Keeping It Simple

I have to say, it is daunting to think about wrapping up an entire year. We began the year with: 1. Trying to focus more on "little kid stuff" for James (7yo at the beginning of the year). It is always a battle to make sure the youngest (in a family of "older kids") does not get lost in the shuffle. I tried to think back to what his brothers were doing just a few short years ago. I do not want James to get cheated. In an effort to keep this commitment, I joined the Picture Book Challenge . As it turns out, all 3 boys are enjoying most of the books we read. James also enjoyed the weekly Lego Challenge - we slacked off on that, but if it is up and running next school year, we will join back in. We have also spent a lot of time at our local petting zoo, and tried to leave plenty of "free time" for play. James loves the baby Capybaras 2. Erin started "school" (as in school not with me). A local church hosts a Friday program for homeschoo...

This week is set aside for family time!!  We will be hanging out and playing. Anyway, I won't be blogging because too often a post leads to one thing and then the next... and I want to be careful to treasure this time off with my family. I may have some much welcomed time off while hubby has a few dad/kiddo adventures, so you might notice me leaving comments- I plan to do some blog browsing and take some notes for next school year.  Other than that I am going to try and restrict my internet use.

I know those few who regularly read my blog will find this hard to believe, but I have two more horse books to share with you!! I knew you'd be excited. Magnus at the Fire by Jennifer Armstrong- I was strolling through a hand-crafters boutique when a book with a picture of a magnificent looking horse appeared on a shelf right in front of me. I have no idea what a shelf of used books was doing there, but I snagged the book and it has been a favorite in our home since. Magnus, the fire horse, is forced into retirement with the invention of the much more economical self-propelled fire engines (1906). Much to the fire department's dismay, Magnus is constantly arriving on the scene of the fire and getting in the way.  In true storybook fashion, eventually Magnus is there at the right time and saves the day. While I am not sure that the story of Magnus is a 100% true, it is based in historical fact. The author mentions in a note to th...

After a cranky beginning to the week (on my part), I tried to reevaluate (of course that had to include a blog post ) what I hope for during these summer months. I think we are working in the right direction. A few things have helped, but big one is that I am sticking firmly to our morning routine . I am being much more relaxed than during the school year- no time frame here. The other thing that I am doing is set clear expectations for the day. My boys seem to function better when they know exactly what is happening for the whole day. Monday- Our super hot (and cranky!) day. We did get to horse lessons which is always fun for the boys. Tuesday- Had a family meeting and worked on rethinking our summer plans. The highlight of the day for all was... A special visitor. We were lucky enough to have my sister (I am a new auntie again!) come by with her little one, "baby B". The boys loved their special time with this little guy. We spent some time playing o...

The talk on Wednesday, after the discovery of a good size toad in the yard, was of "frog hunting" (yes, they are toads, but my boys have always call it frog hunting). This is fairly frequent pastime in the evening during the summer months. It started with a "spider egg sac" (discovered in the quest for toads). Mark called me over saying that there were all sorts of little spiders moving on it (!). I was not able to see much, but Mark had a much closer view... By the time I got there (some time later), it looked like this: I cannot verify that it is a spider egg sac, but pictures of one online look very similar. None-the-less, Mark was pretty excited about the find. Next up was the "save the toads" mission. James and Mark discovered some little toads down a drain near our porch. They had slipped through the cracks to find a cool hiding place, but were struggling to get out.  Dad was enlisted to save the day.  Pretty mucky in there! Whew! Two (or ...

This was not a big "hoorah" day or anything- just our normal schedule: Morning Routine : Chores (everyone works while Mark makes breakfast) Eat (mom reads- a young person's book on the Acts of the Apostles) Bible Study ( brief discussion on reading) Math (each boy does one lesson per day- 20 minutes or so) Family Prayer Time (normally done after breakfast/bible study) Read Aloud   (we began "Stormy, Misty's Foal) Game Time ( Forbidden Island - This game will get its own post ;)) Break! (Paul listened to an audio book, James played Legos, and Mark made a chart of different types (uses) of mules.) I should insert here that we are on a "video/dvd/wii" blackout. I am not super strict about these as a rule during the summer, but have observed that when things are getting bumpy (behavior-wise) it is often best to do away with the electronic stuff for a while, and things have been bumpy ! In addition to trying on a new more relaxed attit...

As often happens, in the midst of pondering a situation, some bloggy inspiration comes my way. Problem(s): #1- Summer is here and it is quickly passing us by. Reality is that we have had some pretty big stuff going on around here. Things that truly derail the routine. As it happens, I see a light at the end of the tunnel, but suspect that summer will be over before we have a chance to join in the fun if I don't take action. #2- My attitude needs some adjusting. I am sure the craziness of the last few months has contributed to snippiness (according to spell check this is not a word, but it accurately describes my condition), but I don't want the overriding theme of the summer to be "who spiked mom's cheerios?". Bloggy Inspiration To The Rescue: Make a Bucket List  thanks to Patty @ Reasons for Chocolate. Just listening to her play list when you visit her blog will give your summer a boost! :) Make Every Weekend Count List  from Jen @ Fo...

The first giveaway, a "What Does A Cow Say?" board book, is at Brimful Curiosities . All you need to do to enter is to name your favorite farm animal and leave your email address in a comment. For an extra entry, you can blog about the giveaway. I would love to win this adorable book for one of my grandkids! The other two giveaways are together at Jen's blog, Forever, For Always, No Matter What . Each of the 10 blogs participating in the giveaway will have one winner for 500 Writing Prompts for Kids by Bryan Cohen . One lucky winner from all the entries will receive a $50 amazon gift card. Just leave a comment on Jen's blog along with your email address and you will be entered in this giveaway!

 Our stack of "favorite" horse books. We borrowed  many  more! These are the books that my boys (all three of them) decided make the cut as excellent books on horses, donkeys, or mules.   The book pictured  above is one from the "favorite" series (we borrowed 7 from this series). Mark's says with great authority, "It's a very good series!". These books have a nice photograph to text ratio (lots of attractive photos of horses), a "quick fact" page in the front of each book, a history of the horse breed, lots of information on the particular breed, a glossary of terms, and more book recommendations. The book pictured above held particular appeal to my boys as the Appaloosa is an American breed that was developed by the Nez Perces. They are not happy to have to return this series of books to the library.                    ...

I am so happy that hubby and boys got to take this special trip!  Proof that in fact they are in Yosemite!  And enjoying the water falls. They did not have much luck photographing the wildlife they saw, but they enjoyed seeing the deer, racoons and other wild life roaming around.  Another sort of wild life. This was the biggest surprise! If you know my hubby, you know how unlikely it is that he would be riding a horse- for any reason! Somehow, the boys convinced him that it was a good idea! Mark was thrilled to ride a hinny! Part of our horse study has led to a facination with donkeys, mules, and hinnys for Mark.                                      Paul riding through "headache tunnel"- duck or you will hit your head!  Truly record breaking water flow.  James enjoy...

Bronco Charlie Rider of the Pony Express by Henry V. Larom :  This true story of an 11 year old boy who rode the Pony Express is met with some skepticism in a few articles I have read. My boys, however, choose to adore this adventurous account of a brave young boy who saved the day by carrying the mail. After a riderless horse arrives in Sacramento, CA with the mail pouches still intact, Charlie volunteers to take the mail on to Placerville in spite of many dangers. Bronco Charlie lived to 105 years old and readers can see a real picture of him (as an older man) in the beginning of this book. The Great Horse-less Carriage Race : A mere 34 years after the Pony Express ended, a new form of transportation was attempting a takeover. In spite of the prediction that it was just a fad, those who wished it otherwise sponsored a race to prove that these new horse-less carriages were a better mode of transportation. This book does a great job of telling this adventerou...