Wordless Wednesday

A football, basketball, bow, & three determined guys!

All for their little sister and daughter....

Thanks guys!!!

Why does your bedroom door get yanked off it's hinges at midnight?

A. Because you are remodeling and want to replace it.

B. Because you are painting a room or refinishing the door.

C. Because you are stuck in the room with 5 kids and and you can't get out.

D. I had too much sugar and flew into a rage!

If you picked C you would be right! Daddy and the boys were gone overnight and so of course that leaves 5 little girls who want to bunk up with mama. At times our old farmhouse has its moments where things stop working. A few days ago the door locked up and we couldn't shut it all the way for fear we couldn't open it. So daddy said DO NOT shut this door all the way because you won't get open. I'll fix it this weekend. When I heard that I KNEW without doubt we wouldn't make it to the weekend. I mean I have kids, it's gonna happen. It only takes one child not being watched to pull it off and sure enough whilst they were ALL in my room making their beds on the floor we heard a loud slam. I turned around in shock only to have the innocent guilty child tell me, "What, I had to slam it because it wouldn't shut." We were officially stuck and several children whining to use the bathroom. The window is not an option being on the 2nd floor so I searched my room for something to pry the door off it's hinges. Hinges by the way that I'm sure haven't been moved in 100 years. But after lots of pounding and pulling I was able to yank it from it's 'claws' and it and I came crashing to the floor. Nothing like a midnight adventure!!

My picture study project is finished!!

To Narrate a Picture is to Describe a Work of Art

In every picture study lesson it is important that there should be a short time in which children can look quietly at the picture, uninterrupted by questions or discussion. That is when each of us will have the best to gain his own link with the picture and its painter's thought.

After a time of "looking," you can hide the picture from view and ask the child to describe it. Knowing this might happen encourages children to really "look" at the picture, not just stare vaguely.

A very young child's attention might wander, unless you give him a little help beforehand. Don't go so far as to explain the picture--that would be taking the child's part from him. Instead, provide any facts that the child might need to know in order to enjoy and properly describe the picture. For a picture like Raphael's "The Miraculous Draught of Fishes," for example it really helps if the child is familiar with the Biblical story on which the picture is based.

With very young children it is better to tell or read the story before they have the picture, and then let them have the fun if discovering which part of the story is illustrated.

It is good to give older children a variety of ways to "narrate" the picture. They can describe it orally or in writing, or they can try to sketch it from memory. Karen Andreola

One of my favorite subject is picture study. Unfortunately in the past I've not always been organized enough to round up the pictures, print them, display them, etc. Until now. I forced myself to sit down with the computer and I placed each and every picture from Ambleside's online picture study curriculum in a file. I then placed them on a travel drive and 'traveled' to Office Max to have them printed off. Every year!! From year one on up to high school. I was so blessed as ell to have a coupon I found online for half off the normal price of an 8X10 photos. What a deal. So here they are. Tucked away in sheet protectors and organized by artists in my notebook. Nor more excuses! I have the pictures and will display the one being studied for about 10 days. Each day I will have my children record in their commonplace books one new thing they noticed in the picture. They can also use the picture for 'copywork' as well by sketching it into their art books. No more excuses!!

Wonderful Wednesday~a dinner fit for a king!!

At least this 'king' thinks so!! This is one of his favorite meals in warm weather. You would have thought I filled the table with the most expensive, fanciest meal ever but it was a simple dinner of fruit, cheese, blueberry cornbread, (recipe below) and cold bottles of Kombucha. Nourishing and filling!!!

Corn Bread

2 C. fresh ground corn meal

1/2 C. spelt

1/2 C. unbleached white flour

1 C. buttermilk, kefir, or yogurt

3 eggs

1/4 C. maple syrup

1 teas. salt

2 teas. baking soda

1/4 C. melted butter

Blueberries or other fruit

Soak cornmeal, buttermilk and butter for 24 hours. Add in remaining ingredients and mix well. Stir in blueberries if desired and bake at 325 for 45 minutes or so.

A generational vision

Grandpa Vance & Elaine

May ever soul that touches mine---

Be it the slightest contact---Get there from some good,

Some little grace, some kindly thought,

One inspiration yet unfelt, one bit of courage

For the darkening sky, the gleam of faith

To brave the thickening ills of life,

One glimpse of brighter skies beyond the gathering mists

To make this life worth while and heaven a surer heritage.

This does not mean that we should be officious and obtrusive in pressing our help upon those we meet. There is a story of one whose prayer was that he might be permitted to do a great deal of good without even knowing it. That is the best helpfulness which flows out of the heart and life as light from a star, as fragrance from a flower. Love works most effectively when it works unconsciously, almost instinctively, inspired from within. Then it bestows its blessing or does its good obtrusively."

J. R. Miller

On this Father's Day I honor those around me whom I see blessing the lives of others as stated above. My own father who left this life several years ago quietly, gently, and unobtrusively blessed my life. (pictured on left) My son in law and my son are doing the same for their little families. But I think I haven't come to appreciate the fruits of their labors until recent years when maturity sets in my spirit and I can see with my eyes and hearts the blessings passed down from one

generation to another. My own husband is a piece of work from what I call a 'generational vision.' I am reaping the blessings of generations of Godly husbands and fathers. While I didn't know my husband's grandfathers I do know his father. (pictured right with his family) The words spoken above from J. R. Miller quite explains my thoughts when it comes to the influence my husband has been under all his life. I thank my father-in-law (and of course his lovely wife) for bringing up such a fine man as my husband. It is my prayer that this vision will continue to be passed down from generation to generation in the future. Happy Father's Day to the father's I love and to all fathers!

Daddy Vance, Vance Jr. and son-in-law Kelly

Wordless Wednesday~Her favorite game never gets old!

With a smile like that, who needs presents anyway?

This is possibly my most smiliest post I've ever made. Our 10th child has celebrated yet another birthday. Even though we keep telling them to stop having birthdays they keep on anyway. Today it is Kenzie's turn to defy her parents!! Makenzie is our never ending smiler!! Always has been. And every bit as sweet as her smile. We haven't figured it out but for some reason she didn't want any presents this year. She chose a new ball and asked to decorate her own cake. That's it. She spent the afternoon in town with mom and dad enjoying a nice dinner out and shopping for her birthday, or so we thought. Or tried!! But she just only wanted the ball. She said she would explain 'later' why! At any rate, I present my smiling Kenzie. She came into the world with a smile. Truly!! Only minutes old and I truly believe that the scrunching up of her little face was a smile. And she hasn't stopped from that day. She is sweet and precious as the day is long. She is so patient and tender with her little sisters and a helper to her older siblings. Happy birthday Makenzie Denise. You are more than a joy to be around and are so happy you are in our family.

She chose a cheesecake with lots of whipped topping and ice cream.

And we can't forget about her ball.

No teeth, no problem, she can still smile!

She smiles during her play.....

during her sleep.....

and pretty much all the time.

Children are such blessings!

Wordless Wednesday

A month's worth of highlights from our lives!

This is by far my most random post ever! Life has been so crazy busy that I've not really had an opportunity to blog much lately. Pre-scheduled posts are great and have their place but there are times when 'jotting' down highlights in my life are important! In the past month we have celebrated birthdays, graduations, mother's day, and plain ole happy living.

Some of my girls enjoying each other's company!

Daddy graduated from school. Again!! He's only been going for about 8 years studying different areas. But I do believe he is now finished. The last 4 years he has been going to be an industrial electrician. Congratulations to my favorite guy! I love you.

Now we come to our son. I am going to pretty much copy the blog post our daughter in law Heather made. Vance spent 5 long, grueling weeks in Coronado, California with an elite team within the Border Patrol. He was training for what is called BORSTAR which stands for Border Search Trauma and Rescue. Without going deep into the intense training I will just say that one of the many things required of them was to do 553 body builders in a row. And that after an already long day of intense physical training. I'm so proud of him. He shared amazing stories with us during his 5 weeks of training. Congrats son, love you tons.

He is pictured in the forefront left of the above photo. And below I know he was so happy to be reunited with his sweet family after being away so long.

For Mother's Day my girls made my absolute favorite~breakfast puffs, or better known as popovers. I seriously could live on them!! The recipe comes from Felicity's American Girl cookbook.

Our two birthday boys!! Juli's boy Beckham just turned 4 in April....

and Vance Jr.'s boy Vance just turned a year old in May! We love these boys like nothing else and can't hardly wait to be with them in July out in Colorado.

And for fun I had to show off Juli's little Ambreigh modeling the pretty bows Juli made. I say Juli found the absolute best model to display her creative talents. Time is ticking until we will be out in Colorado hugging this sweet princess.

Emma found a pretzel recipe that can't be beat for taste. We've decided they taste nearly exact like the ones at the mall. They make them all the time now. We've enjoyed them so much we have been replacing them with our homemade bread.

Delicious Homemade Pretzels

2 T. warm water + 1 1/3 C. warm water

2 T. yeast

1/3 C. brown sugar

5 C. whole wheat white flour or your choice

1/2 C. baking soda

kosher salt

In large mixing bowl combine the yeast and 2 T. water. Then stir in remaining water and brown sugar. Gradually add flour to water/yeast mixture until it forms a ball. No rising required. Place on floured surface and knead until smooth. Bring 8 C. water to boil with baking soda. Shape dough into pretzels and place in boiling water for 30 seconds each. Place on greased baking sheet and bake in preheated 475 oven for 8 minutes. Brush with egg and sprinkle salt over top. NOTE~For those who pre-soak their grains mix the flour the night before with the 1 1/3 C. warm water and 2 T. lemon juice or vinegar.

We found this snowsuit at a yard sale last week for one dollar. Whenever we find a good deal we bring it home to a bunch of little girls who try it on to see who the lucky one is that it will fit. In this case Kenzie won the prize and loved it so much she wore it all day and slept in it!

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Makenzie is trying to convince us that she still has her baby face. She squeezed her cheeks together just to prove it!