Thursday, August 30, 2012

♥ A Busy Week ♥

We’ve had a busy week! Monday marked the first day of our homeschooling year! Actually, we “eased” into schooling, as I call it. I decided it would be best to get Joy started and on a routine again before I began working with Luke. I think it was a wise decision. You know how it goes, there are always interruptions and getting into the schooling groove again after a leisurely summer always takes a bit of discipline, especially staying away from the computer. So please don’t think I’ve abandoned you if I don’t get around to visit right away. I’m trying to find my groove and best way to do it all.

The day our box of Sonlight books arrives is an exciting day. It’s like Christmas! We are always anxious to see where our reading adventures will take us…..including read alouds as well as independent reading. I wouldn’t miss reading aloud for anything! It’s my favorite part of homeschooling! The books you see here make up Joy’s History, Literature, Bible, and Spelling curriculum. (The rest comes from different companies and were already waiting for us on the bookshelf).



Luke catches on to the enthusiasm when books arrive. He has been asking all summer if I was ordering his school work! He has learned so much informally all summer already. But we are going to tackle beginning to read and since we make a big deal out of books and being able to read, he’s pretty excited!



This picture was taken on Joy’s first day, Monday.   I'm likely to find her reading in the strangest of places. :)  I would think sitting down would be more comfortable?

And as you can see in the background, we still have a mess from the staircase project!  Leave it to us to start a project right at school time! 


While Joy and I were working together, Luke played on the iPad. Do you see what he’s eating?



Let's take a closer look......



Yep, that’s chopped onions, folks! He had just helped me prepare lunch and we had left over onions.  When he found out there were some left, he asked for them………and he ate just about every one of them too.

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes on Tuesday! I have to say that I had a very nice birthday! And all of your comments……well……they really topped it off! Thank you so much!

After our morning of school, my mom and I, and the kids, went to the antique gallery where she told me to pick out something for my birthday (on a budgeted amount of course). That was fun because so many times I put off buying because I talk myself out of buying because I “don’t need it” right now. But it’s fun to be able to pick something out and bring it home! We were all laughing at the check-out register because I remarked that not many folks would want for their birthday what I picked out for my birthday.





I loved them both though!  And I came home and immediately found them a new home.





And then for dinner that night, we went out for Mexican food at my favorite Mexican restaurant. It was all of our family including Colt and Amber and my mom and dad. Between Jason and all the kids, I got 4 CDs which included two from TobyMac, one of Mandisa and one of Tenth Avenue North, a DVD called Monumental by Kirk Cameron, and some butterscotch maple cream tarts. Oh, and Luke wrapped up an old ID chain he found all by himself and made me a card from a piece of typing paper and had it taped over closed. He was quite proud of all the letters he made including the letters LOVE……….and so was I. :) 

It was a good day! I’m so thankful for the blessing of another year.

Oh, and my cake! Oh…..my cake! I requested this cake. My mom made it.  She makes it often and I make it from time to time.  It’s my favorite!  We shared some with the server and cooks at the restaurant and I still had some left to bring home.  It only lasted one day though.  It's long gone now.



I had a cute helper blowing out the candles.

 

I’ll come back and share the very simple but delicious strawberry cake recipe tomorrow along with Faithful Friday (by the way, we’d love for you to join us for Faithful Friday too)!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! Have a great day!  :) 

16 comments:

Robyn ♥ said...

Happy Belated Birthday!! Looks like a very enjoyable day!
I used to eat raw onions when I was younger too ;) I dunno, thought they were yummy!
Have a great school year! My 5 year old is getting in his little routine.

Luke Holzmann said...

Happy Box Day! As for reading in strange places, I'm not sure I ever read standing up [smile]. May you find your groove as you ease into the school year!

~Luke

Lois Christensen said...

yes, I would think sitting down would be better for reading! And onions?? I really can't handle raw onions! Hope your school year is good for both kids! Your cake looks delicious!

bettyj said...

What beautiful birthday gifts! Love the picture of Jo standing reading! That could have been me.lol

Leslie said...

What sweet children...love that cute first picture! And what fun seeing your Sonlight books...they are like old friends and the year you are doing stands out as a particularly good one...much better in my mind to the high school stuff we are doing (we are finishing church history through Dec and then starting the Govt/Econ year. blah...not nearly as fun)

LynnMarie said...

At my house people read in the bathtub, on the deck, in the car, and while cooking so your daughter standing up to read looks pretty Normal to me. The cake looks great and I can not believe he likes onions as a snack.

Joy ~ Doodlebug ~ said...

Mama,

I'm glad you had a good birthday, and here's to us getting back into our groove, right? :)

I love you! 8!

Love,
Joy :)

Anonymous said...

So funny with Luke and the onions! Exactly what my five-year-old from IM would do too! He adores raw onions.
I have followed your blog since you went to get Luke, but never commented before. Today I just had to. Too funny:)

Alice

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you did have a delightful birthday and I love the antique finds that your Mom bought you.
It's always exciting to begin a new school year. Glad your children enjoy reading.
Don't think I could handle raw onions but our little dachshund often eats any raw onion that I accidentally drop while chopping!
That cake looks delish!
We understand you are very busy with school - just visit when you have the time. Take care.

Karen said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday! I love things you got at the antique mall.

I remember the books that Joy will be reading this year--that was the first year Amber did Sonlight. She LOVED so many of the books that year!!

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

what a fun day you had for your birthday..and that dessert looks heavenly!!! (singing)..love what you picked out of for your gift too..hope all is well..I can't believe Luke is eating raw onions..unheard of for most kids.;) I hated them when I was smaller..my mom would put loads of them in potato salad and I would spit them out..now i love them..but have to limit them as they cause me to get kidney stones..all the stuff I love causes stones..so moderation for me..have a wonderful thursday.:)

Cherry's Prairie Primitives said...

So glad you had a wonderful birthday!!

Cindi said...

Tammy your birthday sounds like it was very special and very love filled, who could ask for anything more? I didn't get a cake for my birthday...hmmmm didn't miss it until you posted yours, lol. Love the antiques. Love the pictures of your blessings, Joy and Luke. Have a great day!
Be blessed,
Cindi

Michelle said...

When you talked about your daughters strange reading places you brought back great memorizes for me. I use to hide in the closet at night to read ,when I was supposed to be in bed. Thanks for being a smile to my face.

JoAnn SweetPepperRose said...

Oh my... THAT JAR! LOVE!!! my weakness, stoneware... so pretty!
JoAnn

JoAnn SweetPepperRose said...

Hey Tammy, You know I love your blog! I have awarded your blog with the One Lovely Blog and the Very Inspiring Blogger Awards!
JoAnn