Fun Week

We ended up leaving on Monday and went and spent the week in Michigan with my sister-in-law and mom. We had a blast and did a little running around. Mostly we just chilled and had some time to just do nothing. Of course, with 5 kids running around, nothing IS a relative word as there are so many things to do just to keep life operational.:)

As most of you know, our pastor has resigned and is moving to Alabama. We are in the process of finding a new one. That is NOT an easy task. We are going to miss the Jones' terribly! The kids were fast friends and cousins, and as homeschooling moms, Penny and I did sooo much together! It will be a big adjustment!

Let's see, other than that, we will be in school for atleast 4 more weeks, though most of the kids' work will be done by the first of May, a little of it will go into the second week of May. Then we will be done!!! I am soo looking forward to that!! It has been a good year, though! One of the best years I have ever had. Partly because we found a co-op that is doing the KONOS curriculum and the kids fell in love with it, consequently Mom did too!!! THey are so excited for what we will be doing next year that they have been poring over the book trying to get a head's up! They are so funny and I am so glad!

That is all I can think of. Hope you are all having a wonderful start to your weekends! Trisha

Co-op

Here is Lindsay dressed as a locust getting ready to molt!

Here are the kids as caterpillars in cocoons. Getting ready to change to butterflies.

Here they are after they have come out of their cocoons. They were so funny and cute. The lady who is teaching them is a kindergarten teacher. She does a great job! The kids love it!

Here they are butterflies and trying to fly around. They look pretty funny and cute!

Saturday

Today has been a busy day! The kids had a Dodgeball tournament today and we left the house at 7:50Am on a Saturday. We should get a medal for that:) Went to Muscatine High School where they played. Had a great time and then went to the extension office to work on record books for 4-H.
This afternoon, we headed to some friend's house and helped shuck corn for 8 new baby calves and their 1 yr old calves. It was fun and relaxing, but I came away with two medals from it--blisters on both of my thumbs.:) Pretty funny! Didn't know I used my thumbs so much!! Goodness! I feel all thumbs tonight.
Well, we are getting the kids to bed and hope to get their ourselves soon. Maybe I'll find time to load more pics soon! It can take awhile! Bye for now...Trisha

It has been a busy day. Travis and Jeff went to a gun show and had a great time. Jeff went to work on a plumbing job and the kids and I hung out at Boardman's and had fun. I got most of my house cleaned today and was very proud of myself.
Friday night was 4-H and the kids enjoyed that. One of the presentations was on Great Pyrenese dogs and this girl brought her puppy for demonstration on puppy shots and worming. He was HUGE and only 10 weeks. Very cute and cuddly! Can't believe how big those dogs get. She said up to 160lbs! I like lapdogs personally!
Trust all are doing well.

Quad City Symphony Dress Rehearsal

The kids got to attend the Quad City Symphony dress rehearsal last Friday Night. We went with some other homeschool friends who are in our 4-H group. It was a lot of fun. The conductor was amazing! Did you know that when you conduct a symphony, you have to be one beat ahead of the music with your hands than where the orchestra is?? IT is crazy to watch! They served hot dogs, chips and pop before the concert started. When it was over there was a question and answer session for all the kids. It was very informative.Here is the featured Cellist. He played amazingly! He is only 25 and was homeschooled almost all of his life. He had pretty funny hair, but he said he started playing the cello when he was 2. The suzuki method. He said his dad encouraged the cello over the violin because it was more mellow and not so squeaky!:)

Here is the whole group. I am a bad picture taker! Sorry!

The kids are learning the table of elements at the co-op we do in Muscatine. They are really learning fast. I;m always amazed at how fast they can absorb information!

The little ones learned about the life cycle of the butterfly. They all rolled up in cocoons(sleeping bags) and then popped out with material as butterflies with wings!! Then they came to the table to make a chart about butterflies and then over to read about them. It was so cute. I didn';t have a good one of Lindsay so Alissa is in this picture.

Trust you all are having a good week. We are off to Muscatine tomorrow. Let's see if I can remember my camera....

Dog Stories!!:)

Here is the lady who showed us all the dog training in agility. It was very interesting.

Here is the picture of a seeing eye dog in training. That was an amazing lecture! It is incredible how much goes into these dogs! I have a new respect for these dedicated people and dogs. It is truly inspiring work!

Here are the kids at the humane society. That was fun, too. We are packing our days with lots of things!!

Here are Lindsay and Alissa doing a presentation on a dog of their choice. Very cute!

Emily and Melissa are growing up and really having a great time together!

That is our last month at a glance! Holler later!!

Muscatine Fun

We are neck deep in discovering dogs. We went to the Obedience and Agility training school in Muscatine this past Thursday. It is amazing what all can be taught to a dog. It really inspired Emily and she is dying for a puppy. The last few weeks we have been studying pets and pet care. We have had a seeing eye dog, a search and rescue dog and their trainers speak to us. This is a picture of the agility trainer and her dog.

The kids had to find a recipe and make dog bisuits for several dogs to taste test. Ours was a liver cornbread concoction and smelled very livery!!! It won first place with the dogs though.:) You knew it would of course. The worse it smells the better the chance!!:)

Here is the finished project of our liver biscuits! Enjoy!

The kids got to go ice skating together with the whole QC homeschool group. It was alot of fun and they had a blast! They are growing so fast. This semester has been so much fun./ Will update again....