chit chat, cookies, and a little service go a long way.

I remember when I was young and I would hear all the old people talking about how "they just didn't know where the time was going" -- I would always think, what is wrong with you people?

I am the old person now.

Time? Where in the world does it go, mommas!

With that said, we have rounded another month and facing a new service project tomorrow. Before those details, let's recap over the month.

Last month's service project to the Boys and Girls Club & Local Food Bank was a HUGE success. We had such a fun time and the Kids worked hard. For some reason, we forget to bring our actual cameras and only have iPhones and iPads and those don't take the best pictures. So, the indoor pictures from the B&G Club aren't very good quality so I didn't post them. You can imagine them ; ) We cleaned floors, toilets, and lockers. We picked up trash and washed walls. It was a great time. Below you will see all of our kiddos at our first stop. United Methodist Church Food Pantry. Our kiddos piled in their old basement and dropped off lots of goodies for the people of Chelsea.

kiddos at food pantry

 The week after that was our Elective week. The big boys enjoyed a trip to the local Auto Repair shop for a lesson on changing oil and jack safety. The big girls enjoyed cooking and scrapbooking, and all the littles enjoyed fun science and fun art in various classrooms, divided by age.

Thank you to our mommas for doing a great job playing, "school"!

girls cooking class

Last Friday, we had our support day. Kids played games and crafts -- boys in one room, girls in another, mommas in the big room. Mommas talked about upcoming events and made plans along with just sharing life and encouraging one another (can this be my favorite Friday?) Then, everyone pulled out their sack lunches and enjoyed fellowship in the dining hall.

One of the decisions made during support Friday was T-Shirts. I just received word today, they are ready! I can't say enough about how quickly they were finished. I gave him the design on Monday afternoon and they were finished in THREE days (this includes ordering the blank shirts)! Deric Brock at All Star Trophy did an amazing job. He's fantastic.

blue front

green back

If you ordered T-shirts PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring your money ($9/shirt) We will wear our shirts for the service project and need to pay All Star Trophy by this weekend. Do not make checks out to me, please make them out to AST. If you didn't order and would still like to, you are welcome to do so. Becky and I have decided to place another order but must have a minimum of 10 shirts. Let me know if you'd like to. We will place another order within two weeks so we are sure to get everyone. This will be the last order before next years shirts. 

Tomorrow is our next Service Project! This week, we are taking it to the streets! We're handing out yummy goodies to local businesses, trying to bring a bit of fall cheer to the end of their week. They work hard serving the people in the community and this is our little way of giving back. 

Remember, each family (if able) are to bring THREE desserts to give. Example, 1 plate of cookies, 1 loaf of bread, 12 muffins. OR just three plates of cookies. 

We will meet at the rock parking lot of Dollar General and go on foot. We will divide up into groups so we don't overload the businesses. Perhaps, some of you can head up to the schools after we meet. You will be surprised what joy this little act of kindness can bring. After delivering goodies we will head over to the park for a sack lunch and play.

So tomorrow please bring:

*T-shirt money ($9ea)
*3 baked goods for 3 businesses
*a sack lunch for your family

I thought it would be sweet if some of us could bake a little extra for Mr. Deric Brock, who made our t-shirts. He just did just a fantastic job. Although he's not a local business in Chelsea, his shop, All Star Trophy was started in Chelsea by his father many years ago. This would be a "sweet" little bonus for him and a nice way for us to say, thanks. If you would like to bring a little treat for him,  I'll deliver those to him with payment. (I happen to know, he loves a little sweet baked goodie around to munch on ; )

Click to enlarge. YES I know the date is wrong. It IS Saturday, Oct 13th (not, 12th)

Last but not least: THIS SATURDAY NIGHT I will be having a Mom's Night Out here at my house. If you do not have details and would like them, please click the flyer and RSVP ASAP =) I hope you can make it! It's going to be fun. ; )



I hope you know what a blessing each and every one of you are to me. I am so thankful to be surrounded by people helping me raise my children in Godly character and challenging me each step of the way. This time last year, I was begging God to help me meet other homeschooling families in our area and now I can't imagine it any other way!
 

joyfully serving you and those crazy kiddos of ours, 

Kati =)

The House Ninjas Have Left Their Mark on OKC!

It was a fantastic day at Harn Homestead in OKC!

From lunch under the trees to tag around the gazebo, fun was had by all-- kids and adults! 

We spent our time shelling corn, roping, playing dress up in a 100 year old house, making ropes, milking "cows", hanging the laundry out to dry and having school in a 100 year old one room school house. It was a sweet, sweet trip. Dad's hopped in and helped the littles and I saw a lot of mommas taking pictures. = o)

Mr. David did a fantastic job showing our group around and I think we all learned a lot.

Remember, this Friday is Elective week! Mommas (and dads) teaching classes have some great things planned, I am SUPER excited! Be to co-op on time and come prepared!

As always, be sure to email or call with any questions or concerns.

Joyfully serving you and those CrAzY kiddos of ours,

Kati =)

First Day-- Success!

It was a great day!

We started with announcements then mommas chatted and planned while a couple special dads did games with the kiddos. =)


This Friday is our Service Project Friday-- It's suppose to rain, we'll be thankful for rain. However, we wouldn't mind a break in the rain from around 10 to noon =)

click to enlarge

I am still working on connecting the dots for this Friday, I'll give word as soon as I have it all figured out. Thank you for grace =)

Next week, Sept 21 will be our trip to Harn Homestead. It looks like we are going to have a pretty good turn out! Don't forget I need your RSVP by Sept 18th so I can adjust our numbers if needed.

click to enlarge

The LAST Friday of this month we are having electives. WE WILL NOT have a field trip the last Friday of this month since Harn is the third Friday. We generally have electives on the third Friday of the month however, this month our field trip has to be on the third Friday because Hard couldn't do it on our regular Friday. Click on the picture below to see info about this months field trips.

ONE CHANGE IN ELECTIVE COST: if you have multiple children-- the cost is $10 per semester for the first child and $5 for each additional child. If finances keep you from doing electives, please see me-- it's NO BIG DEAL!

click to enlarge

In our momma meeting we settled on the following:

Cooking & Scrapbooking Kati
1st hour we will be cooking in the kitchen. Second hour, we will work on a scrapbook. We will keep the scrapbook there for the whole semester and show it off at the Christmas party. =)

Transporting Boys to elective- Jeanna (we need a helper for our older boys)
The boys will travel to their elective each month. This month is the auto repair shop. Drive time will never be over 10 min. While at their elective, they will receive hands on training in a specific field. Next month, October is learning Horses at Becky's house-- taught by Tyler.

Fun Art and Science for K-1st Grade: Leslie
Remember, the classes are so super easy, and just built to be fun-- no homework type stuff. As always, Becky and I are totally here to help however needed.

Fun Art and Science for 2nd & 3rd: Tiffany S.
Remember, the classes are so super easy, and just built to be fun-- no homework type stuff. As always, Becky and I are totally here to help however needed. 

Becky and Susan will be floating around to help. If someone doesn't raise up to help Jeanna with the boys, Becky will be helping her with the big boys.



I am so excited about this year. It was so nice to see everyone again, along with new faces. We sure missed a few from last year and hope time permits you to join in on our fun this year! Remember, you can do one, two, or all of the things we have planned. If you would like to only do field trips, that is just fine. If electives once per month is something you would like (I think they're going to be great) you can jump in on that week only. We're just here to do it together. =)

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.  ~Elisabeth Foley

Joyfully serving you and those kids of ours,

Kati =)