GAMING for the old guys!

Who'd have thought my dad knew how to play pool...I'll be. Here he is, his last visit here, he played and won several games! He would practice while the others were in school and work!

Papa Bud playing a game of pool against Michael and Mike

Eyeing his shot

Lining 'em up...he hopes!

Yep, that's the one I need in the pocket..

Mike, the pool shark

No problem...I'll get this one!

Serious about this game...

Brother-in-laws

MIKE: Yea, let's see if he makes THAT one!

It's a streeeeeeetch!

Michael, the analyst...analyzing the shot

PUMPKIN PALOOZA for my TWO PUMPKINS!!

Vanessa Hudgens made her appearance at Pumpkin Palooza, hosted by LSCC. She was dressed up as her character on High School Musical 3, Gabriella. She was escorted by Zac Efron, who dressed as Troy of HSM3. Zac did not sing, but did dance as he went from room to room with Vanessa playing games, getting candy, eating hot dogs.

Outside LSCC before the event, Gabriella gave a mini concert!

Beautiful hair, Gabriella!

What a performer she is!

Zac in the middle of a dance move, right?

Side note:

Lindsey was thrilled when two of the Palooza participants recognized her as Gabriella! Esp since this wasn't her actual Halloween costume.

And she did make it the entire hour and half in her heels!

But was wobbly legged by the time we went home!

And I was there, but helping in the Bible Quizzing room with the Gossell family.

We all had fun!

HISTORY CLUB

Lindsey has looked forward all year to being part of History Club, but has been on a waiting list. Last week, she finally got to attend as a spot opened for her to be able to.

They learned about the Barbarians attacking Rome and made armor for their arms.

Mrs. Jones does such a great job teaching, illustrating ideas, and bringing history alive! Here she is reading a story about a young Barbarian girl.

TEACHING is what I love...

I am so privileged to be able to teach my children. I am surprised every week however at the time it takes to get lesson plans, experiments ready, tests typed, etc for the entire week. But most of my time is spent coordinating the entire household activities, making sure there is a vehicle available for transporting who needs to go where...


My week typically consists of:

• SUNDAY - After a morning of worship and an intriguing message from Jim Bailey, my day of rest usually ends up with all my workbooks, test booklets, and text books in the office at the computer. Using a great homeschool tool, Homeschool Tracker, which I downloaded for free, to create our entire week's plan. Any material/schooling that was not entered for the prior week must be entered and accounted for.
• MONDAY - Coen works on Monday from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. If I have any upcoming caterings, I must get to WalMart to make purchases and return home by 8 a.m. so Coen can have the car. Lindsey and I work on school assignments while Coen is working at Calipetro's making gelato and baking cheesecake. When Coen returns home, Lindsey and I are ready to leave the house to go to piano lessons. While she is there, I use that time to return library books and get those on hold for upcoming lessons or reading assignments. After piano, twice a month, Lindsey and I attend a history club meeting for an hour. One Monday a month, I attend a home educator's support group meeting. Lunch, dinner, and laundry...and usually try to accomplish one special project. Lately, it has been the simple task of getting my shower ultra clean...sounds simpler than it has been to do!
• TUESDAY - Coen is home in the mornings typically and has class in the afternoons at Mrs. Callow's home (Physics and English ACT Prep). Lindsey and I work on her school work which can take from 2 to 5 hours, depending on our projects and load...oh, and concentration. Tuesday afternoons, Coen takes us to the Crosby's home, we pick up Will and drop off Lindsey. Then we head to Bible Quizzing Practice from 4:30 til 6 p.m. Since I coach, I am there during the practice as well. I do some prep work for the practice on Tuesday mornings. During hockey season, Coen has practice at this time as well, which he alternates with his quizzing practice. Michael and I have an appointment from 7 - 8 with dear friends of ours to work through life's issues. Lunch, dinner, laundry... oh, and the daily special project...today's was cleaning the Little Tikes gym and sandbox out back so I can place it on Craigslist.com to earn money for decorating projects.
• WEDNESDAY - this is truly a hump day for us. Coen doesn't have outside classes but has tons of homework from them all and this is the day that is concentrated homework time for him. He and I work on his English 101 assignments; my job being mostly one of "How's this sound" while he composes his essays/compositions. He does spend 2 hours in the mornings from time to time memorizing scripture with Matt Slawson. Lindsey and I work on school during the day; afternoon usually includes trip to Walmart for caterings. Wednesday evening Coen is at youth group. The other 3 of us usually have Jenn here to have dinner and to play. Once again, lunch, dinner, laundry. Ya'll know the routine...you do it too!
• THURSDAY - Coen has his class at Longview in the morning, leaves the house at 8 and doesn't return until 6 p.m. I usually have an evening catering that is prepped during the day. Delivery is at 6:30pm. Lindsey and I have a lighter day for school, and she helps with the catering. Thursday nights are family fun nights where we play a game or do a puzzle together, all 4 of us. Thursday seems to be the day where laundry for the week is finalized: folding, putting away, ironing, etc.
• FRIDAY - Coen works again at Calipetro's. So if runs to the store are needed I try to do so by 8 a.m. so he can have the car. Friday afternoon is generally used as wind down time; I try to update the week's records so I don't have that to do on Sunday when planning my new week. Friday evenings are sometimes spent with the Crosbys, friends or just wishing we were with Coen and his buddies when he is out with them! Sometimes our big family night is on Fridays with homemade pizza/crust and a movie at home.
• SATURDAY - Hockey games, Bible Quizzing...when that is not going on, then we try to accomplish a few household tasks like the planned change of moving Coen to the basement room, Lindsey to his, and the office upstairs to Lindsey's room. Generally, Lindsey spends the day with Jenn whether at their house or ours.

As busy as I get, I still love watching them gain knowledge and learn how to use it in day to day life.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Last October, we were honored to participate in Tristan and Jeremie's wedding. It was such a fun time...and now, we are sitting in the memories...

Coen was an usher, Lindsey was a flower girl...
Michael performed the ceremony...

Oh, it was fun...

COEN's FALL SCHEDULE

Pictured above: Coen's Bible Quizzing Nationals Team 2008, Vanguard. In front, Joanna, Coen, Hailee. In back, Annemarie, Alicia, Michael, Evan, Greg.

Coen has had a huge adventure in his schooling as he enrolled in Longview Community College this year. Building his confidence as he makes 90+ in his English 101 class, he continues to mature in life.

His schedule this fall is as follows:

• Language Arts: English 101 at Longview, English ACT prep/linguistics class at Mrs. Callow's.
• Science: Physics lecture and lab at Mrs. Callow's.
• Math: Algebra I and II.
• History/Social Studies: American History, Geography, Election '08.
• Critical Thinking: Fantasy Football and Bible Quizzing Leagues, Bible Quizzing itself, and Games with family and friends.
• Business: Calipetro's making gelato; Southern Hospitality doing various tasks.
• Bible: Bible Quizzing, Bible studies through youth group.
• Community Service: Working at City Union Mission.
• Memory: Bible Quizzing (entire chapters of Luke 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15)
• Life Skills: Maintainence of yard, Managing laundry.
• Phys Ed: Roller Hockey, Ultimate Frisbee, Dance @YMCA.
• Arts: Room renovation-color coordination, layout of furniture, selection of style.

LINDSEY's FALL SCHEDULE

Lindsey has a busier school year than she's had before. When we owned HONKERBEAN'S CAFE, she was at the shop, learning many new things about life and business, doing a few worksheets ... it was invaluable, but this year has taken a whole new look with much concentrated efforts to her overall knowledge. During that time frame, she learned to love reading mostly for entertainment, but she has developed a great sense of comprehension through all the reading she did. Which has made this year a little bit easier for her 3rd grade teacher.

Listed are her subjects that are incorporated on a week to week basis this fall:

• Language Arts: reading the classic novels like Little Women and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm; perfecting her cursive writing; learning about prepositions, contractions, and subject/verbs in grammar and poetic devices (like onamatapeia) in Literature; honing in on comprehension, getting the main idea, following directions and more through Barnell Loft/Specific Skill Series; and reading all the library books she can get her hands on!
• Math: quickening her math skills; learning about budget, cost of goods through Southern Hospitality (our catering business); and being introduced to Mathematical Reasoning through numbers and numeration, geometry, operations, measurement, relations and tables and graphs.
• History: learning about Our American Heritage through textbook material as well as through the American Girl book series.
• Social Studies: being introduced to map reading as well as having an earful of politics with the upcoming elections!
• Science: opening her eyes to God's World as she learns about the human body, plants, vertebrates and invertebrates; understanding that reading science is so different than reading for enjoyment as she learns to study as she goes; doing experiments at home.
• Health: getting information about her body's need of exercise, nutrition, sleep.
• Listening: increasing her listening skills through an interactive exercise/program.
• Memory: mastering her memory skills through various subjects but incorporating Bible memorization as well.
• Critical Thinking Skills: playing games to increase her avenues of critical thinking; introducing BRAIN BUILDER, MIND BENDERS and BUILDING THINKING SKILLS to her later this fall.
• Phys Ed: riding bikes, swimming and playing in playgrounds.
• Art: playing the piano; creating new fashions in a journal; attending small art events at the library; learning more about color and color combinations.
• Life Skills: learning and taking more responsibility for the home with cooking/baking, laundry and cleaning.

PRINCESS PURSES

PRINCESS PURSES, a Mid-Continent Public Library program, was an hour long FUN event for the girls! They started out with bare, wooden box purses and decorated with decopage, feathers, glitter, paint and more. Jennifer and Lindsey worked very hard, and completed their totes within the hour allotted. At this point, I wasn't so sure they'd make it!
Here's the end result! Cute girls with cute purses!Attended September 2008

PROTECT THAT EGG FOR AN "A"

Coen's physics' lab experiment a few weeks ago, was to construct a protective covering for a raw egg to remain intact after dropping from a 3 story spot. (The photos are a demonstration for parents after the experiment was carried out at lab.)

Materials to be used: Straws and rubber bands. His team constructed a triangular structure by bending the straws and using the bands to hold triangles together. The egg was placed inside this triangular prism. When dropped, it did not break.
Of the six teams, two were successful...way to go Coen, Sean, Amy and Nathaniel!

Dad watching ... perplexed? Probably...just like I was!

MINI VACATION...6 FLAGS in ST LOUIS!

Before starting school, we took a one-day trip to Six Flags in St. Louis...this avoided hotel expenses with the ever rising gas costs...

A day of adventure with Lindsey venturing into rides she's never been brave enough to ride before and with Coen going on rides that turned him upside down and inside out!

This was a perfect trip for Coen to experience all the wild rides as he started his physics class and lab the following week. Later this year, they will build a roller coaster and some of his life experience here may help him get a good grade!

We asked Adam Reichert, another homeschooler, to go with us. Below, he and Coen are reading novels on the way there. Note the shared Ipod head/earphones! Sylvester greeted us on our way in. At this point, we did not realize how tempting that Coca-Cola sign would be later...we got SOOOOoooooo thirsty that day!
Coen and Adam are loaded up for the Superman Tower of Power ride...
On their ascent of 110 feet, they would then have a pause to wish they had not decided to ride, then a drop! Oh, my heart would not handle it...this one did not have me on it!
Something about this photo below is NOT right...ok, if you can't find what doesn't belong, it would be the t-shirt that the gelato maker is wearing that says "Man cannot live on coffee alone, have a gelato" while he eats American ICE CREAM! But oh, it was in a homemade waffle cone we watched them make!
Lindsey on one of the rides...she had a blast! I cannot believe the following pic even came out...I was standing so far away...but I practiced taking pix of every water log rider there was before they showed up! So I timed it great! And look at Lindsey's face! Was she not having fun or what???
The TIDAL WAVE was a favorite! We got soooo wet...and it felt soooo good on that hot 95+ degree day! Below, they are standing in front of the splash we were inside of earlier! And yes, they are drenched!
Attended August 31, 2008

HOCKEY

Hockey...I love it! It is so fast paced!

Coen has played for a few seasons, took off a season and is back this fall. Quick on his feet, he has scored many goals; he seems to enjoy it. Great opp for PE for us, as I'm learning to outsource much of my homeschool education! Thanks Lee's Summit Parks and Rec!

MUSIC TO OUR EARS!

My Lil Piano Player...

LINDSEY!

Notice the bandaid on the thumb (photo below) ...

Rosey pinched her!

Oh, how we are learning about hermit crabs!She is faithful to practice every day!

Our hope is that music will not only become a love of hers, but that she will enjoy entertaining others and that it will help build a good foundation in Math!

Lindsey began lessons in September 2008.

MEET ROSEY!

Rosey, our newly acquired hermit crab, is one busy girl. She is so active and it just thrills Lindsey! Lindsey got paid for all her work with Southern Hospitality, our family catering business, and decided to invest in a science project. In this picture, she is venturing to look at Lindsey's science quiz ... which Rosey was glad to see such a POOR score so Lindsey could realize that reading science is more involved than reading a novel! Rosey will not expect to have so much attention before a real test, because Lindsey will have to study. Since she is studying God's World, it might involve Rosey's care...so she will sacrifice and just tend to her business in her own cage!
Coen, being the animal hound he was, had a cage we could use. Thank God for big brothers who are so cool and had all the cool stuff we need! Here Rosey has moved her house away from the cage wall. And believe it or not, she does fit in that house...big shell and all! Lindsey wants us all to note the apple pieces Rosey is eating in her cage.

Rosey joined our family October 12, 2008