brunch with Santa

We had the chance to visit Santa on this beautiful steamboat, for breakfast.




WE had to wait a few minutes to board the boat it was a bit breezy on the water, but made the hot tea taste all the better when we did get on:-)





chatting to the big man himself, some of the kids got bashful some got giggling, Shawn he just walked right up and climbed on his lap.





Madeline was a bit embarrassed to sit on Santa's lap, so he put her to work helping him out, since his elf did not show up:-)




it ws a fun chilly way to get in the holiday spirit, good food, good fun and lots of laughs with family.

Holiday Reading

Each Christmas we pick a story or two to read and It is usually one with a study guide and other activities to do. And always has a bible study involved with it.
This season we are Reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and are enjoying it alot it is a funny story. WE are meeting the Herman family of six kids who are ill behaved and a bit neglected, and then they get involved in the Christmas Pageant and they and the town find out what Christmas really means.

Game Time

WE are big time Ravens fans- well living in Baltimore most of us are-. So When we played the Steelers this past weekend we got in our purple and black and cheered them on:-)

my turkey baby

Wishing my high spirited daughter Grace a Happy 10Th Birthday.She is full of spunk, and loves those around her with a fierce passion. Always ready to defend those being taken advantage of, not afraid to stand her ground.She is a follower of Jesus and loves her Lord with all her might. Her zeal and feisty nature keep us on our toes and she is such a fun part of our family.

Love you Grace:-)

praise and thanksgiving

as we prepare for a day of feasting an gathering with our families, I pause to remember all the blessings of the past year.

1. that God has allowed us to still be in our house, its still a struggle but he has provided for us

2. finding a new and wonderful church and renewing my joy in worship again.

3. for the four cords of wood given to us, which will heat us this winter. A reminder God was preparing and caring this for us before we even knew we needed it.

4. Wednesday night dinners at church which have taken a strain off of us, as we struggle along.

5. My moms weekly food delivery again to help us in this time of struggle.

6. friends who pray for and with us.

7. my health and well being.

8. four healthy strong happy children.Who remind me why I continue on each day.

9. my husbands company who found a way to keep him working while they where in between jobs. so we did not lose the paycheck or health insurance we need.

11. my girls getting to go to Boston this year with my parents.

12. Being able to visit Mt.Vernon on home school day.

13. laughter, and joy in the small things.

14. reconnecting with old friends

15. Peace and comfort knowing my God has it under control and not sure where this storm is taking us or when its going to end but he is in control and will continue to care for us.

16. for those Pilgrims so many years ago who followed a call to go and find a land to believe and worship Christ . They never questioned or lost faith even in the worst of struggles, they stood on faith . What a great example they are.

Not sure where this year is taking us, but, we will go forward with Gods guidance and faith. adn continue to count those blessings.

girls just wanna have fun

The girls got new pj's for Halloween and started acting silly and posing for photos so couldn't resist. So fun to have a best friend in a sister.






I am so happy to see my girls becoming best friends sure they fight but all in all they really have a connection they will never have with anyone else.

tanagram fun

for Adam's math lesson one afternoon he spent it designing and playing with tanagrams,of course they are irresistible to everyone. Even his older sis Madeline joined in.







its a joy to see how the imagination and creativity work. learning is fun and everyone enjoys when we are free to discover.

Novembers Hymn

Give Thanks
With a Grateful Heart
Give thanks
To the Holy One
Give thanks
For he's Given
Jesus Christ, His son.


And now let the Weak Say
I am Strong
Let The Poor Say
I am Rich
Because Of What
The Lord Has Done
For us
Give Thanks

give thanks

a visit to Mt.Vernon

We visited the home of our first president during a recent homeschooling day. It was a pretty fall day perfect for a field trip.

the house, the kitchen building and the beginning of the tour line. it moved pretty quickly today, and the docents where very informative and we where able to learn lots of interesting tidbits about our first president and his family.







the view of the Potomac River from the back porch I can imagine George and Martha spent many hours here having coffee and entertaining guests.




the back of the home. we where not able to take photos inside the house so just believe me it was just lovely. walking onto stairs that the founding fathers did was just an honor.




The upper gardens and some of the livestock on the farm- this is a working farm btw-.








The wharf, from here Washington's men would catch herring and other fish to feed the family. A home of a slave family, this one housed a slave named Priscilla and her six children.When Washington and Mrs. Washington died their slaves where freed.

Fall Fun at Webers

One of our favorite fall destinations is Weber's a local farm and fun place to visit. They have a great play area for kids of all ages, with mazes, and boo-barn.

We began with a hayride and stopped for a fun photo opp.





Whats a day at Weber's without a trip or two down the hill side slide:-)





Adam loves these peddle tractors, , Shawn in the hay tunnels:-)





See you on the farm next year:-) This is such a fun annual event, can;t imagine fall without it:-)