December 2005
 

A	AIRPLANE... what a great trip to Switzerland we took in the Spring!
B	BOW... Jeremy got a real one from his grandpa. He is taking archery classes and becoming quite a William Tell! Apples beware!
C	CHURCH CAMP... the highlight of the summer for the kids.
D	DANCE... we had such a ball at the Civil War dance we all attended this past weekend (see picture). Joanne's loveliness made a lot of heads turn!
E	EXERCISE... PE is hard work but we are getting stronger. Even Olivia joined our PE class this year. You should see the determination on her face when she runs her three-quarters of a mile! She is just following in her big brother and sister's footsteps.
F	FINE ARTS FESTIVAL... no better place for the kids to share their talents in music and other arts. What a joy it was to see them signing (sign language) to the Lord at this year's event.
G	GRAND PARENTS... what a blessing to live in the same town as them. Brian's grandmother lives here too... 96 years old and still living by herself! We just love to visit her and listen to old, old stories. What a wonderful way to learn U.S. history!
H	HORSE... Joanne's love for this animal has not faded. She won 3 ribbons at a horse show in August. Horsemania rules in her bedroom!
I	INCREDIBLE... the number of good books Brian has read to the kids over the years! It's an evening routine: get comfy on our big bed and listen to papa read.
J	JEDEDIAH SMITH CLUB... Jeremy loves his boy's group. He is building strong friendships and growing up in God.
K	KNITTING... sewing, crocheting, weaving, just a few of Joanne's talents.
L	LABOR DAY... what a great tradition to spend that day at Waller Park with our church family for a big barbecue. Year after year the kids anticipate the games and the watermelon-eating contest.
M	MONTEREY... we took a 3-day trip to this lovely place. We visited some great Missions on the way, and spent a whole day at the aquarium.
N	NO... it's never too cold to go swimming! Today, December 17, I found Olivia in her room putting on her bathing suit. She wanted to go swimming in her little pool. Why not after all, it was 70°F and the sun was smiling! (In my Swiss mind you don't swim in December, you ski!!!)
O	OLIVIA... is such a character. She loves to play swords with the boys and wants to cut off all her curls to look like a boy (no way José!). But now the other side of the coin: she melts her papa's heart when dressed in pink, showing him the latest moves she learned in her ballet class!
P	PICTURE this... Brian producing video after video and DVD after DVD...pass the popcorn please! Will this hobby ever lead to a career?
Q	QUESTION?... Is probably the word I use the most in the French class I am teaching for a group of homeschool kids and parents.
R	RABBITS... Oreo and Brownie, our two too-cute bunnies, have moved into a bigger hutch this year. Joanne had saved her pennies… she would do anything for her rabbits (and her hamsters too!).
S	SUNSHINE... one of our favorite Sunday outings: walking on the beach, watching the waves, the surfers, the seagulls, the pelicans, and coming home our pockets filled with precious new shells.
T	TERMITES... our house had to be tented this fall... bad little varmints!
U	UNBORN PIG... the kids dissected one at their science class... what guts! But it doesn't stop them from loving all varieties of pork!
V	VIOLIN... you hear it a lot around our house. Joanne is becoming such a musician. She is going to play on Christmas Eve in her grandma's church. Thank you to Grandma who has offered the lessons for the past 6 years.
W	WATER SLIDE... Olivia tried to go down this summer, but the "landing" was just too much for her. The kiddy pool was more her style. Jeremy had the courage to go on the Stampede! What a drop!
X	XTRAORDINARY... the love of God for us.
Y	YES... we are still homeschooling. We are in our 7th year with no plans to quit. Olivia graduates from high school in only 14 more years!
Z	Zo long, farewell, aufwiedersehen, goodbye... ADIEU !!!