Civil War Reenactment

Our family went to see the Civil War Reenactment at the Ramsey House today. It was a awesome experience for the kids!!! Minnie Mouse loved the fashion show and grinding coffee, and the boys loved the medical tent and watching the photographer. Despite the 97 degree heat and humidity, we loved it!! (We packed a lunch and lots of drinks) It was fun to run into two of our friends families too (one a boyscout!!, We saw lots of boyscouts earning their badges today!!)
for more pictures of our day, go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/lakeuka/CivilWarReenactmentAtTheRamseyHouseJune27th##

Bear is 18 months old

Ooma, Minnie Mouse, and Bear

Waving "Hi"

Bear will be 18 months old on the 28th!!! We are all very excited to see him doing many new things over the last couple of months. He recently went through his 6 month testing with his therapists and is at the 12 month developmental mark!!! Woohoo!! Bear can now clap his hands, waves hi, says mama, dada, and nods his head for yes and no. He also pulls to a stand, walks along furniture, and walks with us while holding his hands. He understands a couple signs (more, food, all done, and drink) He enjoys music, his siblings, giving many hugs and kisses, and his rice milk.
Bear had his 6 month check up with the Metabolic Doctor last week and he gained 2 inches (24 inches) and 2 pounds (he is now 17 pounds and 13 ounces) since December, so his growth hormones didn't have to be checked. He will have to get the growth hormones checked again this December. He has appt. with the Physiologist next month, who oversees his therapy and if he will continue OT, PT, and Speech. We are very happy with our therapists and are blessed to have PT and Speech and the Early Interventionist come to our home once a week (3 hours in our home per week) and one hour at The Children's Rehab Center for OT. Bear is very loving and a very happy baby, a good sleeper and only cries when he is hungry or tired. We know he is tired also when he rubs his eyes. So sweet!!!

Grandma Visits

Playing Doctor (hurt toe like Mommies) :-)

We were blessed to have Grandma visit us for one week (which flew by!!) We picked her up at the Airport on Friday afternoon and she flew out this morning. We had a fun filled week; enjoyed yard sales and thrift stores on Saturday, Church and Sunday School on Sunday and Celebrated Grandma's Birthday on the 15th. We surprised her with a sugar cookie cake from our friend Tee at http://www.specialteecookies.com/ (Tee mails cookies UPS, so this isn't for just us in Knoxville) :-) She made the cake safe for Minnie Mouse (who is allergic to dairy, soy, eggs, and peanuts and Bear is allergic to dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, shrimp, and crab) Thank you TEE!!! The kids loved it!! and Grandma loved the fish and her favorite colors on the cake!!! We also enjoyed Birthday dinner at The Red Robin. YUM!!

Grandma got to see the boys last swim lesson yesterday, and played Wii for the first time!!! The boys love Indiana Jones Lego Wii game, but took time to show Grandma how to bowl and play Wii circus. Lots of fun!!!

I am especially grateful for My Mom (and Mother in law too) who love laundry and have blessed us each time they visit, to help me in the laundry room. It can get overwhelming at times, 4 children bring in many many loads per week!!! (or should I say each day!!) Thank you Grandma for all your help and company this week!!!

Husker Academy

Our Homeschool (aka:Husker Academy) year was a success. I thought I would blog a little about our year. We started mid August and ended last Friday (with 5 weeks vacation!!!) We used a DVD curriculum, which we all enjoyed (most days) Bug just finished Kindergarten and Goose just finished 2nd grade. They were both excited to also be "students" at Christian Family Cooperative School or CFC as we say, in the Umbrella program (which meant they were invited to join field trips, class parties, Science Fair and we also got the Teacher's notes and lesson plans.

We were inspired recently to organize and makeover our school area (small area of our living room) and here are the before and after pictures. My friend Lynette asked if she could help me makeover my school area, and then use it for her presentation. She is teaching organization for two nights for our Summer Bookwise study. The ladies in my Sunday school class meet every other Thursday night in the Summer. It was so helpful and I am so excited to be free of the clutter and extra things I thought I needed to have!!! :-)

all our DVD's for the year (picture above)
Bug's classes: Beginnings (phonics, reading, spelling, handwriting in one class), Math and Bible class
Goose's classes: had English, Spelling, Heritage Studies 1/2 year, Science 1/2 year, Math, Bible, Reading, and Handwriting (half year priting and half year cursive)



we are still doing some school this Summer to stay focused and on schedule. The boys are so much more enjoyable on a schedule, so each day Daddy writes out a to do list:

Here is an example for each of the boys for each day:










































Goose's to do list:

Scripture memory verse
piano for 15 minutes
Read 2 chapters
write spelling words or take spelling test and Shurley English this Summer to get ready for going to School in the Fall.
write 5 paragraph sentence about....... (each days topic is different)
chore (empty dishwasher, put away clothes, living room cleanup, playroom cleanup, etc....)
Prayer/journal/Bible-time (in quiet area or bedroom) for 1 hour





Bug's to do list:


scripture memory verse
say phone number to mommy
write name
read book to mommy
piano for 15 minutes
chore (set table, put away clean clothes, clean mirrors/tv, etc......)
prayer/journal/Bible time for 1 hour.

Bug busy at watching his DVD classes. He usually has headphones on, but they broke towards the end of the school year. :0)

Minnie Mouse's area for Pre-K in the Fall

ahhh...........before pic of school area

and below is the after picture

(I have their names cutout in corkboard to add above each desk.)

Fun Times in May

We had a lot of fun in May with Ooma and Papa visiting, end of School year, swim lessons, Knoxville Zoo, camping in our backyard, Goose's 8th Birthday, and celebrated our 9 year Anniversary (see picture above, we ate at Lakeside Restaurant on the deck)!!!

We have also gotten very motivated around the house and are getting organized; cleaning closets, painting old furniture, rearranging furniture and kids rooms, and getting rid of items that haven't been used (or seen) in two years. Today's big job was the garage. We still had boxes that were never unpacked from our move 21 months ago (still can't believe it is almost 2 years since we have lived in TN). It is exciting to now know where all the tools are, summer items, gardening, painting, camping, and Christmas decorations. All in its place!!!

I am super excited about the new school room with the help of my friend Lynette. She has such great ideas! Still finishing the kids names made out of cork board You can see more pics of some of our makeovers at http://picasaweb.google.com/lakeuka

Daddy had a great idea this week to pull out our tent (Wedding gift 9 years ago). The boys slept outside on Tuesday night!!! I was supposed to sleep out there because Daddy had a lot of school work to finish, but Minnie Mouse was scared of the bugs and was very talkative, so we came inside and Daddy came out. :-)

We all enjoyed a trip to the Knoxville Zoo last weekend for the free day with TEIS (Tennessee Early Intervention). The last time we were there I was pregnant with #4.

We are excited about Vacation Bible School starting this week. Patrick and I are helping out with Registration and he will also be a greeter. The theme is Son Rock Kids Camp, Where Kids Build Their Lives on the Rock: Jesus! AND Grandma flys in for a week this Friday, from NY!! YEAH, so excited for that!!! We have lots planned in just one week.