State-by-State: Kansas

An S for a stand of sunflowers, swaying in the sun.

Take a look at the Kansas flag and you'll find another one.

Lovely and bright, but rugged and tough.  Sound like someone you know?

The yellow sunflower is very much like the people who live in its glow.

from S is for Sunflower:  A Kansas Alphabet

We studied the state of Kansas this week.  On what fun we had!  You can not help but smile when you look at the sunflowers!!  After the girls finished their scrapbook pages and lap book, we watched a movie from the state of Kansas...

A Kansas girl in ruby slipper.

A witch as green as a toad.

We're off to see The Wizard of Oz.

Y is for yellow brick road.

Oz was lovely, but Dorothy found no matter where she'd roam,

she'd much prefer her Kansas farm,

for "There's no place like home!"

from S is for Sunflower:  A Kansas Alphabet

For our Kansas cooking, we used a little spring craftiness!

I think our sunflower cake turned out great!  It sure tasted great!

Let's Pretend Hospital

Today I took Lyndsey and Colleen on a field trip with our homeschool group to Let's Pretend hospital.  Colleen was very excited to get to go on a field trip.  I normally leave her with a babysitter. Corynne and Lauren had both been to the Let's Pretend Hospital when they were in first grade.  The big sisters quickly shared with the younger sisters how they were both chosen their year to be the "mom".  Lyndsey was determined to catch the attention of the leaders and get chosen to be "mom"!

She DID IT!

 Lyndsey did a great job as "mom".  Of course, leading others comes pretty naturally for my bossy 7 year old!  I was really surprised at how she was so soft and gentle with the baby!  That is not her style!  Colleen was very attentive, and she participated in each room we visited.

 We had so much fun on our little girl field trip!

Happy 14th Birthday

Happy 14th Birthday, Corynne!!!

After giving birth to two boys, I prayed for a princess!  God blessed me with Corynne!  She is the sweetest, most compassionate, loving, giving, selfless person I know!  She helps me keep this house going on a daily basis.  She steps up to help cook and bake.  She helps me with the laundry and the dog.  But most of all, she helps with the little girls.  She is always there to fix hair when I am running 10 minutes behind.  Corynne is the bomb when it comes to babysitting!!! She knows how to PLAY with the little girls, and she has fun doing it!  Thank you, Princess!  I love you, and I pray that your birthday is one to remember!!

College Blue-Gray

Montgomery hosts the Blue-gray National Tennis Classic each year.  It is a great weekend of Collegiate Tennis each year, and the teams are hosted by families here in Montgomery.  The hosts provide a bed-and-breakfast for the players in their house. We have said for years we wanted to host, but every year we just put it off.  This year JM and I decided it was just not going to get any less hectic or easier to commit to this, so we jumped on board.  We decided to host a mens team since Tyler would enjoy meeting the players and coaches.  We were given the Princeton Men's Team, and it was one of the most enjoyable weekends.  The boys were extremely polite, and they interacted well with my kids.  Our 2 boys were from Canada and New Zealand.  They shared with us about their high school tennis experiences and college experiences.  Being that they are Princeton students, these boys were very smart and listening to them talk about their college projects was fascinating!  

We went out to the tournament everyday to cheer for them.  They were great players, but this was not their tournament to win.  Maybe next year!  Lauren, Lyndsey, and Colleen participated in the kids' clinic on Saturday morning.  It was a morning of tennis basics, fun games, and prizes!  

Saturday night, we hosted the team pasta dinner at our house.  The house was packed with the team and host families, and we enjoyed every minute of it.  

Dan & Flo were so much fun to have in our home this weekend.  We are so excited that Princeton will be coming back next year for the Blue-Gray, and we hope we get to host them again!

State-by-State: Nebraska

Cornhusker begins with the letter C.

It's the nickname of our state.

And for the crops and cattle, 

that make this land so great.

from C is for Cornhusker:  A Nebraska Alphabet

The girls completed their Nebraska activities this week, and we even took pictures and "cooked" in the same week!

Lauren is doing a great job this year finding interesting facts about each state and pulling together her own scrapbook pages.  I think she is doing a terrific job!

While "cooking" for Nebraska this week, we also cooked for 4 other states so we took the each alternative for Nebraska!

There's a delicious drink that begins with K

and Kool-Aid is its name.

With so many colors and flavors,

it's one of Nebraska's claims.

from C is for Cornhusker:  A Nebraska Alphabet

Edwin Perkins was a young inventor who loved creating concoctions in his mother's kitsch.  In 1927 (the roaring 20s which we are also studying in history), he developed a method for making Kool-Aid.  Kool-Aid is Nebraska's official soft drink!

Upward Cheer

Lauren and Lyndsey went to an Upward Cheer camp at the end of last summer.  They loved it, and they requested cheering as their "seasonal" sport.  I convinced them to play volleyball in the fall, so Cheer was their winter sport.  No problem.  I will get them to the one practice and one game each week between Tyler and Corynne's basketball games.  Seems doable for a mom of 5.  Well, then my inability to say "no" affected my schedule.

Cheer Comissioner:  "We need a coach for your daughters' team.  Would you be willing to coach?"
As John Mark and Tyler are shaking their heads and mouthing "Don't do it!", that 3 letter word "yes" slipped out.

I hung up the phone, and I immediately regretted saying "yes".  I don't have time to STAY at every practice.  How is this ever going to work?

I guess I was meant to do it or I have an amazing family because it all worked out every week.  Tyler decided to focus solely on tennis and not play basketball, our cheer practice was on Thursday night, and the practice was late enough that I could go to Corynne's in town games first.  Thursday is also JM's afternoon off, and he graciously assumed dinner duty on Thursday nights.  Thursday nights became burger or steak sandwich nights, and he always had dinner ready when we got home after 7.

As for the actual coaching of cheer, that did not come as easy for me!  I had to learn 6 girls names, 20 plus cheers & chants, and 2 pom-pom dance routines to teach the girls.  We did it!  They laughed at me when they got it right some weeks and I kept messing it up!  They worked so work every week, and I was so proud of them.  They ROCKED their half-time performance every week!  Everyone was always commenting on how good they were!

Ten weeks later...I am glad I experienced Upward Cheer with my girls.  Will I coach again?  I am not sure because it was more work than I really had time for and I am learning to say "no" to things that do not build UP my family.

Let's Go Upward!

World Adventures Club

We joined a homeschool World Adventures Club that meets once a month in Prattville.  It is just a fun, relaxing morning.  Learning is so fun when you can do it with friends and activities!!!  We have been to a few this year.  Our first was in November, and we learned about Scotland.  I had the girls do a few activities at home this week before we went.  Then they made their own shields and tartan plaids at World Adventures.  They also sampled many cookies made in Scotland!

In January, we were able to go again.  The girls were so excited to visit Mt. Everest and make ice cream in a bag!  Cool science experiment for a geography class.

In February, we studied the Gulf of Mexico at World Adventures.  We made oceans in a jar and candy sushi.  Mrs. Tina is so much fun!!!

Day of Love

We began celebrating Valentine's Day early this week when I declared it a very light homeschool week!  That is enough to cause a celebration!!!  We spent our "extra time" making valentine's for the homeschool party and just having fun!  Lyndsey made some cute Olaf valentine's to share at the party on Thursday.

 Lauren has been working all month making bands for her valentines!

Lauren and Corynne helped Colleen make her bubble valentines.  Colleen was very proud of them, but was not sure she wanted to share all the bubbles.  Once she new for sure she would get a bubble valentine also, she was happy to share!

 I made what I make best and it all came from the kitchen!  Remember I still love to play with food!

 Thursday night I quickly decorated the dining room and JM grilled some burgers for our family theme night.

I had a few gifts for the kids and JM brought home flowers for all the girls in his life!  He really does spoil us!

 I have been taking a group shot on Valentine's Day for years and here is this years pic!  I love being able to frame all the past years and see how much our family has grown and changed from year to year.

State-by-State: North & South Dakota

North Dakota

C is for our Capitol.

Bismarck is where it lies.

Our "Skyscraper of the Prairie"

rises 19 stories high.

P points out pretty Peace Garden,

an international attraction.

Our friendship with Canada neighbors

produces inspiring reactions.

S shines on Sakakawea

the Shoshone "bird woman" who

joined up with Lewis and Clark

with husband and baby Pomp, too.

from P is for Peace Garden:  A North Dakota Alphabet

We enjoy the rhythm of learning facts that these books provide.  The girls enjoy me reading them over again while they work on their scrapbook and lap book pages.

 

 For North Dakota, the girls made Dakota Dinner from Eat Your Way Through the USA.  It was a simple ground beef, potato, and corn dish.  Lauren had no problem cooking this dish all by herself!  It tasted pretty good, but it could have used a punch of spice!!!

South Dakota

C is for Corn Palace,

all decked out with grains.

It will take you by surprise,

so much grows under Dakota skies!

D is for De Smet

the little town on the prairie

settled by the Ingalls family--

Pa and Ma, Laura and Mary.

M is for Mount Rushmore,

carved with presidential faces.

Proud monument to democracy,

one of America's greatest places.

from M is for Mount Rushmore: A South Dakota Alphabet

Every once in a while, our state studies align with our history studies!  This was one of those weeks.  As we were studying South Dakota for geography, our history lesson was on Mount Rushmore.  Love it when that happens without planning!

For South Dakota, the girls decided to make Dakota bread from Eat Your Way Through the USA.  Dakota Bread was created to help celebrate 100 yard of statehood.  It uses many of the grains grown in the Dakota states.  This was fun!  We were very worried that the bread would not rise because it was a very cool day!  We stuck the bread in a corner with an electric heater, and it rose!!!  On top of that, it was delicious!!!  Everyone wanted another slice.  We will definitely make it again sometime!

Dance with me Daddy

This is the 2nd year for the Pike Road Father-Daughter Dance organized by a homeschool mom.  She asked me last year to help with the decorations which is right up my alley!  I was thrilled.  The attendance was small last year--approximately 50.  This year the attendance was at around 200.  The room was crowded but the dance was alive!  I enjoyed decorating again this year.  Corynne and my friend Beth helped me this year.  Corynne made the balloon arch, and she rocked it!!!

 Corynne and I twisted the photo shoot background together at the last hour!  We were both proud of how it turned out!

 Daddy's beautiful dates for the night!  They are growing up too fast!

Swan Ball 2014

 Swan Ball

Wynlakes Country Club

with Katie Windham