Our "off week" with field trips

This is our "off" week in our 3 on, 1 off schedule. We have gone on two field trips this week though.

The first (pix at the bottom) was to a small airport. We got to see the private planes in the hanger, the mechanical shop, talk with EMTs that work on an Emergency Transport helicopter and sit in small planes that are used for instruction.

The second field trip was called "Ravenous Raptors". We learned how to use a field guide (which my boys have already been doing for several years) and learned much about owls and hawks. They had a live Red-tailed Hawk and Barred Owl. It was really a very interesting trip. We also got to see owl pellets and to try to discover what was in them (bones, fur, etc.).

Fifth Sentence Meme

Here's how it works:

1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post (or closest to it).
3. Find the 5th sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

Here's mine: LOL!

"And what did we talk about? HOMESCHOOLING!!!"

The BEST thing to talk about, right? ;)

I won Honorable Mention with T-tapp!!!!!!

I entered a contest on T-tapp. I won Honorable Mention!! I've never won anything like this before!!! I am so psyched!! The prize is a BIG discount to Safety Harbor Spa. This is where T-tapp has its annual "convention". Teresa Tapp teaches the classes, gives LOTS of pointers, new trainers get certified, everyone just has a BALL together. I really wanted to go to this. The cost JUST for the 4 days is $800. It would cost me $250 because of my prize. Popeye said I couldn't go.

I'm disappointed. I never EXPECTED to win! I just entered the contest to win discounts on some products. I'll still get the discounted (free) products, but I didn't know how bad I wanted to go to Safety Harbor until I won! sigh....maybe some other time, I guess. They have contests several times per year so maybe some other time.

It sure is hard to be respectful at times....

We were OFF to see the Doctor! The wonderful....(you know the tune)

I can't remember if I posted about this, but about four weeks ago, Sweet Pea 1 feel while roller skating. His arm was hurting so we took him to the dr. Got x-rays, etc. No fracture....just a sprain.

Guess where we were today????? The DOCTOR!!!

THIS time Sweet Peas 1 and 2 were horsing around. SP1, somehow, bent back his thumb on his right hand, jamming it into SP2's side....possible dislocation. We were off for xrays again. No fracture. Lots of swelling and soreness. He can write a little, he can play the piano a little....sigh. The doc said to try to go 6 months this time without getting hurt! LOL

Ten Good Things

Here are my Ten Good Things. What are yours?

1. My salvation in the Lord

2. My dh "Popeye"

3. My ds "Sweet Pea 1"

4. My ds "Sweet Pea 2"

5. Peanut butter ice cream

6. Email

7. Homeschooling my boys (as hard as that is some days...like TODAY!)

8. A clothes dryer

9. The sound of children's laughter

10. A shower

Sharing my kitties....my first babies

Toby being frisky...playing our weekly game of change the sheets.

OUCH! That light is bright, says Jazz.

Fluff sitting pretty.

And what about YOUR birthday?

This is pretty cool too! Thanks, Shelly.
Birthday Calculator

This webcam is TOO cool!!!

National Geographic's WildCam Africa

We were GLUED to this website this morning! I was having a hard time getting going with lessons today but this turned out to be one of the BETTER homeschooling days we've had in a while.

The boys slept in after being up really late after church. I got up late too. I sat here at the computer watching this webcam and listening to the flies in Africa while I perused other websites at the same time. You could say we had "unschooling science" class today. We talked about the different time zones since Botswana is 6 hours ahead of our time zone. We looked at the different pictures of the animals that come to get water at this pond. We saw several Nile crocodiles, a family of warthogs that were just too cute, a large herd of Blue Wildebeests and some other hooved animals that I can't decide between (Steenbok, Common Duiker, or Bushbuck). Tonight we've seen two giraffes! I really wanted to see an elephant but we were eating dinner when they came by.

After this, I assigned Sweet Pea 1 his Latin work and explained his math and I was off to get my shower. After I worked with SP1 on questions he had and then cuddled and worked with SP2. His reading is starting to come now AND his handwriting. He is just a young 6 year old so giving him time has been a good thing for him. We listened to our Latin chant CD to practice those while waiting for the pizza man to bring our FREE pizza. They messed up on our order last time so I contacted corporate. :) The boys and I listened to some classical music for awhile and then we went to the library and SP1's piano lesson.

We had a really good day! I think I might start doing Thursdays like this all the time!

Our day in the woods

We went on a field trip Friday to a local forest reserve. It is called Spirit Creek. I was BEAT after walking around in the woods all day, but the boys had a lot of fun.

Looking to see what we found in the water

Sweet Pea 1 and his soccer game

Sweet Pea 1 had his first soccer game of the season on Saturday. He plays indoor soccer at our church's Christian Life Center. Here are a few pictures I wanted to share.


Hey! I'm the goalie! Hot and sweaty! 

SP1 about to kick the ball back to safe territory.

I've been tagged....

Thanks, Zoomom! These things are fun to do now and then

1. What is your full name? Penny I don't tell people the rest online.

2. What color pants are you wearing? Lavendar with flowers (my PJ bottoms)

3. What are you listening to right now? White noise (the a/c), various rattles from upstairs while the Sweet Peas try to settle down to sleep, a cat crunching on his dinner.

4. What was the last thing you ate? Sweet & Sour meatballs with brown rice

5. Do you wish on stars? Nope.

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Magenta

7. How is the weather right now? 77 and cool. Very nice

8. Who is the last person you spoke to on the phone? My friend Kelly

9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, she's a really nice lady that I hope to get to know better over time....AND a mom of boys like me!

10. How old are you today? 38

11. Favorite drink? GOOD coffee with vanilla creamer

12. Favorite sport to play? I don't play anything.

13. Hair color? dark brown

14. Do you wear contacts? Yep

15. Do you have any siblings? Yes, one brother.

16. Favorite month? April. Flowers, nice weather, Easter

17. Favorite food? Pizza and chocolate

18. What was the last movie you saw? Madagascar...not worth the full price; glad we saw it at the $2.50 movie.

19. Favorite day of the year? Christmas

20. What do you do to vent anger? I email a few friends who kindly listen to me...Popeye listens too. :)

21. What were your favorite toys as a child? Raggedy Ann doll; paper dolls

22. Summer or winter? Winter; IF I don't have to get out and go anywhere.

23. Hugs or kisses? Hugs

24. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate, IF it is the dutch, bitter kind; otherwise, vanilla

28. When was the last time you cried? Today

29. What is under your bed? Cat hair, various items the boys threw at the cats.

30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Shelly

31. What did you do last night? Went to Barnes & Noble with friends for dessert and conversation

33. Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? buttered and salted

34. Favorite car? Lincoln Navigator...not that we can afford though.

35. Favorite flower? Lilies...I really don't have a favorite.

36. Number of keys on your key ring? 3

37. How many years at your current job? 8 it's a lifetime appointment

38. Favorite day of the week? Saturday, that's family day.

39. What did you do on your last birthday? I had cake and ice cream; and dinner at Red Lobster.

40. How many states have you lived in? 1

41. How many cities have you lived in? 2 suburbs, 1 town

I'm not tagging anyone. :p

I'm sure I'm the only one

that has not blogged about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

I haven't blogged on the disaster that has/is taking place in LA, MS, and AL. I have not watched ANY coverage on TV about it and read little online. I have seen many pictures of what has happened and I accidently saw some TV coverage while waiting with Sweet Pea 1 to have his arm x-rayed....another story for another time...he is fine though.

A fellow local homeschooler emailed me and said she just could not look at all those small children and babies that are stuck there in New Orleans. I can't either.

When 9/11 happened, I was glued to the TV. I've learned though that emotionally I can't handle what has happened. Just today when I saw the little bit of TV coverage in New Orleans, I started to cry. I am a very sensitive person....overly so most of the time. It is my nature though. I won't apologize to anyone for that. I even cried when Nemo's mom was eaten in the very FIRST scene of Finding Nemo! Pathetic, aren't I? Oh well. I live with me....and so does poor Popeye! LOL

I have very much sorrow for all those who are going through this unthinkable ordeal. I also have very much anger over what has been happening....and it AIN'T with our government....I'll just leave it at that. It is very hard to listen and read and watch all this but to know that your hands are tied. We have given in various ways to help and will be giving more, but it just never seems to be enough.....so I have to let what happens happen and just pray for the souls of the lost...

I've decided to stretch my mind

I joined a yahoo group that will be reading Ancient Classical literature. I don't know if I'm ready for this, but I'm gonna try! The first book that I'll read is the Epic of Gilgamesh. I've read some background information on this and it seems really interesting. I've listed this book over in the right-hand margin so you can read more about it on Amazon.com