Last few weeks

Whew has time been flying. We have been busier than EVER around here. I honestly think things will slow down for awhile - which will be a nice break.

Last I wrote we were heading to Missouri. We met in Bloomington for a Father's Day lunch with Darren's dad, his family and my mom and sisters. It was a very nice lunch. Father's Day last year was the last time that they saw Mike so we all wanted to be together. Also this year we found out that Richard (Darren's Dad) has cancer. As I get older I realize the importance of spending good quality family time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Darren's dad has an amazing attitude. He said he isn't going to let this cancer thing slow him down. And it sure hasn't! We are prying for him!

After our lunch we headed to Missouri. We took Kristy and Tori along with us. We stopped at a hotel right outside of St. Louis and swam, hung out and ate dinner. We also watched lots of High School Musical! In the morning we headed to St. Louis. We went to mass at the St. Louis Basilica downtown. It was a beautiful mass - both Kristy and I were in tears!

Then we met up with my sister Becky, her husband and kids at the St. Louis arch. We took the tour up to the top together. Tori and I were a bit scared but we made it up and back safe and sound! It was a terribly HOT day so we skipped the zoo and headed to Becky's - not without a stop to get fireworks! We enjoyed a lovely dinner at her house and hung out in the air conditioning!

On Monday we headed to Rolla to a bead store to get beads, a cool toy and book store, and a picnic lunch. We went to a park that was the best park I have been to. There were play structures galore! However... it was so hot my kids were melting and wanting to go to the air!

The next day Kristy, Becky and I went for a "girls" lunch at this cute little winery down the road. We then bought some wine and headed to another winery. We enjoyed our "girl" time with girl conversation! I love having those moments together where we can just sit and visit.

After lunch we packed for the beach. The Meramec River runs near their house - so we drove to a "beach" spot and we played in the water. It has a slow current but just enough to pull you down the river. The kids created this "obstacle course" where they would walk you up river and then you would get in the water and float down river avoiding certain obstacles along the way. The bigger kids did that for hours while the littles dug in the sand and caught minnows! Leon set off fireworks that night... it was a beautiful day!

Wednesday (like the hottest day of the year so far!) we headed to Six Flags! We met my friends Leigh and Kim and their kids. Kristy took Tori and Meaghan and they rode tons of rides. I didn't know that Meaghan liked roller coasters so much! She rode the real scary ones I would never try! We did the waterpark too - which was very refreshing after all that time in the sun! We closed the park down and drove home VERY late. It was a terrific trip and one I hope to repeat again soon! I loved going with family and friends - the diverse age group made it fun for everyone.

We recuperated and did laundry before heading to Cub Scout camp! I took the two boys this year to Adventure Camp. It is a camp where you spend part of a week camping out and doing all sorts of activities. We had such a fun time. I love just hanging with the boys and being outdoors. I took Nate and his friend Zach Snipe hunting. I had forgotten all about how fun Snipe hunting was! Memories we will have forever!

We got home Wednesday afternoon and I think took Nate and we headed to Lizzy's (in Peoria) to get my girls. Connor wasn't feeling well so I left him at home to rest. I missed my girls lots and couldn't wait to see them! We had birthday party for Shannon the same night - I cannot believe she is 10!! We then headed home to get ready for everyone to come down for 4th of July!

My sister and I ended up setting up our tents a night earlier so I let Meaghan and a friend camp out there. The next day us girls went shopping in Monticello and the boys played golf. Lots of the little shops were closed for the holiday... bummer. We ended up going to the toy store and cupcake place - Yum! That night Darren grilled out and we enjoyed the campfire.

4th of July morning it started raining at 5:30am and it didn't quit! Darn... the rain cancelled the fireworks and most everyone went home, tired and crabby. I was so upset that our holiday was ruined. We did go to the Early American Museum so that Connor should off his Pig Collection. He was so excited that family came to see HIS collection! That night we hung out again at the campground and had a relaxing evening. I felt bad though because Grandpa Richard wasn't feeling well that night- I think his Chemotherapy finally kicked in (or maybe it was just my cooking!)... poor thing... but what a trooper - out camping and everything!!

On Sunday we enjoyed the beautiful day and went to LOW to watch the fireworks.

As I look back on these past crazy weeks I am thanful for the life I have. We got to visit and be with each other and with family and to me that is what is important. My kids got to be with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. And I know that none of us are perfect and we all get on each others nerves but I am thankful God gave me the family I have. I pray that we can always be there for one another for many more years to come.

My week around here

This week we had our Classical Conversations Practicum in Champaign. Our group hosted one of the IL practicums this year and it went really well. I feel like I learned lots and made lots of new friends. I am so excited to start school soon! I am even going to try to get a head start on my studies this summer and learn some Latin! Anyone up for a study group? :)

Tomorrow we are leaving for Missouri (It seems like we were just there but we are going again!). We are going to visit my sister Becky for a few days and then to Six Flags. My sister Tori and SIL Kristy are coming along. I am looking forward to just hanging with the kids. This winter the kids did a reading program through Six Flags. They had to read so many books and then they each got a Six Flags ticket - and mom got one too! We are going to go with a few other home school families to make it even more fun! The last forecast I heard though was HOT HOT HOT!

After we get back from Missouri I get three days to do laundry, pack and get ready for Adventure Camp. I going with the boys to Cub Scout (overnight) Camp at Camp Drake. The girls however are going to Aunt Lizzy's to spend some GIRL-TIME! They will receive quite the royal treatment while they are with her - I am sure. Kiera cannot wait to spend some more time with Lainy.

Let's see what else did I do this week... well, I just made some cute shorts for Meaghan from hole-y jeans. Nate took some photos so I can put a tutorial up here. They turned out so cute!

I also have been working in my flower gardens. They need(ed) lots of attention. I weeded and weeded and then today in the rain did a bit of planting. I want to get more and more perennials in my back gardens. I didn't get to finish all that I wanted to do before we leave tomorrow but it will wait for me I am sure. I did plant a bunch of annuals in pots and put them around the deck. I hope Darren can just keep them alive until I return! He is going to be putting in some pavers around the pool and setting up his new grill!!! Yes, he is finally going to gas. Today we got him a new grill for Father's Day. He isn't sure about the switch from charcoal but I am encouraging him along. Speaking of encouraging along... he is having to encourage me to use my new iPhone!!! Darren surprised me with an iPhone the other day and I am having a hard time getting used to it. I HATE change... I always do. I know I will LOVE it in a few weeks but right now it frustrates me.

Well I best get some sleep as the morning and my empty suitcase will be calling me soon!!! Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there!

Summer is starting...

Life here has been pretty busy. We officially finished up school. Meaghan was taking a constitution class and she finished that too. We are now all ready for summer! Even the pool is ready to go! But where oh where is the SUN and WARMTH?

We finished up May with several short trips. First I took Meaghan and Tori to a Mock Trial in Sycamore. It was put on by two homeschool groups. They met in a courthouse and even had a lawyer serve as judge. It was an awesome experience and I look forward to our CC students getting to do their own Mock Trial in the years to come! We also enjoyed a few days visiting with my mom and sisters as well so that was a nice addition to the trip. Meaghan then ended up going with Kate,Tori, Lizzie and Lainey down to Becky's for a long Memorial Day weekend.

We decided to join them and surprise everyone so we headed down to Missouri too. We got to celebrate Brice's First Birthday and had a great time!

Then I went to a Classical Conversations Practicum in Rockford. I stayed at my moms and then drove up to the classes each day. It was a great conference and I learned so much my brain hurt. My mom and I also went through her school books and worked on labeling them for the homeschool book sale. When I left my moms house my van was filled to the brim! The booksale went well though and we both made a good bit of money. I still have a bunch of books left to sell though and so I am going to add them to my garage sale.

That now brings us to June where the kids are off swimming on the Urbana Swim Team again this year. We had thought about taking a year off but I just felt like the kids needed something to do with all of their free time. Plus it gets us up and going every day something I am not a big fan of( as you all know!). I am not going to be as strict about it as I have been in years past. If we go we go and if not that is ok too as we have a very busy summer.

June is going to be a whirlwind... we have activities every day of the month! I am looking forward to camping and hanging out with friends.

Rain Rain Go Away

So today we decided it would be a great day to clean out the garage since Darren was home for the day. We headed to the garage and pulled everything out (well almost everything). We were sorting and getting stuff organized for the garage sale when it started to rain. Just enough that we had to bring everything back into the garage. Ugh... what wet mess. So now the garage looks worse and even less organized that we started several hours previously!

Of course it stopped raining shortly after and so I decided not to let the day go to a complete waste. The kids and I went outside and we planted flowers in the front gardens. Each of the kids picked out their favorite flowers at the shop so we have quiet an assortment going! I also got a lovely rose bush and peony bush for Mother's Day and they needed to get planted too.

After they were all planted and mulched I decided to let the kids go for a bike ride while Kiera and I watered. I said that I knew it would probably start raining as soon as I got done watering. And sure enough as I was watering the last garden... it started sprinklin! :)

Lovely Pioneer Day

It was a rainy lazy sort of day here. I actually got a lot of laundry done today so maybe the rain is good for something! I have several posts that I really want to do soon and I am still working on the Scrabble Tile tutorial... I know some of you are waiting so patiently!

For our final "Pioneer Day" we went to the Early American Museum in Mahomet with our Classical Conversations group. We spent the morning in the one-room schoolhouse and then the museum. There was a volunteer school marm who was fabulous and totally played the part. She was so real several of the children thought they were actually in "class". I would love to do this again, but prepare the kids even more before hand. We did two preparation days (see past posts) but I think we could have done more.

About a week before the "day", I went shopping with Kiera to JoAnne's. Now, this is dangerous in the first place but with Kiera it is even worse! All patterns of a certain brand were on sale for $.99! So I thought maybe I would look at the Pioneer Dress patterns. Kiera wouldn't have anything to wear to our Pioneer Day. I found one that looked like it work for her for $.99. How could I resist??? We then went on a hunt for the right fabric in the right color. Of course - she wanted pink and more pink. We settled on a pink dress with a pink bonnet but green bloomers and a green apron. (green is my favorite color) I then went to work sewing like crazy that following week. I am not a great sewer but I stumbled along well enough. Plus, it is a costume so doesn't have to be perfect. The only problem was that it was a pretty difficult pattern - darn patterns! The wrist, waist, etc. all should have had elastic BUT... sticking to traditional pioneer fashion - they had you make a casing and run ribbon through for each area. This wasn't easy or fun but I did it! I didn't even take a good photo of her wearing everything. There is one with her and a friend but she is missing lots of her pieces.

Now I am going to attempt to make Meaghan a Civil War ball gown. We bought the pattern awhile ago at another $.99 pattern sale. (Which is totally the way to go with patterns - when you see that - stock up on those Halloween costumes you know you will end up making!) We are going to start watching for fabric deals as I think the dress alone is going to take about 7-8 yards of fabric. Anyone up for a sewing day?

Ok, enough about me. I know you are wanting photos. Here are some of our lovely Pioneer Day:

Connor's Pig Collection

Connor has collected pigs since he was about a year old and he was asked recently if he would want to put his collection in a display in the museum. He was thrilled at first but then thought about what that actually meant... a year without his pigs! He kept a favorite few but decided to go ahead with the exhibit as long as he could visit them often! That was an easy promise as we LOVE the museum!

It was a fabulous experience all in itself. Mrs. Osborne at the museum required him to do a lot of preparation for this collection. He had to choose which pigs he wanted to disply, where and how.

First he worked on three to four seperate "groups" of pigs and then he narrowed it down to three. He worked on which pigs he wanted to be together and a sort of "theme" for each group. We cut newspaper to the actual size of the shelves so that he could visualize it a bit better.



We then went to the museum and looked at what space was available and how it was all going to look. We didn't realize all of the thought that has to go into planning and displaying things. Especially in glass cases with glass shelves. A lot more thinking goes into it than we expected.

He worked and worked on his display until he got it just how he wanted. It can now be viewed at the Early American Museum in Mahomet until the end of the year.

Here is a photo of Connor and Mrs. Osborne in front of his collection. He was showing it to a group of our home school friends. Way to go Connor!

Princess Tea Party

Mahomet-Seymour High School's spring musical was Beauty and the Beast this spring. The kids and I went to see it with the Prytulski family. Their daughter, Destiny was in the show and she is the kids babysitter so it was fun for them to see someone they knew in the play. It was a WONDERFUL performance. I was very impressed with how it was done, especially since it was a high school production. We would definitely go again!

On that Saturday they had a Princess Tea Party. You paid $10 and you got to go around to different stations that the Drama dept had set up for the "princesses". I surprised Kiera, dressed her all in pink and took her. What a fabulous idea - especially for Mahomet! Mahomet is a growing town with tons of families with little kids. It was perfect!

Kiera got to do a lot of cool things and loved every minute of it! She totally loves the Princess thing and kept her eye on Belle the whole time. Belle went somewhere at one point and Kiera noticed and asked me where she was! I cannot wait to take her to Disney World again. Meg was never into the whole Princess thing so this has been a fun and different experience for me! Now, I can actually buy those cute Princess dress-up clothes!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention that they had a raffle and Kiera won! It was a huge basket filled with all sorts of great Princess stuff for her. She loved the Beauty and the Beast cast t-shirt, that was in the basket, the best and has worn it to bed several times already!

Here are some photos of our morning together: