Pumpkin Art

Life is still crazy, the hubby is still deployed, I am still unpacking and homeschooling. Today is the first day in over three weeks, where we stayed home all day. Perfect day to get out the art supplies to make our first pumpkin picture of the season. It was easy and fun to make, even for my five year old. I got the idea from this wonderful art blog http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/2012/09/how-to-draw-pumpkin.html

The boy's picture

The girl's picture

I love how they used different shades of orange, green and blue. They drew it with a pencil and then traced it with a black Water color pencil. Then colored with Oil Pastels.

 I believe children should have access to so many Art tools, it saddens me when kids never use anything besides crayons and markers. You don't have to break the bank, I got all this at Micheal's for $20.00 or less, they always have 50% off coupons, the paper pads were buy one get one free.

Homeschool

This is my first year as an independent Homeschooler ( last year we did public virtual school). Our military lifestyle, the traveling and the cuts made in education are the main reasons why I Homeschool. Plus I feel my kids don't have to worry about peer pressure and bullying so young, they have more time to be kids.

Today was our first day, the kids were excited. We woke this morning and made pancakes, yes the kids helped with the cooking and cleaning up (teaching life skills right there). They are only a grade apart, some subjects we can work on together. We were done with all the basics by lunch, big difference when you teach 2 kids vs 25. Our afternoons are for reading, free time and field trips. I started early this year so we can have four days a week for all the basics and use Friday's to do Art & Nature Study.

I think it is going to be a great year, I will be even more excited once we get back to Washington in three months because we are blessed to have many Homeschool friends and belong to some amazing groups. Until then we are on our own, no Homeschool friends in person.

The picture of our curriculum looks so boring , we are currently traveling and don't have much space. Once I get back home to Washington, I can decorate.

Summertime

It has been 8 years since I last lived in S. California and I have forgot what summer was all about. Too hot...Thank goodness for a pool, you know your kids have the most awesome grandparents, when the stores stop selling the pools and they go out of their way to find one......

A pool, being 5yrs old and silly....

This boy went swimming all day long, only to get out of the pool to attend his swimming class. Then he came home and went swimming again.

 

We had a high of 106 today and it will get hotter. Now that is hot for a girl who has spent the last 5+ years living in the Pacific North West. This girl is not complaining unlike her husband she is not in Afghanistan wearing all the crazy heavy Army gear in the 130 degree heat.

Hey soldier if you are reading this, I love and miss you lots xoxo

The boy swims

This morning he woke up early because he was excited and knew today was the day for his first swimming lesson. He has fallen in love with pools ever since we came down to S. California, he is very comfortable jumping and swimming in my aunt's 8ft pool. He told us he wanted to take swimming lessons so he can learn to swim without "arm floaties" I was a little worried as some of you know he loves to talk and ask a million questions, which is fine with because that is how he learns, just not for swimming class. He was good , he listened and followed instructions. Today in class they had to throw a toy and  swim underwater to get it, he was proud of himself to be able to do that. This little boy went to bed happy and made his momma record the Olympics swimming so he can learn something new and cheer for team USA.

Emotional roller coaster

Is exactly how to describe a deployment from packing up and moving to another state while kissing the hubby good bye, life has been a roller coaster and gets busier. I don't even want to think about moving back up there by myself in time for homecoming. I am thankful about coming back "home" to visit family and enjoy the sunshine. All I can do is keep busy and that is what I have been doing. Everything from taking the kids places, parks, swimming to myself hitting up the gym, crafting (ok too many projects at once) and preparing to homeschool two kids this fall. I gotta say time is passing and not a day goes by that I think about my hubby and my military sisters up in Washington, hang in there ladies, we got this.

I know life could be worse, in the end I feel blessed to be able to stay home with my kids and enjoy simple days like sitting in the grass along with a book and a cup of cold coffee while watching my kids soak up the sun with some water play time.

The secrete garden

Over the fwy and into the hills of Southern California lies a quite and peaceful town, where you can sit on the patio listen to the wind or a horse gallop down the street. My grandmother's house...many, many years ago as a child I remember watching this house build from scratch. I call this house a true family house and understand why she loves it so much. Nothing like spending Sunday morning drinking some coffee outside on this beautiful sunny day, watching the spring flowers bloom..It does wonders to your soul....

As a child I remember this tree being planted, some twenty years ago........

The thing I miss about California is the beautiful garden roses

April showers bring May flowers....

Lemon Festival

Yesterday we took the kids over to the  next town for the Lemon festival, it was fun and hot. Walking around in 83 degrees in full sun feels like 93 degrees coming from Washington. The kids got on rides, we watch a show, walked around and shopped in downtown Upland. I know Corey Miller's(  from L.A. ink) tattoo shop is there, I remember going in there back in the day..way before L.A. ink made it's way to t.v. Looks like he opened up a gallery too, I will have to go back and check it out, I love art.

Me and the kids

First you enjoy a lemonade...........

Then get on some rides..........

Cool off with a snow one...I think the boy is making that face because he is full.........

The have grandpa buy you a bubble gun and leave the festival with a trail of bubbles.

Sunset at the beach

Yesterday afternoon it was warm and humid, so why not hop in the car and watch head down the nearest beach to watch the sunset. It was a perfect day, a storm had just passed so the beach was a desert and we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. Since the kids grew up in Washington and are used to the cold, the beach felt warm enough to swim. It was bitter sweet to watch the kids play, listen to the waves crash and think about my husband who is on the other side of the world.

The kids and their grandparents

Pretending to be an animal

Waves and laughter

The sunset at the end of the day

Our first garden

I have been wanting to start a garden, plus I think it will help with the stress of the deployment on me and the kids. They were excited to plant a flower each today, we have many more to plant along with some veggies & fruit. Sadly this is the first time the kid ever planted anything and we ended up with Washington weather today here in California.
                             The boy planting some flowers

                            The girl planting her first flower..of course it has to be pink!!

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