Finally Blogging Again!

Sorry about the long time off but I have either been real busy or not in the mood to write. We have been busy though. Also, I am unable to download my pictures and videos at this time. I do not know why. As soon as I figure it out I will put some on here.

The recycle party was a big hit. All the kids came dressed up. The best one was an old fashioned radio made out of a cardboard box. We broke the kids up into 2 teams and they got to pick whatever recycled materials they wanted to use and then make something out of it. One team made a city complete with skyscrapers, cars in parking lots, and a water tower. The other team made a boat dock a boats. Both teams worked really hard and did an excellent job. It was awesome watching them use thier imaginations and work together as a team.

The other things we have been up to is:
Letterboxing at Yellow Branch Falls.
Hiking to Yellow Branch Falls.
Playing in the river at Chau Ram Park.
A field trip to the nuclear plant for Earth Day.
Baseball! Lots and lots of baseball!

Well, off for more adventures! As soon as I can, I will add pictures and videos.

Raining Again!

We have had a great week despite the rain yesterday and today. It is supposed to rain again on Friday and maybe Saturday. I will be glad when it dries up.

Isaac decided he wanted to have a custume party on monday because he heard Michelle talking about one for one of her friends. So we have planned a recycle and reuse party. We have invited 4 other homeschool families to join us. Everyone is to wear a homemade costume and bring recycled material from thier homes. Anything from cardboard, plastic, fabric, string, wood, etc. We will divide the kids up into 2 teams and they have to make something using the material. We will give out prizes for costumes and creations. Isaac and Cade got the recycle box out yesterday and were already trying to make robots and other things. Cade wanted me to tape 16 oz. water bottles to his head for eyes. I did it today. He would not let me take a picture though. It was really funny. I think the kids will have a great time. I will be sure to take lots of pictures.

Tuesday the weather was about 70 so the boys and I and some friends of ours went to Chau Ram park. The boys got in the river. Cade took off everything except his jeans and he was trying to swim around. They had the best time looking for treasure and skipping rocks. The river at one spot looked like a whales spout it was rushing so hard. It is nice to see the rivers and lakes full again after they almost dried up.

Overall we have had a great week planning our party and being outside the first part of the week!

Snow!

It has snowed most of the day today. The big wet flakes. We only got about 2 inches from it though. I really do not mind. I hope this is the last cold weather this year. I am more than ready for spring as I know a lot of people are. We played outside for a short time but it was cold and we got very wet!

Michelle painted her room saturday a real pretty pink. She put her matress on the floor. It looks great. She rearranged things and cleaned up the walls. It looks like a 19 year old girl room. I can't believe she is that old!

Overall it was a great day!

Yellow Branch Falls

Well, the hiking bug has definitely hit. Today, Michelle, her friends Nycole, Anna, and Mathew, Isaac, Cade, and myself went hiking to Yellow Branch Falls. It was perfect weather, 51 degrees, and the sun was shining. We had a great time. Cade got off to a slow start but once he got into it he was great. He walked the whole way. Then we climbed to the top of the falls. The funniest thing that happened during the hike was Mathew split his pants all the way in the back near the beginning of the hike. Fortunatly for him, he was wearing boxers. We all had a great time.

Issaqueena Falls

Today was one of those perfect days where the outside beckons you to join it. So we went to Issaqueena Falls today with some friends, Kristie, Jacob, and Joey, and had a wonderful time. We hiked down to the middle of the falls. Then we ate lunch and went to Stumphouse Tunnel. We only went about half way in. There was a lot of water in there today. Then we played beside a pond and the kids swung on a vine. The weather was perfect. Sunny and 60. Like I said, it was one of those days that you just have to be outside!

Thank God for the beautiful weather after all the bad we've had!

Another Great Day!

This was one of those weeks that flew by and I can't even remember what we did. Yesterday was really great. We went to Anderson shopping for jeans for Isaac and Russ. Russ has lost 35 pounds since the first of the year and desperately needed new pants. Isaac just needed some without holes! Then we went to the Olive Garden with a party of about 20 for a birthday party for my sister who turned 40 and my mother. We had a great, loud time. Sorry to all the other guest in the restaurant! Then we rushed home to change so we could rush to the Georgia Baptist Convention Center for a concert. Russ and two other groups were performing. The CD player in the sound system we were using messed up half way through Russ' performance so he had to quit. But it was still a great evening. All that and I still managed to get in the bed before 11:30!

Today is supposed to be sunny and in the 60's! I can't wait! Last saturday we were playing in snow and this saturday we were wearing t-shirts. I am just glad that it is starting to warm up finally.

Maddisonville, KY

Russ and I spent 3 days in Maddisonville, KY. We went to the Revolution Tour Conference. It is 3 days of music, speakers, and service projects. The conference is based on acts of service. To learn more about the Revolution Tour you can click on their link to the left. Russ and I worked with another man cleaning brush out of the back yard of an elderly couple. Last year Kentucky had a terrible ice storm. Someone cut limbs and stacked all the debris in a pile in their yard. They had no way of burning it or hauling it off so we helped them. It was a great time doing something for someone who could not do it for themselves. Other service projects were going on at the same time. Some people moved furniture, some painted for habitat for humanity, some visited the nursing home, and others did other similar projects around the community. I would say that the conference was a huge success. Lots of people from the community showed up and volunteered. If only a handful truly got the message of service in their community then Maddisonville will never be the same!

Michelle and the boys stayed home this time. She did a wonderful job taking care of her brothers. Next time they will go with us. We will be going to Nashville, TN in March. We can't wait!