September means school!

It's been a fun month, ya'll...

No, you are not seeing things. 

I did dye my hair purple! 

It's funny the things you do to get ready to lead worship at a teen retreat for church...:):):)

I figured if there is any time in my life that I can have the "excuse" to do something weird to my hair, this would have been it- it's kind of a crazy trend anyway right now, so why not, right?

SO....obviously Momma took the plunge and did it. I don't regret it either...I think the kids liked it, (and some adults!;) so all is well. Probably won't be doing it again anytime soon (sorry, Shandi! - you did an awesome job!) but it was definitely well worth the stares. Lol. Believe me, if you want to get stared at in the store, dye your hair an odd color. I promise you won't be disappointed. Ha!

Well then. Onto other news.

Now that September has rolled around (again, ya'll, can you actually believe it's that time of year again?), we are getting ready for three more trips. We haven't taken any special trips with just Justin and I, or family trips for that matter, this summer, because we keep going on these church retreats and it's taking all of Justin's vacation! :) But they are sure worth it. Anyway, the next one is one I will take by myself, and they call it a "walk," but I'm not sure how much walking we will actually be doing. It's more about a walk with God. ;) It's a five day retreat, open to anyone in the area (not just our church), and I am so excited about it. And SO thankful for a husband who will watch the kids for me, who has a job where he's off for 7 days in a row, to be able to do so. What a blessing in so many ways.  

Then, following that, in October, Justin and I will be leading worship at a couples retreat in New Mexico. I have been asked to lead on keyboard, so we will start practicing for that retreat in early September. I am a bit nervous, since I've never lead worship using a keyboard before. I play at home a lot, but the last time I played before an audience was in junior high...I am willing to take on the challenge, though. We will see how it goes! ;) The kids will stay with grandparents, who I am so thankful live close by to help out (and bless our children so much in so many ways). 

Then, Justin will go on a "walk," at the end of October.

And, as for "preschool," we have finally officially started! We got our material in the mail, and homeschool has begun. ;) 

Surprisingly, it has been going very well. It's called, "All About Reading, PreReading", by All About Reading Press, and Kaleb (and Brookelynn, although, the emphasis has been on him since he's going to be four really soon!) LOVES it. He really learns fast. Last week, we worked on really getting down A, B and C, but I think I may review those letters more with them this week, too, since the curriculum I am using seems to go pretty fast. We begin by sitting at their little kiddy table and singing the alphabet song (which, K has perfected now and sang for Nana for the first time this week! He is SO shy!), then we do a special craft sheet of some sort for the letter we are working on (using paint, crayons, construction paper, whatever). Then, we use our rhyming cards and learn about what words sound the same. And then we read together. I am also incorporating some of the Interlock Weaver curriculum into it for Math, and we have been learning about sorting different shapes (and colors). Some of it is almost too easy for K though, so I might look into something more for him in the Math department. I am also thinking about using All in One Easy Peasy Homeschool online when I'm not using the All About Reading curriculum, because it'll be more review for them than anything. But anyway, that is what we've been up to as far as school! 

And then, of course, this is the kids schedule, I think...for the year...

Monday: Library Time at 10 a.m., school

Tuesday: School, then dance for Brookelynn at 4 p.m. (this is tentative...it depends on how much she likes it!)

Wednesday: School, then Preschool Choir and Mission Friends at church from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Thursday: Bible Club at 10 a.m.

Friday: School, and every other Friday, MOPS

We will see how this goes. It may change, but right now, that's what I've got. ;) 

SO, a lot of change in the air, of course. K's birthday is in about two and a half weeks, as well, so he will be having a "Cars" birthday (of course - what else, right?). He loves the movie, Cars, so that's what he wants. I cannot believe we will have a four year old. That's so weird! Time flies.

A few pics to leave ya'll with, of course. 

Cousin love (Abigail on right, Andrew on far left!:)

Painting with cars, of course, what else?

Got to visit one of our other favorite cousins a few weeks ago, since I was passing through the area. It still brought tears to my eyes, and it's been four years. He will always be in our hearts and so special to us. He is Kaleb's cousin in the Lord, who was due at about the same time Kaleb was to be born. We love you, Holden and we look forward to meeting you someday in glory!

Painting rocks! Got the idea from my sweet neighbor, Pamela! Why not? ;) 

Yes, they make me laugh every day. 

His favorite place.

Love to dance with our flags to Jesus music!

Our new pattern block puzzles! 

A verse to leave you with as we begin this new school year...

"If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.'" 

~ Psalm 91:9-16