Fun in the sun

The last 2 days we have been enjoying some bright sunshine!!! We had been having a bunch of cloudy days and so that made me feel extra thankful for the sunshine. It is at this time of year that it seems like our body seems to often use up our extra store of Vitamin D and needing some more. I have been struggling with feeling really tired lately and I think that is why. I am thinking I should start taking a supplement but I need to buy some vitamin D and haven't been out to get it yet. But for now I am trying to soak up as much as I can from the sunshine!

When we are able to get out and exercise and get fresh air and sunshine it helps all of us to feel better! Both yesterday and today it has been below zero which makes it extra invigorating. When you go out it makes it feel like the snot in your nose is freezing and surely all the germs are dying a fast, painful death! I had planned on going outside to exercise every day this winter but this past month we have struggled a bit. At present I have a new determination to make sure that we do get out, even if it is -10!

Yesterday we all had fun doing some sledding on some small slopes on our neighbors property which is just past our yard. (They have said they don't mind.) Today we all went out and did some running and the kids rode their bikes a little on the snowy lane and I did some Jumping Jacks. Are you getting your fresh air and exercise? How do you motivate yourself or your kids?

National Organize your Desk Day

Today is national organize your desk day (the 2nd Monday in Jan.) so that is what we did. I thought I would share our before and after pictures with you. It is so nice to have gotten rid of some things and just have things in a more organized manner.

Here are the boys' desks. Aaron's is on the left and Jonathan's on the right. Jonathan is my big craft maker so his desk was full to the brim. He also gets very into cleaning and doesn't mind getting rid of stuff so he really got his desk in order.

Next we have mine. I didn't actually spend as much time working on it as I would have liked but at least there is room to work at it now!!

Below we have Mara's desk. Mara also has a lot of craft stuff and mementos that she likes to keep. I ended up helping her a bit and we made quite a bit of improvement. I have some ideas that I would like to implement to keep things more organized but there are some things I need to make first. I also included a picture of Ken's desk to show you how things should really be done. Ken always keeps his desk clean so he never has to organize or clean it. Someday I hope to be that was too!!

Did you organize your desk today?

Our Delaware Banquet

This past week we had a fun time learning about Delaware. We got some books from the Library and also did some research online. Ken suggested that we do a presentation on it for him. We also have been reading about table manners in our manners book (and then Ken and I went to a banquet earlier in the week so the kid's thought it would be fun too) so we decided to have a banquet combined with a presentation about Delaware. We had fun setting the table with more silverware than we normally use and our good plates for everyone except Megan. All of the kids got really into it. We had an appetizer,salad, soup (chicken soup as they raise lots of chickens in Delaware.), and biscuits, chicken and potatoes and peach cheesecake for desserts.
The kids took turns serving the different courses. They also dressed up a little bit for the event (notice Aaron's tie hanging off the back). While eating (which took a long time with all our courses and waiting for everyone to finish) we each took turns telling something that we had learned about Delaware.
This week we are learning about Pennsylvania. If any of you are from there I would love to hear about what you like to eat or do and what is special about your state!

Treasure in Isaiah

I have been reading through the book of Isaiah for a little while now in the mornings. I have to admit that I often find it a little hard to understand but I am hoping that the more I get familiar with it the better I will understand it. There also are many neat verses in it that I do gain a lot from right now. I "found" one such verse this morning and I want to share it with you.

"The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure." Isaiah 33:5 & 6

Oh how thankful I am to have an awesome and mighty God as my sure foundation. He doesn't ever waver or move. No matter when we live or where we go or whatever happens, He is steady and sure.

Our God has a rich store of Salvation. He can save every single person that ever lives. There is no lack and He is never to weak or unable. He also is full of wisdom. Isn't it just awesome that no matter what questions we ask He always knows the answer? The things that are incredibly complex to us are incredibly simple to Him. He has the knowledge of everything that has ever happened and everything that ever will and He knows how we should live.

This treasure is something that He is willing to share with us as well -BUT- there is a key, we need to fear Him. To fear Him means that we respect Him, listen to Him and obey what He says. He is God, we are not. We need to fear Him as God and then love Him with all our hearts. He has a great treasure that He wants to share with us!!!

Fun at the Science Center

This afternoon we had fun going to our local science center. Every month in the school year the local home school group signs up to go to one of the classes held there. I have only gone once before but my older kids have gone quite a bit with a friend. (It is held during our normal nap time which is why I haven't necessarily wanted to go all of the time.) Today we took naps early so that we could all go.


The class today was on combustion. It was a quite entertaining class. He had the kids take a pledge not to do any of the things he did at home but I am sure he made everybody a lot more interested in fire over all. The first "trick" he did was to soak a donated dollar bill in 70% rubbing alcohol and 30% water. Then he held it with a tongs over a flame where it promptly ignited and had quite a merry flame. After a second or so he shook out the flame and there was the dollar bill as good as new. The water had protected the dollar bill from bursting into flames. I personally would like to try that at home. He did lots of other fun stuff. Above he is making a fire tornado of sorts.

This picture is a beautiful one of Mara where she held a pile of bubbles that were blown up using a balloon full of hydrogen. When he held a flame up to it, it burst into flame for just a second and burned up the bubbles but didn't hurt her hand.
After the class we had fun playing on the main science center area. (We were blessed with the gift of a family membership this year.) Above Jonathan is holding down a button which makes a flame go which makes the hot air balloon rise.
Here are the kids in front of a cute nature area.
Here is Megan in front of a fun echo tube.

Here is a picture of Mara at the science center last year. This is a small boa and it still gives me the creeps knowing that she held it. I wasn't there when she did it. It didn't bother her at all, she just said that it was a little heavy.

Anyway science centers are great fun. I am hoping we will be able to go fairly often, but no holding of snakes for me!!