Wyoming

I know it has been more than a month since my last post. Let me just say that we had a wonderful time in Wyoming. Maybe I should make a list of all the things I enjoyed. I'll start by saying the 80 something degree weather during the daytime and 50 degrees at night was glorious. Debbie, my sister in law, and I walked between 2 and 4 miles every day. I loved the landscape which is so different from things "back east". I have become a bit smitten with the whole "cow girl" image which I am only going to live out by dressing my children like this. Well, I did get some cute boots that I will wear when it cools off around here.

Most of all, I think I enjoyed thinking about the vastness of the West in times past-What it must have been like for the Native Americans 200 years ago, and at the same time what an adventure it was to settle that land for those brave pioneers who left their homes in search of a better life. I don't know if I could survive a winter in Wyoming or Montana, but just a week in the summer was pure bliss. I have always liked the idea of being an outdorsey girl, but 2 things have stood in my way of actually pursuing this: a little bit of make up and a hair dryer. However, I will admit that I really felt more drawn to nature while in Story. Maybe it was the sound of the river, or sleeping with the windows open, or just the romantic draw of a new place, but it was the only place I can say I have truly felt compelled to be outside as much as possible.

Ed enjoyed fishing in the river. The girls spent a lot of time with Ed playing in the water and building a little dam and lake for their Polly Pockets. After the girls went to bed, we played many games of UNO with the whole family. Ed's Aunt Marilyn still lives in Story so we were honored to have several visits with her. The girls were able to play in the same creek Ed and Bill played in when they visited their grandparents as little boys.

Since returning home, we have been finishing up some projects at home and getting ready to start school on Monday. Jenna has BINGO all set up for us to play so I guess you know what I'm doing next.

Welcome, New Pets

These are the newest members of our family. The guinea pigs are Blaster and Darwin. They are sweet and cuddly, and the girls absolutely LOVE them. We've had them since we got home from Wyoming, and I must say even I like them.

Swimming and Lemonade

I can hardly believe it is July. Where oh where is summer going? It has been so much fun that I am not ready to think about August just yet. The girls completed their annual 2 weeks of swimming lessons in June. Jenna can independently swim 2 lengths of the pool! Ava progressed quite a bit as well and can swim pretty well, but she is too stubborn to swim to the deep end alone.

June ended on an interesting note with Jenna getting strep throat, not improving after treatment only to find out she had mono, too! So we slowed things down for an entire week to let her recover. We had a great trip to Suches with family over the 4th of July weekend. There are some pics of that on my facebook page. Let's just say that 6 adults, 10 kiddos, 2 baby goats and 2 dogs makes for an interesting time.

Last week, I painted the side entry way into the kitchen, and this week, I have completed a bed skirt for our bed. Maybe I can get a pic of that up a bit later. I finally finished smocking 2 dresses for the girls, and I will start on their Christmas dresses towards the end of the month. Otherwise, the girls and I are planning our trip to Ky next week, and then, the whole family is going to Wyoming! Well, that's all for now. Hopefully, I can make another post in the next 24-48 hrs with more pics.

Big Show

A little ART on Fun Friday

Greetings! Now that summer is upon us, I am instituting something called "Fun Fridays". This means we do less formal school work and more arts, crafts and games. I like games, but friends, I am not really very crafty. I know, some of you think because I have taken up sewing that surely, I have a fondness for crafts. I am learning that I do enjoy certain crafts but mostly the ones I think of as "productive, practical and useful." As far as crafts for children, you know, the ones involving goopy glue, pipe cleaners and who knows what else, I am not so great.

However, over the summer, I am going to make a real effort to do better with crafts for Ava & Jenna. We will continue with small amounts of reading, writing and arithmetic over the summer, and add in more fun, hands on activities. They already love to pick strawberries and blueberries, and in the artwork above, they are depicting berry picking. I do love the art they create and watching the bright, beeming smiles on their faces as they share it with you.

As for my summer plans, I am currently working on a custom bedskirt for our bed which I hope to follow with drapes and pillows. I would like to take down some wallpaper in both upstairs bathrooms, and do some painting in the kitchen and side entryway. I suppose we will see how all that goes.

A dear friend purchased some Bishop's dresses for us that are completed but need to be smocked. I am going to try my hand at smocking them after a lesson from a friend's mother who happens to be coming to Columbia next week and has graciously extended an offer to get me started on my smocking journey. I originally decided a while back that I was not going to pursue smocking right now, not for lack of interest, but because Ava & Jenna are getting older, and I just wasn't sure it would be the wisest use of my sewing time. Well, now plans have changed with these lovely dresses hanging in the closet all pleated but smock-less. Truthfully, I am very excited and glad to have this opportunity.

We will be around most of the summer except for a trip to Kentucky sometime in July and Wyoming in August. I hope everyone has a blessed Memorial day weekend.

Little Things

I am proud to announce that we, in the Woody household, have lived an entire week without using paper towels. I know, I know this seems either wierd, insignificant or both, but it is obviously better for the environment if we are not using a million paper towels a day. In addition, I am hoping it is easier on my wallet. Of course, I am using more cloth napkins and cleaning rags so we will see if I can keep this up for the long haul. I am not making any commitments just yet only sharing a small thing I am attempting.

We've had a busy couple of weeks, but then again isn't everyone busy? Ava & Jenna have had 2 end of the year choir performances already and have their Big Show at The Little Gym coming up on Friday.

We will officially be able to begin Kindergarten as of June 1st and are trying to come up with a name for our homeschoool (Yes, we have to have a name for the SC association of Independent Home Schools). That's all I can think of for now.

Me-Marvelous?

For Mother's Day, the girls Sunday School classes gave us a sweet laminated story each child had made about his or her mother entitled "My Marvelous Mom".

Well, here is what Ava wrote about me.

My Mom has brown hair. She cooks the best chocolate muffins. Everyday she has to brush her hair. She wears lipstick and mascara. She has a rule that you don't bring drinks upstairs. We like to go to Charleston together. I like to hear her sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." We play Bingo together. She prays for God to help us not mess up our rooms. If I could give my mom any gift in the world, I would give her clothes.

This is what Jenna wrote:

My Mom's hair is brown with a little blonde. She wears lipstick and powder. She makes yummy fish sticks for me to eat. Everyday she has to fold laundry. She likes to cook food for her friends. We go to restaurants together. I like to hear her sing "Summertime". We play Bingo together. She wears necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. She doesn't like for girls to run through the dining room. If I could give my mom any gift in the world, I would give her stuffed animals.

I still am not sure whether laughing or crying would be the most appropriate response to these! I think I sound a bit like a gypsy with all the make up and jewlery references, but oh well that's what they notice. The other things I think are interesting is that Jenna likes to hear me sing "Summertime"- that's a Bon Jovi song, and that she likes my fish sticks (Thanks Mrs. Paul's fish sticks). I mean really no mention of all the stuff I really do cook, just the frozen fish sticks.

The pictures were taken at the zoo yesterday. It was the last "Homeschool" Monday program at the zoo for this school year. You can't really see their skirts too well, but I made them on the serger and even figured out how to do the rolled hem without any difficulty.

Hope everyone had a great Mother's day!