Joshua

You can tell your kid is used to DVR(recording and pausing tv) when you are reading at story time and he says please pause it I have to go pee pee. LOL  TOO CUTE!

School

School is going well, much better than last year. I am loving the curriculum we chose again. I will be posting more once we get in the swing of things about what we are doing and pictures with that. Right now we are looking forward to a much anticipated visit from my sister in law and her two kiddos. Jaimie, James, and Anissa. James is a little older than Bren but they get along great! And Anissa and Tayler are the same age, boy Tayler needs some girl time! So we will be busy for the next week. I will post pictures after they leave, they plan to stay for a week. We will be going to do lots of fun stuff! Yeah fall and cool weather!!

Soccer 2009 The Athleticos

Tonight was our first soccer game of the season. We missed 4 games due to our 17 days of rain in a row! The Athleticos are a good team. Bren has 2 guys from last years undefeated team on the team this year, and they are really good. They won 7-5 tonight, Bren says that he got 3 of those. Joshua kept me so busy I only managed to see 1. ;( He says he has his lucky number as this was his # last year. He even had lucky boxers with soccer balls on them. But Shhh don't tell him I told you! ;)

Our School Room 2009

Wall #1 and My Desk

Wall #2

Wall #3

Wall #4

School

Well we start Monday. I thought I would share what will be doing this year. Brenden will be in the 3rd grade and doing My Fathers World http://www.mfwbooks.com/ecc_2nd.htm(this will be Brens Core Curriculum), you can read all about it here.
Tayler will be joining us on the science and geography adventures. Tayler will be in 1st grade and we are doing A Beka with her https://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/BookDescription.aspx?sbn=123617 (this will be Taylers' Core Curriculum), if you are interested you can click on the item number and it gives a description. I chose A Beka for Tayler because we have lots of work to do on her reading. She used this program in K3 and K4 to get her started on reading and did well with it. Many private schools use this curriculum.

We are also doing for handwriting-Handwriting Without Tears Tayler-http://shopping.hwtears.com/category/1stGrade, and Brenden- http://shopping.hwtears.com/category/3rdGrade (Bren will be learning Cursive)

Bible- A Bible Study for All Ages-http://biblestudyguide.com/a13.htm

Science-Considering Gods Creation- http://www.eagleswingsed.com/products/cgc.html (this is extra Bren cant get enough of science and really wants more than our core curriculum offers)

Character Training- http://www.characterbuildingforfamilies.com/

English-Bren-http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/item/123--/?list=Rod_and_Staff_Grade_3

Singapore Math-Bren and Tayler- http://www.singaporemath.com/Primary_Math_s/21.htm

And I think that covers it!
I will post pictures of our school room and our first day on Monday.

The Best Part Of My Day Today!

Been a rough one. Raining every day since we got back from vacation. The forecasters say we will have more and more rain for at least the next 5 days. The kids are going through vacation detox. And here we are back in Grenada, no one to see, and nothing to do. Well that all of us can do "fun" together. Of course Brens' soccer games have been canceled to. We are out door people and miss the sunshine!

I call this my Hallelujah time! You can ask Joshua is it Hallelujah time and he will say no it not!

Taylers First Day at Gymnastics

Well Tayler Rayn will have gymnastics every week on Thursday from 4:30-5:30. And today was her first day.
When we picked her up she said I don't like it it is boring all they do is cartwheels, and flips and stuff. I said Tayler that is what gymnastics is. (truth be told she already knew that) So we will see how next class is, we will keep you posted. I really do think she will enjoy it! She enjoyed getting ready for it! :) She sure has the body for it.

Brenden and his bike are home in MS

Fixing to take off, he is ready!!!

And he is off...

Look at that smile.

Getting ready to take off again after listening to Mommy and Daddys advice.

Daddy teaching Bren how the engine should sound when you need to shift, Joshua will not be caught in the way HA HA.

When Bren was done riding and he got off he said man I Love that bike!

And our last stop of our trip! Grandmommys and Grandaddys House Oxford,GA

We had planned to eat dinner with my parents I requested my moms corn, and butter beans, almost as good as my Grandparents Dismuke. And to pick up and take home the Honda 50 dirt bike my dad bought and rebuilt for Brenden. This was a very emotional stop on our trip for me! My daddy bought me a 50 much like the one Bren has now when I was Brens age, my Uncle Chris and my dad taught me to ride it at Road Atlanta. When Josh was about 13 my dad bought Josh a Honda 100, they rebuilt it together and my dad taught him to ride it in the very pasture Bren had his first ride in. Everything had come full circle. Uncle Chris came to cheer us on and give out his expertise, Uncle Jay was there as well. It is extra special that my dad took the time to do this and was able to. He has been through so much health wise in the last few years! I cried, yes you heard that emotional me!

My dad did an awesome job restoring the bike!

Proud Brenden and his Grand Daddy!

Grandaddy and Daddy giving Bren instructions, Uncle Jay standing by.

Bren did so good. We were so proud!

Uncle Chris has to try it out to... But he wasn't the only one Josh and I did to, I even took Joshua and Tayler for a ride. This is one tough bike!

My mom didn't tell us until we got there Papa and Nana were coming to. We are so glad they came.

And it fits, now mommy gets to play Tetris and pack the luggage around it.

The kiddos wouldn't be still by the time I got a good picture of them I had blinded Uncle Chris 4 times.

Apple Pickeing at Mercier Orchards

We got to ride a wagon pulled by a tractor through the orchard, they dropped us off right in the middle. Each kiddo got their own bag. We only paid $30 for a bushel of apples.

Riding on the wagon.

Right on the tree.

A view from the top.

Ready with our bags.

Joshua picks the first apple.

Bren picks our new favorite apple. A Smokehouse. Never heard of them but YUMMY! We all like it! And we actually left this apple with Grand Daddy. Hope he likes it!

Tayler helps daddy get mommy an Empire. All the red ripe ones left were at the top.

Tayler eats a Beni Shogun.

This flowering tree was growing right up beside an apple tree in the middle of a field. So pretty! And Miss Tayler with her bag full of apples.

This was an amazing experience, one we hope to do again. They had so many kinds of apples we had never heard of and could try right there.

We saw and picked the Smokehouse, Ambrosia, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Cameo, Empire, Beni Shogun,and dozens more. The store was also a treat! Everything you can imagine with apples they had and and many other things The kids got to each pick a treat and got flavored honey sticks, and milk and honey candy. Guess they figured mommy was going to make some goodies with their apples and boy am I! Josh bought me truffles and we shared some chocolate fudge.

Leaving the Cabin

The day came and it was time to leave. We were all sad, this house was awesome. Perfect for A Party of Five! Tayler said I don't want to leave I want to live here. I took a few pictures right before we left of course.

The kids in front of Fightingtown Creek. Daddy was trying to get them to smile and Joshua and Tayler were looking at him. Brenden is always such a good poser.

Mommy and the kids sitting at the end of the cabin stairs.

And Daddy! A great picture!

Bye cabin!

Long Creek Falls Blue Ridge, GA

We tried to visit two falls in one day and ended up not finding this one until the next day. We hiked A LOT, not sure how many miles but there were quite a few. The kids were troopers! I was so proud! We found we all really enjoy hiking and would love to take on this sport as a family.  The kids loved looking at all the nature God has provided up with. Mushrooms were a favorite. I wasn't aware that we would be walking so much and wore sandals, my tennis shoes were wet due to wearing them in the creek. I had to take them off and go bare foot due to blisters. Wasn't bad because the ground was damp and soft with all the evergreen needles.

Joshua with a pretty yellow mushroom.

It was hard to get a good picture of this one. There was alot of tree cover and made it dark, along with it being on a very steep incline. We had to rush to get out before dark.

 

I did manage to get this picture right at the end of the trail. I love pictures like this!

Tammen Park Blue Ridge

We went to fish, well Josh and the kids fished. I just couldn't bring myself to cough up $68 for an out of state fishing license This park is by the Taccoa River, the only place the trout seemed to be this time of year.The outfitters informed us that the creek at our cabin was to warm this time of year for the trout. You couldn't tell the kids that! Water everywhere was cold up there!

We dropped Josh off at the dam and he waded down and met us at the park.

Tayler and Joshua trying to decide if they want to brave the cold or not.

And they make it only to find refuge on a log. Ha Ha! Joshua was clapping so proud of himself above. The water was so clear and pretty. You can see Bren fishing in the back ground, determined not to let the cold water stop him!

And she makes it in to fish finally. Don't let her face fool you, she was having fun but so tired of my picture taking. I had to tell them they are tired of it now, but they will be grateful later in life. And hopefully thank me :). She had fun trying to catch a little minnow that kept trying to swim down stream to check out her bait. The current was trying to carry him off.

Brenden in deep water. They didn't catch anything that day. Well I take that back Tayler Rayn did manage to hook me in the rear end. Oh such fun, took my forever to get the hook out of my shorts. And I being that I am so wonderful with electronics dropped the days old camera in the Taccoa. Josh went back the next day and caught the BIG one that got away. So we didn't get a chance to eat trout this time. I assure you there will be more chances, we plan to return soon. We fell in love with Blue Ridge!

Fall Branch Falls, Blue Ridge, GA

The Jones family at our first waterfall together. Camera timers sure are nice and Josh did a great job setting up this shot!

There was only a short hike to this beautiful waterfall.

Brenden and Tayler at the top, they climbed up beside in the woods to get there.

Josh took this at the bottom, this is as far as I got even after all Brendens' persistence.

Stop # 3 Blue Ridge GA

We arrived early and the people were nice enough to let us go ahead and check in. http://www.premiercabinrentals.com/cabins/RC/rcindex.html
Here is our home for the next seven days. After checking in we ran to the house to have a look see, and then left straight away for groceries. Josh s sister and her family came to camp in Blue Ridge for the Labor Day weekend, so we spent the next few days together. The kids had a blast. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs Saturday night and had a fire by the creek. Here is a picture of everyone minus Josh, Joshua, and myself.
Left-Right Rodney, Brenden, Corey, Kate, Wesley, Tayler and Stacy.

Roasting marshmellows for...

S mores YUMMY!

The next day was Josh s birthday! Corey our niece made home a Lego card, to cute!

The guys went hunting for a fishing spot and a little fishing while the moms and kids stayed at the cabin and played. And of course with Bren and I around that included playing in the creek! Some were braver than others. :) Here Bren is trying to lead Kate, Tayler and Wesley in,

Joshua wanted to go in and of course he cant go without his buddy. LOL :) I had to take his pants off, once they got wet they wouldn't stay up.

And guess what it is kind of hard to keep your balance bare footed with 35 lbs on your hip. Yay you guessed it we fell in. Joshua was a really good sport and still had fun. This creek is called Fightingtown Creek, the current is very strong and very deep in many areas(up to my shoulders). We stayed right in front of the cabin and didn't venture far.

When the guys got back we grilled steaks and had potatoes. Of course as far as Josh and I are concerned no birthday is complete without a Dairy Queen ice cream cake!