December 2016

December is always busy

with the holidays and hockey in

full swing.  The two older boys 

have really enjoyed the teams 

they had been placed on.

They were both very successful.

Tillie decided she wanted to play 

basketball this winter!

Just like her dad!

She loves it and has 

improved greatly in this 

short season.

The boys both have been performing 

there violin.  They had a concert 

at Croixwood and the wardens

house.  Wesley absolutely hates

to perform.  He still did great

and I think it is good for him.

We went to the Festival Theater 

for the holiday performance.

It was so amazing...

Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas.

One of the very best I have ever seen.

Then, of course I took them to 

the Guthrie for 

A Christmas Carol

 

We were invited to see a wild game

in a suite! The best!

For homeschool co-op we had 

a research project.  We each 

studied an animal and then made 

displays at the library.

It turned out great.

My kids did hummingbird, golden eagle,

deer, black bear, and an owl.

Until next month

~blessings

November 2016

November we had more exciting
surprises.  We spent our time working
through our curriculum.  The kids continued to
do very well with Hammond homeschool on
Fridays.
We usually like to do things in November
that reflect on gratitude.  So, this month
we made care packages for the
homeless with our friends at the local
library.  We collectively learned more about
the Dakota pipeline.  We had a presentation from
a wonderful friend of Sandi's.  She is native
and gave the kids perspective from a
Native American point of view.

We had the chance to meet the
Lt. Governor of our state.
She meet with the kids in supporting
our park system.

Very exciting for Matthew!
After finishing up his gun safety
he was able to bring home his
first deer.

I am very proud of the men in
my family able to provide for
us this perfect gift of God.



Until next month
~Blessings

October 2016

October~

This month had a lot of very exciting 

events.  We celebrated Matthew's birthday

he became 12 years old.

He had his first time in an airplane.

This first time in a plane he actually 

got to fly it!

 He had a great time and wants

a chance to hit the wild blue yonder

again!

 We also had a chance to take a mini vacation.

We stayed at Arrowwood in Alexandria, MN.

We spent significant time studying Norse mythology.

This trip enhanced it by learning more about the vikings.

We went to the Runestone Museum which
turned out to be a highlight in my life.

We had the best time traveling around the area.

We went to a winery and a state park for hiking as well.

With home school co-op

we hiked Willow river and did a clean up effort.

We also did our Apple picking that 

of course ended with a game of touch football.

Until next month,
~Blessings

September 2016

This is the start of the 2016/2017

school year.  I am going to attempt to recap 

it to the best of my ability.

This year I have a 

pre-schooler - Taggert (4)

First grader - Tillie (7)

Fourth grader - Wesley (9)

Sixth grader - Matthew (11)

We start out our days with daily 

nature hikes.  It really helps settle the kids

into their day.  It helps with focus and 

concentration.  

With Taggert he wants to be just like the 

big kids.  We always buy him little 

work books to do practice in.  Coloring 

books he can color in while we 

do sit down work.  It only 

lasts a little while....then he is usually 

off playing in the other room.

Tillie's year we decided to do

a more deliberate attempt at a 

reading curriculum.

I chose All About Reading.

She loved it and 

she picked it up quickly.

Wesley's year was comprised 

of Man and animal block and

Norse mythology.  

Matthew studied the Romans.

We also studied all of ancient history 

with the Story of the World Vol.1 

Everyone loved this including me.

The kids began September taking classes

at the Hammond Community library.

We drove to Hammond, WI every Friday 

for a day of classes.

Matthew's class schedule consisted of 

Writing and Grammar,

Speech, and home economics.

In the second half of the year 

they dropped speech and switched it

with wood burning and a Dave Ramsey 

finance class.

Wesley and Tillie did 

geography, science and reading.

They only went for half of the 

time.  Taggert and I hung out in 

the library.  We made a lot of 

new friends through the Hammond 

experience it was great.

During September we joined back 

up with our homeschool co-op group

Tree of Life.  With these friends we are

busy on field trips almost every Tuesday.

This month we attended Rumpelstiltskin

at the Festival theater in St. Croix Falls, WI.

I love this theater and all of their productions

are amazing.  We also had our annual trips 

canoeing down the St. Croix river and 

Stone soup on Heidi's land.

 

This was a great month and everything 

worked out very well.

Until next month,

Blessings

 

Cabin

Canada

We started out September 

with our annual trip to the 

cabin for labor day.

This time we decided to bring our

good friends and neighbors with us.

The Hamond crew came with!

We had the best time....the kids 

went wild with one another.

bb guns 

 

Fishing

 

(Challenging)
  Hiking

 

Duck Boat Rides

Swimming

And lots more... they had a blast.

Really great way to kick off our September. 

A wonderful way for our family 

 to end this summer before our school

year begins.

When we return home from our trip 

is when we start back with our 

lessons.

 

 

Until next time

~blessings

 

 

 

 

~August~

~August~

The boys started out August 

heavily into AAA hockey.

Wesley had tournaments 

with his vulcans team 

and Matthew with his Fusion 

team.
Matthew also began playing 

soccer this year.

He finished up 

his field day for his gun safety

classes.

We spent a day checking out
antique and unusual aircraft
at the airport.

Then...Matthew broke his collarbone
during a hockey tournament.

This was a real bummer for him.
Out for six weeks!

We made the best of it.
It really did shut down
our extra curricular activities.
No more swimming, soccer, hockey
biking, rollerblading.
These are the things he had been
doing everyday.

The pontoon was reduced to
leisurely trips to Hudson for lunch.

The kids spent many Tuesdays
downtown Stillwater
enjoying summer Tuesdays
with friends and neighbors.
 Fires in the backyard with fireworks
is always a family favorite.

We managed to remain busy
despite his broken bone.

~July~

I have not written in some 

time.  In case you were wondering

Matthew has made it home from camp:)

In fact he enjoyed his time at Manito-wish

very much.  He has plans of attending 

again next year and possibly becoming

a counselor someday.  For months now he has 

been relaying stories to us from camp.

After we welcomed him home we 

were busy with hockey skates and baseball bats.

Wesley finishing up the season of baseball.

Parade Day!

We had a huge parade day turn out this 

year.  Almost everyone from the 

hockey association stopped by.

Lots of friends and family too.

When Tom took his annual trip 

to Lake of the Woods

my mom and I took the 

kids to Breezy Point.

We were lucky enough to be able 

to stay at Wayne and Candyce's 

condo.  We had such a great time.

They are so amazing to let us stay up 

there.  We took full advantage of the 

amenities.  We took a nine mile bike ride 

from Pequet Lakes to Nisswa.

We raced 

turtles in the annual turtle race.  Swam 

in beautiful Pelican lake and the pool.

Tillie, my mom and I even had a 

spa day! 

We saw Frog and Toad at the community
theater and of course had ice cream.

The rest of July and August were
fully dedicated to the pontoon.

Any free time we had we were on
the water.

The kids love tubing and swimming.
Mostly they have loved exploring all
the islands on the St. Croix.

This summer had been thoroughly
enjoyed by our whole family!