with Banana-grams.
Throw out the spelling program, forget the vocab! All day long, "Mom, is v-o-t a word?" and so on.
If it is really quiet and you don't know where she is, chances are......
she is working. But don't tell her how much she is learning.
The kind of obsession any homeschooling mother would LOVE!
Last summer we were on vacation with my parents. My mom, in a celebratory tone, said something like, "Your family is like a rainbow, quite a melting pot. But you don't have any Asian children." She was joking of course. Or was she prophetic? In the spirit in which it was intended, I think I replied that interestingly we never felt called to the Asian culture. When we, like everyone else, thought briefly about international adoption 15 years ago, that was never on our radar. No particular reason. Just wasn't.
And God prepared the way. I followed a comment link one day on a blog and found a couple living in China raising their son and waiting to adopt a Chinese little girl. I have been following their story and have fallen in love with the Asian culture through their experiences. They have a wonderful blog and are very honest in telling about their journey of living as ex-pats in China.
We will hear next week what the future of our family will be.
I have gotten in trouble with the teacher a few times because I was directing the movements too much. This is about free expression and allowing the children to explore their surroundings to create optimum learning. I have a lot to learn. :)
Right or left, right or left, right or left???
Cora and her teammates. Very sweet girls. The name of their team is "Black Beauty."
Cora in action.
Erika with a smile over her shoulder. She has a good time with her new friends.
Erika's team called "The Miles."
Kloey in action! She puts her all into everything she does.
Kloey with her teammates. They named their team "The Three Little Sheepdogs."
Yes, physical education does most definitely include the sport of bowling!
Jerrod and Erik went to Hilltop Fun Spot to play laser tag with the Junior High Youth Group. They had a ball. Then went straight to Dinner Bell to help out. Erik is on the team that cooks the first week of every month. Jerrod knows how to supervise.
Erik was on camera duty. These pics are from someone's camera phone.
We all came later for dinner. Dinner Bell has been serving over 100 meals every week.
Don't mind the profuse drippage from all my orifices. It's to be expected when one is getting 4 molars and has a cold.
My big brother knows how to have a good time. He taught me everything I know.
What is Daddy doing behind Mommy and the camera?
Ok. We'll pose and be cute but only if you let us look at the picture right after.
Brothers, in every sense of the word.
Baby Einstein! A face only a mother could love? Oh, but I do.
Okay, maybe if I push this button. Micah, hold it steady.
I think if I just push it a little harder, it will really work this time. Micah, are you helping?
Looks like it's serious. I'm going under.
Whew. Got it. Now gimme the vacuum.
Alas, there is a slight problem. The antique waffle iron is gimpy. It's leg was severed somewhere around, um, guessing here, about 2000? Disappeared during Y2K. Yup, that's it. Gone. 
Well, we all know you cannot make waffles at a tilt so a suitable solution is at hand. One must go to the miscellaneous cooking supply (junk) drawer and rummage around for exactly the right tool.
Oh, there it is. The biscuit cutter, circa 1999. It is the only tool which solves the waffle maker dilemma because it is exactly the right height. Now, admit it. Did you scroll back up and look in the drawer and try to find it? Kind of like, "Where's Waldo?" I'll bet you did.
A match made in heaven.
Doesn't that feel so much better?
Ready to rock and roll!
And now we take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to show you what kind of syrup we are currently using. The label clearly states, "NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP." On the back of the bottle, the first ingredient listed is Corn Syrup. That High Fructose stuff will get you every time. We'll revert to the real stuff after the tax refund check comes in.
So here are the waffles ready to be consumed. If you blow up the picture, you will clearly see the black flecks from the waffle iron nicely baked into the beautifully bronzed waffles. I'm tellin' ya, those aren't blueberries, they are gunk from the last million times we made waffles.
Some people must have an egg on top of their waffle. As I was multitasking at a premium rate, these are not the prettiest eggs, but guess what? They got eaten.
Here is the appreciative crowd unaware of the photographer or I'm sure they would have smiled. Or maybe they were too busy eating.
Except Trey! Who was quite aware of the photographer and made certain that I took a picture of just him. "Look at me, Mom!" "Take me, Mom!" Oh, okay. You are too cute, Trey.
Thus ends the waffle maker's woes. It was good. It was very good.
