Almost Wordless Wednesday

It's not to uncommon that the boys dress totally in their favorite color.

First day of . . . .

our Christmas Unit Study. We'll be spending the next three weeks looking into various things that have become tradition in our culture. Everything will be tied back to scripture as it's our desire that our boys learn to appreciate December for more than just Christmas Break or the things that they'll get. It's a time to reflect on the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel ~ God with us. It's a time to learn to keep God with us at all times.

Here's the boys (& Gremlin) with the tree:

A Blustery Black Friday

The weather today sure is wild. It's been rather windy all day, which brought in a quick hail storm. It left, just as quickly as it came and now we have blue skies.

With these winds we have been having today, a squirrel's nest came down from our Oak Tree out front. The boys and I were rather curious and they wanted a few pictures taken of it as well. Have to admit, I did too. Here's what it looks like:

Up close of what might have been the "front door".

The front of the whole nest.

The back of the nest.

The boys with the nest.

This is what happens . . .

when you take the week "off" from school ~ you forget to change the sidebar with the current book. We're reading "Thanksgiving on Thursday" by Mary Pope Osborne. We've already read, close to all the Magic Tree House books, however this seemed appropriate for the week. The boys enjoy it to, so we're keeping their brains a bit active during our Thanksgiving holiday. The boys did some math at Breakaway yesterday (need to keep doing math so that they don't forget - it doesn't take much to help them remember though, just a few problems). Otherwise the days are filled with goofing off and a some cleaning. No birds here, but need to get ready for Christmas.

A weeks worth of pictures

Actually, about eight days worth. This covers things from last Sunday, which I never got around to posting, through this weekend. Enjoy the photo's.

Christmas Child Box
Thing Two's donation

Christmas Child Box
Thing One's Donation

Our church had a goal of 200 boxes.
We collected over 330. Way to go
Burke Community Church.

Going away party for a friend. She's moving to
Hawaii to be with her husband. Our lose,
his gain.

Don't you hate it when someone
snaps a photo and you aren't ready.

The guys chatting. Probably about
basses, guitars, and the latest music
software. They did end up in Al's office
playing something or looking at something

Wish you could see how blue Thing One's
teeth were. They were almost day glow blue.

Starting of my long awaited Craft Room. That is Kevin's
marriage proposal from 13 1/2 years ago. The room may still take a
bit of tweaking, but it's mostly there.

The rest of the craft area. Things have been hung!!

Yes, I'm posting the laundry area. I was pleased
with how it looks with the pots on a shelf.

Not a school post

nor a Science Friday post (more directed at the title of my blog than anything else). I was struck, earlier, at the beauty of the sun rise. It seemed so bright this morning, probably for two reasons. First, it had been raining yesterday, so it was dark, drab, gray, blah, blah, blah!! Secondly, being toward the end of November, most of the leaves in our neighbor have dropped, giving a better view of the sun through our living room window. Through the glory of the the light, short comings are often seen however. The shortcomings here ~ dust everywhere. On each entertainment component, the tv screen, the screens to our windows (screens are inside as the windows crank outward), on EVERY surface of EVERY nic nac that I have. It was still a great sun rise and I know I can be kept busy with what has been set before me. Makes me think of Proverbs 31 and feel blessed that I have things to do for our family. Here's the portion I was dwelling on and desiring to be like:

^{10 [c]} A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

So, with that in mind, I'll sign off to check on school progress, grab a dust cloth, and get to work.

Have a great Friday readers!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Friday Science

To wrap up "All Those Secrets of the World" we discussed how in the 1400's people thought the world was flat and that by sailing toward the horizon they would eventually fall off the edge of the world. Christopher Columbus figured out that the earth was a sphere by observing a butterfly and orange.

On a flat world, a ship (or puppet) would always be seen,
it would just get bigger the closer it got.

With a spherical world, you wouldn’t see the ship as it begin to sail.

You would then begin to see the top most part of the ship
or puppet ears in our demonstration.

Finally you would see the whole ship or puppet.