Recent Homeschool Events

Two of the bigger highlights from last month are: The SHARE Fair and the All Saints Day Party.

The Share Fair was really fun. SHARE stands for Science, History, Art, Rhythm, and Elocution. This year RA recited Windy Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson and entered a drawing in the Art category. DG recited The Flag Goes By by Henry Holcomb Bennet and entered his Courage Project that many of you may remember from last spring. It was entered in the History category. PG liked looking at all the Lego exhibits and the armor exhibit. My favorite was the teenager who taught himself to play the hammer dulcimer.

Daddy/photographer said he was so engrossed in listening to RA, he forgot to get a picture of her. Oops!

The All Saints Party was very fun. DG was St. George. PG was his dragon. RA was Our Lady of Guadeloupe. KJ was Blessed Kateri and Mommy was St. Gianna. Mommy and Daddy ran the Doctors of the Church Quiz booth.

Dg's 8th Birthday

Somehow I missed posting about DG's birthday. For the kids birthdays' this year both sets of grandparents went into together and got them a backyard play set.

This year, just like last year, DG asked to go to the North Pole. Aunt Katie and Papa (my paternal grandpa) were here in early August so we all got to go. Unfortunately we had an afternoon rain storm and had to leave early. A word of advice, avoid the teacups with Blue Truck!!!!

On DG's actual birthday we had a small family celebration. My papa was still in town so he was here too. DG asked for a star wars cake. So with the aid of Twinkies and ice cream cones:

Squeak

DG is selling cub scout popcorn. I am not searching for more sales (although if you need any let us know). As a prize for the first week's top seller, he got a gift certificate to a local soda shop, Squeak. It was amazing. They had a wall of candy, 69 flavors of soda, ice cream, a wii, and plenty of board games to keep the kids happy. They would make your soda any color you wanted it. So DG got a red Grandma's Apple Pie soda, PG got a purple marshmallow soda, mommy got a pink pina colada soda, and RA got a cake batter ice cream cone.

SUPRISE

My mom or Nana -- depending on who you ask had a birthday recently. Her sister decided it would be fun to have a surprise party. Now you have to know my mom to realize what a funny idea that is. She is not into parties and she does not like surprises but my aunt wanted to do it, so we did. This had been in the works for quite a while when my husband's uncle passed away (different post). So now my in-laws would be in town for the funeral (at the same time as the party) and as usual staying with my parents. Did I mention my paternal grandfather was also staying with my parents? And my sister is in town for the entire month (although gone the weekend of the party). So... it wasn't easy to keep this thing on the down low. I tried not to mention too much to the kids so they wouldn't blow the suprise. Oh btw, we had the party at my mom's house (the only one big enough to hold all the guest comfortably). So some of the funny bits were the Schwans man, dinner plans, heat stroke and "come over and have dinner". My aunt and mom live about 5 minutes from each other and my mom introduced my aunt to the Schwans man. About 2 weeks before the party, the Schwans man goes to my aunt's house. She buys my mom's favorite ice cream for the party. Then the Schwans man goes to my mom's house. My mom asks if she could get some ice cream. He say, "I just sold my last one to your sister for a birthday party." My mom thinks, he must not remember who my sister is -- she doesn't throw birthday parties. Whew.

Then about three or four days before the party, the kids and I were at my mom's. She gets a phone call gets off and says, "My parents, and siblings are taking me out for my birthday. Would you mind celebrating a different time?" I was just waiting for PG to say, "We are already having a party for you Nana." But no he didn't even notice. Whew!

My mother and father in-law took my mom golfing the morning of the party, so we could get things ready. Only one problem, my mother in-law who knew all the plans got heat stroke and had to rest while the others finished golf. Then my mom wouldn't let her leave the club house until she felt better. My mom said, " You sit here and rest. We have no plans and no reason to rush home." Little did she know there were about 20 people waiting for her at her house.

The night before the party. My mom calls, "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Not much."

"Why don't you come over for dinner. I making a pork shoulder, I have plenty of food. Your aunt and uncle are coming over too."

"Ok, thanks."

I get off the phone and call my aunt. She says, "I know. I tried to get her to get pizza and she thought I was crazy.'

Despite all these things the party was fun and my mom had a GREAT time.

RA made the cake (just a bit of help from mom...and dad)My paternal and maternal Grandpas! :)
The boys

The girlsMy Aunts and an Uncle

Bubbles = Fun!

Happy Birthday Nana!

KJ

July 4th - Independence Day, A birthday, and A feast day

Ok so it is Bastille Day and not Independence Day but since I skipped the latter - here we go.

Blake was up to be at the church at 4:30 to flip pancakes for the pancake breakfast. He thinks he made about 400. At least he didn't have to do the dishes! RA and some other girls in her scout troop helped bus tables.

There is this great parade (an hour long) in the little town we live in. This year the girls, (RA, KJ, and yours truly) got to march with her scout troop. Ok, RA got to ride and so did KJ (Mommy pushed). RA did get to hand out candy for part of the route. The pancake breakfast and parade were on the third.

The next day we went to Nana and Blue Truck's for the real celebration. It is my dad's birthday (appropriate fireworks for the firecracker) and PG's feast day. It is the feast of Pier Giorgio Frassati (if you are not familiar check out: http://www.3op.org/frassati.phpWe had lots of fun with family. Then we stayed at Nana and Blue Trucks to watch the fireworks. Before they came we all played on the wii. Blake and I even played some golf. It rained -- that is Colorado for you but for sure by the time the fireworks start it would clear. It did clear but it must have been in the 50s by then. So we are all bundled up for the second year in a row. They were nice but the company was much better.

Happy Father's Day

Due to my parents leaving for the Holy Land today, we celebrated yesterday with my parents and my mom's family. RA wanted to work on her first badge for scouts -- cake decorating. So she learned how to make a box *gasp* cake, butter cream frosting, and use a star tip to decorate all in one day.For those of you still trying to figure it out it is a shirt, sweater vest and tie.
Yesterday was also my Grandma's birthday. So after party and cake what should we do for Father's Day... I know, go to the Renaissance Fair! The day included archery and elephant riding,jousting, inventing (Leonardo Da Vinci style), a meeting with the queen, more animals rides (llamas and ponies), a little juggling,

and of course more JOUSTING!

What does dad have to say about today, "The most under impressive thing I did all day was ride an elephant."