Getting Ready for Christmas

It's time to put up the tree.


Everyone has a part to do.



Ethan is doing his part.





Katherine and Aimee getting everything ready.


Our first present under the tree.

Merry Christmas!

Our Trip to Legoland

This structure is made out of regular sized legos!
So is this guy!

Johann Gutenberg Museum & Misc.

We went to a friend's birthday recently. The children were asked to dress up as a historical or literary character. Then at the party, they gave 3 clues as to who they were, and all the other kids guessed. We all had fun thinking of which character they should be and dressing them up as such. Very unique birthday theme. Jonathan went as Joseph, and Ethan was Jacob.

Katherine went as Heidi, and Aimee was Pollyanna.

We had the chance recently to visit the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, about an hour drive from us. Johann Gutenberg was born in the early 1400's. He began his life's work as the inventor of the printing press at an early age out of his sheer enjoyment of reading. His patrician family helped run the mint in the Mainz. It was here that the idea of printing words on parchement began to form in his mind. He worked for over 40 years in secret to invent the press. In the end, because he couldn't meet a deadline to produce a fully functional machine, he had to hand over all his equipment and resources to his debtors.

This is a later model of the press. The origional was, of course, wood.

An illuminated book. Very beautiful.

Just across the courtyard from the museum is the Mainzer Dom, or Mainz Cathedral. This cathedral was origionally built in the 11th century.

Taking a break.

One of the many altars in the church. Ethan wanted so badly to blow these candles out and just couldn't understand why he couldn't.

Being silly.

The kids hiking a hill near our house.

This is Pepper at dinner time. He is supposed to stay in his bed while we eat.

Birthdays

This has been a big birthday week in our house. Katherine turned 12!!! on the 27th. We celebrated at home as a family. She is waiting for a few more of her presents to arrive in the mail (American Girl items) then she will have a few friends over to play for the day.

We celebrated Ethan’s 5th birthday yesterday here in our back yard with a few of our closest friends. We had a few organized activities for the children, but they had the most fun jumping on the trampoline and digging in the dirt. And us adults did what we love to do most, sit, eat, talk, and laugh.

Katherine is opening the cards her sister and brothers made for her.

Happy Birthday Katherine! You're growing into a beautiful young lady.

It was Robert's idea to get her an apron; she has been learning and helping out alot in the kitchen these past few months. She is becoming more and more of an asset to our family.

Ethan with all his buddies. "Let's Eat Cake!"

Robert shootin' the breeze with James Brown. Notice the chicken bone in his hand and the black and white 'Rat' at his feet. Pepper is always on the look-out for goodies.Katherine and Rachel Brown playing Duck-Duck-Goose with the little kids."I already told you all, I'm not going in that stew pot!"Boys of all ages love Star Wars.Aimee and her dear friend Rachel.Katherine and Rebekah hangin' out.What more could a boy ask for, chocolate cake, good friends, and lots of Legos and Bionicles.

Thanks everyone for celebrating our children with us.

Summer's Wrapping Up

Hello Family & Friends,

Life has been a little busy here in our house getting ready to start school. Yesterday was our first day back, and thank the Lord, the schedule is running smoothly. It always takes a few weeks to work the kinks out of the new schedule and for all of us to get into a good routine. All the children have an increased school load. We'll see how they adjust. I have to admit, I have just as much adjusting to do as they do. With their increase of work come my increase of correcting, instruction, and training. I've always believed that homeschooling is as much about character growth in the parents as it is in the children. And we've all got a lot of growing to do this year.

The pictures below are some of the things we've been doing the last few weeks. We love and miss you all.

Jonathan's Lego Creation

Jon Vader

The next generation of Roman Troops

Cool outfits

Katherine's Mosaic creation

Ok dad, hurry up and take the picture...

Aimee whipped my tail.

(footage not shown to protect the innocent)

The new conscript...

(Side note: Jonathan found a loose brick in a nearby wall in this ancient Roman bath and hid a coin there. We will come back in two years to see if it's still there...)

Fire Station Field Trip

Our family has been hosting a small, home


Bible study all winter, and we have made some


very special friends through it. One of the


families we have gotten to know is the Boyds.


Jordan and Emily are a young couple with 3


children, ages 4, 3, and 2. Jordan is a fire


fighter with the Air Force. Well, for as long as


I can remember, Ethan has dreamed of


becoming a real-live 'fighter-fighter'. And so,


Jordan invited us all down to his station for a


tour. They had a great time dressing in the


fire suits, spraying the hoses, and he even took


them for a ride in the truck! What a thrill!


Thanks Jordan.

Dad almost had to rescue Ethan from being

swallowed by the helmet.

Aimee at the water cannon.

"Come on over, Dad, I promise I won't get you wet."

Jonathan was confident he could handle it alone.

And of course, Katherine stayed nice and dry in the
truck.