.  I don't know what the topic was, but she has come a long way from the days of nervously lifting her skirt to high :)

Nicole is reading one of her Essentials papers to her class

Back to Astronaut Academy.  The kids had to dress like an astronaut, then go search for objects in their room, with the lights off.  

This was a hilarious activity.  Someone may have had to change their pants! hahaha

They wore a mask, a heavy backpack, rain boots, and a flashlight.  oh....they also tried to balance a bucket on their heads, but it kept falling off.  Nathan could barely stand, let alone walk!

The kiddos also build a DaVinci inspired catapult.  It was very cool, and flung grapes, marshmallows, and any other small object, about 15 feet.  I believe that Hannah built this on her own!

More presentations!

This is one of my favorite pictures.  It always makes me laugh.  I found it after a market day.  Apparently Nathan and Hannah were feeling silly.  Aren't they funny?

I don't know if long hair is the right choice for him :)

Funny masks at Yaya's house.  I don't even have words...

Crazy hair day at CC.  How is it that my kids still look adorable.  I must love them.

This actually has potential to be a really pretty up do.

Nathan wouldn't let me cut his hair for 2 months so he could grow it out for this funky hair day.

 Hannah was going for a Cindy-Lou-Who style

I decided to go as the crazy Lilla Rose lady...it worked :)

Nathan and Hannah, working on their timeline cards.

This sweet girl right now has started her own book club.  She has invited friends to gather together once a week to talk about books they have read, and then swap them.  I love it :)