Chess Club

Today was Chess Club, I don't play the game but Jon and all three kids enjoy playing. We have chess club with an instructor at the library, it's nice because while they play I can pick up new books. Today I came home with several John Grisham books for me, Abigail is reading Eragon, Caleb is on the Eldest and Frankie is reading the Benedict Society.

7th & 8th Grade Devotional

Sunday night was the 7th & 8th Grade Devo at the Gungans. Tacos, friends and a message, nice way to end the weekend!

It's a Tea Party

Sunday the 3rd-6th grade girls enjoyed a tea party with their 'friends'. The girls were matched up with ladies in the congregation to have additional positive Christian female role models. Abigail was matched up with Mrs. Wade and has really enjoyed getting to know her better. Last week in class the girls canned picante sauce a gift for their friends. Abigail came home with the recipe and we have already prepared 6 pints!

Game Day, Again

I'm sure by now you've seen plenty of pictures of Abigail playing softball, and yet, here are still more pictures. Well, when I started this blog, I began it so that family and friends in Oklahoma could keep up with us and the growing children.

Since that time, the kids now each have their own laptops for schoolwork. When their work is done, they each enjoying going to the blog and reading about their own adventures. So here we go, photos of another weekend filled with softball!

Abigail and JoJo both had great hits!

Dallas Heritage Village's Lone Star Day

.

.

.

.

.

This is Lone Star History Day at Dallas Heritage Village, located in historic Old City Park, the museum uses its collections of historic buildings and furnishings, representing the period 1840-1910. The museum is composed of 38 historic structures & boasts a working Civil War era farm, a traditional Jewish household, elegant Victorian homes, a school, a church & commercial buildings.

We met up with the Gungans and the Sanderfords for the homeschool event. A curator for the Sixth Floor Museum gave a presentation of Dallas' history, and then we proceeded on to the hands on events. Everything from blacksmiths, to carriage rides, we had a great time.

.

.
Well beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!

Were born again, there's new grass on the field.

A-roundin' third, and headed for home, it's a blue-eyed pretty GIRL

Anyone can understand the way I feel!

.

Got a beat-up glove, an aluminum bat and a brand new pair of shoes;

You know I think it's time to give this game a ride.

Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all - a moment n the sun;

(pop) It's gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTl-NnuLjaE
Centerfield

Dan Foggarty

Sunday Lawn Work

I thought this was a great picture! Caleb had just finished mowing the back yard and stopped for a rest in the shade and a glass of water before mowing the front yard.

Home Depot Day

.

.

.

Home Depot Day used to be a regular feature on the blog. The first Saturday of the month the kids make fun items with their parents and recieve a certificate. Caleb has out grown this event, but Abigail let us know that she had not out grown this event and missed it. With that we headed out to Home Depot. Abigail built a fire boat with Jon, afterwards the children toured the fire truck outside. Frankie served as the photographer today!

Kimbell Art Museum: The Maya and the Mythical Sea

Having been to Cozumel and specifically Chichen Itza this summer, I was immediately excited to see that the Kimbell Art Museum had curated this exhibit on Maya artifacts. The Kimbell also incorporated the exhibit with their home school program allowing the kids to see a film presentation and short lecture.

.A docent led us through the four galleries looking at the accompanying wall essays, cue cards, and answering questions. Moving through the neatly arranged collection of artifacts, the Maya's human sacrifices were never mentioned, and when questioned the docent downplayed any knowledge of such atrocities. There were small animal figurines with human heads sticking out; exquisitely painted pottery with ornate scenes depicting moments in very unknown stories; plates decorated with royal scenes, dense with indecipherable symbols; stone reliefs covered in boxy hieroglyphics; tiny precious gems and jewelry; and what looked like trifling play things – tiny sculpted frogs, human figurines – that were executed with the utmost care and craftsmanship.

.

In the hands on portion of class we created royal collars with glyphs. Abigail created a collar for birthday celebrations, and Frankie created a collar depicting Christmas images. My collar depicted hearts and the glyphs for '20' and 'years'. I also drew my rendition of the Maya temple at Chichen Itza and a small cruise ship. My final glyph was the easily recognized glyph for 'Jon & Lisa.' :)

Visit to Dr. Greenberg

So what happens when you have a great field trip planned, but first there is a dentist appointment, so you let the youngest sibling hold the camera while you visit with the dentist! Hmmm, well in this case you have a photo of Caleb in the dentist chair! The orthodontist told us today that Caleb’s braces should be coming off on November 1st! Woo Hoo! There is excitement knowing he can again have ‘chewy’ candy the day after Halloween!