O Little Town of Bethlehem

This Advent Season, as a family, we are studying the history of different Christmas Hymns.

Tonight, started with a history lesson about the hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem. Listening to Nat King Cole sing the hymn. Then, we drew the Christmas Star in chalk pastels using a lesson from A Simple Start in Christmas Chalk Pastels. 

The lessons are easy to follow and fun to do. The boys enjoy doing the art, although they would prefer to not get so messy.

Work Hard Play Hard

A Fun Writing Assignment

Amos provided a great opportunity to give Bryce something different to write about. Bryce is in love with his cousin and wants to learn how to care for him and help babysit.  So, when he stayed with us last week, Bryce had a lesson in changing a diaper. Then he had to write a paragraph about the process of changing Amos.

Bryce starting to change his first diaper.

Changing Amos is hard. I was only able to undo the diaper. That's when he broke into crying chaos! He and his diaper were poopifried. Matthew calmed him down with the song on his bib when you gave him to us.

Amos was a good sport and was only upset because he was having his diaper changed. Bryce did a good job trying but didn't think the full load was fair on his first diaper change.

Matthew also had fun with the camera and snapped this picture of Amos.

We all love Amos's smiles

September Camping

In mid September, we spent a weekend camping with the Kspekas and Fausts. It was almost like we had no kids as the kids play so well together. But, then they also like to eat and be entertained from time to time. 

Thursday night before we headed out, Derek and I took the boys out to gather pine cones for a craft project.

On Saturday morning, we hiked to a craft activity for the kids. Going under the hi-way and playing on the concrete going up to the bridge. 

 Well what we thought was one craft activity ended up being a craft buffet. The kids had a blast as they were able to make as many things as they wanted and none of them were thrilled to leave. 

Matthew, Caroline and Caleb were the Sesame Street gang for the weekend.

Sunday morning was the return of a wonderful camping breakfast of the unhealthiest variety.

DONUTS

They were enjoyed by all and Bryce loved being able to help making them.

The weather was beautiful and the weekend was relaxing.

Micah 6:8

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with our God.

Learning to act justly is tough for a kid. Why do I need to be fair? Why do I have to share?

Compassion comes easily for some and hard for others.

Walking humbly is just plain tough.

I hope to teach the boys how to do all this yet I struggle too.  

Spending the day with their cousin is a good start. They have to learn to share their time with Amos. They have to learn to respect Amos' space and what he is saying, without saying words. 

Matthew is enthralled with Amos.

All 3 boys and Lucy want to play and love on Amos.

The smiley star of the day.

In the afternoon, the boys had their first soap carving lesson. 

They carved hearts to help illustrate our bible verse for the day.

First Day of Kindergarten, Second and Fourth Grade

Today, we began our new school year.

Three boys all school aged, it should prove to be a fun and interesting year.

Matthew - Kindergarten

Micah - Second Grade

Bryce - Fourth Grade

All the boys working on their copy work. It is fun to see how their writing changes through the year and over the years. 

At the end of our day, I asked each boy to pick out the book they would be most upset about not being able to complete this year. (I tried asking what they were excited for and received the answer of free time:)

Matthew picked his math book because now he is doing math like his big brothers.

Micah picked Beast Academy because it is fun math and the book is a comic book.

Bryce picked Creative Writer because for him the entire day should be about creative writing.

I am excited to see how the boys grow through their school work this year. 

Crystal Cave

To end our summer break, we spent the day at Crystal Cave.

The formations in the cave were amazing to look at. We enjoyed watching a few bats fly around the cave, although it is early for bats to begin their hibernation. A few have figured out the cave is a good place to sleep in cool air while it is warm outside. 

After the cave tour, the kids panned for gems. The loved finding the different gems and figuring out what they were. Then spent most of the afternoon looking at a playing with their new found gems.  

Summer has come to a close.
Next week, we start our new school year.