First Day of School Interviews

Yesterday was the first day of school here at the Lawhon Schoolhouse. I decided to do a little video interview with the boys on their first day of school, so I could look back at the end of the year and see how much they have grown and changed.

Tyler is now in First Grade. I cannot believe how much he is growing and learning. He definitely is not a baby anymore...much to my dismay. But, I do love him so much. He is funny, energetic, imaginative, kind, and a great big brother.

Jackson is in K4 this year. I am looking forward to see him grow and learn this year as well.
He is sweet, caring, funny, and a little on the quiet side. He still wants to be our baby very much, but is also transitioning into a "big boy" before our eyes!

My Hands Are Full...But So Is My Heart

It seems like every time we go out somewhere, I always get at least one "You've got your hands full" comment. Maybe it's because of a certain little one year old, who is a handful all by himself. Or maybe it's the 3 young boys thing. Or maybe it's because I never look rested. I don't know. But whatever the reason is, it's true. My hands are full. My days are full. Life is busy, and crazy, and loud, and messy. But, I love it! Every single second of it.

Life doesn't seem to leave much time for blogging anymore, but I did want to post some pictures just so I wouldn't forget these wild and crazy days later.

A mess I found after the boys played "Car Wash" with their trucks

This is what happens when I try to get a picture of the 3 of them

A little better

Mr. Handful

Jackson showing off his Spiderman skills

My baby is 1 now!!

I just don't even know...

Homeschool Play Date

Both boys are enjoying their new bikes

After a crash

And, not to be outdone by big brother

My funny little man

I LOVE this picture! He is just so precious!

At the playground

Mr. Fearless keeps Mommy on her toes =)

Homeschool Half-time Report

We are now halfway through our first official year of homeschooling. Praise the Lord! Things are going pretty well, and we are right on track, despite several interruptions already. Tyler is in Kindergarten this year, and Jackson is doing preschool. We are using the ABeka curriculum, because it was the only one I felt comfortable starting with, and so far it has worked out really well for Tyler. For Jackson, I am just using books picked up from ChinaMart and T@rget along with some Leap Frog videos.

Half way through Kindergarten, Tyler can:
identify all numbers through 100
read one syllable words and recognize several sight words
recognize blends within words
count by 10's
recognizes coins and value
recite most books of the Bible
identify a few states and countries on map


Halfway through K3, Jackson can:
identify colors and most shapes
recognize letters and sounds
identify right and left
count to 10
recite Old Testament books
aggravate his older brother =)

Praise the Lord for getting us through this far. There have been a few tears shed, a few days I wanted to set them on the curb for the bus to take, and a few laughs along the way. We have also enjoyed a few field trips with our church group along the way.

I know there are lots of mixed feelings about homeschool: love, hate, confusion, and everything in between. I also know that some of our biggest challenges will come from within our own families. That's okay though. We feel we are doing what God has called our family to, empowered by Him, and owe no explanation or apology to anyone else. If God be for us, who can be against us? Maybe that should be the motto of our little basement school.

I'll leave you with this short video clip of Voddie Baucham about homeschool. While I don't know much about this man or his ministry, I like what he says here.

Birthday Fun, Part II

Present time with Gramms and Papa

Mater and Lightnin Pillow Pets

Coley got in on the fun too

Checking out the new toys

It looks like a toy store exploded in the living room =)

Daddy--still a kid at heart

Oh yeah, Daddy got a new toy too. Most Mothers-In-Law only want to shoot their Son-In-Law. His actually bought him a gun. He is over the moon excited!!

Birthday Fun, Part I

In his PJ's on the way to TN. We left EARLY in the morning.

Getting ready for party #1

Checking out the new toys

Jonathan and Jonathan (Cole)

Getting ready to whack the pinata

Waiting for a turn

Papaw and Coley Bug

A birthday ride

Birthday Boys



Tyler age 5, Jackson age 3, Cole age 1/2



What I Did This Summer

You remember writing those essays at the beginning of the school year? Well, he is the mom version.

This summer we tried to purposely take it easy, tried not to be too busy, and to enjoy the simple life. I told Keith a few months ago that we spend so much a month on our mortgage, yet spent so little time at home. Such as waste! It just didn't make sense. We also renewed our fervor to save money (after replacing our completely dead A/C unit during a heat wave), so simple inexpensive fun was on our agenda this summer. We enjoyed lots of backyard fun using the swing set, trampoline, slip and slide, and kiddie pool. We also did a few other things, such as fishing, a few trips to the big pool in town, and a few trips to Burger King for their indoor play area when it was just too hot to be outside, and camping at the state park.

 My baby trying out the big-kid swing set

 They LOVE to swing

 Cheap entertainment-pouring water on the back porch

 Riding the "camel" that Tyler made. Very creative!

 A friendly game of chase your brother with the water hose

 Watching Dora on Netflix

 Early morning tickle sessions

 Chilling out with our green friends at BK

It wouldn't be summer without the big shades! =D

Teach a Man to Fish...

One of the things Keith started doing with the boys this summer was taking them fishing. At first I wasn't sure how well it would go considering Tyler (almost 5) has an attention span about the size of a grape and Jackson (almost 3) has one about the size of a pea. But, they absolutely love it! It probably helps that at the spot where they usually go, the fish start biting about as soon as they bait hits the water. I love that my boys love fishing. I hope it is something they carry with them all through their lives.

My Boys after their first trip to the lake

Their first catch-one for each of them

My handsome honey.

 Is it just me, or does he look like Troy from Swamp People?

My boy after a good day at the lake

If you look closely, you'll see that Jack was so excited that he peed his pants ;)

My sweet baby, hanging out on the bank with his mommy