Thankful

Grace (6) created a thankfulness tree in Children's Church on Sunday.  Each child picked several "leaves" to glue onto the tree from what the teacher had prepared, and Grace picked the likely things to be thankful for--God, home, health, friends, peace, family, pets, food...

Each child was also given the chance to write another thing he or she was thankful for.  Grace wrote,

"LONG HAIR THANCK YOU GOD FOR LONG HAIR"

She sounds so...emphatic.  I'd say she really likes having long hair, wouldn't you? 

Election Night

Because of the election on Tuesday, we've had a huge electoral college map poster on our living room wall.

We're homeschoolers (and we had a free poster from C-SPAN)...

but we're also a bit nerdy (in a good way). 

The Electoral College by the Numbers:  435 Representatives + 100 Senators + D.C.'s 3 = 538. 

We also had election night snacks...

Oh, I kid.  This was really all Jason bought for the occasion. 

You see, being a history major, election night is a little like the Super Bowl for Jason.

And, I must say, there is much better conversation (previous elections, presidents, vice presidents, etc.) for me on election night versus the Super Bowl.

Did you know that Washington, D.C. has three electoral votes because of the 23rd Amendment, which was passed in 1961 during JFK's presidency?  Did you know that, because of this amendment giving D.C. 3 electoral votes, it effectively limited Wyoming's electoral votes to 3 as well?  I didn't...until this election year.  That pretty much sums up the extent of the knowledge I passed on during Jason's and my conversation.  

Wordless Wednesday: New Books

Grace (6) has taken up a new series of books...so, of course, she must go to sleep with them so she can read first thing in the morning.  ;)

Grace with the newest books she is reading:  The Magic Tree House series

This post is linked to 5 Minutes for Mom and Sarah Halstead at The Naptime Momtog for Wordless Wednesday, and to Ashley Sisk  for Wittle People Wednesday.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This week's scavenger hunt items were

1. Wild
2. Welcome
3. Adventure
4. Vibrant
5. Classic

Since we couldn't make a quick trip to Wild Adventures (Grace's absolute favorite vacation destination), I decided to go a different direction with a few of these scavenger hunt items, especially when I found Grace recreating a scene from the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder with classic Duplo Blocks.

Talk about a wild adventure...growing up as a pioneer girl! 

Grace (6) rather apologetically said that Jack the bulldog had to be a tiger here.  Pa and Ma are leading the ponies Pet and Patty, and Mary, Laura, and Carrie are in the back in the wagon.

Our sometimes wild

and usually goofy puppy Bono loves to run around our backyard.

My well-worn, stone-look welcome mat

and my most favorite wreath welcome visitors to our home.

I have some vibrant yarn peeking out of my crochet bag--I have now made two very colorful berets for two lovely young ladies with this yarn.  (Maybe I should add that the girls picked out this yarn...)

And, last but not least, there are the beautiful vibrant fall colors that surround us at the moment...

Click on the link below to see others' photographs or to join in the fun!  

Shadows

On a much warmer day than what we've had lately, Grace and I had a little fun with shadows outside.
 

I don't know about you, but I'm already rethinking my wish for summer's heat to end so quickly. 

Grace (6 years old) making shadow muscles

Yes, I know I have an incredibly short memory of what that heat was actually like, and how we had a warmer than usual spring that stretched out our summer-like weather.  But after our two weeks of fall have seemingly come to an end, I'm already tired of my hands constantly being cold, and it's only the first day of November.  Sigh...

Chalk outlines of Grace

Happy fall, y'all!  :)

Growing Up

Grace is growing up.

Shocking, I know.

Grace (6) with Josiah's slingshot

She has already had two grown up teeth come in, even if you can't see them.  Grace apparently has stubborn teeth like Robert did, where the permanent teeth had to evict the baby teeth by pushing them out.  However, Grace's two permanent teeth have come in directly behind her lower front teeth

and the promise of a visit from the Tooth Fairy isn't enough to get her wiggling those baby teeth to help them come out...not just yet.

So I still have the baby face to look at for a little while longer...j

even if she is growing up.

Photos are SOOC.

Wordless Wednesday: Bono

Bono, our 7 month old puppy, thinks he'd make a great lap dog.

...And he loves to try.

This post is linked to 5 Minutes for Mom and Sarah Halstead at The Naptime Momtog for Wordless Wednesday.