Swim Lessons

We started swim lessons tonight! All four girls! Mary Ellen and Molly are in a Pre/K class together and Lexie and Leah started in Level 1. Afterwards, Lexie and Leah's teacher came to me and asked if he could bump them to Level 2. He said they were ready!

They had their first experience with a locker room tonight!

That was interesting!

Molly on a swim board, learning to kick her feet

Mary Ellen on a swim board

Mary Ellen with a swim belt on, learning to pull her arms up out of the water

Molly

Leah and Lexie

Lexie finishing a lap

Leah and Lexie, resting after their lesson!

We'll do this every Tuesday and Thursday evening for the month of October! They are beyond excited!

Living History Farms

I didn't think that we would make a trip to Living History Farms so soon after moving here. But we did. Greg's mom came to visit and we were looking for a little something to do on his day off last week. We chose this. Good idea. It was so fun! 

You step back in time to 1875 and walk through a little town, Walnut Hill. They had every little reproduction building on a town square you could think of with all the fixin's inside. 

This is the doctor/dentist's office.

The Bank

The Church

The School House

We road a wagon over to another "time zone" and experienced the 1700's. Then walked to another "time zone" for the early 1900's. I really enjoyed the tours of all the homes. They were sooo neat!!!

Here, Greg is visiting with the horses on the early 1900's farm.

Christmas in September

Our first revival in Knoxville was with Rev. Pat Burkhalter and his family! How about that? It was already planned and scheduled before we even got here! 

Donna and I knew that it may be a while before we see each other again, so we needed to celebrate our "Christmas gift giving" while they were here. And if you know Donna and me, we can't do anything half-way! We decided to go all out! We put up a tree, decorated the living room and dining room, baked Christmas goodies, wrapped gifts, and put together an awesome menu (with help from ladies in our church)!

We even dressed up in Christmas clothes!

The girls and their "big brother" Jonathan!

Can't you tell how much they love him?

Greg, Lexie and Pat did well guarding all the Christmas goodies!

I always  buy Jonathan Mac and Cheese!

I found this NFL Colts comforter at a local thrift store. Why it was in Iowa, I don't know. But he loved it. Can't you tell? It's his favorite team!

And of course, Donna blessed the girls with lots of special gifts!!!

Merry Christmas in September!

Library Story Time

This little post is simple and short. For the last few weeks, we've been going once a week to the Public Library for Story Time. This is for Pre-School age kids, so Mary Ellen and Molly have been attending. During that time, Lexie and Leah read books of their own in the "big kid" section of the library. 

First Day of School 2013

What do I say?

I'm blessed that these four young girls call me Mom.

I am their teacher.

The Lord is teaching me how to teach them.

It is not easy.

Homeschooling has taught me more about my need for the power of the Holy Spirit.

I do not pretend for one minute to do this within my own strength or wisdom.

I am so thankful for God's grace and His help that He gives each day.

Our new school room! 

When we moved our furniture in the new house, we decided to put the piano and organ in the school room. Why not? I'm glad we did. By the way, God has blessed us with a new piano teacher. And Mary Ellen started lessons for the first time this year. 

This is, kinda, Mary Ellen and Molly's section of the room. 

The girls each have their own shelf for their school books. 

I've always wanted a horse-shoe table for our school room. The church had an extra one and we were able to borrow it! What a blessing! It's so nice!

Pella, Iowa - Dutch Country

From the time we visited Knoxville, Iowa, we were told about Pella, a little Dutch town. Everyone encouraged us to go. From Knoxville, there is a nice scenic route that includes alot of Red Rock Lake, the largest lake in Iowa. This picture was taken from the "Mile Long Bridge." We were headed to Pella one Friday morning for Dutch pastries. It's so worth the 15 minute drive!

Molly is enjoying doughnut holes in this picture. Behind her you can see the Jarsama Bakery Shop. The town has a nice park in the middle of town, perfect for enjoying pastries!

Everyone around here loves the Bakery's Dutch Letters. I had never had one before. I thought it was neat that on the day we came, they made them just for me! 

(Not really. But it's nice to think that! I think they always make S's.)

I wish I could figure out how to turn pictures the right way! Oh well. 

This one is still so cute, notice the Dutch Bakery in the background!

Iowa State Fair

We were blessed to be able to go to the Iowa State Fair a few weeks ago. There were 2 young couples in our church that took us and showed us the highlights of the fair.

This is a "green bean" type vine that created a tunnel for children to crawl/walk through. The girls really enjoyed it!

There was a farm experience for kids that we enjoyed participating in. 

First, kids pick seeds and plant in the ground.

You must water your seeds for them to grow!

Then you harvest your fruits and veggies!

Next, the kids took their produce to the barn or farmer's market to sell.

They milked pretend cows and received a "school" like milk carton for their basket.

After the farmers did all their work, they sold their produce to buyers and received "money." They then got to take that "money" to a little store and buy something.

Lexie and Mary Ellen bought popsicles.

Molly bought chocolate milk, go figure!

And Leah bought a potato. Yes, a potato.