The Kids' Early Christmas Gift

Ryan and I finally caved in and decided to get the kids a dog. After a lot of research, we decided on a Boston Terrier. We found a breeder with new puppies that would be available a week after Christmas. Ryan and I had my mom watch the kids, so we could take the long drive to pick out our puppy. We were going to take a picture of the puppy and surprise the kids with the picture on Christmas.  However, when we arrived we found out that this cutie was available. We fell in love with her and bought her right then and there. The kids were totally surprised when we showed up at grandma's with a new puppy!

Jordan's 7 pointer

I'm such a lazy blogger.  We are so busy morning, noon, and night.  I hardly find the time to get on the computer. I guess it's a good thing that we are busy living life instead of staring at electronics.  The kids are doing great. Our school year has been very successful so far with many small victories along the way.  Kaylee is finally overcoming some of her reading difficulties, and her confidence is finally growing.  She has learned most of her multiplication facts too! Jordan has found a real love for history and geography. He still loves art, and he amazes me everyday with his drawings. We make sure he gets plenty of downtime to be creative. Carter is still crazy little Carter.  He is so much like Macie it's scary. He has the same ambitious drive she had, and he is starting to read a little and learning to tie his shoes.  He keeps us laughing everyday.

We have been really busy with our sports too.  We have completed a season of flag football. Jordan found a real love for the sport and hopes to play tackle next year. Both the boys are now in Tae Kwon Do. Jordan will have his first belt test in December. Kaylee has already competed in 3 gymnastics meets. She is improving so much, and she won 1st place all-around at her last meet.  She also just moved from a level 3 to a level 4 gymnast this week. She is so excited! I feel like we live at the YMCA, but I guess it's not so bad when I get the kiddos all to myself during the day.

I LOVE being home with them and watching them learn everyday. I'm am so fortunate that I don't have to rush them out the door every morning to spend 6+ hours in a school.  When my children were in public school, it felt like we never had any quality family time. The kids didn't get a lot of down time to just hangout with each other. Now they spend a lot of time together, and they get along really well and truly enjoy being together.  Homeschooling has given our family so much freedom, and we are loving it.



Our classroom



Mills Apple Farm field trip



Carter in his Tae Kwon Do outfit
Isn't he cute?!

Disney World

playing in the camper....we even slept outside last week

out on the bike trails

Kaylee's State Meet

Melvin Price Lock and Dam Field Trip

Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower field trip

Jordan's catch

Check out the bass Jordan caught over the weekend. He was so excited and proud!

Well, our school year is off to a good start. We've already had several field trips, and our co-op program has started. Jordan is now in 5th grade, Kaylee is in 2nd, and Carter is attending pre-K two days a week at our church, but I have started his Kindergarten curriculum on the other days.  Kaylee is still in gymnastics, Jordan is playing flag football, and both Jordan and Carter have started karate. We have also started Spanish this year, and the kids are having a lot of fun with it.  We are falling into a good routine, and the complaining is at a minimum (at least for now).



The kiddos swimming at Dunlap Lake with their friend, Elaina.




Jordan and Kaylee at a fishing derby





Carter's first day of pre-k



getting ready to leave  for pre-k



St. Louis Science Center



Making origami at the Japanese Festival at Missouri Botanical Gardens



Playing the drums at the Japanese festival



Getting wet at the City Garden in St. Louis



Making apple turnovers



Painting with stencils made out of fruit



More fun at the City Garden





Having fun at the Botanical Gardens





Carter practicing his archery skills



summer

Wow, we have been so busy during the last few months. The kids are enjoying their summer and more time with friends. Here are a few photos from recent events.

Another trip to the zoo

Jordan during a spring basketball game

Jordan's first golf tournament

Kaylee before donating her hair to Locks of Love...notice the glasses too.

Kaylee after cutting 11 inches of hair

4th of July on our new front steps

In a tree house at the Missouri Botanical Children's Garden

Another garden picture while visiting the Jurassic Dark exhibit

Some photos....

Kaylee at her spring musical at FBCM

Kaylee during gymnastics team photos

Carter's first soccer game.....yes, he was on the pink team!!!
Every time Macie and Kaylee played soccer, they received gray shirts.
Carter was finally old enough to play, and this is what he ended up with. Go figure!


Jordan and Kaylee at the Homeschool Geography Fair.
They studied India since our sponsored child, Mushkan, lives there.

St. Louis Arch- Ryan and Carter's first time

Happy 10th Birthday Jordan

Jordan is 10!!! Can you believe it? How in the world did a decade pass? Only 3 more years and I will have a teenager....yikes! It was 10 years ago, today, that I delivered a perfect baby boy at 9:05 am. He was 6 lbs 9 oz and the prettiest boy in the world. He had long, curly lashes, and it didn't matter how sporty, or blue, an outfit was, people would still tell me how pretty he was. I can't believe that little baby is now a well-rounded, fun, and active 10 year old boy. He is such a sweet and loving child, and I just can't believe God has given us the privilege of raising him. Jordan has been such a blessing and we are lucky to have him here. His birthday is bittersweet, because he almost didn't live to see this year. He was miraculously spared in the accident that took Macie's life. We are still trusting in God and believing He has big things in store for Jordan.