Church School

According to my boys, they are no longer home schooled but church schooled.  That is because they do most of their work at church.  Today was our first full day of school there.  The big change to our morning routine is that Bryce started his on-line school

His on line school includes Bible, Language, Reading, Spelling and Penmanship.  We had a couple of glitches with the technical stuff, but once we figured it all out, Bryce did well.  In fact, he really likes it.  I also feel good about our choice to use this on line academy.  It allows me to do my work at church and yet know that Bryce is getting all the info he needs to complete his school work.  At home we will work on his science and history.  Today Bryce didn't get to his math so we will have to do that after lunch as well, but hopefully he will get his math done at church in the future.

Brian is on his own at church. He has set up shop in the church nursery because he likes the rocking chair. lol

Brian likes to dig in and get his work done.  I caught him working on his Algebra 1 figuring out circumference and perimeters today. Afterwards he will read his American History and answer the chapter questions, then on to science, language, and spelling.  You can tell that he is really thrilled that I interrupted his work. 

Canning

It's canning time again.  Time to put up and process all the fresh produce that has been growing in my garden or in anybody else's garden for that matter.  Once people hear that you can, then they are calling you up trying to pawn off all of their extra produce on you.  We will eat it so I take whatever I am handed.

Today was I busy canning tomatoes, peaches, salsa and relish.  Apples were on the agenda but that got tabled til tomorrow. 

Last month I was up to my ears in cucumbers, banana peppers, green beans, carrots and zucchini.  We figured that I  purchased over ten gallons of vinegar last month.  I ended up using all of my canning jars just on pickles and beans.  (I freeze the carrots and zucchini.) I had to borrow jars from friends to do my peaches and tomatoes.  I have about two dozen more jars left, but I have a feeling that won't be enough. I will have to beg, borrow, or purchase some more.  The tomatoes I processed today aren't even from my garden.  My garden is just now starting to produce tomatoes and not enough to drag out the canner.  Typically, I have to pick my tomatoes before they turn, pack them into boxes with newspaper and a quartered apple and wait for them to ripen in my garage.  We will see how this year goes. 

Canning days are long days but seeing all of those colorful jars in my pantry and knowing that my family will have good, healthy food this winter makes it worth it all.

Science Experiment

First, our day today started off early and sad.  Our dear friend, "father,"  loved one and mentor  passed on to his heavenly home.  Bryce Townley was the director of Alpine Boys Ranch when Todd was sent there as a thirteen year old.  From that time on, Bryce was instrumental in Todd's life.  Bryce's son, Chris, became Todd's best friend.  Bryce even traveled all the way to Tennessee to marry Todd and I nineteen years ago.  He has continued to be involved in our lives over the years.  After moving back two years ago it was great to reconnect with Bryce and his wife.  You can imagine how heart breaking it was to hear that Bryce had a tumor and that there was no hope of healing.  Yet, what a blessing it was to be with the various family members over the summer as they all gathered to step in and help with the care of Bryce as his health failed.  We will miss him very much and treasure all of our memories of Bryce Townley.

Despite our sadness, life goes on.  Bryce is no longer suffering and in heaven with our Lord. 

Our friends, the Harpers, are visiting with us this weekend.  After a sad start to the day, we all put on our swim suits and headed down to Bridge Beach off the Wenatchee River.  Todd and Mike took the kayaks and floated down to our beach and then the kids all took turns paddling.

Cast Off

With all of the drama of getting Bonnie ready for school, I failed to mention that Bryce got his cast off on Thursday. 

 Instruments of Destruction...waa haa haa (evil laugh)

 Fear and panic build...

 Resigned Fate...

 Off With His Arm!!!!

Ok,.. it wasn't so bad.  The mini Skil saw was a little intimidating but wasn't so bad.  It won't cut flesh...good thing huh?!  So the boy with the blue arm is no more.  He now has a splint that he has to wear for two more weeks.  Then it is back to normality.  Yeah!

The Saga Continues

Well, Bonnie is NOT doing AP Biology.  The principal called again and said she needs to take some other science to prepare for it.  He is afraid she might not pass the AP class and doesn't want to put that burden on her.  So Bonnie is taking Inquiry Science 2, whatever that is.  Next year she will take AP Chemistry and her senior year she will take AP Biology.  So her hard classes this semester will be Geometry and Inquiry Science 2.  Ok...we can handle that.

I still haven't figured out if they have accepted her transcripts from the subjects she studied last year.  I have a feeling they want to see what kind of student she is this year to see if she measures up.  Oh well...my stomach is not so out of whack now.  I still feel like I am the one be evaluated as her teacher.  Bonnie seems to be handling everything perfectly.  In about an hour, we head over to school to have orientation, get her locker, her "new" schedule and find her classes.