Flower Disection

We are studing BOTANY this year. And so far my little grubs are totally loving it.
In fact I've learned more about plants than I remember learning. (don't tell my teachers okay)

Last week we went shopping and bought what I could find as the cheapest flowers at Wal-Mart.
This happened to be 6 roses. Here we are looking at them. Nothing fancy, perfect for taking apart.




We began by removing the Sepals and then the petals. The petals were a bit difficult to keep in one piece.
However it was so amazing to look at the tiny little dots of nectar on the flowers as we got towards the middle. Grub 2 flower seemed to have the most. We all had to look in the magnify glass of course at each step.

We glued or taped the pieces down on paper and labeled each part. Some more neatly than others.
But the point was to learn and have fun, not be neat at this point.

Here is a look at Grub 3's paper.

Grub 1 took the job a bit more serious and wanted his layout more neat.

Fun Pics from Nature Walk

After our long hike through the woods, we walked down into this valley sort of place. 

I love this picture of my handsome man with our kiddo's. Bali thought being on Daddy's shoulders was fun. 

Bali finally just sat down in the grass, loved this look she gave Grub 1 just as he was gonna pounce. 

All my sweet grubs and one little blossom Bali.  They are growing way to fast. 

Botherly/Sisterly love.  Bali loves her big brothers, and I must say I think the grubs spoil her just a tad bit. 

Wow, a picture of me... Yep Me and Bali.

Here is where Bali ended up, happy as can be. Wrapped nice and snug on my back in the moby. I love this carrier. I can still use it and it doesn't bother my shoulder nearly as much as my regular sling. And even though she's 3. I love wearing her. Bali often holds her arms up and goes Moby me.

We then drove by the lake park, and to our surprise found this critter sitting on a log. 

Nature Walk in the Woods

So this past Sunday afternoon, since the weather was nice we went for a walk. We had this pamphlet about a "Woodsy" Nature Trail in our area. SOOOO  we went for it. Took a backpack with our nature supplies, some water and tennis shoes.  

   The trail started out nice and easy...  with no obstacles.

We found some purple berries everywhere. Later found out the name was American Beauty Berry....  I kept thinking bet these would make a pretty dye for an outfit... but had nothing to put any in.. 

Must go back for some. 

We found stuff growing on trees... We think this was Lichens 

And soon found many obstacles. Including a barbed wire fence you had to cross.. yep said "fence crossing" on the map...  

The trail got a bit more interesting as we found lots and lots of bones. 

 Even some winged plants. 

We found some sort of something. And had to cut it open.. 

thankfully someone remembered a pocket knife : )

Grub 2 pulled out the handy dandy Nature Book. So he could figure out the  best places to look for a Wood Frog.. but he never did find one. 

At the end of trail we got to see a cabin. I must say we were a tad disappointed in the "cabin"

On the way back we found a spot were Fairies like sleep, but no fairies were there.. 

And one sweet Bali had to be carried as she was all tuckered out from such a long hike in the woods. 

At the end we went into the valley part and were stunned see a real live BIGFOOT.... and if you look there's even a little Big Foot too... 

of course all the Grubs thought it was way cool.. 

   

Grub 1 does Music Machine 2010

In August last year Grub 1 got the opportunity to be in a production called. Music Machine. It's held at the local Kilgore College campus for 1 week. The kids did a few crafts that went along with the theme. And they learned new hymns and did the short play "Arkiology". He got to play a wolf. It was so fun watching all the talent. Here is a few of the songs and pictures I took.

Fav. picsfrom the past.

I look at pictures like this of my Bali...
and wonder where did all the time go?

Any IDEAS!

Anyways, this has always been one of my favorite outfits on her.
Acutally she just looks good in red, as well as many other colors..

AND
here is one of my all time favorite pictures
Grub 1 holding his Bali while "playing" guitar and singing to her.

What little girl wouldn't be spoilt with such a wonderful big brother.

This thing doesn't/didn't run so the boys would just push
it around the yard. One VERY muddy day, they went mudding...
It was rather a commical event to watch.

Daddy and Grub 3, just sitting watching the Yamboree parade.

Blogging again

Okay, So I haven't blogged in a long time, and well... there really isn't a majorly great excuse.

Honestly I've just been getting my feet back under me. It seems I have lost 2 years somewhere. Many things have happened and I do remember them, however time just seemed to past me by in many ways. But I am slowly come back to the surface and learning to swim again. It's like I'm finally breaking through the water and being able to take a breath.

I have started sewing agian and enjoying it. I'm learning to love teaching my grubs with a new passion, and feeling like my oldself. Something I've not felt in several years.

Recently I have totally taken myself off all medications for my thyroid and hormones and have gone with treating 100% with Essitianal Oils. I am sleeping better, my brain is not so cloudy, I have more energy, my hair has stopped falling out and so much more. My grubs say I am a better mommy : )


So I will be getting back at the slow, but will most likely add in some pics from the past few years along with things we are doing from day to day that is just to fun not to share.


Welcome back to my "Never a Dull Moment" Life..

Blessings in My Life...

At church we are putting up a Blessing tree, you write a blessing down and role it up and tie it to the tree.. Well, I thought I'd share a few of the things I feel blessed about, even in the rough waters our family has swam this year.

1. My husband loves me
2. My children are healthy
3. Just a few weeks ago Avery and Alex both asked Jesus into their hearts.
4. I'm getting the hang of school :)
5. God has given me wonderful friends to lean on in joy and sorrow.
6. I have 3 wonderful big sister's who I love greater than they know
7. I have the most awesome Dad in the world
8. Even though I miss mommy beyond words, I know without a doubt I will see her
again, and I am glad she isn't hurting anymore.
9. I have a roof over my head, and car that works
10. I get to spend everyday with my children
11. My grubs love listening to Tony Evans each morning.
12. Cassandra is going to church again, and her little A loves cubbies and sunday
school.
13. I can pay the most important bills somehow
14. I know I am blessed, and that God is watching out for me always
15. Rachel, LaRue, Joel, Karen, baby, Ester, and Matthew are okay.
16. I know miracles still happen everyday, we just have to keep our eyes open to see.

I know I can have so many more.. but here are just a few I wanted to share. Hopefully soon I will get some updated Grub and Blossom pictures up : )

Monkeys... in my tree...

Most of these are pretty self-explanatory..... my boys working together and climbing trees.... This was Anthony's idea to see if they could get the limb lower... the did succeed.

Then they had the idea of all getting in the tree on the limb (mommy is praying we don't break any limbs!) and started bouncing as they were riding horses..... oh the imagination they have..

Here is Avery's first time in the tree.. thankfully he stayed close to the bottom, but he was so proud he had to have his picture taken.

And one morning.. while making breakfast I here Mommy, Mommy, Mommy... I knew they were outside (watering the cats)... ummmm nope Alex had climbed the tree.. this was his first time to do so.. and he didn't stay close to the bottom.. and he's in pj's and barefooted.. ahhh.. the joys of being a kid and not minding that a cedar tree is rather itchy...

Here's a close up of my proud guy... he thought it was great view.. and acutally spent most of his day in the tree... of course he did come down eat breakfast.. make his bed, and change clothes.. and put on shoes ( at mommy's request)

Discovery Science In Tyler

After our rainy weekend camping... We were supposed to get to go to a Water Park..
However we got rained out... So we treated the boys to an afternoon at the Discovery Science Museum in Tyler..
They Loved IT~~~~

This is a pizza parlor set up.. They had a blast cooking and flipping the pizza

Anthony found a room full of fascinating light things to look at.. Here he is checking out the eye.. He was so amazed.

Up in the giant boat.. Daddy and Avery played around with magnets... Both totally fascianated.

The favorite part was dressing up in real clothes.. Avery is pretending to be a pilot here.. Aint he cute!!!

Weekend Camping KOA Trip

Early this month we took a weekend and drove about an hour away to a wonderful KOA campground. It was so nice and peaceful. And inspite of the fact that it rained and drizzeled almost the whole weekend. We had plenty of fun. Grub 1 loved fishing, and is really good at casting. Grub 3 needs a bit more practice. But they both had a blast sitting on the banks and fishing..

Even our sweet little blossom tried her hand at it.. thankful by this time there was no hooks on the pole : )
otherwise she would've caught a grub!

Hand in hand my little grubs ran to the playground during a short dry recess of rain..... They were never out of our sight as the playground was very nearby.
With a fort, tire swing and mini kabin, what else do you need?

Grub 2 tried his best to oversee that Daddy did all the cooking correctly on the firepit. The rain however was driving all the ants out
The smell of food had them near the firepit and we all got a little bit.. Thank goodness mommy had special salves!