Lake Texoma

We had a nice family weekend get away this summer. The kids had a total ball hiking with Daddy and intertubing on the boat. But, of course, their all time favorite part of the trip was the cabin. You'd think we had stayed in a palace with the way they were acting!! This place was pretty rustic - perfect for a weekend at the lake. It had my only requirements (bathroom and a very good air conditioner). The kids looooved the cabin and being away. Kept repeating for a good two hours after we arrived, "This place is so great! I love it here! I don't ever want to go home. I wish we could live here. This is amazing!" Think our kids were starved for a vacation??

Here is Ainsley hugging the wall.

Here is the picture Daddy took and pondered,

"Friday the 13th...... Cabin in the Woods.... I forget what happens next."

We decided he should go take a shower.

Alexandra caught a fish!

Here are the kids on a hike with Daddy on a really cool hiking trail.


A bunch of friends came out with their children and joined us - the kids had a great time together!


Good-bye Summer, we will miss you!

What is wrong with this picture?

I think George is taking over....

Can't tell what is wrong with this picture? It's my precious children on a City Bus ride, from our neighborhood, at night, with their daddy. I'm glad they made it home okay!

Stan Travels

Stan went to Vietnam for work for 8 days. It was a 21 hour plane flight. Crazy. He stopped at the Tokyo Airport on the way and used the bathroom. This was the first email I got entitled "Toilet Instructions."

"These are on the stall in the Tokyo airport bathroom. How to use the fancy toto electric toilet and buttocks cleanser. If a crapper needs instructions, the user interface is too complicated."

Well, he finally made it to his Hotel in Vietnam. He grabs the local paper and I get an email with a subject of "Highlights."

"I would definitely consider that first headline a highlight."

Out and about he goes, exploring. But, first my good good boy went to Mass at a beautiful old Catholic Church in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon). Each alcove had the Stations of the Cross. Plus, look at their prayer candles. So beautiful!

So, tooling around town, he made sure not to jump too high for safety reasons. But, the video below is what I want you to watch. CLOSELY. Really concentrate and see if you notice anything COMPLETELY INSANE!!?!?!?!

Uh huh, yes. You just saw that! OH-EM-GEE! Child endangerment, anyone?

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So, the last email I got from him, subject as "my ho chi minions."

On a much more serious note, I really debated with myself on posting these pictures. They are just so disturbing and very upsetting to me. But, I suppose it's important for us to be reminded of our brave young men who fought in Vietnam. We lost almost 60,000 boys at that time and after seeing these pictures, it is very very clear why so many who did survive are just unable to discuss what happened to them and their fellow soldiers. I wish I could have been there to welcome them home properly...

God Bless the souls of our fallen soldiers.

Summer "Schedule"

We have so much fun together. We actually do have a summer schedule, with Swim Team, Art Class, Gymnastics and scheduling playdates. With Daddy gone this week having a culture shock in Vietnam (blog to come on THAT ONE!), we've been hanging out having some summer fun. Oh, and driving Daddy's truck while he is gone! Wooo, hooooo!! ;) Well, my car is in the shop to fix the hail damage from a couple of years ago... But, I can tell you, it's making him cringe... ;)

Swim team has been really great this year - we have so many friends on the team, it's like a Daily Playdate slash Mom's Chat session! Good times!

Here is Ainsley "playing with Lincoln!" He loves it! Really!!

Here are the kids posing for me before they do their Gymnastics! We are taking gymnastics at WOGA and it is soooo FUN to go! While the kids are getting very good instruction, I get to watch multiple U.S.A. Team Members practice! Totally cool. This is the gym where Carly Patterson and Nastia Luiken trained. I'm totally star-struck - and yes, it's worth the weekly drive to PLANO... wince...

Here is Sha-Bo soo happy with his structure - I had to "take a picture before he could put it up." :) He is such a creative little boy!

Here is my adorable little man working hard in Violin! He is loving it and it's really hard for him so far... He is learning a ton and really being challenged. It's so good for him - it's wonderful!

Here is the team at the splash park after Art Class.

I don't know about y'all, but I get presents every day! I get paintings, drawings, sculptures. It's super fabulous. Here are three of Alexandra's from this week that are my favorite!!! :D

Summer is FUN, indeed.

Totally

Homeschool Planning - my head hurts

Two words - Holy Options! Looking at all the options out there is truly interesting, fascinating, time consuming and overwhelming - all at the same time. You should SEE my spreadsheet! All 3 kids have 3 differing needs and for sure I'm going to meet those needs. But, first, decisions.

Math - ABeka, MCP, Chicago Math, Singapore Math, Shiller (Montessori) Math, Saxon and the list just goes on and on and on.... I gave the girls an assessment test yesterday and they were so excited to take a test! Yet another gift from White Rock Montessori.

Phonics - 100's of options and methods and book choices. But, I'm narrowing here.

Literature - I'm going Classical all the way on this one and the book list is truly impressive! My kids are going to be learned FOR SURE. Of course, I'll have to stay up late to read these books too - right? I mean, it's true that Alexandra is already way smarter than me, but she can't be better read too! Okay, I guess that is a forgone conclusion - I'll let it go and get my sleep. I'm so excited for her reading assignments.

History - Really excited about this one - Fabulous set called Story of the world. Beautiful and very good and interesting! Love!

Spelling and Grammar - Catholic Heritage has just amazing options. They also have Latin Primer that the girls will do. Yet another area where I will be cramming to be ready. Fingers crossed.

Science - All my homeschool friends all recommend ABeka on this one. It looks great - Science makes my face shrink up and my eyes squint. Let's just say Science does not make me all warm and fuzzy.... But, looking at the samples of the ABeka stuff, they all look like experiments that I can do. So far. Except the one with earth worms in a jar of the room - I guess I'll send the kids out to collect them - thank you White Rock Montessori for allowing my kids to loooove nature!

Logic/Critical Thinking - Good options here for the little ones at Teachers Aide... Alexandra did these at White Rock and I love them.

Catechises - This I'm so excited about - we have these fabulous Good News Planners and some good old fashioned Baltimore Catechisms! With the Latin and the Logic we are going to do, we are really going to dig in on some basic Truth 101. Does it exist? You bet it does... Can't wait for this part.

Oh, and there is more... But, this is a good start.

Ainlsey is ready to start NOW! She says, "mom, I want to start my spelling book NOW. Go to your office and get it!" So, I got that ordered last night... Fun. Alexandra is ready and needs some challenging work! I'm on it... Anderson is also ready for phonics - constantly wants to do the Dollar Store workbooks I have bought in the past - he is hungry for learning.

Let's do this! God, bless me on this path...

Daddy Stuff

"Sooo, how is Stan? Is he out of school? Is he still grumpy?"

Well, he always has a little grump to keep me on my toes. But, thank goodness he is doing fabuloso! School is good just hard physically on him. Now that Cisco knows he is on summer break, he is having to work more (hence a trip to Vietnam. really??!?!? UGH). BUT, at least it's just work. It's not BOTH and he is enjoying the break. He is taking his boat out and spending more time with the kids. Helping me a little more. It's nice. He's home.

First thing on the agenda. New Car. Our Rover finally bit the dust. After we had a sad fest over since we both really enjoyed driving that truck. After 10 years of owning it - goodbye.

Here is his new Truck. And finally, a Pick-up! He has been eyeing Ford

F-150's for a while. Yes, he is super uber excited. But, what is interesting is the kids think my mini-van is still cooler since I have a TV! Haha, I love it. But they are really tempted to switch sides since Daddy has a secret window....

Here is happy daddy on super happy Fathers Day! And, what would make him so happy you may be asking...??? No, I know you know already. Waking boarding on da boat.... And a nice big steak while overlooking the lake.

Here is the Captain.

Happy Daddy's Day!