Our first blog to our family and friends

Hello, everyone! I have tried numerous ways to keep in touch with family and friends, and I have decided that a blog would be the easiest. This way I can update you all on things as they happen, and you can view stuff when you have time....no long downloads, no big emails, and you can view old stuff anytime you want.

I guess to start, I should update everyone on what we have all been up to lately. We have just started our 4th year of homeschooling.... what an awesome adventure! The first year was a little tough, but we have now settled-in and wouldn't trade it for the world. There were many, many reasons that we decided to homeschool Alex and Zeke--some are the same as when we started, some have changed along the way, but it is definitely the best decision we have made as a family.

Wayne is still working with FedEx Freight; we expect he will retire from there one day.....maybe sooner than later if he has to stay on nights too much longer! Another reason that homeschooling is a great fit for us is that our weekends are basically Saturday evening to Monday afternoon. The boys would hardly get to see their daddy if they were in school on Monday.

The boys are not involved in anything specific right now. They haven't really expressed any major interest in a competitive sport which I appreciate. I don't think we could possibly fit another regular commitment into our schedule! Alex completed an introduction to Rifle Shooting in the spring which he enjoyed, but due to the traveling required, we opted not to continue. For now, they enjoy riding and jumping their bikes, and they love to visit the BMX track at Oak Mountain State Park. They also like skateboarding, jumping on the trampoline, and--of course--riding their dirt bikes!

I still enjoy photography, even though I rarely have time to pursue it. I also got us all started on the new hobby of Letterboxing (here's a great site to explain it: AtlasQuest.com ). I spend a lot of time gardening--working on my flowerbeds, potted plants, or goldfish pond area. Admittedly, everything got out of control last year, and this year we've hardly been able to keep up with flowerbeds and grass cutting! I hope to get everything back in shape by the time cold weather sets in....wish me luck!

We all have been working on our other new project of chickens. We ordered 14 chicks in the spring, and we now have 14 laying hens (no mean 'ole rooster!). It has been a wonderful adventure to learn about chickens. The boys helped us build a chicken coop and chicken run and have helped a little with the chicken care....that is mostly my duty right now. The boys stay pretty busy taking care of their other pets: 2 Guinea pigs, a Siberian dwarf hamster, an aquarium of guppies which they acquired as tiny babies, and a Chinese water dragon (lizard)--named Jackie, of course :-) I will have to post pictures soon. We have a small zoo! LOL! This isn't even all of our pets either.

Well, I guess I'll close this initial blog with a few pictures from our fieldtrip to the Coosa River Science School through the 4-H center in Columbiana, AL




























The boys also enjoyed some physical activity while we were there: