Finally...an update!

 It has been quite a while since I have been able to blog!  There is much to catch up on!

First of all, Middle Sis had her ninth birthday in March!   She is growing into quite a sweet young lady...with a dash of fire under the surface.  She asked for a Cold-Stone Ice cream cake...but they are so expensive, that she agreed to let me make her an ice cream cake.  She wanted chocolate and vanilla cake with chocolate and strawberry ice cream in the middle.  It wasn't the prettiest looking cake (thus no large, clear pictures :), but it did taste pretty good!

We also had the opportunity to celebrate again with more family when we got together for a special little cousin's 2nd birthday!   Grandma surprised Middle Sis. with a cupcake and candle just for her!   Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!   

 Easter came a bit early this year, so I had a few nervous thoughts about my checkbook when I realized I had a birthday, then Easter, then another birthday!  Things worked out though, and we had a great time celebrating so many special days!

 I found some great easter activities to try to help the kids and I remember the real reason for the season.   Each morning at our Family Time, we read some scriptures and watched videos about the week leading up to Christ's death and resurrection.  I found some great ideas at the blog Chocolate on my Cranium.  We had an Easter breakfast at our church on Saturday and then headed up to Grandma and Grandpas for our little cousin's birthday party (as mentioned above).

On the fun side, along with cousin's b-day party, Grandma and Grandpa organized a some fun easter egg hunts for all the grandkids!

 

Just a short while after Middle Sis' birthday, Big Sis had another birthday as well!   Seventeen years old!  It is SO hard to believe that my first child is so grown up!  I finally took her to get her driver's license and have been enjoying not having to drive her to early morning seminary anymore!

Before her birthday, she was able to go out of town and spend two weeks with her Aunt.  She had a great time and was well taken care of (Thanks Kara!!).   This is one of the benefits that a flexible homeschooling schedule allows! (Yes, she brought work with her to do at her Aunts...mostly studying for the ACT..)

When she came back, things were so crazy that I just didn't have time to make her requested cheesecake. So, she ended up having to put up with storebought cheesecake...but I didn't hear any complaints!   

Later that week, we took Big Sis to dinner at Granite City.

Baby Sis got to tag along since she wasn't feeling well.  I thought she'd do better staying with me.

We enjoyed our meal and Big Sis got a huge birthday cookie with a scoop of ice cream on top complements of GC.

 School at home continues as usual.

A couple weeks ago, we took at field trip to the UNL State Museum.  There was so much to look at and explore.  I took my oldest there when they were elementary school aged and had just never gone back.

As I passed by the rooms full of native american exhibits, gems, ancient weaponry, and so many other things...my mind was making mental notes for future school lessons and trips back to this place!

 One thing that has been an important part of our homeschooling is to meet with other homeschoolers when we can.  Last week was our last official day of classes at our homeschool co-op.

This picture is of the kids playing Jeopardy in our final day of World History class. The older and younger kids were split during the school year, but for Jeopardy, we all combined together.  I thought it was great for the younger kids to have a chance to show what they learned as well as to observe what the older kids have learned.

Middle Bro. added to his chess trophy collection.  The tallest trophy you see is actually the 2nd place trophy that his team won at their last tournament.  His chess teacher got permission for the boys in her class (all homeschooled) to be able to compete as a team.  His class has had a great time playing each other every week and I know Middle Bro. has had fun exploring the world of chess (and chess tournaments) a bit more!









 

Last Friday, my two oldest were able to attend the a local/regional Homeschool Formal.  There were about 150 homeschooled teens from ages 14-18. 

The theme was Masquerade, so we had to come up with some kind of masks for them.  It was required for the girls to have a modest dress (no sleeveless, bare mid-or back, or short-short). Boys only need dress nicely, no tux required.

We also found out about it kind of late, so Big Sis and I had only two days to find something formal, modest, and inexpensive for her to wear....not an easy task around here!

Big Sis and I were blessed to find that many prom dresses were being clearanced out since many local high school proms were over.  As I looked around it seemed there were two styles to choose from:  Long and sleeveless or really short and sleeveless.

Finally Big Sis found one that I thought might work!   Luckily, it fit her, we could adjust it to our standards with a shrug (I also had her wear a black extender-type slip...just a black slip with lace sewn to the bottom (Thanks again Kara!!) just to add another inch or so to the bottom hemline of her dress).  Oh, and the best part??....it was $18!  Yeah...found it the night before the dance...Phew!  

 Here's a pic Big Sis snapped of the table setting.  They were all served a nice dinner and dessert, listened to a Pastor speak, and then a live country-ish band not only played music for them, but also organized and taught dances for the whole group to do!   I was told they did some line-dancing, swing-dancing, and some square dancing!   They had a great time!   I love that there was no pressure to have a "date" or pay for costly extras!   Many parents put a lot of effort in creating a fun and morally clean environment for some good youth to have some good fun!  Thank you so much to those parents!!

Here is a pic. of  Big Sis and one of her dear friends at the dance..

....But that's not all...for those teens who were up to it, they had reserved a bowling alley close by from midnight to 3am.  Big Sis decided to skip the bowling in favor of getting some sleep.  Big Bro. went, however, and had a great time.  There were tons of door prizes and he walked out with a gift card for a coffee shop and paintball! 

(Side note:  I totally got sick with the flu Wed-Sat-but still had to get up and drive the kids and pick up Big Bro at 3am!  The crazy things we moms do!)