September

September began with going full-tilt into our fall schedule. That involved our regular co-op, piano lessons, and Cub Scouts. Two other moms and I also started a preschool co-op through our church, and we met for the first time after Labor Day. Although Jackson and our pastor's son Isaiah are six, they join in as the "big kids," a role which they enjoy since they're not the "big kids" at home. We do an academic session, "centers time," snacktime, an art session, and a Bible session. I am teaching the Bible sessions, and I am really enjoying hearing how much they're taking into their little hearts about the attributes of God (we're learning some of them alphabetically). We're also focusing on catechism and Scripture memory verses, and the kids are doing SO well with them. I'm impressed! Here are the kids at centers: (a big kid in the background doing other schoolwork before our regular co-op)



Art time with Mrs. Overstreet:
Academic time with Mrs. Riddle:
Cora loves her new kitten, and when I went to update this blog and our pictures, I think I had to delete about 1011 pictures of her new kitten. :)

Look at the bluebirds at our birdbath! I LOVE bluebirds, so this is a joy to see them out of our kitchen window.

A bluebird and a goldfinch! At one point, a cardinal was there, too, but I didn't get the camera in time.

September 13th was Jackson's SIXTH BIRTHDAY. Six years ago we were evacuating Florida under the threat of Hurricane Ivan to have him in a tiny hospital in Johnson City, TN. What an interesting journey that was. How surprised we were that he was actually a boy! And what immeasurable blessings he has brought into our lives.

Waiting for his presents. I have no idea where he got that Burger King hat - we never eat THERE. (Kids, be quiet)

That adorable smile and those blue eyes get me ALL THE TIME.

Waiting for cake in the dining room decorated by Shiloh.

A cake decorated by Star Wars storm troopers, naturally (clone troopers? I have no idea):

Yes, this is a little scary. Shiloh attended a Star Wars birthday party for a friend, and they were given masks. She kept hers to use for Jackson's party. She scared me when I came down the stairs and saw her in it.

The birthday boy and Mommy:

The birthday boy and Daddy:

One of the things I most enjoy about homeschooling in Virginia is that we have so many historical sites so close to us. (Well, I should clarify that - we have historical sites from a period in time that I really LIKE - I'm not partial to much after the colonial period :) ). We traveled to Montpelier to celebrate Constitution Day on the 17th because a) it's good to celebrate Constitution Day, and b) it's free on that day. Yea for free! This was the first time for us to visit Madison's home, and we really enjoyed the day.

Kids, start asking Daddy to build us a house like this...

The kids are hanging out with James and Dolley:

The following pictures come from the gardens at Montpelier:

James Madison and Thomas Jefferson showed up - how gracious of them!

Unrelated to Montpelier:

This is what happens when I leave Abigail unsupervised for any period of time (and she nabs the camera):

At the end of the month, Jackson's Cub Scout Pack had its first camping trip of the year. It was a family camping trip, meaning that we all could go. We don't have a tent big enough for all of us yet, though, so Daniel planned to take Jackson and the Den mascot, Cora (she's the mascot because she goes with Daniel to the Den meetings to help corral the 13 Cub Scouts and help with crafts). Abigail also asked for permission to go, and Jackson graciously gave it. :) Shiloh and Adah opted to stay in the bug-free air conditioning. We'll make them go eventually. It was only going to be an overnight trip because they wanted to be back for church on Sunday. It was HOT, but they were intrepid. At about 4:30 the next morning, it started raining cats and dogs. It woke ME up and I wondered how they were doing. They ended up coming home before they ate breakfast just because it was too difficult to get breakfast ready in the pouring rain. Thankfully, the campsite was only about twenty minutes away. All of them declared it a success, though, and Jackson can't wait to go again in the spring.

Daddy, Jackson, the Den mascot, and a groupie prepare to go camping:

Daddy runs a tight ship at the campsite:

Two of the dads and kids in the Den:

A hay ride to end the night! In the tent, preparing for "sleep:"

August

Moving right along at a blistering pace:

The month of August began with getting back to school and routine, but also another very momentous day. Since making a huge theological switch from being Presbyterian (for many years) to Reformed Baptist, our two eldest who have made professions of faith needed to be Biblically baptized in order to join our new church. We talked with them about this, our pastor talked with them, and they confirmed that they wanted to be baptized. We went down to the Rivanna River for our church service that morning, and they gave their professions and were baptized in the river. It was a moving service. I didn't get pictures of their baptisms, but the videos follow.
Our wonderful pastor:
Shiloh read her testimony:

Cora read her testimony:

Two freezing girls and a thankful Daddy:

Another rite of passage came at the end of August. Jackson became a Cub Scout! Daniel is his den leader, and may I just say how adorable this is? Jackson is SO excited to be a Cub Scout, and he's really taken the motto and promise to heart.

My adorable gap-toothed boy!

At the end of August, we headed out to Virginia Beach for our family vacation. We stay at the Dam Neck annex, a military installation that has cabins for government civilians as well. This was the first time that Adah and Nathaniel had seen the ocean, and they were impressed. :) Adah also liked seeing the dolphins. This picture was taken the night we arrived, and Cora's face is saying, "PLEASE STOP TAKING PICTURES - I NEED TO GET IN THE WATER!" The water was calmer than we expected the first night and day, and the kids actually got to swim. It got rougher from that point on because of Hurricane Earl's imminent arrival, and the beach was actually shut down one day. We went to a water park instead, but we also had to cut our vacation short. The kids voted to go to a cabin in the mountains next year instead - no hurricanes. :)

Nathaniel was a little unsure:

Holding tightly to Daddy:

This was the water park we went to. It was small enough that I could lie on a beach chair reading a book and keeping an eye on Nathaniel while letting the other kids roam through the park. Nathaniel went down a couple of slides, but he decided he preferred the wading pool - with his vest on, of course. (He didn't need it; he just really liked it.)

This was the biggest mistake of the trip - renting a cart propelled by foot power to go along the boardwalk of Virginia Beach. IT WAS MUCH HARDER THAN IT LOOKED! And it wasn't just our load; we saw other people with looks of regret and sweat streaming down their faces trying to get the carts back to the store. On top of that, our cart lost its rusty chains twice and we finally ended up with just Daniel and me pedaling back to the store. We were a little sore the next day.

Sunrise over the ocean. I took this picture, because I was the only one up. :)

Back to the water park another day.

Sisters! Shiloh wanted a picture with Cora for the frame that she bought on the Virginia Beach boardwalk.

Adah definitely turned into a beach bunny while we were there! She didn't mind being knocked about by the waves; she recovered quickly. Jackson looks cold!

This is the phenomenon known as "Abigail beach hair." It's truly something to behold. After being sculpted this way by the wind and the salt water, it would stay that way until she got a shower. :)

After getting splashed too many times in the face, Nathaniel decided he preferred the sandcastles.

I'm not sure what Jackson is doing here, but I'm always entertained by him.

We took the kids to the Virginia Aquarium the day we left. Adah and Nathaniel were brave enough to try petting the manta rays. Adah was grossed out. Nathaniel would have leapt into the water with them if we had let him. Shiloh is trying to hold him back from catapulting himself in:

Photo op of our cute family:
And that wraps up August (well, I actually snuck in two pictures from September, because we left the beach on the 2nd :) ).