dictation

Storms of Adversity

A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.  Neither do uninterrupted prosperity and success qualify a man for usefulness or happiness.  The storms of adversity, like the storms of the ocean, rouse the faculties and excite the invention, prudence, skill, and fortitude of the voyager.

from Sanders' Union Fourth Reader by Charles W. Sanders, Spelling Wisdom Vol. 3

our newest 5-year-old

Josiah celebrated his fifth birthday recently, leaving those of us who know him best wondering how that happened so fast!!

Making sure to add the "cha-cha-chas" to the Happy Birthday song.

 He doesn't like being the center of attention at all, does he?  Unlike his mother, who crawled under the table at about this age when they sang to me.  It may have been the blow horn along with all the eyes on me, but I digress...

All three loved the Wedgits and played with them for hours.  To be honest, Josiah played with everything he got for hours.

The only toy he really asked for... I think his older brother would have loved it at his age, too.  Or maybe now?

Thanksgiving quote

"All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties; and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courages.  It was granted that the dangers were great, but not desperate; the difficulties were many, but not invincible.  For though there were many of them likely, yet they were not certain.  It might be that sundry of the things feared might never befall; others, by provident care and the use of good means, might in a great measure be prevented; and all of them, through the help of God, by fortitude and patience, might either be borne or overcome."

-Governor William Bradford

field trip!

The week before Thanksgiving...we are using it to play catch up on some school projects and not starting anything new.  It seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a field trip, too!  I've lived in McLean County long enough to remember what kids did for fun before a fantastic children's museum and other kid-friendly activities arrived.  I've taken many children to the McLean County Museum of History, but never my own.  They loved it!!

 We started with an airplane and won Josiah's heart immediately.

 They look like they should be locked up, don't they?

 Well, maybe not this poor soul.

 The hands-on pioneer room was the favorite, favorite place to spend time.  Rachel kept reminding me that pioneers did not smile.  Umm, for the camera, anyway.

 He couldn't help but smile.

The reason I wanted to go the museum now: there is a temporary exhibit showcasing how our food has changed from the 1820's to the present.  There were 4 kitchens representing 4 different eras in our county's history. 

I took a picture of each menu, telling the kids I was looking for supper ideas. Liver pie wasn't really on their list of fun things they wanted to try.

 

 I found some of this information to be fascinating, considering the food journey we have been on with Josiah.

 This sign is particularly telling.  We can eat nothing with the name Campbell's on it now.  Eric laughed when he read "better tasting than homemade."

"Since 1969 some 3,000 additives have been put in American foods.  The impact of these additives can be both good and bad, but additives are unnecessary if one eats an ample and varied diet of whole foods."

The food exhibit is only here until January, and is well worth the effort to see. 

When we left for the musuem, my kids have never even considered that their WAS history in McLean County.  Now they know even Abraham Lincoln spent a considerable amount of time here, and that we can boast a vice president.  I heard my junior high son exclaiming over things I cannot believe he didn't know!  Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours on a Monday afternoon.

first stitches

and they come out today!  We felt that God hand-picked the doctor and nurses in the emergency room. He learned that God does give courage when you're really, really scared!

brand new

This is the kind of resource that makes me excited about what is ahead for Josiah and I in homeschooling!! 

math website

This must be my week to showcase other websites.  Here's an online site for extra math practice.  I really love how they break it down by grade.