School and Pinterest

I've known about Pinterest for a while now, but didn't really take much time to look into it... until my mom kept mentioning how neat it was and that I should really check into it.  Now, I feel like it's one of the best tools I've come across!  I love that I can organize my internet finds and best of all collect so many great ideas, especially for homeschool.

This week at school, we've used alot of Pinterest ideas.  On top of our regular curriculum we've built apple cars:

played parking lot sight words (using Dolch Sight word flash cards)

and sight word graphing. Inspired by a fellow pinner's idea, I made Branna a worksheet that utilizes multiple subject skills by recognizing sight words and then graphing the number of each of the words found.

I feel like my school motivation has been kicked up a notch with all these great ideas!  I can't wait to share more of what we're doing and accomplishing.

Atlie at 14-15 Months

These last couple months have been a whirlwind and I haven't been recording your accomplishments like I should have... and you have been doing so much, too!

You're independent streak has really kicked into high gear.  You want to be a big girl and get frustrated at your limitations.  It's fun to see you problem solve and accomplish the tasks before you.  One of your best tools is climbing.  Unlike your sister, if you can find a way to get on top of something you will.  One day, when I left you sitting in a chair at the table, I heard Branna say that you were on the table.  I walked in to see you running across it!
It can be hard to be so little, but want to do big girl things, especially when you see Branna being able to do so much!

You're saying so many words know and even putting two words together.  You also recognize letters of the alphabet and can identify a few specific letters and numbers.  One of my favorite things that you've started saying is your name.  You pronounce it: Aayy-eee

I know so many fun things are coming in the next few months and I can't wait to see all your new accomplishments!

Christmas 2011

So I'm only a month late getting this posted!Between the holidays, travelling Branyon's graduation/vacation, and moving, it's been busy and I haven't had much opportunity to be on the computer, but I still wanted to do it to have it to look back on.

Branna sporting her Rudolph Nose at the Annual Christmas Party

Making candy houses

Christmas Eve Morning

  

A new pair of red boots (and they light up!)

Atlie- Lover of Berries

Within the last few weeks, Atlie has discovered what has been missing from her life: berries.  She can't get enough of them.  Here is the video to prove it.  (She's signing and saying "berry".)

Family Vacation December 2011

It's been a while since we've taken a family vacation and since we had to drive to Alabama for Branyon's graduation, we decided we'd make a few detours and have a graduation celebration.

Our first stop was Murfreesboro, AR.  We chose this area because we wanted to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park.  Instead of staying in a hotel, we found Diamond K Lodge, a guest house that is located on a working ranch complete with horses, cattle, pigs, and chickens.  (We thought this would be an additional adventure to the diamond mine.)

During our first full day, we went diamond hunting.  The mine's setup is a 37 acre digging field.  We found out that only a few days before our visit, someone found a 6 carat diamond!  That got Branyon and Branna quite excited and geared up to find there own.

We spent the morning digging, but didn't find anything.  After lunch, Branyon and Branna headed back with big ambitions of finding something...

However, all they came home with was "Arkansas Diamonds" also known as quartz.  While we didn't find anything of much value, Branna had a great time just digging in the dirt and running free!

Branyon also found out that the person who found the 6 carat diamond was somewhat of a permanent resident... He had been at the crater everyday for the last 2 years!  After finding that out, we didn't feel quite so bad leaving empty handed.

We spent the next morning at the Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village.  The Ka-Do-Ha Indians were mound dwellers and this particular village is the only one that the public can see into the mounds.

Similar, to the diamond mine the village had an area to dig for artifacts.  It was a drizzly and overcast day, so we didn't get to dig as much as Branna would have liked...

but we were successful in our hunt this time and found a small arrowhead.

Later that day, we went back to the Lodge.  After a rest, the owners gave us a tour of their ranch.  When looking over the Lodge online while making the reservations, I saw they mentioned raising chickens.  Much to our surprise, the owners RAISED chickens... 12,000 of them (plus 1,000 roosters)!  The chickens and roosters were housed in a structure that was the length of two football fields.  The owner harvested eggs for Foster Farms and averaged 6,000 per day.

When we checked into the Lodge, the owner told Branna that she could help him out one day that we were there.  She was so excited and couldn't stop asking when it was going to happen...  But, as you can see when we finally were able to see the chickens, Branna couldn't get out of there fast enough.  I guess I should have prepared her better for the smell!

We were so appreciative to the owners for giving us a first hand tour of the farms.  They even fresh eggs and homemade sausage which we ate for breakfast each morning.  

Our last stop was Tuscaloosa, Alabama for Branyon's graduation.  He officially graduated on December 17 with his PhD in Astrophysics

On our way in to town, we drove by the house we lived in while we were in school.  The neighborhood was in the path of the deadly tornado that struck on April 27, 2011.  It was a surreal sight to see so much destruction in a place that was our second home

The house in the photo is ours taken from a side street.  When we lived there, there was a house between the camera and our house.  That house was completely destroyed by the tornado, as were so many other surrounding houses.

On a lighter note, the day of graduation was a long one, but very exciting.  It's been a hard journey for Branyon and we were all so excited for it to finally come to an end.  Atlie was good and content just long enough let me watch Branyon get his hood and walk across the stage.  I was very thankful that the PhD students went before the undergraduates!

Branyon walking in with the other PhD students and their advisors

Branyon and his advisor after graduation

Like I mentioned, it was a long day and I think Branna's face describes how everyone felt...

Atlie at 13 Months

I did not mean for this post to be so late, but these last few weeks have been so busy!  I guess it's just that time of year.

This month, I feel like you are moving farther and farther away from "babyhood".  You are discovering so many things and having strong opinions about what you want (or don't want).  You really want to be doing big girl things, meaning anything Branna is doing.

Your imagination has really started blossoming this month, too.  I think alot of it comes from watching Branna since she is a master "imagineer".

I've seen you make stuffed animals give kisses to each other and dance.  I also discovered a chicken you put in your snack bowl... I guess you thought he was hungry.

You have also realized how much you L-O-V-E books!  At first you enjoyed just flipping through the pages, but now you love to choose book after book for me or Daddy to read to you.

 “How very quietly you tiptoed into our world, silently, only a moment you stayed. But what an imprint your footprints have left upon our hearts.’” -Unknown

Two years ago, God blessed us with our second daughter, Saige.  Even though we only shared a brief time with her on Earth,  I look forward everyday to spending eternity with her in Heaven.  She has taught me so much.  Because of her, I love my husband more strongly, cherish my other daughters more with each passing day, and have a deeper understanding of the sweetness of Heaven.


“The amount of time on earth matters very little: a man can live in greed and pride 90 years and never find God, know Him or accomplish His Plan. A stillborn baby on the other hand, teaches people to love, brings people to the Lord, teaches us the tenuous nature of life and teaches us a faith that those who have not suffered loss can never know. A child not even breathing for an hour, can have an impact greater than a famous preacher.” -Author Unknown

Thanksgiving 2011

Growing up, I always looked forward to the fall season in school.  There were always so many fun activities  to do and learn about dealing with the pilgrims, Native Americans, and other seasonal things.  This year, we started with the basics.  After we read several different books about Thanksgiving, Branna made spoon pilgrims 

and her own Native American attire.  (She's not upset, she's just posing. )

Each year, we rotate between mine and Branyon's family for Thanksgiving.  This year was my family's time.  Besides eating a delicious meal, we had a wonderful time visiting and the girls had a great time playing.  There's always something fun to do at Grandma Honey's house!
Branna's first request was to use a lasso.  I think she tried to lasso everything from the dog to the car and even went off to find a turkey to rope for dinner.

Branna's next course of business was to ride what she calls the "Grouchy Tractor".  (I think she calls it that because of how it sounds.)  After a few lessons, she figured out the steering and even how to put it in reverse.  The keys will definitely need to be hidden when she's around again!

While Branna was busy with farming and ranching, Atlie was content to stay near the house and play with the dogs.  They provided lots of entertainment.  Atlie enjoyed kicking the ball to them...

 and just sharing the nice weather.

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.