Homeschool Creativity – Packing Princess

Indigo

We regularly receive supplies deliveries that contain a lot of packing materials such as bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, and paper.  Most of those packing supplies we reuse to ship out our soap orders. But for some reason, one day Emery decided to use some of the foam paper we received to make Indigo a complete [...]

Family Vacation

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Taking a family vacation with eight children may not be the easiest thing to do, but it is worth every minute of effort and all the expense.  We believe getting away from home and your normal routine really strengthens family bonds and gives Mom and Dad a respite from their normal stresses.   We just [...]

Be Protective, But Not Over-Protective

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We are protective of our children while they are still young and need us to protect them.  As they mature they are given the opportunity to test themselves and their beliefs while still under the protection of our household.  We try very hard to be protective, but not cross the line to becoming overprotective. During [...]

Believe You Can

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As many of you know, Fletcher broke his leg this summer and has been wearing a cast.  He has less than two weeks left and I have been very pleased with how well he has done.  There has been very little complaining this entire time.  The fact that he has a waterproof cast and can [...]

Soap Room Construction

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Today we went to see the progress on our new soap room! The kids had so much fun playing on the huge pile of gravel and Jim and I were really happy to see the structure coming together. It’s starting to look like our dream come true! Doesn’t it look great?     

Waking Up Early

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You may remember that we had a big video thing the other day. (It’s still a secret what it was for, but I’m hoping I can reveal it in the next few weeks.)  We spent all week preparing for it.  We cleaned up, bought new clothes, and got new flowers for the front porch hanging [...]

Watch Your Words

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Words are very powerful and yet most of us use them without much thought.  I have been the victim of words that were carelessly spoken and have wounded me deeply.  I’m sad to say that I’ve been on the other end as well and have uttered words before I thought about the impact that they [...]

When I Grow Up

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We went to the Olive Garden for Emery’s birthday. We don’t go there that often, because it is so expensive. But Emery really loves Italian food, so we decided to splurge and make him really happy.  He always gets the Tour of Italy and then brings the leftovers home for lunch the next day. When [...]

When Exercise is Still Fun

Emery exercising

I remember a time when exercise used to be fun, and not something to check off my to-do list.  I don’t remember when it stopped being fun.  Probably after I had children.  Or when I was pregnant.  Yes, I definitely don’t remember exercise being fun while I was pregnant.  Indigo and Jade still think exercise [...]

Meet Emery

Emery

Emery is the most artistic of all the Jonases.  He loves to draw and grow flowers so he can arrange them.  Emery is responsible for milking the goats and they all respond to him very well.  You can learn more about Emery and his Goat Milk Stuff responsibilites by watching his video:  Emery fills our [...]

Homeschool Creativity – Snow

Emery

While we were in New Hampshire, there was a LOT of snow. There were also lots of trees. So when Emery got bored, he decided to use both! He built it right by the sledding path so that everyone could see it as they went down the hill. He liked it so much, that he [...]

My Emery

Jonas

Today is Emery‘s 9th Birthday, so – Happy Birthday, Spud!I’m going to take this time to brag on Emery a little bit. I can do that, because I’m his Mom. Emery is one of the “lovingest” (I know that’s not a real word) kids I know. He delights in taking care of his little sisters, [...]

Hard Work

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We work our children (and ourselves) very hard around here. There is always lots to do – animals to feed, stalls to clean, gardens to weed, bread to bake, laundry to fold, dishes to wash, children to bathe, dirt to shovel, soap to bag, books to study, toilets to plunge, and… (well, you get the [...]

Real Help Needed

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Emery was making sweet potato fries to go with dinner. He enlisted some help… And then he had to help the help he enlisted. They were good fries!    

Emery Loves Me

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And he loves flowers. It’s a good combination.