Cecily is TWO

 Our week last week was full of fun things. 

Wednesday night we were invited to go celebrate Cecily's birthday with Jack, Jane, & Rene. 

Mamaw got cookies and ice-cream and of course presents. 

Then Thursday was her birthday and we celebrated as a family at home after coop day.

We got a nice surprise from my Aunt Debbie last week and she gave us tickets to the Indianapolis Zoo. For our family going to the zoo is almost $150 so it was such an exciting gift for all of us. 

Friday, Levi took the day off work and we went to the Indianapolis Zoo which got even better because they were passing out candy so we didn't end up spending any money on treats. 

We did find an AMAZING Mexican restaurant for lunch that we will have to go back to. 

Saturday was Halloween and we had already decided to stay in this year but we added lots of extras as part of our celebration. 

Everyone got a new Halloween book, Pumpkin Carvings, Carmel Apple Cupcakes, Making Carmel Apples, Decorating Halloween Candy Houses, Halloween Family Movie Night, Face Painting, Candy

It was nice that Halloween was on a Saturday this year and that the weather was beautiful. 

Gifts in the mail from Levi's parents in Washington and cousins. 

New Clothes! Which was a blessing in disguise because our dryer has been broken for a little while now and she has run out of clothes. 

New Pajamas! 

Chili and Cornbread

We aren't sure what her face painting was.... or how she kept taking her clothes off. Party.

Carmel Apples! We attempted to all wrap our own in caramel and decorate them. It was delicious and super sticky. 

Aunt Rene brought us over pumpkins earlier this season so we carved pumpkins and ate tons of pumpkin seeds. 

We went to the bathroom and came back to Levi surprising everyone with margaritas! I guess they are known for their homemade frozen lemonades and they were SO good. The kids were so pumped. 

I could probably count the number of times we get drinks at a restaurant on one hand mostly because they are so dang expensive. Special Treat!

House Making - We struggled. 

This may have been the tornado moment. 

One team had less little hands. Or better building knowledge. Or I may be slightly bitter.  

Winners!

Dolphin Show! Cecily was amazed.

This orangutan seemed so lonely. When we went up to look at her she came all the way over to say hello. 

Boredom in the bathroom - takes a long time for us all to go....

Trick or Treat Candy!

This seal lion was so excited to play with Clairana and her candy wrapper. 

Essential Mamas

 Part of the commitment to Essentials (Clairana's writing and grammar class) is that you have to watch several training videos from Andrew Pudewa - our community gets together several times throughout the year and watches these together. It takes time but it is so helpful - I have learn so much. 

Homeschooling is such a commitment and a lifestyle but I truly feel that it is the most important. 

These aren't all the mamas but we did a scarf and chili night before our evening of learning this time which made it more fun. Most evenings the class itself is so long that we always just jump right in and start.  I bought a periodic table scarf to share which made everyone laugh. 

I know all these families so well and we have been on this journey together for years now. 

Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing and a father of seven. Traveling and speaking around the world, he addresses issues related to teaching, writing, thinking, spelling, and music with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students’ skills.

Although he is a graduate of the Talent Education Institute in Japan and holds a Certificate of Child Brain Development from the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his best endorsement is from a young Alaskan boy who called him “the funny man with the wonderful words.” He and his wonderful, heroic wife, Robin, have homeschooled their seven children and are now proud grandparents of fourteen, making their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Our Homeschooling Week

Learning parts of the body.

Review of our daily memory work. 

Learning the History Timeline

Then this happened. We have been waiting for the church to allow us to put this board up since August. Finally after weekly inquiries they finally let Levi do it. Hooray for not teaching on the floor! 

Clairana giving her presentation - my sweet friend is in her class and sent this picture to me. 

PS It was crazy hair day per the Halloween holiday.

Essential Class. 

Brighten and Clairana