A peek into our morning today...

Because I want to remember these days...

It was a school day... a pretty normal school day...

We read history and reviewed spelling words...
We talked through the character trait of "dependability" and practiced our AWANA verses...
He worked on writing, handwriting, reading, and math...

We talked about different land forms such as mountains, valleys, hills, and plains...

...and then made them out of pudding.

note:  Don't think I always do all this "hands on learning" stuff.  Some days we just need to learn it and move on.  But today I earned a few extra teacher points and we had a fun time making our mess!  Another note... if the teacher book says you can make "land forms" out of pudding... don't believe them! They were pretty tiny mountains! :)

 

This little guy just skipped the mountains and enjoyed his pudding!

She worked on math and reading...

He drew an amazing owl and copied down some facts about owls.  For someone who doesn't "love" drawing... he spent alot of time on this owl and was super proud of it when he finished. So was his teacher!

He randomly make up a word spelling game that he hooked himself on.  He even made up his own point system for it and everything!  And then chose to play it all afternoon.  I just had to smile...

There were moments that were fun and happy today... but today was also far from perfect... they disobeyed, yelled, cried, and threw fits... I got angry, lost my patience, and didn't parent with wisdom way too many times to count.  *sigh*  But at the end of the day... we learned together, we laughed together, we forgave together, and we offered grace together... and that's a little peek into our morning.

Cars, lines, and my boys

If I had to use one word to describe my little guy right now it would be... LINES.  Everything to him must have order and structure, and in his word, this translates into lines.  Lines of cars, lines of letters, lines of wheels, even lines of cereal.  His lines make me smile and make my heart happy.

He could sit for hours watching his trucks and cars and putting them into lines.  I love this about him!

It really shouldn't surprise me though.  He is SO much like another little boy who used to live in this house.  Another little boy who was obsessed with trucks and lines... 

 

 Thank you God for the little boys in my life who love to make lines. 

Thank you for making them just who they are.  I am so blessed!

Haircut Time

It's taken me awhile to get the nerve to do this.  I planted the idea in her head about six months ago, but had the wedding as an excuse to wait.  She was excited and wanted to do it.  I was ready (for the most part) and knew it kind of needed to be done.  She has been blessed with my fine, thin hair... and when it gets really long it just doesn't work.  But I knew I was going to miss it...

"Hair Cut Day" was a big day for this little girl.  She was so excited, she couldn't take a nap.  And I will say that this mama did very good watching her baby girl's hair all fall to the floor. (After a few deep breaths!)  It was a fun afternoon for both of us. 

 Thank you Miss Tara for giving us our "new looks"! 

Eight inches in all...  and it makes her seem so grown up!

Yep... she's still pretty cute!  Short hair and all!  Love you girl!

What Fall Looks Like at the Hodges' House

We take multiple trips to the pumpkin patch...

and have lots of fun painting pumpkins.

We spend an evening designing silly pumpkin faces and cutting them out.

Our leaf people from last year made an appearance again...

(along with leaf babies, dogs, turtles, and more!)

 

 and gave our school room a fun look for fall.

We took nature walks as a family...

and never had a full pan of pumpkin bars on hand.

The "Kitty Dress" made it's last appearance for the season... (one of my all time favorites!)

but it had lots of fun at Ainsley's preschool Fall Party.

I helped out with the candy corn craft, spider snack, and fun fall games at my little girl's party. 

It was such a good morning and full of smiles and blessings for my heart! 

 Fall at our house is setting up my "Thanksgiving corner" and trying to teach my children about who God is and why we should thank Him...

and smiling when my artist spends the morning creating a masterpiece...

wanting to give thanks to God in her own special way.

Thank you Father... yes, thank you!