7 - a week of simple celebrations

Nathaniel turned 7 last week and I am not quite sure how it happened. We have had such a busy few weeks that it kind of snuck up on us. We had an extended week of simple celebrations to make the birthday special.

 On the Saturday  before his birthday Nathaniel had a friend sleepover and we went roller skating. This was his requested activity. He loves to roller skate. So that is what we did.

The Sunday before his birthday we had cake with our small group to celebrate. Because they are like family to us. Birthday boy was totally happy with recycled figures from older brothers cake from years ago and some Star Wars shapes. We had icecream too,obviously.

Wednesday was his actual birthday. We had pizza and icecream and I totally forgot to get the annual birthday picture! I am clearly a failure as a mother. We may try to get one this weekend....

Sunday we had a Rapier family celebration of Nathaniel and Brenda's birthdays. We had a good afternoon eating, hanging out, and enjoying each other. Nathaniel got a set of super-soaker water guns so all was well with the world.

This boy is something else. He is enthusiastic and generous. He has learned and grown so much this year. He seems so grown up and mature and yet he still needs his daily cuddle time and wants to sit in my lap. Happy Birthday, monkey! We can't imagine life without you!

Another School Year Begins

Y'all - we just started our 5th year of home school two weeks ago. What?!  It seems like just yesterday we decided to keep Jeremiah at home for Kindergarten and we embarked on our adventure of learning together. Here we are now with a 4th grader and a 2nd grader.
There are some significant changes this year. First, it is our first year doing two completely separate Cores. I tried to do that last year but it didn't last, not because it was hard but because Nathaniel seemed interested in what Jeremiah was learning so I just went with it. This year though I could feel that it was time for Nathaniel to have his own Core. So this year Nathaniel is doing Sonlight Core B: Creation through the Fall of Rome and Jeremiah is doing Core E: American History Year 2.
Second, Jeremiah is doing two classes at Hilger Higher Learning this year (Science and Creative Writing) and doing much more work independently. This has been an adjustment. I kind of miss the daily block of one-on-one time that we used to have together.
I think we have a good routine down. I spend most of our school time working with Nathaniel. He has some independent work but we work together reading good books, looking at maps, doing Language Arts. Jeremiah works at his desk in his room. He does his history readers, math, and his Science and Creative Writing homework on his own. If he needs help or has a question he asks me. When he is done I talk with him about what he did and I look through his binder to make sure he is getting a grasp of what he is learning. We still do one of the history Read-Alouds together because I just can't give up that time together.
Every year I am more aware of how fast time is going. We only have 2 years until Jeremiah is in Middle School. Seriously. So this year I really want to savor our time together. I want our morning school hours to be time that we enjoy being together. Time that builds our relationship.

Summer Ends

It has been a busy, fun summer. We spent most of June watching World Cup soccer, swimming, and having people over (to watch soccer). Aaron decked out the house in orange and we kept the decorations up for the whole month. It was a really fun World Cup to watch with lots of really great games, surprises, and drama. We were very proud of the Dutch team and how well they did. HUP HOLLAND!

 Cousins watching a movie while the adults watched soccer.

 

 Nathaniel ready to cheer for U.S.A!

On the day of the first Dutch game I told Nathaniel we were all going to wear orange shirts. He asked me, "Why?" "Because Holland is playing their first World Cup game today." I replied. He looked at me and said, "Well, I'm not Dutch." Sometimes it is really strange to be a Third Culture Kid raising kids who are very, very American. 

Aaron wrapped up the work for his Education Specialist degree. He worked really hard and I am really proud of him. His official graduation day was July 26. We didn't actually go to the ceremony but we got a nice shiny degree in the mail. The boys and I were unfortunately not able to be here for the final presentation of his research project because we were in Florida for my Grandpa's memorial service. He lost his battle to cancer in June and we were able to go down and spend some time with my Grandma, parents, and other family members. It was good to catch up with some family that I haven't seen in years. 

July of course brought camp! This was Jeremiah's 3rd year at camp and Nathaniel's 1st. He was so excited to finally be able to go. He talked about it for weeks and was constantly asking Jeremiah to explain how things at camp worked. Which of course Jeremiah was happy to do. They had a great week.

First day of camp. 

 The obligatory 1st day/1st time at camp picture.

 Having fun singing "Pharaoh, Pharaoh"

 All the boys. 

July also brought VBS. I was the director again and while it was a lot of work I can say that this was the smoothest, easiest VBS yet. We had lots of volunteers, so many happy kids, and so much fun! Even though VBS is week is tiring it never fails to nourish my soul. One evening I stood at the back of our sanctuary with goosebumps and tears in my eyes as I listened to a room full of children sing at the top of their lungs, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus or Lord."
This year our theme was space so on dress up day Nathaniel was Luke Skywalker and Jeremiah was Boba Fett. Aaron helped them with their costumes and I think they turned out great!

So now our summer is officially over. We started back to school this week and Aaron is back at work. It really was a good summer full of good things.

Summer!

We jumped headlong in to summer. Last week was a whirlwind of swimming and hanging out with friends. I over scheduled us really and by the end of the week we were all exhausted (and maybe a bit irritable, ahem). This morning some rain and storms rolled in so it seems like a perfect opportunity to hunker down and relax here at home for a bit. 

 

And then we were done...for now...

Y'all. We are calling today the official last day of our 2013-2014 school year. We are heading out of town for a family vacation this weekend so I am in packing/cleaning mode. The pool will be open when we return. Aaron is finishing up his last week with students and is about to start his final round of classes for graduate school (he is working on his Education Specialist degree). The weather is warming (after a very strangely cold snap, which I will not complain about) and we want to be outside. So it just seems like this is good time to put away the school books for a little while and enjoy our summer activities.

Last week was our final week with Jude, ever. He starts Kindergarten in the Fall. He has been a big part of our lives the past few years and definitely felt like a member of the family. We will miss him.

This has been a good year. It has been really fun to study early American history with Sonlight Core D. We have taken lots of fun field trips and read lots of great books. Next year we will officially be doing two separate Cores (B for Nathaniel and E for Jeremiah) and that will be a new experience for us. But for right now we are shelving the books (except for the basket of fun read alouds we do all summer!) and are going to enjoy our two months of summer!

Science Fair - What are Pterosaurs?

We are slowly winding down our school year here. Math and Language Arts were finished a few weeks ago and our goal is to finish our Core reading this week. Jeremiah had his science fair for Hilger Higher Learning yesterday. His class studied "Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day" this year and since he has a slight obsession with dinosaurs he decided to do his project on flying dinosaurs. Again, he did all the research himself and came up with his display himself, with only minimal help from us. We think he did great!

This science class has been such a blessing to us! It is so great for Jeremiah to have a classroom experience with a great teacher. He is learning so much! This was his 2nd year in the 3rd & 4th grade class. Next year he will be in the same class again, studying Botany, and his friend Eli will be joining him. We are also going to add a Creative Writing & Grammar class, so he will be taking two classes at Hilger. But for now we are ready for a break.

Mother's Day 2014

Mother's Day this year was quiet and normal and full of all the ordinary things that are the best things. We spent the morning in the church nursery surrounded by the children of some of the people we love the most. Small group gathered at our house after church and we ate and prayed and dreamed about ways to love our community. I took an amazing afternoon nap while Aaron and Jeremiah worked on Jeremiah's science fair project. I woke up to little crafted love notes scattered on my nightstand by Nathaniel. We ended the day with leftovers for dinner and introducing the boys to "The Princess Bride." They were enthralled.
It was a great day.

Easter - with music

 Sunrise service at the park a block from our house. 

"Where you there when he rose up from the grave? Sometimes I feel like shouting Glory!"

The band warming up.

I was part of a small choir which sang this song, beautiful and haunting and hopeful. The picture of worshiping God in heavenly Jerusalem with angels and saints and elders...chills...

After the service we all went out and released balloons. Just a a visual reminder and celebration. 

During our service we also sang this song, "Death In His Grave" and I cry every time we sing it. 

Here we are in our Easter finery. 

After church we had a number of friends over for a cookout and the kids hunted eggs. I love having our yard full of people.

Even though we were tired after everyone left I really wanted to go on a hike. Dovie had spent the better part of two days in the house or in her crate and she deserved a good long walk. Plus, I knew the flowers were blooming at The Pocket and I wanted to get out and enjoy them.

Easter is my favorite day. I can't get through it without crying. I especially think of Mary, who was forgiven so much and loved Jesus so much, going to the tomb in the early morning only to find it empty. I think of her weeping with sorrow because Jesus is gone and she wanted to do a final act of love and service by anointing his body. I think of her arguing desperately with the man who she believes is the gardener. I am undone when I think of Jesus tenderly speaking her name, "Mary" and how she must have thrilled in that moment, at the sound of his voice!How I wish I could have been there with her! Then I remember that the promise of the resurrection means that one day I will stand before Jesus, he will say my name, and I can't even imagine the joy I will feel at seeing and knowing him!

This final song pretty much sums up my thoughts and emotions. We sang it on Sunday morning as well. Please take a moment to listen.

See the Conqueror mounts in triumph

See the King in royal state

Riding on the clouds His chariot

To his heavenly palace gate

Hark the choirs of angel voices

Joyful alleluias sing

And the portals high are lifted

to receive their heavenly King.

Who is this that comes in glory

with the trump of jubilee?

Lord of battles, God of armies,

He has gained the victory!

He who on the cross did suffer!

He who from the grave arose!

He has vanquished sin and satan!

He by death has spoiled his foes!

They raced to the tomb, angels stood by

Mary was weeping for the empty inside

For the sins of the world, for the sake of His bride

He went to His death, and behold, He’s alive!

He's alive! O He's alive!

Thou hast raised our human nature

In the clouds to God’s right hand

There we sit in heavenly places

There with Thee in glory stand

Jesus reigns adorned by angels

Man with God is on the throne

Mighty Lord in Thine ascension

We by faith behold our own

We by faith behold our own

See the Conqueror - Jenny & Tyler - Open Your Doors - Copyright 2011 One Eyed Cat Music (BMI)                         

Verse Lyrics by Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885), 1862.

Bridge Lyrics by Jennifer Somers (BMI), Tyler Somers (BMI), and Mitch Dane (ASCAP)

Music by Jennifer Somers (BMI), Tyler Somers (BMI), and Mitch Dane (ASCAP)      

Egg Smashing

 What is it about eating outside that makes food taste better?

 Lilly was all about the egg smashing.

 Nathaniel said he couldn't reach anyone's head so he just smashed eggs on their backs. 

 Our friend Gama was a very good sport and let many of the kids get him. 

Jeremiah took complete advantage of this.

 

 Pastor Tom is a good sport too. 

 

Nathaniel is plotting something. 

 My wild boy.

 

 Organized weapon play. It looks worse than it is...

 These girls...I love them...

 Aaron and Pastor Tom practice some bow and arrow shooting.

 Nathaniel takes a turn.

It is always the best kind of day. Sunshine. Good food enjoyed outside. The company of people that we have shared life with for many years. Room for the kids to roam. Laughter and fun. Interesting conversations as a lazy afternoon unfolds. Games and general tom-foolery. 

Easter Egg smashing at Linda's is one of the highlights of our year. It was good.