Cakes? Learning?

Once upon a summer you embark upon a magical adventure that allows you to meet new people and explore new places.... well that wasn't my summer, however I did encounter and develop a relationship with one of our local homeschoolers. She is an Aggie (gotta love her because I'm married to one too!) and she loves Math, cakes, and children! I met her while attending PE classes and her little three would come bounding out of class full of laughter, crying, and talking. What caught my eye to begin with was she reminded me of me! I had three little ones all in a row just like her. I remember the days of all three in a car seat and diapers all at the same time. I remember trying to make sure I had all three in tow wherever I ventured! It was an interesting time and so therefore my compassion toward this mom drew me in! She is sweet, energetic and loves her kids. Her husband is a public educator and she has chosen to stay at home and homeschool (with his hearty approval!). Toward the end of the school year I had chosen our special learning project for the summer, Word Problems! I'm not strong in these and neither were my two daughters. My son was doing well, but all of us could use some tweaking on our skills and so I hired her to tutor us in helping us develop a strategy in doing these word problems. She is great and we have accomplished the goal! Not only does she love math, she loves cakes too and promised the kids that they would create a cake at the end of our summer together. She and I didn't forget, but our schedules just weren't in sync with one other till one day my young dd asked if Mrs. Laurie was going to help them make cakes! I assured her that she would. Little did I know that in the next lesson of Zech and Isabella's History/Geography/Bible curriculum they suggested they make a round cake and draw the continents on them. Also Sarah's curriculum suggested the same for her Egypt study but obviously with an Egypt theme. I contacted her and we set up a time and they had a blast!

Well I can't say more than the pictures above because they did awesome and Laurie did excellent! The blue icing are the oceans, green for the continents, white for the artics, starburst w/ white icing to represent the north pole, and mountains were mini reeses peanut butter cups and candy corn! Egypt sand is crushed graham crackers and the pyramids are starburst cut and built. Way to go Laurie, thanks so very much for sharing your gifts and talents with this family and many more that you've impacted in the Homeschooling community along the way! However one thing to warn you, I'm still eating cake and there is still A LOT more left!

"Gammers" Beware! Coming to a Theater near You!

Rock Bank Groupies (Isabella/lead singer, Sarah guitar, Zech drummer)

Super Smash Brothers

Another Rock Band pic!

We trekked across our side of the state about 45 minutes away to create a very "un" educational field trip! The Youth of our homeschool group were given the privilege of setting up two different gaming options on the Big Screen of a movie theatre! Wow, was that ever exhilarating! We had a blast! The youth chose the Wii and Playstation 2 with the games of Mario Kart, Super Smash brothers, Call of Duty (World of War, light version), and Rock Band 2! Unfortunately that day it was scheduled for several of our youth to travel for a Theatre Play they were performing, so attendance was low. We were given a tour of the movie theatre and how the put the film in and the controls and such. They even opened the concessions for us and popcorn, coke, and candy was abounding! The owners allowed us to play games for 4 solid hours! Woohoo! Moms lounged in the back speculating on the winners and losers and homeschooling in general. We all had an awesome "non" educational time! Sometimes we do things just for fun!

14 YEARS!

She really is taller than I, but the pic doesn't show that!

Sarah's best of friends!

She received two gift cards among other things for her birthday!

How in the world did I get here? Wait, don't answer that! Yes, I know HOW I am here, but how? How did time fly so fast that my oldest daughter is now 14!!! To put things in perspective she will be a student driver in just one year. Please forgive the ponderings below as I briefly tell of her life and how special she is to me!

Happy Birthday my sweet Sarah,Oh the heart that God has given you,

Too sweet for the world I fear,too bold to keep you near.

I must allow your wings to fly, oh how I fight the urge within

to keep you ever here, and yet see you persevere.

You are beautiful inside and out, too wonderful for words to say,

how much joy you have given to Dad and I, Zech and Isabella!

Sarah, my oldest is beautiful, wonderful, stubborn, a quick speaker, and struggles listening. She is smart and funny, she is intuitive and observant! She is my oldest and therefore I want only the best for her and the best for herself! She loves people, struggles with sin, loves God more everyday and the beauty of her inside is matchless in this mother's eyes.

I wonder what she will be? I wonder what boy she will meet? Will she struggle? Will she follow? Will she lead? Will she always be protected or will she be hurt? If so, will I be here to help her and comfort her? Oh the questions and the ponderings of a mother's heart and the struggle within to keep control and yet let them leave on their own. Knowing that God is in control of everything and that He has a plan for her is the stabling balance that keeps me sane.

Sarah, I love you beyond words! You are my firstborn and I will always struggle to make you perfect. Although none of us can be, in my eyes, you are perfect to me because you are mine! I still can't believe God has allowed me to be your mother. How I treasure our times and moments together, knowing that one day like Cinderella, you will marry your prince and move on to your home to have your very own special children. Happy Birthday!

Exercising????

Many of you have commented and have been curious as to my outcome of all the exercises I began back in April. I shredded during that time and now I'm successfully still shredding away any unwanted calories and keeping my heart healthy. I purchased two more of Jillian Micheal's videos and 6 days a week watch her tell me over and over again to keep strong, that I can do this, and more about jean shopping and bathing suit shopping! However I've gotten bored! I run about 2 miles about 2 days a week to break up the monotony and I scatter the videos over the days so that they are different. I will accomplish 2 shreds in one day or an entire 55 min. video. I am venturing into buying new videos just to keep me going. Even so, I'm about the same at the end of the 30 day shred. Although lots of results from that, I'm toned everywhere but my belly and no matter how many crunches, bicycles, and other things I do that is hard to describe despite being hard to do it just doesn't want to tone anymore. I'm sad on this point, but I won't give up! I realize the importance this is to my family to stay healthy whether my belly will ever shape up or not! So in answer to the many questions, yes I've continued and will continue. Thanks for all of you who were concerned!

HEAT Robotics have begun

HEAT is an acronym for Home Educators Around Texoma. However the robotics team is usually been known for their acronym of MARS which stood for Maniacs Attempting Robot Science. As much as we loved being the MARS team we discovered that we were confusing our competitors and the judges, so we are now the HEAT robotics team. And they have begun....


Off to the races we go and for the prize we compete as we try and fulfill this years robotic challenge. We are still in the dark to what our challenge may be but they have given us a little teaser and some highly valuable information. Our teaser video shows oil wells, lightening, car parts, and the words High Octane are used over and over. We can only guess at this point and therefore most of us are pondering Cars??? Not sure, but September 12th is the official kick off day and be assured I will let you in on the secret. We were also told that our spotters will be very valuable on the field giving us another hint that our drivers will likely not be able to see where they are driving.

With all this information we are assimilating, the Heat Robot club has begun once again. We've had two meetings thus far. One to just inform what is happening and the other one to introduce TEAM mentality! They work as a team for one another, not against one another. It is a great opportunity for any school aged child to learn what it means to be on a team. One aspect we have changed is that this year we are forming a company. Our company has many job opportunities. For example there is drivers, spotters, builders, website upkeep (we will also be on facebook this year), media, morale leaders, photography and video, marketing and oral presentations. This last meeting we had professionals come in and teach them what a resume is, what it looks like, and how they are to market themselves for a particular job. Yes, everyone has to come up with their own resume and apply for the position/s they are wanting! How cool is that? Robot Club, Inc. is on their way to forming their company, performing their jobs, manufacturing their robot, and marketing its abilities.

Come along on the journey with us? We will have a blast, but hold on tight because remember it is High Octane!

School has Sprung!

Well . . . It is school time in the Roberson household once again. Roberson Academy officially opened on August 3rd, with its first high school student, Sarah Roberson, 9th grade, a junior high student, Zech Roberson, 7th grade, and elementary student, Isabella Roberson, 5th grade. Whew, I'm already tired. Sarah started her first year in high school with flying colors. She needed to accomplish the first week of English Lit, Bible, Ancient History, Algebra II, and PE. This week we added in Robotics, Honors Biology and our first lab! September will add in volleyball, a high school writing class, and Logic. Sarah will be studying all throughout the year current events and college preparatory test for the PSAT, SAT, and ACT. She never stopped Piano through the summer, but moving up to a higher skill by adding competitions and she is playing for the youth group on Sunday's during their worship time. She will have a very tough year, but for now it is mainly review and getting her back in the school mindology!

Zech started the first week out with Pre-Algebra, General Science (He had started both of these courses last spring and now finishing them out) and PE. This week we added in English, writing course, History/Geography (he is studying extensively the countries and cultures of the world), Bible, and Robotics. September will bring for him enrichment activities (not sure what they entail yet), golf, Spelling & Vocabulary. He will also move up into our local youth group at our church. Because he started some of his 7th grade classes in 6th grade, he will move up to Algebra and Physical Science sometime next spring as well. He is always ahead in the class!

Isabella had an easy first week because she was gone to camp the first three days and then just had to do 5th grade math that Thursday and Friday along with PE! This week however we added in English, Biology (Christian Kids Explore Biology), Robotics (she will still be a junior member), and History/Geography (doing some of what Zech is learning, just not as extensively). September will add for Spelling, Excellence in Writing course, other enrichment activities, and more. She is moving up into the upper elementary classes at our church and truly excited!

School has truly begun and I'm learning as usual. Remembering biology, reactivating the mind on Algebra, reviewing the English and spelling rules, and diving into history! I'm excited and nervous about this year. Keeping track of High school and making sure Sarah gets all the credits she needs at the end and what will transfer and not to college is new for us. Even so, at the end of this year she should have 7 to 8 credits of high school and 1 in college already. She is proving to be a very well rounded young lady with great Writing abilities. Her goal at this point is to be an author. Zech will have a challenging year too of learning upper level math and science skills. Isabella will be challenging to step up to upper elementary!

Our days are long and extra activities are starting. Robotics starts its full schedule of its intense six weeks on September 12th. We are already meeting and gaining perspective on last year and this years challenges and what needs to happen. Honors biology has already proved to be vigorous work, but Sarah enjoyed looking through the microscopes at hair follicles, inside cheek cells, and salt crystals. She is still talking about her findings today.

We will take some breaks in August for Sarah's 14th Birthday and catch our breath shortly for what proves to be a very long, ambitious, intriguing ninth year of homeschooling. Join us on our journey!

Most Memorable!

Out of all the views of Colorado the face behind me was the most memorable. Some of you know Erin and know exactly what I'm talking about. Some of you don't know Erin, so I will explain. Erin is such a delightful, young woman of the Lord! She has a smile on her face in the darkest deepest times. Her demeanor about her is always calm. When I first met this lady she was in a homeschooling meeting in Oklahoma. She was dressed very nice and when she told me she had four boys, I was shocked to say the least! Nobody as calm as she is can have four boys can they? Well apparently so and she has added one more to the pile, little Josiah, peeking his head out from behind her. Erin's husband struggled quite a bit in Oklahoma with his allergies. Due to the fact they did not display themselves in a fairly normal way, sneezing, coughing, or itching, but through his ears and vertigo. He had true vertigo that would last for days and weeks on end. I'm not sure the whole time they were in Oklahoma that he had not even a week free from those horrible spells. Therefore his time with family, job, and church were always extremely limited. Through it all, Erin amazed me! Now before you think she is superwoman, she is not. She completely acknowledged her struggles to many of us that surrounded this woman and held her up with prayer and our very own arms sometimes. But the woman had a JOY that cannot be explained unless you were there with her! This JOY was not happiness but an inner confidence that God was holding her up and having a plan for her. This plan was to prosper her and for her to glorify the LORD! And she did! Glorify the Lord in midst of some very trying times she continued to raise her head to Him. She struggled just like each of us, but her outward and inward stance of JOY was truly so warming to watch. Because of her husbands health problems they moved to an area of Colorado that his vertigo actually went away. However now she is starting all over again. Insecurities, struggles, learning to live where the Lord wants her, a new church, new homeschool group, new friends, and so much more.

So out of all that I had come to Colorado to watch, take in, and see, I saw a beautiful, most joyful woman in the midst of a very real struggle. That is the most memorable picture I come away from this vacation with. She isn't superwoman, nor trying, but she is walking side by side with God holding her in His absolutely amazing arms of His and letting Him lead her. Thanks Erin for allowing this friend to see you as real as you are and still walk away amazed! Love you my friend!

Last Outing

Friday we all awoke to a very beautiful morning! Birds singing, mountain fresh air, and great sunshine! After a great breakfast burrito, making chocolate and butterscotch chip cookies, and Josiah's nap, we packed them all in and headed to Seven Falls. This is a waterfall tucked way back in or around Mt. Cheyenne (apparently under Mt. Cheyenne is NORAD, but you can't tour that anymore since 9/11). It was a beautiful drive as always, driving up and around all those cliffs and curves and Christmas trees (did you know Christmas trees grow all year round up in the mountains? I know they are Douglas Fir's, but it was just so neat to see Christmas trees everywhere I go, I loved it). We had a lengthy walk up a hill before you even saw the falls, but wow they are beautiful and breathtaking. They are named Seven falls because they have 7 points onto which they fall. All the platforms onto which they fall have significant names and , but I don't remember any of them. We first took an elevator up to see from a cliff the falls. Back down we headed up the hill a little more and chipmunks (so very cute) were passing right by us but didn't pay you any mind unless you had food. Then if you notice in the pictures the stairs!!!!! The Stairs! Did I mention the stairs!!!!???? 240 (I think somewhere around that number) steps on a truly vertical incline. 120 one way and a platform to rest and then another 120 and then a small bridge and then a few more (those weren't too bad). Because of the altitude, the constant chatting (from me I'm sure), the delectable cuisine I was receiving, I wasn't doing much exercising while I was there, so 240 stairs and altitude had me huffin and puffin like the big bad wolf trying to blow the pigs house down. I'm glad it didn't blow anything down because that would have been a very long fall. We eventually made it up and I felt so very sorry for Erin. All I know is she is a very valuable friend because she did all those stairs just for me (she has been here before!) and she climbed up all of them with an eighth month old baby strapped to her back in a backpack that had to weigh around 5 pounds too!!! She is becoming a mountain woman!! The view is breathtaking and we walked about 10 minutes back into the trails and found another waterfall called Midnight Falls. Beautiful and it was the perfect end of field trips for me because now I can say I went to Colorado and went hiking in the mountains (yes, I know they were stairs, but I promise it was just like hiking!). We embarked upon a great adventure and down, down we went in a very scary stair episode. You look as though you are just headed straight down. Once we got to the bottom and browsed the gift store we were all in need of those yummy cookies we had brought for just this occasion. I needed that sugar and a cup full of water. Seven Falls was beautiful!

3rd day . . . RAIN and REST

Thursday came upon us, waking up to cloudy and raining skies with the high being only in the 50's!!!! We all adorned our long pants and jackets (or at least I did). Because we were embarking upon The famous Donut Mill in Woodland Park. Peter, Erin's oldest son, was explaining to me their portions and he promised he wasn't joking. When we entered in the aroma about hits you off your socks with donuts, sugar, cinnamon, and other baking concoctions! Peter wasn't exaggerating one bit because their donuts are huge and their portions Texas sized! To explain though, this family run business started their pioneer work in Texas and in fact loves Blue Bell Ice Cream so much, they drive their own refrigerator truck to Brenam and receives that delectable, icy, artery filling cream by the buckets and drives right back to Colorado and serves this wonderful ice cream in the middle of their woods! So Texas sized portions, they know all about. I felt I was in great company. Zech ordered a small portion (covered the whole plate) of sausage gravy and biscuits and a donut. I split his order with him and we were both very stuffed. Great food and great company. They have a map with push pins to place where you are visiting from and needless to say it was covered and I mean no where to put another pin. I must say this place was a great treat. We drove back home to just chill that day. It rained and rained some more and Erin and I were in heaven. What I mean was we were able to just talk and chat and visit about good things, hard things, scripture, friends, memories, and more. What a great day Thursday turned out to be!

2nd day continues. . .

Coming out of the land of Narnia!

Whit's End Characters! (they are characters indeed!)

After the rain, hail, and chapel adventures, we headed out to our cars, made sandwiches, ate, and then buckled back up for just a few miles south to Focus on the Family. Erin and her family had told me of their adventures here but it's hard to imagine unless you've been there. I was expecting a large bookstore (I was right there), and a little play area (this is where I was wrong). The place is enormous in which we only decided to go to Whits End (A fictional place set in the Adventures in Odyssey episodes put on by Focus on the Family) and the bookstore. Whits End starts for the children up 4 stories high to slide down a 75 foot winding slide going in and out doors as well landing down into Whits End. You (their parent) are waiting for them and this is the pic I got of Isabella. Sarah and Zech's pic turned out too, but this girl screamed all the way down. By far the loudest of the bunch! You go through different compartments of Whit's end from theatrical stage and dress up, to Narnia! (Narnia isn't part of Whit's end but it's a fun place after all and fictional!) All seven of the children, my three and her four, adventured through and through until we ended up at Whit's End famous Ice Cream shop and of course you have to finish out the adventure with this treat. So Ice cream we had and the children ventured on some more trying to find all the hidden objects a listing had provided for them to discover. The slide had to close somewhere in this adventure due to another thunderstorm outside and since the slide goes in and out it has to shut down in case of being struck by lightening. After all the kid fun, the adults ventured upstairs for their kind of fun, book store!!! The only thing I ended up buying was Adventures in Odyssey first CD they ever came out with. I believed the kids would enjoy listening even more now that they have some hands on experience and I was right.

2nd day Adventures

Unfortunately or fortunately, you decide, I had lots of individuals tell me I had to go here or there when I went to Colorado. Some of the places I completely understood just by their words. Like, "You have to go to Pike's Peak" (that ones a given, although we didn't actually go up it due to my equilibrium), but others like, "you need to go to the Air Force Academy", I didn't understand. I thought to myself, "Why in the world would I want to go to the Air Force Academy???" However many people stressed that it is a must see, so since it was free, I say, yeah, let's go! Wasn't thinking it was going to be something to write home about but I was WRONG! Wow, was I ever wrong. You see I live near an Air Force Base and so I can somewhat see what happens in the air force by the environment and people I live around, but the Academy is totally different.

We drove up into a woodsy, curvy drive, going up and up and then down in a valley is this massive group of buildings and a chapel beyond your belief over sprung by a huge mountain to it's east and just beautiful. As we went in, we immediately heard over the intercom that the next chapel touring was in the next 5 min. So we got into line thinking this was great timing. However as we assembled outside the rumblings of a storm and lightning were off to our southeast. The tour assistant asked if we wanted to postpone in case it rained but several of us were stubborn and persisted with going on! So off we went and when I tell you no more than a minute had passed when the sky opened and poured out it vengeance on us. It hailed pea size hail and rain that I'm pretty sure was bigger than the hail! So we took off running for cover, but did I mention that I had on sandals that day (not thinking I was going on a hike! I was trying to dress fashionable!) and I didn't run very fast, but finally made it under cover. We opted for the movie instead first of the academy, its beginnings and why its there. It was fascinating. Then we walked around the museum a little and it finally stopped raining. So we approached the tour of the chapel on our own and hoping no more rain. The pictures are glorious but as everyone who told me when I asked why I was supposed to go look at a chapel? Well, you just have to go and you will understand! It's beautiful and breathtaking.

2nd day of Amazing Views!

Did I mention in my last blog the amazing views you see there? Here is what I mean:

This is a beautiful rainbow, the colors were just glorious after one of the afternoon rains they received.

Trees and mountains everywhere! Seriously everywhere I looked they had these beautiful trees and mountains with cliffs and beautiful granite colors!


This is a picture of Pike's Peak. I'm not kidding when I say as I pulled out of Erin's neighborhood EVERYDAY this is the picture that greeted me EVERY morning!

This is a picture out her kitchen window. She gets to do her dishes and stare out at the majesty of it all. And she wondered why I did so many dishes while I was there (I loved doing your dishes Erin!)

It's beautiful!

This is called the balancing rock (The kids are making sure they hold it up!)

The kids and I took off for Colorado this past week and wow, I never expected such awe inspiring views that I received. Now I have to caution you that where I live is not at all awe inspiring (in my point of view). The kids had rented some movies, brought along their ipods, and their DS games, but also found time to amuse mom along the way! I had so much fun laughing with them and really enjoyed my time with just them. About 9 1/2 hours later I pulled into Colorado Springs and had chatted with my friend as to where she lives and directions and such. I was following them but started to feel the effects of the altitude, the weariness of the drive, and it was pouring down raining. As I was driving through the winding roads that take me up to 8,500 ft, I was praying to the Lord to help me make it there. He blessed me as I pulled into their driveway and I stepped onto the most beautiful sight I've seen in years. Trees, mountains, houses that are not copied but each one unique, Pike's Peak, rolling fog, and my friend! I love seeing my friends and hugging them. It's was so nice to reunite and know that I had made it to Colorado. After 9 1/2 hours anywhere was actually great to get too!

We visited that evening and had yummy Chicken Enchiladas. Unpacked, settled in and all went to sleep. The next day woke up to a beautiful 44 degrees! Wow, what a change from the 100 degree weather we have here. Erin fixed another delicious entree of blueberry pancakes with syrup or chocolate chip if you like! After the kids played legos (as Zech would call it Lego "Heaven" due to the fact she has 5 boys, 4 of which are always building with Lego's), and Josiah took his nap, we packed a lunch and headed for the Garden of the Gods. I belted myself back in my Yukon and off we went down the mountain and through the woods and then beyond a big Rock the view became spectacular (all the views there are) and the rocks that form this beautiful museum type quality of the Garden of the Gods. The man who discovered it wished it always to be free and donated it only on the condition it would remain free to all those who came to view the spectacular rock formations. There was a rock with a passage ways, rocks to climb, and we even saw a rattlesnake and I didn't run screaming! We had lunch around 12:30 and in the background it was quickly beginning to rain. My family and hers all packed back in and up the mountain in the rain we ascended once again. It rained every afternoon we were there, however it broke up almost every evening after dinner for Erin and I to take a walk around the neighborhood. The first night at the end, it started to rain again. However good company, beautiful view, and great conversation (in the midst of me running out of breath because of the deep hills and altitude) I didn't mind getting wet! We all showered and tucked ourselves in for the next day! Enjoy the pics!

Summer

Summer always seems to fly by! They say time flies when your having fun, and yes we had a lot of fun this summer. Gracie has been an added blessing to our family during the day and we are truly enjoying her beautiful smile and happy attitude. However she does occupy quite a bit of my time and therefore the reason for the blogging break.

Our family adventured out with two trips this summer. As always somewhere in our year we try and visit family down in south Texas. I went with a new attitude this year to not have anything planned and just wake up each day and figure out what we were to do. It worked! Amazing that all my well thought out plans don't always need to happen. God is good and He allowed us a very relaxing vacation to enjoy family and friends.

During our trip to South Texas we were able to meet up with some friends of long ago. They are precious to us and it was great to catch up with them and where they are at in their lives. Some have been through many heartaches and some have had many joys, but they are all walking closely with our Lord and Savior and that is what matters. Our Sunday School group that Mike was a director of when him and I married, had a reunion of sorts. It was great to see the men and women of faith that truly lifted us up as Mike surrendered to the Ministry. Three more since then have surrendered their lives to full time ministry as well.

This summer also held many projects for us. We as a family continued our history readings of America's history from the Civil war on. We also engaged ourselves in many older movies: Gone with The Wind, Sound of Music, Sergeant York, and some Three Stooges. I introduced them to some I Love Lucy and a few more. We've enjoyed our summer and sad to see it end.

Back to the Blogging!

I have taken a long absence in blogging due to mental writers block, summer, too much going on, and more. However as of today I am back. I have every intention on blogging at least once a week, but this week and most will be more!

Summer:

In a nut shell was a lot of relaxing, some school, a visit to see family, swimming, projects, a visit to Colorado (more on that later), watching Gracie, some rain, visits from other people, and more. Not a lot to report on our summer. We slept in, ate junk food, watched movies (some old, some new, some in between), attended camps, and played lots of computer games, Wii, and nintendo (too much for Momma's liking, but oh well).

School:

We officially started today! However a little shaky as Isabella headed off to camp, Zech just did Math and Science, and Sarah joined the ranks of high schoolers today studying bible, history, and english lit!

I'll blog more tomorrow, but wanted you all to know I was back online!