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!

We Heart George

George is funny. As in Funny, Ha, Ha. He is totally not house trained, obedient nor does he possess good manners. But, we're working on it.... We need our old trainer Lauren to come over! However, we all love him sooo much. Stan hasn't admitted out loud, yet. But, I can tell by the look on his face that it is pure love when it comes to George.

Anyway, here he is trying to literally hunt a squirrel. This weird, scary squirrel STAYED AT THE BOTTOM of the tree while George was barking at it and inching close to it. I was thinking it was dead, but I had seen it move positions. It took me some time to realize that it was probably some rabies infected nasty creature just waiting for George to come close so it could attack him! So, I was taking pictures until I realized what might happen and saved George's life! For sure, I did!

Then it moved and I screamed and realized the evil squirrels' plan and I took George inside! Whew!!

During these pictures, Lincoln was just laying there moaning about George chewing a bone on HIS pillow.

Y'all know what this is.... Isn't he CUTE!?!?

During dinner preparations, this is what the two do. Since George's arrival, Lincoln has stopped chewing shoes, has not dug one hole and seems to just be generally happier. Ahhhh, sooo sweeeeet!

We Love you Georgie!!

Summer of Sewing

The girls have been sewing up a storm! They both took the Sewing 101 class at JoAnn's and made a pillowcase. Ainsley did great. She sewed, back-stitched, ironed, used her seam ripper. She worked really hard on her entire project. It was the second time for Alexandra to take that class. We bought extra fabric so when we got home, she made Anderson his own pillowcase, too all on her own...

Since the class, Ainsley made a purse, pouch and a little pillow for Alexandra's teddy. Alexandra made a skirt, Anderson's pillowcase and a couple of pouches, purse and placemat.... They looove it!

The sewing room is at full capacity!

Here are my little hard workers!

Here is Ainsley's Pillowcase, purse, teddy pillow and pouch.

Here is lulu

Here is Alexandra's Purse, Pouch, Placemat and Pillowcase! She did backing on the placemat and made patches, too!

Here is the skirt Alexandra made for her sister but they have agreed to share it since they both love it sooo much! She made little pockets for the front. CUTE!

Here they are with their pillows! Perfect for a PILLOW FIGHT!!!

I'm soo proud of my little seamstresses!