all smiles for this artist...

There was a time when I would ask Josiah to try to draw something, and he would burst into tears. "I can't!" he'd wail next. I'm not sure those days are completely over, but we certainly have turned a corner!

 Mark Kistler's art lessons were recenly offered at a discount at the Homeschool Buyers Coop, and one price covered lessons for all three kids.  Josiah began the Mini-Marshmallow video lessons this week.  I have never heard him giggle so much when there is a pencil in his hand.

Starting his pencil rocket drawing...

 and adding more details, like the little boy with his legs out the window.  (He fell asleep.)  Crazy hair is pretty fun, too.  Don't forget the water vapor coming out of the rocket launchers!

This was his first picture.  Beatrice the dragon is burping bubbles.

We're not quite ready to contact the art galleries, but I do love that happy face!  (If I make the picture big enough, I can almost see what he drew.)

first days of school

"precept upon precept, line upon line." Isaiah 28:10

Last week we started our first day of school.  Knowing my daughter's heart, I declared the day Pajama Day to celebrate.

Josiah is in kindergarten, studying Sonlight Core A for literature and several add ons.

At the suggestion of some homeschooling friends, I decided to try workboxes with Josiah this year, and cannot believe how well it works.  He loves working through each drawer one by one and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with it.  I love that I can work with him first, and then put independent work in the last drawers so I can be available to teach the older kids for the rest of the day.  This website was a great resource!  This week, I'm adding a tower for Rachel to help her stay organized, too.  And then Micah said he wanted one...

A real winner: Mark Kistler's drawing lessons at a deep discount.  Rachel's drawings were incredible!  She is in 6th grade this year and doing Sonlight's Core D+E: American History.  There were so many great books in this core that I didn't want her to miss, she loves American history, and the easier reading load allows us to have time to work together on some other vital skill areas or delve into the history more deeply if we want.

Micah did not opt for pajamas, but did like the idea of having his sleeping bag spread out as a work station.  He is in 8th grade and doing Sonlight Core H, American History from the 1500's to the present.  This boy is happiest when he's surrounded with books.

One of Josiah's independent activities on another day: cut out food, a plate, and utensils.  We had a quick party.

He loved being goofy!

first soccer game

 Josiah had one 45 minute practice and was then turned loose for his first soccer game of the season Saturday.  He was so excited, wearing his shin guards until he wore a hole through the material and dressing for the 1:00 game first thing in the morning.

 The kids practiced a little more before the game started.

Then a short game with 5 minute quarters.

We kept getting distracted by this sweet little spectator.

Custer and the Badlands

The final loop of our trip at Custer was a nice, relaxing change from the pace of our travels.  We could actually go back to our cabin for a hot lunch, and even if it was just frozen pizza and hot dogs it tasted really good.  The weather was uncharacteristically cold so we were thankful for a providential meal of homemade soup, too.  I have to mention where we stayed: Shady Rest Motel, because the owners were so gracious and helpful.  It was off the beaten path, incredibly quiet, and we had a clean, roomy cabin at a great rate.  Trip Advisor is also a great way to find affordable motel rooms that are really nice!

Needles Highway...you can see where it gets its name.

Our van is going to squeeze through that?

Needles is another beautiful area.

The rocks were spectacular but can't be removed from the area.  It was tempting, and with the mica much of it just breaks off!

Hideout!

Micah gave me some comforting thoughts about an earthquake while he stood here...

I am just rather fond of these three children!  Can we bring them home?

This was the most terrifying part for me, up a road with no guard rails, big enough to be one lane but it was not, so if you met a car going around a corner...well, now you see my fear.  Still, we could see Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, Needles Highway, an airforce base, and all the way to the Badlands.

The Wildlife Loop of Custer State Park was a hit with the kids.  We saw pronghorn sheep, deer...and these friendly "wild" burros.  The kids loved feeding them carrots.  Josiah's favorite animal is a mule.  Can you see the joy on his face?

 Rachel is just an all around animal lover.  The funniest thing about these burros is that they will stick their entire face in your car window if you try feeding them from inside.  We watched several walk along the road like this, following a moving vehicle.

Hundreds of buffalo.  Through this entire trip, I was humming "Home on the Range."

 The Badlands were amazing.  It doesn't take much of an eye to link them to erosion, which causes much pondering about how it all happened.

 This sign cracked me up...we don't see anything like this in Illinois!  Seems like in the west, there are plenty of animals to beware of.  I'm surprised we made it home alive!

 We made a startling discovery about the true origin of these strange land features!

And the kids look like they are far higher than they truly are!

The Badlands were our last scenic stop, then two very long days home in the van. Our kids were great travelers and at such perfect ages to take a trip like this. I know the memories will last a lifetime, and the books they read about the west will have new meaning as they call to mind the wild vistas of Wyoming and South Dakota.

Rachel's first reader, Om-Kas-Toe, and the main character was in Yellowstone at the end of the book!



On from Yellowstone

The road from Yellowstone to Cody, WY is gorgeous.  We had planned to take Bear Tooth Highway north to Billings, MT but decided to cut down on driving and go east with my parents.  There is something very reassuring about following someone else while driving through mountains for the first time.  Anyway, we were not disappointed in the scenery.

This picnic lunch wins the award for most likely to meet a bear.  Is that why the two youngest felt compelled to eat with their blankets nearby?

 Another reason to be thankful we did not take Bear Tooth: Eric felt most white knuckled when driving (or should I say winding?) through the Bighorn Mountains.  It was magnificent!  And yet another waterfall greeted us at a rest stop.

After a stay in Sheridan, WY, we parted ways with my parents who headed home while we continued on to Devils Tower.  This is where the rock climbing began.

You can see eagles flying around the top of the tower, and we spotted deer on the most remote side.  If you ever go, walk on the trail around the base.  It was great!  At one point we stopped, listened, and heard nothing but the sounds of nature.

 Mount Rushmore!  It was far different here than I had imagined; very scenic in and around the entire area.  This is the Black Hills, after all.  (Of course, I did know what the monument itself looked like!)

 We asked for the ranger booklets, and the kids really got intrigued looking for answers.  It really helped them learn a lot--even Josiah got into it.

Ok, this really does count as a field trip!

North Loop of Yellowstone

Our first glimpse of a bison in the park was up close and personal!  We also saw numerous elk, eagles, and cranes.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone!

It was so gorgeous, a wonder of God's creation. 

We visited the brink of the upper and lower falls.  There were plenty of switchbacks on this trail, and it was not easy hiking but so worthwhile.

The Lower Falls...a 300 foot drop, taller than Niagara.

A favorite of Eric and I at Inspiration Point.  You can see a glimpse of the falls in the background.

Tower Falls...Thomas Moran's painting of it captured interest and inspired the creation of Yellowstone National Park.

I knew there was a petrified tree in Yellowstone.  What I did not know is it is a petrified Redwood tree!

Mammoth Hot Springs

 We were getting so tired by this point!

 After a day in the park with lots of driving, all of the adults were pretty wiped out.  Rachel had her heart set on the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, however, and Eric was brave enough to say yes to a daughter/father date.  She will NEVER forget it...this is her thing.

Rachel thinks this wolf looks like our Eddie.