my blessed life

Well, summer is in full swing around here. School work is completed for 5th and 7th grades, VBS prep has more-than-commenced, vacation anticipation is growing, and there is LOTS of reading happening. This is our 3rd summer to do our own family reading program.  Yes, we do partake a little in library programs and even some store-sponsored ones, but my kids' favorite (and biggest reading motivator) is the one I put together using internet resources. You can read all about the basic program here .  This is still the main plan that we follow--hey, it works! However, this summer, in an effort to help my kids choose more different types of books (thus not spending the entire summer on one single series--not that it's a terrible thing, just trying to add variety) I have also incorporated this reading 'map' found here .  We aren't using this entire program, just the map which has all different genres and types of books suggested. I like to shake things...

Hello, sweet blog friends! Are you excited that summer is here?  I sure am!  Our family is ready for our annual, long break from regular schooling and is looking forward to lots of fun over the next few months.   I am also happy to be back in blogland!  I've missed it a lot and hope to find a better rhythm over the summer--one that is more sustainable for me in this season of life.   Some things that we have planned for this summer are family reunions, summer reading programs, a birthday celebration, vacation Bible school, a Great American Road Trip, maybe even camping--if I can talk my husband into it! What do you have planned for the summer months?  I'd love to hear about your plans!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours! mini trees the kiddos' trees I just realized this morning that I haven't posted here all month!  It's been so busy:(   This week I am slowing it down and focusing on baking Christmas goodies with my kiddos. I hope that your Christmas season is lovely and that you are finding time to slow down and enjoy it as well.  Here are a few pictures of our home~it's all decked out for the holidays!  I was happy to get it all done early on in the season since I was hosting a couple of parties at our home and have been able to not stress about that but just enjoy. our Dickens' village the learning room Christmas around the house our master bedroom Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Is your summer flying by as quickly as ours is?!  I am kind of sad that it's already almost the end of July.  It has been such a busy summer for us that there hasn't been much relaxing getting done. However, this week has slowed down for us quite a bit {thank goodness!!} and the schedule doesn't look too terribly bad through the end of August.  I think that we even have a real vacation in there somewhere! Anyway, I thought I'd post a little update on what we've been up to this summer so far. Reading: My personal reading list for this summer is clicking right along.  So far I've read: Just RISE UP! by Sarah Francis Martin  {motivating and inspiring} Life of Pi by Yann Martel  {captivating story, twist in end really got me} Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie  {loved ...as I love all of her books} Crooked House by Agatha Christie Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie Miss Marple, the Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christ...

Summer break is in full swing around here and we are at it again with our Summer Reading Program !   Last summer I decided to develop a little system all of our own and it was a big hit--so much so they couldn't wait to begin again this summer.   It's really simple:  They get to fill in a spot on their reading bingo charts each time they read for 25 minutes (yes, I upped the time by 5 minutes this year). Every time they bingo they earn a coupon (things like: choose your fave dinner, buy one thing at the dollar store, go bowling, a family bike ride...  primarily these are free experiences or very cheap treats). When they black-out their bingo chart they get to pick a golden ticket (these are things like: $10 at Books-A-Million, something from 5Below, a trip to our local froyo place...  things that cost a bit more but not too much either) Every week they get paid .01 per page of every book that they've finished during that week and recorded in th...

Here's a quick look at our last couple of days.   We've been enjoying a beautiful snow! It's an unusually big one for Kentucky and we are loving it:) How about you?  Do you have snow where you live?

Happy New Year to you!! I hope you have a wonderful first day of the first month of this fresh slate we're blessed with each year. While any time is a good time to read the Bible, January 1st is an obvious choice to begin to read the Bible through in a year.  And a great way to do that is by using the You Version app on your smart phone, tablet, or computer! I used this reading plan for the first time last year and loved it!  I could pick up my phone anywhere and have my reading plan at my fingertips.  And as a person who loves to see progress on my 'to do' lists, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the little graph each day showing me my reading progress for the year:) Another benefit to this app is that you can choose different styles of reading plans.  Last year I chose the chronological plan and absolutely loved it.  It was so interesting to see exactly where all of those prophets fit into the timeline of the Old Testament!  You can also choose diff...

I hope you are enjoying fall wherever you are (unless you are in the Southern Hemisphere and in that case, happy spring!).   Fall is off to a lovely start here in Kentucky.  The trees are beginning to turn lovely shades of gold, orange, and red.  There are pumpkins popping up on porches everywhere.  Mums are in full bloom.  The nights are cool. I adore this season! I've already made a batch of party mix , an apple cake , and some banana bread .  This is also the season of delicious food! More things on my person Fall Bucket List are, in no particular order: visit the local pumpkin patch go to a local craft festival go antiquing bake cookies go for a walk in the woods play more games with my family take a camping trip What's on your Fall Bucket List?

Yes, I already have fall decor on my front door!   Isn't this handmade, wooden "leaf" absolutely gorgeous?!  My amazing husband whipped this together for me after I saw one I liked in the new Lowe's magazine .  It's even more beautiful in person--I wish you could see it! And it's the perfect way to welcome a new season: fall.  My favorite season! So, Happy September!  And Happy Labor Day!

I've been wishing for more of those lazy days of summer, but even though it's been super busy around here we are having a good summer.  Just not a lazy one ;)  I'm completely tempted to give myself an extra month of summer an not start back-to-{home}school until October.   I'm kidding.   Maybe.   So thought I'd give you a little peek at what we've been up to lately.   We love Christian Way Farm!  There's always something fun to do there!   And playing mini golf in 90+ degree weather is definitely fun ~especially for kiddos who score holes-in-one and get a freebie from the drink cooler! The Princess has begun guitar lessons from my dad.   She is liking it so far, although she did confide to me that she  didn't realize it would be "that hard".  Ah, the joys of practicing.   Did I mention that we start piano lessons next month? We are starting to harvest some pretty little cherry tomato...

While we wrapped up our homeschool year lesson-wise on May 30th, our year with our homeschool group didn't officially wrap up until this past Friday at our annual Field Day and Yearbook Release Party.  We had been looking forward to this day for quite a while and it did not disappoint!   Well over 50 kiddos from our group and their families turned out for some good ol' outdoor fun--you know, the relay race-type-of-fun!   It was a great way to finish up our year and get to hang out with friends--some of whom are moving away this summer.   At the end of the games  one team was awarded a Good Sportsmanship Award.  We were grouped by PreK/K5, 1st-3rd, 4th-6th, and 7th-12th.  Each age group competed amongst itself.  And each team was awarded with a very nice participation medal.  My kids were so proud of their medals!  They had a total blast! And before everyone headed home we rounded out Field Day with picnic lu...

This has been quite the winter!  And this week proved that it's not over yet.  On Sunday night we got hit with freezing rain, sleet, and snow ...several inches of it!  We've been wanting a really good snow all winter long and just when we were starting to get in the mood for spring ...it came.  ha!  So we have just been enjoying it as much as we can.   Early in February we had some winter-y weather, but it was during that extremely busy week of travel for our family and the kiddos didn't get to enjoy it at all (except from the car window).  So since they haven't taken a single snow day this year (our local public schools have been out for over 2 weeks all together now!) , I thought it was high time!  We took off Monday, partly to celebrate Vince's birthday and partly to enjoy playing outside.  Then we took off Tuesday, partly to go sledding on our local golf course and partly to finish celebrating Vince's birthday with dinner at his...