end of August and September update

We started our 8th year of homeschooling in mid August.

I wasn't ready to give up the freedom of summer, 

but it feels good to be back into school routine.

And we are excited to study World 

Geography/Cultures this year.

I hope to highlight how we are studying

God's World throughout the year.

This month's highlight ...

Our library has online subscriptions

to Ancestry.com, newspaper archives etc.

and a great librarian who specializes as

a historian and in genealogy.

So we spent some time with this librarian

and she has got us going on our genealogy

adventure.  Nathan is researching Matt's family

and Grace, mine.  We are trying to go back far

enough to find where our families came to 

America from and when.  So when we get to

that part of the World in our studies, it is more personal.

This research has proven to be exciting,

interesting and frustrating!

We still have a lot more to research!

Matt helped Grace prepare for and took her to  10 hrs

of Hunter Safety course.  Grace enjoyed the class

and was excited to pass, but doesn't plan on hunting

this year.

And the most exciting event of our September was

celebrating Grace's 12th birthday!

She wanted a "Pancake and Pajama" party.

So with the help of the "pajama fairy" (my mom)

I made coordinating pjs for us 4.

Girls got winter bird - the cardinal

Boys got baseball team - the St. Louis Cardinals

All the guest wore their pjs to the party!

We borrowed old milk bottles and cans which made

our decorations extra special.

And we filled those bottles with Turner's Chocolate Milk.

"The best chocolate milk ever!" according to Grace.

We made tons of pancakes and had fun toppings

with a side of breakfast meats.

We turned our window seat area into a photo

booth with pillows, stuffed animals

and buntings tied with scrap material

from pjs we've made Grace over the years.

My mom and Grace

Our family (laughing about smashing together

on the window seat)

Barry and Sandy Magnetto

"adopted" grandparents from church

As if sewing pjs for all 4 of us while planning

the party, canning tomatoes, and homeschooling

wasn't enough ...I had a "secret" project.

I knitted slippers for everyone coming to the party!

And it wouldn't be Grace's birthday without her roses from Daddy.

She has reached 12, so we told her from now on, she 

will get a dozen roses instead of increasing each year 

with her age.

Thanks for following along with our family adventures 

here on our blog!