Superhero vs Villain

 Bobo..."Mom, we don't deserve heaven...but God sure is nice to let us in His home. Mom, did you know God is the best Super Hero ever and he is going to fight the worst villain in the universe, satan."

This is what Bobo told me today - just a few short days after his 6th birthday.

For some reason it stopped me in my tracks....did this really just come out of his mouth? He is only 6 - did he realize what pure TRUTH there was in his words? How quickly I have forgotten...Our Heavenly Father INVITES us IN HIS HOME. Home is where the heart is right?? I can tell you where this little boy-man's heart is....not entangled with earthly things yet....how can we raise them so that "yet" will become forever? 

God is the best Super Hero and the cool thing is this little boy truly believes that....there is always a good guy and bad guy when he plays. He told me God is the only real Super Hero.  And yes, little man, he is going to fight the worst Villain ever...and guess what else? I know who wins! 

So he turned 6 and we celebrated! 6 years without a broken bone...nothing short of a miracle for him - stitches and glue yes, but no broken bones! 

He came SO fast 6 years ago...I didn't have time to even have help with the pain - and OH the pain! (To think they tried to send me home...I just knew he was almost here!!) But OHHHH the joy when we we saw him for the first time.

It is quite comical for DJ & I - he looks different than any of our other ones so far - and he has since the moment he arrived.

He pushes the envelope in everything he does - he lives to the HILT!

Sometimes we have a hard time keeping up.

He has very little fear and is willing to try just about anything.

He likes things just so, but not as much as his big sister.

He is funny and can tell a joke very well...sometimes too well!

He says profound things for his age and "gets" way more than we realize...just when you think he is not listening he will tell you word for word what we say.

He has a fiery personality....and his little sister is following suit.

He get's in trouble way more than his siblings....but he is our little leader in training.

AND, he is our most affectionate child. He loves giving kisses to us. 
Happy Birthday sweet, CRAZY bobo - We love you more than words can express!

homeschooling LOVES!

I have had several people asking me about curriculum lately and while I am NO expert on choosing it (trust me, I have wasted money on curriculum I have never used), I wanted to share one thing I LOVE...I mean LOVE!
Last year I found the Pathway Readers some how - I don't remember how or where exactly - but I am pretty sure it was another blog. We fell in love with the readers and then this past fall as I was ordering curriculum I went to their sight only to find they had an entire Language Arts program. I got it and did I mention I LOVE it - because if I didn't I want you to know I LOVE LOVE it! And so do the kids!

It really takes you back to the basics of learning.
It leaves out all the "frills"
It covers :
   phonics
   vocabulary
   reading
   reading comprehension
   sentence structure

And the stories are wonderful!!!
Here is one of the 1st grade books - the other thing I really like - the books are hardcover and easy on the pocketbook.
So that's my two sense (whatever it is worth) on something our family loves.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

The most amazing Tree Farm in Michigan - Mott's Tree Farm - was visited by little ole' us over Thanksgiving! 

This is a favorite place of mine and I LOVE going there. I just love this time of year - family, friends, yummy food and celebrating our Saviour's birth. 

Can you see why - just feels like a home!

My brother and his sweet girl friend Ginger - we were looking for a tree for his house!

 my and my man...who refuses to smile just to drive me crazy

 The Gang in front of THE tree

 Tank being a great helper to the guys - he carried the heavy end of course 

Kobo decorating our tree at home 

bitty decides to stand and walk when nobody is looking...sweet, stubborn girl!

bitty turns 1 - 10-15-10

As Christmas is approaching like a bullet train, I thought I better post some of our fall! 

This was Bitty's Birthday weekend - Mimi & Pop came to visit from Michigan and we knew where we wanted to take them. This fall we found these beautiful trails by our house and have taken many hikes there.  We are actually anxiously awaiting the snow so we can go for a snow hike too. 

But this particular weekend was a gorgeous, crisp, colorful fall weekend - perfect for celebrating somebody turning ONE!

 Mimi happened to bring some hiking necessities...like binoculars! They were a HIT!

The sweet & spicy  birthday girl! Crusty nose, crumby mouth & all

A race to the top

Tank running all the way up

even Bitty loved it! weeeee!

 a RARE moment, a quick moment!

wasps nest! so incredible seeing the intricate details...mim tried tell the kids a bear knocked it out of the tree...I have since been trying to tell them bears don't live in Illinois...thanks Mimi! For some reason though, Mimi is NEVER wrong!

Another Fun find!

Sweet Tank talked pop into this

He almost fell asleep!

My mom and Bitty 

I cannot believe she is one! Oh where oh where did this time go?!? I am so thankful for every moment of her life - Thank you Lord for this sweet girl!

Bobo  thought it was SO cool he was on a bobcat!! 

Arae enjoying her famous stare!

Finally - he gave up the ghost! Love this boy!