BFF Birthday Blunder (not)

Okay... only a BFF can pull this off. And still gain points! Ya know? I mean... she walks in with a big cute birthday bag, and I'm thinking "Awww! I love Jodie-gifts! They're always so special and "made with love!" So I reach in, and pull out a CHEESE GRATER! Whuuuhh? Then we both started laughing hysterically! I've had the same broken cheese grater for at least a couple years now, and every time she comes to my house, we end up making something with a little (or a lotta) cheese, and she always teases me about my broken cheese grater. A couple weeks ago her and the kids came down for spring break, and we made quesadillas, and she said "I am SOOOO getting you a new cheese grater for your birthday!!!" So. I get to throw the old one away. Finally.

We had a fun night out together. We had dinner, did a little shopping, spent time browsing magazines at the bookstore, and then came back and relaxed on the couch. She stayed until 1:30am, then we talked on the phone during her drive back to Joplin (so she could stay awake). I painted a platter while she was driving home ~ so I could stay awake too. It's now 9:25am the next day, and I bet she's still sleeping! Lucky. Hee! Hee! I'm totally fine! We've done this... oh... at least a hundred times or more. I'm glad she gets to sleep in! And I love my cheese grater! And that she made a trip to Oklahoma last night and treated me to dinner for my 35th!

It was a FUN evening!

Happy Birthday Dear Cariiiiiii (doo-doo-do-do-doo-do!)

Yes. I'm officially middle-age. Can't believe it. Doesn't feel like it. But it's here. And like usual... my birthday celebrations last for several days. I like it that way! lol!

This year my birthday falls on a Saturday, which is fun! We had a GREAT day today! Started with Charis playing soccer, which was a blast! She scored like 10 goals, I think. She's so cute out there on the soccer fields with her little piggie tails!

Then we met some friends at Chick-Fil-A for lunch. And maybe the best part of the day was Bryson's soccer game! They are playing up a level, and they played against the #1 team that WAS undefeated. Until today. Bryson's team beat them 3-1. It was almost a shut-out, but the other team did end up scoring 1 goal in the 4th quarter. Bryson scored 2 of our 3 goals. It was an AWESOME, adrenaline-rushing game! So cool!

After the game, Alan had the idea to take the kids to see "How To Train A Dragon." We stopped at the gas station quick for some candy, and made it to the movie just in time! It was in 3D, which was soooo cool! The kids loved it! And so did we! And we all loaded up on popcorn, coke, and candy. We liked the movie so much that we might even take the kids to see it again.

It was a super fun celebration with just us ~ my 4 favorite people in the whole wide world! It was a Happy one!

Celebrating With Family

Friday night I wanted to hang out with family for my birthday. James & Lydia, Lynette & Rick, Grandpa & Grandma, and Dad & Janice all met us at Compadre's for mexican food. Then we all came back to our house for cake! Alan and the kids had made me the pineapple upside-down cake, and since Rick's birthday was coming up too, I made him a blueberry buckle cake.

It was a good time had by all! The past few years I have spent my birthday with those same people that I SO love and care about! And it means a lot to me. Lynette made me a beautiful apron that I will wear for the first time tonight as I make dinner... can't wait!


Me and Rick ~ Birthday Kids

Grandpa and Grammy


My beautiful new apron!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake ~ Made With LOVE

Every year Alan and the kids make me a pineapple upside cake for my birthday. Alan has been making me one since the first year we got married. I was enjoying sitting in my comfy leather chair, curled up with my new favorite blanket, watching him and the kids in the kitchen, lovingly and excitedly making my cake. I thought to myself "please try to freeze this moment in my mind ~ forever!" Then I realized, I better get up, grab the camera, and take some pictures. And then put it on my blog. Now that I'm 35 you know... the Mommy brain just ain't what it used to be. lol!

As I was watching them bake my cake, I remembered back to when we lived in our apartment in Joplin. Our nephews were staying with us for a week. I have a memory of them helping Alan make me a pineapple upside down cake. He took them shopping, and they bought me a stuffed yellow bunny (I think Alex picked it out) and some candy. At that time, Austin and Alex were the same ages that Selah and Bryson are now. Wow. Now our nephews are high school and college age. It sure goes by fast.

I'm thankful for another year of life with my husband and my kids. It does go by fast. And I'm trying to remember to savor every moment. Just like the one tonight of the kids being so excited to bake me a cake.

Charis is "Kickin' It" too!

This little girl has been waiting for her turn to play soccer! She was ON FIRE! It was quite cute, actually. After several years of watching big sis and bro, she pretty much new what to expect. And after many hours spent playing in the yard with them, she knew what she was doing. She pretty much took the ball and ran with it every time. Some of the other 4 years olds have probably barely even touched a soccer ball, so you can imagine the difference. And unfortunately, the coach put ALL the kids out there together, so Charis and one other girl pretty much had the ball the whole time. But she loved it! She was so proud of herself! And we ~ her biggest fans ~ were cheering her on!






I have to put in this last picture at the bottom of this blog. It was a lesson learned for Daddy and Mommy. We began to feel bad for the kids who didn't even have a chance to get the soccer ball since Charis would take it (sometimes from her own teammates) and go score. So we began talk to her from the side lines about "passing the ball" and "letting the other kids have a turn." She got really upset and came off the field, crying and mad, saying she wasn't gonna pay soccer anymore. Of course, she is over that part now, but that's how the game ended. Her upset and mad that we were "on her" ~in a sense~ for how good she was doing.

After much thought, and after talking to some other friends (who coach, and who are into sports and competition), we decided we won't do that again. Not only did we ask her to hold back on what she might be capable of, but it confused her and made her mad. If she is "on fire" and if she is capable of getting the ball and taking it and scoring ~ why would be hold her back? Why would we ask her to "tone down" on her skill and ability? Isn't that part of why I teach my kids at home? Because they can take they got, and run with it ~ literally and figuratively. We talk to her about good sportsmanship, and about working as a team. But no longer will we ask her to "let the other kids have an equal chance." We'll hope part of that will come with playing as a team. And eventually, good coaching will work that out too. So... lesson learned for us. And what a great time of watching her play her first little game of soccer! Can't wait for this Saturday. And we'll let her do it "her way" this time.

Lil' Seedlings

I know we're a few weeks late, but hey. Story of my life, seems like.

My lil' seedlings have been learning about seeds, trees, plants, and flowers. The parts of each, how they grow, how they are nourished, root systems, and different types of produce. We've talked about juicy fruits, dried fruits, seeds that we eat vs. seeds that we don't. We've watched videos on U-Tube of seeds that have sprouted.

And tonight Alan and the kids started our veggie garden and Charis' flower garden ~ from seeds. We let them do the most of the planting, so we'll see how many sprouts we get ~ ha! I'm sure we'll get at least a few tomatoes to transplant, from the 3 or 4 ROWS of tomato seeds they planted!

As they were finishing up the planting, I heard Charis say "but I don't see them growing yet!?!?!?" Yes. We still have a lot to learn. :-P

Should be fun!

Dancer of the Month!

Selah is honored as the "Dancer of the Month" for her Dance Company. She has been dancing at Center Stage Dance Studio for 2 1/2 years now. We have really enjoyed Ms. Kari and her dance company. Selah and Charis both do a great job dancing, and they enjoy the time with friends, and the time spent learning new moves and routines. Our FAVORITE time of year is almost here ~ RECITAL! Yay!

I am so proud of Selah for receiving this honor as Dancer of the Month, for March 2010. She is so sweet, such a hard worker, and a good student. Here is a picture of the board on the wall of the lobby area. I have also posted a copy of her "report card." I like the emphasis on her level of enthusiam ~ ha! I can see that Ms. Kari circled the 5 several times.




Selah had decided she wanted to take both ballet and tap this year again. But lately she is realizing the she really enjoys tap the most. That must shine through in class, since Ms. Kari mentioned that she is a "great tapper!"

We are counting down the weeks until the recital! As the Momma, I cannot wait (!!squeal!!)

Food Coloring Fun

Today Bryson came into the kitchen and asked to play and experiment with some food coloring and water. So I gave him the pack of food coloring and filled a glass with water. He and Charis sat at the bar and mixed colors and had fun. Charis opened the pantry door, having decided she wanted to add flour to her mix. But upon seeing the bag of brown sugar, decided to add that in instead. Then they wanted to add lemon juice too. So she and Bryson added brown sugar and lemon juice to their brownish-black concoctions. Bryson decided to take a swig.... and he said.... "Mom! Food coloring tastes GOOOOOOD!"

Daddy For Pres!

Selah~ "I wish Daddy was the President."

Me~ "why?"

Selah~ "So we could get a puppy."

Me~ no comment

Selah~ "And so we could eat whatever we wanted!"

Me~ "Yeah. That part would be nice!"

Spring Break 2010

Click Here For Images &
Spring Break Pictures


Today we spent the afternoon at Borders Bookstore. All three of the kids sat for almost 2 hours drinking their vanilla steamers and reading/pouring over books. We met Alan for lunch first at a little whole-in-the-wall burger joint on Harvard, called Ty's. It was very old fashioned and yummy! Even the kids have figured out by now that those places are often the best places to eat!
We are having a blast on this "spring break." However, when you school at home anyway, and when your curriculum/schedule is as laid back as ours is, this week isn't too much different than usual. But hey... NO MATH! So Selah is happy! And every day is something fun.

Monday ~ Jodie, Luke, and Lilly came to hang out and we had lunch at The Pecan Porch
Tuesday ~ lunch with Daddy at Ty's and the afternoon at the bookstore
Wednesday ~ okay... maybe this day we will stay home and relax. I'm thinking about just playing games and reading to the kids all day! Selah also has a late-night play date and possible sleep-over with a friend (if she can make it all night)
Thursday ~ play date with friends
Friday ~ zoo (just us) and then to Grandma and Grandpa's house in MO to visit family

Yeah!! Full of fun times! Now if we could just get a little more spring-ly weather!

1 Corinthians 13 for THIS Homeschoolin' Momma

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and teach my children Latin conjugations, Chinese and Portuguese, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, and no matter what I say, they will not hear me.

If I have the gift of prophecy, and know my children’s bents and God’s plan for their lives, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and am the keeper of the teacher’s editions and solutions manuals, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and even keep up with my giant piles of laundry and dishes, but do not have love, I am nothing, even if all the people at church think I’m Supermom.

And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and my formal dining room gets turned into a schoolroom and our family vacations look more like educational fieldtrips, and if I surrender my body to be burned, never having time to get my nails done, put makeup on or even take a bath, but do not have love, it profits me nothing, because all my family cares about is the expression on my face, anyway.

Love is patient with the child who still can’t get double-digit subtraction with borrowing, and kind to the one who hasn’t turned in his research paper. It is not jealous of moms with more, fewer, neater, more self-directed, better-behaved or smarter children. Love does not brag about homemade bread, book lists, or scholarships and is not arrogant about her lifestyle or curriculum choices. It does not act unbecomingly or correct the children in front of their friends. It does not seek its own, trying to squeeze in alone time when someone still needs help; it is not provoked when interrupted for the nineteenth time by a child, the phone, the doorbell or the dog; does not take into account a wrong suffered, even when no one compliments the dinner that took hours to make or the house that took so long to clean.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness or pointing out everyone else’s flaws, but rejoices with the truth and with every small step her children take in becoming more like Jesus, knowing it’s only by the grace of God when that occurs.
Love bears all things even while running on no sleep; believes all things, especially God’s promise to indwell and empower her, hopes all things, such as that she’ll actually complete the English curriculum this year and the kids will eventually graduate, endures all things, even questioning from strangers, worried relatives, and most of all, herself.
Love never fails. And neither will she. As long as she never, never, never gives up.
Misty Krasawski, December 8, 2008

Old School, New School & the Aberle Version

Earlier this week we learned about the "early" schools in America. When the immigrants first settled in the New England colonies, the kids learned and were "schooled" much differently than most kids today. They had what they called "kitchen schools." The kids would sit around their kitchen tables, and Mom would teach them the alphabet and how to read and write. Often times 2 or 3 families would have "kitchen school" together, and the Moms would take turns teaching. The Bible was the "text book" from which they would read and write. The sole purpose of reading, several hundred years ago, was so that everyone would be able to read the Bible. The rest of the education was 'life' stuff. Sewing. Gardening. Cooking. Mechanics. Building. Making dyes. Weaving. Preserving. Live stock. Farming.
The Boston colony soon made a law that once a town had 100 families, they would be required to build a one-room school. One teacher would teach all the town kids in that one classroom. All the families would chip in and pay that teacher a salary.

I LOVE it! "Kitchen school"! What a hoot! I often say I was born in the "wrong era". I like the idea of teaching some academics, but equally, teaching them "real life" stuff. If only I had a few close neighbors I could take turns teaching with! Now that would make it even more fun!

We also talked a lot about how the townspeople elect officials, make decisions for the population, etc. Which then prompted this fun little idea for Selah to make some "rules" for our own version of "kitchen school." It will soon be framed and on the wall of our school room.

She wrote this on a 12x12, so I had to scan in 2 parts. Enjoy!




1. science at 9:00
2. math at 0:00 = no-o'clock
3. recess at 4:15
4. field trips every week
5. devo's to start the school
6. go to co-op on Friday
7. snacks ~ pistachios and fruit
8. get to argue ~ NOT!
9. love Mommy
10. be nice!

And MY rule. hug your teacher 10 times a day!!!

The Gift of an Ordinary Day

Good Try, Dude

Bryson: Mom, will you give me a dollar if I give you a quarter?

Me: No! I'll give you a dollar if you give me 4 quarters. 4 quarters equals a dollar. 4 quarters is worth the same as one dollar.

Bryson: Okay. I'll give you 4 quarters. (pause...) But after you give me a dollar, can you give me 3 of my quarters back?

Me: No deal.