Well Whatta Ya Snow !?!

I love getting up in the morning and all of my friends that live around here have already updated about the snow that fell yesterday! Gotta love Texans! The weather is so nuts... Friday 62 and Sunday snow!!

YES... for all of the Colorado clan, it snowed again. Two years in a row. And if you are feeling a little skeptical about what kind of snow, I have pictures to prove it. And no.... its not Texas snow that really is ice and we just pretend. This was certified powdery snow that actually stuck to the ground. The kind that swirls around in the air until it lands on the ground. The kind that makes that lovely crunching noise when you step in it. The kind that makes awesome, compact and hard snowballs to throw at everyone. And the big one, the kind that the boys actually were able to sled down a hill!!

And yes... even though it was real snow and very little ice, true to Texas fashion or should I say fear of any winter weather, all of the schools have shut down or delayed. That is always a running joke between us Texas Hills and Colorado fam. If there is a hint of cold weather with a slight possibility of precipitation, everything here shuts down. My SIL learned that the hard way when she went off to CSU her first year. She tried to stay in bed the morning of their first real snow thinking surely school would be canceled. Her roommate, from Nebraska, laughed and said "If we school was closed every time it snowed here, there would be no school!" LOL

So yes, we get a little loopy around here when anything white falls from the sky!! And I am no different. Here is the proof...

It started out slow and we figured this would be all we saw. We were excited about that but we had no idea.

Ethan started out in just jeans and a turtleneck. We don't really have snow clothes and like I said, we really didn't think it would progress to much of anything!

Then it really started to come down:

Isaac took full advantage though. The first thing he said was "Wanna have a snowball fight!"

Can you see the progression:

Ready

See the look on his face:

Aim

He wishes! There was no firing at mom today ;)

Ethan wrote this on the back of Steve's Scout

It started out slow but by 3:30pm, it was really coming down. I could barely see the house when I took this one.

It was so beautiful

I am such a bird nerd. It was fun watching all of the little birds hopping around in the snow.

This one was checking me out!

Of course they had to try the slide. We finally found their hunting coveralls so they would be properly protected.

I love this shot. It reminds me of Narnia.

I know, again, I am such a nerd

It really accumulated. They said 6" in some areas.

Steve started this shed on Saturday when it was 60 degrees outside. We really didn't think it would snow on Sunday so we could finish.

I love the snow. Its so calm and quiet. Refreshing! God really gave us a blessing down here in Texas. We love every minute of it!!

Psalm 51:7 "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow"

Adoption Update

I haven't mentioned lately about our arduous adoption journey. Not because there as not been activity but because it's a slow and tedious process and best to update all at once. Adoption is not for the faint hearted.

So here it is January and we are almost there. After a lot of prayer and considering our lives and what we would like for our family dynamic to be, we have decided not to foster right now. We are going to go ahead and be a certified foster family to be able to provide respite care for our friends that are foster families but are decision is to go straight adoption. I have to admit that I am so excited about this decision but a little nervous too. Because we are going to adopt out of the foster care system, the likelihood that the child that will be part of our family is already born is thrilling to me. Who are they? What do they look like? What circumstances will bring this child to us? So many emotions are wrapped up in that! We have been talking about adopting for so many years that now that we are so close, it's really had to believe. Anxious best describes our demeanor.

So how close are we? We have completed all of our paperwork for Buckner, we are scheduled for our CPR class at the end of January, a home study and due to the untimely death of Steve's grandfather, we have 2 more PRIDE classes to complete. If all goes well and with out hitches, we should be ready to go at the end of February. Whew.... that's in about 8 weeks!!

God is so evident in all of this and we lean of the fact that He has amazing plans in store for us. He has a child all picked out to join our family and bless us beyond imagine. What a mighty God we serve. Our prayer is that we live up to the life that He has called for us. May it not be about us but all about Him through this journey!!

Please pray for us in these last few weeks. Pray that we stay focused and strong through all of the scrutiny of a home study and the decision to give a child a forever family!!

Our Homeschooling Year

"Children should be taught their duty toward God. It is their duty. That which they owe, to love Him "with all their heart, with all their mind, with all their strength" these things are seldom taught as they should be."

Charlotte Mason

I realized that I have not blogged at all this year about homeschooling. After last year's gripe fest about how awful working/school was, you would think I would be brimming over with wonderful things to say about being home again with the boys. And although we all love it, it's seems like I had to start over again and get into the groove of schooling at home. With no boss looming over me, no lesson plans that had to be submitted by a certain hour, no classroom full of eager children to teach and no parent's to wow, it has been a slow start.

You would think after homeschooling for 5 years I would be able to just pick back up and run with it. The funny thing about homeschooling though, it is never the same as the year before. One thing I could really see that enjoying about teaching school, is that once you learn the curriculum for your grade, each year gets easier. Not so with homeschooling. Your schooling changes each year as your children change. Maybe a weakness in math one year is improved upon and the next they struggle with grammar. There is not necessarily consistency in learning.

So this has been my struggle through the years. I research and research and research curriculum. Look through countless books and programs and then I buy, buy,buy. I usually get real excited when I finally choose a program. Next I delve into the planning, organizing and a feel very prepared and ready to go for the year. Finally, about 2 months into schooling, I get frustrated with the programs that I have chosen and want to throw in the towel.

This year was no different. There are so many choices in homeschooling. So many cool programs, shiny packaging and wonderful websites that suck you in. And I am such a sucker! All this to say, yes, I chose curriculum that seemed great and yet again, was not a wonderful as I thought it was. Not because they aren't great programs, just not right for us. I knew I could not repeat the same cycle as in the past. So instead of just changing the books, I needed to figure out what I wanted out of homeschooling. Do I want the to just "get through" the year by worksheets and facts or did I want to cultivate a love of learning with my boys. They already are natural learners. They are constantly asking questions, reading books or finding ways to know more about their interests. So, why do I always seem to find the one program that squelches that love?

So, all that to say....after some prayer and great friends advice, I have gone back to a more relaxed homeschool style and chosen a program that fits my vision for schooling for us.

So what, after all of that, is the program that is working so well for us.......?????

Ambleside online is a program that follows Charlotte Mason's method of schooling. She was a British educator at the turn of century that "believed that education was about more than training for a job, passing an exam or getting into the right college. She said education was an atmosphere, a discipline and a life; it was about finding out who we were and how we fit into the world of human beings and into the universe that God created." (Anne White).

This program has been wonderful for us. It is truly a relaxed way to look at homeschooling. There are no workbooks, no every day tediousness. Just a lot of reading (silently and together), talking about what we read together, outside time, creativity and virtually no whining and crying from me or the boys. We draw together, read and memorize scripture and poetry together, talk about history and the effects together. Overall we are learning and experiencing education as a family and not just a specific grade level.


Check out the Ambleside Link above to see specifically what we are doing. Ethan is in Year 5 and Isaac Year 3. Books that have already been read by the boys themselves and as a family;

Peter Pan - J.M Barrie (together)

A Wrinkle in Time - Madelaine L'Engle (together)

Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving (together)

The Hobbit - J. R.R. Tolkien (Ethan)

Carry on, Mr. Bowditch - Jean Lee Latham (Ethan)

Of Courage Undaunted - James Daughtery (Ethan)

The Magician's Nephew - CS Lewis (Isaac)

The Princess and the Goblin - George MacDonald(Isaac)

We are also listening to Pilgrims Progress unabridged version while we work and our newest novel is Anne of Green Gables. I am really loving reading these books too. Most I have not read and if I did read, I can't remember. We are looking forward to so many more this year!!

We have a very full schedule but the more relaxed approach sure has been less stressful for us all. I think we have finally found the program we are sticking with. Finally!!

Here is the major texts that we are working through this year. Some of the books are classics, some out of print but all of them are full of rich text and thoughtful language. I recommend these to anyone who is looking for great literature; even if you are not homeschooling.

Both boys listen to this book online. They are learning ancient European History that is so vital in understanding our history as Americans. They both love it!

Again both boys are working through this one to. Isaac and I read this one aloud and Ethan reads this on his own. Both boys are expected to "dictate" to me what they have just heard. Dictation is essential to a CM approach and really helps them retain what they have learned.

Ethan is reading through the section on the Orient. He learning Ancient Chinese history as well as the Chinese number system and alphabet.

Isaac reads this text aloud to me. We have just finished American explorers and are starting the British Colonies soon.


This is our church history text. Great for learning about and being inspired by great men and woman of God. Some are martyrs and others that have changed church history.

We are SLOWLY working through "A Mid Summers Night Dream". The language is difficult but the boys find the language fascinating and a bit funny at times.

Our spelling curriculum uses famous quotes, scriptures or passages from poems or novels to teach spelling. Each week the boys learn not only how to spell their passage but also memorize them too. Ethan's favorite by far are the quotes from Abraham Lincoln.

Science is done with our homeschool co-op this year. We meet each week with other families to do the experiments over the each chapter. The boys are also taking a Current Events class, music, art and PE at co-op.

We are also learning Greek and Latin this year. This is by far the boys favorite time! They love trying to come up with modern words that we use with the Greek or Latin root word. Their vocabulary is becoming quite impressive.

Ethan's math is running is own bookstore this year. He has to take inventory, pay bills, fill orders and also learn to work around random obstacles that I get to loving throw at him from week to week.

We are not doing grammar this year with Ethan. He has a pretty strong understanding of usage, so we moved on to teaching him to think through problems and come up with logical conclusions.

Isaac's Math program is all on the computer. This program has fun lessons and quizzes and is easy for me since all grades are kept online.

And lastly, Isaac's grammar program. It is a slow introduction to grammar while promoting thinking skills as well as writing skills. Love this one!

Whew!!! That's our year so far in a nutshell. I think we are in it for the long haul! I better not say for sure, you know me..... I always shake things up to be interesting!!!

Burn Baby, Burn

New Year went out in a bang in a traditional Hill family celebration. It started off with this beautiful sunset. It was amazing due to the unseasonably warm day.

The boys were excited to be able to stay up late and that our sissy dog was inside because she was so afraid of the fireworks from our neighbors.

Then the event that we all look forward to every year; blowing up our Christmas tree.

It was really scary how fast and hot it went up!

We are so redneck but we wouldn't have it any other way :)