Thankful for Thanksgiving

Here goes the Thanksgiving Report...

Cousin Kelly spent the night before T-Giving at our house. It was a fun diversion, since Ken had to work. Here the kiddos cuddled in bed with Kelly to watch the Macy's Holiday Parade. It was a quiet little meal at home that we shared with Grammy and Papa once Ken returned home from work.

Grammy enjoyed the chocolate cream pie that Kennedy made herself.

It is a tradition in our family to make gingerbread houses after the dinner dishes are cleared. This year the "boys team" and "girls team" each made their own.

We celebrated with all of Ken's family on Sunday. Some of the children walked to the park to run off some energy.

The little boys had a great time playing in Grammy's utensil drawer.

Thankful for Field Trips

The children have been studying physics for the last five weeks. They have learned about kinetic, potential, and chemical energy, heat, forces, dynamics, motion, friction, gravity, and pressure. They will be working on principles of flight the next time we get together, so on Thursday our home school co-op took a field trip to Seattle's Museum of Flight

Ken joined us for part of the field trip since he had to take Jackson to an emergency dentist appointment (don't worry, he is fine). The children made gliders and had a chance to see how far they could go.

Everyone loved the special area designated to space travel.

This is Kennedy and Jackson's beginning grammar class.

Here are the beginning and advanced grammar students just before we left the museum.

Gliders, sailplanes, they are wonderful flying machines. It's the closest you can come to being a bird.
— Neil Armstrong

Thankful for Literacy

Today was a big day for our precious little kindergartner. Jackson finished his 100th reading lesson!

He chose the Rain Forest Cafe to celebrate this great accomplishment.

He was especially proud of this giant jug of Slurpee that he chose to order with his meal. It even came with a toy in the bottom.
Jack asked if he could get his picture in front of the "super hero."

On a similar note, we visited Grammy and Papa yesterday. Jack loves to read to Grammy, and all the children love it when she she reads to them.

Just in case you are interested, this is the book we used. My sister-in-law passed it along to me after using it to teach her boys to read. It worked well for Kennedy, and Jackson is proof once again that this is a great tool for teaching literacy. I accompany it with Hooked on Phonics and when the child is done, he/she should be reading at the second grade reading level.

Thankful for a Sense of Humor

Mikey is so

good
at making

messes!

Thankful for the Falling Leaves

Leaves

How silently they tumble down and come to rest upon the ground.To lay a carpet, rich and rare beneath the trees without a care.Content to sleep, their work well done, colors gleaming in the sun.At other times, they wildly fly, until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting, turning, through the air

Till all the trees stand stark and bare.Exhausted Drop to earth below
To wait
Like children
for the snow.

~ Elsie Brady

Thankful to be an American

Election Day 2008. I was hopeful as I took the children to a local ballot drop box to cast my vote. Hopeful in our democratic process. Hopeful for a candidate who represents my values. I had talked to my children about the wonderful privilege and responsibility we have in America to vote. We discussed (okay, mostly Kennedy and I) the difference between the popular vote and the electoral vote. We talked about the two major parties and some of their differences. And as we watched the broadcast tonight, Kennedy colored in the states on her map blue or red depending on which candidate won. Ken took Kennedy to the poll with him after work. Since I cast my ballot as an absentee voter, I was glad our daughter could experience a real voting booth with Dad.

When the race was called, we watched many people cry tears of joy in Chicago and around the U.S.A.. Tears were also cried in our home by my daughter. This is her first election that she will remember. She too, was hopeful for her candidate to win. As I comforted Kennedy, I reminded her that we live in this great country where we can vote. Where our voices can be heard as we participate in our government. Where we are free to worship and and speak as we wish. As we watched John McCain's concession speech I was encouraged by his words, "

"These are difficult times for our country and I pledged to him (Barack) tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us in the many challenges we face," McCain said. "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will...It is natural to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and ... get our country moving again."

Before tucking her in tonight, we read from the book of Daniel and were encouraged by God's word. We serve the Most High God. He is in charge of the kings and queens of this world and He is sovereign. We will pray for our president and president elect as they make decisions that will effect this great land of which I am so very thankful to be a citizen.

Thankful for Family

Last Saturday Kennedy and I had a nice mommy-daughter time at my sister-in-law's baby shower. Michelle and my brother, Kristopher are expecting their first child in December; Bryn Violett.

Cousin Katherine is radiant, as she holds up her beautiful 4 month old daughter, Samantha.

Ken stayed home with Mikey and my dad watched the two bigger boys. They had a blast roasting marshmallows and dogs over the fire, swinging on the bag swing, picking apples in the orchard, jumping on the trampoline, jamming on guitars, and playing with the old toys. Whew! I am tired just thinking about all the fun. I can imagine how my dad must have felt.

And the next day we celebrated Papa and Ander's birthdays at Ken's parents' house. So good to see everyone!

Family photo

Two parents, their four children with spouses and eleven grand children.
Quite a clan!


Priceless!