Pocketful of Pinecones

I recently became brave enough to start reading a "real" book. Reading anything besides picture books and books from our curriculum these days is pure leisure, and leisure just does not happen often these days. If it does, it usually consists of sleep. Anyway, I thought since this books chapters are only two or three pages, at best, I would give it a go. I am so glad I did!

Pocketful of Pinecones, written by Karen Andreola, is a wonderful book that tell about nature study in a very fun way. She writes this book as a fictional diary of sorts that goes through a whole year, season by season. The diary is written by a mother in 1935 who decides to homeschool her two children. She writes about her days and her learning how to teach her children. From the back of the book, "Woven into the story are more than 100 examples of what to look for on a naturewalk, Latin names for the living things observed by the characters, study questions, nature poems and verses... , a supplement containing selected quotations by Miss Charlotte Mason, an annotated list of books with a nature theme - both fiction and non-fiction." It sounds like a lot to take in, but it has been such a wonderful encouraging read for me, not only as a teacher, but as a mother and a wife.

I am nearing the end of this book, which is a milestone with three kids underfoot. I have enjoyed it so much that I would be sad that I am nearing the end, except that when I ordered it from Christianbooks.com, it had such wonderful reviews that I also order the sequel, "Blackberry Inn". So I look forward to another wonderful book to come. And just imagine... two complete books under my belt! Amazing ;-).

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Luke on the Uke

Dan has been trying to play uke with the big kids a couple times a week. They are starting to pick up on a couple chords and getting good at strumming. I am hoping one of them learn to play I'm Yours, which I have had in my head for weeks (and sounds great on the uke).

Last night Luke tried his hand at the uke. He was actually strumming a little, but mostly he was just plain adorable. I'm a little bias, but he is darn cute!

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School Days

We have been schooling through summer with Zachary taking a couple weeks off here and there. He started 1st grade in January and it looks like he will complete it early September.

Emma started kindergarten last week. She has been so excited to start, I couldn't hold her off another week. Our K curriculum starts off gently by teaching creation the first 10 days. It's perfect because I feel like I have training wheels on while I learn to teach two grades at once.

I had hoped to go to the CHEA conference again this year, mostly for encouragement as a mother and teacher. But the conference fell on Zachary's birthday weekend and we made other plans. Although I missed the conference I have been listening to many podcasts and reading a book called Pocket Full of Pinecones by Karen Andreola and this has been refueling my batteries for the upcoming year. We are excited to continue our journey of homeschooling this year, and so thankful that the Lord has led us to this path.

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Corny Baby

He may be a little young to eat corn on the cob. He probably should have a few teeth first, but this kept our little man so happy at Joe's Crab Shack. And you have to admit, he is adorable!!

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Valentines Photos

These are a bit late to my blog, but I wanted to get them here...

We've been going to a beautiful baby store in Redlands lately to purchase cloth diapers called Kissui. We happened to be there one day when Patrice Gaspard-Nelson was doing a fundraiser for the people of Haiti. For a $5 donation she would take valentines photos and give you an 8x10. Well, this mama is a bit slow at getting #3 to a professional photographer, so I thought I'd try it out. It was a rainy day and she was taking photos just outside the shop. My babe was sleeping, but she had me lay him on a little rug she had on a door step to an empty shop next door. The results were amazing!!



I'm so happy I asked her to take another of my three kids. It too turned out beautiful.


I am so happy with these results and happy to have been at the right place at the right time.

This moment...

A moment I want to savor...Sleepy Happy Baby in his favorite spot wrapped to mama.

5 Things I'm Thankful For

Here is a quick list of 5 things I'm thankful for right now...


These three precious children


This playful man.


These chunky hands.


Our beautiful rainy weather this month.


These kids and their mamas.

Just 5 of the many things I have to be thankful for.