Box Day/ Sonlight / Homeschooling

It's official, today is our big announcement.... we are homeschooling!! This may not come as a surprise to many of you  mama bear because I have talked about homeschooling even before Matthew and I started having kids. It was my way of prepping hubby. But no prep needed he has always been on board from the beginning to homeschool. Especially when we realize all the gaps we have in our own education. Over the years our reasons have evolved as to why we have chosen to home educate our kiddos. In the beginning it was always the thought of a traditional classroom not tying us down and being able to travel and do mission work and also homeschooling our kids. Well, here we are many years later and seems this is still true and one of our reasons. Other reasons why we have chosen to homeschool, to teach our children to be free thinkers, to edge against the grain, to pioneer a new generation, religious reasons, freedom, and I am truthfully not ready to send my four year old out into the world. Honestly I don't know what the future holds and who knows my kids may one day attend public school but for right now this is our chosen way of life. I am really excited and nervous to start this journey but I remember, I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

There is a scripture that I love

Remember God's Words
18"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.19"You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 20"You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,…

Deuteronomy 11:18-20

I pray that in these foundational years for Ladybird and Zeke Bear that we teach them to love God with all their hearts and to love their neighbors as themselves. To know God's character and to develop their own character. This is the most important thing to Matthew and I. 

Our "box day" as Sonlight refers to it is where you receive your curriculum and the whole family goes through it and everyone gets excited about the upcoming school year. Although you can't tell by the photo Ladybird is really excited about doing school at home. She had a fever here and was not feeling well. In fact while going through ALL the books she fell asleep. 

Bear was totally into it he helped bring all the books out and went through them with me.

Please pray for us as we start this journey we will need it. 

Cheers. 

Barcelona la cuarta parte

I never gave the last day of pictures for Barcelona and even though this trip was in February I still want to finish these pictures and have them journaled   blogged. Our last full day in Barcelona we went to Montserrat which is a mountain about an hour from Barcelona. I am still quiet impressed at our ballsiness to make this trip. We took a bus across town to catch the rail to which was an hour ride, and then took us to a cable car which was amazing and the kids loved it. We finally reached the top and the view was gorgeous especially since it was a clear day and we could see all the way to Mallorca. Our camera died so we only had my Iphone.

On the cable car on the way up.

View from the cable car

Finally at the top we had to climb a lot of stairs but we made it.

This Basilica is beautiful and many people travel here for multiple reasons but two of them being to get a chance to hear the boys choir, unfortunately we didn't get to hear them and a pilgrimage to see the black Madonna you can read more about it here.   

All done and waiting for the cable car and our long journey back to our hotel.

We left the next day and had to wake up at 2:00 AM to catch our flight at 6:00 AM. It was brutal for all of us but originally this trip was supposed to be a girls trip with a good friend from South Africa so the kids were not included in the calculation of the best time to fly scenario. The trip didn't happen so we ended up at the last minute getting tickets for Hubby, Ladybird and Zeke Bear. Wouldn't have it any other way I am a blessed mama and wife to have had them with me. I love traveling with my little family.

Cheers.

Fathers Day Interview

I was inspired by Kate and Kahn's blog for a Fathers Day interview.

                                Ladybird and Zeke Bear ( 4.5 years old and 18 months old)

me: What's your daddy's name?
Ava: Matthew L. R.

 me: How old is he?

Ava: 8 or 7 or 18 umm maybe 14 and 12

me: He is 30

Ava: What?! He is 30?! Wow!



me: Tell me what Daddy looks like.
Ava: He has brown hair

me: Why is your daddy smart?
Ava: Because he is in the Russell family

me: What's his job?
Ava: To protect the American flag

me: What does he do when he's at home?
Ava: He sits around all day

me: What do you like to do with him?
Ava: Play with him

me: What are your favorites?
Ava: Eating sweets, playing around with Ezekiel 

me: What is your favorite thing to play with Daddy?
Ava: Everything, princess and knight, dragons and unicorns, um sleepovers, and uh and playing um watching TV. I also like when daddy reads to me.

me: What is Daddy's favorite food?
Ava: Gyros

me: What do you do that makes your daddy happy?
Ava: Color for him

me: What makes daddy sad?
Ava: If we don't keep daddy company, or if there is something he is looking for at a store and its not there. (Honestly I think this answer is for what makes Ava sad?) Oh also when me or Ezekiel are sick.

me: How do you know daddy loves you?
Ava: Because of his heart.

me: How does he show you he loves you?
Ava: That's a good question, well because he has a heart and mama that's my answer.

Ezekiel is to young for this interview but he loves his daddy immensely and it shows when Matthew walks in the door from work and Zeke drops what he is doing and runs to give hugs and kisses.

Cheers. 

York, England Part Two

Our second day in York was Packed with a capital "P" there was so much to see and do. I am still impressed with everything we did on Saturday. Here it is:

First we went to Clifford's Tower which is part of our heritage pass and was built during William the Conqueror reign and is the last standing piece to the York Castle. We walked all the way to the top which was no easy feat we climbed up and down a narrow, winding stair case with Bear strapped to his daddy and Lady holding onto me. I will say the view at the top was worth it. 

Inside Clifford's Tower.

The view from the top.

After Clifford's tower we went to York Minster for a tour but it wasn't open yet so we rested and ate cupcakes at this adorable cupcake shop called Crumbs, with a view of the Minster. Then we headed to the National Railway Museum the best part was it was free to the public and the museum it self was amazing and worth the walk. We also got to walk along the York Wall. After the Museum we finally went to the Cathedral and took part in a tour. Sadly at this point I was worn out and so were the kids.

We had a great day exploring York and I will leave you with these gems. I feel incredibly thankful for these two.

Cheers.

York, England Part One

I have been wanting to visit York since I read Secret Garden a few years ago when I was nursing Ava as a newborn and I had a lot of time to read especially at 2 AM for those late/early feedings. The setting of the book is in York and they cross through the Yorkshire Moors also another dream to see them and especially when the purple heather is in full bloom and all you see for miles and miles is a sea of purple. But I will tell you more about that later. The kids and I had been home from Florida a couple of weeks and we wanted to get away as a family and Matthew booked a hotel the night before we left and off we went. York has so much history and was just so beautiful! The first night was a Friday so we got there in time to scoop out the city center and eat a delicious dinner. This also marked the first time we were on a mini holiday and neither Matthew nor I were in school. FREEDOM!!!! Yup, that's right I am officially done with school I am a college grad!! 

The cutest thing ever a family of Geese and their goslings.

Even before moving to England I had heard about Betty's Tea Room in York and knew I had to visit. I have to admit I was really excited to go try their scones. 

The York Minster is where Roman Emperor was crowned. How cool is that?

This crazy man climbed up this very steep hill while holding onto a four year old and a 17 month old. Both weigh about 30 plus pounds. Good news daddy made sure they made it all the way to the top and they were all very proud of themselves. Zeke Bear and Ladybird cheered  and threw their hands up in victory!

Cheers.