This is what matters most.

It's Official...Family Of Four!!

 

On Tuesday, April 23rd, Riley Coyote & Big Mike officially became part of the Boston family!  We are BUSTING OUT AT THE SEAMS for this family.  And although the kids aren't quite ready to come home yet, we all know that these babes are coming home SOON!! 

 

Soon...soon...Aaaah!  We can't wait to wrap our arms around these little munchkins!

They seriously won't know what they've gotten into when they meet our crazy crew. 

Come on Haitian Government...let's get these kids their visa's so they can come home SOON!

 

CONGRATS AGAIN, FAMILY OF FOUR!

We love you guys!!!  XOXOXO

A Rough Night Had By All...

A Birthday Present For Fenway...And Me?!?!?

Have you ever had a friend receive a gift for their birthday that they wanted to share with you?  My friend, Fenway, blessed me beyond meausure with a day at the spa on Friday.  Bruin bought her a spa package for herself and a friend.  And she chose to bring ME to the spa with her.  I am still over the moon about it all....I was blessed more than she will ever know.  I am super grateful for our friendship and I love that she loves me enough to spoil me with her birthday present!  So blessed!

 

 

While at the appointment, Fenway and I had several opportunities to relax and be pampered.  Between the two of us, we were able to have pedicures, eyebrow waxing, hair coloring or a cut with a parafin wax hand treatment.  I don't think I've ever been so pampered in one sitting in all my life.  Thank you again and again, Fenway (and Bruin too)!!

 

 

Before the appointment...

 

 

 

 

 

...and clearly refreshed after the appointment! 

I took a bunch of in-progress photos but they don't really give you the full affect of the day.  I thought the before and after pics were a better representation of the fun that we had.  Thanks again, Fenway.  I'm psyched that we got to spend 2 days back to back with each other!  And as happy as I was about the pampering, I'm more thrilled about your unexpected trip this week!  I love ya, girlfriend!

Archery Lessons

 



PQ has recently decided to try another sport this spring.  For years, he has played baseball and he has enjoyed it.  But for the 2013 spring season, PQ has opted to try Archery instead.  On Wednesday, he had his 4th lesson with Mr V and I had the pleasure of taking him to the lesson.  Mr V had mentioned several times that PQ has a 'natural ability' for archery.  At this point, Mr V is working with PQ on his focus and his speed.  

 

PQ has always loved being in the woods.

It's funny how a zombie can help a boy to focus.

*WINK*

 

 

 

 

Even Sugar had a blast in the woods. 

PQ can't wait to go hunting with his Grampa H!

 

 

 

 

Thanks again to Mr V for helping PQ! 

Anonymous Letter- Dear Promiscuity

Do you remember the blogger that I mentioned out in TX that has a homeless ministry?  Well, this same woman has an Anonymous Letter series where people can write letters to various people or things that they've struggled with.  The idea behind the series is to empower people to speak out against the unspoken words, thoughts, voices that continue to play in a persons mind.  After reading several of these letters over the course of the past few months, I've always wanted to submit something in writing about my past life but I have never taken the time to put it into words. 

Earlier this week, I accepted the challenge and finally submitted my letter for consideration.  And within a day of submitting it, the blogger wrote back and told me that my post was going live today!  I would like to humbly share my heart with all of you.  It is my hope that my letter would be an encouragement to someone who might need these words spoken to their heart.

My letter can be viewed at http://www.positivelyalene.com/dear-promiscuity/

Happy Reading...

Higgins Armory Museum

 

Being spontaneous does not come natural for me.  But every once in a while, I wake up feeling spontaneous.  And today just happen to be one of those days.  With PQ's Kings & Queens unit study almost coming to an end, I thought we could take a trip out of town to visit the museum that we had planned on visiting in early May.  Papa H was all for the idea when I mentioned it to him this morning...and within an hour of mentioning the possible road trip, we were on the road headed to the museum.  The kids had no idea where we were going.  Sugar was tired and didn't really care where we were going.  And PQ had a typical PQ morning...wanting to know all the details.  We decided that the trip would be a great lesson in patience and trust.  Until we pulled into the parking lot of the museum, PQ had no idea where we were taking him for the day.

 

 

2 binks...can you tell she was in a 'mood'?

Once we got inside, PQ was thrilled about the surprise!

This was my favorite part...it's the little (big) things that make me smile.

Seriously...how fun is this chess game?!?

 

 

 

 

YIKES!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

PQ battled Papa H in a jousting game.

How close can he get to the target?!?

 

MY TOUGH GUYS

Choose Your Weapon!

How heavy IS chain mail, you ask?

Try it on and see!

This was tougher than it looked.

I couldn't help myself...thanks for entertaining me, PQ!

Seriously, HILARIOUS!

 

Introducing Knight PQ...

 

 

 

 

PQ had a chance to use a real lance (and see how heavy they are). 

 

 

My boys daydreamed about having this set to reinact various wars in history.

 

 

 

 

We experienced a medieval Sing-A-Long. 

 

The boys got to play Virtual Jousting.

If I could have read PQ's mind right then, I would have.

 

 

We learned how to battle with swords (or whatever you have available)

 

 

 

Sugar made us laugh in the gift shop...

 

 

 

 

...because afterall, she does love hats! 

 

And once again, PQ entertained my request...and Papa H was just being Papa H...SILLY!

It was a great way to spend the day as a family!

Sugar was ready to head home...what a long day.

 

Even though she was tired, she was still asking for kisses from her Mama...

(this is her KISS ME face).

 Oh boy...it was a rough day...3 binks, Sugar?!?

 

Back at home the boys acted out what they learned.

 

 

 

 

PQ was a wild man jousting on his scooter.

And Papa H was even wilder for holding the shield while he rode by! 

When boys battle, the girls look for other things to do.

Girls + Dirt = The Unexpected

 

 

 

Even Sugar thought it was unexpected...

she couldn't understand why her hands were dirty!

 

 

 

A spontaneous day filled with funky moods, armor, laughter, and a bunch of dirt.  What a great way to spend a Saturday.  I wouldn't have asked for a better way to spend the day.  I had a great time and I'm pretty sure my boys did too.  They were jousting until the sun went down.  A good day indeed...

Storytime with PQ

*Y'all know how much I LOVE warm fuzzies!*

PQ's Tapestry Project

 

As you know, the Unit Study approach is our family favorite because it provides the whole topic approach.  It weaves individual subjects like literature, activities, art, research, music, writing, history, biographies and even math and science, into the main topic being studied.    I am so grateful that we've taken this approach because we continue to have fun while learning about the world around us. 

 

PQ recently began a new Unit Study on Obedience by studying Kings & Queens.  There are so many avenues to explore in this study and PQ seems to really enjoy it so far.  He started planning a Medieval Feast for our family and that of course, led him to brainstorm ideas about decorations for the feast.  This, my friends, is how the tapestry project came to light for PQ.  Did you know that hand made tapestry's were often created to decorate castles?  And did you know that the tapestry's were also used to insulate the cold walls of the castles?

 

 

 

 

PQ wanted to keep his first design simple.

Threading the needle was half the fun for PQ...

 

...until he started stitching.

 

 

 

 



GREAT JOB, BUDDY! 

 

 

 

PQ's tapestry is proudly hanging over the homeschool table area.  The date for the feast has not been established but PQ is excited to hang his masterpiece in the dining area when we eat.  Stay tuned as we learn more about Kings, Queens, & Medieval Times....and be sure to stay tuned for pictures from the feast!

The Value of Pruning

For several months, I have been following a blogger and I've always felt encouraged and challenged in my readings.  I've reached out to the author of the blog on several occassions regarding our local homeless ministry efforts (because she is involved in a homeless ministry in TX) and we are currently praying about an opportunity to team up with her in the near future.  There are days when I feel like she is blogging just for me, even though I know she's not.  I feel connected to this woman that is halfway across the country even though I've never met her.  I know it might sound bizarre to feel so connected to someone that I've never met, but she continues to feed my soul with her posts.

Today's post was no different.  She sent out a link via email, as she always does.  And as soon as I saw the heading of her post, I knew this was going to be something that I needed to hear.  And boy, did she hit the nail on the head today!  She spoke directly to my heart and what I've been praying about.  I wanted to share a snip-it of what she posted so you could see what spoke to me today in my reading.  She wrote about PRUNING and the value of pruning in our lives. 

1. Pruning kills.

Sometimes we need to whack off what is not productive in our lives.

2. Pruning hurts.

Plain and simple — pruning is not fun, but it is essential.

3. Pruning refines.

Before new buds can begin to appear refinement takes place.

4. Pruning adds value.

Once the unproductive has been chopped, your value increases.

5. Pruning creates growth.

“Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleansesand repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.” John 15:2 AMP

What do you need to prune away today?

Don’t hesitate to chop the unproductive schedule, relationship, or habit.  New growth is waiting to bloom outward.

I've been praying about real change in my life.  I've been craving more in my walk with Christ and the idea of pruning was something that completely runs parallel to what Papa H and I have been talking about in our lives.  We are called to bear fruit and it's time to step up and trim off the branches that are unproductive in our life.  Pruning...who would have ever thought that such a topic could be so exciting?!? 

Word Of Life Ranch Posse-(Camera Dump)