Hosanna to the Son of David!

Nearly a year ago we ordered the Hymns For a Kid's Heart series and have been enjoying learning the hymns out of these excellent books since then. There are three more books aside from the one I linked to. The books are great and the CD's are of wonderful quality, we listen to them for enjoyment often. This Christmas, instead of singing Jingle Bells our girls were singing Once in Royal David's City. The new variety was refreshing. Once you have renounced Santa Claus your choice in children's Christmas music becomes somewhat limited ;). I remember when Bri was three her musical repertoire consisted of I'm a Little Tea Pot and  the Barney song. It brings such a warmth to my heart to hear Andrew belting out "He a-wose! He a-wose!", and Bethi playing with her dolls in the dollhouse singing, "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus...". It also often brings a smile to my lips, such as hearing Bethi's rendition of At the Cross. The correct version is...

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away (rolled away).
It was there by faith I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day.

Bethi's version is...

"At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light
And the bottom of my heart rolled away.
It  was there by faith I saved my sight, and now I'm a happy holiday!"

Obviously we're still working on that one ;).

Andrew's favorite is Holy, Holy, Holy. Whenever he sees us getting out the books he asks for it. He also enjoys a CD we have that incorporates Hebrew words and imagery into their praise and worship. At home or out shopping he loves to sing at the top of his little lungs, "Ho-wy, ho-wy, ho-wy...SHALOM!" over and over again, haha. I love it :)!

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? ~Matthew 21:15&16

Why We Home Educate...According to Tori

Earlier today, prompted by the suggestion in my new issue of The Old Schoolhouse magazine, I asked the girls why they thought we home educate. Bri knew all of the "right" answers and could articulate them even better than I had thought she would be able to. Tori came up with a whole new reason to add to the list :).
Her answer..."So you don't get lonely.".

Mother's Day

Matching Sisters

We Have a 3 Year Old Again!

On May 1st our little May Day baby turned three!

We really had her taken aback when we all came in to her room in the morning and sang happy birthday to her, and I think she was downright wary after we threw the confetti. By the time she came out and saw the streamers and balloons she seems to have recovered well though, heehee.

After a hearty pancake breakfast per the birthday girls request, we packed everyone up and headed to the zoo. We got to feed the birds, it was Andrew's first time and Bethi's first time that she remembers.

Andrew was kind of up tight at first with birds spraying him with water and flying by brushing his head with their wings, but before we left even he had calmed down enough to take a turn and have fun with it. Bethi about jumped out of her skin when a fight broke out between a couple of birds right by her head, but she recovered quickly and talked about the experience for days afterward and even still occasionally mentions it!

Another highlight of the trip was getting to see the new baby koala! Something the girls had all been looking forward to since we had heard of its birth. We even got to see the koalas move, a truly rare occurrence!



After we got home we had an early supper. Bethi wanted pizza and we watched Charlotte's Web (the old animated version). Mommy "cheated" on the cake this year. I frosted a cake and decorated it with a Little Pony play set. Hey, she was impressed ;). The play set came with a little plate of muffins that Bethi promptly lost. We couldn't find them anywhere and eventually we convinced her to go ahead and finish her cake and we would look again later. A few minutes afterward she went to take a drink and stopped abruptly. With the cutest look of bewilderment on her face she said, "Ummm, guys...what's in my drink?!". Yep, she found her muffins ;).
Besides the little play set she got some bath crayons and some lacing cards which she calls her "knitting". She likes to get them out when big sister Bri is working on her knitting :).





After cake it was time for baths and night devotions and then bed time. It was a very nice day. We have already planned the rest of the birthdays for the year and will have all of the minimal shopping done very soon. With Baby's due date the day before Lee's and my birthday and three more birthdays within the six weeks after that I know that birthday planning/shopping, etc. is not going to be very practical when the time comes ;).

1st Hair Cut

While the girls first hair trims have always been somewhat "traumatic" for me, nothing could have prepared me for the change a hair cut can make in a little boy! But, it does suit him and a couple of weeks ago even I suggested we cut Andrews hair again, he was looking a little shaggy. He is such a handsome little man :).

March 8th, 2008 (before his hair cut)...

March 8th (during his hair cut), he was really very good!

And May 11, 2008 after his third hair cut! Can you believe how much he aged in two months?!