End of Semester Program

Caitlyn's sign language class (well, 2 of them, actually) performing "I Love you, Lord."

Kelsey's piano-by-ear class

Hannah and Kelsey played a duet

Caitlyn's piano-by-ear class

Keegan (whose classes didn't do anything in the program) was quite happy holding our cute friend, Kerrigan

April Fools'

April Fools' Day again - this year the girls and I made fish sticks, mashed potatoes, and green peas.  In reality, it is sugar wafers, covered in peanut butter and crushed corn flakes, ice cream, and green candy.  Looked pretty real. 

 We hoped Bill would think the joke was the smiley face arrangement of the plate.

Well, Bill was not totally fooled, so the next day Kelsey wanted to try again.  We made Chicken Not Pie.  Also looked pretty real, especially from a distance.  If the pudding was just a little thinner, it would have been perfect.

 With whipped cream in the glasses instead of milk :)

Caitlyn and Keegan spotted that right away, but we had fun trying, anyway :)!

These and lots of other neat ideas are from www.familyfun.com

Our First Cat Show

 The girls and I recently attended our first cat show.  As you can see, there were many, many cats.  (And a cat stroller for sale at the bottom of the picture.)   We saw lots of  breeds, including hairless ones, and very large Maine Coons, who look amazing like our Jumpy-cat.  The girls got to help brush a long-haired cat before it was shown and were given several winning ribbons.

The judging was fun and interesting to watch.  The judges would explain traits of different breeds - things like the length of a Siamese's body should be the same as the length of its tail. We loved seeing the kitten groups and also watched the best of show judging.  Each ring had a scratching post as part of it.  Some of the more lively competitors climbed right up the posts :)!

Definitely a fun afternoon

Dog Days of Spring :)

Each week we volunteer at the animal shelter, walking dogs, and petting cats.  This spring weather is perfect for taking out the dogs and boy are they enjoying it!

This dog with Caitlyn is possibly the sweetest dog ever!  I am so sad it hasn't been adopted yet.  Caitlyn is not a big dog person, yet even she has been won over by the loving disposition of this dog.  It will flop itself down in your lap, just like a cat.  Then she will just lie there, looking at you adoringly, waiting to be petted.  Super sweet.  If you want a dog, or are even considering it, this dog is a doll!

 All the dogs are so happy for a chance to get out and about.

 I love this picture of a happy Kelsey with a happy pup!

 Keegan with a cute puppy.  Amazing how all puppies are so cute, isn't it?

Almost as cute as these girls :)



Playing with Brooklin

We love Brooklin!  She is so cute and sweet.  And already a year old.  We were so sad to miss her birthay party because of rotten strep throat, but got to see her not too much later.  She didn't appear to hold a grudge :).

 Brooklin flinging herself backwards, with Kelsey helping make sure she doesn't fall too far back!

 Keegy showing her her picture on the cell phone.  Only a year old and already she loves the cell phone!

 What a doll.

 Awwww.

St. Patrick's Day!

It's that time again - time for our yearly family tradition of finger painting with green whipped cream.  Bill was out of town and missed him this year.  Poor him, missing out on all the yummy fun.

Kelsey starting out.

The shower caps are new this year - Keegan and Kelsey didn't want to wash their hair.

Actually, they were all quite tidy this year.

I can't decide if that's handy (it is) or heartbraking (which it is because they are growing up so quickly :'(   )

Sweet Keegy

Love this picture of my Rosie Posie   :)))))))))

Kelsey's picture or our pets

Keegan's picture of her dog, Sweetie

 Best clean-up EVER :)


 Yep, crazy and pointless, but a lot of fun!

School days

Aka, the wonderful world of homeschooling :)
Kelsey, getting comfortable while she reads.

 Hard at work on writing assignments

 Caitlyn working with the cat's help, haha

 Keegan, coloring a picture for Spanish

Anatomy

 Keegan is learning about the human heart this week.  She created some models, using crackers for the 4 chambers of the heart, (naturally) colored cream cheese to represent oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.  Plus arteries and veins made from grapes and raisins. 

I think she will remember this lesson for a long time :).

A relaxing Sunday afternoon

Last Sunday the field next to ours caught on fire when someone a few houses down was burning trash. The wind must have picked up something that was on fire and carried it to the dry grass, which easily caught on fire. Our neighbor came back and started trying to put it out with a bucket. It soon spread to our field. Finally, someone called the fire department. They came and quickly put it out. While the neighbor was trying to put out the fire, someone drove up our driveway and into our grass. At first we thought they were going to help put it out. But when I went out to ask the neighbor if we should call the fire department, they rolled down the car window and asked if I knew what was going on. Then they drove away. It was a much more eventful afternoon than we had planned.


The field on fire



Our neighbor, trying to put it out



We were glad that the pond was right there

The burned field

Written by Caitlyn, for me :-)

Body Language

Caitlyn and Keegan go to a weekly acting group.  Ther, they talk a lot about body language and how much it conveys.  Recently, they made up skits of arguements, then performed them with and without words.  I thught their body language was pretty expressive :).

"You did it!"

Humph

"I'll just call Mom, then!"

"Oh, look, how cute ;)."

"Oh, um, well, you can have it after all."