A Helper I Will Be

 ...In some ways, yes...

...And in other ways, not so much...

November 19- National Volunteer Day

 November 19, 2001 was official National Volunteer Day.  The organization that our family participates in (Little Helping Hands) had lots of special activities for Austin families to choose from.  We decided help clean up a local park.  It was a perfect day (not too hot, not too cold) for our outing.

After what Branna and Atlie felt was a rigorous amount of cleaning (about 15 minutes worth), it was time for a break.  Fortunately, since we were at a park, there were plenty of ways to relax.

I am so glad that we have opportunities to give back to our community.  Even though, it's only small things right now, I am hopeful that by instilling this in the girls while they're young, it will be an inherit part of their lives as they get older.

Halloween 2011

This year, Branna decided to be a gnome sitting on a toadstool.  We got the idea from the Family Fun magazine and Disney's Gnomeo and Juliet.  

Our first opportunity for Branna to wear her costume was at the Fall Festival.  (Atlie was supposed to be a gnome, too, but she wouldn't keep her hat and beard on!)

However, Atlie had tons of fun just walking around and playing her favorite game: the bean bag toss.

Even with her huge toadstool hindering some of her movement, Branna made sure to participate in all the activities, including the train ride.

Branna made a baseball player pumpkin for the "Pumpkin Decorating" contest.  Her pumpkin one the prize for the "Most Bubble-icious".

We didn't get to stay for the Fall Festival's Trunk-or-Treat, so Branna was overly excited to go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  She had a great time making the rounds with her good neighbor friend.

Happy 1st Birthday, Atlie!

It's hard to believe that a year has gone by!  I can't believe that you're no longer my docile babe in arms, but now my active toddler.  I think back to your arrival quite often, as it was one of the best days of my life.
When we arrived at the birthing center and got situated in our room, Daddy turned on the local classical radio station to for relaxation and to give me something else to focus on.  After you were born and the morning's events had settled down, Daddy stepped out to get some breakfast for us.  It was our first quiet moments together and it's one of my sweetest memories of you birthday.  As I was holding you in my arms, only an hours old, watching you sleep, Tchaikovsky's "The Sleeping Beauty" started playing on the radio.  I couldn't imagine a more fitting song!  You are such a special part of my life and I am so blessed that God chose me to be your mother!

This month has been a fun one!  You are not just walking, but running as well, especially when you have swiped one of Branna's toys and are trying to make a break for it!

You are saying so many things, too.  It's still mostly talk that only Mom, Dad, and Branna understand, but you definitely know what you are saying.  In addition to your "What's that/this?" you also say, "Baby", "Touch", "Shoes", "Hot" "Thanks", "Uh-oh" and "Fish".  We've continued with your signing and have added "hurt", "hot", "please", and "play".  You also put two signs together for the first time: "More, please."

Online Webcourse: Intro to Gravity and Inclined Planes

We've got a scientist in training! Not too shocking, I guess, but very exciting. This all started when Branna was trying to make a balance beam for her stuffed animals, but was putting her "beam" (aka lid to the toy box) on an uneven surface and her animals kept sliding off. This was a big source of frustration. Branyon stepped in and drew a simple diagram while explaining to Branna about an inclined plane and how gravity works. She decided she needed one of her own and then needed to be the teacher.

School!

We are officially in school! We're in our second week and have been having a great time. This is our second year of homeschool and I'm looking forward to it!

Last year, we used a curriculum called Hands On Homeschooling. There were alot of good things about it, but I really felt like it was too slow for Branna and she was getting bored. By the end of the year, our love for school was dwindling.

The curriculum we're using this year is through the creator of the blog Confessions of a Homeschooler. She has lots of good material and I'm really excited about it.

Each day, we have our circle time (reading, reciting Bible verses, singing, identifying patterns, saying the pledge,etc) and then we have our regular lesson. The first 2 weeks have been more of just a letter and number review.

Branna finishing the daily pattern

and then using pattern blocks to make the same pattern

Checking the weather... although it hasn't changed much! I think she had wishful thinking here!

This was such a great creation. Erica, at Confessions of a Homeschooler, made Alphabet Builders. In a nut shell, they are lines and curves that allow for building letters. I printed them off on magnetic paper, and viola!, we had a super-fun hands on activity.

I wish I would have gotten pictures, but when Branna first used these, her imagination when wild. After constructing the alphabet, she also made a boat, a train and a car.

I think Branna's favorite part of the first week was playing the alphabet bean bag toss. We each took turns throwing a bean bag to the letter card that the other person called out. She really got into it!

As part of school, we are also continuing our reading lessons using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I'm very happy to say that we're almost done! The lessons have been a great tool and Branna is really starting to read fluently. To give some incentive, I told Branna we would have an "I Can Read!" party when we got to lesson 100. Pictures will hopefully be posted soon!

And lastly, I mentioned in the first part of the post that part of our circle time is reciting Bible verses. From last year, Branna has memorized 9 verses and we're continuing to add to that. Here is one of her favorites:

I looked back to this time last year when she first learned this verse. I cannot believe what a year has done! She was such a little girl. She has grown so much-physically and mentally.

I look forward to sharing our journey again this year.

Listening Pages

Branyon and I strive to teach Branna and Atlie God's will and to help them understand importance of a Christ-centered life. Sometimes, I find it difficult to keep Branna engaged on Sunday morning during the sermon. I don't expect her to sit still and quite the entire time, but I do like for her to pay attention as much as possible to message being delivered and to participate in the worship service.

I was excited to come across Mama's Learning Corner's Listening Pages. She has designed a worksheet for kids to fill out during the sermon. It has key words like "sing", "Jesus", and "Bible". The child can trace the words and identify a picture associated with it. Branna has enjoyed the few that she's done so far. I wanted to share our great find and hope that you or someone you know can benefit from it!

Wildfire and Texas History

Branyon had Labor Day off and we wanted to take advantage of the day by having a family outing. Our original plan was to go to Brenham and tour the Blue Bell factory. However, we began to hear more and more about the wildfires that were effecting the Bastrop area and decided to stay closer to home. We'd never been to the Bob Bullock Museum and thought that would make for a fun afternoon.

As we got going on the road, we realized that the fire was much closer to our house. We pulled over at the nearby county annex and after talking to other there, decided we had better go home and pack a bag, just in case.

Taken from our car window about 3 miles from our subdivision

That turned out to be a good idea, because as soon as we opened the door, we got a phone call from the emergency management services telling us to evacuate. The fire was still a good distance from our house, but it was still a nerve-wracking experience.

So after we gathered up our things, we decided to continue on with our original plan of the Bob Bullock Museum. It was quite a bit later in the day by now, so we didn't get to go into the actual museum part, but we still had an enjoyable time... except for the Star of Destiny show. Neither of the girls liked it and saying that is an understatement. I guess it had something to do with the lightning, thunder and 4D effects.

I would really like to go back when we have more time to enjoy the exhibits. Hopefully next time it will be a less eventful day!

Daddy and the girls with the "cow-marro"

Underneath the star of Texas

Branna standing with Bob Bullock's statue

The girls making their way across Texas!

We've landed on the moon!

Daddy and Branna way down

Free Color E-Book (Limited Time)

As you may know, we are in the beginning stages of homeschooling. Branna is not officially in kindergarten yet, but last September, we started a home-preschool. We are continuing that this year with what looks like a great curriculum through Confessions of a Homeschooler. I'm excited to share our journey this year on the blog!

There are so many great resources out there and one that I recently came across is a link to a colorful E-book for you and your kids to explore our planet and its many cultures. The link is only good for a short amount of time, so make sure to get your copy!

Atlie at 10 Months (August 27)

This month you have really started to understand things that are going on around you. You're signing more things like "where", "baby", and "all done" and are starting to apply "more" and "milk" by yourself.

You have your favorite toys (Snoopy and Baby) and when someone asks you to find them, you can locate it. When you find them, you get so excited and start squealing. Even when I'm a different room, I can tell have them by the way you "talk" to them.

You love to mimic sounds. Some of your favorites are growling and "whistling". (Branna has a fake whistle that she does by making a high pitch squeal. Atlie has caught to this.) You also pretend to be a tiger and sheep by roaring or baa-ing.

You've started giving kisses this month, too, but only Daddy gets them (unless you're blowing them).

You're walking has picked back up and you are really getting confident with it. There's been several times that you'll walk to something without being prompted. You're still much more comfortable crawling, but I think it won't be long before walking is you locomotion of choice.

You love to get your pusher and get in on the action with Daddy and Branna. One of your favorite things is to be chased! It is so funny to see you get so excited about it. Although this video is cute, it doesn't give justice to how fast you can go. You can really get moving!

A few other milestones this month are:

Can put blocks into block sorter

"Dances" to music

Says "Ba" for Branna (used to be "Nana")... she calls for her this way