Asher - 15 1/2 months

Hanging out

The 3 youngest boys with Grandad

Asher and Patrick

Drew's School Project #2

Once again impressed by the project(s) Drew worked so industriously and faithfully to complete for his class at school... 

and, of course, I am sharing it with you.

Well done:)

Andrew's School Portrait

Finally :)

Drew, 9th Grade

Dahlias

How could dishes ever be a chore when these beauties are there to behold?

Sean's School Portrait

Sean, 10th grade

Drew's school project

Drew worked super hard on this project - 

aging the paper, drafting details (mountains, castles, towns, forests, rivers...), concocting runic names, designing a background story to go along with it ...

Anyways, I was very impressed and asked if I might share his completed map.

The name of this make believe place is "Forma". 

(evidently, he needed a name for his world, and came up with "Forma" on the spot for show and tell).

Also, I think this was his first go at public speaking.

Not only did he enjoy it, but he thinks he did quite well:)

Pumping Carving 101

Luke and his pumpkin

Success

Removing the seeds and "goop".

Yeah, my thoughts exactly - GROSS!

The finished products: designed by the boys and carved by Mommy.

I handed the boys a marker and had them sketch their ideas on the screen door.

What a sad pumpkin (notice the tear)?

And a very happy pumpkin:)
We had so much fun!!!

2012 Costumes

ScArY Skeleton

G.I. Joe

It was a VERY wet day. Honestly, I thought our plans for the evening would not pan out. 

I told the boys to pray about it and to trust God... whether His answer was "yes" or "no", we could trust it was for our good. As you can see, the rain paused... a major haul...

3 very happy, thankful boys:)

Have you ever seen a cuter little monkey?

So that is what everyone kept stuffing in my bag;)

Checking out their loot together.

Well, you never know, it might work.

It is always worth a try;)

Aidan and Apps

To Nathan and Noah:

This is a new app I just discovered.

It is called SpaceEffect FX!!!

Check it out at free apps "Top 25", have fun, and make sure to post your creations for me.

Your next!!!

 (hahahahahahahaha - *evil laughter*)

HCA - update #1

Week 1: Wednesday through Friday noon

Mostly comprised of organizing - books, lockers, binders, schedules...

And, of course, introductions - fellow students and teachers.

Week 2: Monday and Tuesday

More of the same above with very little homework.

Wednesday through Friday

7-12th grade RETREAT (LOL, yes, you read that correctly)

A special time of bonding for all of the older students included:

2x daily chapel, games, free time, and 3 nutritious, delicious meals + an evening snack.
Oh, and they both tried out for the soccer team:)

To say that the transition to private school has gone smoothly is somewhat of an understatement (thus far). 

They have been spoiled, made friends, and in general, LOVE their new school! 

I do miss them, but I also feel that we made the right decision.

Sharing the responsibility of education with another has lightened my load tremendously, and communication between us (the parents) and the school has been fantastic!!! 

A few pictures from their weekend retreat:

Main building

 Deck on the back of the main building...sneaked 1 pic of Sean.

(trying not to be "the Mom" who embarrasses her sons to death... they are truly growing up)

View from the deck

Cabin

(as I told them, this was rather like camping at the Hilton... if you catch my drift... at first they were not thrilled and claimed that they would rather camp like they did with "Mr. Frank/the VanHoeves":)

Egg, larva, pupa, oh my!!!

Day 1:

. Collected 4 caterpillars

. Researched online both to identify and to ascertain their food source

. Placed them in jars with some leaves connected to a twig and for one caterpillar, an apple too

. Covered the jar with a paper towel held in place with a rubberband

Day 2:

. Awoke to discover:

. 1 caterpillar expired

. 1 caterpillar already encased in a cocoon

. 1 caterpillar busily munching on an apple

. 1 caterpillar just lazing around, but slowly changing in color and size

. Researched online again to attempt to discover a tastier food source for "Mr. Lazy"

. Collected 2 more caterpillars (make that 3 - apparently there was a bonus baby caterpillar)

It has provided great entertainment for the boys to observe the different caterpillars. 

Are you familiar with "wanderlust"?

Already 2 of the caterpillars have exhibited this behaviour - one is now in a cocoon and the other is busily encasing himself even as I type (I can actually hear him working).

Did you know that they need no extra water other than what is contained in the leaves/fruit they eat?

Noctuid Moth Caterpillar (Day 1, apples)

 Lophocampa maculata - Spotted Tussock

(Day 1, "wanderlust", spun a cocoon overnight)

Danata Contracta - aka "Mr. Lazy"

(Day 1, Sycamore) 

Halysidota tessellaris - Banded Tussock

(Day 2, Wild Cherry - chowing down)

The "bonus" caterpillar is hiding somewhere in the jar with him.

Dasychira obliquata - Streaked Tussock

(Day 2, "wanderlust", started a cocoon overnight)

Will add to this post as things progress...

there will be no more pictures of this project, UNLESS I can choose and buy a camera in the next few days.

Good morning:)

Asher was apparently invited to a 4am party, which lasted for almost 3 hours.

He giggled, played, ate, helped me wake his big brothers and prepare their lunches, and is now back asleep in his bed.

Here I sit with the sun rising off to my right, and 5 (make that 6) caterpillars surrounding my computer in various stages of metamorphosis.

It is so peaceful and quiet (at least for a little while longer;)

I look forward to what portends to be a beautiful day!

Back to School 2012

 Sean (15) entered 10th grade at HCA.

Drew (14) entered 9th grade at HCA.

And not to leave the younger boys out...

they worked hard today too:)