2008JeffJourney

Taste and Talent

March 28, 2009

Every year our church's youth group provides an evening of entertainment and an abundance of desserts for the adults as a means to raise money for the summer mission trips.  This year it was K's turn, as a senior, to help with the planning and organizing of the event.

The leading act traditionally is a dance number by the Jr. High.  This year they did a bit of lip singing and dancing to High School Musical's We're All in This Together. 

**E gets to sing as Gabriella.

J made his debut with "The Band" performing favorites such as Glory Defined, How to Save a Life and Pinball Wizard.

The Seniors' movie, a take off of Cash Cab, had us laughing as they made their three mile journey across town answering Bible trivia as the Pastor, Assistant Pastor and Children's Ministry Leader.

**Seniors taking a bow

Stringing Beads

March 23, 2009

Breaking the beaded necklace was an opportunity.  A climbed in my lap as the rest of us were working on math lessons. She spent the next 15-20 minutes working on her creation and murmuring the names of colors before I looked down at what she was doing.

She had not only strung all the hearts going in the same direction but also color coordinated them.

She is following in her big sister E's footsteps as an orderly precise gal.

Nine Children? No Problem.

March 20-22

When other children are in the house, C and I seem to get so much more done, there is less whining and we rarely, if ever, hear the dreaded words, "I'm SO bored!"  This weekend was no exception.  Our friends had a nice get away to celebrate their anniversary while we enjoyed adding two more children to the mix around here.  They were good sports as C can keep their minds a whirlin'.  As in the time he asked at breakfast, "Would you like me to pour your milk?....Would you like that in your bowl or on your plate?....Well, I don't know and I don't want to break any of your family traditions."

Pictionary and Ice Cream were the highlights of Saturday night.  The teams: Boys against the girls.  Boys won, but not without a fight.  Things were getting a bit hopeful for the girls as the busy artists were drawing in an all play.  After the girls won the round we were puzzled by the boys' drawing.  Hmmm.  It is helpful to read correctly.  No one would get rectangle if you are drawing an interpertation of re-tangle!

Communication Art

March 2009

As part of D's Communication Merit Badge requirements, he had to think of a creative way to describe himself using a visual aid.  He was pleased with his collage of favorites placed within his silhouette.

Strawberry Girl Tea

March 21, 2009

One of my favorite memories of childhood was my mom's reading of Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski. As a transplanted southerner, my mom loved this book that told the tale of a land she knew so well.  When my friend mentioned that this was the book chosen for her annual literary tea, I was excited to dust off my childhood copy and read it to the kids.  Just as I did back then, they quickly became attached to the Boyer family and enjoyed hearing of their adventures in the Florida piney woods.

***The Slaters and Boyers all showed up for the tea.

L took dressing the part very seriously.  For days her one thought was to obtain a black snake to curl about her straw hat.  In the story, Shoestring Slater whips a black snake around over his head and loses grip.  The snake flew through the air and landed on Birdie's Sunday hat!  Since L has had her day whipping a snake caught at camp by the tail she could all too well envision the scene.  Alas we were unable to find the snake, and eventually we realized that our rubber black snake is contentedly curled up in the toy box at camp.  Don't tell him what an adventure he missed.

 

**L's hat adorned with paper flowers just as Birdie Boyer's hat was as well.

We the People

March 20, 2009

After many weeks of practice, Konos Juniors entertained us all tonight with their production of "We the People." In this patriotic play, a committee, on a quest to discover what America is, looks to the meaning of the Preamble of the Constitution to create vignettes to express the unique variety that makes up our great country. 

** E as a Civil War mother. 

These kids will always remember the Preamble and many other bits of American History as they sang, danced and laughed through the lines.

 

**E's right between the back up singers.

Another Morning of Outdoor Adventure

March 20, 2009

The first day of spring....

Armed with Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study, we set out to study earthworms.

Mission accomplished and we gained a new pet.

Meet Shell Bumpy Jeff---.  Any resemblance to the crew?

Garden Attempt Number ....?

March 19, 2009

The past few days have been sunny and warm. Our yard is beckoning for us to come and take dominion! With squeals of joy and quick movement gathering the gardening tools, L and M were enthusiastic about turning up the ground for a small flower garden on the side of the house.

Reminded that a job is only done as well as the parents are at checking, we unearthed about as much garbage bags as dirt when opening the compost bin for the first time.  The dirt (and plastic bags) have been in process since 2001.

Lovely isn't it?

Photo Shoot

March 18, 2009

A woke up from her nap with no problem recalling that I had promised a walk after she got up from a nap.  "Walk, Mom!" was heard continually until we headed out the door.  I have been thinking lately of listing those things that make my heart sing.  Being outdoors is high on the list, so is photographing my children.  So we headed out for a treat... an evening of nature, fresh air and photography.

We strapped the stroller to the golf cart and headed for the lake.  A delighted in the playground, the ducks and walking along side the stroller.

 

A scene from the lake...

Dad joined us at the park as we set out on the golf cart to pick up the Wednesday night Children Desiring God church goers.  They begged to play at the park too. (I loved this shot of M's concentration!)

I've been trying to learn how to use the manual settings on my camera.  The kids cooperated for a  photo shoot as the sun set near the lake.

The Hair Cut

March 2009

Before

After

He did it himself.  He said, "I'm going to cut my hair," went into the bathroom and came out with a nice peach fuzz that everyone wants to touch.