First Good Snow of 2015

Yesterday we finally got a good snow.  I think somewhere around 9 inches.  It's the light, powdery kind.  Sam says it looks like frosting.  I don't know how they stay out in the snow for an hour (or two) and then want to eat snow cream.  I did it when I was a kid but in my older age- no way.   All I know is today is supposed to be in the upper twenties and that's about as warm as it gets until Sunday.  Brrr..... 

Trying out the snowman's pipe.

The doomed snowmen in the middle of the road.


Giving the snowboard a try

First Race

Yesterday was the Blacksburg Classic and our first race.  I have to say I am still excited.  I've always kind of "dreamed" of being a runner.  Thought it was something I'd really like to do but didn't think I could.

But yesterday Jack and I ran the 5k.  The temperature wasn't bad- around 40.  But the wind!  The wind was blowing hard.   Jack ran once in the last few weeks. Once.  And he either stayed with or ahead of me the whole time. Kids!  (And...we just saw that he came in third place in his age group!)

 

 

Brian, Sam, and Kayla ran the one mile fun run.  Also no prior running.  Kayla came in second and Sam third.  Medals!

Lucy was our faithful cheerleader.

 

So proud of my family!

It's safe to say that (at least) I am hooked on running!

Karate Kids

Jack and Sam have been taking karate for several months now and really enjoy it.  The only rule- no practicing on your sisters!

Jack started a little before Sam so he earned his orange belt last week.  He actually agreed to being on the blog!

Sam earned his yellow belt.

They really are happy to be posing- just trying to look imposing, I think.

Having some fun for the camera.

I am really proud of them.  They seem to take it seriously.  And, it's nice that they do it together.

El Deafo

The most recent Mother-Daughter book club selection was El Deafo by Cece Bell.  Kayla's first reaction was, "Mom, I don't really like graphic novels."  But.  She started it the night we brought it home and finished it the next day. Loved it.  Then Jack read it.  Then Kayla read it again.  Back and forth.  I enjoyed it very much myself.

Cece is telling her own story in this novel.  She became sick with meningitis at age four and lost her hearing.  I love how she uses pictures and speech bubbles to convey how the world seemed to her.  Kids seem to relate to her, down to the humor she includes (which I didn't always love but it was realistic to the age).

Cece Bell was delightful.  She talked a lot about her childhood, both asking and answering questions.  She even brought her original phonic ear and explained more about how the name "El Deafo" came about.

A local bakery decorated sugar cookies to go along with the book.  Cece portrayed herself and all the characters as rabbits in the book.  There are also a couple of cookies with her phonic ear.

Oh and by the way, her book just won the Newberry Honor!

Week in Review

We've had a pretty good week so I thought a "week in review" post was in order.  (Want to remember these good weeks, right??)
Aside from the stomach bug and some colds, we have been pretty healthy.  So far.  Kids are working on valentines as I type- they are so excited.
Last night Kayla and I went to our book club, which was great, but it deserves its own post so that will be forthcoming.  Another one coming up is the boys in their karate uniforms.  Jack (obviously) doesn't like to be in pictures lately but he was ok with karate pics.

 

Kayla did Sam's hair when we were watching a little video about the Industrial Revolution. 

He didn't even seem to notice.

Of course everyone needs a walkie-talkie when they are working on math.

And coffee.  The mom usually needs coffee.

Kayla actually said, "Quid et Quo is so much fun!"

Have to record that.  Q/Q is just a process of breaking down every word in a sentence by its attributes.  It is fun, in my opinion.  (For example, "boy."  It's common, singular, and concrete.)  By the way, this one also said she was retiring from school this week.   She did come out of retirement so that's good. 

A minor distraction during grammar.

This morning we were talking about the Battle of San Juan Hill along with Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.  (Couldn't have told you a thing about any of that before I homeschooled my kids!) Sam wanted to color pictures of Mr. Roosevelt.  My favorite part is how he wrote his name in cursive at the bottom.  That's new this week!

After breakfast Sam, Lucy, and I started this Paddington book.  They loved it.  Sam picked it up again after lunch.  That's a genuine smile- it looks a little posed though, doesn't it?

Where did she get that???

I don't know how she comes up with this stuff.  

Today in the van:  "Mother, I want to faint from someone kissing me on the lips."  What??

(And Mother is her new name for me.)

Then out of the van and into the house with "HELLO vegetarians!"  

We are not vegetarians by any stretch.

She said she "could use a marmalade sandwich under her hat" after seeing a recent movie- do you know which movie?

Last- she likes to dance and has a certain type of music she likes.  Unfortunately it's hard to find appropriate lyrics so I tried "Eye of the Tiger" for her.  Her response?  "That's just weird."

Never, ever a dull moment.

Read This to Your Kids!

I really wanted to get this one up for Read Aloud Thursday...and here it is Saturday.  I'm going to do it anyway because this book is a gem!

A book Brian was reading referenced it.  He asked if I had heard of it and no, I hadn't, so I put it on hold and am so glad I did.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch begins with a lonely, friendless man who receives a Valentine package with a note that says "Somebody love you."  He doesn't know who sent it but it changes him.  He begins to smile and whistle and become a friend to many.  I won't spoil the end for you- it's so worth the read- but I will say this sweet story is more than just a Valentine's read.  It's a picture of what can happen to a person when they know they are loved.  Maybe it's even a taste of the freedom we have as believers to love when we know God loves us.

I think I'm buying my own copy of this one!

 Linking (late!) to Read Aloud Thursday!  Check out some of the other read alouds there!