Space Rangers & Cowgirls

While we don't celebrate the *spooky* part of Halloween, we enjoy the *dressing up and getting candy* part:) My two little trick-or-treaters had so much fun, and so did I, walking around our neighborhood.

*Jessie* of Toy Story 2 fame

*Buzz Lightyear*, also of Toy Story 1 & 2 fame

As it turns out, we live in a great neighborhood for trick-or-treating, except for our particular street. Our house and one neighbor's house were the only ones with lights on. My mom came over to see the kiddos and then stay at our house to hand out candy--while we were out collecting more. Finally she called me on my cell phone and said, "I've given out all of your candy, all of your Twinkies, all of your fruit snacks and all of your apples! I can't find anything else to hand out!" I told her to turn the lights out:) LOL

Here *Jessie* (aka, The Princess) is holding our neighbor's dog, whom she plays with all the time. The dog was dressed as a ladybug. So cute!

And even though this picture is a little dark (it was dark outside), I just had to share it. This is *Buzz* (aka, Mr. B) protecting us with his laser light beam. LOL He was SO into his character. Instead of saying "trick or treat" at the doors he would "laser them" (yes, Vince attached a real red light to his sleeve). Then he started running and sliding in yards on his stomach and lasering whoever was there (complete with all the sound effects, at which he is quite good). It was hilarious!

I love my kids! They are awesome!

AND so is my husband! Gotta give him props for being such a great dad. Last week before he left on his first trip, he got their costumes completely ready to go. He made *Jessie's* chaps with duct tape. Then after deciding it would be more feasable to buy this *Buzz* costume rather than making our own or buying the more expensive one with wings, he built some wings himself, using foam core board and, yes, more duct tape. He also picked up some Crocs at a thrift store and covered them in yet more duct tape to make some matching shoes. We might be a little ghetto in our costume methods, but they sure do turn out cute!

Maybe I should get him to do some guest posts on costume how-to's.....

The Making of an Egyptian Death Mask

We are learning all about the ancient world this year with Story of the World I and loving it! We've been learning a lot about Egypt, of course, which is completely fascinating. Most recently we have studied the New Kingdom of Egypt, which includes the story of King Tut. So we decided making an Egyptian death mask in the style of King Tut's would be a fun project. First since it was too cold at the time to paper mache in the garage (it probably would have frozen instead of dried-ha) and it was too messy to do it in the house, we decided to pick up a couple of cheap craft masks at Hobby Lobby. Next we cut out cardboard shapes to complete the shape of the death mask, attaching them with hot glue. Vince even put a little detail on the *beard* with the hot glue per The Princess' request. Then the kiddos started to paint them with this metallic gold tempera paint. It worked okay for the cardboard, but would not coat the plastic of the mask. We thought maybe a second coat ...

One Way I Refresh During the Summer as a Homeschool Mom

As our homeschool takes some time off this summer, my mind almost never stops thinking of and planning ahead for the upcoming school year. This is probably because I'm Type A and an obsessive planner...lol Whatever the reason, I do enjoy this season of planning. But I also need to be refreshed as a homeschool mom. Homeschooling can be incredibly exhausting and all-consuming. It's not easy and it's a lot of responsibility. And I take that very seriously when I am researching curriculum and planning toward the next school year. So also taking some time to rejuvenate and refocus myself is very important. How do I do this? Each summer I take some time to read something inspiring and motivating that speaks to me as a homeschool mom. Some of my fave reads from past years--that I have nearby on my shelf and refer to often--are Educating the Wholehearted Child, The Well-Trained Mind, The Charlotte Mason Companion, A T...

Arkansas' Crimson Clover

One of my favorite things about Spring is the crimson clover that grows along the highways and interstates here in Arkansas. I say Arkansas because this is where I first grew to love it. We actually saw some in Mississippi on our way here and I saw it in our town in Alabama for the first time this year. But it spreads like that, each year it grows and looks even more beautiful. I'm not sure who decided to plant it in the medians of the interstates , but it was genius! It seeds itself and just comes back more lush the next year. I always want to take pictures, but of course it's almost always in the median of a very busy interstate~which is a little dangerous for photography. However, the other day I found the perfect patch of it on the side of a not-too-busy highway, so Vince obliged me and pulled over:) Isn't it beautiful? I just had to share it with you...

my blessed life

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