In my (Matt's) travels to Louisville, I had a chance to visit a museum a few blocks from my hotel that houses a good number of weapons . It consists primarily of a private collection of historical American guns. The entire museum is 100,000 square feet so there are quite a few pieces. However, a substantial portion of the exhibit is dedicated just to a collection from the British Armoury. This includes weapons from the last 1000 years. It is presented sequentially through the wars and battles that were fought and the progression of defensive (armor) and offensive (swords and guns) weapons through the 1800s. Needless to say, you had to be there, but the progression in the use of armor was quite interesting. It's also somewhat disturbing to consider the brutalities of war through the centuries. Especially, to consider that each innovation was made at the cost of many lives.
War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over. - Sherman
Monday, March 30, 2009
Continuing Ed
Matt and I took Elizabeth up North this past Friday in order for her to continue her "brain training." Elizabeth fretted the whole week prior to the appointment. The girl really really hates long car rides, but once we arrived and she saw her teacher, her whole countenance changed. Elizabeth's teacher has a heart for helping children and she and Elizabeth have forged quite a bond.
Matt and I have learned (and continue to learn) more and more about dyslexia all the time. While Elizabeth worked with her teacher, Matt and I were given a DVD to watch which illustrated the exercises the Davis Method uses. Although we have been doing the exercises with Elizabeth for months, we gained new insights into how to build upon and perfect what we've been doing. This was very encouraging to both Matt and me.
Something called disorientation happens to every one, but dyslexics have a difficult time recognizing when its happening to them. An example of disorientation would be the following: You're driving in your car and come up to a stop light and stop. Then someone pulls their car to a stop in the lane next to yours and you feel like your car is moving, even though it's not. Your brain is disorienting. However, you quickly recognize that your brain has perceived something that didn't really happen. Dyslexics do not have the ability to recognize and correct these disorientations. The Davis Method of treating dyslexia shows the person how to do this.
When a dyslexic reads (or attempts to read), his or her brain experiences many of these "disorientations." Since dyslexics see in 3D, the "d" on the page might be perceived as a "q" or a "p" or as it actually is--a "d." Ron Davis, who himself is a dyslexic, discovered that there are 219 "trigger" words that cause disorientation in a dyslexic person. His method calls for the person to make clay figures and letters to show the meaning of each of the words on this list, so that those words no longer "trigger" a disorientation when they appear in reading material.
As Elizabeth's teacher explained to us on Friday, the worst thing you can do with a dyslexic kid is force them to "sound out" words. This causes the child's brain to disorient and only serves to confuse him. When the child stumbles on a word, the facilitator must simply "give" the child the word and not force the child to sound it out.
Elizabeth's teacher encouraged us to keep pressing on through the list of trigger words. Once Elizabeth has made clay figures for each word, "she will be out of limbo land with her reading." So we'll do just that.
Matt and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord led us to this woman and this method. This woman is humble and doesn't show off her qualifications, but as we've gotten to know her better, we've found out that she's top notch. She's used the Davis Method on 500 children around the world, has developed early foundational curriculum that is currently being used in some Arizona schools (with great success) and most of all, she desires to see Elizabeth succeed. From the outset, it has been our desire that Elizabeth would be able to read God's Word, for this is where true wisdom is found. Our family is blessed to have this opportunity to give Elizabeth the tools she needs to be able to read proficiently.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1:7
Matt and I have learned (and continue to learn) more and more about dyslexia all the time. While Elizabeth worked with her teacher, Matt and I were given a DVD to watch which illustrated the exercises the Davis Method uses. Although we have been doing the exercises with Elizabeth for months, we gained new insights into how to build upon and perfect what we've been doing. This was very encouraging to both Matt and me.
Something called disorientation happens to every one, but dyslexics have a difficult time recognizing when its happening to them. An example of disorientation would be the following: You're driving in your car and come up to a stop light and stop. Then someone pulls their car to a stop in the lane next to yours and you feel like your car is moving, even though it's not. Your brain is disorienting. However, you quickly recognize that your brain has perceived something that didn't really happen. Dyslexics do not have the ability to recognize and correct these disorientations. The Davis Method of treating dyslexia shows the person how to do this.
When a dyslexic reads (or attempts to read), his or her brain experiences many of these "disorientations." Since dyslexics see in 3D, the "d" on the page might be perceived as a "q" or a "p" or as it actually is--a "d." Ron Davis, who himself is a dyslexic, discovered that there are 219 "trigger" words that cause disorientation in a dyslexic person. His method calls for the person to make clay figures and letters to show the meaning of each of the words on this list, so that those words no longer "trigger" a disorientation when they appear in reading material.
As Elizabeth's teacher explained to us on Friday, the worst thing you can do with a dyslexic kid is force them to "sound out" words. This causes the child's brain to disorient and only serves to confuse him. When the child stumbles on a word, the facilitator must simply "give" the child the word and not force the child to sound it out.
Elizabeth's teacher encouraged us to keep pressing on through the list of trigger words. Once Elizabeth has made clay figures for each word, "she will be out of limbo land with her reading." So we'll do just that.
Matt and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord led us to this woman and this method. This woman is humble and doesn't show off her qualifications, but as we've gotten to know her better, we've found out that she's top notch. She's used the Davis Method on 500 children around the world, has developed early foundational curriculum that is currently being used in some Arizona schools (with great success) and most of all, she desires to see Elizabeth succeed. From the outset, it has been our desire that Elizabeth would be able to read God's Word, for this is where true wisdom is found. Our family is blessed to have this opportunity to give Elizabeth the tools she needs to be able to read proficiently.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1:7
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Season of Lent
Anyone who reads this blog regularly probably won't be surprised when I say that our family does not include the Easter Bunny in our Easter celebrations. Our kids do get Easter baskets on Easter (Resurrection) morning. The kids know that Mom and Dad, not the Easter Bunny, fill the baskets. Each child gets a chocolate cross (both the Palmer and Hershey candy companies make these) and several other small items.
Holy Week is one of the busiest times of the year for us. Every year our family puts on a Seder Meal. We usually do this on Maundy Thursday. We attend Good Friday services on Friday evening and then Easter service on Resurrection Sunday. We spend most of the rest of the weekend with our families, enjoying special dinners and time together.
Still, even with all this activity surrounding the time of our Lord's death and resurrection, I have wondered if I could do more to instill the meaning of the Lenten season into my children. As a mother, I'm always looking for new ways to attach something tangible and visible to biblical truths in order for these truths to sink deeper into my children's hearts. In the past, most of our activity concerning the truth that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then rose again on the third day has been during Holy Week.
The last couple of weeks, however, I've gotten to thinking about how our family's Advent and Christmas preparations are longer in duration than our Lenten and Easter preparations. Our family uses a Jesse Tree in the weeks before Christmas to tell the story of God's Redemption of His people. Wouldn't it be nice to have something similar to the Jesse Tree for the Lenten season? What was only a seed of a thought came into full bloom when I read this woman's blog about how she and her family have an Easter tree to tell the story of Christ's death and resurrection. It's my intention to make one of these trees for our family. Isn't it neat how fellow believers (even those we only know on the internet) can spur us on to greater intimacy with our Lord?
(Thanks to my in-the-flesh friend, Julie, who told me about the above mentioned blog, which has blessed me tremendously.)
Holy Week is one of the busiest times of the year for us. Every year our family puts on a Seder Meal. We usually do this on Maundy Thursday. We attend Good Friday services on Friday evening and then Easter service on Resurrection Sunday. We spend most of the rest of the weekend with our families, enjoying special dinners and time together.
Still, even with all this activity surrounding the time of our Lord's death and resurrection, I have wondered if I could do more to instill the meaning of the Lenten season into my children. As a mother, I'm always looking for new ways to attach something tangible and visible to biblical truths in order for these truths to sink deeper into my children's hearts. In the past, most of our activity concerning the truth that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then rose again on the third day has been during Holy Week.
The last couple of weeks, however, I've gotten to thinking about how our family's Advent and Christmas preparations are longer in duration than our Lenten and Easter preparations. Our family uses a Jesse Tree in the weeks before Christmas to tell the story of God's Redemption of His people. Wouldn't it be nice to have something similar to the Jesse Tree for the Lenten season? What was only a seed of a thought came into full bloom when I read this woman's blog about how she and her family have an Easter tree to tell the story of Christ's death and resurrection. It's my intention to make one of these trees for our family. Isn't it neat how fellow believers (even those we only know on the internet) can spur us on to greater intimacy with our Lord?
(Thanks to my in-the-flesh friend, Julie, who told me about the above mentioned blog, which has blessed me tremendously.)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Feeding the Hungry Hordes
Formula: Breakfast for Dinner
2 dozen eggs + 3 loaves of bread= 42 slices of french toast + 5 happy, full children
(and enough leftover french toast for breakfasts for approximately the next 4 days)
2 dozen eggs + 3 loaves of bread= 42 slices of french toast + 5 happy, full children
(and enough leftover french toast for breakfasts for approximately the next 4 days)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Unexpected Dinner Guests
Late this afternoon, my parents and Uncle Keith called to say they were in town. They said they wanted to come to our house for dinner and that they would bring the food. Now that's an offer we couldn't refuse. We had a fun time eating and talking. Uncle Keith even taught Grace a few new chords on the piano (which by the way, is the same piano he himself took lessons on). God is good, especially in the way He provides us the blessing of families.
Work+Play=Learning
I recently read an article in one of my homeschooling magazines re-stating the truth that children learn through play. However, the author of this particular article advocated getting rid of all the Legos, K'nex and Tinker Toys and replacing them with "real" items, such as old appliances, motors, etc. For instance, when the author was a boy, he was given an old washing machine. His dad told him to take it apart and figure out how it worked. The author also spent countless hours helping his dad and brother rebuild a broken-down car from the ground up. He wrote about how all the knowledge he acquired through these "real life" projects has been a huge benefit to him.
Matt and I were inspired by this article and although we haven't gotten rid of Paul's Legos and K'Nex, we have gone to Goodwill and picked up a few DOA small appliances for Paul to dismantle. Among them, a blender missing the blender jar. Paul, who has had some sort of tool in his hand since he was a toddler, easily took apart the blender and discovered its motor. To him it wasn't work, it was fun. He has yet to put the blender back together again, but someday when the boredoms kick in, I'll suggest he complete that task.
For the past month and a half our house and all its projects have provided an abundance of these "real life" learning opportunities. Paul has used a hack saw, fetched tools, dug holes, shoveled rock, laid pipe, drilled holes and even driven a backhoe (with supervision, of course). Every morning at 7:30 a.m., Paul ran outside to be with the guys and he would keep up with them all day long, learning as he worked alongside them.
At times I was tempted to call Paul inside and make him do some "book work." Then I decided that what he was learning by being with the men was more important than completing another page in his phonics workbook. When we did pick up the phonics again, I was amazed to find that Paul hadn't lost any ground, he'd actually gained some.
Now that the weather is improving, we hope to continue giving Paul more "real life" learning projects. We've found he is much more content when he is working (which to him is playing) than when he just hangs out in the recliner watching t.v. (By the way, the Lenten t.v. experiment is going quite well. I've been surprised at how little we miss the t.v. and how easily we've found more constructive ways to use our time. Maybe we'll make the "experiment" more permanent once Lent is over.)
Matt and I were inspired by this article and although we haven't gotten rid of Paul's Legos and K'Nex, we have gone to Goodwill and picked up a few DOA small appliances for Paul to dismantle. Among them, a blender missing the blender jar. Paul, who has had some sort of tool in his hand since he was a toddler, easily took apart the blender and discovered its motor. To him it wasn't work, it was fun. He has yet to put the blender back together again, but someday when the boredoms kick in, I'll suggest he complete that task.
For the past month and a half our house and all its projects have provided an abundance of these "real life" learning opportunities. Paul has used a hack saw, fetched tools, dug holes, shoveled rock, laid pipe, drilled holes and even driven a backhoe (with supervision, of course). Every morning at 7:30 a.m., Paul ran outside to be with the guys and he would keep up with them all day long, learning as he worked alongside them.
At times I was tempted to call Paul inside and make him do some "book work." Then I decided that what he was learning by being with the men was more important than completing another page in his phonics workbook. When we did pick up the phonics again, I was amazed to find that Paul hadn't lost any ground, he'd actually gained some.
Now that the weather is improving, we hope to continue giving Paul more "real life" learning projects. We've found he is much more content when he is working (which to him is playing) than when he just hangs out in the recliner watching t.v. (By the way, the Lenten t.v. experiment is going quite well. I've been surprised at how little we miss the t.v. and how easily we've found more constructive ways to use our time. Maybe we'll make the "experiment" more permanent once Lent is over.)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Date Night
Matt and I got to go on a date tonight. I made dinner for the kiddos, then left Gracie in charge. Jude accompanied Matt and me to a Thai restaurant. It's been almost a year since I've had Pad Kee Mow and I had a hankering for it. Instead of choosing our "usual" Thai place, we chose the one closest to the dollar store as I wanted to go there after dinner.
We had never been to this particular Thai restaurant before. According to the bit of history on the front of the menu, the restaurant has been the "cultural mecca" of our town for the last twenty five years. We couldn't believe we've lived here so many years and never partaken of such cosmopolitan culture. I wondered if the other five customers felt the same way.
St. Paddy's Irish folk music was playing over the stereo system--no live music tonight. We were disappointed we missed the dynamic duo of "Stevie and Marylou" who usually entertain those seated in the dining room for their "listening and dancing pleasure." The Pad Kee Mow wasn't all that great, but the restaurant had advertised that it had "lots of sticky rice and mangoes today." We decided to try that combination for dessert. It was quite good and our first thought was how much my Uncle Keith would have enjoyed it.
We then headed to the dollar store. I couldn't tell if Matt was more shocked by the bill ("they're all just $1 items!) or the checker gal who was wearing the metallic silver leggings ("where do you buy something like that?).
Laughter is good medicine, so hopefully Matt got the cure for his cold tonight. Even if he didn't, we still had a good time.
We had never been to this particular Thai restaurant before. According to the bit of history on the front of the menu, the restaurant has been the "cultural mecca" of our town for the last twenty five years. We couldn't believe we've lived here so many years and never partaken of such cosmopolitan culture. I wondered if the other five customers felt the same way.
St. Paddy's Irish folk music was playing over the stereo system--no live music tonight. We were disappointed we missed the dynamic duo of "Stevie and Marylou" who usually entertain those seated in the dining room for their "listening and dancing pleasure." The Pad Kee Mow wasn't all that great, but the restaurant had advertised that it had "lots of sticky rice and mangoes today." We decided to try that combination for dessert. It was quite good and our first thought was how much my Uncle Keith would have enjoyed it.
We then headed to the dollar store. I couldn't tell if Matt was more shocked by the bill ("they're all just $1 items!) or the checker gal who was wearing the metallic silver leggings ("where do you buy something like that?).
Laughter is good medicine, so hopefully Matt got the cure for his cold tonight. Even if he didn't, we still had a good time.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
We're Still Here
After nearly five weeks of battling a cold/sinus infection, I finally feel as though I'm turning a corner. The two little boys are finally over their ear infections and our household has stopped going through a box of Kleenex a day. Two days ago, I would have said we'd finally kicked the snotty noses and cruddy coughs, but yesterday morning Matt woke up with the sniffles. Uugghh! This has to be the longest cold season our family has ever been through. We're praying that Matt heals quickly and he won't share whatever he has with the rest of us.
Our septic is officially done, though it still needs to be inspected. We're expecting no problems with the inspection and once it all gets o.k.'d, the sod will cover the twelve inches of dirt that's covering one quarter of the back yard. We'll have what might be the world's largest pitching mound once it's all said and done, but at least we now have a fully functioning septic system--no small luxury for a family of eight.
We had several get-togethers with family and friends over the past week. Grandpa Bob and Grandma Dianne shared a turkey dinner with us on Tuesday. In honor of Purim, Grace and I made Hamantaschen, or Haman's Hat cookies for dessert. Daddy read the book of Esther to the kids and they yelled the traditional "boos" every time Haman's name was read and the traditional "Yeahs" whenever Mordecai was mentioned.
Friday night we invited a family from our church over for dinner. Lydia helped me prepare turkey soup by chopping up carrots. I was amazed at how evenly she chopped them. She's a born chef (head chef that is, not sous chef).
Saturday night we headed over to Grandpa Bob and Grandma Dianne's for our monthly extended family dinner. Grandpa Bob made Irish stew, so Grace and I made Irish Brown bread to accompany it. The recipe said it served four, so I quintupled it to make it work for a crowd of twenty seven. Let's just say that ten loaves was a bit much, but it worked out in the end because each family got to take a loaf home.
Tonight we celebrated my Mom's and Dad's birthdays. My sister Emily helped me put together two pans of chicken enchiladas with all the fixings. Grandma Jane brought down balloons for the kids. They were the kind you shape into different animals and such. The balloons were the hit of the "celebration" (as Lydia kept referring to it). Fashionable hats, sword fights and staticky hair kept the kids well entertained for most of the evening. I think they probably had more fun than the birthday boy and girl did.
Here are some more pictures from the week:
Baby Jude--at 22lbs, he's just 6 lbs lighter than his big brother, Joel. You've got to admit, he's a cutie, though.
Grandpa Bob, Grandma Dianne, Paul and Bernie
The egg basket--fuller than usual as my boy forgot to collect the eggs for a couple of days due to being terribly distracted by all the work on the septic. Thankfully it was quite cold here this week and the eggs didn't spoil.
Our septic is officially done, though it still needs to be inspected. We're expecting no problems with the inspection and once it all gets o.k.'d, the sod will cover the twelve inches of dirt that's covering one quarter of the back yard. We'll have what might be the world's largest pitching mound once it's all said and done, but at least we now have a fully functioning septic system--no small luxury for a family of eight.
We had several get-togethers with family and friends over the past week. Grandpa Bob and Grandma Dianne shared a turkey dinner with us on Tuesday. In honor of Purim, Grace and I made Hamantaschen, or Haman's Hat cookies for dessert. Daddy read the book of Esther to the kids and they yelled the traditional "boos" every time Haman's name was read and the traditional "Yeahs" whenever Mordecai was mentioned.
Friday night we invited a family from our church over for dinner. Lydia helped me prepare turkey soup by chopping up carrots. I was amazed at how evenly she chopped them. She's a born chef (head chef that is, not sous chef).
Saturday night we headed over to Grandpa Bob and Grandma Dianne's for our monthly extended family dinner. Grandpa Bob made Irish stew, so Grace and I made Irish Brown bread to accompany it. The recipe said it served four, so I quintupled it to make it work for a crowd of twenty seven. Let's just say that ten loaves was a bit much, but it worked out in the end because each family got to take a loaf home.
Tonight we celebrated my Mom's and Dad's birthdays. My sister Emily helped me put together two pans of chicken enchiladas with all the fixings. Grandma Jane brought down balloons for the kids. They were the kind you shape into different animals and such. The balloons were the hit of the "celebration" (as Lydia kept referring to it). Fashionable hats, sword fights and staticky hair kept the kids well entertained for most of the evening. I think they probably had more fun than the birthday boy and girl did.Here are some more pictures from the week:
Baby Jude--at 22lbs, he's just 6 lbs lighter than his big brother, Joel. You've got to admit, he's a cutie, though.
Grandpa Bob, Grandma Dianne, Paul and Bernie
The egg basket--fuller than usual as my boy forgot to collect the eggs for a couple of days due to being terribly distracted by all the work on the septic. Thankfully it was quite cold here this week and the eggs didn't spoil.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Worship
Last night we attended an integrated family worship service. We traveled the forty minutes (thinking it would only be thirty) and thought we would most certainly be late. No matter--the event was on homeschool time and had not yet started when we arrived. I had warned my children that they wouldn't be able to play with their friends (who were also in attendance) until after the worship service. Lydia was most displeased with this idea. Paul, trying to bring her some comfort, said this to her: "Lydia, it's like when you have to eat the hamburger before you can eat the french fries."
Actually, the kids did quite well--for the first hour. At 8 p.m. (their normal bedtime, the littles started melting, so I took them to the nursery until the service was over at 9 p.m. Afterwards, we all enjoyed dessert and fellowshipped with the other families. The men prayed and we women had time to talk with one another. I was greatly encouraged to talk to some older godly women who have gone before me and told me that I too, with God's grace, would most certainly complete the journey. We didn't get home until almost 11 p.m. We're hoping that the once- monthly meetings will begin a little earlier in the future so that we won't have post-event grumpies like we experienced today. Thank goodness it's now bedtime.
Actually, the kids did quite well--for the first hour. At 8 p.m. (their normal bedtime, the littles started melting, so I took them to the nursery until the service was over at 9 p.m. Afterwards, we all enjoyed dessert and fellowshipped with the other families. The men prayed and we women had time to talk with one another. I was greatly encouraged to talk to some older godly women who have gone before me and told me that I too, with God's grace, would most certainly complete the journey. We didn't get home until almost 11 p.m. We're hoping that the once- monthly meetings will begin a little earlier in the future so that we won't have post-event grumpies like we experienced today. Thank goodness it's now bedtime.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Pure Luxury
I got the chance to use our new (to us) claw foot tub on Thursday night. I filled the tub full with really hot water. Matt hates it when the water is too hot, but it was my bath, so I made it hot. I even added some Philosophy Waffle Cone bubble bath (which I had gotten on clearance with my birthday money). Yummy! I sank into the water and started reading the Today's Christian Woman magazine that my sister bought me for my birthday.
Matt came into the bathroom to ask me how I was enjoying my bath. I told him it would be absolutely perfect if it weren't for my being able to hear Jude cry. So my sweetie husband took that not-so-subtle hint, left the bathroom and went to pick up Jude and walk with him so I could REALLY enjoy my bath--pure luxury.
Here's a picture of a guy who is a lot cuter than I am when in the tub:
Matt came into the bathroom to ask me how I was enjoying my bath. I told him it would be absolutely perfect if it weren't for my being able to hear Jude cry. So my sweetie husband took that not-so-subtle hint, left the bathroom and went to pick up Jude and walk with him so I could REALLY enjoy my bath--pure luxury.
Here's a picture of a guy who is a lot cuter than I am when in the tub:
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Boys Will Be Boys
A few days ago, I left my half eaten yogurt on the kitchen counter to go downstairs to get something. When I came back upstairs I could not find my yogurt or my Joel Bob. I began calling for Joel, figuring I'd find my yogurt if I could find my boy. My calls were returned with silence. Then I thought to look under the kitchen table and found Joel quietly enjoying a mid-morning snack. I guess he figured it was a pretty good hiding spot for a covert operation as no big people ever go there.
Paul learned about William Wallace the other day. All day today Paul was educating me about him. "Did you know how tall William Wallace was?" "No." "As tall as this beam on the ceiling."
"Do you know his sword was this tall (points to a spot on the wall) and weighed sixty pounds? He had to carry it on his back because it was so heavy!" Ahhh, Mommy finally "got it." The garage sale Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sword that's been strapped to Paul's back the last few days suddenly made a lot more sense. Joel has a homemade sword made of sticks from the yard and the two brothers have been having their share of sword fights the last few days. Here Joel demonstrates how to repel an attacker:
Paul learned about William Wallace the other day. All day today Paul was educating me about him. "Did you know how tall William Wallace was?" "No." "As tall as this beam on the ceiling."
"Do you know his sword was this tall (points to a spot on the wall) and weighed sixty pounds? He had to carry it on his back because it was so heavy!" Ahhh, Mommy finally "got it." The garage sale Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sword that's been strapped to Paul's back the last few days suddenly made a lot more sense. Joel has a homemade sword made of sticks from the yard and the two brothers have been having their share of sword fights the last few days. Here Joel demonstrates how to repel an attacker:
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Septic Fun
The kids have thoroughly enjoyed all the work going on to put in the new pump and drain field for our septic system. I've been trying to ignore how our entire back yard is torn up. If things go as planned, all should be put back together within the next week and a half.
Here's all the rocks that were placed in the bottom of the trenches to provide drainage for the system. When the rocks were delivered, Paul's eyes lit up. What little boy doesn't love rocks? Wayne said, "I get the pretty ones, Paul!" Wayne would fill the bucket of his back hoe with a load of rock, drive to the back yard to dump it in one of the trenches, then let the kids ride in the bucket to go get more rock. The kids would then make the return trip in the cab of the back hoe. They repeated this process over and over again all day and never tired of it.
Wayne also tore out the basket ball hoop that was on the side of the driveway. I was glad to get rid of it as I was afraid I was going to lose the mirror of the van one day while backing out of the driveway. He also removed some scraggly old bushes and lava rock. This will save us a lot of work come spring. He moved the chicken house and will have to move it again once the work is complete. The chickens don't seem to mind.
We won't have to buy firewood next year. Matt and Paul began chopping the wood last weekend. Paul "helped" by swinging the ax into each log. Matt would then split the log by hitting the ax with a maul. By the end of the weekend, Paul thought chopping wood was fun and easy. Matt was sore and aching all over.
Here's all the rocks that were placed in the bottom of the trenches to provide drainage for the system. When the rocks were delivered, Paul's eyes lit up. What little boy doesn't love rocks? Wayne said, "I get the pretty ones, Paul!" Wayne would fill the bucket of his back hoe with a load of rock, drive to the back yard to dump it in one of the trenches, then let the kids ride in the bucket to go get more rock. The kids would then make the return trip in the cab of the back hoe. They repeated this process over and over again all day and never tired of it.
Wayne also tore out the basket ball hoop that was on the side of the driveway. I was glad to get rid of it as I was afraid I was going to lose the mirror of the van one day while backing out of the driveway. He also removed some scraggly old bushes and lava rock. This will save us a lot of work come spring. He moved the chicken house and will have to move it again once the work is complete. The chickens don't seem to mind.
We won't have to buy firewood next year. Matt and Paul began chopping the wood last weekend. Paul "helped" by swinging the ax into each log. Matt would then split the log by hitting the ax with a maul. By the end of the weekend, Paul thought chopping wood was fun and easy. Matt was sore and aching all over.
Daddy's Little Girls
Matt took all three of his girls to the Father Daughter Ball on Friday night. A local church puts on the event, which draws a few thousand dads and daughters each year. This was the first year our family participated.
The girls and I spent the week combing the thrift stores for ball gowns, but we came up dry. When I was at the pediatrician's office on Friday, the receptionist told me about a local consignment store that usually carries dresses for special occasions. I took the two older girls to the store and we found something for Grace right away. This was literally an answer to prayer as I had told Grace she would have to wear something she already had for the ball that night. She was very disappointed, I could tell, but we had simply run out of time. Then we found the perfect pink dress. God is good.
Elizabeth was more than happy to wear the Easter dress Grandma Dianne had sewn for Grace a few years ago (she's been dying to grow into it) and Lydia was tickled with the dress I picked up for her at Costco.
Daddy took the girls out for a very nice dinner and then they met up with Uncle Trevor and his four girls at the dance. A Christian rock band played for the first hour, then a D.J. played more Christian rock music. Grace was disappointed in the music. She had hoped they'd be playing waltzes all night. Elizabeth thought the whole thing was a bit loud. Lydia was enamored with what all the other girls were wearing and she came home and described for me some of the frocks in detail.
All in all, Daddy and his girls enjoyed the evening, although they had to come home early because Lydia started to fall asleep. I took the three boys on our own little date while the girls were away. I stupidly chose the restaurant that was close to the facility where the dance was being held. We waited and hour and a half for our food, which allowed us to play at least a dozen games of tic-tac-toe. Paul thought it all was great fun.
Here's a picture of Matt with his three princesses:
Daddy and Elizabeth
The girls and I spent the week combing the thrift stores for ball gowns, but we came up dry. When I was at the pediatrician's office on Friday, the receptionist told me about a local consignment store that usually carries dresses for special occasions. I took the two older girls to the store and we found something for Grace right away. This was literally an answer to prayer as I had told Grace she would have to wear something she already had for the ball that night. She was very disappointed, I could tell, but we had simply run out of time. Then we found the perfect pink dress. God is good.
Elizabeth was more than happy to wear the Easter dress Grandma Dianne had sewn for Grace a few years ago (she's been dying to grow into it) and Lydia was tickled with the dress I picked up for her at Costco.
Daddy took the girls out for a very nice dinner and then they met up with Uncle Trevor and his four girls at the dance. A Christian rock band played for the first hour, then a D.J. played more Christian rock music. Grace was disappointed in the music. She had hoped they'd be playing waltzes all night. Elizabeth thought the whole thing was a bit loud. Lydia was enamored with what all the other girls were wearing and she came home and described for me some of the frocks in detail.
All in all, Daddy and his girls enjoyed the evening, although they had to come home early because Lydia started to fall asleep. I took the three boys on our own little date while the girls were away. I stupidly chose the restaurant that was close to the facility where the dance was being held. We waited and hour and a half for our food, which allowed us to play at least a dozen games of tic-tac-toe. Paul thought it all was great fun.
Here's a picture of Matt with his three princesses:
Daddy and Elizabeth
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