The Homeschool Post

I posted over at The Homeschool Post today, if you want to go check it out!  :)

Out My Window - November 2009

I love looking out my kitchen window and seeing this:

We have had such beautiful weather so far this month, and I have urged my children to take advantage of it every day while they can.  We are so blessed to have a great back yard and a sturdy porch that is perfect for sunny afternoon picnics.  But, before long, Jack Frost will be knocking on our door and back porch picnics will have to wait until spring. 

What's the view like from your window today?

"Z" is for "Zzzzzz"

What is it about sleeping children that makes mamas want to take their picture? 

I think it has something to do with how serene and angelic they look.  It's like, however terribly they have behaved all day, to view them sleeping peacefully just erases all the wrongs.

I wonder if God ever watches His children while they are sleeping?

Come join the fun in the A B See photo meme at The Homeschool Post!

"Y" is for "Yum"!

"Y" is for "Yum"!

One afternoon, several weeks ago now, my two sweet boys decided they needed something sweet to eat.  The older is almost 13, and knows his way around the kitchen quite well, so I am pretty comfortable with letting him loose in there.  So, the two brothers decided to whip up some cake mix cookies.

Now, if you have never made cake mix cookies, let me tell you - they are so easy!  Just take any boxed cake mix, mix in 2 eggs and a 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, plop 'em on a cookie sheet like you would any other kind of cookie dough, and bake at 350* for about 10 minutes.  So easy, which makes these perfect for last minute, super quick desserts and snacks.

This particular afternoon, either my boys were craving chocolate, or they knew that their Mama was.  They not only picked a chocolate cake mix to make cookies from, but then they topped the cookies with chocolate icing, and again with chocolate chips!  That is some serious chocolate! 

And they were so~~~~o YUMMY!

Puddle Jumper

After my last entry, showcasing a sunny autumn afternoon, the rain returned to our area forcing us back indoors.  Rainy days have become all too common around here this fall, and little ones quickly tire of being confined to the house. 

Today, E. was able to fly through his lessons, finishing much more quickly than his big brother and big sister.  He was tired of being "shushed", so as not to disturb them in their studies, and I finally told him to go grab his boots.  He was surprised because, I do not typically allow the children to play outside in the rain.  But, the temperatures were warm enough and the rain was just light enough with no threat of lightning bolting out of the blue, that I was okay with letting him get out and just splash a little bit.  So, with a tattered umbrella in hand and rubber boots on his feet, off he went to explore. 

I sat on my lawn chair in the shelter of the garage, just to where I could see him romp through the rain.  I randomly snapped pictures with my half-broken camera, and really doubted that I would get any shots worth saving.  I was pleased, however, when I uploaded the photos, to find that there were quite a few keepers to be found.  The ones that particularly caught my eye were the ones taken mid-jump, making it look as if he's walking on air, or perhaps, being carried away by the umbrella on the wind, like Mary Poppins. 

I think I learned a valuable lesson today:  Sometimes it's okay to play in the rain.  And next time, maybe I'll just join him.

Enjoying the Autumn Sunshine

Earlier this week we had some gorgeous weather. School work took a backseat for a few hours while we went outdoors to soak up some sunshine. Here are my two youngest children, along with my fur-child, "Samson". Hopefully we will have many more of these sunny afternoons before the cold, winter weather hits!

Over at The Homeschool Post...

Check out my article "When Chaos Invades Your Homeschool Days" over at The Homeschool Post today!