Picnic Lunch

Playgrounds are "caution-taped" off, but hillsides and open park spaces are still available.  We decided to bike to a park about a mile from home for a picnic over Kevin's lunch break.  We brought lunch (obviously), frisbees and a scoop-ball set.  It was lovely!

The Weekend!

Kj and Mn decide to make a tower that was Mn's size.  At first, I think, it was meant to be able to fit him in it, but they quickly realized that it wouldn't happen that way!

Finished a second double-strength afghan.  A little smaller than the one that I made 2 winters ago, but it was so fun to do it.  Every now and then one of the girls would stitch part of a row, but mostly my work.

Mn has had some grumpy wrists lately.  We had thought that he grew out of such sensitive skin, but it came back recently.  Since we're all at home for the next few weeks without travels planned, we decided to do some experimenting with his diet.  He's going gluten free per our negotiations, and the next day decided that he wasn't going to have cheese either (which is basically the only dairy product that we have in the house).  So, here is my before picture...maybe should have gotten a little closer up...

Saturday afternoon we made some deliveries of Norwex and homeschool books to friends that we've been gathering on our pew.  Then, we spent most of the afternoon we spent at a state park in our area that has an archery course.  It was great!!  It started out with just targets and then the rest of them were shooting across a gully and walking over small footbridges and then up the other side to get to the next target.

Sunday...a morning nap for Anna, church, friends dropping off hay and chatting distantly, lunch, afternoon nap for Kevin then outdoor time.  We're trying one "permaculture" raised garden.  We were able to get the cardboard layer and the first layer of hay.  In the next week, we'll add the compost and more hay layers, as well as, another set of boards to make the sides taller.  The rest of our various garden plots will be the same as usual...we think...we scavenged the whole house and garage for cardboard and brown paper, so, we probably can't do another like this.  Oh, just looked at our "guide"...might need to find somewhere to get manure!!

Isolated

Sent Mn out to bring the compost to the backyard (yet another job that he is taking over for K!!).  He comes back in.  It's cold out there, it's crunchy.  I don't think we'll be going outside today, it's so isolated.  It's so isolated out there.

Recital

Cousin E.R. was to have a concert tonight and sing a solo, so Auntie C. got us all connected for a zoom "recital".  We had aunts, uncles, cousins, and grands...next time we'll add in a few more families.  L was featured singing and playing (on piano) "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name".  Kj was featured on violin and piano.  After most everyone was off, Anna read a poem from "One Minute 'til Bedtime", and Kevin played "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and asked everyone to join the singing.

Wedding Cake Replicas?? Yep!

Thirteen years later, I've finally made the cake myself.  I've a few things to note about the process to remember for "next time".  

If you weren't there 13 years ago, here are some memories of the original.  Thanks to Rebecca and Katie for being meticulous with frosting!  Wow!  

* Have lots of time.  Have some dip-able yummies on hand to sample the fresh frosting. Don't take wax paper off cooled cakes.  Don't refrigerate the frosting overnight, unless you want to warm it a bit.  Expect snitchers.  

Day 5 of 4-Day School Week

We try to work on a 4-day school week around our house.  Some weeks it works and we stay focused.  This school year my goal is to have an park/nature day as our 5th day.  So, we'll get up and do some chores (maybe some math, because why mess with morning routines?), snack and Bible time, then we'll try to get out of the house and to a nature area.  State Parks, city parks, backyards, sledding hills, hiking trails....hopefully we'll meet up with friends...and draw/record something from nature.  So, today we started.  

Mn is just starting Kindergarten.  So, while I was mixing up some muffins this morning, he got out a white board and we had some number fun!  One through 5 are my main focus right now, but we've been reading lots of number books up to 10+.  He's recognizing the single digits and starting to write some!  Yeah!  

Today, was the start of a series of outdoor homeschool classes that our community offers for free!  Kayaking and canoeing.  I brought the kids to class and a friend met me for a walk around the nature area.  Beautiful day and the kids had a great time.  When my friend and I got to the pond to watch L was on the shore helping kids in and out of the boats.  After a bit, she did go in.  Mn was in the canoe with his teacher, literally rocking the boat!  He did sit and paddle as well (forward and backward - pretty steady canoe), but I decided that I may never ride in a canoe with him!!  He's learned some canoing shenanigans from Okee Dokee Brothers!!

It was about noon when they finished and we picnicked in the park "backyard" and drew in our nature journals.  Here's L finishing up her drawing and here's the flower she drew.

As the finale, we stopped at the library and grocery store.  Now, I'm waiting for my wedding cake replicas to bake while the kids are having some quiet time upstairs.  Apparently, Mn fell asleep on the recliner...oh, and I hear Kevin arriving home.  

Jehovah Jireh

When we tell people that our 7-month old foster baby, that we picked up from the hospital is heading home, the response is often, "Oh, that must be so hard."  I feel a bit "heart-less" when I think that it won't be.  This journey has been hard, the hardest in our fostering experiences, for many reasons.  I might share those reasons later, but for now, I'll tell you my response to their comment.

"God always provides for my heart."

He has in the past, He does today and He will in the future.  He uses timing, changing circumstances, peace that passes all human understanding...  I trust Him and His omniscience (his knowing of all things).  Also, I trust that He sees (El Roi), He defends (Jehovah-Maginnenu), He judges, He knows (omniscient)…  My God is a good, good Father.  He loves these kids and my kids better than anyone else ever could.  He is their Jehovah-Jireh (provider) and mine.

If you want to learn more about God's Names, there is a great book by that name to learn about them with kids:  God's Names by Sally Michael.