Birthday season’s officially upon us! In our household, April heralds the start of our fast-yet-furious birthday parade… …Beginning with my dad’s, which we celebrated at Top Golf, a new favorite …
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It’s a busy season. Because of homeschool, we have a tremendous amount of flexibility and freedom, and our kids are receiving a vibrant, multi-faceted education. Still, because we’re facilitating that …
“A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales.” Marie Curie Thank …
I think it’s been a decade since I attended a wedding. As Husband & I are just about to ring in our 18th wedding anniversary (!!!), the flux of nuptial …
We’ve just mailed off our final post-placement adoption report to our agency and China. Five years ago we became a family of five. Accompanying a thorough update on Little Man’s growth, …
Spring has arrived in the Willamette Valley. Everywhere I turn birds are chirping, trees are flowering, and dormant bulbs are emerging to blossom triumphant. The kids are spending more hours …
My generous mother treated our family to a weekend away at the coast. It was a creative way to thank us for boarding her chickens when she recently moved. A restful …
Influenza struck our home this week, so we’ve sidelined our regularly scheduled activities and the bulk of our schoolwork for Netflix & blankies, Gatorade, Jamba Juice, Riccolas, chicken noodle soup, rest …
Newsflash, compadres: Not every homeschool day is lollipops and kumbaya. In our homeschool we occasionally deal with squabbles, back-talk, sass, laziness, and tears– and I’m not just talking about the …
We must be surrounded by hopeless romantics because we are presently awash in Valentines. My mom and stepmom each delivered goodies, and today we’ll sport pink and red and pass …
Xin nian kuai le! For the first time in our six years of celebrating the occasion, we didn’t cook or clean for Chinese New Year. Still, we feasted… to ring …
Puxatony Phil did indeed spy his groundhoggish shadow yesterday, so there are to be six more weeks of winter, officially. We’ve already had a full and fun winter term of homeschool… …
The girls recently completed biographical essays on historical figures for their Excellence In Writing class. They each selected a notable person that piques their interest, and no one ought to …
It’s here, it’s here! Multicultural Children’s Book Day is today! I was grateful to participate in this movement again this year, as in past years. The mission behind the movement is …
Guess what day is right around the corner? Multicultural Children’s Book Day! I was thrilled to be selected to participate again this year, ever eager to expand our home library …
My nuclear family exchanged twenty-four books betwixt us this Christmas– we’re a jolly bookish lot, it seems. The following’s a smattering of those titles, plus a few additional reads we’ve recently …
In early Fall, Firstborn auditioned for a role in a local production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. She was cast as Violet Brown, and a rigorous rehearsal schedule ensued. It …
Little known fact about this frumpy homeschool mom: I have a fancy-pants professional past-life; I’ve been a Realtor for seventeen years. You’d never guess it from looking at me now, leading …
A rag-tag group of nine notorious scallywags recently took over the Oregon Coast Aquarium for an impromptu field trip: My much older sister, m’self, my three, her three, and the …
For the first time in nearly a decade, we ventured over the mountains to feast with Husband’s folks for Thanksgiving. Once home, we availed ourselves of a stately conifer and set …
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. -1 Chronicles 16:34 “… set apart the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving …
Sometimes homeschool isn’t all lollipops and roses, read-alouds and kumbaya… … Sometimes a routine car-ride requires extra division in the back seat. … Sometimes compliant completion of copy work requires extra …
For me, Halloween is alllllll about the costumes. I confess I had the girl’s costumes planned and purchased by February. From there we added the others, and though unintentional, a theme emerged– …
The following are ten random, tangible blessings that are keeping me afloat lately; though this list is certainly not exhaustive… 1. Two words: Creamer frother. The most unassuming little gizmo …
We’re having an unseasonably warm and wonderous fall. A born and bred Oregonian, I actually adore romantic, gloomy gray days sprinkled with intermittent rain-showers, but even the most passionate pluviophile …
This week’s been bananas, but my extroverted heart is full to overflowing. To say nothing of homeschool, real-estate work, and juggling the kids’ own burgeoning social calendars, I’ve had a full …
We’re in the midst of another busy week of homeschool, pinballing around our city betwixt activities– curricular and extra. Often we tote our studies along, ala carte, including our latest read-aloud: …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday list is late, yet again, though I’m relieved to report we triumphed over the stomach flu. We’ve simply had a full schedule of activities– these days …
A quick update on our fixer-upper because, no, we’re not done with the remodel yet. I’m not complaining– we’re chipping away at projects as our schedule and finances allow, refusing to …
This week’s What to Read Wednesday recommends are comin’ atcha on a Friday since this week our household was verily bowled over by an early stomach flu. Ugh, and just as we were …
Recently, online champions of adoption No Hands But Ours featured our story as it pertains to: Attachment Through the Years. Check it out here, alongside similar stories, or read on… It’s been …
I hit the Grandpa jackpot. My grandfather’s an honest, patient, even-keeled man. A stoic, hard-working son of Depression-era farmers, he’s the unwavering, unglitzy foundation of my extended family. throwbacks It’s a …
It’s that time of year again: Return to the cadence of rhythm and routine, of cool morning fog, rain showers, sun-breaks, and shadowy evenings; of boots and sweaters and football …
What to Read Wednesday in the house! I’m pressing pause on the back-to-school frenzy for a hot minute to share yet another incredible new book: The Ministry of Ordinary Places. Author …
For this week’s installment of What to Read Wednesday, I’m reviewing Anne Bogel’s latest book, I’d Rather Be Reading, wherein she shares universal “delights and dilemmas of the reading life.” Bookworm to …
I’m tickled pink to be reviewing another Who Was? Who Is? Where Is? biography alongside blogging pals online. These books are terrific additions to any home library and particularly great resources for …
Today was pretty much the best day ever, because Firstborn decided to make public and official her saving faith in Jesus by being baptized. Husband pushed back with written questions to …
In addition to our own two cats, two bunnies, two fish, a solitary snail, and one remaining guinea pig, my kiddos are presently tending to nine alpacas, eighteen chickens, three additional …
Confession: My family is Tolkien crazy, and “Who Was J.R.R. Tolkien?” is not a question one should ponder aloud in my presence. We love hobbits, elves, dwarves, and ents, wizards, …
Genetically my family’s not Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish —nor even Finnish or Icelandic— but today we were honorary Scandinavians. Uffdah! We enjoy learning about and celebrating other cultures, and immersive experiences —such …
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Cicero Firstborn’s back after a marvelous week away at summer camp, and we’ve resumed our normal reading …
Back in the 50’s, the Army Corps of Engineers dammed Oregon’s North Santiam River to create a reservoir. The dam still stands tall and proud today, providing Salem’s drinking water …
Hello Muddah, hello Faddah… We’re dropping the ball as bookworms this week because Firstborn’s away at summer camp. Sob! It’s a big deal for all of us– her first time overnight. I’m confident …
Six years and six thousand miles ago our son was born. At that same time, in Oregon, Husband had just accepted a new job and was poised to relocate our small …
This is not inaccurate. Still, the library’s best when you want to “try before you buy.” As homeschoolers, we’re frequent flyers of our local library year-round, but it remains on our …
Learnin’ needn’t cease entirely simply because of the tilt & rotation of the earth ’round the sun. I find it easier to keep some educational momentum going with our homeschool studies by following …
The Kindergarten graduates recently had another themed “book club” party, after procuring identical copies of Happy Pig Day at the library. Willing to do ‘most anything to keep them reading during …
For this week’s installment of What to Read Wednesday, and in conjunction with online pals, I’m reviewing a recent addition to our home library from our favorite modern historians who publish the most …
Our close friends moor their boat in the same lake where my Great-Grandfather drowned, years ago, on opening day of fishing season. Our daughters’ favorite new friend tragically drowned in …
In the margins of our summer adventuring and backyard science lessons, we’re actively logging reading hours to redeem at our local library. Does your library host a Summer Reading Program? In the same …
Handsome Husband whisked the fam off for a restful, yet adventure-filled couple of days at the Oregon coast to celebrate my recent birthday. We hiked, frolicked in the sand and …
Now that it’s officially summer, Little Man and the next-door cousins are joining in our daily homeschool riffraff… translation: backyard science, field trips, library days, read-alouds, & parties. We’re presently enjoying …
Smack in the middle of June busyness, on the last day of school, Center Sister turned eleven. Her current jam: Being a mermaid, making slime, watching silly YouTube videos, working …
We’ve put a bow on our school year, and what a year it’s been! 7th grade, 5th grade, and Kindergarten, respectively. Field trips, read-alouds, pet-sitting, art classes, youth group, park …
Castles, knights, catapults, and coats of arms– we’ve arrived in the Middle Ages in our chronological history studies for homeschool. Aiming to flesh out the kids’ curriculum with a practical, …
June’s always a bit bananas in our household– with birthdays, graduations, our anniversary, Father’s Day, and end-of-the-year school celebrations… this first week in has been no exception. Plus, with our foray into …
Firstborn seems to have received a generous helping of dramatic flair at birth; she’s a natural thespian, an undying lover of the theatre arts. She’s learning that being a true champion …
I love all books, but well-worn vintage books? They’re my favorite. I have quite the collection, I just can’t quit them… The history, the heft in my hands, displacement of …
The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me… last week’s What to Read Wednesday topic was religion, so I figured I’d share a smattering of our favorite faith-based books with y’all– …
Two years ago, as part of her birthday gift from her dorky parents, Firstborn ran the Save the Manatee Virtual 5k. To clarify, she actually ran, biked, skated, scooted, kayaked, …
It’s officially been a year since we closed on the purchase of our 1970’s fixer-upper… time flies when you’re swinging a hammer and rolling paint! Before: After: We never set out to …
Mother’s Day’s right around the corner, so naturally we’re featuring books about moms this week on What to Read Wednesday. I’m more of a Molly Weasley than a Caroline Ingalls, m’self. …
May’s proving nearly as full a month for our household as April was– in addition to our regular activities we enjoy celebrating whatever simple, minor holidays dot the calendar and incorporating them …
The only thing better than a good book is a good book series. We’re presently reading aloud the Mysterious Benedict Society series, but in our very first year of homeschool …
This silly meme is going viral in homeschooling circles: Frankly, I don’t get it… I love my village. And who doesn’t love The Village People?!* Last week alone we had two …
Spring rains have ceased and the sun has been luminous all week. We’ve been swamped with birthdays, theatre productions, choir concerts, and tball; yet we’ve managed to find time to …
It’s happened: Handsome & m’self are now officially parents of a teen. Firstborn turned THIRTEEN this week… it seems like just yesterday we were nervously securing her into a fresh-from-the-box …
Handsome Husband turned a year older this week. The kids and I were delighted to celebrate the guy who keeps all the plates of this family spinning, who quells the crazy with …
Earth Day falls on a busy week again this year: We’re celebrating Husband’s and Firstborn’s birthdays, have a choir concert & drama production (plus dress rehearsals), plus two t-ball games …
The topic of this week’s WTRW is supposed to be ladybugs; but little known fact: I’m afraid of ladybugs. I mean, not when they’re merely bumbling about the garden helpfully ridding …
Earlier this week the girls and I joined some favorite friends on a fun and informative tour of our state capitol as a homeschool field trip. Our guide explained the …
Pluviophile: Any organism that thrives in conditions of heavy rainfall. One who loves rain; a rain-lover. Surprise, surprise… this Oregonian loves rain. And what pairs better with a romantic, gray …
When it comes to Easter, we’re not really bunny and egg folk– though I dig a yolky Cadbury Creme Egg as much as more than the next guy. Still, we have one …
Happy Holy Week! Sunday was Palm Sunday; Holy Thursday, Passover, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday are later this week. Accordingly, for this week’s What to Read Wednesday I’m sharing our …
We were blessed to take a wee homeschool field trip with some visiting Montana friends recently, zipping north to rendezvous in bustling Portland where we discovered a hidden oasis amid …
Happy What to Read Wednesday! This week we’re talking about Mythology. When we studied ancient Greece for homeschool history we took an epic side journey into mythology, and lingered there for …
Surest Signals of Springtime– Crocus cups and croaking frogs; daffodils, tulips, and cherry blossoms. Babbling brooks, bunnies, and a bevy of birds; creeping caterpillars and clumsy calves. Conflict of compulsions …
It’s that time of year again, when nearly every American enthusiastically claims some fraction of Irish lineage. I’ve always believed myself to be of mostly Scottish (by way of Canada) …
This week’s official WTRW theme is monsters, but that’s not really our jam, and since we’ve no shortage of books in both our currently reading and to be read stacks, I’ll simply …
Warning! File this under the label: Topics Devoid of Even the Slightest Semblance of Eternal Significance, and brace your haughty eyes. I love the Oscars. With mere minutes until the ceremony …
As I mentioned in my last post, we’ve just returned from a little trek down the freeway to sunny California. Good golly, five persons in a Jeep for two thousand …
This week’s WTRW is a day late, because we’ve just returned from an extended literary field trip of sorts. Namely, a road trip to California wherein we once again visited …
Warning: Nostalgia alert! Do these glistening, golden spines transport you right back to your youth? Little Golden Books are a timeless fixture of many a childhood. Goldilocks and the Three …
Xin Nian Kaui Le! We rang in the Year of the Dog last night with a proper Chinese feast. As a bi-racial, adoptive family it’s important for us to honor …
It’s a full week of holidays: Abe Lincoln’s 209th birthday was Monday, Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) yesterday, and Chinese New Year is Friday. Firstborn found the baby Jesus in the …
Who’s excited for the Olympics? We are! The Winter Games commenced last night, but we’re especially excited for the Parade of Nations in the opening ceremonies tonight. Feeling internationally inspired, …
For this week’s WTRW theme we’re traveling ’round the world to India. It seems particularly poignant to focus on international titles as the Winter Olympic Games officially start TOMORROW! #ColorMeEcstatic …
On Gobbler’s Knob, bright and early this morning, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and officially declared six more weeks of winter. I’ve got chocolate pudding cups & teddy grahams at …
This week’s WTRW theme features Little Man’s very favorite animal… the panda! We have a plentiful plethora of pandas in our house, from tshirts to stuffies, mainly because –like Little …
Did you know? Today is Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Despite missing a year, I’m positively delighted to be participating once again by formally reviewing the most beautiful book… Getting quality, …
A group of kangaroos is a mob, a group of primates is a troop, a group of otters is a romp, and a group of penguins is a waddle. (see …
In honor of Monday’s Martin Luther King, Jr. day, this week’s WTRW is focused squarely on human rights. Human rights: Moral principles or norms that describe certain standards of human …
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