Charlie, Janet, and Owen

Sorry About Being Gone So Long!

2011-12-28T00:23:00.001-08:00

I've had some time off of our blog. I need to get back on and keep up with the daily things. But, daily living has kept us really busy, or really tired. lol See you soon.

Games...

2011-09-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the games we might play. Owen is really into "Catan" these days, and "Life," and "Monopoly." I have to say that it really has helped his math skills, and also strategy. "Settlers of Catan," is especially addictive.

61 Pints and 8 Quarts of Tomatoes!

2011-09-03T16:10:00.001-07:00

36 Quarts of Peaches!

2011-09-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

Tomatoes tomorrow.....

Thumbs Up for NEW LOFT!

2011-08-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

Today was move in day for Owen's loft. Up till now, he was very frightened of the ladder, and not excited at all. However, once he saw how his Legos fit under the bed, and his mattress up above, he thought it was so cool! With a new clip on light for reading in bed, and a 6-drawer Lego keeper, he is all set. Sweet Dreams, Owen!

Green Beans

2011-08-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

My friend let me borrow her pressure cooker, and I canned 27 pints of green beans yesterday! YAY!

Free T-shirt for Homeschoolers

2011-08-13T05:22:00.000-07:00

"Great Products" is giving away free t-shirts for homeschoolers! A great way to build thier business, and to have some creative fun! They also sell lots of other wonderful products! I heard about this through "Home Educating Family Publishing."

Owen's Loft Bed

2011-08-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

Charlie just finished the Loft Bed. Well, he has to paint it yet. We've decided on White, although Owen wants a RED one. Now we just have to get Owen to not be afraid to sleep up there. He is hesitant, but I know he'll love it once he gets used to it. Didn't Charlie do a great job????

Games From Around the World

2011-08-03T16:03:00.000-07:00

Lego Space Station Creation

2011-08-03T15:57:00.001-07:00

The Zoo Came to the Library!

2011-08-03T15:54:00.001-07:00

Cooling Down the Week of the 90's!

2011-08-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Wager Reunion 2011: Food, Fun, and Sun!

2011-08-03T15:48:00.001-07:00

Owen's Race!

2011-08-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

VBS at Kentwood Baptist Church

2011-08-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

A Day at Frederik Meijer Gardens

2011-08-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

Happy 7th Birthday, Owen!

2011-07-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

Owen turned 7 on July 27th! We took three of his friends to see the movie, "Car 2." Then we came back and had ice cream and cake! FUN!

CSI: Creative Science Investigators

2011-07-09T05:42:00.000-07:00

Owen had great fun at CSI this year. He and two of his buddies went each day, and learned about Bees, Water, and Mammals.

Montague

2011-07-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

It was fun going to the open house for Montague's new Childhood Center, now called the Mac Center. This is a building that Charlie worked on at URS, so he was invited to their ceremonies. Owen enjoyed riding the school bus to the heated parking garage for the busses, also designed by URS.

Cutlerville Days

2011-07-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

Cutlerville Days are great fun! On June 11th, we watched the Cutlerville Parade, and then went to the little fair they have at the Cutlerville Park. This year, I volunteered my 10' pavilion, and my services to the Gaines Township Library for their booth. They had a place to sign children up for the Summer Reading program, and had some games with prizes. Then, next to them they set up my pavilion for "Ruff Readers." That is a group of dogs that children read to. It was fun to watch the kids and the dogs. Owen also got to go on several of the rides, and get some food too. He especially loved the snow cones.

Owen, reading to one of the dogs....

Miss Tisha and Miss Liz, manning the Gaines Township Library Booth...

It's About Time....

2011-06-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

Spring with Tulips

2011-05-09T04:47:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day yesterday, I got a puzzle, a few cards, and a trip to the Tulip Festival, which included an Art Fair. I got quite claustrophobic, and we had to leave, but it was still fun to get out. Many of these flowers are from our own back and front yards.

Party and Guests....

2011-05-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

We had a little party at our house afterwards. Grandpa Wager, Miss Betty, Grandma and Grandpa Andrews, Joey Andrews, and Diana and Randy Meyer came to share in the celebration. Everyone brought gifts, which Charlie and I were really surprised at. But, they were great gifts...Some money, A mystery devotional book (Owen's going to love that), a coin purse, and a suit of the "Full armor of God." Very cool! After all were gone, Owen decided to play in the mud in the back yard, unbeknownst to me. lol Apparently, finding worms was just the way to end the day. Well, actually, a warm bath soon followed. :)

New Life!

2011-05-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Owen was immersed today. Charlie went behind the baptistery with Owen a half hour in advance, where they changed into robes, and got ready. There were several baptisms in a row. Owen was 2nd. Pastor Joel did the honors. Apparently, Pastor Joel was playing Rock, Paper, Scissors with Owen to help calm his jitters before hand. Then Owen noticed that the water was warm, and mentioned that he saw Mommy, Grandma, and Grandpas, Joey, and Miss Betty. He read his testimony, that he came up with himself, and I typed for him to read. And then he shared John 3:16. He was clear, eager, and a joy to watch. Of course, they needed a step stool for him, since he was so short.

The Hidden Trash Can....

2011-04-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

So, Owen decided to make his own, "Hidden Trash Can." It's actually a trash BOX. lol He connected the tube to a hole in our counter, where electrical cords can usually go down to reach an outlet. At the bottom of the tube was a shoebox to collect trash. It's "hidden" because he then put our rolling 3-drawer cabinet in front of the below part. Creative, but was best for little pom pom balls that could be the only kind of trash to go down the tube. lol Maybe some day we'll see this as the beginning of his "Inventions." What do you think?

Easter Pictures

2011-04-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

1st Annual Talent Show!

2011-04-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

Our family attended the 1st Annual Talent Show for Fellowship of Christian Homeschoolers last night. We preformed at Our Savior Lutheran Church, in Grand Rapids. There were10 participants in performances, (Piano, Voice, Poetry, and Cello), and many others who brought displays of their work from throughout the school year. I saw artwork, Lego creations, 3-D puzzles, an erupting volcano, Science books of birds, etc. Owen played his piano piece, "Pumpkin Eater," from Music Tree, Book 1. He did a great job, with no mistakes, and he bowed with confidence afterwards. I was really proud of him! Afterwards, we all enjoyed some punch and cookies. I made my "Strawberries and Cream" cookies.

Bibles International

2011-04-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

Owen and I had the opportunity to visit Bibles International today. Dr Hantz Bernard is the Director there. They were putting on display many ancient Bible texts, some over 600 years old. The most interesting part to me was seeing an actual scroll from the 1400's, hand printed on sheep skin. There were 38 or 39 sections of text sown together by thread made from sheep parts. They scored lines that appear white on the skin to make sure the alignment of the text was perfect. When the scroll was falling apart, or too hard to repair the text anymore, they put the scroll into a pot and stored it some place, or sometimes put it into the temple walls. Later texts were written on dried sheep bladder, which apparently resisted moisture well.
1400's Complete Torah Scroll.

See the stitching between sections?

Hard to see, but I tried to focus the "white lines" they scored for perfect alignment of the text.

Example of "printing."

Pressing...

Final product!

The lady who helped Owen print his own name. :)

Snacks.

Our speaker, Mr. Mike Grant,who had the scroll collection.

Turkey!

2011-04-10T04:30:00.000-07:00

LOOK at what flew into our back yard yesterday! Of course, it flew off as soon as I captured these pictures.

Impressions 5 Field Trip

2011-03-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

What a fun time at "Impressions 5" in Lansing, MI.

Scooter Day

2011-03-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's 67 degrees out today. We finished school, went to gymnastics, and now Owen is ready to try out his new scooter! It was a Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa Andrews, this past year. What a long wait to play with it. And well worth the wait. :)

Oh No! It's the Vacuumizer!!!!

2011-03-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I came upstairs to find Owen vacuuming the corners in the kitchen. I guess the new machine was too tempting. But the thing that made me giggle, is that he had Q-tips in his ears to block out the loudness. He looks like an outer space alien.

Maple Syrup Time!

2011-03-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

We went to our friend's house to help collect the sap! We also got to taste the sap as compared to the syrup it makes. And we got to see their goats being milked.

I Can Spell

2011-03-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

Well, actually, I'm not so great at Spelling. But, I absolutely LOVE our Spelling Curriculum. We use "All About Spelling," by Marie Rippel. It uses magnetic tiles of the letters, and flash cards of the sounds for each letter or group of letters they see in a word. Most importantly, this study emphasizes WHY words are spelled the way they are. That way, Owen has rules to make better guesses for his own creative stories later. Currently, we are in level two. Owen really enjoys this subject.

Making the Pharos Lighthouse

2011-03-05T04:30:00.000-08:00

Owen enjoyed painting the Pharos Lighthouse for History this past Tuesday. The Pharos is one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built during Alexander the Great's day, and was located at Alexandria, at the edge of the Delta of the Nile. Although it is not standing today, they think they have found some of the stones from it in the Mediterranean.

Just Being Silly in the "Man's Cave!"

2011-02-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

Truck Project with Daddy

2011-02-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

Charlie and Owen decided to make a wooden truck last Saturday. They went to Home Depot, got the materials, and made a day of the project. First daddy cut the pieces of wood, then Owen sanded them down. Then they both used Mommy's acrylic paints to do both sides. After everything was dry, they got to work nailing it together. The finished product turned out quite nice.

Bowling At Spectrum Lanes

2011-02-19T04:55:00.000-08:00

This past Friday, Owen and I went to bowl with our homeschool group. We took up 6 lanes of at least 4 people, so a pretty nice sized group. Owen bowled with Bethany Schantz's family (Bethany Hawes-my former college roommate.) Even though we only were able to stay for one game, it was great fun. In fact, Owen beat everyone in our lane with 102 points. Of course, he used bumpers AND a ramp. lol

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-16T04:15:00.000-08:00

Look what Charlie ordered for me on line. I had told him that I don't like regular heart necklaces. But, I did like keys.

Egyptian Day at the Gaines Library

2011-02-16T04:12:00.000-08:00

Owen had a blast at the library this past Saturday. They had an Egyptian Day, and offered fun centers of crafts, games, and friends. We have been studying Ancient Egypt, along with other civilizations in history. So, this was perfect timing for a lot of fun!

Home Depot: Heart Shelf

2011-02-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

Owen was so excited to make his heart shelf. It turned out great. Now he has a full apron of pins for his accomplishments. Also, daddy found a few tools on sale that he got for Owen to add to his toolbox that Grandpa Wager got him a long time ago. He's been hammering away ever since.

SNOW DAY!

2011-02-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

On February 2nd, we had our first "Snow Day." Even daddy stayed home from work. Daddy spent the day snowblowing, and Owen built a tunnel in the snow. I read a book that was over 500 pages in one day. It was a great break!

New Swim Suit

2011-02-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

This is my new swim suit. It was funny to me because all the suits I try, NEVER fit me. So, I find one at Sam's Club, that you cannot try on in the store. I take it home and it FITS perfectly! YAY! This will be the 2nd suit I've ever had as an adult.

Grand Rapids Children's Museum

2011-01-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

During Christmas break, Owen and his buddies went to the Children's Museum. I had a coupon to cover the cost of myself, so it was perfect! You can see he really got "into" the mirror play stuff. Hee Hee.

Sick Dad, Sick Mom, and Sick Owen

2011-01-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

We have all been sick here. Owen started this past week, Daddy got it afterwards, and had to take off work Friday. Now I have it. It's a cold that starts with fever, aches and pains, and swiftly moves on to headache, tons of nose drainage, swollen throat with difficulty swallowing, endless coughing, and trying to hack up chest congestion. I can even feel it all through my back. Not fun. We have missed Wednesday night programs at church, gymnastics, piano practice, and now church. Pray that we get over this soon.

HUH?

2011-01-04T15:28:00.000-08:00

Apparently, I've reached my 1GB quota for photos. Blogger won't let me put any more photos on my blog. :(

Wrapping Party Friends, 2010

2010-12-23T05:55:00.000-08:00

We wrapped downstairs, with 4 tables end to end. Then we put all our "shared" wrapping paper in the school room. We had a blast!

Orea...

Megan...

Tammy...

Ann Marie...

Charlie...

Owen...

Wrapping Party Food, 2010

2010-12-23T05:46:00.000-08:00

I made Biscotti, Orange Gingerbread cookies, Ham/Onion/Cream Cheese roll ups, and three kinds of cheese balls: Serious Herb, Cranberry/Apricot, and Cream Cheese/Sharp Cheddar. I also made some Spanish Hot Chocolate, which turned out to be more like pudding. It was delicious. And we had little pickles and Sparkling Juice. YUM!

Veggie Tale Party

2010-12-18T03:45:00.000-08:00

Owen won the newest Veggie Tale movie called, "It's a Meaningful Life." It's a Christmas flick based on the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." Really cute. So, we decided to invite some of his friends over to watch it together. It was a nice, relaxed time, with popcorn and lemonade. There were 16 of us all together.

Tasty Treats

2010-12-18T03:40:00.000-08:00

We did some baking and chocolate making to be ready for my "Wrapping Party," and to give some treats to some special people in Owen's life. The Children's librarian at Gaines Township, Miss Tisha, his gymnastics instructor and owner of "Four the Kidz," Mrs. Alisa Vance, and his Wow group leader at church, Miss Martha, all received a little box full of goodies. We also made some gingerbread cookies, but I've not frosted them yet. So, I'll get a picture of that when I do.

Olympus Mons...

2010-12-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

...The biggest mountain peak in the entire Solar System... the volcano on Mars.

Charlie's GREEN Christmas Tree

2010-12-13T04:38:00.000-08:00

URS Corporation is having a contest today for decorating your cubical. The theme this year is "GREEN." So, Charlie spent a couple of days working on his "GREEN" Christmas tree. It is really cute, and I know that we will keep it from year to year at our house. It's all made of recycled cardboard from our cereal boxes, and our large cabinet box. And he also strung popcorn, and locally grown cherries. I thought he did a great job! I can't wait to see if he wins something.

Gingerbread House

2010-12-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the Gaines Library to make Gingerbread Houses. Miss Tisha, the children's librarian, read "The Gingerbread Baby." And then each child had their own plates with a cup of goodies to put on their own house. Fun Fun....and can you say a "SUGAR HIGH?" lol

Field Trip to Outback Steakhouse

2010-12-05T03:54:00.000-08:00

Owen and I went to the Homeschool's group field trip to Outback Steakhouse, on Friday. Outback does not open until 4pm each evening of weekdays, but they came in early at 11am for our group. That way we had the place to ourselves. They broke our group of about 40 people into 4 groups, and we got to see things in both the eating area and the back of the restaurant. Mr. John is the manager of the store, and he was really good with the kids. We found out that the word "Kangaroo" actually means "I don't know." The natives were asked what this animal was, and well....they didn't know. Also, we learned that the sun sets or rises with the colors orange and purple. In the back, we learned the typical stations. I was happy to see that all their sauces and dressings are made from scratch, with fresh, natural ingredients...not shipped in containers on a truck.
After the tour, were had hamburgers and chicken strips, with our choice of beverage, and they made "Bloomin Onions" for us also. It was a very successful field trip.

December Home Depot Project: Picture Frame

2010-12-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

Owen's apron is getting pretty full of the pins. And our shelves are getting full of projects. But, both Daddy and Owen really enjoy their "work" time together.

Homemade Advent Calendar

2010-12-02T10:46:00.001-08:00

"Make and Take"

2010-12-02T10:44:00.001-08:00

Smooth Rider...

2010-12-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

Nathan's Birthday Party

2010-12-02T10:33:00.001-08:00

Happy Squirrels

2010-10-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

We collected the Oak Tree acorns, and put them into a bucket at the bottom of the deck. The squirrels are LOVING it. They give us a daily dose of entertainment.

Fall Festival!

2010-10-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Liam, Owen's friend, invited him to the Fall Festival they had at their church, Kentwood Baptist Church. Owen had SO MUCH FUN! They had hay rides, cake walks, bouncy room, blowup slide, hot dogs and chili, pumpkin dessert, a carnival downstairs with candy for the prizes, cotton candy, popcorn, and pumpkin painting. Plus, the children got to dress up. It was so cute to see Owen as Buzz Light Year, and Liam as Woody. They are quite the pair.

Color Tour.

2010-10-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

We took a color tour up by Newego, and enjoyed the beautiful colors. It was a relaxing day.

Charlie's 40th Birthday Party!

2010-10-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

Charlie and his co-worker from URS Corporation.

Sandwich spread, plus fruit tray and potato soup.

Brownies, cards, and gifts.

Tim Carrier's smile.

Julie and Nicholas, hard at "dot to dot" work.

Did someone say, "Chocolate Milk?"

Nathan Whitley and Arabella, who had already lost her socks.

Arabella and Megan, eating pepperjack cheese.

Liam, coming up for some food. The children played downstairs much of the time, with trains, and food toys.

Jim and Tammy Westrate, enjoying some food. They even stayed a little extra for some football on TV.

Owen and Lissa....not looking too innocent, I might add.

Clint, Mom, and Grandma D.

Michael and his girlfriend, Kelly. They were pretty cute together.

Apple Picking at DK Orchards

2010-10-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

Home Depot: Fireboat

2010-10-04T02:13:00.000-07:00

October is Fire Prevention month. Owen made a fireboat at Home Depot, and also got a free colorbook on fire prevention.

Just Reading

2010-10-04T02:10:00.000-07:00

Puppet Theater

2010-09-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

My camera is back in action! Here is the puppet theater that Charlie, Owen, and I made. It's just a TV box turned backwards, and painted with tempera paints. Charlie built the structure to place it around.

Are You Wondering?

2010-09-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

You're probably wondering why I haven't had a new post in a while. Well, I like pictures, and my camera won't turn on. It's not the regular battery, so I don't know what the problem is.
We have been busy, as well. Owen is starting his 3rd year of school, and we've spent many weekends out visiting dad, or going to orchards to get food to freeze or can. I have some responsibilities in our homeschool group as the PR person, and also as the Secretary for the Gaines Township Advisory Library Board. Field trips, Wednesday night Bible study....the list goes on. But, as soon as my camera get's fixed, I'll whip out a post. :)

Visiting Visitors

2010-09-04T16:16:00.000-07:00

We had fun with Laura and Alex too. Alex and Owen played games on the TV...remember those PacMan ones? Alex was extreemly patient and good with the boys. Owen also had a really sweet time with "Abby," Julie's cat. Abby is very lovable and friendly, and she curls right up in your lap.

Art, Music, and Fun Fair

2010-09-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Owen, Nick, Nate, Julie, and I went to a Fair. The kids had a great time, and we enjoyed each other's company. :) Julie went on the Ferris Wheel with the boys, and I stayed grounded with Nate. lol I don't think it was Julie's favorite thing, but the boys seemed to love it. Nick and Owen also tried the bumper cars. Great fun, as long as you don't get stuck in the corner. hee hee. We shared a BBQ turkey leg, and some snow cones too. Thus, the blue mouths you see.

6th Year Doctor Appointment

2010-09-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

Owen went to his 6th year doctor appointment yesterday. He weighed 49lbs, and was 46.75 inches tall. I didn't weight 50lbs until I was in 5th GRADE! :O lol Anyway, that represents an 8lb gain, and 3 inches of growth since last year. That puts him slightly above the 50th percentile. The Dr. says the he is her most healthy child. She rarely gets to see him....just at the yearly appointments. We love Dr. Kruggel. Now if we can just get Owen to stay off my camera. I've had to hide it lately. He took 96 pictures the other day, of various rediculous things. lol Like...the doorknob, shelves, the white wall....and even these cute pictures of himself. lol

Tomatoes!

2010-08-31T05:14:00.000-07:00

Out of ONE bushel, I got 27 pints of stewed tomotoes! I did it all by myself. And I found a great way to do it, without using the canner or the water bath! Check out this link to see how I did it!
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Can-Tomatoes

Visiting Dad in the Gratiot Medical Center Rehab

2010-08-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

We had a WONDERFUL visit this morning with Dad and Betty at the Gratiot Medical Center Rehab. We had church together in the dining hall in his wing, and had lunch together too. Owen was able to go to the park a little and get some McDonalds too. Dad was looking very UP, and in command of himself. Glad he is doing so well. ;)

Tom & Kristie Trowbridge Visit from Bosnia

2010-08-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Tom, Kristie, Owen, Charlie, and I had a wonderful visit last night and this morning. Kristie and I both taught at South Haven Christian School. Then they decided to go on the mission field in Bosnia. It was great to see them, and get caught up on life.

Lemonade....Lemonade....Just 25 cents....Get Your Lemonade....

2010-08-21T03:25:00.000-07:00

While we were having our garage sale this weekend, Owen and his friend, Liam, put together a Lemonade stand. They made about $2.00 each, and were quite proud of themselves. It was such a hoot, because Owen really bellowed it out to all the customers, in a sweet, kind, way. And Liam was so loyal to the stand. Good Job, boys! :)

1st Baby Tooth to Fall Out!

2010-08-05T04:30:00.000-07:00

Owen's 1st baby tooth came out last night at VBS! It was really wiggly before he went, and he couldn't finish his PBJ sandwich. The cool thing is that the "Tooth Fairy," (Owen knows this is really daddy),left him a dollar coin! Cool!
You can also see that his adult teeth were already half in "behind" the baby teeth. I just hope his other baby one will fall out before our dentist appointment next Friday.

Putt Putting

2010-08-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, Charlie, Owen, and I went to a Putt Putting Tournament, in support of St. Judes Research Children's Hospital. They had free food, as much as you wanted, and prizes for about 13 of the 18 courses if you got a hole in one. We came away with two T-shirts, and a few other fun trinkets they passed out to the children. I can't wait to see how much money they raised for the event.

Our Friend's Goats

2010-08-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Owen and I were invited to see some new goats our friends purchased. Their favorite place to be was on the deck, right at the slider doors. They had tons of land to roam, but I guess they are people animals. However, Owen wasn't so sure if he was a goat person. lol

Owen & His Newest Train Layout!

2010-08-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

Storytelling with Adam Mellema

2010-08-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday, Owen and I went to the Gaines Township Library to hear Adam Mellema storytell. He had great voices for different characters in his stories. We even got to see some friends from a long time ago, at laptime when Owen was around 3 years old.

Ruff Readers: Wheatley

2010-07-27T04:39:00.000-07:00

Owen got to read to "Wheatley," a Golden Retriever, at the Gaines Township Library. This West Michigan therapy dog is 4 years old. We tried several different positions for the dog to enjoy the book. He was a little indifferant, but enjoyed listening. Owen read an anthology of Thomas the Train stories.

Caledonia Lakeside Park

2010-07-23T05:58:00.000-07:00

Owen and I got together with other friends at the Calendonia Lakeside Park. Owen got soaked when he enjoyed the creek they had there. And it was so cute to see him and his buddy pretend to fish. They had a pole with a plastic fish on the end of it, that actually "casts" off. It took a while for Owen to get the hang of it, but his friends was patient with him.

Ruff Readers: Zoe

2010-07-20T05:15:00.000-07:00

Meet Zoe, a White Bichon Frise. She is 6 years old, just like Owen! She loves people of all ages, Ice Cream on a spoon, walks in the park, and car rides with the window down.
Gaines Township Library has this program, "Ruff Readers," to help young readers gain confidence reading outloud. They bring their therapy dogs in, and spend 15 minutes listening to stories. Owen read "Froggy Plays T-Ball," and " Froggy's Baby Sister," by Jonathan London.

Picking Blueberries

2010-07-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

We went on this past Saturday to pick blueberries, but they were closed. Talk about a sad little boy. So, we packed up our gear, and went to Dykstra Farms this past Monday. We spent about an hour and a half, and picked about 8 lbs! I think Owen got more in his tummy, though, than he picked.

Owen's Puppet Show

2010-07-20T04:53:00.000-07:00

This is Owen's story about the 100 sheep, and one got lost. Since he is only one person, he decided to boil it down to the bare minimums. lol This was entitled, (See the paper sign) "Charlie and Janet." Once upon a time, Charlie and Janet were talking. Then, Janet ran away. Because Charlie loved her so much, he went to look for her. And he found her! The End. Notice that he is bowing after the show. lol

VBS

2010-07-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

This is the 3rd VBS that Owen has been to this summer. He LOVES making new friends, making crafts, studying God's Word, playing games, and of course, having snacks! This past week was called Sea Quest. They had a hotdog supper the last day, and we parents got to see what they learned. Owen really enjoyed the puppet shows, and has tried some on his own at home. One day, he said to me, "I may be a naughty boy, but I'm a giving boy." lol (He had just given his craft to a boy who lost his.)

Friends Come to Visit

2010-07-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

Some friends came to visit and to buy Owen's baby gate. You can see that Owen and Mara loved their frozen smoothies.

Magic Show!

2010-07-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Fun at the Gaines Township Library!

Painting

2010-07-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

This is a Melissa & Doug painting project Owen got for his birthday. He had such a great time doing it!

Tim & Joanne Come To Visit

2010-07-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

Tim & Kristin Wager, and Joanne & Kevin Woods came to visit us before the family reunion on this Saturday. We had a great time with both families.

4th of July Parade!

2010-07-04T12:53:00.001-07:00

Just your typical parade. But, we did get to see an entry by "4 The Kidz" Gymnastics, which Owen is a part of. We spent the day riding bikes, and then had our own little bit of fireworks in the back yard. Owen really likes the tiny pop rocks? They make a great sound when thrown against the ground.

What are These?

2010-07-04T12:46:00.000-07:00

This would be what we think is the racoon nest in the neighbor's tree that leans over OUR backyard! Yikes! I saw it last Thursday night around 12 midnight, on our DECK, and then pawing on the window to come in. :O

I don't know what these flowers are, but Charlie is now outside and taking out all the weeds of that garden, laying down black plastic, plus putting in a stone walkway to make it extra pretty.

Slave Labor

2010-07-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

I could get to liking Owen's newfound joy in vacuming!

Exotic Animals!

2010-07-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday, we had a fun time learing about some interesting animals. It was really exciting in that the kids got to touch and see what they felt like.

Grandparents Celebrate Owen's 6th Birthday!

2010-07-03T05:33:00.000-07:00

Owen was quite thrilled with his "Buzz Lightyear." "To Infinity and Beyond!"

Isn't She Beautiful?

2010-06-30T05:15:00.000-07:00

Look what we found in our front yard flower garden! It's a Tiger swallowtail on a butterfly bush! Apparently the larvae eat parsley. If you trim the flowers as soon as they start to die, you will have blooms for longer.

Fun at Millennium Park!

2010-06-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

Our homeschooling group gets together every Tuesday at a different park throughout the summer. We have been having a BLAST playing together. This park has a beach, splash pad, playground, wetland trails, concession stands, lockers & changing rooms. It was perfect for the day. About 40 of us enjoyed the swimming yesterday! I want to go back there.

Owen's 6th Birthday!

2010-06-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

Owen had a terrific birthday! He started off with daddy doing some errands. Have McDonalds for lunch, and then had his 6th birthday party! The theme was "Toy Story 3." He had a few buddies over with their moms, and also his friends, Miss Diane and Mr. Randy. We played three games. "Feed the Pig," "The Claw," and "Mr. Potatoe Head." Then we ate some yummy cake and had some fruit pops and ice cream. Owen's friends were sooooh generous with lovely gifts. And then they played outside and with the games all over again. What a wonderful time!
After the party, we were POOPED! lol Charlie decided to take Owen to his favorite place to eat....The Olive Garden. Then grocery shopping, and home to go to bed! PHEW!

New Flowers!

2010-06-27T03:33:00.000-07:00

Master Arts Traveling Street Theatre

2010-06-27T02:54:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday in the summer, the Gaines Township Library offers wonderful programs for the kids to come to. This street theatre puts on folk and fairy tales in a high-energy production that uses the viewers as volunteers as well. Owen had so much fun. :)
The first story was about an old man who wanted the "racket" to die down around his house. So, he paid the metalsmith and the blacksmith to move out of their house. Sadly for the old man, they moved to each others house, since they were good friends.

The 2nd story was about a man and his wife, and how it was too loud in their house. They went to the wise man for advice. He had them bring MORE animals into their house, which didn't help, of course. However, he lastly advised them to remove all the animals, which made their house the same as before, yet oddly somehow quieter to the couple. Owen was picked to be the "quacking duck" in this episode. :)

The 3rd story was about a dragon that carried of a husband. The wife eagerly took off to look for him. But, when she found him, he complained of how frazzled she looked. So, she sent him back to the dragon.

The "Wide-Mouthed Frog!"

The "3 Little Pigs" from the Wolf's point of view.

The "Fisherman and His Wife." She was not satisfied with all that the magic fish gave her husband.

A story about a turtle that was brave under the King's command.

Owen and the cast.