And Abraham Went Out . . .

Just Checking In . . . 

The Weather Outside is . . .
It appears to be a perfect fall day: sunny and mildly warm.  We haven't gotten outside today because I had to spend the day trying to restore some order from the weekend.  It was so ccccooold this weekend that I had to dig through our mountain of boxes to locate warm gear for the gang.  Sunday night left me with boxes and piles of clothes lying everywhere. Fun times.  But some semblance of order has once again been restored. (this was written yesterday, we WILL get out today!)

One of my favorite things . . . 
What is turning into a weekend tradition around here.  These little "parties" (as Sage calls it) that we all have in one of the kids' rooms.  This weekend it was a Lego party in the boys' room.  We all five of us popped a squat on the floor with all the Legos and created together.  Doug and I both commented on how it feels so therapeutic to build with the kiddos.  It is special to fully engage ourselves as parents in what the kids like to do best and I think it also tickles them to share it with us.

In the kitchen . . . 
Oh my, I totally botched dinner for us Saturday night. Bleh!! I'm partially blaming in Aldi though, yuck!
Other than that utter failure, its been quite a yummy, bustling week in the kitchen.  I didn't really intend to but with the abundance of fresh produce around, I couldn't' help myself.  Baba ghanoush, salsa (super yum!!), applesauce, zucchini/carrot/apple muffins.  Yum.

The kids and I are reading . . .
"The Courage of Sarah Noble"

One my nightstand . . .  
Chapter 61 in "Peter the Great."  Chapter 63 is the end. Wowzers!

Family Verse . . . 
The boys and I started reading through Hebrews 11.  I still need to decide which verse we'll memorize.

God is good . . .
I am ever so thankful for this parenting and home education process. I am grateful at the lessons I learn myself in my attempt to teach the kiddos.  This year we will be studying the seven major virtues: faith, hope, love, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude.  We've just begun talking about the theological virtue of faith.  And boy, is this one hitting the spot for me!  The timing is impeccable. It's amazing how children can be our teachers, instead of vice versa.  As I  read the stories or verses to them, they ask me these wonderful questions or answer my questions with such insight.  I'm in love all over again.  Thank you Lord for this beautiful process of learning; learning in the heart.

On my heart and in my prayers . . .
My heart goes out to a family here in Wisconsin that we are just beginning to know.  They have 20 month old twins boys and a four year old.  The husband is battling cancer and just came home from the hospital a couple weeks ago.  He had a bone marrow transplant.  I pray this bone marrow transplant is successful and that they can continue to raise this precious family of their's together for many years. Please pray for this family.

Learning, learning all the time . . . 
We are plugging along in our phonics book, "Phonics Pathways."  It is amazing to teach the boys to read.  Basil is quite the reader.  The other day we set aside our regular instruction and just picked up an Arnold Lobel book for him to read.  Incredible! He reads the sentences so smoothly.  Sage is plugging along too.  He is not at Basil's level but he is doing just fine.  He gets a tired and wiggly, so it is tricky for me to push him but not too much.  I'm often on the lookout to find just the right time of day to work on his reading.  I want him to get the most out of it as possible.  I think I may have discovered an optimal reading time for him yesterday.  I'll try it again today and see what happens.  He did very well yesterday right after he had a snack.

Plans for the rest of the week. . . 

Library, visit to the church to look closely at/talk about the stain glass windows, some sort of nature walk, Wisconsin Science Festival, and a soccer game for Basil.

Basil's cheering squad last week.  Brrrrr.