Category: Thankful For

We Love This Place!

Books. I love books. Love ’em.

The library. I love the library. Love it.

We go to the library about once a week and what a treat it is. The boys get to play with puzzles and games, look at the fish, sometimes they get to do crafts and listen to story-time. Those things are nice but the best part about the library is being able to borrow books from them, every week, every day if you want!

We wander the aisles looking for titles or covers that catch our eye, we usually grab them and sit down to sort through. I also get several books on subjects we are studying. Some we can read and look it while we are there, we keep a separate pile for take-homes. We usually go to 2 local libraries which are great but about every 3 months we head to the Denver Public Library, Downtown Denver branch. It has so many cool things to see inside and out.

Downtown Denver Library

Kids Area

Puzzles, Animals and Games at the library

Denver Art Museum is next door

Artwork outside of the DPL and DAM

Today we went to the Belmar Library in Lakewood, it is a nice, cute library with fantastic views.

We Returned:
Foods of Italy
Foods of Germany
My Dad, the Giant (fiction picture book)
All About Submarines
Thomas the Train Splish Splash Splosh DVD
Papa and the Pioneer Quilt (fiction picture book)

We Checked Out:
People and Places 5 (encyclopedia on North America)
Weather Mania (homeschool)
Star Wars: A New Hope (chapter book)
Digging Tunnels (homeschool, we are studying “what’s underground?”)
Igloos (homeschool, for fun)
Travels with My Family (fiction chapter book)
Little House on the Prairie Season 3 DVD
Magic School Bus on Space DVD
National Geographic Space Exploration DVD
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s Farm (Book on CD)

Can’t head out and see the world? Head to your local library! It’s close and it’s free!

September 27, 2010
The Mountains… The Rocky Mountains are just up the street!

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mt evans

My entire life I have felt so lucky to live right next to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. It only takes about 10 minutes to get into the foothills and then another 10 to get to one of the best views in Colorado. There are so many places to visit, so many things to see, so much majestic beauty to take in. Camping, hiking, skiing, kayaking, rafting, horseback riding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, biking (both kinds), wildlife watching, you name it Colorado can claim it!

Red Rocks

We love to head up for day trips, from Denver the numbers of daytrips you can do seems limitless. Some of my favorite spots are Dillion/Breckenridge, Grand Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Steamboat Springs, Gunnison, Blue Mesa Reservoir, and the San Luis Valley, where my Mother’s family is from. There are many more places to see but those come to mind when I think of my favs.

Top of Mt. Evans

When I was in my early 20’s I used to drive home from work and detour through the mountains. It added about an hour to my trip but it was time well spent! What a great way to unwind, I felt so connected and at peace in the mountains.

After I started reading the Bible I learned exactly why I felt so connected and at peace. I want to share it with you. It comes from the Romans.

Romans 1:19-20
19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Colorado Wildlife

In other words, humans have no excuse to say that there is no Creator, it is made plain to us in everything we are surrounded by… the mountains, lakes, rivers, plants, the night sky, the sun, flowers, fruits, vegetables, animals, other humans. All this is evidence of a Creator. I have always wondered at fruits and vegetables, how amazing is it that we can just walk up, pick food (the BEST food for us), and enjoy it. It is a miracle. Water too! How amazing is our Creator that He has provided us with everything we need to survive. He has thought of everything.

Mt. Falcon

I love it in Isaiah when the seraphs (huge, majestic angels) call out to eachother “holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory” – Is. 6:3

Red Rocks covered in Snow

Mountain Goat on Mt. Evans

September 19, 2010
Free Lamination at Mardel this Week

I love to laminate and with a Mardel store right down the street it is so easy and economical at .25/foot. Laminating flash cards, lapbook materials and charts will ensure they will last a long time, ideally throughout the homeschool years in our family.

This week is Lamination Week at Mardel. They even have a cute video series called “Will it Laminate?”, where they run Facebook followers suggestions on putting random items through the laminator.

Head to Mardel now through September 11th for 25 feet for FREE, that’s right 25 FEET OF LAMINATION FOR FREE! Thanks Mardel! I went this morning and acutally used 42 FEET, only had to pay for 17′.

Happy Laminating! And don’t forget to check out “Will It Laminate”

September 8, 2010
School Pictures – My Super-Cute Students, ok so I am a little biased!

Homeschool Blog Hop

I have been participating in the Not Back to School Blog Hop that is being hosted at http://heartofthematteronline.com. This weeks topic is School Pictures. So I haven’t really had a chance to cut the boys hair and get them all “spiffy” so I pulled some pics that were taken while we have been enjoying our summer the past couple of months. Also, here is a video we made of our kids and other family, I hope you enjoy!

1st Grader Preston

Preschooler Oliver

2 year old Samuel

Sam

Be sure to come back, next week’s topic is “A Day in Our Life”.

August 15, 2010
Starting Traditions – Family Night
Before I became a mother and I suppose even for a couple of years after I became a mother I was extremely adverse to traditions, I just didn’t care for the conventional way of doing things. However, after having more children and building our family I am warming up to the thought of traditions.

Traditions can bring a family together, they can cement a firm foundation. Traditions are something to pass on to future generations. Unlike material items that are sometimes passed down from one generation to the next, traditions can’t be lost, stolen, broken or the like. I like this idea of creating a loving heritage built on family community and communication.

I was inspired by a book I picked up at the Seminary library. It is called “Happiness is Family Time Together” written by Lois Bock and Miji Working, it was published in 1975 by Fleming H. Revell Company.

The authors have laid out plans for an evening with the family. I would like to share some of the ideas for family time. We will be using these ideas in our house and then I will blog about the experience. I would love for others to try them and then blog about it.

My hope and prayer is that more and more mothers will try it and share their experience; this can be a catalyst to deeper, more meaningful relationships within our families. Families are under attack in todays world, America specifically. Parents need to be equipped to counter the attacks with communication, love and fun.

Will you join me in this exciting endeavor?

This weeks assignment:

Special Because of Who We Are

The book states that each every person should know something of his background and of their family. They should know the history of their parents, how they met and why they chose to have a family. This can help to establish a family unit, a team mentality.

For the first family night we are going to focus on who mom and dad are:
- where we were born
- what our family was like
- what did we like most about our families
- how we met
- what we liked about eachother
- first date
- goals for marriage and family
- how we came to known the Lord
- ethnicity
Each member will have their own family night journal/scrapbook that they can record Family Night events. This night we will be journaling facts such as who is in the family, how many, how old? Have them write things they like to do together as a family. You can also have them draw a picture of your family.

For this special family get together think of a dessert that can become the family’s special dessert or have everyone write down their ideas and take a vote. Then head to the kitchen and get started, as a family. Pass out assignments and work together as a team.

You can enjoy eating the dessert while playing a board game together.

Be sure to pray together and thank God for your family and if time permits, thank God for special traits or gifts each member has.

When it is time to wrap up you can recap and ask members what their favorite parts were. Also, it might be fun to bring it up the next morning.

I hope this might inspire you. I can’t wait to get started. I will need to figure out which night of the week to have it. I want to keep it the same each week, I might aim for Friday or Saturday evening. Enjoy!
August 15, 2010
A Rainbow – A Reminder of a Beautiful Promise

Rainbow over Invesco Field at Mile High

This past weekend we had the opportunity to attend a Broncos practice at Mile High Stadium. When we arrived, amidst all the chaos, a wonderful reminder. While it is so easy to get wrapped up in our surroundings, sometimes it is good to step back and think about bigger things.

In Genesis 9 we read about Noah and the Flood. After the flood, God made a promise and with that promise he set up a visual reminder, an amazingly beautiful reminder.

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
-ESV Genesis 9:8-16

Rainbow over Denver

Oliver and his red umbrella

August 11, 2010
My Lil Ones… part 2

Yesterday I wrote about Samuel, who is the youngest of my 3 boys. Now it’s time to introduce my middle child Oliver. Oliver, my sweet lil Oliver. Where do I begin? Maybe with his perfectly smooth and creamy skin, his golden hair, his little “button” nose and mouth. He is an enigma, lol. Oliver is a tender shoot, with a wild streak. He is always ready to jump into character whether it is Obi Wan Kenobi or Larry Boy – he is a true actor. He is never too shy to go out in any costume or interesting outfit he sees fit. Oliver is my pickiest eater but he says that chocolate is his favorite “vegetable”, he always eats all his “vegetables”. He is smart, witty and is laid back too. And I realized as I type this – Oliver is indescribable. He is definitely someone you will remember after you meet him, he certainly does hold a special place in my heart.

Oliver at 2

August 5, 2010
My Lil Ones… part 1

I realized that I have never formally introduced my boys. Here they are:

Samuel will be 2 in just 3 weeks! He is a firecracker, pure and simple. This little guy is amazing – I could have never imagined how well this sweetie would jump into our family… he is always ready to participate in anything with great enthusiasm. I have had to let go of any nervous mommy thoughts I had with the other 2 – this one is doing everything early! He climbs almost everything that the older two do – his vocabulary is amazing and he is our best helper (sadly enough) and prize eater! He is also a huge clown and quite the laugh-er.

Oliver … well… we will talk about Oliver tomorrow, he may just have a super-special place in my heart!

August 4, 2010
An Ode to My Creator

Dear God,
You are the creator of heaven and earth, yet you know me by name, you know the number of hairs on my head, you know my comings and goings. You are sovereign, loving, forgiving, just, mighty, a rock, my fortress. All I want to do is think about you always, I want to live my life as a beautiful offering to you Lord. Why do I stray, why oh why? Why do I do the things I don’t want to do? I am so grateful that you hold no records my my wrongs, because you have offered complete forgiveness thru your Son, Jeshua – my savior.

God, thank you for:
My Family – one I never could have dreamed of…
Mountains, flowers, water, the sun, the clouds
Babies
Animals – Dogs, cats, bunnies, cows, horses, all of them!
The church, where I may worship you freely
Fellowship and Community

Thank you for air, lungs, LIFE, thank you for loving me!

June 10, 2010
Strawberry Fever!

Yum, yum, and yum. Oh yeah, my kids also say yum, yum, yum and YUM. They love em even more than me! Our grocery store has had mad deals on strawberries, sometimes only $1/pack. Currently $2, can’t beat it. They were just 4.99/pack a couple of months ago. These are bright red, shiny, juicy and sweet – so good! We had strawberry shortcake last night and this chocolate lover says it may be the best dessert ever! The pie shop down the street posted a sign that says they are making fresh, strawberry pie, that sounds amazing. I have never had one, look out Granny Scott’s Pie Shop, here I come!

Go get some! Hurry!

May 10, 2010