The Adventure's of the Sweet Apple Blossoms

A Silver Lining

2010-01-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

I really think that in these economic times we really need to focus on the Silver Lining. People are starting to look at how to be more fugal, save and have less consumism. How can that be bad!? God wants us to be better stewards and it really helps you focus when you have to. Now if it will just stick.

hey ya'll

2009-11-18T19:38:00.000-08:00

well it seems that I have been busy day after day and really want to get some more creativity flowing around here...so i have added a few blogs that I have been poking around...go and see if you can find something to get your creative juices flowing

Cupcakes

2009-11-06T18:04:00.001-08:00

Well it has been forever since I posted. We are keeping busy with life in general. The kids helped with a Halloween Fall Fest and raised $310. We made cupcake with fun themes.

Homemade Baby Wipes Cover

2009-08-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Well blue and brown was the mother to be's color choice. So with a little searching and a bit of sewing and hot glue - presto - So Cute. It really was easy and fun.

Makeitandloveit.blogspot.com has lots of inspiring ideas. Tell me it you find something that inspires you.

Busy Busy Busy

2009-08-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

I guess life has just kept me very busy. We have started back to Karate twice a week for all three of the kids. We are all working on projects for the upcoming local fair. I will post pictures of our creations later on.

One major under taking that has been going on... is a Baby Shower for a friend. Food and cake making, etc, etc has kept our house on it's toes. Here is a picture of the cake I made for the Mother to Be.

Massage

2009-08-02T10:08:00.001-07:00

It is hard to know why I have waited this long in my life to have to courage to get a massage, but I did it. Well I will not wait to do that again. It was wonderful and the lady who took care of me was so sweet and kind. Moms do something nice for yourselves and have a massage. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

2009-08-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday was a wild day. We left the orchard around 8 am and headed toward our 4-H day that was an hour away. The Lord granted us a break in the storms. It stormed all morning, sprinkled on us driving, then after we got signed in - it poured. It rained on us on and off through out most of the time. It was quite the field trip. Avigail went to Mix it up in the Kitchen, Sewing, Horse Care, Making Milk, Dog Training and Plants and Flowers. The boys had some of the same classes, but chose to go to Sport Shooting and Hunting Simulation. It really was a fun day. The kids (and mom) learned a lot. In September we will start our regular 4-H meetings.

Sequential Spelling

2009-07-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

My next love it! Sequential Spelling is a 7 level program that teaches the patterns in the English language. It is not based on grade level. You can work through one or more a school year. This has made spelling more fun and less like pulling teeth. LOL

Language Arts Through Literature.

2009-07-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

Love it! Language Arts Through Literature is put out through Common Sense Press. They take books and covers a wide range of areas. Strong is dictation, encourages creative writing, vocabulary, spelling, reading comprehension and exciting learning activities. Make learning fun. They have even added a section to help students use their skills in a research project. Each level requires a Student and Teacher Book. You will also need to have the books covered in each child's particular level. Together the cost is around $50. Everything you need - neatly packaged and easy to use. My boys have loved the stories they have read and are even looking forward to the upcoming ones.

Go check it out, we really like it.

Junior Volunteer Firefighter

2009-07-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

Justin is officially a Junior Volunteer Firefighter. He can take all the training with the department, attend the meetings and assist with equipment and supplies at fire scenes. Dad is also a Volunteer First Responder/Firefighter. They go to meetings on Tuesday Evenings (when Dad is off) and Justin has been to a few fires with Dad. Jamey goes to first responder calls alone. It is kinda fun to see the big boys have a project that they do together. Avigail even dresses up in a firefighter outfit one of the boys had for Halloween (many years ago). She is proud of her Daddy and JJ.

Piano Moving

2009-07-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a couple of days since I have been able to sit down and write. We have been very busy with big stuff. First we were given a piano. Dad wasn't so sure what we would get with it being free. Well a family is down sizing for about a year and they wanted to pass it along to another family. It is and old church piano and sounds pretty good. Two of the keys need work, but other than that it will work well for us. Moving it was quite and adventure. Dad made a pulley system and told the boys about physics. They were really surprised with the reduction in needed force to move such a heavy object. The second item that has kept the kids and I busy is the yard. A bit of rain has made our poor yard a jungle. This is a project we still will be working on today.

SNAKE!

2009-07-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, your read right. SNAKE! Avigail went into the chicken house and found a snake. She came our screaming "Snake, snake, snake," shaking and crying. After calming her, I went to find out what I was dealing with. The snake now locked up in the chicken house was circling trying to get out the way he came in. Over four feet circling and circling. At this point I was not interested in having a conversation with him to find out if he was poisonous or not. With shovel in hand and some screaming (on my part - my city girl came out), I chopped, smacked and pummeled the snake until he met his maker. Well come to find out he was a chicken snake. An egg thief - no less.

End of the Summer Reading Program

2009-07-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

It happened today. Under a slightly overcast sky. The days have been so hot up until yesterday - which it rained and rained. "Lord I need a cool, dry day to finally have a close to the Summer Reading Program." Prayers were answered. It was just right - everything went pretty well - plus there was plenty of food for all that were there. Praise Be. On to other projects for the season.

School Supply Treasure Hunt

2009-07-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Well today we went on a hunt for as many school supplies we could buy for $60. Wow did we ever! These are prizes that will be used at the End of the Summer Reading Program Party on Saturday.

48 - 1 subject spiral notebooks, 6 - Rulers
8 - Vinyl Binder Pouches, 4 - Sharpie Markers
6 - 24 pk Crayola Crayons, 3 - Mini Highliters
8 - 12 pk Colored Pencils, 6 - 10 count Crayola Markers
25 - Mechanical Pencils, 8 - Elmer Glue Sticks
6 - Fiskar Kids Scissors, 6 - Pencil Sharpens
8 - Pink Erasers, 2 - Foam Learning Clocks
2 - Lunch Sacks, 8 - Pronged Folder
6 - Flash Card Sets, 6 - Animal Shaped Erasers

Money Spent - $58.41
Retail Cost - $147.87
Total Savings - $89.46

Yahoooooo!

4-H Multi-County Camp

2009-07-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

The boys, although very tired - had a great time. The heat was a killer, with days in the shade at over 100 degrees. Many children got sick. The boys made sure to get their liquids and by day two everyone seemed to be getting extra water as well.

Photo Class, Sewing Class, Swimming, Gun Safety, BB Gun target practice, making stepping stone and wind chimes, scavenger hunt,relay races and oh of course the Talent Show. They had fun.

A lot of Justin's homeschool friends were in his cabin at night. Austin and Justin made some new friends to enjoy next year at camp.

A Little of This and That

2009-07-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

I must say that we are very busy with just a little bit of everything. The boys went to 4H camp yesterday. Since it is not far away Avigail and I went out to help with the Photography class set up. Plus we brought along her friend Joe. When we left camp they were so DIRTY, but at least they had fun right!? Right after that we were then off to a Friends of the Library meeting. Then home again.

Today I made calls to remind people of our next event...End of the Summer Reading Program Party. Somewhere after 25 calls I stopped counting. So the rest of the week will be planning and gathering supplies. We will be finished with one project to start another. Clover Kids for sweet peas K-2nd grade. I am looking forward to spending time with Avigail on this project.

The new home school year is just around the corner. So lot of planning and curriculum to finish up getting. Never a dull moment in the orchard.

Cool Surfin' Dudes!

2009-07-11T16:18:00.001-07:00

This past Thursday, we all went to see David Slick with Slick Jugglers. He goes by Slick (of course). (Fun as well as a Physics lesson or two.) Juggling, comedy, and magic all rolled into one. How cool is it to see someone who has taken their talents all the way across the ocean to Shanghai, China, has already broken 4 Guinness World Records and now about to make it 5.

The two pictures here are private time with David after the show. Justin, Austin and Avigail were a great help getting him packed up...and this was their reward. Justin decided to pass on the surfing and learned the "how to" of some of the magic tricks instead.

If you ever get a chance to see him in person - you will be in for a treat.

2009-07-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Well I guess it's official I have started a blogspot. Surely this is a good idea...a least that's what my friends say. Now I really have to come up with witty info that will intrigue and mystify. Ok, we will take it a day at a time and see where the adventure leads.