Homeschool Flexibility

When we start out doing lessons for the day, it looks something like this: ......and this. But, my kids have different learning styles. Micah does well, holding still, looking very studious. Seth needs some tunes coming through his head-phones to block out the sound of little brothers. Jarod needs something...else. As the studying progresses...

........this happens.........

........and this.......

(Micah still behaving studiously.)

.......then this (but at least he's finally sitting still.....for the moment).

It may not look like Jarod is studying, but I promise you, he is. I'm very thankful for the flexibility that homeschooling provides, in allowing the boys to learn in their own, unique ways....and that they can go out to the back yard & climb the tree, whenever they need to, to "get the wiggles out." 

More Birthday

Colleen, Sarah, Emily, Deborah & the cousins came over for Gideon's "official" family B-day party on Wednesday. We decided to celebrate Isaac's B-day too, as he will be turning 1 yr old in a couple weeks (which I cannot believe). Adorable mokey cake by Aunt Emily (w/help from Sarah). He was so cute, and also delicious. I felt bad chopping him up to put him in rubbermaid containers for storage. I didn't enjoy destroying such a work of art.

Grandma buys the coolest gifts! What little boy on the planet would NOT want this awesome dump truck???!!!

Abigail holding the "baby" (who is now actually a toddler, as he has actually started taking steps). He's more than half her size now. How did THAT happen???

Isaac loves his new toys.

I see "crazy cat lady" in Olivia's future.............

Hot Cocoa & Marshmallows

Nanny & Papa sent the kids some really nifty marshmallow shooters. The kids have been having a "blast" with them. It's not every day that one can literally bite (and chew & swallow) the bullet. OK. Enough bad puns.

Introducing: the notorious & greatly feared Marshmallow Gang
Assembling dangerous weaponry

Shoot-out at the Sturgeon Corral!

Marshmallow sniper...

Marshmallow assassin....

Dead sniper.........

A stand-off....

Killa-Kat

Thanks, Nanny & Papa!!! We love 'em!!!

Gideon's Birthday

Yesterday was Gideon's 5th birthday. I'm just not sure how he went from THIS: To THIS:

in just the blink of an eye. He has brought joy, humor & love to our lives with his infectious giggle, his adventurous & ornery spirit.....& his never-ending supply of kisses & hugs to give.

His brothers were so thoughtful & gave him some toys from their own toy boxes.

Out of all the presents.........I think these teeth was his favorite.

Micah crowned Gideon King for the day. Make a wish!

My big 5 year old boy. I love you more than you can imagine, Gideon Justus Sturgeon. Happy Birthday!!!

Christmas 2009 & New Years 2010

Christmas Eve was spent with Colleen (Grandma), Sarah, Emily & Deborah (Abigail & Olivia went to Seattle to Nanny & Papa's for the holiday). Grandma spoiled the boys rotten of course. They LOVED all their presents. We watched "Elf" (a special family tradition around here), ate yummy food prepared by Sarah & Emily and opened presents. On Christmas morning Daddy read the Christmas story to the boys before they opened their presents........an even more special family tradition. We spent the day relaxing & playing together. The rest of the family came over in the evening for dinner & watched "A Christmas Story", which is just not the same thing as the real Christmas story.....but is also a tradition we enjoy. Yes, our presents & tree were up on the dining room table. It kept Isaac from destroying it. It did not stop the cats (or Titus who was pretending to BE a cat) from destroying it. On New Years Eve we spent the evening with some dear friends.

Firefighter Gideon

Wii stuff!!!

Daddy likes Jarod's nerf gun.

There is no shortage of weapons around here.

There is no shortage of boys either.

Over all, this has been a blessed year. We are all alive & well & happy. We have a 6th boy. What more could a girl ask for? :-) We look forward to what God has in store for us in the coming year.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Sturgeons!!!

The Tree Hunt

It finally snowed for real this week in Nampa, Idaho. The temps have fallen to below freezing at times. Because of Justin's weird work schedule, it was hard to find just the right time to go Christmas tree shopping. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I loaded the boys into the car & went tree shopping without Daddy. As you can see, the boys were freezing.

Creepy giant snow man on the Christmas Tree lot. (Adding to the creepiness, is the absence of Seth's face in this picture....)

Standing in front of a really BIG, awesome Christmas tree that we found. Tree shopping with the boys was fun. It made me feel nostalgic about the days when my Daddy used to walk down the street in North Seattle, with my sisters & I, to Chubby & Tubby's. He'd let us help pick out a tree & casually sling it over his strong shoulders. Then we'd make the 3-block treck back home. It's not exactly going up into the mountains & chopping down your own tree, but I still enjoy those memories. I want my kids to look back at these times with same fondness. (As you can see, Isaac is thoroughly enjoying the experience.......)

Jarod's creation

This is the tree we actually bought. What? I'm not actually Super Woman. As I have tried to explain before, even though I am a mother of 6 boys, I don't REALLY leap tall buildings in a single bound or stop trains from crashing. And I don't try to buy, haul & assemble HUGE Christmas trees. I usually try to take the easy way out.....truth be told. For me, it's all about basic survival. So, THIS (pointing to above pic) is what happens when I try to "play Daddy". Also, don't TELL Justin, but I didn't even use the Christmas tree stand. I let Seth help me hack off the bottom of the trunk (more like thick stem) with our hatchet which Seth dug out of the camping gear in the garage. I was only struck in the forehead by one flying wood chip (eye gear might have been a good idea....). I stuck the tree in a large cooking pot (also taken from the camping gear in the garage) with rocks from the yard & some water. Whatever works, right? I think I did pretty well. And I think the kids did a great job decorating our little tree. However, I hope next year the real Daddy will be able to help us with the whole Christmas tree experience. He does a much better job, he remembers his eye gear & Christmas-tree-shopping memories are much better with him in them. :-)

SNOW!!!!!!!

I realize that this looks like white-ish dirt to many of you, but the Winter's first .735 inches of snow is always a big deal around here. The kids wake up, look out the window and jump up & down screaming, "Snow! Snow! Snow!" There is NO peace for me until I finally give in to their 5,000 desperate pleas to let them go out & play in it. So, I spend the next 45 minutes getting everyone's snow-things on them so they can go play for 20 minutes in their now .628 inches of snow. But they love it, I get cute pictures.......it all works out in the end. I can't help getting a little giddy with them when I see the flakes fall. Maybe next time we'll get enough snow to make a snow man! The dog & her boy.

Abigail's been having some "cheese-issues" with the camera lately.

Olivia's snow ball. When she threw it, it broke apart in the air & looked more like a mini-snow-blizzard than a snowball........but I give her an "A" for effort.

Snow buddies.

Baby's First Snow! (I made him watch from inside......poor kid.)

Titus had a nice time outside........as opposed to last year when he HATED the snow because it was too wet. Hooray for progress! :-)

Love this smile. It's how I feel inside, watching them all play.

Game Over (The Talent of My Children Knows No Bounds)

This is what you get when you ground an artistic boy from his Wii. Translation, "I am Mario." "I am King Boo." "I will kill you now." Stomp, stomp. Game over. "I am dead."

Some Reasons I Homeschool (It's ALL about the jammie pants!)

The Home Economics Class is top notch!

Can't wear your jammie pants or eat lunch on your rocking dinosaur at public school.

{I guess I have never explained how, in addition to Titus' extreme aversion to getting wet (which oddly, does not apply to bath time; he would stay in the tub for two hours at a time if I let him), he also has a jammie-pants obsession. When we are home, he is wearing jammie pants. And nothing else. Goes commando. Almost always. If we go to the store, I tell him he has to wear real clothes. He begs me to let him wear his jammie pants. I say no. But the very minute we get home, OFF go the clothes. ON go the jammie pants. And nothing else. Of course, most of my boys go around the house at least half naked most of the time (this includes Daddy). Getting actual clothes on is a special occasion. It means company is coming over or we are going somewhere. Jammie pants are VERY important around here.}

Can't really do THIS at public school.....

................or THIS ................

Definitely couldn't do THIS at public and school!!!!!

Need I go on? I think I made my case rather well. ;-)