The Mansion Pictures

While we were in Georgia we took pictures at various places at the Mansion also. Of course, we will have to take more at Christmas after Lil Bit arrives, but I wanted some out on the lawn. Most of the winter ones will be taken inside. These are a few of my favorites.

The Georgia Capitol

During our visit to Georgia last week, we took advantage of our last opportunity to visit the Georgia Capitol while "Big Buddy" is still in office as the Governor of Georgia. It was a fun visit and the kids really enjoyed seeing Big Buddy's office. We took some pictures inside and a few outside. Jake enjoyed learning Georgia history for school.

I found this card in Mr. Sonny's office and couldn't think of a more appropriate sign for Anna Kate to hold.

The boys enjoyed Big Buddy's office.

I told Jake that he had to get his picture taken on these steps because almost every kid that graduates from a Georgia elementary school has a picture of themselves on these steps. Usually, they are in a class picture but this is his class:-)

Judd decided he wanted a picture too just not in the same place as Jake.

I spy Judd!

Peek- a- boo, Anna Kate!

Since the State Senators are not in session, we were able to go in the Senate room and take a picture.

A few pictures....

This is Miss Freedom. She stands on top of the Georgia capitol building.

Here the boys are learning about the state symbols.

This is our tour guide...Daddy!

The kids were able to take a picture with Big Buddy just before he started taking pictures for 45 minutes.

We were also able to get a quick family picture before leaving.

Taking a walk around the capitol. By the way, this is where you can find Anna Kate most moments of the day, holding my hand.

Quick prego picture...we didn't want to leave lil bit out of the fun. (33 weeks)

Do you think they were supposed to climb that tree?

This was a really fun time and we learned a few things about Georgia. I am sure that they will not remember running the halls of the capitol at 5, 3, and 2 but I have pictures to capture the memories.

Can I quote you on that?

Sometimes he says the funniest things...

"For God so loved the world the gave his only forgotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not parachute...."

"Mommy, I am going to run for governor because I am really fast. I will win."

Happy One Month of Homeschool!

This is how I have felt...

The past month I have gone through a roller coaster of emotions.

I have been excited about homeschool.

I have felt overwhelmed with homeschooling Jake and maintaing order with the other two kids.

Honestly, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching Jake but it has been very difficult some days with Anna Kate. Judd wants to learn and do school too, but it can be overwhelming to "teach" him also.

BUT

Last Monday brought clarity to my life. I had a REALLY emotional day. REALLY Emotional! For those of you that know me, you can understand that I don't get emotional very often. I must admit that it could be pregnancy hormones and the transition of our life but it was still a bit out of character. My husband was speechless!

This is what we have been through...

Many days of crying, oh not them, ME! (no i will not post a picture)Yes, them too!

This is what I wouldn't trade.....

It maybe hard to read but it says "Mom I luv yoo"

Since my "episode" we have been doing the majority of school during Anna Kate's nap time, which has worked out very well. However, we have been able to include her in several of our activities.

We learned about plants and seeds one week so we decided to do a science experiment. I remember doing this as a child. We observed and watched to beans grow for a week.

This is an activity that I found here for Judd to complete during our school time. It is a color wheel that he has to match all of his cars to the correct color portion on the wheel. He enjoyed it, but was disappointed when he realized that we didn't have any pink cars or trucks. Does Matchbox make a pink monster truck?

One day we were fortunate to find a turtle.

Jake is doing Abeka curriculum for phonics, reading, math and spelling. There is a lot of structure that I throughly enjoy, but it is hard to find time to add extra stuff. One this particular day we practiced addition and subtraction using dominos.

Judd is completing a sheet call domino parking lot that I found here. Both of them enjoyed doing these fun math activities.

They are a blessing to this "teacher," well technically I am a teacher since I have a license in Georgia and Tennesse, but I love being a mother so much more.

Put Me in Coach!

Tonight we decided to go to the baseball fields at the end of our road. The boys have been asking to go all summer but since they have games or practice on the fields we had to wait until the season ended.

Judd LOVES to play baseball and really wants to play. He is only three so we are going to wait until next year to sign him up. He loves to hit and throw the ball. I am not quite sure how he will handle waiting in the field for others to hit. Until then, he will continue to ask me to play everyday.

Just in case you are wondering: I do make them wear shirts and shoes during the winter:-)

The Girl

Anna Kate is trying to stop napping but I am consistently putting her in the bed everyday at nap time. Some days she naps and some days she lays in her bed and sings. However, she isn't your typical whiny irritable 2 year old when she doesn't have a nap. She acts goofy! She makes us laugh so much during the evenings when she hasn't had a nap.

Here are a few pictures from one night recently when she didn't nap. The pictures were taken one night after dinner. She asked to be excused and went to crawl in Jim's lap. As soon as she sat down this is what she did:

Here are a few more that I took after breakfast one morning. I was not happy that she decided to take her yogurt and put it all over her face, legs and placemat. However, I knew that I needed to take a picture to remember this moment and she was more than willing to smile for the camera.

Snakes Alive!

Tonight after dinner we found a snake in the pool. Actually, it looked more like a really long worm but it was a snake nonetheless. We don't do snakes in the Perdue home. "The only good snake is a dead snake" is our motto.

I find humor in this stream of pictures. This is just a small glimpse into my sweet husband's life. He can not do ANYTHING when he is at home, without at least one little person following and trying to help him. This evening all three fell in quickly behind to help daddy kill the snake. I just love my family!

Mission accomplished!

Y.E.S

For the past weeks we have been teaching the kids Galatians 2:20 during family worship. It has been a fun time learning through song. I can hear all three of them saying it periodically throughout the day.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

My question is one of application. What is one area that I know I could sacrifice and put my selfish desires aside? It would be to say YES! To tell my kids yes when they ask to do something that will inconvenience me at the moment. To tell them yes, even though i KNOW they are going to make a BIG mess and I will be the one cleaning it up later.

Many times, for me at least, saying YES is a big lesson in dying to self. Putting aside my own plans for the moment, morning or afternoon and getting up to answer with a YES. That dying to self doesn't come easily or naturally for me. I am trying to be more intentional about saying YES to the simple joys of life. I know that this intentionality will bring me many opportunities to die to self, my hope is that the kids and I will experience much joy through using the word YES more often.

Take time this week to say YES! Share in the comments some of the ways you said YES!

It is the First Day of "Home"school!

Today is the first day of school in the Perdue home. We officially have a kindergartener living in our home. He is a great, eager and excited learner.

This has been a decision that has taken MANY years to decide and we just make a firm decision three weeks ago. He was registered to go to "school" until two days ago. We are not sure what the future holds as far as life long homeschooling in out family but we do know that God has lead us to homeschool Jake this year.

These are the words of a new homeschooling mom. Her words are all the emotions that I have been going though the past few weeks. I honestly could have written every single word of this, but not nearly are well. So, these are my homeschool thoughts written by another mother: "Homeschooling may not work for our family the way we think it will. In that case, we may choose to stick with it, to decide to make it work because we believe in it. Of course, we may also decide to abandon ship. Maybe as our other children grow to be school age, we’ll give them each the schooling scenario that fits their own needs. We have no idea. I mean, seriously, no idea at all. We certainly don’t believe that homeschooling is the only way. But it sure is the way that seems right to us. Right now.

Am I scared? Yes! Do I feel equipped? No way. Am I 100% certain that this is right? Nope. Do I have moments of selfishness where I’d just like to send the kids to school during the day so I could have some me time? Sure! But then I remember what my real purpose in life is. The following quote by Priscilla Shirer, from her book Discerning the Voice of God, "Life isn’t about what I’m going to do, but it is instead about what God wants to accomplish in me."

Priscilla says, “When you face two options and each seems to please God, consider the one that displays God’s glory, power and strength. This makes room for God to reveal Himself to you and show Himself through you. God wants us to see the wondrous things He will accomplish in us. Don’t be fearful about the hard road He may ask you to take. Be encouraged and excited about seeing His divine, supernatural activity in and through you. God’s voice commands the option that will display His power. He desires to show Himself strong in you and will encourage you to do things that require trust and faith.”

So, maybe I lied. Perhaps our decision to homeschool really is about our belief in God. Yeah, it’s pretty hard to remove Him from any equation, I guess. Wish us “luck,” because away we go!!