Vocational Class: Welding with Dad

 JC & Bren have talked along time about learning how to weld.  They are finally getting their chance!  They are taking a two month long class and are learning about acetylene, stick, MIG and TIG welding.

 They are both enjoying the class but this is like playing with fire so of course Bren seems to be enjoying it just a little bit more!

Homeschool Adventure: Water Lines & Grace Home

Oh, I'm so excited about this!  Our church has been working on the Grace Home for quite some time now. But only recently did we actually SEE some of that work.

Bren took a week for a crash course in science, hydraulics, excavation, mechanical engineering, horizontal boring, and plumbing!  He helped the guys in our church body to install around 800' of 6" water main, a fire hydrant and other appurtenances.  He worked long, hard days but he enjoyed all of it.  I took this clip above from our Grace Home Newsletter.  (We just got the green flag from the Fire Marshall today!)

What happened to February?

February zoomed by with lots of school work and some activities, too.  We are getting close to completing Bren's high school career!  So exciting!  Here's a little glimpse into our month:

 Souvenirs from our trip.

 Lily and cousin Hensley hang out during PE time

 Sign Language Class and crafts after PE.

 Bren competed in archery in the Sooner State Games. He did super good!  We're so proud!

 Robotics class, taught by dad, for Cam and two of his buddies.

 {Great} Gramma teaches art classes.

Lily finally let {Great} Grampa hold her!

Cait, my crafty little helper, helped make party decorations for Lily's 2nd birthday.  When Daddy told her she can't jump on Lily's bed, she got creative and took the mattress off the bed to jump on it!

We had some beautiful days and we got outside to clean up the back yard.  And we've had several snow days, too.

Lily has slept through the night a couple times - IN HER OWN BED!

Cait began writing her name!  So exciting!  We had a Valentine's Day party at co-op.

After working the food bank on the 15th, we made a quick trip to celebrate PawPaw's birthday.

The girls are always ready to help in the kitchen.  They help roll out dough for empanadas and they love helping make biscuits, too.  And eating the dough.  And being covered in flour!  But I am so grateful for their help and willing spirit!

Cam has join a drama team that practices after our church services so after church and lunch and clean up, we get to kick back and fellowship even longer!  We are so thankful for our church family!

Cousin Science Club

 We have started a monthly Cousin Science Club!  We rotate who will teach, bring snacks and host.  This first time, I led and taught about plants.  Jess hosted and Les brought cute plant snacks.

We looked at plant pigment chromatography.  Using bok choy, swiss chard, daisy and hibiscus leaves and brussel sprouts, we saw the different pigments after putting some samples into alcohol.

The kids were happy to play during a small snack break.

 Above (clockwise) our plant diagrams, daisies and celery in food coloring, Les' scarfed snacks, leaf rubbings and our pigment samples. Below, the completed pigment study.

 And, we ended our plant study making elephant watering cans out of milk cartons.

I think it went well for all the combined energy that was bound up at Jess'.  I can't wait to see what we learn next!

7 Miles in a Canoe

Bren and Dad found a place to rent a canoe and got started early Tuesday morning.  It was sprinkling but they braved the weather.

 When Bren studied OK History a couple years ago, one of his projects was to plan a trip.  Well, this was his trip.  He found that Broken Bow lake has a bunch of islands on them and he wanted to explore them.

 For the life of me, I can't get this picture to flip.  It's a good one, anyway.

 They didn't get back to the cabin until almost 4 p.m.!!!  They were tired but had a blast!

 Here is the trail they made.  They started by canoeing to that small island on the middle left.  Then back to the peninsula where they first were.  Then they did that big counter clockwise circle. It is great for a father and son to bond like this!

Martin Nature Park Nature Hunt

So, this is where we found the ticks.  Since my last post, I think we've found at least 60 on Cait and 2 on me.  We have since learned they were probably seed ticks.  Lots and little.  Yuck.

But, the day at MNP was a great day.  My sister, Les, invited us to a Nature Hunt with her family and my sister, Jess, and her family.

We played at the park for a little bit then Les had brown paper bags for each kid. On the front was a scavenger hunt list and they could put items they collected into the bags.

We got a little lost on the trails but no one seemed to mind much.  Here, the kids were up on a lookout area.

After our hike, we ate lunch in the visitor's center. It was a nice break from the heat.

They have lots of fun things to look at inside, too.

After lunch, the kids made collages and played on the park a little bit more.

Cait's

Cam's

And mine:

Then...nap time for some tired children (and mommy)!  Thanks, Les, for such a fun day of exploring!