"Education is kindling a flame, not filling a vessel"

We are well into our school year already. Phew. That went by quickly, I sometimes feel we haven't started yet, but when I look at the boys binders I can see we've accomplished alot. Routines have been established and we are seeing alot of enjoyment in learning.  We have some pretty incredible curriculum this year which makes it fun for me and super informative and exciting for the boys.  I often have to finish my chores in the morning in a hurry since they are already sitting at the kitchen table getting a head start on their math and writing.  A few Saturdays Andy and I have found them up and at-er before we are even ready for breakfast, so there's more time to play.  It's quite disappointing when they find out they could have played all day without even having had to do any school, with it being Saturday! Don't get me wrong, not all days are fun and easy, but I would say the norm here is good.

Rowan wants to be in on the fun, so he can often be found working on his own projects and doing "Maff".  The other day while we were eating lunch he was still trying to do his math. We were all talking and he finally put his hands over his ears and shouted "Can you please be quiet! I'm trying to concentrate!"  We burst out laughing. He gets an "A" for effort.  Abby has some puzzles she likes to play with but normally she has a nice nap in the mornings and for the rest toddles around being a a cheerful little lady.
We are using "The Story of the World Volume 2" for history, and it's been oh so interesting and fun. This is the first time I've been using their Audio book which is a perfect way to make sure it all gets done and redone (I find repeating things always a good idea, and the information sticks much better).  We listen to it in the van on the way to music lessons on Mondays.  There is really, truly, complete silence in the van while we sit and enjoy the voice of Jim Weiss, telling great tales of the worlds history.    Projects ensue.

Music. That's a new thing this year too. We can take them in a group class offered thru the University of Lethbridge's new arts centre, the CASA.  It's an elementary introduction to music, focusing on singing, and theory.  They also got to do four special classes on world drumming and in the spring, Violin.  I'm thrilled with the program and so are Seth and Tristan. It's neat to see how they use it in everyday life, like finding the life beat for memory work songs etc.  It's also been really handy for me since it gives me a good reason to go into the city and get some necessary things done. As well as unnecessary things, like the occasional lunch date with my boys. :)

 Andy gets excited about some of the science experiments we get to do, and helped make a plaster volcano, which was alot of fun, and had to be enjoyed with several of their friends who came over to play. And yes, I went thru alot of baking soda and vinegar:)

 Just this week we went to a tour at the Taber RCMP office.  Great fun of course.  The jail cell made the kids a little nervous;) but I'm pretty sure that sitting in the front seat of the Police truck, being handcuffed and the goody bag they all received filled with tattoos, a ruler, pencil and paper hat more then made up for that.  :)  Constable Wierenga, a friend from church, was part of the tour, and we enjoyed that.

And then there's hockey.  Which happens Saturday mornings this year.  Our new coach happens to be our very own Pastor Tyler and he is very good at coaching too!  The kids are picking up more skill and it's an hour well spent, leaving rosy cheeks and sweaty heads.  Never mind the huge appetite for lunch afterwards!

So you can see, our days are full, there's always something to do no matter where a person lives.

On top of that I try to keep the kids fed and healthy, so there's usually something yummy sitting on the countertop or stove and if you ever care to join us, we'd stop and make a pot of coffee to share.  :)

 And a favourite quote to end this post:

Family pictures

 

There are some people in life who make you laugh a little louder,

 smile a little broader 

and live a little bit better. 

This is family. 

 And here is mine.  

Together really is our favourite place to be.

Thankful and grateful.

Blessed beyond measure.

 

 

 Thanks to Mimsical Photography from Coaldale for coming out to Purple Springs for us!

Also a big thanks to our kind neighbours for the use of their property.

Gold Butte - Montana

 We had a really neat day excursion here about 10 days ago.  While Andy was driving the potato truck he was seeing the Sweet Grass Hills in Montana every day from his truck window, and he got the itch to go climb one of them.  He talked to James and together they decided this was something they wanted to do, and since Andrea and I are the lucky gals to be married to these adventurous guys, we got to go along :D all we had to do was find babysitters for the children.
We left Grassy Lake at 8:15 am with J&A to cross the Aden border but got sent back because they didn't have the technology to process Andy's passport so we had to turn around and go thru the Coutts border which cut into our time a bit.  It was close to noon before we made it to the Sweet Grass Hills, and we chose Gold Butte, which is the middle bump - or ancient dead volcano.
In all honesty we thought it would be easier to get to then it was.  What looks from Canada like soft velvet soil was actually bumpy/grassy coulee after coulee, in the most bare and empty land I have ever seen. Makes Southern Alberta seem like a metropolis!  Good thing we were in James' truck or we would not have made it nearly as close to the base of the hill as we did.  Most of it is privately owned land but we talked to a rancher and he told us we were allowed to open and close the cattle gates to drive thru the pastures.  At a certain point there was no road to be found so we drove thru the cattle till we got to the closest point possible for climbing.  Make note, this was not hiking, or walking.   Once at the shale part of the hill it was steep and it was serious climbing.  And I'm sad to say Andy is the only one who made it all the way up. His feet are nimble like a deer, and his love for climbing shone thru as he made his way to the top while Andrea, James and I watched from lower down, tuckered out.  It's always good to be impressed by your hubby;)
We drove around in the area too, making a small stop at the old graveyard and mine entrance. We didn't end up seeing the ghost town, maybe next time?   It was all very fascinating, beautiful in it's own way and interesting. 
Here is a nice little webpage where you can read up a bit about the history of Gold Butte.  Enjoy!

Starting out, Gold Butte looming large!

Lunch before the ascent

Gold Butte is one of three hills in a row, Andy is telling me something about the West Butte, which is in the distance.

The upward climb in shale - good thing we had hiking boots on!

Andrea and I

Andy, in his element!

Beautiful wood pieces laying around in the rocks

Spectacular views

I wonder why the trees were all dead?

Andy took this picture from the top - 1,963 +/-  metres up

It was very windy and a bit chilly in the open plains

Enjoying refreshment afterwards by the truck

One grave left - there's history here

Andy at the old mine entrance

We found a little campground on the way out, it was rustic;)

Potato harvest

 Andy worked part time for friends this past harvest season driving a potato truck.  Here are a few pictures from his venture. Questions about the process? You'll have to ask him.  ;) All I know is there are lots and lots of potatoes in this neck of the woods.  Lays potato chips and McCains fries both have enormous factories in the area.  One is actually so close by to our farm that if the wind is the right direction we can smell the fries frying.  Which of course makes us instantly hungry.  ;)  It's pretty incredible to see the harvest of the land out here, vast fields with enormous machinery digging out mountains of food for the humans on this earth.  Food. More then enough, with literally tons going to waste. It's a blessing I hope we never take for granted.