Horatio's Ride

Long Time Gone

The 10 day countdown to Christmas is on. This past Sunday we went out for our tree.


It's still my favorite spot & the snow started coming down thickly right on cue.


The tree is now all decorated & looks wonderful.

Things have been hectic as ever. We survived a weeks-long oil tank debacle and now we're back in action & all filled up.
School keeps us busy as can be. Odessa is into the Swiss Family Robinson right now. Max is flying through his math work. Horatio loves to color & is getting good at saying letters with me. Oh, and he's very proud of his bathroom skills!
Maybe I'll get my act together & do a retrospective of pictures from the last 6 months.

Hitting the books

The kids have been gung-ho to start doing experiments with Dessa's physics kit and being (another) rainy day with some long attention spans we jumped in.
I thought we had some summer vacation left (40 days to be exact) but I push the writing & math practice & they push the science.

Thanks again to Grandma & Grandpa for the excellent gift!

While the big kids were building fairy houses in the woods Race & I did some more slug photography.

Seven

The time has gone by so fast. I thank you for all the joy you've brought to my world. I love you!

Happy Birthday!

The Sky

A friend used to ask me "What color is the sky in your world?"


Lately, around here, it's been about this color. Some sunshine would do us all good.

Summer like a freight train

The school year has been done for a couple of weeks now. Dessa had her first portfolio evaluation on June 2nd . It felt like another big milestone to me. We've all learned so much this year. I get pretty emotional when I dwell on how lucky we are to be able to do this together. Should I admit they asked if we could do some history this morning? We did.


We've been busy in the yard, had a field trip to America's Stonehenge, a cookout with friends at the dam, plus just trying to keep up with the house & these guys.




The bloom is starting to roll in.

Birthday Week!

Happy 1st & 5th
to my boys.

New word, old concept

Infinitetasking : When the jobs pile up faster than one can work.

It's here.

First day of spring. And not a moment too soon.

Artwork: Odessa

Scientific Achievement

Today was our first Science Fair. It was a lot of fun. The kids have worked hard & learned a lot about weather over the last couple weeks. They have been out collecting weather data every day (that also involved a lot of sledding) & Dessa filled out a weather report each day. They built a wind vane and an anemometer. We read about weather and clouds. Max especially enjoyed cutting out felt clouds and raindrops & drawing his weather picture with chalk. They did a great job on the display & set it up beautifully. They both answered questions about the devices & how they work. They also had a good time seeing some of their friends & meeting other kids. They each (all 3) got a certificate for participating.
I am so proud of them!

Here's what happens when I say - "Smile at me!"
Also a challenge to take pictures while holding Horatio.

The funniest thing - tonight we have the first strong wind since building the anemometer. We may have to take it outside again tomorrow.

Not a bad way to spend my Fortieth birthday!

And he's off!

He started this on Wednesday. He's got his siblings beat on the earliest steps, but I figure they had a hand in his learning this - he loves to try to keep up with them. He makes it look so easy.
A good reminder - everything starts with baby steps.

Another.

Pretty Pages

I'm trying to catch up on getting some of our school projects scrapbooked. I really like having pictures of science experiments & field trips. I hope, as time goes on, the kids will enjoy looking at these as much as I do .

Growing Right Up

The little one is nine months now. It's going so fast.
They are all growing right up.
Wow.





Can you believe how old they look?

A Winter Poem

Multi-craft goodness. I really did get out the magnetic poetry for the kids.

Winter, Water, Windowsill, Wonder

Another day inside the snow globe. I know it's only January, but I'm ready to think green.

Something I love

A little Durer to ponder. The thin etched intensity
or something fluffy & feral?

Happy New Year