Sewing Class Project

Ann Ferris has been in sewing class four hours a day this week. Her first project was to make her own quilt (tomorrow she will make a dress for her American Dolls). Below are pictures of the quilt making process, including the finished product. Way to go, Ann Ferris!

Prince Caspian

Last Saturday I took the big two to see the matinee (from the French matinée, literally, "morning") showing of Prince Caspian. Going to the matinee saved us $4 per ticket! :0) Anyway, they had been looking forward to PC all year and were giddy with excitement as the movie began. Being veritable Narnia scholars, they kept making reference that "this is not in the book," but thoroughly enjoyed the movie nonetheless. Also, there were some really good post-viewing gospel-oriented themes to discuss.

New Snake Molts

We captured another, larger snake (a grey snake about a foot long) last week. We're not sure what kind it is, but it just molted. Below are pictures just after the capture (I'm holding it on a stick after Schaeffer discovered it under a rock). The bottom pic is Schaeffer holding the shed skin.

Day at the Pool

Today we spent the afternoon at the Laurel Springs pool as guests of our friends, the Blounts. Laurel Springs has two pools (one heated!), a baby pool and an in-ground slide that empties into its own pool. An unreal neighborhood water facility. And today there was a live band playing 70s and 80s classic rock. We played in the water, listened to old tunes and enjoyed pizza pool-side in the evening. A great day.

Ann Ferris taking Sarah Wynn down the slide.

Big sis and little sis x2.

Schaeffer stops for a picture while some adults mingle in the background.

Kristy and Andrea hanging out while Sarah Wynn and Shay play (with baby Bria, who is partially not pictured).

Back to Mississippi, Part 4: Ancestors

On Saturday afternoon of our "Back to Mississippi" trip last weekend, we toured two old cemeteries and discovered our children's great-great and great-great-great grandparents. I'm sure we would find more "greats" if we knew where to look. Kristy's family goes way, way back in the Benton/Midway (near Yazoo City) community. The bottom picture is a photo of the Luby family tree (and yes, our three are on it). Those are some serious roots- or better, some serious branches! One grave was of a couple who lived in the Benton area in the late 1700s when MS was a territory on the frontier.

Back to Mississippi, Part 3: Family

On Saturday of our "Back to Mississippi" trip, we gathered at "Mamaw and Papaw's" house (Kristy's maternal grandparents) in the country (Midway, MS) for a family get-together/fish-fry to celebrate several birthdays all at once. It doubled as a mini-family reunion. Here are some highlights.

Mamaw and Papaw's children, and most of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Some of the great-grandchildren walking back from the pond.

Hanging out on the porch.

Evidence of a fish-fry.

SW looking at the ducks with "Nini."

Some of the extended family joined us, too (most in this picture are not in the group photo above).

Cousins.

Back to Mississippi, Part 2: Friends

We went back to MS with a day to spare before a planned family reunion/fish-fry so that we could enjoy Friday afternoon with a number of good friends in nearby Greenwood. Tanya and Keith Robertson (and their four children, Chandler, Claire, Jack and Sam), who qualify as friends of the highest rank, were our kind and generous hosts.

Back to Mississippi, Part 1: SW's 1st Haircut

This past weekend we departed Georgia and traveled back to see family and friends in Mississippi. So much happened that I am going to devote a number of "parts" to the experience. "Part 1" is Sarah Wynn's first haircut (including a manicure and pedicure!) which she received late Thursday afternoon in Ridgeland, MS, at her aunt Rae-Rae's hair salon.

Before...

During...

and after.

The manicure...

and pedicure!
After "the cut," she celebrated at McAlister's Deli in Madison with her big brother and sister, and cousins Anna Lauren (l) and Katie (r).

Steve Irwin's Legacy Lives On

Steve Irwin's legacy lives on. Schaeffer, the consummate animal/reptile/insect/living thing lover, found another snake under a rock in the backyard last week.

He is not handling the big ones yet, but still good form.

Schaeffer's new little friend.

Doing a demonstration for his little sister, who had been riding her bike before more exciting events began to unfold.

Free Movie Night

We have a new, swanky, all digital, stadium-seating movie theater opening up down the street next week. However, before it "goes public" the manager wanted to give his employees some practice by offering a free movie night to anyone who wanted to attend. So after tennis lessons on Tuesday, we got our five complementary tickets took the kids to "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium."

End of Year Awards Banquet

Last Friday, after our Six Flags expedition, we attended the C.H.E.E.R. (an acrostic for something like Christian Home Educator...) home-school awards banquet with covered dish supper. Here are some highlights.

Nice crowd. That's Sarah Wynn next to Kristy in the foreground.

On stage reciting memory verses and singing.

The dads presented the awards to their own children. Pretty cool.

Schaeffer's "guy" table.

Ann Ferris at the "ladies" table.

Six Flags Pictures

Here are the highlights of our Six Flags trip. We definitely made a memory! My favorite ride was Batman. Ann Ferris' was Goliath and Schaeffer's was the Great American Scream Machine. To check out the rest of the roller coasters, click here.

Reactions after the Great American Scream Machine (in the background).

"The Drop" on the Scream Machine.

The Scorcher is in the background with a part of Goliath in the foreground.

At the entrance.

Getting ready to ride "the Swing" with the Blounts. I waited out on this one, since the last time I rode this (in seventh grade) I hurled. The guy under me waiting in line was not a happy camper.

Keeping a safe distance from the Ninja.

At the pond feeding... the turtles? They actually love potato chips!