A Day of Homeschool by Jaden

Hi, this is Jaden.

I know I haven't posted on here yet 

I kept wanting to but my Mama said that I need to go to school to learn how to write first.

SO.....today was the day. I decided to wake up early from my nap and dig right in.

Of course I needed some help from my sweet big brother Zachary. 

First off I tried to get his pencil so I could write. But he kept taking it away and telling me it is too sharp!!

But because I know one of the virtues I need to work on is DILIGENCE, I kept right on trying.

After I tried and tried I came to the conclusion that I was not going to win this war with Zachary.....so I turned to my big sister Megan for help. But all she did was get out that camera. What's with that girl?

Well just because I didn't have a pencil, that didn't mean I couldn't still give Zachary my opinion on things. Who ever knew a few numbers could be so confusing. Even Zachary was having a hard time. Think, Think, Think!





And then I got it.....I finally figured out the answer. I couldn't believe I hadn't figured it out sooner. Now I just had to convince Zach of a couple of things. First, that I knew the answer....second that you can smudge the numbers a lot easier if you add a little drool. I couldn't believe he hadn't learned that yet! What has he been going to school all this time for?

Of course he was so excited that I had taught him so much that he gave me a tight squeeze. I'm thinking he squeezed a little longer than he needed. Sometimes those huggy ones don't know when to stop!





After working real hard for a few minutes, my short nap started to catch up with me and I began to get a little sleepy. Have you ever tried to stare at a writing pencil? Kind of makes you want to nod off. I don't know how these kids do it!

Boy, that sure was an exciting morning. I think I might try it again sometime. Please don't tell my mama though. For some reason she thinks school goes a lot better when I am napping.  Something about me being distracting!!!


So this is Jaden signing out until next time.....

Have a GREAT day!

Snowy Days

Since everyone seems to be talking about snow these days, I thought I would join in.
It's snowing here again today, big beautiful flakes.
Actually, we have had quite a bit of snow this winter.
It comes in little dumps here and there.....and it stays.
All winter long...it stays.
We won't see grass until around April or so.

Do I ever get tired of snow?
Truthfully, there are some days where I would like to sit out on the deck and hear the birds sing,
or be able to go outside without having to dress like a big marshmellow,
or having the kids be able to play outside for hours at a time without worrying about frost-bite,
or not having my nose hairs stick together when I step outside,
or being able to take off your gloves for more that 5 seconds and have your fingers feel like they are ready to fall off,
or being able to go for a walk without having to walk with big boots that make me feel clumsy,
or not losing "who knows what" that the kids leave around the yard, which we won't find until spring.

Do I enjoy snow and winter?

Truthfully, I DO!!!
I love the way the snowflakes fall so peacefully. Seriously, if you want to know what peaceful looks and sounds like, watch snowflakes fall on a calm day. Millions of snowflakes fall, and not a sound! It really is amazing! Reminds me of our Amazing Creator.

I love the time we get to spend playing hockey as a family every day on our rink. Couldn't do that without cold weather. Of course our little guys might think they could do with a rink without the snow that they have had to shovel and shovel and shovel off this year. Hey, it's a great way to get rid of some boyish energy :-)

I love the way snow is so pure and white. There is not much more beautiful than a fresh blanket of snow that sparkles in the sunlight.

I love the way the winter makes a fire feel so warm and cozy.

So ya, I guess it's a mix. I wouldn't want to have winter all the time, but a season of it is okay.
But once warmer weather comes, you can be sure I will be one of the first to be enjoying it.

No just to figure out how to skip all the mud 
that comes once the snow melts :-)


Here are the evergreens behind our house heavy with snow.

This is looking out our front window

Looking out the south window.

The deck I like to sit on in the summer and hear the birds sing.

The birds should really come and clean off their roof

before it caves in.....

Oh by the way, if we get too much heavy snow, we really have to do that.....clean the snow off the roof of our house. That's always a fun job. Most often we get a nice big wind that blows the snow off instead.

This is what the pond looked like in the summer.....



And this is what it looks like now.....
So glad we decided to take the fish inside for the winter :-)





So to all of our southern friends who are enjoying their recent snowfall......
hope you have a great time with it.
And when your snow is melted and gone and you are sitting on your deck listening to the birds,
please remember your Canadian friends who are still buried :-)

Let it Snow and Snow and Snow and Snow......

OK......THAT'S ENOUGH SNOW NOW :)

This winter has brought quite a bit of snow in our area. Our first snowfall that stuck around was then and we have been experiencing more and more of the fluffy white stuff ever since. And it will most likely stick around for another couple of months. So even though we are dreaming of spring.....(minus all the mud :) and are looking forward to the days when we can go outside again without having to put on all the winter gear....as the saying goes...IF YOU CAN'T BEAT EM....JOIN EM! So here's to winter and snow and cold weather.....a photo journal of winter here.

Every year Mark pushes a big hill while he is cleaning out the yard with the tractor. It's a big highlight and the kids love to play on it.

The more snow we have the bigger the hill gets.

Caleb trying his feet at snowboarding

Zachary trying to stay up on skis

Almost!

The more the merrier

Nate's going to play it safe and ride the GT down.

And Jesse would just rather push the GT!

Jumping is always fun!

They look so teeny!

We have rows of hay and straw bales that we baled in the summer to feed and bed the cattle in the winter.

There are usually some pretty fun snow drifts that blow in around the bales. Another favorite place to play.

More Jumping Fun!

Sometimes you sink up to your waist :)

Josiah just likes to lay back and enjoy the ride

And over the winter the trail needs to be broken over and over again. Not always an easy task for those little legs!

Sometimes you just need a rest!

Even Teddy likes to play in the snow

Do you remember these pictures from the summer?

Here's what the old truck and tractor look like now. Guess the boys won't be playing on them for awhile!!!

We have cleaned off this deck several times....

The trees and branches are heavy with snow.

I think the horses are waiting for spring when their owners will be able to spend more time with them and ride them again.

The whiteness of the snow is breathtaking. It really is a beautiful time of the year. God's creation is amazing.

And here's a picture of one of our calves....just for fun!