How Great Thou Art...

If you are looking for a great art program, we love Barry Stebbing art. We are currently working through I Can Do All Things. We do other art projects all through the year, so we use it sporadically. This covers basic drawing techniques, color mixing etc. The best part is that the lesson is taught on a DVD! So after our school day is nearing the end I can pop in the DVD and the children will sit and draw for hours! This was the first time Annastyn aged 4, tried the program and she loved it! She did remarkably well for her age as well!

This lesson was teaching straight lines. This is Annie's work.

African Curriculum

I have used this product but just came across it and it seems to have great reviews! Just wanted to share with you. If you have used it leave a comment and tell us about it!

I found it all individually priced out here at Lamppost Publishing.

And here in an all-inclusive kits or individually!

50 years!!

Paul's parents will celebrate 50 years together this week! We threw a surprise party for them this weekend. It was not an easy task throwing a surprise party when 2 sisters are in other states and the party is here! We got it pulled together though and it was a hit!
Here is Billy Joe down on one knee asking her again to marry him...(I know how sweet!) although she did say NO!!!! lol
Here they are watching the video montages that were put together...some serious....some funny and the grand finale was "photoshopped" pictures of the two of them in Hawaiian bodies, hula dancing and in the conga line! This was all part of the "reveal" that we were sending them to Hawaii!!! They are very conservative so they were super surprised at the pics...it was hilarious!

Can you tell what Paul will look like when he is older?!

Here is the picture of all 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren! (plus us in-laws!!)

Paul and I only have 40 years left for our big party!! I told Annie to take notes, because we wanted all of this one day!!

Bedroom art project!

All three boys share a room. With the age difference I decided to do more of color scheme than a theme. The walls are still bare after all of these months! We waited for quite awhile because our house is for sale and I ahted to put holes in the walls. Now I am just sick of plain walls so we are ready to finish the room!
I love children's artwork used around the house so I bought each boy a canvas to paint. The little boys made theirs..and they are precious. Carson has not made his yet.
First here are pics of the boys in their cutie patootie pjs!
Camden mostly did his little fingerprints..it turned out really unique!

Lincoln was hesitant at first about having paint on his hands. But once he started I could not get him to stop!

The finished masterpieces!!

a bit more Maynard slang!!

Hanitizer - Used by Annie (Hand sanitizer)

"Picture This" or "Picture Me"-Used by Camden Meaning:Take a picture!

I thought it would be good to include a bit of the Maynard slang, just in case you ever wonder what is being said over here!

Snowmen-used by Cam & Linc meaning: snow
used in a sentence: Look mom I step on snowman, I pick up snowman, I throw snowman....lots of snowmans mom.

Lookwhat - used by Cam
A combination of "Guess What" and "Look"!
used in a sentence: Lookwhat mom, lookwhat I cleaned up my toys.

Amnesium -used by Carson & Maddie (Amnesia)

Epiopia - used by Annie (Ethiopia)

"I like to movie, movie....I like to movie, movie"-sung by Camden instead of " I like to move it, move it....I like to move it, move it."

"mabeuy" - used by Lincoln
Interpretation: "mama's boy"

shinte- used by Lincoln
He still uses the Ethiopian word for pee-pee!

ka-ka-used by Lincoln (and the other children occasionally)
yeap still uses the Ethiopian word for poo-poo too!

Big brown -used today by cam for the first time when he saw a tall black man...he said "look mom he is brown like me, he is big brown...I am little brown"

"make my hair little"-used by camden when he wants a haircut!

waa- used by Lincoln Interpretation-water

Fweet tea-Used by Camden Interpretation: Sweet Tea

Jonifer Brothers- Used by Annie Interpretation: Jonas brothers

Vawentibes Day - used by Annie...I am sure you can guess!!

that is all I can think of right now...more to come I am sure!

Please don't think much of the video below! We are trying to get a video of the boys talking to their birthmother. We have been told she is very ill and would love to see video and or pictures of the boys before she passes. I am trying to figure out a new computer and an old camcorder...which is resulting in pretty much nothing! On the upside I guess you guys get to enjoy the video!!!

Bethany