Making "sugar cookie" tablets

Well, we are in the midst of learning about ancient Greece.  One of the activities I wanted dd1 to try was making a clay tablet with Greek writing.  Of course, to make the whole experience better for her, we made our "tablet" out of sugar cookie dough.  (School is always much more exciting when there's cookies involved)



She's studying the lapbook she's making to figure out how
to write the letters in her name, as well as some other words.




The finished product, pre-baked.  It says "Lydia, cat, gap, Lord".
Tilt your head, because this picture is rotated...oops!



 I didn't get any pictures taken after baking...they were excellent cookies!  They didn't last long, unfortunately.  Next week we learn about Alexander the Great.  I hope my dd's enjoy history as much as I am!

Spring has sprung!

What a beautiful week we've had!  Today, after our errand running, I planted 25 new strawberry plants in our raised beds.  Then I picked up the entire area of wind-fallen sticks and junk that dh has been piling around.  What a great feeling to have accomplished something out-of-doors!  Tonight after supper, the 3 older girls (baby was sleeping) and dh and I wandered around the yard looking at the new trees we've planted (4 cherry and 2 apple), admiring our animals, and looking for the lost chicken (we didn't find her).  Love being able to go out without coats!  Love spring!

Easter

The girls dyed eggs.  We didn't have any purchased dye, so we used food coloring.  Worked AWESOME!!!  The colors were vibrant, unless you took them out right away (like dd1 did).  So our eggs varied from pastel to bold, bright colors.  We'll do it this way next year, too, I'm sure!

 We spent Saturday at dh's parents house.  Three of the brothers made it home, Derek, Keith, and us.  They each brought their entire families, which was great!  It's so nice to see the nephews and nieces (and great-nephew).  It was a great day. 

 Even Luke got down and played with dd2 and dd3.  He's such a great kid.

 And then it was time for the Easter egg hunt.  The kids braved the cold, and the chase was on!

Isn't it funny how every picture I take of Easter egg hunts don't have any faces in them?  "Can't look now, Mom!  There's eggs to find!"  It's surprising you can see anything other than a blur!

Me, debate?

I am not a debater.  Especially about the things of God.  I wish I were more confident, better able to express my beliefs.  Only by relying on the Lord can I make an argument for something I believe in.  If I try to respond on my own, it's doomed to fail.  And so, after 2 days of prayer, I've entered the debate.
Evolution vs. creation.  Does it matter?  Maybe not.  But what if it does?  If my girls fall on the evolution side of things, what other parts of the Bible will they reject?  Maybe none of it.  But that is a chance I cannot take.  I'm raising my girls to know that they are special.  They were made in God's image, and they are Very Good.  They also are learning the other side of the argument.  I'm doing my best to counter that.  We discuss this often. 
I wasn't there when God created the world.  I don't know how He did it.  What I have is His Word that tells me what I need to know.  It tells me that God created plants, animals, birds, and fish each after its own kind (I don't think that sounds like we all have a common ancestor).  It tells me that He made man in His own image (what does God look like?  We don't know, but we know His Spirit, and that is the "image" we have imprinted upon our souls.  I haven't seen any "Neanderthals" that have that).  And it tells me that He did each of these things in one day (it was evening, it was morning, the 6th day.  Sounds like a regular day to me).  
I'm not looking to debate.  Really.  I am just a regular mom, concerned for her children, doing all I can to raise them as I believe I should.  I am not a "dunder-head" for rejecting evolution.  If I am not sophisticated enough to be "enlightened", then I thank You, Father.

Pretty little dancers

The girls had their pictures taken last Tuesday for dance class.  It's so much fun getting all gussied up, isn't it?

 

I having cocoa puffs before she goes.

  

L posing after getting her hair fixed.





Beauties.





Starting something new

Well, here I go...my first post.  I've been fiddling with the design for a week or so.  I guess it's time to just begin writing.  I'm not sure what this will end up to be.  I love looking at blogs, for crafty ideas, for recipes, for homeschool inspiration.  I think this will be a record of projects completed, places we've been, and some of the more exciting points of our school days.  Whatever it ends up to be, I hope whoever reads it will enjoy our journey as well!