Life

Life is busy.  I haven't even kept up with Picture of the Day!  And the shocker is, my kids have forgotten to remind me. . .they were kind of into that for a long time now.  It's just been go, go, go but not in a crazy way. . .just in a we-have-four-kids-and-a-job-and-homeschool way.

Anyway. . .when I dumped my camera last night I realized I hadn't posted (current) pictures in two weeks!

The kids have been "into" creating with Legos. . .they have been *everywhere*.  This was a solid box that Marie spent an hour or two on. . .then wanted photographed 8 different ways.  I'll spare you all but one. . .

It really was quite detailed. . .I'm proud of their creativity. . .not only what you can see, but in the conversations they have together while creating.

Thomas is helping to coach Frederick's team.  Tom is the coach, Thomas the assistant.  Their first practice was two weeks ago:

Thomas giving them a warm-up jog. . .

And coach Tom gathering them together. . .

And there's the player himself :)

On Friday nights, right after this practice, Thomas heads to his own travel league soccer practice.  Starting next week, Saturday soccer games at the YMCA will start up.

Last Saturday, though, we were "free" so after a fund-raising pancake breakfast for one of Thomas's football friends, we all met as a family on the tennis courts:

 The teams were Tom and Margaret against Frederick and me. . .Marie is spectating, Thomas snapping the photos :)

 Jenni and Frederick

 Ready to go at the net!

 Going for a point!

 Margaret ready for a ball

 A serve?

 Good position

 Margaret and Tom

 Great form for a non-tennis player!

Yesterday was another Saturday without much on our plate.  After Margaret and Frederick played with us in the above pictures we were approached by someone that does Saturday lessons at the tennis courts and he asked if they'd like to come the following week (yesterday).  They decided to do it from 8:30-9:30 and liked it a lot!  I loved seeing them out on the court :)  I didn't get any pictures, though, because I had my buddy, Linda Hurt, to play with two courts down -- I get out whenever I can!!

After tennis we picked up Thomas's friend, Amadeus, to go boating with us.

What a gorgeous day!!!

Amadeus and Thomas

 Frederick

 Margaret

Tom and Marie

There were some wild tube rides. . .

 Just getting started. .

 It was a windy day -- causing some bumps :)

 That splash would be Amadeus. . .again. . .

 An easier ride with Frederick?

 Let's try three :)

Can't believe I caught this!!!  Both Amadeus and Thomas were on the tube this time.

I had some "tube time" myself. . .

. . .ha!  This lasted all of about 10 minutes. . .the other kids quickly "found" me too. . .

And the tube was used for the usual "ferrying" of food from the boat to the island. . .

Not to mention the ever-popular "pushing game" (someone from another boat parked there joined in on the fun too!)

Even Tom got in on this fun :)

 

And then they even used the tube as a raft to get to shore when we stopped later for one last swim:

It was just a beautiful, perfect day.  There was a slight chill in the air -- fall is on its way -- but still summer-warm.  Thomas did get up on skis but no pictures of that.  When Tom went to get the truck to pull the boat out I took one last shot with my camera (panorama being one of my new favorite settings):

Sunset Marina, Dale Hollow Lake

Apparently, helicopters land here now too :)

~ Jenni

Death at Dawn

Several weeks ago, Thomas (12) participated in a local event, Death at Dawn, with his friend JJ. 

We had never heard of this event until the day after it started and JJ called Thomas and said, "Hey, do you think Thomas would like to meet me and my family at the local University at 5:30 tomorrow morning to run and workout?".  I knew he would so I answered in the affirmative for him :)

 

The organizers estimated that about 160 people came out for two straight weeks, from 5:30-6:30 a.m. to train.   Apparently it started out several years ago as a way to "jump start" the girls soccer season at the high school.  The coach complained that he spent the first two weeks of practice getting the girls back into shape, wasting a bunch of time when he could be drilling.  One of the girls had parents who decided to start an early-morning pre-season training (they are runners) and it just grew from there.  Then the boys team wanted to join.  Then other teams at the high school wanted in.  Parents of the athletes said "we'd like to train too". . .and so here they are now. . .with 160 people, many, many volunteers, and a fun tradition for our small town in the middle of Tennessee.
Some mornings they would leave the track and run around campus. . .

Here is a good early-morning shot I got of Coach Joe, JJ, and Thomas:

And one the newspaper photographer got of a very-tired JJ using Thomas as a prop to lean upon one morning:

 Running stairs and lots of push-ups and sit-ups were a part of their mornings too.  They always began right at 5:30 a.m. with a word of prayer, then straight on to the warm-up laps around the track. . .

. . .usually about that time I would have a friend show up to play tennis with :)  Yes, I was able to talk a few people into coming out and playing with me about seven of these days!!

This photo came from 90+ pictures our local paper took and posted online.

The prize at the end?  Every participant tries hard for 9-out-of-10-days participation for a t-shirt :)  Of course, since Thomas missed the first day he was up-and-at-em at 5 a.m. every morning for the last 9 days. . .and he made it!!!

Thank you, Larry & Tracy Epps, of Cookeville, TN, for putting this event together for our school athletes!!!  Hopefully we'll see you out there again next year. . .

Flexible Schooling

Last year we made a difficult (for us) decision, in January, to take our children out of school.  We don't know for how long or have any "grand plan" for this. . .but, for now, it's what we think is best for our children.  Our family.

10 a.m. this morning

 Many people put us in the "homeschooling" category.  My kids *are* at home to school, but I don't choose their curriculum, grade their papers, or test them.  We pay a private school to provide curriculum, tutoring (when we need it), test, keep grades, and put us on a timeline.  Rather, we call it "flexible schooling" that we can take anywhere and do anytime.  It is working great for us!!

This was Frederick Monday morning.  I caught this snapshot when I was done with my tennis match.  At one point Marie had been sitting at the table with him doing her work. . .but then she and Margaret went off to "play school" on their scooters. . .putting their books on their backs and pretending to ride to school. . .cute :)

Miss Marie all packed up and ready to move on. . .

And Miss Margaret, not to be left out. . .

Thomas walked over to the YMCA to do his work in the lobby at the table "in the air-conditioning, Mom".

We have a pretty good Monday routine.  I usually play tennis at 8 a.m. and then we hit Ralph's Donuts for a breakfast biscuit and donut (of course) and sometimes take it to Tom's office and share.  This week he was in a meeting but it was so nice outside and they have a couple of picnic tables set out on a private patio that we just finished up (most) of the work for the day there.  Thomas was pretty much done so he got hold of the camera and took some pictures :)

 Oh, looks like Marie had the camera here :)

 Thomas has been working on his photography skills and really gets some good shots!

Well, this is me. . .most days.  If I'm lucky I'm dressed to play or coming from tennis.  And books.  Always toting school books. . .

As I said, we use a school, Daniel 1 Academy, to come alongside us and help with educating our children.  Here is Margaret taking one of her tests Monday. . .

 And then Mr. Holman grading it. . .

This is how it goes when we go into school for testing.  Actually, Thomas and Marie tested on Monday too. . .(they each have 4 subjects with 5-6 tests per subject per semester).

They all did well.  Frederick was in the waiting area, working on his school work since he didn't have a test to take that day.

Tuesdays we do schoolwork at the YMCA. . .I work in childcare there from 8:30-12 and then go back on the clock from 3-6:30. . .from 12-3, when the childcare area is closed, we do schoolwork together.  It works out well!  Wednesdays are our days at home and, starting next week, Thursdays will be devoted to Community Bible Study and our local co-op.  Fridays look a lot like Mondays except, instead of donuts we run errands (grocery, etc.).  Its a busy life.  It's a full life.  It's a blessed life.

And some days, like today, we *try* to do schoolwork and get side-tracked by the beautiful weather, games, and just "being" together.  Not a bad deal :)

Tomorrow we'll be back to this:

Or maybe this:

 And then hopefully this:

Smiles for another week completed!