tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79041087678798821112024-03-05T06:06:19.691-08:00Home Plate FunSharing our Homeschooling Days and sometimes more.Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-2980328367412235862011-01-23T11:40:00.000-08:002011-01-23T12:27:29.097-08:00Mother-Daughter Date<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnJLMLdNrM6R7R2KibR9eStIF1i8IqHs1UfG8Vdkek92Ywn-rxsn76RE2A8_mcLNTFMYr-GYwHTwInigfHt2EtvGS_yWiJlmkUlXSVztKkbG-DLmG0sqvXNEsTZBFOhxqj3mHPJXUosw/s1600/Corinne+at+Cross+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565475784123152610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnJLMLdNrM6R7R2KibR9eStIF1i8IqHs1UfG8Vdkek92Ywn-rxsn76RE2A8_mcLNTFMYr-GYwHTwInigfHt2EtvGS_yWiJlmkUlXSVztKkbG-DLmG0sqvXNEsTZBFOhxqj3mHPJXUosw/s400/Corinne+at+Cross+2.JPG" /></a><br /><div>This past year I made a serious point to take opportunities to take my daughter on dates. I picked up a devotional just for mother-daughter dates. It is called Secret Keeper Girl 8 Great Dates for you and Your Daughter by Dannah Gresh. We have been on three dates thus far. Each one focuses on a certain theme or topic. Each one has been great fun. I am so blessed to be able to share them with a loving daughter. Here is a sneak peak inside one of those great dates....</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This dates theme was titled "The Source of Beauty". The challenge for this one was to find a quiet place to have with God. This particular one I had put off too long because I was trying to find the perfect place. I kept thinking the beach or a nature walk. I finally shared my predicament with a fellow homeschool mom. She shared with me about a local hike that her family had recently been on. I wasn't familar with it but was game for exploring it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was a 1.4 uphill hike in the local foothills which led up to a cross that someone had erected about four years ago. The hike was intense due to the heat of the day and did I mention it was all uphill. Just imagine being on a stair stepper for 1.4 miles and you may get the picture.</div><div> </div><div> So many times Dancer just wanted to turn around and go back. It was just too much. I kept encouraging her and told her that it would pay off in the end, if she just hung on to it. The talks that we shared along the way about hardships, trials and things that she may face later on in life were used with that hike as a metaphor. It was just the perfect place to be just her and I that day.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After climbing and taking frequent breaks to refuel with our water we finally reached the top only to discover we needed to travel up another small incline. Both of us were tired. I wasn't giving up and she just was ready to throw in the towel. One last thing I shared with her helped her to trudge on. What I shared with her was from the book Pilgrim's Progress. After Christian had traveled the long path he still needed to pass through the river to make it to the Celestial City. I told her to imagine that this was her river and that the Celestial City was just on the other side. I might add that all during our hike that day we hadn't at that point seen the cross yet.....</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Once she and I hiked up that last ridge we finally saw the cross. Oh what a site to see and of the valley below. The view was just gorgeous. So worth the 1.4 trek up there. I know the cross isn't beautiful but it is what it represents that is important. This place will always have a special place in my heart for the valuable life lessons that I got to share with my daughter. She will always remember to fix her eyes on the cross even through lifes challenges.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCoua1ApX4iHPzKj7OSbhQfRyStyoDg2dSWQTV4Weung9tu2zDOdlf3cL4nGQyX4d30vr0IeeJJFn27eDrh7HK_WPZnLQWvWY3jMjMApmPM3fF7sbZUbVM9md6h_0skhcbzUBO5uZOsg/s1600/Mother+Daughter.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565476202426417890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCoua1ApX4iHPzKj7OSbhQfRyStyoDg2dSWQTV4Weung9tu2zDOdlf3cL4nGQyX4d30vr0IeeJJFn27eDrh7HK_WPZnLQWvWY3jMjMApmPM3fF7sbZUbVM9md6h_0skhcbzUBO5uZOsg/s400/Mother+Daughter.JPG" /></a>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-83662732440948386722010-10-18T18:36:00.000-07:002010-10-18T20:15:56.645-07:00Hawaii Day 6:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnUbF-9rmhfeECuVd4BQl9IsbnZCUUqouwRziPBg5wS-JBnqOdjAdKlCa1As2EXfzs89MHe0pLtppjNVUCI2K5OYAkwrw6NAft0eczkQWG1b-AcVl9bKzzGq6uQm6PW36YJfnzPCQh98/s1600/385.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529567998894149138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnUbF-9rmhfeECuVd4BQl9IsbnZCUUqouwRziPBg5wS-JBnqOdjAdKlCa1As2EXfzs89MHe0pLtppjNVUCI2K5OYAkwrw6NAft0eczkQWG1b-AcVl9bKzzGq6uQm6PW36YJfnzPCQh98/s400/385.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Today was a relaxing morning spent by the pool. After lunch we took a drive further up the coast to another local spot for some more snorkeling and boogie boarding with the kids. While we were packing up our things we met a couple that told us about a blowhole that was about seven miles further up the coast. We decided it was worth the drive up there to show the kids. Hubby and I had seen a blow hole before on our 10th anniversay when we were in Ensenada. A person in Ensenada said that there are only three in the world, Mexico, Hawaii and Australia. Come to find out now there may be two more in Hawaii somewhere. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31dXpiQeDrsbydVc3eLuPe8GuS1RpI8xIFqF8EdB3zM2Ej8tsd7GKPcBrYjtC6Tu4WKUXRvelfGA-GIHg_QVZP8fBy-T3jETjLvuPtr2nm3eIQMVqREZhATVSWs2OEx2SmoYLbhTmre0/s1600/457.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529569646279943298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31dXpiQeDrsbydVc3eLuPe8GuS1RpI8xIFqF8EdB3zM2Ej8tsd7GKPcBrYjtC6Tu4WKUXRvelfGA-GIHg_QVZP8fBy-T3jETjLvuPtr2nm3eIQMVqREZhATVSWs2OEx2SmoYLbhTmre0/s400/457.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Some of you may be wondering what a blowhole is. It is a hole in the rocky surface. When the waves come the water is forced up through the blowhole creating a geyser effect.</div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oFhNzAjEa7XH1bgdnuOAD6IQa87WBeHI-2AdDGFUFeyV5VwHCokDWYXvJBWpC3xpV9BDI4BZeSfKkRQLRF4ghlnpXi87Ys326XaT7IW9kEPevjxe4wbPc2zoUViY1ZTAZJppe1n3iJc/s1600/475.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529570869858397986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oFhNzAjEa7XH1bgdnuOAD6IQa87WBeHI-2AdDGFUFeyV5VwHCokDWYXvJBWpC3xpV9BDI4BZeSfKkRQLRF4ghlnpXi87Ys326XaT7IW9kEPevjxe4wbPc2zoUViY1ZTAZJppe1n3iJc/s400/475.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>This one was a real treat for the kids because you could get real close to it. The one in Mexico is surrounded by a boardwalk-type bridge. Since it was later in the day the waves were at full force giving us quite the show and spray of water.</div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-Tpfa7edoIpQC9WmFqgKdbeLTXc5kWegdMKoxsfYAc5EaP69nUUSp2wCYJKNYH_yLb6427OE2hGsvzJhj0ZdlZg-TJgCn9d-m459occpHKJBhIQhyphenhyphengukdJdyDlT-F1Wgw4rkFYqu9v0/s1600/482.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529572108826686450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-Tpfa7edoIpQC9WmFqgKdbeLTXc5kWegdMKoxsfYAc5EaP69nUUSp2wCYJKNYH_yLb6427OE2hGsvzJhj0ZdlZg-TJgCn9d-m459occpHKJBhIQhyphenhyphengukdJdyDlT-F1Wgw4rkFYqu9v0/s400/482.JPG" /></a><br /><div>The arial views once again were breathtaking and the ocean colors weren't like anything we see here in California.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6ZyOqUiLyQG1mvt_RZL5vipT5Fx1ET_XpWi4jKselFOM0EfNmt9-bypt0OFqI2BA5dLaVAclspNEwxdtSEfM0c5rj8JIO-t7fHrssmhS3NlhJEjwqKAalyi7NG7zzZaPQyNE2s5Ov9Y/s1600/486.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573342235461650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6ZyOqUiLyQG1mvt_RZL5vipT5Fx1ET_XpWi4jKselFOM0EfNmt9-bypt0OFqI2BA5dLaVAclspNEwxdtSEfM0c5rj8JIO-t7fHrssmhS3NlhJEjwqKAalyi7NG7zzZaPQyNE2s5Ov9Y/s400/486.JPG" /></a><br />I think we may have missed this experience had we not bumped into that couple at the beach. There wasn't anything marked on the map indicating that there was a blowhole. All that we found was a small sign, too small even to be seen from off the road. We are so glad we found it and the kids were too!<br /><br /><p></p><p>Aloha for now!</p>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-30833125884941268332010-10-12T07:26:00.000-07:002010-10-17T21:05:38.173-07:00Hawaii Day 5:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm950_3TNk7OQK3w6CKFEEJFo7gH9T7XermNG0K_dYkc0eiZ2nUuI5ExyTDzcD4xq0h-j4RUaX1rd8GK7y-Qa6bo47LjDknC6HGwfq0FNEIF_BoqF6a5FbV_duu2inirkpqIVfpKDp3s/s1600/277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529216948203973842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm950_3TNk7OQK3w6CKFEEJFo7gH9T7XermNG0K_dYkc0eiZ2nUuI5ExyTDzcD4xq0h-j4RUaX1rd8GK7y-Qa6bo47LjDknC6HGwfq0FNEIF_BoqF6a5FbV_duu2inirkpqIVfpKDp3s/s400/277.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Today we got an early start to take an all day trip on the road to Hana. We packed plenty of snacks and refreshments for our long journey and yes some motion sickness pills for Racer. </div><br /><div>Our first stop before beginning our road to Hana trip was the surfers beach known as Hookipa beach. The waves here were the largest that we had seen so far on our travels through Maui. Living in Southern California we are used to seeing high waves and we had thought all of Hawaiian beaches had them but apparently not. Needless to say the waves and water color here were just gorgeous. So many different shades of blue as far as the eye could see. </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEHhCCGKM9I2g_aSzFoZDAXkiwEHVxv1XRlU_ttPpktR74SDUcFSRoJ_Xen0DiFYMtALHMXGG_Y2tUvvzRJ4TBSEXnsbapQuVB5xDt1cFbDfSEO93NPNW2Oe5J-GJ5Tv72ha2R8-K5aw/s1600/276.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529215547742291730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEHhCCGKM9I2g_aSzFoZDAXkiwEHVxv1XRlU_ttPpktR74SDUcFSRoJ_Xen0DiFYMtALHMXGG_Y2tUvvzRJ4TBSEXnsbapQuVB5xDt1cFbDfSEO93NPNW2Oe5J-GJ5Tv72ha2R8-K5aw/s400/276.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>The boys were just eager to go jump in the waves but with the long drive were we just beginning, we opted not to. I am sure the local surfer's wouldn't want two young boys in their way of hanging ten while riding a large wave too. </div><br /><div>To make the drive on the road to Hana a little easier we had purchased a car CD called the road to Hana. Nothing on this road is labeled for the best places to stop. You won't find any billboards or signs telling you the best places to pull over and stop the car. Locals want to keep the area as natural as possible. </div><br /><div>Speaking of pulling over and stopping the car....this can pose as a challenge as well since the road in most places is the size of a single lane highway to be shared between two cars. Having experience driving both Highway 1 and the mountains in northern California, my hubby did just fine.</div><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dUgtgvNaA1EhXwnjITOBOvHhKf-0vrw7-oEW8Nll51jGcgqFcC0HXg7rLiKITBjj8qfP74iOEuQemE7ZXaSn-TGc1Ln-zosO9eXEN2fk-7bPF79kYAPtsW-uCC-3fGmtwoGADCerlyE/s1600/295.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529219221195608754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dUgtgvNaA1EhXwnjITOBOvHhKf-0vrw7-oEW8Nll51jGcgqFcC0HXg7rLiKITBjj8qfP74iOEuQemE7ZXaSn-TGc1Ln-zosO9eXEN2fk-7bPF79kYAPtsW-uCC-3fGmtwoGADCerlyE/s400/295.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Along the highway locals have set up fruit stands for people to stop, sample and purchase local organic fruits. We stopped at a few. The first one was a man that served us our first coconut. It is a coconut still in the green pod. Here he is taking a macheti to it. The kids were impressed but I think they were more impressed with the yummy mangos that they purchased. My kids love mangos so much back on the mainland that they decided to use their own money to buy a whole mango for themselves. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihsu_pZzLZUag3_neJC8jsTKv3PTrCoQv4FGPtmqG_I8OecToZ1DeV-hySs0uelqko-YP_vrSrd6xHTzM6OgXmpYseDBLfS6OKxbJscuS2FEVhVslaHu7LzJvOkb4TN7TQy1pC3mwJK0/s1600/283.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529220483855565250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihsu_pZzLZUag3_neJC8jsTKv3PTrCoQv4FGPtmqG_I8OecToZ1DeV-hySs0uelqko-YP_vrSrd6xHTzM6OgXmpYseDBLfS6OKxbJscuS2FEVhVslaHu7LzJvOkb4TN7TQy1pC3mwJK0/s400/283.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBja1OSHptmE95j0xduX4v5aOJi_V_vLFc6QvclYJK6_WKkBLbzqIRawwjAvgLyinyTjfRPLXJgd5DhH1JJhdc5K4SCHypWH-T5NaHojMtREhKHehHdhDce-GxtLd8zVwEX2jty9JBuzo/s1600/309.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529222763133068530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBja1OSHptmE95j0xduX4v5aOJi_V_vLFc6QvclYJK6_WKkBLbzqIRawwjAvgLyinyTjfRPLXJgd5DhH1JJhdc5K4SCHypWH-T5NaHojMtREhKHehHdhDce-GxtLd8zVwEX2jty9JBuzo/s400/309.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>We stopped by several waterfall pools along the way. They looked like something out of a movie or a Fantasy Island episode when combined with the colorful flowers and follage around them, simply beautiful.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L81od3o06ny9G88w1xgfBuECve7FXYVoPb3LozKNDpCW1ytbuKqE7qU8fXXmbR3z6gTdnSEPFeOuqYc2KjMr-JZvEtwDmLisXsnju9lPq2A-0FbqTMP8XkcBpROkh7toFmUcVd7ERUM/s1600/320.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529224164917928514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L81od3o06ny9G88w1xgfBuECve7FXYVoPb3LozKNDpCW1ytbuKqE7qU8fXXmbR3z6gTdnSEPFeOuqYc2KjMr-JZvEtwDmLisXsnju9lPq2A-0FbqTMP8XkcBpROkh7toFmUcVd7ERUM/s400/320.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8Ash8DovlZSDDOrTLVaRbCRFGGgCkT8JFcctssKcdREg3PZqxXTI4s4JsILLIcLsCzQXmG81PcvOdQZs7ZTnzL_-BQuslr7MW4O2qBVYn31dRQNuWWoaS6fUcMU8sbhcb-kaStxuAoc/s1600/337.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529226787941180626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8Ash8DovlZSDDOrTLVaRbCRFGGgCkT8JFcctssKcdREg3PZqxXTI4s4JsILLIcLsCzQXmG81PcvOdQZs7ZTnzL_-BQuslr7MW4O2qBVYn31dRQNuWWoaS6fUcMU8sbhcb-kaStxuAoc/s400/337.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Our final destination was the seven sacred pools at the Haleakala National Park. There are more than just seven sacred pools there I might add. According to the informative CD that we listened to, they were orignially named something else but changed their name to attract tourists; they were hoping to lure people to area. It was a great day to visit the area because the tide was low and the pools were great for swimming. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr2Kia2WZMfqSPfRsQTeDCOk9g7JZOrkhsZz0aaFw86f0i1sItY-A0x-LJJwUivOtYZzvKSeyUU7ZbvWVlVn07ziEpOsYmEBFLPGPpZl-pvur00LjfNbs_UB7phNow95J0Km6YLFViYs/s1600/328.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529225441705740466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr2Kia2WZMfqSPfRsQTeDCOk9g7JZOrkhsZz0aaFw86f0i1sItY-A0x-LJJwUivOtYZzvKSeyUU7ZbvWVlVn07ziEpOsYmEBFLPGPpZl-pvur00LjfNbs_UB7phNow95J0Km6YLFViYs/s400/328.JPG" /></a><br /><div>After swimming it was getting late for the long trek home and our greatest fear was taking the road home in the dark especially since it is very narrow. A local suggested that we take the road that runs along the backside of Haleakala. Many experienced travelers, including our friendly CD narrator, warned us not to take it. My hubby was up for the daring challenge on traveling on a dirt road in a rental car that could potentially have wild animals stopped to block it along the way.<br /></div><div>It was a hair raising, nail biting ride back. If we thought the road was narrow traveling on the way to Hana, this one was even more so and bumpy. It proved to quite the adventure for the whole family and luckily we and the rental car escaped just fine. We got to see some more gorgeous views and the devastation left from the volcano eruption left on this side of the mountain.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfSaV9Ky3hByMm1CSGJToPH-uVy4vnaryoNdT09HwVK3Pn2FJ_lhC6xMN_GbKomasiVCgME5epdVJRGJLu96IJV02Bh0xr65sJeKp-cVH5YxpVKKEzq5jgQtRpvCdma6qRa7amZyNRZw/s1600/363.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227609076843154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfSaV9Ky3hByMm1CSGJToPH-uVy4vnaryoNdT09HwVK3Pn2FJ_lhC6xMN_GbKomasiVCgME5epdVJRGJLu96IJV02Bh0xr65sJeKp-cVH5YxpVKKEzq5jgQtRpvCdma6qRa7amZyNRZw/s400/363.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>We finally arrived back at our condo just about 12 hours later from the time we first left. A long and adventuresome day in Maui.<br /><br />Aloha!</div></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-30448416516617399222010-10-10T13:13:00.000-07:002010-10-10T15:00:13.265-07:00Hawaii Day 4:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqJMwJr-_tDWGWqSqy7FFfnVPbGHdwO0PhhDGvpPg2uJdTs5iiX3ogfw45WqVM5v0zl2tmELt_qFw5zCu_9cFJ8_z02E0EZVqXQWhOQwWjOd1NbMPiwd0j6vYHC2dHbnVnl4XxNPQ0aE/s1600/163.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526515931193623010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqJMwJr-_tDWGWqSqy7FFfnVPbGHdwO0PhhDGvpPg2uJdTs5iiX3ogfw45WqVM5v0zl2tmELt_qFw5zCu_9cFJ8_z02E0EZVqXQWhOQwWjOd1NbMPiwd0j6vYHC2dHbnVnl4XxNPQ0aE/s400/163.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Today we decided to have a leisurely morning and take the kids out later in the aftenoon to explore more beaches. We stopped at a beach in Keihe and the whole family had fun in the water taking turns with the boogy boards. The kids became pretty good boogie boarders.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMsEo8P1O5fvQ6_1EOotPxqWJ5yqlyXJOUNetEPwJdLRSykSoRIafRg8CdyU_0GP1khAzMvpgqTmYvb8UnY_4BNhhUl3jOD1dyjIrKg_vwiA_iQtvrJU-Ps6Lhrk6SUYPK-o1Yuw8l4A/s1600/210.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526517963444438466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMsEo8P1O5fvQ6_1EOotPxqWJ5yqlyXJOUNetEPwJdLRSykSoRIafRg8CdyU_0GP1khAzMvpgqTmYvb8UnY_4BNhhUl3jOD1dyjIrKg_vwiA_iQtvrJU-Ps6Lhrk6SUYPK-o1Yuw8l4A/s400/210.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsM4BjxXIbTJQ2fsIAimV58ZZqVkg3VClGmvjJ87VqvK8cDqbK1muNICEKY5GSBfUvwHfP6ejj6LO4mKHYtQ3yElnV0tYnJo6GbPZUYFGS9NXJhHFEsGMS8JlcLJB4z_NROgBgLKF-D8/s1600/216.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526519400165276818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsM4BjxXIbTJQ2fsIAimV58ZZqVkg3VClGmvjJ87VqvK8cDqbK1muNICEKY5GSBfUvwHfP6ejj6LO4mKHYtQ3yElnV0tYnJo6GbPZUYFGS9NXJhHFEsGMS8JlcLJB4z_NROgBgLKF-D8/s400/216.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>After swimming for over an hour we loaded up the car and traveled further down the coast to another beach. The next beach was hidden away from some million dollar homes in the Kanahena area. The beaches here are very different as compared to the beach in Keihe. Keihe has white fine sands and Makena is filled with lava rocks and a ton of coral can be found underwater. The boys found the rocks to be fun to see who could throw the farthest. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uww5f77tb9pK9KASOaKmxypOfMOtYFZMnNBre-nKrdLjHljjDZuTi7-0ViUam_C8vw484E6415NtjubsRvcTqqHYM_vldraJsmlWOCJEQw8g879NJ6Jjwwu4aSSFJLD6oFZf-hH5vjE/s1600/241.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526520661443393666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uww5f77tb9pK9KASOaKmxypOfMOtYFZMnNBre-nKrdLjHljjDZuTi7-0ViUam_C8vw484E6415NtjubsRvcTqqHYM_vldraJsmlWOCJEQw8g879NJ6Jjwwu4aSSFJLD6oFZf-hH5vjE/s400/241.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yICyMtG5j9qPaBA-4NGKqocy2h3ljzNwjnq3pERknXC2-QjeqH93C6PowwMkQawVJxKROhdA7dwht9Nr9JMbsEDM5Z-WocrZZ-Pa-3E4k7cdvUAw_pgroN2aVOGYATtUNL-bSIMDYdI/s1600/251.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526523443811632834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yICyMtG5j9qPaBA-4NGKqocy2h3ljzNwjnq3pERknXC2-QjeqH93C6PowwMkQawVJxKROhdA7dwht9Nr9JMbsEDM5Z-WocrZZ-Pa-3E4k7cdvUAw_pgroN2aVOGYATtUNL-bSIMDYdI/s400/251.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>By sunset the water still was very warm and the sunset was simply amazing. I think I must have over 100 pix in just sunsets from the many that we saw in the week of our travels there.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk2PAZ9ojJXh8XRMAyliBMgkTXGZQPELxdk1Y9hZUDvLZ1KhphRx4IE3wFccSS_UHAwo0Q_49TTwEoeNsCkEL1Ua_-ewbcihKIvhZ6aGWmuE9rxpmFHLgCQ83JNX_eIt0IDJO9TjLoCM/s1600/246.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526521536995069346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk2PAZ9ojJXh8XRMAyliBMgkTXGZQPELxdk1Y9hZUDvLZ1KhphRx4IE3wFccSS_UHAwo0Q_49TTwEoeNsCkEL1Ua_-ewbcihKIvhZ6aGWmuE9rxpmFHLgCQ83JNX_eIt0IDJO9TjLoCM/s400/246.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtJ9AsazLYB5r78HHcU-TgUqyWfOZGrnzJhmobOalKnuftKSm1dQyo5mjh1ue7vm5QaynOmO4aH2t_LbXraieGw8M80Mgh3uCJwqoNnU2itZyni0CiMvH9WyhrOQYYm9Htst5Ja2xZUQ/s1600/256.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526525030547876690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtJ9AsazLYB5r78HHcU-TgUqyWfOZGrnzJhmobOalKnuftKSm1dQyo5mjh1ue7vm5QaynOmO4aH2t_LbXraieGw8M80Mgh3uCJwqoNnU2itZyni0CiMvH9WyhrOQYYm9Htst5Ja2xZUQ/s400/256.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Once we returned to the condo we took our cooking outside in the pool area where hubby barbequed some salmon on the grill for the family. Yum Yum! We made a few friends with some local kittens in the complex that come out at night for scraps and our kids provided for them a grand feast. </div><div> </div><div>Another great and perfect day in Hawaii!</div><div> </div><div>Aloha until day 5!</div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-44657434691420404582010-10-03T07:21:00.000-07:002010-10-03T21:00:31.441-07:00Hawaii Day 3:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebOsRoU2iUbGfL_4yQaFmAv8rcq-vRGB2l-42RMGaFJ2rCLg7AfuOhyKw9_CIJ2AxV9fFdHE-HtAe8GZu9rCshZj6BAQRP_UkM6zELpOMJnIq1kHm_CwA58CMtSoaWn1WUPUaCQjdc10/s1600/134.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523867268390163570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiebOsRoU2iUbGfL_4yQaFmAv8rcq-vRGB2l-42RMGaFJ2rCLg7AfuOhyKw9_CIJ2AxV9fFdHE-HtAe8GZu9rCshZj6BAQRP_UkM6zELpOMJnIq1kHm_CwA58CMtSoaWn1WUPUaCQjdc10/s400/134.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div>We had to head out early this morning to board a boat to take us to the Molikini crater. Hubby and Racer took some motion sickness medication to avoid any accidents from happening on our 5.5 hour boat ride. It helped them not to get sick but it made them both very groggy.<br /></div><div>Molikini was once a cone volcano that erupted thousands of years ago. After blowing it's top it left a crater that still can be seen today. It is located east off the island of Maui. It is now referred to today as an island non inhabitable. People are not permitted on the island but it is one of the world's best places to snorkel and scuba dive.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://site.mynet.com/zkanzer1979/mynet_resimlerim/maui-molokini_fish_trigger.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 596px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 397px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://site.mynet.com/zkanzer1979/mynet_resimlerim/maui-molokini_fish_trigger.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>The snorkeling in Molikini was just perfect that day. God blessed us with great weather that day in fact our whole entire trip I might add. The water was crystal clear just perfect for viewing. Dancer just loved every minute of it. The boys enjoyed it too but headed back early because they felt the water was just too cold. Even after been outfitted with a wet suit they were cold; must have been the motion sickness pills taking effect.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2152/2524705485_50e1153fe8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2152/2524705485_50e1153fe8.jpg" /></a><br />Since the water was so clear the fish were just vivid with color.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW4nSry0FG7bOE2xWbfw4ZKFo7o_LeYZmI4lnDXz2kz4PCgp4Mp344a-a1KiSGJpsSSWt5vnhWla_OO5I8JDjtZnRgw6z99H1yhyphenhyphenJ9o_gFhQXUGwXndatsbiUCFqtwQgLm7WsOU_5-fwR/s400/leilani-unhurried-molokini-snorkel2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvW4nSry0FG7bOE2xWbfw4ZKFo7o_LeYZmI4lnDXz2kz4PCgp4Mp344a-a1KiSGJpsSSWt5vnhWla_OO5I8JDjtZnRgw6z99H1yhyphenhyphenJ9o_gFhQXUGwXndatsbiUCFqtwQgLm7WsOU_5-fwR/s400/leilani-unhurried-molokini-snorkel2.jpg" /></a><br />The water was just teeming with all kinds of fish that we were so close to them. The more we searched and swam we saw how amazing the world is down below. Not only did God create every living thing on land but His hand was at work when He created the oceans as well. Each fish was beautiful. We even saw a school of fish several different times during our swim. Sorry I don't have any pictures of those or others of our swim since we didn't have an underwater camera at the time. I know, don't ask. All of us have lasting memories that will last a lifetime.</div><br /><div></div><div>After our swim at Molikini we were taken to an area known as Turtle Town for the tourists. Off the shores of Maui there are plenty of coral caves that house green sea turtles. Green sea turtles are in abundance out there and are protected by US government. Because of this visitors are not permitted to try to hop on their back and go for a swim or to touch them. It is also not best to do so because they are known to bite as well. </div><br /><div>By the time we reached Turtle Town the boys were not up for it so Dancer and I hit the water to go exploring. It was a huge success! We got to see five sea turtles and swim with two at two different times. The two we swam with were so close that if we reached out our arms we could touch them. Dancer and I had to keep pulling back as the waters kept pulling us closer to them.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/images/content/Maui_sea_turtles_get_%20a_birthday_party_weeklong_fest/turtle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 634px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 476px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/images/content/Maui_sea_turtles_get_%20a_birthday_party_weeklong_fest/turtle.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div>Sea turtles look so graceful and peaceful when they swim. I can't help but think of Finding Nemo when I see them. After watching that movie it is awful tempting to want to jump on their back and go for a swim.<br /></div><a href="http://www.scubaduba.com/robinson/2_turtles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 450px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.scubaduba.com/robinson/2_turtles.jpg" /></a> This was a real treat for the whole family especially for Dancer since she is our animal lover who would love to work with animals. I would recommend this trip for others. We happened to stumble on a good deal due to the time of the year. They also allowed two of our kids to travel free with a paying adult. They provided all of the snorkel gear, wet suits were not included however. A continental breakfast, unlimited soft drinks, water and juice and a yummy lunch was included as well.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50UV3hUrLnvJPOnO60efuuCoQbbcNEjzLdz9_XxKnvvHB6wiiLbmGYMIFYe6XKSVYLXDdAzVQdCx2E9Ei0kRqavblzkDEGf2g-UPN_YPIR6ixAyTvVAE6dvdwKcI6sbotOgv4QnotYa0/s1600/137.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523868382682285458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50UV3hUrLnvJPOnO60efuuCoQbbcNEjzLdz9_XxKnvvHB6wiiLbmGYMIFYe6XKSVYLXDdAzVQdCx2E9Ei0kRqavblzkDEGf2g-UPN_YPIR6ixAyTvVAE6dvdwKcI6sbotOgv4QnotYa0/s400/137.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Aloha until Day 4!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-72667148910270238102010-10-03T06:58:00.000-07:002010-10-03T20:54:42.662-07:00Hawaii Vacation Day 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1u9u-aPCd8H_7XNjmUslYTUn5uMBMzzP6lerbI3770aBa1XjMhcmeBzn9jxBsvzV5aiV1aqDMmNyH9th0JJdVwMuhdlpPEnzgH1WCXpF91gWjX0n1ptLXntBsPRjZkCQrFUu6ymyRyzw/s1600/105.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523870375575437010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1u9u-aPCd8H_7XNjmUslYTUn5uMBMzzP6lerbI3770aBa1XjMhcmeBzn9jxBsvzV5aiV1aqDMmNyH9th0JJdVwMuhdlpPEnzgH1WCXpF91gWjX0n1ptLXntBsPRjZkCQrFUu6ymyRyzw/s400/105.JPG" /></a><br /><div>All of us woke up around and a little after 4am. We still hasn't adjusted to the time difference. We just layed around and rested. Shortly after 5am the whole family headed out to the lanai to watch the beautiful sunrise.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwJ9HGRqB4lwayTy2uXrqn1KVrE9_pQY9GGWes2Xbah8JT5jZbc6BolnAZkNj1YBe5OcKTNZln4dnL1M_6SRgIctIuQZKGOnpTbm4J_BUzdyv7CYytkj_XyKtHSm5vmVDRJaXggWIf48/s1600/106.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523871431959586642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwJ9HGRqB4lwayTy2uXrqn1KVrE9_pQY9GGWes2Xbah8JT5jZbc6BolnAZkNj1YBe5OcKTNZln4dnL1M_6SRgIctIuQZKGOnpTbm4J_BUzdyv7CYytkj_XyKtHSm5vmVDRJaXggWIf48/s400/106.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>After breakfast we decided it would be best to go pick up our snorkel gear. Once we were fitted with gear, purchased boat tickets for Molikini and did a little shopping we went out to the best local snorkel area to give it a try. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJ3R64LVWfjYyF_gJ3Nv1YDubnXCyAkSiZnKN_DXufTP4QVDbmla5t7Xma8quGYpBf-S7qfaR2o7-mhyphenhyphenuYPEnE50iSSh_TWjoXNFu_zfi78pblKBZtfWFcYIz8lRNXw-A4qbFqeW31HI/s1600/110.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523872988890492786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJ3R64LVWfjYyF_gJ3Nv1YDubnXCyAkSiZnKN_DXufTP4QVDbmla5t7Xma8quGYpBf-S7qfaR2o7-mhyphenhyphenuYPEnE50iSSh_TWjoXNFu_zfi78pblKBZtfWFcYIz8lRNXw-A4qbFqeW31HI/s400/110.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Walking in fins was quite the experience. Quite comical at times I might add, but so worth it due to the sharp coral that is in various sections of the shallow water. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl1iam3QpanpnVWCW5gMB76vQFiQioWIKwWr_b7hpOD5xYES_FjxtG0AOQGom8orAEXnH17DXHXVxegH6U3wZm1fpxpAKUPrPG3lVxpKc586qR8k5HzQDTvdoWhTo38QIVhaIVN0dOC8/s1600/111.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523874132954235986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQl1iam3QpanpnVWCW5gMB76vQFiQioWIKwWr_b7hpOD5xYES_FjxtG0AOQGom8orAEXnH17DXHXVxegH6U3wZm1fpxpAKUPrPG3lVxpKc586qR8k5HzQDTvdoWhTo38QIVhaIVN0dOC8/s400/111.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Dancer got over her fears of the waves and deided to take hold of my hand as I led her into deeper waters. The different color fish that we saw were truly amazing.</div><br /><a href="http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/images/Hawaii/convict%20tangs%20Hanama%20bay%20Scuba%20Diving%20Hawaii%20Waikiki.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/images/Hawaii/convict%20tangs%20Hanama%20bay%20Scuba%20Diving%20Hawaii%20Waikiki.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.reefcorner.com/images/AchillesTang7_02.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 640px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 480px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.reefcorner.com/images/AchillesTang7_02.jpg" /></a> (Please note that the underwater pictures above were not taken by my camera but were edited in based on the fish we actually saw.)<br /><div></div><br /><div>The boys quickly gave up trying to walk in fins and stripped them off to jump in the waves and water. Poor Racer got quite the cut on his foot from the sharp coral and cried and cried. After cleaning his cut we ended up leaving that location since Racer just wasn't in a happy mood any longer and the pain in his foot was too much for him to bear. </div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFrfvjRDWAZzXWn_0gLEOXiOV-_eEpkS88JfkEPhXizATZPvFd92m8xMbqxAV7sU9lyvfpNGVF4OluPrr91m-aopk6dtjGKPqTTvMjFd-N40uOd3TqANOe9fpYcQ_s-nJAgCkJaHtiFU/s1600/114.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523875104234707442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFrfvjRDWAZzXWn_0gLEOXiOV-_eEpkS88JfkEPhXizATZPvFd92m8xMbqxAV7sU9lyvfpNGVF4OluPrr91m-aopk6dtjGKPqTTvMjFd-N40uOd3TqANOe9fpYcQ_s-nJAgCkJaHtiFU/s400/114.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Hawaiian shaved ice was near to take his mind off the pain. The whole family enjoyed a cup of shaved ice. Yummy!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkkF3Z92_HQHeZ5v2iFgoV3kTKx9JgrPhxJhTxmGlHYOQrCU00Yg_wXhu9kP-f0EmnJvseguyeU0QCQoRPYnCrT73RCPob3s1LaiN8OrLxKNtcOkUNlehSDXTH9mW4jhipA-fokYmp4E/s1600/115.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523875957725132114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkkF3Z92_HQHeZ5v2iFgoV3kTKx9JgrPhxJhTxmGlHYOQrCU00Yg_wXhu9kP-f0EmnJvseguyeU0QCQoRPYnCrT73RCPob3s1LaiN8OrLxKNtcOkUNlehSDXTH9mW4jhipA-fokYmp4E/s400/115.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixl0dWJ82DU__iS5AHd4Um_R_jZChQfKDgGktP2RRwDuWB64XYrzjUncP5B9q1tVa9JMtmVU9_3Y8gYwqHRGOyEI377X4q3aFR-PhhRoqS_Nnk9Vub7HqLXTrgT0mFomBh8HsOUUkfQg/s1600/116.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524026917633355826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixl0dWJ82DU__iS5AHd4Um_R_jZChQfKDgGktP2RRwDuWB64XYrzjUncP5B9q1tVa9JMtmVU9_3Y8gYwqHRGOyEI377X4q3aFR-PhhRoqS_Nnk9Vub7HqLXTrgT0mFomBh8HsOUUkfQg/s400/116.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Later that day back on our lanai we saw a beautiful rainbow. Since Hawaii is a tropical state and at any given time it is raining some where on the island, rainbows can be found.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXDfeFH_2TPfFNdLtwehXvxe4RozMJXNt54wWKVkLR_7MJKgWEaGeQVp76jW4t-5KJcZRjjcgZh8j9zXO3b5JkBVxNO-3H4X9ECyd5AStd_GVsMxyhB-UxQrPD8xp1S2ZyCtP97uzHFU/s1600/130.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524025746602876786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXDfeFH_2TPfFNdLtwehXvxe4RozMJXNt54wWKVkLR_7MJKgWEaGeQVp76jW4t-5KJcZRjjcgZh8j9zXO3b5JkBVxNO-3H4X9ECyd5AStd_GVsMxyhB-UxQrPD8xp1S2ZyCtP97uzHFU/s400/130.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br />Aloha until Day 3!Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-61404010606349314572010-10-02T07:26:00.000-07:002010-10-03T21:06:57.790-07:00Where have we been? A Family Vacation to Hawaii<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7tObhv5cxqY9qflRyFFHxOwyNxAZiCcPGMT4n1O2N9ZP34FyjNWrLPFUiMkIcuC-LDqojATP28s5LF8I0x0rDCUrdJ3Bc5pyQcq6OTk2_QynmzIJdY2sbDs9MPR9UqOlgCtMTflQ9zY/s1600/363.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523490568218490898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7tObhv5cxqY9qflRyFFHxOwyNxAZiCcPGMT4n1O2N9ZP34FyjNWrLPFUiMkIcuC-LDqojATP28s5LF8I0x0rDCUrdJ3Bc5pyQcq6OTk2_QynmzIJdY2sbDs9MPR9UqOlgCtMTflQ9zY/s400/363.JPG" /></a><br /><div>My Hubby and I have talked about a trip to Hawaii ever since we first got married. That was 15 years ago. Through the years of children being born, Hawaii dreams got pushed to the back burner. Two years ago we finally made it a reality; we tucked some money away and waited.</div><br /><div></div><div>Instead of just a trip for the two of us to be gone for a week only to worry if the kids were OK, we decided to take them with us and make it a family vacation. I will share with you our adventures in Hawaii with plenty of pictures too.</div><br /><div>Day 1:<br /></div><div>We left LAX early in the morning. Yes, I did say early. Our goal was to leave our home no later than 5am to make it to the airport in time. LAX is a very busy airport and traffic in and out of it is terrible. </div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AtYPBgyGNLGoE8PCR5-hVBlkA4QfctrGAqC2bxw1ftqoif3tMgQ_M6eqhNOb2j1Dp3SfFFSiAhf5iBpwnJVI2z0NuSVkNxPt55ieou3Csz_zPeNFiFZlWLLzRo65OzTTlRyKAgSpZ5Q/s1600/086.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523489809148802690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AtYPBgyGNLGoE8PCR5-hVBlkA4QfctrGAqC2bxw1ftqoif3tMgQ_M6eqhNOb2j1Dp3SfFFSiAhf5iBpwnJVI2z0NuSVkNxPt55ieou3Csz_zPeNFiFZlWLLzRo65OzTTlRyKAgSpZ5Q/s400/086.JPG" /></a><br /><div>The kids were excited. Excited that we were heading to Maui but even more excited to be on a plane for the first time. </div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy03MJgOrqwFmmQa9288iJuwDlwiN2lkZPNhRsgvq0-G8MpjewrYHtac5xUc0rpvhgZMVe82nkVVcS3j0hUPUmhYdygDnj-Az0tzi22w55O4Def9ok8Dmu4T-shYIlygB-nn0gMSQRTM/s1600/087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523491619970640610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy03MJgOrqwFmmQa9288iJuwDlwiN2lkZPNhRsgvq0-G8MpjewrYHtac5xUc0rpvhgZMVe82nkVVcS3j0hUPUmhYdygDnj-Az0tzi22w55O4Def9ok8Dmu4T-shYIlygB-nn0gMSQRTM/s400/087.JPG" /></a><br /><div>The ride was smooth and worry free. The kids did great and they took turns looking out the one window seat that we did have. The loved the fact that there was a flight attendant to offer them drinks and who would come at just a click of a button and being able to watch a movie was an added bonus.</div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOY3q_O554kkVhnqBwKKbh6fgJm9pmHQkdFnhoNA3EEr2I8ifFDH3JD7dAcLpLxzBqdA6n15fDjKJ1Uq4Q6OtMLbUqjJJBzWJ2f8lMwud-SNLKSi4ZAI-rcPfNv5pHDX0QjBypa1eFPk/s1600/095.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523495005411834098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOY3q_O554kkVhnqBwKKbh6fgJm9pmHQkdFnhoNA3EEr2I8ifFDH3JD7dAcLpLxzBqdA6n15fDjKJ1Uq4Q6OtMLbUqjJJBzWJ2f8lMwud-SNLKSi4ZAI-rcPfNv5pHDX0QjBypa1eFPk/s400/095.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Once we arrived in Maui. right away we noticed the change in weather. It was windy and humid. Something very different from our dry climate state. All of us couldn't wait to get our bags, our rental car and begin exploring. On the plane everyone placed guesses to see what color car we would be getting. Guess what.....I won! The car was colored maroon/red. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Next, we ate lunch at....Costco. Yes, our first meal in Maui was not a Hawaiian style meal but a cheap hot dog, drink combo. We were famished and let me tell you anything would have tasted good to us by this time. After our quick bite we searched the isles within Costco to stock up on food for our condo. Prices were about the same for most items. The biggest difference we noticed was the bread and milk costs and a few other items.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Once our car was filled with groceries we made our way to the condo. The condo was located in Kaanapali, called the Honua Kai Resort & Spa. For a family that is so used to camping in a tent and most of the hotels our kids have seen are a Holiday Inn Express or a Best Western, this was like staying in a royal palace. We later told our kids to enjoy it while it lasts that this will not begin to be a habit with our family. We would be back to tent camping and cheap hotels again next year. </div><br /><div>:( </div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsorADYZk_RZlfeor_YFcxSGq_YXmJFyLMIAEPrmLAP3HjZjh9CPXszowwlJ_ETcZKzb2jLG7_EKIDLmZ-kmz_0m-TsUvrEEmyDRqbKy84bpg7LLOiF5E88FVf7ZOb3K42ZlUEp_Q2Ys/s1600/124.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523493927281450258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsorADYZk_RZlfeor_YFcxSGq_YXmJFyLMIAEPrmLAP3HjZjh9CPXszowwlJ_ETcZKzb2jLG7_EKIDLmZ-kmz_0m-TsUvrEEmyDRqbKy84bpg7LLOiF5E88FVf7ZOb3K42ZlUEp_Q2Ys/s400/124.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Words just can not begin to describe how gorgeous everything was. It was just breathtaking. I think I needed someone at this point to help me pick my chin up off the ground so it wouldn't be constantly dragging. (Just beyond the pool in the picture below is the ocean, a beautiful beach too. It was less than a five minute walk from our room.)</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjck1iEnO6gWpTKTkBinzcqxeTlXepM2jcZQKFy88ZhsPLcP7Y1-UvQQNTcFTk6kQiw6nnYIWK9u9CI3YHxZ3rXX5quuXSpCT5bI5IQyXOjeOYU7RLG2a4HEjbgzobRpwPCn5Y-XLW7Pi0/s1600/125.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523496458795418066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjck1iEnO6gWpTKTkBinzcqxeTlXepM2jcZQKFy88ZhsPLcP7Y1-UvQQNTcFTk6kQiw6nnYIWK9u9CI3YHxZ3rXX5quuXSpCT5bI5IQyXOjeOYU7RLG2a4HEjbgzobRpwPCn5Y-XLW7Pi0/s400/125.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Our condo was not an expensive ocean view, but a view above the valet parking. Inside it was a spacious two bedroom/two bath and it had everything we needed. The kids loved the fact that there was three HD TVs, since we only have one really old TV at home. Our two youngest shared a room and one TV, our oldest had the pull out sofa in the living room and hubby and I had the master bedroom. </div><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBggOkC08szs5zkux7skg3JlssujMa4vYGUo3vxlvBwsLtZ3EqhACaROOjQcd3zX0Y5DxaD_grFpR6popHYY_7DVVbqIuP3McIrNRwZQSZZQZba6Ufz02at5l4cF-bWLMjsl5FbLZLGpE/s1600/128.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523497982974825042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBggOkC08szs5zkux7skg3JlssujMa4vYGUo3vxlvBwsLtZ3EqhACaROOjQcd3zX0Y5DxaD_grFpR6popHYY_7DVVbqIuP3McIrNRwZQSZZQZba6Ufz02at5l4cF-bWLMjsl5FbLZLGpE/s400/128.JPG" /></a><br /><div>After unloading our bags we headed down to the pool. The pool looked like something out of a magazine and the water was invitingly warm. The kids were excited that our resort not only had five different pools but a water slide to boot. They felt like they had just died and gone to heaven.</div><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJgc5KnZGSlou3fHg5oZGhWPeZGpzmlggbef7u9OW-wrKs9FEkTBxWCTwgqj0FC6Uiovqxr3JpB0SPln7XrUFPzDXiqArmSno8PDPY679MxwBGLz-FbeBGYPUTEb0M1p8o7YHLj-d64c/s1600/121.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523499539338534274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJgc5KnZGSlou3fHg5oZGhWPeZGpzmlggbef7u9OW-wrKs9FEkTBxWCTwgqj0FC6Uiovqxr3JpB0SPln7XrUFPzDXiqArmSno8PDPY679MxwBGLz-FbeBGYPUTEb0M1p8o7YHLj-d64c/s400/121.JPG" /></a></p><p>Aloha for now....<br /><br /></p>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-9847180535808333052010-09-06T10:30:00.000-07:002010-09-06T10:50:59.728-07:00Warning!! There is a Science Experiment in the Kitchen...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgsQIeX-sCH3TnYucofBwdaQ-VdyryvZNXafDq3bAkSuIl5FtPqZAV6dpWkQ96FhnRlip4YTIeq75p3Cl9P6xX-49B0XNhFvGOZTVIxatubBpgE3WnmVsjbtICO2eye3vqJAPHZt-_s4/s1600/IMG_0853.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513855355996779602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgsQIeX-sCH3TnYucofBwdaQ-VdyryvZNXafDq3bAkSuIl5FtPqZAV6dpWkQ96FhnRlip4YTIeq75p3Cl9P6xX-49B0XNhFvGOZTVIxatubBpgE3WnmVsjbtICO2eye3vqJAPHZt-_s4/s400/IMG_0853.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Last week during one of my oldest son's Science experiment things got very interesting around here. Luckily I have a rule in my home, Mom or Dad must be home when our children decide to conduct an experiment. Fortunately I was because if I hadn't we many not have a home to come home to.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If your kids love Science like mine tend or if they have a tendency to rush when reading through directions or decide to do something when Mom is running around and is going to be late if we don't get out of the house in about 20 minutes. Don't you love it. Yes, they just wait until the very last moment to squeeze it in.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5pOXZ_Rjcja3DOl3S6deAiSBpgOtfcSxJoyPjAPvTBm52Dwd35MX9K6DwxMjp6i6_07rCj3Gi09NTWM4cps27yJ7F4JhRtDgWoL0o_WfLG7NzmAS7iFvVi2QnwWKmLFFlRyZ63wJIV4/s1600/IMG_0851.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513856630096058706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5pOXZ_Rjcja3DOl3S6deAiSBpgOtfcSxJoyPjAPvTBm52Dwd35MX9K6DwxMjp6i6_07rCj3Gi09NTWM4cps27yJ7F4JhRtDgWoL0o_WfLG7NzmAS7iFvVi2QnwWKmLFFlRyZ63wJIV4/s400/IMG_0851.JPG" /></a> I know you are wondering, what experiment were you allowing your child to conduct??? It was an experiment out of his Science book about oxygen and fire. Inside that balloon water bottle is yeast mixed with vinegar. Pressure or in this case oxygen was building up inside the balloon. Next to it is a candle with a once precious glass Dancer won at a carnival by tossing dimes inside of it.<br /><br />After the balloon was filled he was to take the balloon off the bottle and let the air to SLOWLY be released inside the cup. Apparently he tried bless his heart. In his attempt a large flame shot out and the glass broke into a ton of pieces.<br /><br />Thank God I was home and the fire didn't spread.<br /><br />Oh the joys of homeschooling...There is never a dull moment around here for entertainment or learning!Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-16399290403301807772010-09-06T10:08:00.001-07:002010-09-06T10:28:59.372-07:00Wierd Science...Cell structures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEblJwYyYYpkVfmzZ-g6jSqlSc7C7Vx-oRsVcMsSOUFDHhADH8keZpDLQes2zzCgKmYUUFyx3ddZyeRxhzso-HLiA6TYU-enVFF6l9hhi4SX04WYZJ8zH8htGOcGOAAM9DBTv5o5QL3y0/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513849898595599682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEblJwYyYYpkVfmzZ-g6jSqlSc7C7Vx-oRsVcMsSOUFDHhADH8keZpDLQes2zzCgKmYUUFyx3ddZyeRxhzso-HLiA6TYU-enVFF6l9hhi4SX04WYZJ8zH8htGOcGOAAM9DBTv5o5QL3y0/s400/IMG_0835.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>This year in our Science studies we are learning about the Human body. We are using Fulbright's book Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy & Physiology. The first two weeks is about the cell structure and what better way to learn about it, is to build a model of it. This particular activity was not in the course work but I added it in. We spread the activity over the course of three to four days. It could be completed in one day but we chose to do it in smaller chunks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFf45RL3jYw1-a8-Ql-02Tlx2_U4Wuo3OGwHeU9VQXu3tMSnoeK2HGCcLCKUO4ATVUhoQtYPM9OxB83Ajhwdl6zkAp8SKd13McxplnVqqDT21OCF8Fugxso0gTIV6UO4U6CRYyEFldV4/s1600/IMG_0837.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513850961001444738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFf45RL3jYw1-a8-Ql-02Tlx2_U4Wuo3OGwHeU9VQXu3tMSnoeK2HGCcLCKUO4ATVUhoQtYPM9OxB83Ajhwdl6zkAp8SKd13McxplnVqqDT21OCF8Fugxso0gTIV6UO4U6CRYyEFldV4/s400/IMG_0837.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>To begin I purchased a Styrofoam disc from our local craft shop and some modeling clay. All of the cell parts except for the cell membrane and cytoplasm were made using the clay. A marker was used for the cell membrane and a piece of plastic wrap glued down to represent the cytoplasm.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeCOo2lFg5HOrAvELCAqHgN9_0DrDi6svouvkWBkucs_4H0FHQ0sGivT56GQu5P7rRYFSqflz0Yv86JchNpztSUBw_kXTonD912htB63-8wiDIeA4F3E2jRJywFor6ftglNVigI5lp54/s1600/IMG_0839.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513851976282658674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeCOo2lFg5HOrAvELCAqHgN9_0DrDi6svouvkWBkucs_4H0FHQ0sGivT56GQu5P7rRYFSqflz0Yv86JchNpztSUBw_kXTonD912htB63-8wiDIeA4F3E2jRJywFor6ftglNVigI5lp54/s400/IMG_0839.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>As you can see push pins came in handy to tack everything in place as well as a label maker. If you don't have one labels can always be hand written.</div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOBEC3EaGyRUOC4GLXq0xfImYDbY4UURIDDsyTxO3KXvqkhFzRYWUdcTbAP4NoBUoQqX2BfRGo8M6YKMtki2G3ysmjxHqSKaIrtgPobkfIxhyphenhyphentiYu90EQG_-0uuR1XyuWTM66V-ZvbYE/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513853302706496738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOBEC3EaGyRUOC4GLXq0xfImYDbY4UURIDDsyTxO3KXvqkhFzRYWUdcTbAP4NoBUoQqX2BfRGo8M6YKMtki2G3ysmjxHqSKaIrtgPobkfIxhyphenhyphentiYu90EQG_-0uuR1XyuWTM66V-ZvbYE/s400/IMG_0838.JPG" /></a><br /><div>It helped tremendously in information retention. The kids enjoyed making them as well.</div></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-29366323401960507082010-09-06T09:55:00.000-07:002010-09-06T10:08:00.939-07:00Our Dancer...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJhuNjrdQ2Vi6BQgPU_rnEdkusIHgdPgo9OulEYqSCn5P2w6W-fgyZhjIPn8466tcNI1STXJuk26I5ZB6JnOK7WCisZYgidLL-cb__wdJFq-vrI1dwiMUnn1VDBGI1N2Tp9aV9s2FGho/s1600/IMG_0854.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513848292330565106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJhuNjrdQ2Vi6BQgPU_rnEdkusIHgdPgo9OulEYqSCn5P2w6W-fgyZhjIPn8466tcNI1STXJuk26I5ZB6JnOK7WCisZYgidLL-cb__wdJFq-vrI1dwiMUnn1VDBGI1N2Tp9aV9s2FGho/s400/IMG_0854.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Dancer has once again returned to her first love, ballet. She took a year off to explore theatre. She would love to do both and we think we have finally found a company that will give her the opportunity to do just that. During the school year she will be able to practice her ballet steps and in the summer participate in a small theatre production. My prayer is that whatever direction she may choose may she bring God honor and glory. </div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-84264952720338795642010-08-26T19:44:00.000-07:002010-08-26T20:35:10.470-07:00<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509916468470618162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibucEvXNU2NdnbLHYJQdEcM9fvDmuN4KFThCrgE_URWm6CXZUBrFV-J1ibwJe_1o-4lNVHvX2mxQqAMoiQyMPCxxScb4oPM1_Nnay6cTy9f5KKroplopjNBLiHM9l1OZ5OnIU5AxHa-po/s400/054.JPG" /><br /><br />Sadly this is the only picture I can share with all of you of our very small schoolroom since it is always overflowing with books, papers and other clutter. Sure our room was clean for the first week of school but with budget cuts this year, the janitor only comes once a week (LOL).<br /><br />To tell you the truth every space in our home is utilized for learning. Yes, even the bathroom, you ask. Many of my kids will read just about anywhere in the house. (LOL). This room is used for some things but it's main purpose was to store all of our school stuff. Over the few short years since we have had this room, we have outgrown it.<br /><br />Many have asked what our curriculum plans are for this year. After many months of research, purchasing and shipment travels here is our list for the 2010-2011 school year?<br /><br />Sport-Seventh Grade<br /><br />English: Rod & Staff<br />Vocabulary: Wordly Wise<br />Latin: English from the Roots Up and Big book of Latin<br />Composition: Excellence in Writing (US History Based writing)<br />Math: Pre-Algebra by Addison and Wesley<br />Science: Apologia Physical Science<br />History: Eclectic assortment of books history from early American history to Andrew<br />Jackson presidency.<br />Spanish: Secondary Spanish by Alpha Omega<br />Art: Assortment of various artists.<br />Music: Piano lessons and band practice.<br />Awana, Lego League and sports once lego league is finished.<br /><br />Dancer..(Fifth Grade)<br /><br />English: Rod & Staff<br />Vocabulary: Wordly Wise<br />Latin: English from the Roots up and BIg book of Latin<br />Composition: Excellence in Writing level A.<br />Spelling: Sequential Spelling<br />Math: Horizons<br />Science: Apologia Anatomy and Physiology<br />History: Eclectic assortment of books history from early American history to Andrew<br />Jackson presidency.<br />Art: Assortment of various artists.<br />Music: Piano lessons and band practice.<br />AWANA, Ballet and maybe a theatre show.<br /><br />Racer..(Second Grade)<br /><br />English: Rod and Staff<br />Phonics: Explode the Code<br />Spelling: Spelling Power<br />Math: Horizons<br />Sciemce: Apologia Human Anatomy and Physiology<br />History: Eclectic assortment of books history from early American history to Andrew<br />Jackson presidency.<br />Art: Assortment of various artists.<br />Music: Piano lessons and band practice.<br />AWANA, soccer and other sports.<br /><br />Here is a picture to share....<br />This was taken at the kids band recital in June. It is rare that my kids have the opportunity to get dressed up. Yes, I did snap off a few more pix.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSzXIWPGrfecCBW6wftMRxTZsLn9UBY2SY2JwqLfsfeZyr1aPcdq142Zk9sAS1WN1hlGUS5G3CINstAkSo7562bWIBpYNH_Vlp48C3u7ldvLvK2awb1cYdm4Nsu09WEMCcobqYNhK3Cc/s1600/3+kids+with+band+teacher+6-8-10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509927658495757474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSzXIWPGrfecCBW6wftMRxTZsLn9UBY2SY2JwqLfsfeZyr1aPcdq142Zk9sAS1WN1hlGUS5G3CINstAkSo7562bWIBpYNH_Vlp48C3u7ldvLvK2awb1cYdm4Nsu09WEMCcobqYNhK3Cc/s400/3+kids+with+band+teacher+6-8-10.JPG" /></a>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-76097734233612877332010-08-18T21:10:00.000-07:002010-08-19T05:57:38.329-07:00Back to School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr74QTD4iBL_mCPzuGQyDQlsf_nX4HNfRe7yEbS33ByOjJsqJ3_kCHJq1ddDVt43FDMSEWnz3H4P7tglgiFCZmGMUNZoBOCa09lAsRozrqeDjKA9onltpZoXYnOgALZpQ2mMG3knhcn0/s1600/IMG_0785.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 211px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507099983336060178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTr74QTD4iBL_mCPzuGQyDQlsf_nX4HNfRe7yEbS33ByOjJsqJ3_kCHJq1ddDVt43FDMSEWnz3H4P7tglgiFCZmGMUNZoBOCa09lAsRozrqeDjKA9onltpZoXYnOgALZpQ2mMG3knhcn0/s400/IMG_0785.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right" href="http://goo.gl/photos/0N7n" imageanchor="1"></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We have a Back 2 School tradition in our home that we do every year. Each year I have the kids pick out a colored piece of construction paper. This year we used scrapbook paper. On that piece of paper they write their name, grade, weight, height and any interesting facts about themselves. We pull these papers out again at the end of the school year and update them. It is always fun for us to see the big changes each child has made in terms of growth. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf95QGQpfqHBAVCv9V7HPDI0o4ATz7OZv-Vu9oc4ldiiX3a9qgA0yDlFCg0WfeJYgrjbzMWdW77Z3WRR_egJfjMdV0iXSNKMKSzn96VB8J19mTwu3efujeG6s1nfE2Pt-MR_BmhBA93bk/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 202px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507100836203829154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf95QGQpfqHBAVCv9V7HPDI0o4ATz7OZv-Vu9oc4ldiiX3a9qgA0yDlFCg0WfeJYgrjbzMWdW77Z3WRR_egJfjMdV0iXSNKMKSzn96VB8J19mTwu3efujeG6s1nfE2Pt-MR_BmhBA93bk/s400/IMG_0786.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Another tradition that we do every year is my hubby and I write a welcome letter to each child for the new grade level. We give it to them the night before and spend a time praying as a family for the new school year. Our kids enjoy this time immensely and look forward to the loving words on their new letters every school year.</div><br /><a><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 348px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507102003627624370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji306I0DMUlSJeyvxBnDkMM6dBG_JyQZCdZ2CQ7gaPYkQdjjR7qKnYGUuzbHQJWrH7RYYkASsaNa_weOxiMlGN7jfhDJKmUdviHddcY9vZlNFW8o23uxiEToT0uDF0AiPJg67rEnrd2Ys/s400/IMG_0790.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Do you have any Back 2 School traditions in your home? Please do share...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In Him,</div><br /><div>Amy</div><br /><div></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-69919447092330465952010-08-05T17:15:00.000-07:002010-08-05T17:19:46.508-07:00Happy 15th Anniversary!!!<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y41/Freefreq/Ann/images/ann31.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 351px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y41/Freefreq/Ann/images/ann31.gif" /></a><br /><div></div><br />15 years ago today the Lord blessed me with a wonderful man. I consider it a real blessing to be married to him. I love him so much.Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-29195218745832451722010-08-05T10:02:00.000-07:002010-08-05T10:54:24.597-07:00I'm back......I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">apologize</span> for the long blogging absence, priorities and life just got in the way. Many have asked what had happened to me...it was as if I fell off the face of the blogging world. I will try to blog more regularly once again. Many have shared that they have missed my posts and my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">home school</span> ideas and secrets. My family has missed the picture up dates and ramblings of our family as well. Not too sure how often I will be able to post but I will try to do my best.<br /><br /><br />Around here we are gearing up for some big changes...God has been leading and directing us to take some BIG leaps of faith. It has been scary but I would rather be walking in obedience with Him than to be giving in to my fears. More of this in blog posts to come.<br /><br />Sad to even fathom that summer vacation is just about over. I finally managed to clean out the files and get the school room spruced up for the new year. We will be filing independently this year. The name of our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">home school</span> was voted by the family and decided on Infinity Christian School (shaping minds for an eternity.) This is another big leap of faith for us. Something I have wanted to do for so long but felt like I needed the assistance of a Christian <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">PSP</span>. It turned out that our money was being spent just for them to keep our paper work, something that I can do just as well on my own. The kids are excited and a bit nervous but with so many <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">homeschool</span> support groups out there that we know of, we will be taken care of with social <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">play dates</span>, field trips and mom encouragement time (so need that).<br /><br />Our curriculum has been ordered and I am still waiting on a few more packages to arrive in the mail. I have been spending many evenings researching and researching curricula that would be just the right fit for each of my kiddos. I will be hitting some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">uncharted</span> waters, homeschooling a now 7<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> grader, 5<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> and 2<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> grader. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Uncharted</span> meaning, way back before I had kids I did my student teaching in a 5-6<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> grade combination and occasional substitute teaching in that grade level as well. Now that our eldest is in 7<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>, I am feeling a little anxious to have everything covered academically. I know deep down that God has been there in our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">homeschool</span> since the beginning and He will continue to carry us through these junior high and high school academic years as well. Speaking of that I should do a post for new <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">homeschool</span> moms on blessings. Great topic and encouraging too.<br /><br />Here are a few picks from our summer activities to share with family and friends...<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vKXQ4cNxXKzFgFmU4jzftdUQ6Viemqzor3qWGIVLqu-qaX0T1-BDOGDCwGokr4GwecTBM2tROiMMzoyo72-PAu2N3Gsc0VWGV7CoN0-tGgxI2vJacsJ90ctnxRkqlG-8IFViu7f-87s/s1600/Ben+with+sparkler+5++7-4-10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501980688062944722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vKXQ4cNxXKzFgFmU4jzftdUQ6Viemqzor3qWGIVLqu-qaX0T1-BDOGDCwGokr4GwecTBM2tROiMMzoyo72-PAu2N3Gsc0VWGV7CoN0-tGgxI2vJacsJ90ctnxRkqlG-8IFViu7f-87s/s400/Ben+with+sparkler+5++7-4-10.JPG" /></a> Racer having some 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> of July fun. What a firework show that was. Always lots of fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jxdjg9ovXdNLj_UwR9Sh151UYiKiscePl8rpwxL1pKUNeYO0Ii47W56ZABQ9hWijHzHl9vv9EgVyqCctw5hP2R9iBnK2JshMRovugivzMad4hpkM5qAEicNxKDnKeDSZxoBQzrvoYnk/s1600/Lady+in+waiting+2++7-29-10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501982317917602162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jxdjg9ovXdNLj_UwR9Sh151UYiKiscePl8rpwxL1pKUNeYO0Ii47W56ZABQ9hWijHzHl9vv9EgVyqCctw5hP2R9iBnK2JshMRovugivzMad4hpkM5qAEicNxKDnKeDSZxoBQzrvoYnk/s400/Lady+in+waiting+2++7-29-10.JPG" /></a> This is our Lady in Waiting..Dancer was in a summer play of Cinderella. She had so much fun that she was ready each morning, without any need to be reminded. As a mom you know it when your child does this, you found their passion. She has the theatre bug now and can not wait for the next one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0nRzywUf1r1rjhxBdzVkJJt5Z0SSM52y5nk1YIk21XvDj0EESCcDpFZNmNVKtP3acxCe1a_vp0ThUkLv0Slj2bLTWOV4j_lnrytH0qgKD9tuSUmvXIsM3Es5YQpReOp8yNPzKbcjV1M/s1600/Ethan+with+certificate+2+7-26-10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501983644529832354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0nRzywUf1r1rjhxBdzVkJJt5Z0SSM52y5nk1YIk21XvDj0EESCcDpFZNmNVKtP3acxCe1a_vp0ThUkLv0Slj2bLTWOV4j_lnrytH0qgKD9tuSUmvXIsM3Es5YQpReOp8yNPzKbcjV1M/s400/Ethan+with+certificate+2+7-26-10.JPG" /></a> Sport got his feet wet in volunteer work this summer. He volunteered at the local library in their summer reading club. He enjoyed it and it gave him a time to learn how to put others first. To our surprise the library gave each volunteer a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble, such a sweet surprise. He looks forward to spending it.</p><p>More pictures and posts to come... </p>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-27883847665553242812010-01-18T13:17:00.001-08:002010-01-18T13:32:43.787-08:00What we have been up to....For Christmas our family rented a cabin in the mountains. We were hoping for a white Christmas for the kids. Living in Southern California we are spoiled with having 70 degree temperatures on Christmas morning. Most people travel to get away from cold weather, here in California we travel to see and experience cold weather. Sadly, the kids didn't get to see snow falling but we did get blessed with lots of white powder on the ground. The kids had so much fun playing all day on Christmas Eve outside.<br /><br />On New Years Eve we did our traditional celebration we do every year and have been since the kids were just babies. We set up our living room into a elegant restaurant complete with a fire in the fireplace. Each year it is the same menu, steak, seafood, vegetable and yummy Clearman's cheese bread. This year we enjoyed eating crab legs. After eating, playing games, watching movies the kids enjoy staying up late to watch the NYC ball drop. I was quite surprised that my youngest Racer,6, stayed up to welcome in the New Year.<br /><br />New Years was a day for naps, games and watching the Rose Parade. A relaxing day for all.<br /><br />Right after the holidays it was time to hit the books once again. We have been enjoying our history studies of learning about the Middle Ages. While I type this we are enjoying a fire on a rainy day and watching Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Once I get more time I will share with all of you what more we have been up to.Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-52307505492952629722009-11-06T06:42:00.000-08:002009-11-06T08:20:58.740-08:00What Kind of Soil are you Working With?<a href="http://images.travelpod.com/users/schroederd/1.1247875717.beautiful-farm-land-.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 550px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 413px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://images.travelpod.com/users/schroederd/1.1247875717.beautiful-farm-land-.jpg" /></a><br /><div>What kind of soil are you working with? No, this is not a post about gardening techniques but rather teaching techniques. I have always used the parable of the hard clay and soft clay of the potter as I taught my children. However, that parable focuses more on the students we are working with and not on the instructor. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>However, after reading Hebrews 6: 7-8 I am reminded of what type of land are we working on. What are we starting from? Are we beginning our homeschool morning frazzled..or are we beginning our morning in the word of God? There have been days that I have sheepishly done both (just in this past week). I've started the day in the word of God alone and/or with my children and other days not at all. There is a BIG difference between the two. My behavior between the two is the difference between night and day as well as in my children.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If we begin our mornings with the Lord we will "produce a crop useful to those whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God." Who doesn't want to be this farmer? This can also apply to your homeschooling. We can produce children that will please and honor our heavenly father. As we take in the word of God it prepares and sets the path for our day. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If we foolishly don't begin our day in the word of God...and believe me I have had a few if not many of these with my children the "land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned." Have you ever had a day where you just want to go back to bed and begin it again all over? I know I have. Or throw the towel in and give up on homeschooling? Or thought there must be something wrong with your kids??? There isn't anything wrong with your kids...it's YOU! What did you place at the top of your To Do List today? </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Try beginning your day with God's word. I tell you it will make a world of difference.....</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-63045179615641525792009-11-03T20:34:00.000-08:002009-11-03T20:37:43.534-08:00Halloween 2009<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVi1371E03qFy0p8XHPrOOw_Ja38hNPgOvB9FdEgLE-CTbGYxFc4ftaSLP9GAerM5pkY5ObO40AfldMQtyll2CyaQj53uWWuO4UKH-uKk20n4riVj84lfg7efR75Jtzhc_ePkkTwmF94/s1600-h/Collages.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 382px; HEIGHT: 264px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVi1371E03qFy0p8XHPrOOw_Ja38hNPgOvB9FdEgLE-CTbGYxFc4ftaSLP9GAerM5pkY5ObO40AfldMQtyll2CyaQj53uWWuO4UKH-uKk20n4riVj84lfg7efR75Jtzhc_ePkkTwmF94/s400/Collages.jpg" width="485" height="319" /></a> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" border="0" alt="Posted by Picasa" align="middle" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" /></a></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-79669077047049222182009-10-12T20:29:00.001-07:002009-10-12T21:03:46.215-07:00A Fall Hike and a Whole Lot More..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrv864ACAAyv7XNFfLOJJA8YfaL_YhKUt34rC9vb0cWJk9LkhxBhoT_oD_Dj_u4anYp8pAGByaJZSmutQP6DQX2ELooAHTr5s6_DArYlRCeOc8_fYnpYqTfPBoUHlcPnr1c8CwTJcYag/s1600-h/Leaves+beginning+to+change+colors+10-7-09.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391922745221389538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrv864ACAAyv7XNFfLOJJA8YfaL_YhKUt34rC9vb0cWJk9LkhxBhoT_oD_Dj_u4anYp8pAGByaJZSmutQP6DQX2ELooAHTr5s6_DArYlRCeOc8_fYnpYqTfPBoUHlcPnr1c8CwTJcYag/s400/Leaves+beginning+to+change+colors+10-7-09.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>I decided last Wednesday afternoon to take my kids outside for a hike to do some nature learning. Their task was to find anything to show that autumn had begun. This indeed would be a challenging scavenger hunt. Living in southern California we miss out on having four complete seasons.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_t7f-qNIVhTBGMq3qYWQOzT80J3Gm5-b88X2F96Zqlt6QuRJf_gxgeKV9Uoq5S4v_4OeJ73TkN6QV3GSIW4gBq6ba6hISLP9mFpqY_cu0MAvSvRuq7ViUtFa3fmjn0fRi4Sy7g3NNlE/s1600-h/Dried+flowers+10-7-09.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391924252013947330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_t7f-qNIVhTBGMq3qYWQOzT80J3Gm5-b88X2F96Zqlt6QuRJf_gxgeKV9Uoq5S4v_4OeJ73TkN6QV3GSIW4gBq6ba6hISLP9mFpqY_cu0MAvSvRuq7ViUtFa3fmjn0fRi4Sy7g3NNlE/s400/Dried+flowers+10-7-09.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>We headed up for a local hiking trail about five miles away from our home. It was a pleasant day to escape the books and just get some cool fresh air with the kids. What I hadn't realized or expected we were in for much deeper learning than I had thought would happen. You see, what I didn't realize is that we would be hiking on the same trail that a young man in that neighborhood went missing. Sadly, it had a tragic ending the young man had committed suicide just over a month ago. Had I known this prior to the hike I would have hiked a different trail location altogether but the Lord used this moment for something else.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEd6kEwvPtL93QzNM6me394nQQQaxUrsMWc4b_b6dCL2fO_NCFh1Uga4DzFK_ukXNH1a7iHS_dl5AtzDimbxtHjyGc9jmsRftJBsFkT3EjhuvZ_JQZ3E53-HPh2w3MPurLQJEmdbFv8E/s1600-h/Tree+on+Nature+Hike+10-7-09.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391925079170071426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEd6kEwvPtL93QzNM6me394nQQQaxUrsMWc4b_b6dCL2fO_NCFh1Uga4DzFK_ukXNH1a7iHS_dl5AtzDimbxtHjyGc9jmsRftJBsFkT3EjhuvZ_JQZ3E53-HPh2w3MPurLQJEmdbFv8E/s400/Tree+on+Nature+Hike+10-7-09.JPG" /></a><br />It says in the word that we as parents are to instruct our children when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we get up. We are to use every opportunity at any given time as a learning tool. Pressing His truths into their hearts. This trail opened up a flood gate of discussion about suicide. My oldest Sport wanted to know what would make a high school senior want to do this sort of thing. I explained that they believe that their life is so miserable that it is simply not worth living anymore. Sport replied is it then better to take your own life to spend an eternity in hell? I replied that they fail to see the big picture they are caught up in the here and now. More questions followed from all three of my children. I proceeded to answer each one of their questions and fears.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSxgD-gi_ix_BSSSXE7Y5vWvTcCgShQxw-QGKh-cyhYsZa-ofvRS5BDg8xixOh7GAK8xYrzv4XIVT6rneEHKmb94ZR74rlj3E462lsweLQp_NiqP3DNnaFKoi74AQ7yQJa_gAzSRwr64/s1600-h/Black+eyed+susan+10-7-09.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391926374783761506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSxgD-gi_ix_BSSSXE7Y5vWvTcCgShQxw-QGKh-cyhYsZa-ofvRS5BDg8xixOh7GAK8xYrzv4XIVT6rneEHKmb94ZR74rlj3E462lsweLQp_NiqP3DNnaFKoi74AQ7yQJa_gAzSRwr64/s400/Black+eyed+susan+10-7-09.JPG" /></a><br />As we continued to hike and find different things on the trail, Sport suddenly bursts out "Mom, thank you for giving birth to me." I had tears in my eyes. "You are welcome..and I would do all over again in a heartbeat!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr1dlaNUspes2666uuO67Ervvo6Yenzn8kTJaL3YQG817cz4t4VveZFnL0QRRA4Z4MiOdMwZ2BzOo3htxaoNThHcDCth9gWx9D2YgxKdUR7lKD2A1SjbuGT0qoTuInwjFl27sS727yZA/s1600-h/Our+nature+stuff+from+the+hike+10-7.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391928768461079218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr1dlaNUspes2666uuO67Ervvo6Yenzn8kTJaL3YQG817cz4t4VveZFnL0QRRA4Z4MiOdMwZ2BzOo3htxaoNThHcDCth9gWx9D2YgxKdUR7lKD2A1SjbuGT0qoTuInwjFl27sS727yZA/s400/Our+nature+stuff+from+the+hike+10-7.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Take advantage of those hidden opportunities. You never know how the Lord is going to use those Divine appointments with your kids. I know I will.Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-46427952219256671632009-10-11T19:32:00.001-07:002009-10-11T20:10:40.925-07:00A Game to Remember<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxDZkxSCQ47X16LgaHH4wece8644TwS9I670Gl7CJBkfr7tMgeshyZD9rEsXn8YpTwuNSWXH05YLqPgOiQRJAMxk3lkd_-Ye6kupulinzLxslCRAPhaBO93COjDgqsfakCoYwqx2RbaY/s1600-h/Baseball+Dad+with+boys+10-8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391536652019015554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxDZkxSCQ47X16LgaHH4wece8644TwS9I670Gl7CJBkfr7tMgeshyZD9rEsXn8YpTwuNSWXH05YLqPgOiQRJAMxk3lkd_-Ye6kupulinzLxslCRAPhaBO93COjDgqsfakCoYwqx2RbaY/s400/Baseball+Dad+with+boys+10-8.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Last Thursday we took the two boys to a Dodger playoff game. It was memorable event for all of us. Three out of four of us had never been to a playoff game before. It was quite an experience. It is like a regular game on an adrenaline rush. The atmosphere and energy from the crowd is amazing to witness. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiXUD5Rg6bh0hMF9VpHWoretaCkPAJU1bW2ncUqGyrHHg1z3Q8fQW_obZVXcj_WzIEr38MrUOPLe7KhQc1HpYbAHovxYvZTPQi1QNiuk6K9BKp7lLqjc2Xlm9BN6PDcgQGREwfW9YKD0/s1600-h/Dad+with+boys+in+blue+at+game+10-8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391538541147582482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiXUD5Rg6bh0hMF9VpHWoretaCkPAJU1bW2ncUqGyrHHg1z3Q8fQW_obZVXcj_WzIEr38MrUOPLe7KhQc1HpYbAHovxYvZTPQi1QNiuk6K9BKp7lLqjc2Xlm9BN6PDcgQGREwfW9YKD0/s400/Dad+with+boys+in+blue+at+game+10-8.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>What made it more excited is that we witnessed a potential losing game get turned around in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. In a playoff game some fans believe that they are the reason for getting the scores to change in their teams favor. They will yell louder and from what I witnessed turn their baseball caps completely inside out. Some even turned their glasses upside down and their t-shirts inside out. </div><br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqZj1-0NuW9y1qz2tXhgVwKmJOMGYmwX2mBfIw6y7li37QpVpYAKQUCT9fB1zU7mtfpgT8eS-tgKQZQ9RlAVRBpjCB1FWFmxfTerOOZMffTzzrGaAyxEp4O-Nl1h52BJhfBUly3edSYY/s1600-h/Ben+waiting+to+buy+soda+10-8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391539453206811442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqZj1-0NuW9y1qz2tXhgVwKmJOMGYmwX2mBfIw6y7li37QpVpYAKQUCT9fB1zU7mtfpgT8eS-tgKQZQ9RlAVRBpjCB1FWFmxfTerOOZMffTzzrGaAyxEp4O-Nl1h52BJhfBUly3edSYY/s400/Ben+waiting+to+buy+soda+10-8.JPG" /></a> A funny story to share about this is I discovered near the end of the game that our youngest son, Racer's shoes were on the wrong feet. I corrected them and went back to watching the game. Shortly after the Dodgers tied the game up, a man seated two rows behind us told me that I was responsible for getting the Dodgers to win because I switched my sons shoes. Now to have that kind of power or influence over a game I do not claim to have.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN6EqetNlvKWFKoAJ-IbgSXW71TtCeXD_Ip35oGJPg_Jqd0NXD4Mu4rA98WVpPeJ6c3nNYLU2VPe3Zs4P0ONCJ91kXgXZC4pxedXMGSNp0G97kP0lKntz5bjVFfmZ-Zgf5AQuDz0Y2bw/s1600-h/Clapping+to+victory+10-8.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391540213476516530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN6EqetNlvKWFKoAJ-IbgSXW71TtCeXD_Ip35oGJPg_Jqd0NXD4Mu4rA98WVpPeJ6c3nNYLU2VPe3Zs4P0ONCJ91kXgXZC4pxedXMGSNp0G97kP0lKntz5bjVFfmZ-Zgf5AQuDz0Y2bw/s400/Clapping+to+victory+10-8.JPG" /></a> </p><p>It was an awesome game to be at. Truly a priceless moment to witness. Here is a short video that I took during the event. Sadly, I missed the winning run in. I had my camera in hand to capture my family's expressions. Just to catch the expressions on my boy's faces was so worth it. </p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRTjxrco1bijDfwtklAXhhTtFtITawXQlG9t5Eic3VKRZxpWNebucfZ5o5foEhibRsY4tne1uG86bO4k1A0Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-91244236203074592852009-09-21T22:00:00.000-07:002009-09-21T22:10:12.747-07:00LA Fair photos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuCkD3KiFz4dWRK4DjAliWMo1EAoXIapOrj489jUhqkIWVMCzwN93Rc3ip42OMVgqWUkSnr5K-UPU489WHEj7JWttbBt08j8R9gLS85BF_pjyMZMIEikvRPs1drJtQGJlCkGTBxUN-h0/s1600-h/September+20091+collage.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384154575783463666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuCkD3KiFz4dWRK4DjAliWMo1EAoXIapOrj489jUhqkIWVMCzwN93Rc3ip42OMVgqWUkSnr5K-UPU489WHEj7JWttbBt08j8R9gLS85BF_pjyMZMIEikvRPs1drJtQGJlCkGTBxUN-h0/s400/September+20091+collage.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNRIJIHkzZ29pHQ2-EpDvBL4xejENy4q1n_JzbgEu3rKMge2BY-7i1g8p_xD_5RsD2-rLdkBVOJ6DJrEUxildLunwmoZlEwS3jQSeRRfeE8-69bV8MF8YjOHG8Z7xtHV5IVS7VH22Qkg/s1600-h/September+20091+collage.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-5899087924703671652009-09-19T20:41:00.000-07:002009-09-21T21:51:23.526-07:00Artist Tea featuring Giotto<a href="http://rock.uwc.edu/facultypages/pkudrna/quiz%201_files/prtrn-4-.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 517px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 625px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://rock.uwc.edu/facultypages/pkudrna/quiz%201_files/prtrn-4-.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>This week our featured artist was Giotto. Giotto was a student of Cimabue. Giotto was a shepherd boy painting on rocks in the fields. Story has it that Cimabue was traveling through an saw Giotto drawing. He was quite impressed with Giotto's work for his young age and decided to ask him to be his apprentice. Giotto was later to take art during this time in a new direction. Not only painting were filled with people and icons but with backgrounds and with rich emotion and dimension. To better understand this look at the angels in this picture there is strong emotions displayed here.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Next week I hope to share some more of Giotto's art work and about our tea.</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM29yqbMMJBxZBGZIONPczjFkkrCwSezjzcKrYOVc9vtqAzocNgdcUCVhnkprOsXrJ6oY1Vm7TPpujq2GenKE78gf9nyU3CXlGFRTeur0PphJqaaPH-FkiKHKSWY3zvMMtG8k-AmswMYw/s1600-h/Ethan+at+artist+tea.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384149595211659794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM29yqbMMJBxZBGZIONPczjFkkrCwSezjzcKrYOVc9vtqAzocNgdcUCVhnkprOsXrJ6oY1Vm7TPpujq2GenKE78gf9nyU3CXlGFRTeur0PphJqaaPH-FkiKHKSWY3zvMMtG8k-AmswMYw/s320/Ethan+at+artist+tea.JPG" /></a>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-50959984917889891472009-09-13T21:24:00.000-07:002009-09-13T21:38:52.640-07:00Baptism<a href="http://www.crossdaily.com/pictures/143/M/Baptism_143005648.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.crossdaily.com/pictures/143/M/Baptism_143005648.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.faithluth.org/JesusBaptism.jpg"></a>Rejoicing today...our youngest son was baptised today. He just turned six last month. He had been asking about getting baptised for quite some time. We waited wanting to make sure he understand what he was doing and that it was his decision and not ours.<br /><br />Well today he surprised us. Our church held a big event outdoors today at a local high school football stadium. There was a call for those that wanted to receive Jesus and those that had already done so but have not been baptised yet to profess their faith. During the pastors speech our youngest one stood up and announced <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">boldly</span> that he was going to be baptised today. We asked if he was sure and quickly asked him all the questions. He said he was going to get baptised....and then marched down the stadium steps. Tears filled his Dad's and my eyes as we quickly followed him. Luckily a friend in the audience loaned me her camera. Once I get the pictures I will post them. There were over two dozen others young and old demonstrating their act of obedience to the Lord in baptism.<br /><br />What a special day is was today. Totally unexpected but isn't that how the Lord works at times!</div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-7976194067312927332009-09-10T21:51:00.000-07:002009-09-10T22:22:19.309-07:00Latin Update...On my last post about Latin I vented about my frustrations with Latin. If I had trouble understanding it, how was I going to be able to teach it. This time I share with you an update on how we are doing.<br /><br />Well....I haven't thrown the towel in yet. We're just about to finish four weeks of school. Hard to believe this... We have been averaging just two days a week of Latin. We are keeping the lessons short just 20 to 30 minutes. Small chunks of information at one time. They are understanding it and I AM TOO! Yeah!!<br /><br />So far my kids have learned about why learning Latin is useful, different types of nouns, masculine and feminine nouns and over 10 vocabulary words and words that derive from them. In addition to all of this the kids have been learning the history of Rome too.<br /><br />My biggest prayer is that we can maintain this momentum and enthusiasm about Latin. That we can recall things we have learned and to put it to use.<br /><br />I will keep you posted again soon.Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-26198193542415965982009-09-08T21:49:00.000-07:002009-09-09T22:08:47.502-07:00Our first Field Trip this School Year<a href="http://www.themagazineantiques.com/files/2009/03/26/img-news-getty-villa_163802400814.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 499px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 372px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.themagazineantiques.com/files/2009/03/26/img-news-getty-villa_163802400814.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>This past Labor Day holiday weekend our family went on our first field trip, to the Getty Villa in Malibu, Ca. If you have never been there it is an absolute must. The museum is modeled after an Ancient Greek/Roman villa. The grounds, art and architecture transport you back in to an ancient Greco Roman world. The location of the museum's ocean views give the perfect ambiance of the Mediterranean sea in the distance.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQojSMpqX7f000WtKD7F_GtIayOx_A40Vv2D0Ojm_9bCA2uUBIAUM3LSDhFVip_CVg9EojTLhUN78AT_uIYPYxA7o_BWUdBz1Qx6Z76f_gTz7VvK5SAEmmTlAqf_1nnjn0O97dtOdSwo4/s320/DSCN0532.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQojSMpqX7f000WtKD7F_GtIayOx_A40Vv2D0Ojm_9bCA2uUBIAUM3LSDhFVip_CVg9EojTLhUN78AT_uIYPYxA7o_BWUdBz1Qx6Z76f_gTz7VvK5SAEmmTlAqf_1nnjn0O97dtOdSwo4/s320/DSCN0532.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>With the holiday weekend they had plenty of family friendly activities for the kids to participate in. These were just perfect for our Ancient Rome unit that we are currently finishing up. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here are some of the fun things my kids got to do there...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In a hands on kids room the kids had fun drawing on plastic jars that were modeled after Greek ceramic jars.</div></div><br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1MrLXS9PQ4g5NjMinksTPusInypbWmXv0muzQp1ps_BThYpPQeiCvzwrUIH6LwPNdZx2WRrKLK76DtSekj6iskeIPemoaVoY3Wil0Sx5sQ0LAh6IVtqUTCT5imM7FzugDOvf6hk5MT4/s1600-h/DSC04208.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379689870600849746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1MrLXS9PQ4g5NjMinksTPusInypbWmXv0muzQp1ps_BThYpPQeiCvzwrUIH6LwPNdZx2WRrKLK76DtSekj6iskeIPemoaVoY3Wil0Sx5sQ0LAh6IVtqUTCT5imM7FzugDOvf6hk5MT4/s320/DSC04208.JPG" /></a><br />Other sections of the room had Greek tracing shapes for the kids to use and a "behind the silk" screen for acting out Greek Olympic Warrior scenes.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeYtVvm6eD7bPm-h0ELMYKy8zQ-tWcFiQQzgtmAhGXN4RGHSuPyvtRAHMCW10g-kcQpiczvJOVUfo31wLjsh6o18RFlz7lik7BRxEo39x4xkUd-MS5UEk3Qv8sTpIGI7IawErtmDch8Q/s1600-h/DSC04215.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379690781534830370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeYtVvm6eD7bPm-h0ELMYKy8zQ-tWcFiQQzgtmAhGXN4RGHSuPyvtRAHMCW10g-kcQpiczvJOVUfo31wLjsh6o18RFlz7lik7BRxEo39x4xkUd-MS5UEk3Qv8sTpIGI7IawErtmDch8Q/s320/DSC04215.JPG" /></a><br /><p></p><br /><p><br />My kids had fun participating in a trading game. They were merchants in the Mediterranean area buying an exchanging supplies. Here the kids traded a piece of cloth for some olive oil that they were able to make.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNElU6jKqcZ7Cr4H-bBE0b7A_Ir2e3TmxKaiyHhbmCvzBy6La31UPvCBmLjYjHl1PD0LuXrmaYjgJLphtwUI0Gu4rcm91-A5YztUgImZUc_IAogHV0tN6sztT98UXFBhCWm7jJW-_EA8/s1600-h/DSC04217.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379691558097157106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNElU6jKqcZ7Cr4H-bBE0b7A_Ir2e3TmxKaiyHhbmCvzBy6La31UPvCBmLjYjHl1PD0LuXrmaYjgJLphtwUI0Gu4rcm91-A5YztUgImZUc_IAogHV0tN6sztT98UXFBhCWm7jJW-_EA8/s320/DSC04217.JPG" /></a> I didn't know that cheesecloth is used to separate the olive pulp from the oil.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIHH_NFoNf5cWoeukYk0g5TIwifELonAYcULYRCZi8ZuYfo_UGvdHKfjXHbzWHxN5q3kSlsiOJ12l7gJMC0I6iZzOSZ5dAcVRET8lfLf3S4cRpBQJShhS7fb7oo4WvD6VucZWausDPYg/s1600-h/DSC04221.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379693221121972626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIHH_NFoNf5cWoeukYk0g5TIwifELonAYcULYRCZi8ZuYfo_UGvdHKfjXHbzWHxN5q3kSlsiOJ12l7gJMC0I6iZzOSZ5dAcVRET8lfLf3S4cRpBQJShhS7fb7oo4WvD6VucZWausDPYg/s320/DSC04221.JPG" /></a><br />Crushing olives is hard work especially since they have pits.</p><br /><br /><p>Here is the finished olive oil. The oil at the top is what is referred to as virgin, it is without pulp. The oil at the bottom would be used for fuel for oil lamps at the time.</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFa9nWysoC-fOYCvCIvk1ASdCkjdo4S_UWzLP-I4elFFet4Z3mI7zWrtDLcEwOpy7kwF7FhnQJkWNIQzqaMu3PNHsNDA6znPwdyGftaEhky2Tt0EFiX_WdshW5XFnjqdvXhFzOGP0w7g/s1600-h/DSC04223.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379693958402186098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFa9nWysoC-fOYCvCIvk1ASdCkjdo4S_UWzLP-I4elFFet4Z3mI7zWrtDLcEwOpy7kwF7FhnQJkWNIQzqaMu3PNHsNDA6znPwdyGftaEhky2Tt0EFiX_WdshW5XFnjqdvXhFzOGP0w7g/s320/DSC04223.JPG" /></a>Next the kids got to grind spices. The spices were then added to the olive oil to be made into perfume.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCRQfmRHx5iLmrOcbu9nwzux4sx0IUoi9nP5Evt2fPLyGGPgvH6Rerlqqblw1U7jaainxhKmys6DaU3NU53ayhd9GvmC49-3DrjT8Ijm8gxJF3fJqJabZiVwSLIzLHAdxBYNnaPMom8A/s1600-h/DSC04225.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379694743975381346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCRQfmRHx5iLmrOcbu9nwzux4sx0IUoi9nP5Evt2fPLyGGPgvH6Rerlqqblw1U7jaainxhKmys6DaU3NU53ayhd9GvmC49-3DrjT8Ijm8gxJF3fJqJabZiVwSLIzLHAdxBYNnaPMom8A/s320/DSC04225.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><p>The last trading station was designing a Roman coin. They had fun using a stylus to trace their creations onto a foil type coin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqb0SQ9AgIgRiYkwSgThlzqbjGrEkaPO-5syLTchu1Erw7bRVPAeaLreNdVNBAg9V8kBmrBEDEktZwt0HcSR4WnvKny7jjS6zQcfVuGGaHbH6uu8sNUmoE8AKJi_opkYSa4oRYosaGj4/s1600-h/DSC04227.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379695649780293538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqb0SQ9AgIgRiYkwSgThlzqbjGrEkaPO-5syLTchu1Erw7bRVPAeaLreNdVNBAg9V8kBmrBEDEktZwt0HcSR4WnvKny7jjS6zQcfVuGGaHbH6uu8sNUmoE8AKJi_opkYSa4oRYosaGj4/s320/DSC04227.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><p>Please keep in mind the kid exhibits change periodically but I am sure whatever it happens to be it will be an added bonus to any Ancient Mediterranean unit.</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c3k_h1DhRxV8lJtUTl5nmoehr4bzzGEOmE4r8QXgvI4YyBwFQbq-5IDjzIUAUz_XwfJwyok8HAVfFCUhyphenhyphenpR729jkp0wuvw3ALS2jhrjl4BJuUO5Mtdp3Wyr4F56t7sffpiSwhla6TBM/s1600-h/DSC04229.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379696795472784834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5c3k_h1DhRxV8lJtUTl5nmoehr4bzzGEOmE4r8QXgvI4YyBwFQbq-5IDjzIUAUz_XwfJwyok8HAVfFCUhyphenhyphenpR729jkp0wuvw3ALS2jhrjl4BJuUO5Mtdp3Wyr4F56t7sffpiSwhla6TBM/s320/DSC04229.JPG" /></a>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7904108767879882111.post-5651770886882475612009-09-01T11:51:00.000-07:002009-09-01T13:51:55.500-07:00Another Tea with Cimabue<a href="http://www.lib-art.com/imgpaintingthumb/9/8/t8389-crucifix-cimabue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 297px;" src="http://www.lib-art.com/imgpaintingthumb/9/8/t8389-crucifix-cimabue.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>We had our artist tea today. The artist that we focused on was Cimabue. If you are interested in reading more about him please read my previous artist tea post found in the blog archives.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Cimabue's artworks would have a profound influence for other artists during the Early Renaissance. He helped raise the status bar that society had placed for artists at that time. Artists no longer came from low-income families but now higher incomes as well.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The crucifix as an icon dates back to the fourth century and has been used in art mediums for centuries. The Crucifix by Cimabue can still be seen today in the church of San Domenico located in Arezzo, Italy.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The resources that I used for this study of Cimabue were:</div><br /><div>A Child's History of Art by: V.M. Hillyer</div><br /><div>God and the History of Art by: Barry Stebbing</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Mom of Many Hatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00971318685251195962noreply@blogger.com0