Random pictures: People I love, homeschooling, and wedding planning!

There have been so many times since Fletcher was born where I was so sad that my Grandma isn't here to love on him like she did Hunter and Graysen.  When I pulled out the winter clothes, I was sad again...Fletcher wouldn't have a home made winter hat to wear from GG.  God turns all of our sadness into happiness, and we were blessed with a neighbor who loves to make gifts for my kids (croqued hats, tie-dyed items, etc).  My kids love her, and spend countless hours reading books or playing spades with her under the tree.  

Pikie with his hat made by Susan

 I love this girl.

and this boy.

and this boy!

Is he not hilarious in that hat?!  I love it!

Sleepy kids in matching PJs.  I so adore this!

One aspect of homeschooling that we have come to love is that we have time to teach our kids to cook!  I got them their own recipe box filled with "kids meals".  They usually pick one breakfast, lunch, and dinner each week and we make it together.  They are learning about different foods, how to read a recipe, measuring, cutting, the stove and oven, etc.  Life skills people!  Here is one of their creations!

While we're talking about the positives of homeschooling...can I say that homeschooling boys is so wonderful?!  Boys were not created to sit behind a desk all day!!  We love going outside and exploring.  They find something, we research and learn about it!  I also feel like our learning isn't on a time schedule.  One evening we went to our family's lake and they played in the mud around the edge of the lake and found all kinds of wonderful things!  

Silas with a clam shell

Hunter with one of the 30 tiny frogs they found.  

 Fletcher update:  He is sitting up really well.  Learning to play by himself (some - I don't know that he's ever going to have to actually play by himself with 4 older siblings!).

poor sicky boy.  Double ear infection.  He had red eyes and cheeks, runny eyes, nose, and mouth.  Pitiful!

Pikie "eating" an apple.  He really liked this net thing!

 The big wedding is coming along!  It's been so fun to walk this road so closely with Kara.  Here we are trying cupcakes (that we froze and then thawed) as an alternative to wedding cake.  A BIG THANK YOU to Kelley for whipping them up for us.....they were fabulous!