The Last of the Summer Days

August is really flying by. Making me realize that it will soon be time to trade in the tees for a hoodie, the shorts for jeans and the worst !! The flipflops for shoes ....

So until then , we're not going to miss one second of summer beauty ,

One second of heat from the blazing sun ....

We will make time ....

to fill up the water balloons ....

for one last water fight ....

to enjoy the beauty of the flowers ....

to wear those rubber boots as long as he can ....

before they have to be packed away until spring ....

to swing ....

and see our shadows ....

to lay in the grass before it's covered with snow ....

to enjoy the beauty that's all around us ....

for one last picnic ....

before all the bugs are gone for the winter ....

for sitting in the shade ....

 swimming with the cousins at least one more time ....

having fun splashing ....

and floating in the hot sun ....

So until the leaves start falling , we'll soak up those last few days of summer ....

Birthday Party

We had Cooper's 4th Birthday party on my Mom and Dad's screened in porch ! 

Because haven't you heard it's the best place to host a birthday party :)

I'm most thankful that all of the yellow machines hide the many mistakes I made on Coop's cake. 

The pretty blue ribbons, Cooper wanted to cut himself for party decorations.

Didn't he do a great job ?

Cooper's birthday is just a day apart from his Great Aunt Tammy's, so I felt she needed a cake too ! 

I feel bad now that she got stuck with the green icing, but I had a ton of it leftover and needed it gone :)

My kids may or may not have overdone it on her sprinkles :)

So many candles to blow out now :(

Party Guests ....

More party guests ...

Even more party guests ....

Yep More :)

I didn't get a pic of everyone, and of course no pics of Coop's Mama, 

she is behind the camera :)

Daddy digging into the yummy cake :)

Cutest little birthday guest ....

A new train set all the way from his Aunt April & Uncle Pat in NS ....

NEW Rubber Boots ! 

Cousin Chesley wants to help so bad ....

Aunt Tammy knows Coop well - his very favorite food - made his day :)

The new curtains Great Auntie Carol made for Coop's room. 

Not the greatest pic of them ....

The tractor quilt Great Grammie Jones made for Coop ...

He loves his quilt! There's Grammie sitting in the corner of this pic !

This gift is entitled " what were we thinking ". If it's a nerf gun that says 8+. Then these parents should listen :)

If you were wondering - Yes there has already been one nerf related injury with Cooper at the helm ....

Happy 4th Birthday Cooper :)

We love you so much ! 

Thank-You to: Mimi, Bampi, Great Grammie & Grampie Jones, Great Auntie Carol, Aunt Elaine, Uncle Ivan, Tristan, Gabby, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Tammy. Logan, Tyler, Uncle Ben, Aunt Karis, Chesley, Aunt Nancy,  Uncle Ricky, Luke, Melissa, Colton,  for coming and celebrating Cooper's birthday !

and for his Aunties, Uncles & Cousins who lived to far to come. Thanks for sending packages full of love in the mail :

Auntie Sarah, Uncle Aaron, Blake, Brooke & Baylee

Auntie Katie & Uncle Adam

Auntie April, Uncle Pat & Hunter 

:)

Girls & Horses

My oldest girl is back at riding lessons again , and could not be more thrilled !

She's had a love of horses since she was just a little girlie !

That love has never gone away, and she has a room full of everything " horses " for proof ....

She gets to ride every week with one of her besties Katelyn ....

Her baby sis Miss. Maggey even joined her last year ....

but this year has decided that she wants her feet firmly on the ground . For now at least :)

Little Man even gave it a try last year ...

She's so happy around them :)

This is Misty ...

Halley's ok with the whole manure on her boots and her clothes ...

even seems to like it ...

Her mother does not understand that !

Though I love watching her with something she loves so much ....

Curriculum Is Ordered

It's that time of year again! Almost time for school to start :) Again just like every summer we went back and forth on whether or not to keep on homeschooling or send the girls back to the Private Christian School they attended for their first few years. In the end homeschooling won out ! We love it and also we just couldn't find the wiggle room to financially juggle paying for private school again times two :) So the books are all ordered and should be here by the weekend :)

Halley ~ Grade 6
~ Math : Saxon 7/6
~ Language : Easy Grammar Grade 6
~ Spelling : Spelling Workout Level F
~ Handwriting : Handwriting Skills Level F
~ Health : Abeka Grade 6
~ French as a second language
~ Reading : Bob Jones Reading Program
~ Science :  Answers in Genesis :  Our Universe, Our Weather & Water & Our Planet Earth                                           
~ Writing Program : Jump
                             : Excellence in Writing
~ Social Studies : Around the world in 180 Days and my sister is sending us a Canadian Social Studies     program. I'm also planning on ordering The Mystery of History within the next month or so. I've read reviews and heard it's excellent !

Maggey ~ Grade 4
~ Math : Saxon 5/4
~ Language : Easy Grammar Grade 4
~ Spelling : Spelling Workout Level D
~ Handwriting : Handwriting Skills Level D
~ Health : Abeka Grade 4
~ French as a second language
~ Reading : Abeka Readers Grade 4
~ Science : Answers in Genesis : Our Universe
                                                : Our Weather & Water
                                                : Our Planet Earth
~ Writing Program : Jump
                             : Excellence in Writing
~ Social Studies : Same as Halley

Cooper ~ Preschool
~ Early Skills : Colors
~ Early Skills : Numbers and Counting
~ Pre-Kindergarten Math Readiness
~ Phonics Pre-K

We are also invlolved in a Homeschool group who we go on field trips with. They also do a Science Fair and a Heritage Fair :) So again still hoping to order The Mystery of History Volume 1 and Who is God from Apologia when the budget allows :)

So there you have it ! Our school books for this year :) I ordered myself The Ultimate Homeschool Planner. which I'm very excited about :) Can't ya tell !! I set aside $300 for books. I managed to stay under by only using $267.04 plus whatever the USA exchange is. I will also have shipping costs for the books my sis is sending us from Alberta, but all in all, staying pretty close to my budget !

Birthday

Little Man's 4th birthday was this past Sunday, and since we weren't having his big party until the following day, he got to choose what we did that day ! 

So after church we headed over to Maine with my parents for ice-cream and playing in the park ... 

I should say after we waited in a long line at the border for almost an hour :)

So worth it !!!

Just plain ole vanilla was the birthday boy's choice ....

After ice-cream they some how convinced Mimi to play a very quick game of tag ....

Then it was off to the park :)

Lots of hanging upside down ...

Hubby even tried out one of the swings ....

Couldn't resist posting this picture ....

Now that he's 4 , he has mastered pumping on the swings!

With a few pushes first :)

His favorite thing ~ the digger !

Big Sis taking a break ....

We all had a great time playing at the park ...

A perfect birthday for a boy who is 4 :)

We ended the day with a swim ....

Party tomorrow :)