Miss United States

Ava has always been very into maps.

She just loves them.

A few months ago, we cleared all her "fun games' off the i-pad (that's another story) and kept only the educational ones.

Stack the States is an app that teaches kids about the Geography of the United States, as well as information about the states like, capitals, flags, etc.

She's loving it and rocking it.

(The State on the bottom of the screen is the one she needs to locate on the blank map.)

She is also requesting that Daddy (the artist of the family) paint different states on her finger nails.  HA!  She was inspired after Peggy and I took a trip to get our nails painted.

Daddy is seriously skilled.

(She's a really big fan of Texas right now.)

You are too funny Ava D.  

You have an amazing memory and surprise us everyday with what you know!  

We love our Little Miss United States. 

Special Visitor

It was 6 years ago that James and I arrived in Kazakhstan.

We had no idea the adventure that would be waiting for us.  

We would go through the greatest trial of our life and we would experience the greatest loneliness of our life. 

But we weren't alone.  

God was with us in Spirit and He provided friends for us in the flesh.

He was so KIND to connect us with Peggy and Jan all those years ago.

I knew then that Kazakhstan would not be our last adventure together.

And it wasn't.

Visa problems on our second trip, allowed us visit them in Belgium.  

We explored their beautiful country and took a day trip to Paris.

We said goodbye to Peggy today after another adventure together.

This time, she came to us.

So far we've been to 5 countries and 3 continents together and again,

I'm certain it won't be our last adventure...  

(Peggy and Thatcher were special friends this week.  He loved her.) 

(This little girl...and Peggy's son too...the crazy Kaz kids that brought us together.)

(Our toddler made sure she didn't get too much relaxing in on her trip.)

Our week was so much FUN!  

It was fun seeing our community through different eyes.

 (Couldn't help but think a lot about Ava's story this week.  She's been a beach girl from the start.)  

 (Peggy heading to the Pacific Ocean to get her toes wet.)

(Disneyland and Space Mountain provided another first.)

(There is something about my children on the carousal that I just can't resist.

Must. Take. Pictures.) 

(It's a small world.  We are certainly thankful for that.)

(Temecula has beautiful vineyards.  This particular one was the location where James and I got married.)

(Where we said, "I do!")

(We ended the trip with a visit to Happy Nails.

Peggy's American nails sure look happy!)

We will never forget this wonderful week!  Thank you for visiting us Peggy!

We are already looking forward to wherever it is we'll meet up next.  

February Birthdays

We gathered for a special birthday celebration today.

Three of my very favorite people have birthdays this month...

Sweetest husband, I love you more than anything.  

You are my greatest earthly blessing and I treasure every day with you.

You have the most amazing servant heart.  

You are humble and kind.

You love me and our children so well.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Mimi, I am so thankful that God gave me you as a mother.

You are my rock and my best friend.

I love you and am so thankful for your constant love!  

Your grandbabies adore you and we hope you have a very special birthday.

Bear, You are simply the sweetest.  So pure in heart. 

I appreciate your thoughtfulness and care for others.  

Thank you for being a friend that I can laugh with and cry with.

I hope you had a beautiful birthday sweet sister.

What a beautiful day in February!  

And somehow the kids scored a trip with their cousins to build-a-bear at the days end.

Such Fun!

Thank you family, for beautiful day celebrating beautiful people!

God is Love

It's our Bible verse this month.

Short, but oh so very sweet!

God IS love.

I wanted to take some new pictures of the kids for Valentines Day this year.

They turned out to be some of my favorites of our little ones who are such a blessed gift of love from God.

 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4-5

"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Psalm 103:8

"Love your neighbor as yourself," Mark 12:31

 "And now these three remain; faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

I am overwhelmed by God's love for my children.

Especially as I see him work in their little lives.

He is so loving!

It's who he is...

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

1John 4:8

A little catch up

Just a lot of life going on over here.  

Sickness, new adventures, quality time at home...

(We got that awful flu going around.  It was not NOT fun.)

(My mom had emergency surgery after dr.s discovered a whole in her intestines.  The kids were so worried...drew pictures and wrote letters for their sweet Mimi.)

(Ava started a new ballet class with our homeschool group.  Sweetest girls and teacher.  Such a blessing for her.)

(She's also continuing with art.)

(Judson's enjoying music class once a week.  His favorite song is Kumbaya.)

(Thatcher refuses to stop growing up.  Turning into such a little toddler.)

(He's such an extrovert.  Loves people...especially babies...and has made a "special friend" at our homeschool group.)

(Homeschool is a dream come true.  Not easy.  But I'm so confident that this is God's will for us.)

(These two got a special Sonic date.  I'd take a date with either one of those handsome guys.)

(Had a wonderful Family night at Disneyland despite being somewhat terrified of the measles thing.  We did the new Frozen sing along and watched the parade.  It was a good trip.)

And now we are ready to bring on some weekend fun!  

Happy Friday!

Engaging with books!

I had a pretty good list of things that I would and would not do as a homeschool Mom.

I most definitely wanted set curriculum for every subject. 

I wanted worksheets and I wanted tests and I wanted proof on paper that learning had taken place.

What I was getting from many of those worksheets was the opposite.

It didn't take long for me to see how many different, effective ways of teaching there are when doing school at home.

Ahh, the freedom.    

Reading is Ava's passion and so a lot of our language arts stems from literature that we read together.

"Never let a good book be closed or put back on the shelf without encouraging your children to engage with it in some way, large or small." ~Educating the Wholehearted Child

And so we color, we journal, we describe, we act out, we watch the movie (FUN!), 

We engage.  

And true TRUE learning takes place.

 My Mom discovered these books, Classic Starts.

We just love them.

They are classic stories retold for younger readers. 

They also come with an audio recording. 

 Very well done.  I would highly recommend them.

Her love for books and learning is already starting to rub off on her younger brothers. 

I think they must see her joy in it.

And that's what I want for all of them to know.

That learning is life... and life is learning... and it is FUN!   

A snow day to end 2014

We woke up to such a sweet surprise on Wednesday morning.  

I don't think I will ever forget our kids faces.  

They were so cute.

(Frosty is still in our freezer) 

We hurried out to look at our neighborhood covered in snow...a sight we will not likely see again.  

Children and families were out playing, snapping pictures, and enjoying the wonder of it all.  

Most people were using pool toys or body boards to slide down the snowy hills.

We are Southern Californians after all.   

(T was not a fan at all.)

(Mom and Dad loved every second.)

It's been a chilly few days and lots of time inside.  

We've so enjoyed spending the last few days of 2014 as a family. 

Ava and I just finished, Little House in the Big Woods...the longest chapter book we've ever finished together.  

The last paragraph is just so appropriate for the years end...

" This is now.  She was glad that the cozy house, and Pa and Ma and the fire-light and the music, were now.  They could not be forgotten."

Thank you Jesus for NOW.  

For what has been and what is to come...but especially for where we are right now at this moment.

Happy New Year!