Wheat and Potatoes

In Sunbeams James class planted wheat, James was so proud of his project and showed it to dryn who promptly knocked it out of his hands while still at church James was rather upset about it all, we told him to have faith and hope for the best to water the dirt and hopefully not all the seeds were lost in the tumble. He did and look, The boy has some serious faith. 

He also has some seriously big ideas, he often forgets he is three. He decided one day he wanted to have hashbrowns for dinner, He had been helping me get an activity together for activity days and I mentioned after I took the stuff we had worked on out to the car that it was time to get dinner going, I ran the stuff out to the car and came in to find he had started dinner for me, Yes the greater is now in a much higher location. What a funny guy, He did a great job Although I still don't want him cooking without me. We finished dinner together.

Golfing

We had a behavior system worked out for summer, where the kids could earn family Date nights and individual date nights, now that we are back into the full swing of life and don't have all the pleasures of summer, we have again changed our routine, chore chart and rewards model. But not before spending their hard earned date nights. James had picked a family date night to go mini golfing. It was so fun. We had a blast, we also did the race track twice and played a few other games. He picked Chinese for dinner which is one of his favorite things to eat. The new chore chart is going well and the kids love that they can do whatever with their rewards. They are both saving up for items they have chose. And it is a do it or don't no nagging from Mom kind of deal. So far so good.  We have integrated family date nights and individual date nights back into our schedule they are still happening just I usually plan them instead of the kids and they don't happen as often as they did over the summer.

The apiary

At the end of September we went on a Field Trip to the Apiary aka Bee Farm We were there during harvest which is only about 10 days long, They were so kind to have us, the kids learned so much and were so excited to be there. They did not love the smell though. We had two pregnant friends with us and boy howdy they did not love the smell either I felt for them. Who knew bees would stink. Anyways they walked us through the whole process at the end they even had little honey bears to give to each of the kiddos. The kids were so excited with it, they were willing to come home and try out the honey, which neither of my kiddos' like normally and most often refuse to even entertain the thought of trying, We went home and had peanut butter and honey sandwiches for snacks to which the kids ate all of it, then we did honey tasting and some graphing and distinguishing between sweet and sour, as well as smooth and chunky. Hands down the kids preferred the fresh honey from the farm to the store bought honey, The did like it flavored too. They did not like the chunky peanut butter. I learned something new to, The gentleman giving the tour informed us that most of his local business if from people that use the honey for allergies specific to the area, I had no idea honey could be used for local allergies. Super interesting 

The use almost everything, there is very little waste from a hive. Below James is checking out Bees wax

The Warm room where the honey sits waiting to be processed

Bees what an interesting Field trip!

Kindergarten and Preschool

 So I have been avoiding this post, but now I am getting very far behind, So here it is, We have ventured into a whole new world. We are Homeschooling, Yes you read that right. We are homeschooling. Addy is doing kindergarten at home this year, I could give a hundred reasons why, or explain myself and our choice, but really it all comes down to this, We felt this is what would be best for Addy this year. Hard to say what next year will bring. She is doing so good. She loves it and so do I it is very rewarding in ways I didn't even know I would appreciate, not to say it is a walk in the park, I think my worry and anxiety has increased 10 fold. And it is very busy, we are finding a healthy balance. I spent a good deal of time this summer prepping and getting my lessons put together picking curriculum and whatnot based on her needs, Which was great but once we started I realized I needed to do some massive tweaking for her to succeed, So I had to overhaul quickly and adapt thankfully I have been doing that for a long time to meet her needs and help her , it seems to be working. She is such a hard worker and a wonderful little girl I am so thankful I get this time with her. I know there are very strong feelings out there about Homeschooling both for and Against very few people sit the fence on this one,  We run into all types having been on the against homeschooling for so stinking long I almost feel traderish to be jumping into it. I guess one never knows everything about the choices others make and why they make them. It is hard thing to decide what is best for someone else, I assure you many hours were spent on making this decision, and we did not make it alone. I know the Lord sent us this beautiful amazing little girl, and I know we are the best parents for her. Our family is so blessed by her and what she brings into our home. While the road is not always easy I am always very thankful I get to share the road with her.

 James started preschool this year. Which he loves, he has it two days a week and couldn't be more thrilled, The days he is home he jumps right in with Addy and does the work I adapt a little for him and his needs. He picks things up very quickly it is his emotional needs that are still three and are a bit slower. Below are his pictures from his first day a Good Shepherd, to which he said don't worry Mom I got this. OH my sweet boy I know you got it!

Climb every mountain

The house is moving along, we have footings and now we have the foundation in, which I will take pictures of as soon as I see it later today! The kids ask almost everyday if they can climb the dirt Mountain, And since the weather has been amazing my answer is almost always yes, It is so fun and good for them, not to mention they love it. We can easily spend an hour or more there making laps on the dirt pile. We have finally found something Addy is better at then James, here she is behind him but that is because she is actually lapping him. So fun!