Homeschooling thus far

So, this year I made a bit of a change by dedicating a whole day to doing electives.  These are, by far, more enjoyed by my kidos AND ME, than doing 'regular' schoolwork.  Since I have put them on the back burner the last few years, these just weren't getting enough attention.
Hey, a teacher has to enjoy herself teaching too!!!

So, I renamed Wednesdays as "Yahoo Wednesdays"--my children get a hoot out of it, thinking it is NOT REALLY SCHOOL.  HA!!! Love this learning style.  Just my speed.

So, we've been studying the earth and rocks/minerals for science so far and LOVING it.  We are truly learning it while we read about it by hands on learning.

So where else to learn about rocks but by scavenging the beach for them?

We went to to the beach last week (well, its really a lake but they call it a beach.)

Here are some pics.  They had a blast!  TOTAL BLAST!

Why oh why, did I not pack at least towels-of course my kids would not get THAT wet.  HA!!!

Today, we have been enjoying learning about the rocks even more by doing streak tests for them and finding out what minerals they have hidden.

As for the little boys that I dedicate on these Yahoo Wednesdays to teach more in depth...we are on the letter C of the alphabet.  That means baking COOKIES for the letter C today :)  Chocolate Chip Cookies, of course.

This pregnancy, I think I'll be gaining ALOT of poundage!!! yikes.

God bless,
Mary @ Cheerios

Hello fall!

I love the changing of seasons....esp. Fall.  Those chilly mornings turn beautifully warm and sunny.  Perfect for outdoors and breathing in all the fresh air possible.  that means for great sleeping, great eating and great exercise!

Here's a pic of my kids last week that loved the first cold morning of the season...seems we are doing this annually!  Becoming quite the tradition.

This also means I have to stock up on hot cocoa!  I have gotten some my kidos to like hot tea but most still request hot cocoa and since I have kept saying its not cold enough...well, now it is!!! :)  Better go out and buy some!

I just found this one from 2 yrs ago.... I know that I took one last year but can't find it!  I love how little my (gasp!) almost 4 yr old looks in this one!  So cute---as cute as my lil Lady looks in the one above!!! 

Kids are teasing, running around and going nuts while I'm on the computer (I know...surprise surprise! haaa)

God bless,
mary

Happy Easter 2012 and pics

COLORING EGGS ON HOLY SATURDAY

WE DID OUR USUAL EGG COLORING BUT THIS KIT ALSO HAD "EGG SPECKLING" IN IT...A BIT MESSY BUT THEY CAME OUT REALLY COOL, HUH?

HEY LOOKY HERE!  THE EASTER BUNNY STOPPED BY AND FILLED UP 7 BASKETS!

IT WASN'T THAT EARLY....IT WAS ABOUT 6:45AM BUT MY CAMERA FLASH WAS NOT WORKING

AFTER MASS LOOKING FOR EGGS (DON'T MIND THE MESS!  I HAVE A VERY SMALL AREA FOR SCHOOLING!)

I FOUND ONE IN THE ROSARY DRAWER!  DOESN'T EVERY CATHOLIC FAMILY HAVE A ROSARY DRAWER OR A ROSARY JAR??? HAA HAA

STILL LOOKING...

REAL MEN WEAR SUITS AND LOOK FOR EGGS! :P

SO PRETTY

EASTER SUNDAY COMPLETE WITH A BUNNY CAKE.  IT WAS FUN AND REALLY YUMMY TOO.

WHAT TO DO WHEN ALL ALONE ON EASTER SUNDAY WITHOUT extra FAMILY TO CELEBRATE WITH?.....GO TO A PARK AND PLAY SOME FOOTBALL!!!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE...HERE IS MY LIL' LADY THAT I CANNOT KEEP UP WITH.   GOOD THING SHE HAS LOTS OF DOTING SIBLINGS TO WATCH HER!

EASTER HIKE 2012.....WITH EASTER BASKETS IN TOW TOO!!!  JUST IN CASE WE FIND INTERESTING THINGS AND OF COURSE WE DID.  ON A NATURE HIKE, EVEN ROCKS ARE INTERESTING AND FUN TO COLLECT!

"HEY MOM, IF I HANG HERE LONG ENOUGH....MAYBE I'LL GROW A FEW MORE INCHES!"

ON THE GO WITH LIL' LADY....ISN'T SHE PRECIOUS?  YUP!

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THESE PICS....I HAD FUN UPLOADING THEM AND LOOKING AT THEM TOO....I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST THE DAY WENT.  I even managed to make a nice dinner....a sweet delicious ham, mashed potatoes (real!), real sweet potato pie w/marshmallows, corn, TONS of applesauce (my kids LOVE LOVE LOVE applesauce!!!).

God bless your Easter week!!!
Keep celebrating!!! Jesus is Risen!
God bless,
Mary

Signs of SPRING!!!

Family Hikes

***Photo credits of all closeups to my 9 yr old daughter!!!  Didn't she do great?! :)

Spring, we're so happy you're here!

God bless your day,
Mary

Sunset

Aren't these just breathtaking?

We LOVE sunsets and they are so clear to see when those big ol' trees are bare. 

God does quite the most beautiful paintings in the sky. 

God bless,
Mary

Funny Faces

Ha ha ha!!! :LOL!!! :)

This is my 3rd child, age 7. 

I will be introducing you to my kids in pics over the next few days!

Stay tuned.

God bless,
Mary

9th Birthday Pics

Yesterday was my oldest daughter's 9th birthday and guess where we went!
It has to do with shoes and balls...

SHOES:

AND BALLS:

Those shoes always look so darn cute on little feet, huh?!?!

Now, check out my new 9 yr old daughter!

It was quite the adventure telling them over and over again to stay off of where the bowler is... I think they got it finally 10 minutes before we left! haaa

I love this pic:

Do you see his socks?  Only a sweet cute 4 yr old can pull that off!
And that cute big guy next to the cute little guy?  Yeah, he's taken.

Bowling!  We got a sweet deal of 2 free games (yes, FREE!) per week per child.  All we had to do was pay for the shoe rentals for them all.   We loved it, had such fun, cheered each other on-we were really loud!!! but, do you know what was louder?  The nasty music!  My hubby asked them to turn it down when we arrived b/c we could not even think, it was that loud.  But, we think they must have turned it back up little by little-it was SO loud when we left! 

And that music?  Oh my.  No thank you.  Let's just say that my kids were like

"What is that?  What are they saying?  Why aren't they listening to the Christian music station?"

But before we left, it was CAKE TIME:

Happy Bday to you!!!
God bless,
M