Memorial Weekend

Barry is always off on Fridays so when he got to be off for Memorial Day it has seemed like a real loooong weekend! Friday we got a ton of yard work done. I know that may not seem like fun but it really was. More importantly than having a nice yard, it really makes me aware that Asa is doing well enough for us to get involved in projects and actually complete them! Usually we'd start projects and then have to stop for an Asa issue. It left me feeling very ADD and scattered to have so much half done.
 Not to say it was easy! Asa required lots of distraction and redirection! Cade played with him and was a great Asa helper! Cade got out Asa's plastic pool. He hooked up the water hose and let Asa fill the pool up. Once it was full though, we decided it should be in the shade so Cade poured it out and set him back up again. Again, once it was full we decided we should move it to the deck under the big umbrella. Cade poured it out and set asa up again! Thankfully, Asa didn't get outdone with us. All he really wanted to do was play in the water hose anyway! He never actually even got into the filled pool.

 Since we got so much done we decided to invite some new friends over for supper on Saturday. Asa enjoyed helping me cook! We had a great evening!

Then, Sunday we camped out on a creek that runs thru my parents farm. I'll just say that I was NOT into camping out! We had a lot to do today and I just wanted to sleep in my bed! We had a good time though. The kids were excited to get our big tent out. We enjoyed sitting around the camp fire and talking about the stars.
 

Check out this before and after photo.... This time last year Asa was using his walker to check out the planting. This year he is walking on his own but did like to have Dee Dee along for company while he checked the crops! What a difference a year makes!

Today we were invited to a cookout and fishing!!! Gracie was excited to try her fishing skills out again!

And she didn't leave empty handed!!! She only caught one fish but look how big that one was!! I measured him at 2 flip flop long! Real official, right!

HeeHee, she wasn't sure about the kiss the fish that I suggested!

Anna and Cade are kicking off summer breaking by working at Project Acts with our church youth group. They'll stay away from home and do service projects around town. I hope they have fun but more importantly, I hope they both stretch their boundaries and see the needs of people in our town. We can talk all we want about sharing God's love with others but these guys have a real opportunity to do this at a young age! Praying for their safety and boldness this week!

School's out for Summer

Today is our first day of summer break!! I'm usually super excited but not so much this year!

 Asa has had a GREAT year! He's just changed, grown and developed so much. His school is just perfect for him. It was a Pre-K center and all the kids were his size. The playground is perfect for him to play. All the tables are just right for a 4 or 5 year old. His little friends were precious together. His teachers were more than wonderful. I didn't want any of that to end for him! Our plan for next year hit a road bump and is now unsettled. I'm sure it'll work out fine but it's just one more reason for me to dislike change!

Before the year started I had doubts about Asa's ability to handle a full day of school but he handled it like a pro! This year he started eating instead of just drinking his formula. He made friends with some sweet kids that always wanted to take care of him. He loved giving hugs to his friends. He learned how to climb up to the slide and go down by himself. He learned how to go up and down stairs here too!!! He started watching Super Why and interacting along with the show just like he should. We just didn't know what he was saying when he "answered" their questions! Last night he was answering Wheel of Fortune too! He loves letters! There was never a day that I worried about him at school. He had wrapped too many folks around his little finger! Oh, how I will miss the people that took such good care of Asa this year!

Asa's sweet teacher, Mrs. Jeanna

And his aide, Mrs. Brenda

Cade and Gracie are done for this year too. We decided to keep them home this year and used the K12 curriculum through Tennessee Virtual Academy. I really had a hate/love relationship with this until about Christmas. Then it turned into a love/hate relationship. Cade loved being so independent and getting his work done mostly on his own. Gracie and I really started getting into a groove after the Christmas break. We really started having a lot of fun. And surprisingly, she got very independent also! She could log on to the computer and take care of several classes without any help or reminders from me!

In the fall they had to take an online standard test in math and reading. They retook the test a few weeks ago. Both kids did great! Cade was already in the advanced group for math but he also brought his reading up to the advanced level. Gracie went from low average in reading to high average in reading. She also improved her math score even though she was already in the high average group. I'm not a fan of standardized testing but I do like that this test showed me they have improvements and growth this year. I don't think it's fair to test kids against each other but it's a good measure when you test them against themselves. My biggest fear was that I'd waste a whole year and they'd have to go back to B&M school behind. Thankfully this didn't happen at all. We are registered for K12 next year but I'm still searching our curriculum to break out on our own. There's just soooo many choices! One thing is sure though, I love having them home! It's made life a million times calmer and less stressed.



Anna finished 10th grade and there was a small glimmer of hope that she'd try homeschooling. Sadly for me, she decided to stay at South Side! Lol! She branching out and is joining the band next year! She's full of talent but has always stayed away from the public spotlight! I'm excited she giving band a try and I think she'll be great! I still don't know how it's possible for me to have a high school junior!

No matter how much I want time to just move a little slower, 2013-2014 will see us with a Kindergartener, 5th grader, 7th grader and a high school junior! For now we'll enjoy the next 2 1/2 months!

Mercer Baptist Church Community Fun Fest

A neighboring church held a Community Fun Fest today. There was archery, fishing and great food. The best part was the fellowship and listening to the Word of God preached outside in His creation! It was a beautiful day all around!

This was Gracie's first time fishing. She only caught one fish but she's ready to go fishing again! She loved it!

She wasn't gonna take the fish off though and I was busy with Asa and pictures so thankfully a friend stepped in before her daddy had to help.

Asa liked playing in the little box of dirt.....

until he found the worms!

A boost of caffeine. Probably the only thing that kept him going until bedtime to night! Asa walked and walked today and had a blast!

May already.....

I can't believe we are in May already! The year is flying by! There's only 2 more weeks of school. I'll mostly be sad when the school year ends. I feel like we are just really getting a hang of homeschooling and what works best for us. Now it's almost over for a while. And Asa's just having the best year! He's grown so much this year. He loves his friends and they love him. A few little kids especially take care of him. It's pretty adorable! He's teachers love him to pieces too! I'll hate this year to end for him. it just seems so perfect for him! Right now, Asa and anna are both sick. They have high temps and achy when the fever is up but no other symptoms. Asa ran a low temp for several days before today. I hope they feel better in the morning.....or at least have symptoms that let me know what the problem is. It's kinda good that anna has the same thing as Asa. He can't talk so I ask anna how she feels and try to see if he feels the same way! Hopefully, they'll both feel better tomorrow!