Horse Lake Trail

This past Friday Dave was off and we decided to test out Josh's new bike. Hannah was also taking a first ride on a bike that was new to her. Dave has been wanting to try the biking trail at the top of Horse Lake Road as it is a pretty flat section good for beginners. It is single track, and is in good condition-not all rutted out. The easy section is about 1.5 miles (3 miles round trip). There are a couple of spots where it drops off to one side, but more so gradual, not a cliff. Josh, without gears, did hop off the bike a number of times to get up the small hills. Hannah was a bit unsure from the start. She had had a bad experience a couple summers back trying out mountain biking so was reticent going in. She persevered for probably 3/4 of a mile and then called it quits. The downhill with the bike shifting around just made her too nervous. The boys finished off the short course and then met back with us.

At that point, Josh was pretty tired and the next section was too technical for him. Dave decided to take the trail all the way to the Maiden Lane access point where we picked him up. Another nice thing was that they had bathrooms and a short hike to a lookout (which we didn't have time for). Great beginner ride with nice views of the valley.

Curious George

It has been busy around here. Four out of the last five days my kiddos have gone to bed after 9:30. That is very late for them as they are usually in bed by 8:00 for Josh and 8:30 for Hannah. So, today, some plans got cancelled and we just enjoyed a day at home. They have been corresponding with Curious George (via my dad).

Curious George wrote them an email last week telling them how excited he was to be moving out to Wenatchee and asked them a couple of questions. They enthusiastically wrote back; once we had time to. And, today, they were busy at work making a home for Curious George and some special things for him. You may remember the Chick House from the very beginning of the blog; well, that was renovated for Curious George to live in. Then, the pipe cleaners came into play-you can do amazing things with pipe cleaners. And, the fabric paint was pulled out as well. So, Curious George should be quite set when he comes. I did have to tell the kiddos that Grampa may not be willing to have him live with us; they may have to settle for just a visit.

P.S. Don't tell Curious George about all this if you see him. :)

Special Pillow with banana on it

Monkey made from pipe cleaners - Josh did this all on his own

I'm not sure what they decided about this - I thought it should be a rug - it is covered with all kinds of fruit Curious George likes

Hannah worked on his house and made him a full bathroom with a sink and bathtub - she's holding her palm tree in her hand - boxes are amazing things

Happy 40th Birthday

My most wonderful and handsome husband turned 40 yesterday! I have been told for the last couple of months that I am NOT to be planning anything particular, especially a surprise party. So, as much as I would have liked to, I refrained. We spent our day up at the lake and had a very small, quiet birthday celebration with his mom and dad. It was interesting to see how much they felt affected by his turning 40. I can't imagine Hannah or Josh turning 40! It is also interesting to see how 40 no longer seems so old.

Happy Birthday, Dave!

Reading

I realized the other day that I never wrote about what we used for our Reading program. We've used Rod & Staff the last couple of years. The kids learned to read using Sing, Spell, Read and Write. The main reason I use R&S is because it uses Bible stories as the basis for it's reader. I have a hard time feeding my children pointless stories as part of our homeschool time (although the Sing Spell readers are that way). The kids have started in Genesis and gone all the way through some of the prophets and a bit of Christ's life in the last three years. They hit most all the stories, not just the ones every storybook has. After each story, there is some assortment of comprehension questions, vocabulary, story order, map skills, and other miscellaneous questions.

You definitely wouldn't choose this program because it is jazzy and lots of color. All R&S materials are quite basic, black and white with pretty much no glitz. But, in some ways, that is also why I like it. Sometimes we need to have something in life we do just because it needs to be done.

We also don't complete each lesson in it's entirety. There is way too much book work for the time we have to allocate to Reading. I basically just go through the workbooks and choose out which sections I want the kiddos to complete-always the comprehension ones and another one or two.

The kiddos were both about 1 year in these pictures

Wenatchee Valley Museum

The cousins were over today and the weather didn't match what I had already planned, so we took a vote and decided to go visit the Wenatchee Valley Museum. It's been a number of years since we last went. It's a great museum with a lot of interesting exhibits. The favorites were the pipe organ, electric train, Coyote Corner and apple sorting exhibit. The staff demonstrated the pipe organ which is really amazing. It was originally used in silent movies many years ago and has a wide range of sounds. They also had the apple sorting machine working today which I had never seen. It was quite fascinating. They would actually throw the apples into tarps based on weight as a means of sorting them. The lady afterward told me it didn't last long as too many apples received bruises-not good. There are lots of other exhibits as well, and we enjoyed a couple of hours looking around and checking off the scavenger hunt list they provide. Fun day...

Art on the Avenue

The kids loved the old time wash board and wringer - Hannah thought we should get one

The Pipe Organ - it is really big

Lemon Herbed Chicken

I've been a little leery of posting a recipe that comes from a cookbook...didn't want to overstep any copyright laws or anything. So, I decided to see what Google said about it and it appears like there is very little issue in doing that. Just don't go and sell these recipes. :) Here is one that I frequently make for company when I don't have a lot of time or any brilliant ideas of what to make.

Lemon Herbed Chicken
from Favorite Brand Name Best-Loved Recipes of All Time

1/2 c butter or margarine (I use butter)
1/2 c vegetable oil (I don't use this, just the butter...who needs more fat)
1/3 c lemon juice (you could use a bit more if you like lemon)
2 Tbl parsley (I generally just use dried and change it to 1 T)
2 Tbl garlic salt (too salty for Dave so probably do a little over 1 T)
1 tsp dried rosemary crushed
1 tsp dried savory crushed
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
6 chicken quarters (I just use chicken breasts...probably around 4 for this recipe...it's pretty forgiving)

Place chicken in baking pan. Put all other ingredients in a sauce pan. Heat on stove till all is melted and mixed. Pour over chicken. Bake in 350 oven for 35 minutes for boneless skinless chicken breasts.

Now that I look at the recipe it says to grill it, but I always just bake it. The flavors are greater that way.

Just a note...the leftover pan juices are really yummy...I like to put it on the steamed cauliflower I sometimes serve with the recipe, and I scoop some over the served pieces of chicken trying to get mainly the herbs.

The Lighted Way

We read at a variety of times throughout our day. This book was one we have been reading before bedtime for the last couple of weeks. It is quite short, 77 pages, with only 10 chapters. The purpose of the book is to tell young children who Jesus our Lord is. Each chapter focuses on an aspect of Christ: as Redeemer, Bread of Life, Light, Door, Shepherd, etc. The chapters are written to explain each truth and partially do so with a story to engage the children. I thought the book did a good job at accomplishing it's purpose. The kiddos didn't particularly like it...I think that is in a large part because our previous bedtime book was more of a fun, easy read that didn't require much thinking. The book probably would have been better suited for our Bible Time. So, recommended book, but make sure the kiddos are ready to listen to more weighty material. I would also say that it was a good level for my kids' ages.

From 2003

Cherries

WARNING: This post is likely to produce envy in anyone who does not live in the beautiful Northwest.

Today was a great day in the Weber household...we ate our first cherries of the season. We've been talking about when "our" fruitstand would open for the last week or so and, today, the day came! I know this is sounding like it borders on obsession, and if you know our family, especially Hannah, you are probably right. We consume more fruit than any other family I know. One of my favorite by-products of living in the beautiful Wenatchee area is the abundance of delicious fruit that we have available all summer. I'm sure I'll tempt you with more fruit pictures as the summer progresses! :)

Gen 1:12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Have you ever seen a more perfect bowl of cherries?!?!?!

Hot Tub Religion

This book has been hanging around my reading pile for probably 8 months plus. I began reading it around 7 years ago but never finished it so I picked it up again sometime last year. I truly love the title and the shock it evokes from conservative Christians like myself. It is written by JI Packer so you know it is not what the title could possibly suggest. The subtitle is "Christian Living in a Materialistic World". His focus in the book is to contribute some words to important and critical questions Christians often feel unsure about (pg. 4). The reason why this book made it's way to me was due to a conversation with someone about how it seems wrong, in man's estimation, that God's highest purpose is to bring glory to Himself. Packer has a short section regarding that issue that was helpful to my understanding.


Anyways, here is an excerpt from the last chapter of the book entitled Church Reformation. I have pieced it together as it was too lengthy to reproduce in full. Good challenge to us all...


What would a work of divine reformation in our churches today look like?

First, there would be a sense of biblical authority-that is, an awareness that biblical teaching is divine truth and that the invitations and admonitions, threats and warnings, promises and assurances of Scripture still express the mind of God toward mankind. The bible would be honored again as the Word of God, and the perverse pluralism of liberal theology, which addles the brains and blinds the hearts of many, would wither and die.

Second, there would be a spirit of seriousness about eternal issues. Heaven and hell would be preached about, thought about, and talked about once again. Life in this world would once again be lived in the light of the world to come, and the Philippian jailer's question, "What must I do to be saved?" would be seen as life's basic question once more.

Third, there would be a passion for God, transcending any interest in religion or cultivation of religiosity. One's relationship to God would be seen as the most important thing in the world, and a Bible-based awareness of the greatness and awesomeness of God, the eternal Savior-Judge, in whose hands we ever are, would displace all cheap thoughts of God as just a useful pal.

Fourth, there would be a love of holiness growing out of deep conviction of sin, deep repentance, deep gratitude for forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, and a deep desire to please God.

Fifth, there would be a concern for the church. Christians would catch the biblical perspective, in which the church is the center and focal point of God's plan and the display ground of his saving and sanctifying wisdom.

Sixth, there would be a willingness to change-whether from sin to righteousness, or from lassitude to zeal, or from traditional patterns to new procedures, or from passivity to activity, or any other form of change that was needed. Believers would come together to praise, pray, encourage each other, and see what they could do together to advance the cause of Christ.

Summer Math Fun

The kids groaned when I told them we were going to keep up with math this summer, but teaching them long division and multi-digit multiplication again in the fall made me groan. So, I told them we'd do a handful of problems each day to which they promptly said, "That just means five!" :) "Okay," I acquiesced, "that's how many we'll do." In thinking of how to make math more enjoyable and less drudgery for the kids over the summer, I decided to make math question containers.

So, I made five jars (Costco nut/chocolate containers) each with different points: addition/subtraction, multiplication, division, story problems, and miscellaneous. The miscellaneous container has problems relating to units of measure, time, Roman Numerals, temperature, and averaging. One night while watching Lord of the Rings, I just cut out small pieces of paper and wrote out a problem to match the jar. The story problems I copied (on a copier, not by hand) from the back of our Abeka workbook which had extra problems if needed. Then, I crunched them up and put them in each jar. It is amazing how much more enjoyable math is if you get to reach your hand into something and pull out an unknown problem.

Another aspect to this is that each day when they have completed their problems, they are to put their answers into some turtles they made at VBS this week and for each one that is right there will be a little treat the next day-M&Ms, Smarties, Gummy Bears, computer minutes, or whatever else pops into my brain. I figured my kids will not grow up to be candy addicts with just a couple of those per day. :)

VBS finished up this morning, and I haven't been feeling the greatest this week so I took a pretty long nap this afternoon. When I woke up, the kids had completed 10-15 of the math slips and had them waiting for me, without be instructed to do them. That was a good thing to wake up to! Let the fun begin...

The kids with their turtles

Some of Hannah's papers...

The treats (some were from other things as well)

Friendship

Friendship...what a delightful thing. Along with the busyness of VBS, this has also been a week of getting together with many friends. I've realized the thing I like best is sharing lives together and talking about the things of God. I have a few friends whose conversations really encourage me in my walk and my daily struggles. What a delight that is. Another thing I also enjoy is discussing books and schooling...two of the things I love. I was looking at quotes on friendship and particularly liked this one:

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown

I think that is very true. Most of my dear friends I don't see or talk with as often as I'd like, but I've seen their care for me in many little ways. I hope I am that same kind of friend as well.

Prov 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Prov 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.

Some good friends...

VBS

It's been a fun and busy week at VBS. The theme is Rainforest and the church is decorated beautifully. I always enjoy seeing my kids first look at the decorations. They are always amazed. We have a record number of kids at 150+! That is incredible. I'm on my 3rd year in Little Kiddos (K-2) Story Tent and it's great to see half of the kids come through. Another aspect that's thrilling to me is how many kids from outside our church attend. It really has become an outreach in the whole valley. May God use this time to plant some seeds in kids' lives.

It was crazy hair day today - you can't see it, but the kids have glitter sparkles in their hair.

Recreation Time

Song Time - they always seem to learn a few songs straight from scripture which they remember year after year. Josh is on the right hand side in the gray jacket for any of you who are looking.

Keys for Kids

Keys for Kids are a resource from my childhood that we would read at night. They would come in the mail every two months or so. There are stories for each day with a moral point to them as well as a scripture passage reading, questions, verse, and key. The target age is 5-12. A very few of them have a more mature theme so we just skip them. Now they are available daily online as well as by mail. My kids have enjoyed them, but I really saw their older cousins respond well to the questions...they generated some good discussion. Great tool to have available for a quick devotion with your kids. We would often read them during snack time-make sure you read the bible passage as well!

From a few years ago...

Hunger for God

Just a quote today...

Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God. Half of Christian fasting is that our physical appetite is lost because our homesickness for God is so intense. The other half is that our homesickness for God is threatened because our physical appetites are so intense. In the first half, appetite is lost. In the second half, appetite is resisted. In the first, we yield to the higher hunger that is. In the second, we fight for the higher hunger that isn't. Christian fasting is not only the spontaneous effect of a superior satisfaction in God; it is also a chosen weapon against every force in the world that would take that satisfaction away.

The greatest enemy of God is not poison but apple pie. ...The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but His gifts. And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasure of earth. For when these replace an appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable, and almost incurable.

Therefore, when I say that the root of Christian fasting is the hunger of homesickness for God, I mean that we will do anything and go without anything, if , by any means, we might protect ourselves from the deadening effects of innocent delights and preserve the sweet longings of our homesickness for God. "

John Piper in A Hunger for God, excerpted from pgs 14-15

Pictures from three years ago...

Summer School

A few people have asked if we are going to do any school over the summer...the answer is yes, a bit at least. Last year I had grandiose plans practically none of which got done. So, this year, I am taking a more moderate approach. The main things I want to accomplish is keeping up with some general math, focusing on math facts, some speech therapy for Josh who struggles with Rs and Ls, general reading, some science experiments, variety of read-a-louds, some art, and maybe some health. We'll see...my philosophy is that it is better to have some structured activities than cranky, bored kids. Basically, if we have something specific to do on a given day, we'll do it; but if we don't, we do some "school" around here. I've found the kiddos are so much happier to play when the whole day isn't a total free for all. There are also some household projects I want to tackle that are much easier to accomplish when we don't have such a full schedule. Hopefully, at least a little will get done. :)

Here are some pics from our Father's Day dinner...

Hannah went around taking pics of all the flowers in our house (mostly cut ones).

Here's one of a hydrangea, the first year it has bloomed and it is gorgeous.