raising kids

i recently signed up to receive e-newletters from the Home School Marketplace, and received one this week entitled Kindergarten...or not? written by Ellyn Davis. i have heard her husband, Chris, speak before and have also read their book, I Saw the Angel in the Marble. they have really challenged and caused me to rethink my whole paradigm of "school" -- whether found in the classroom or at home. i found this article quite relevant as Miriam is at that age. one of these days i will try to write more about how we are approaching home education this year.

along similar lines, i also wanted to direct your attention to a broadcast i heard on Family Life Today, featuring the author of a book entitled Raising Kids for True Greatness. the bit that i heard in the car was so good, but i still need to go back and listen to the whole collection online. if it's of interest to you and you have the computer capabilities, you can listen too!

cricket update

we had one good week, but now they seem to be back, though not to the same level as before, so that's good. and, i am getting braver. i have swatted a few myself. and, i have a new strategy -- i am going to leave the one i killed today in our laundry room dead on the floor in plain sight, for all other cricket intruders to see that this, too, will be their fate. (actually, it's still lying there because i am too grossed out to pick it up...i just try not to look at it.)

i love used book sales

i scored this book for 50 cents at a used book sale the other day. matt was so excited--he still remembers his second grade teacher reading these witty poems to his class. our kids asked me every day last week, i think, to read to them from this book. here is my favorite so far:

COLORS

My skin is kind of sort of brownish
Pinkish yellowish white.
My eyes are greyish blueish green,
But I'm told they look orange in the night.
My hair is reddish blondish brown,
But it's silver when it's wet.
And all the colors I am inside
Have not been invented yet.

-Shel Silverstein

crane's

yesterday was another gorgeous late-summer day, much welcomed after a dreary, rainy week. we took advantage of it and headed out for our yearly visit to Crane's Orchard with our friends, john & abbey. the apples and raspberries were ripe for the picking.

old friends

this group of people is very special to me. these are the people (along with their significant others) whom i have grown up with since probably about the time i learned to walk. friday night we reminisced about all of the sunday school classes, slumber parties, sunday night pizza parties, and so many other memories we have shared together over the years. these days we may not see each other all that often, but when we do get together there is a bond between us that runs deep. i have come to treasure these friendships even more lately, realizing how much the history shared between us really means, and how hard it is to come by.

and now, not long after all of us finally live locally again, one of us again hits the road. we will have to put a bit more effort into our reunions now, meeting somewhere between here and Virginia, but i have a feeling we still have many more years ahead of making memories together. all the best to you, steve & sara. we'll miss you guys.

homespun gifts from the heart

in anticipation of a doing a much lower-budget Christmas than usual this year, i recently checked this book out from the library. i am so enjoying it. it is filled with great ideas to get your creative juices flowing. if anyone has any other good resources or ideas for homemade and/or lower-budget ways to do gifts, let me know!

trip to the zoo

matt took the day off yesterday and we headed down to Binder Park Zoo for the day. our trip was well-timed for several reasons: (1) it was an absolutely gorgeous day; (2) the kids and i have been reading a bit about africa these past couple of weeks, and this zoo has an entire area dedicated to providing an african safari-like experience; and (3) there was hardly anyone there seeing as most kids are back in school! (one of the joys of homeschooling!) probably the highlight was getting to feed the giraffes, though levi's favorite "animal" was still the train. :) i had to include the picture of the red panda, too, since that is my personal favorite!