handsful

As most of you who read this blog know, we homeschool our kids. We’ve always homeschooled, this being our 6th year. There are several things that most all homeschoolers experience…reading chapter books to your kids, doing science experiments at the kitchen table, and raising all sorts of things from beans in paper cups to tadpoles in a tank. At the homeschool conference last week, Randy and I picked another “homeschool – gotta do it” item. The owl pellet.

You see, when an owl eats his “meal”, there are parts of the animal that he can’t digest. Fur and bones. His digestive system creates a pellet out of the undigested parts. He basically…uh…coughs it up. There are companies that find, sterilize (how, I don’t know!), and sell these pellets. Ours came with a bone identification chart. The girls and I spent about an hour dissecting this thing with toothpicks! (we’re very high-tech) I have to admit…it was fun! The bones are so tiny, and filled with fur. We found evidence of 2 rodents, including skulls, ribs, hips, legs, vertebrae, etc. At this point, you’re either doing a google search for “owl pellet” or you’re thinking we’re nuts. lol…

The “stairs picture”…it’s a tradition. My parents came down for a visit this weekend, so that Randy and I could attend our local homeschool convention. They arrived Friday afternoon and we arrived in Orlando a few hours later. We had such a great time, it was nice spending some needed time with just the two of us. Plus, we got lots of great books and curriculum supplies for the kids. Here’s a picture of the kids enjoying a game we bought at the convention…Spy Alley!

The kids had a great time with Granma and Granpa…they were treated with trips to Krispy Kreme AND Bruester’s Ice Cream! The rest of our weekend was filled with church, shopping, and relaxing at home. Here are M, P, and E, after a dip in the pool.

Our church has a really fun program for kids K-5th grade called Kidstuf. It’s singing, dancing, and a play all centering around that month’s virtue (this month was Endurance). Kidstuf takes a summer break, so this Sunday was their last for the year. Plus, with Abbey going into the 6th grade (eeks!), she has “aged out”. However, since she’s one of the Kidstuf dancers, she’ll still be a part of it all. Here’s a picture of Abbey dancing and singing her heart out. I think the girl likes being on stage!!

Today is Randy’s birthday!! So, we’re following his lead on what we’re doing today. I think we’re taking the boat out for some kneeboarding and tubing, and probably going out to dinner tonight. Happy 41st, babe!

My kids have been in cheer / basketball camp this week, so I’ve had an unusual amount of time to MYSELF. I’m in major spring cleaning mode right now. Actually, I should call it ”throwing and giving away” mode. Goodwill is LOVING me these days. Maybe I’m nesting for Lainey? Those who know me know that I LOVE to organize. Every drawer, closet, bin, and shelf is shaking in it’s boots!

Anyway…one of my big projects has been going through all of our photos. Good gracious, we have SO many! Boxes and boxes of (mostly organized) snapshots! Folders of years worth of studio photo sessions! Ziplocks full of photos with the scary label “Miscellaneous”. After a lot of work, I’m happy to say that I’ve tamed the beast! I’ve gone through everything, and organized those that needed it…filled one big album with the misc….seperated the photo session pics into folders for each kid…and all of our current pics are in the most current album. Boy, that feels good. Now, should I tackle the garage or the hall closet?

The first picture is of the girls, right after gymnastics where their coach surprised everyone with face painting. Abbey is a tiger, Marley a butterfly!

The second picture is the boys, posing with their Red Sox baseball trophies. I had to take FIVE pictures of them before I got one without them laughing, moving, or making funny faces. Don’t worry, I’ll save them all!

Boys, with Coach Robert

Today marked the end of Red Sox baseball. For our boys, at least. For the last 2 years, our boys have played on the Rookie Red Sox team of our local youth baseball league. Same coach, mostly all the same kids. Next season, our boys move up to “kid pitch”, rather than “machine pitch”. The BIG time! So, instead of staying with the same team, the boys will go back into the draft and most likely all be split up into different teams. We’ve had a blast with the Red Sox, and all us parents will miss hanging out on the bleachers together. The boys will miss Coach Robert, too. But, Randy will continue as Assistant Coach on whatever team they end up on. Here are a few pictures of this season!

Payton, on his way to the plate!

Ethan, waiting for the perfect pitch!

Payton, at 1st base

EJ scores!!

…and she came all the way from Illinois! I received a package full of goodies today from my friend Lisa. Lisa is one of the gals on my “Ladybug and Red Thread Believers” yahoo email group. All the ladies in the group are in the process of adopting from China, and we talk EVERYDAY. Our name is a combination of two common China adoption symbols AND the fact that we are all Christians. So, we’re sisters in adoption and Christ! Even though most of us have never met, we’re very close and pray everyday for each others praises and struggles. It’s been a huge blessing to me!

So, why did Lisa send me Ladybug goodies? Well, we get pretty silly on our email group! Somehow (and, I’m told I started this, though I don’t remember how!) we ended up having a contest to see who was the FUNNIEST gal in the group. It was between me (yep, me) and Janet, a crazy lady from Canada (I mean that in a GOOD way, Janet!). Well…I lost. BUT, Lisa promised to send us both a prize and I got mine today! The ladybug wind thingy, ladybug pens for the kids, ladybug magnet, wooden mirror with Chinese writing, ladybug key chain, AND chocolate (she knows me well!). Thank you, Lisa! Your gifts certainly made this Friday even better!

Thought I’d share a picture of my kiddos and I, on Sunday morning…Mother’s Day! We had just come home from church, and posed in front of the house (with the triplets standing on a ledge, in case you’re wondering why they’re so tall!). On the way to church, the kids surprised me with several “I love you because” notes from each of them. They were great! My Mother’s Day gift was a day of pampering at my hair salon…a massage and a facial! Can’t wait for that.

It occurred to me that this *should* be my last Mother’s Day without Lainey. I sure hope she’s posing with us in next years picture.

I received my May gift from my Fireflies group yesterday! The theme was “travel toys” and she really hit the mark. Here’s what was in the package: Musical keys (you can insert a photo in each key!), roll-up fabric crayon tote (ingenious!), adorable onesie with a heart and tag that says “Mom” (that was my Mother’s Day present from her!), and a great assortment of candy for the kids. LOVE it all.

I so look forward to my Secret Pal gifts, just like I really enjoy buying gifts for MY Secret Pals. It really helps the waiting time pass by, and I love imagining Lainey with each gift we receive. Thank you!!