We’ve been reading about Thomas Edison. The story goes that he once mixed chemicals together and saw a tremendous number of bubbles form. This led him to believe this creation of bubbles could elevate a person off the ground. So he had his friend drink it. (He was about 8 at the time.)
Our science guide had us create our own bubbly chemical reaction… homemade pop!
I love school at home. 
Doesn’t she look scholarly?
Tabitha
Tabitha’s 9th birthday party
It was a gorgeous day out. Seventy degrees and sunny.
We had all day to prepare and everyone worked together.
The party was scheduled for 4:00 – 7:30. Which is really cool. Except in my head I thought it was 4:30 – 7:00. Which left me sort of surprised as cars started pulling in at 4. LOL. It was even on the calendar!!!
We had all day to prepare and everyone worked together.
The party was scheduled for 4:00 – 7:30. Which is really cool. Except in my head I thought it was 4:30 – 7:00. Which left me sort of surprised as cars started pulling in at 4. LOL. It was even on the calendar!!!
They played a few games in the driveway. Johanna was a party guest, along with all the big girls.
Katriel hung out with us most of the time, as well. But she didn’t get into the games.
These girls were so fun and funny.
Time for dinner. Pizza and fruit. Survey says, most 9 year old girls don’t like pineapple… (because that was all that was left just about.)
After dinner we handed out aprons for each girl.
And we started frosting cuppycakes. On Thursday Nan had made 72 cupcakes. We put them in these little boxes (you can really buy ANYTHING on Amazon). Then Saturday morning John and I made frosting. Lots and lots of frosting. Lots.
The girls were super creative.
Because we wanted them each to get to take home their creations (and because I enjoy making frosting?) we had a regular cake to sing over. I had no time left creative juices left to make a “fun” cake, so Tabitha provided Lego girls to doll up the cherry frosting. Her smile tells me she is okay with this.
Some of the finished products.
As fun as it was to party with the big girls, Hanny was excited to see a new baby in attendance. She asked the baby’s mommy if she could hold her, and the mommy said yes. ♥
When Katriel figured out what Hanny was up to, she wanted a chance, too.
The party ended around 7:30 – I think. And we have a lot of cupcakes around the house as each of my girls made 6. I think we will freeze some. Because that’s a lot of frosting!
Tabitha is nine!
Her day started with her wake-up song.
And she was greeted downstairs with balloons, a garden flower, and – um – whatever that was that Daddy hung from the light fixture (looks like a forming blood clot IMO).
She got the morning off school, but did have some work in the afternoon… Mostly she enjoyed listening to her new Adventures in Odyssey CD that Nan brought over in the morning.
For dinner, Nan, Nene, Ba and Poppy joined us to celebrate both Tab’s and Daddy’s birthdays.
She got more gifts than he did…
Including some fabulous high heels we blessed her with.
They requested and received molten lava cake…
Happy Birthday Tabby (and Daddy)!
Ready for summer
Bathing suit shopping for the girls after age 5 is always a hassle for us.
ALWAYS.
I care about modesty and I care about sun protection.
I have gone the Christian-owned business route and shelled out beaucoup bucks for custom made swim suits.
And they fell apart half way through the season.
I care about modesty and I care about sun protection.
I have gone the Christian-owned business route and shelled out beaucoup bucks for custom made swim suits.
And they fell apart half way through the season.
I tried it with more than one company. And they just don’t make them as sturdy as we need them.
So a few years ago I started doing what I had to do to create my own suits from what was out there. It’s been expensive, but so worth it.
I think we have winners this year! Marie found two suits that we liked the tops to at Justice (of all places – FYI – it is my new favorite store). And I found her bottoms in the women’s section of the Land’s End catalog. Each bottom cost more than two full suits at Justice! Ouch.
Hanny’s was easy. It came from Old Navy as is.
Tab’s was fun to pick. This year Land’s End had some seriously beautiful suits to choose from. (Last year they were kind of, um, ugly? We had to go with LL Bean last year.) She selected this two-tone purple and we were able to find a cover up skirt for $12 in their clearance pages. YAY. The skirt isn’t totally necessary, as it is a really nice suit.
Marie also got a zip up rash guard like Mom’s and Tab has some that still fit from last year.
I think we’re covered… (ha – I made a funny!) Now we just need summer to show up!!!!!!!
Little girls suits are easy to find… remember this one?
Balto…
For as long as I can remember, Tabitha has liked dogs.
Here she is pulling a dog sled…
Now it is Katriel’s turn…
It’s just a normal day at the Butler house…
Saint Patrick’s Day Shakes
Nan brought the goodies for St. Patrick’s Day milkshakes, mint extract and all. Nan also made some soda bread with Johanna and Tabitha. This was, um, lunch. Really. I don’t think we ate anything else.
This is really funny. The boys have been practicing at the Charles Finney school for the upcoming production of The Sound of Music. They’ve made some new friends and reconnected with some formerly homeschooled boys they used to know. One of their new friends often inquires about homeschooling. One day they took the iPod with them to take photos of themselves in the costumes. Nigel decided to mess with their new friend C. and showed him this picture, stating, “This is what it’s like to homeschool.”
C gaped and opined how lucky Nigel is.
Then one of the former homeschooler boys looked over C’s shoulder and said emphatically, “THAT is not what homeschooling is like!”
C gaped and opined how lucky Nigel is.
Then one of the former homeschooler boys looked over C’s shoulder and said emphatically, “THAT is not what homeschooling is like!”
Busted.
Very Funny Story…
So, as Marie and I are sitting at the school table in my bedroom this morning, Tabitha comes by and says something about finding a dollar, and the bookcase, and keeping it. I was only half-listening as I was doing English grammar with Marie. SomEtHInG made me pay attention and asked her to repeat what she had said.
“I was looking in the bookcase in the basement and I found an envelope with, like,a dollar with one hundred on it, so can I keep it?”
”Can I see the envelope?” I asked.
She handed it to me.
”Can I see the envelope?” I asked.
She handed it to me.
I gasped, paused, and ROARED with laughter.
WELL OVER TWO YEARS AGO I gave my friend Jenn an envelope with $100 and instructions to buy breakfast for her family somewhere on vacation. She had said something about not taking it, but I never thought of it again.
Until today.
Somewhere along the line she likely returned some books, or we borrowed some books and somehow her RETURN envelope with the words “Spanish Classes” got wedged in the BOOKS.
Mind you – it had to be some while ago. They moved to Oregon October 2013 & book exchange has been suspended.
And – nah – I can pretty much guarantee there aren’t more hidden treasures in the books downstairs.
Poor sweet Tabitha. She was beside herself that I wasn’t going to let her keep it. “But I found it!” she lamented sorrowfully as she saw her dreams of a new Lego Girls set go down the drain. I did offer her some chocolate. She beamed and agreed.
Ice Skating
For as long as I can remember, there has been an offering of homeschool ice skating in our area.
I first remember it being offered in Greece on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive to Greece.
Then I remember it being offered downtown on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive downtown.
This year it was offered about 7 miles from my house.
Okay – while it isn’t the CLOSEST rink to my house, it is pretty close. 😉
So I signed up Marie and Tabitha.
I first remember it being offered in Greece on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive to Greece.
Then I remember it being offered downtown on Tuesday mornings. I wasn’t going to drive downtown.
This year it was offered about 7 miles from my house.
Okay – while it isn’t the CLOSEST rink to my house, it is pretty close. 😉
So I signed up Marie and Tabitha.
Tabitha was eager; Marie was reluctant.
But by the time the first lesson was over they were both asking if Dad could build a rink in our yard.
But by the time the first lesson was over they were both asking if Dad could build a rink in our yard.
There were a few spills that first day.
But before long they were happily gliding.
Within a month I let them doff the helmets.
I did not sign up the boys because our Spanish tutor comes on Tuesday afternoons, and the time away from home for the 1 hour skating is just minutes more than 2 hours. They weren’t comfortable taking that much time away from their school work.
But on the last day they had family open skate. Stewart eagerly jumped at the opportunity. Nigel was a bit more concerned about the time away from his work. I mentioned I could waive English grammar for the day and he jumped into action!
Guess who else put on a pair of skates?
I was fun. I skated about 20 minutes and was relieved that I did not fall. I DID get a NASTY blood blister on my HAND from doing up 5 pair of skates as tightly as I could! LOL.
Just before we left Nigel took a face plant and it was terrible to look at. (If you are his Mama.) But he handled it like a champ.
And both boys would like to do skating next year if we can make it work out!
Like mother, like daughter?
She had just looked at girls’ dresses.
So glad she didn’t try to fill a cart and check out… That site “remembers” my CC!
(I don’t use headphones, though…)
Dayspring Disciples 
