So We Went Fishing

Seems our life has been a little hectic around here with adding another child to our homeschool.  Who knew adding a child so close in age to Zephyr would upset the jealousy apple cart.  LOL Now I have two children following me from room to room but, I love it.  I am the Pied Piper and never feel alone. Sarah's dad came to get her for summer break down on the coast and I miss my second shadow.  I can't wait for her to come back on the 5th so we can start summer school.  

 
We took three day trip down to Corpus since, I had to see a knee specialist.  Yep! This chunky ole farmer has a torn meniscus.  JOY JOY JOY!  When I do something seems like I do it up big like injure myself! :O) I am guessing sometime after the MRI on Monday; I will be scheduled to get it repaired.  The thought of surgery doesn't thrill me as much as the idea of being able to move because I have been packing on the pounds after I fell in November.  I want to get back in shape something fierce. 

So I leave you with a few pics my hubby took of the boys enjoying their mini-vakay.

I Love Being Here

By that declaration, I mean my station in life.  I am the 'regular stopping place' for my family members to fill their hearts or unload their baggage.  It is quiet an alarming thing to realize you are the fulcrum in other peoples' lives especially children. Today I realized not only am I a grand mother but, have settled into the role my own grandmother had in my life -- balance, security, and open arms.

Each day I am the one responsible for setting the tone of our family.  I really don't think I could have done this in my twenties. I was just too self-centered to give to my full attention to rearing an emotionally secure child or being a part of a successful marriage.

There is nothing better in life than to have a home life (station) that completely meets my once wandering soul's drive for adventure.  

On a separate note: this morning we had a visitor.  Do ya'll love finding critters at your homesteads?  I know Saenz and Zephyr are nature lovers; I hope they continue far into the future to love the natural world. 

 This little garter snake is simply gorged on a mouse.  Zephyr found it behind one of our gardens in our inner yard.  I could have actually reached out and picked it up.  But, since its belly was full; we left it alone.

Have a glorious week in your slices of heaven!

Passing on Traditions: Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all who pass here. 

 May all your blessings be joyful!

Welcome to Hoe Hen Inn: Sarah, Tex & Mex

Meet Sarah and Mex. 

Tex is on the left. 

 Tex is heavier than Roux by a pound or so.

At six weeks they are already bigger than our little diva Roux.

Grand daughter Sarah has joined our little homeschool; she is 8 and will be doing Sonlight curriculum with us.  Here she is with Zephyr on the back porch with puppies Tex and Mex.  The pups are Blue Tick Coon Hound and Labrador mix so, I am guessing they will weigh between 40 and 50 lbs when grown. 

Today I will be finding out if my bp meds are working.  Let me tell you, each time the doc changes or ups the dosage; I have to get used to it.  The first couple of days and I feel wiped out.  Plus I will be finding out if I need surgery on my knee.  Yep, I fell back in November; it has given me trouble since.  Fingers and Feathers crossed will ya.........?

So what will ya'll be doing for Easter?

Do You Remember...

When you first started reading?  This year's main focus has been learning to read for Zephyr. Mrs. Jana (fellow Texas homeschooler & blogger) told us about The Well Trained Mind . I agree with the author's suggested use of literature to teach Zephyr and Saenz. 

We have also used: Hooked on Phonics, Reading Eggs, Reading Rabbit, McGuffey's, migratory flocks of primers, and sight word flash cards. 

The lovely thing is one afternoon we got my WALKING DEAD: Compendium 1  delivered and Zephyr realized he could read the words.  Mind you! He did sound out an expletive but, I was just so happy he connected his past lessons into actual reading. PHEW! I feel like I have done my job as a teacher.

Now Zephyr is reading whatever, he gets his hands on and has the confidence to tell me (SSSSSSHHHH) it is his turn.  Plus now I have been looking for movies with subtitles in English to help his fluency.  So this year we will be ordering Sonlight Multi Core C (2nd grade) plus more readers for him at 3rd reading level. 

http://www.sonlight.com/homeschool-curriculum.html?type=grade&grade=2&tab=multisubject

So let me invite ya'll to do a happy dance.

We have a new reader in the chicken coop!
Happy Easter to All who pass here.
Mal