UT Fencing Tournament

Tera participated in the UT Fencing tournament at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus today!

 Her warm-up partner reading his school work while he waits. 

She won 1 bout out of her 5 with a 5-0 score in a tournament where she was paired against college students! 

Good heavens, I couldn't be prouder of this girl and the bright light that shines out from her smiling face!  

52 Hike Challenge: Hike #8

Hike #8
Time: around 1.5 hours
Distance: about 2.8 miles
Temperature:  70 and breezy

My number helper wasn't as enthusiastic today!

We see all kinds of interesting things on our hikes!  Some natural, some man-made.

The kids didn't join us today, so it was just me and my baby on the trail!

Spring in the Middle of February

It's been a beautiful spring-like week where we live.  Michael has enjoyed some time outside to play and search for crustaceans for science...aka pill bugs, roly-polys. 

February is one of the hardest months in school.  Right in the middle of Christmas break and a spring break.  We are pushing on through with lots of art projects and hands-on activities, in addition to our book work.  I think we've found a good balance to get us through the week.

Sparring week in karate

It has been a busy last two weeks.  After Sunday, things will settle down a bit for us as we head into the month of March.  Cold and rainy weather returns for a while, but this nice respite will help make the last few weeks of winter bearable! 

1940's Victory Dinner

In American history we are studying the Great Depression and WWII.  Tera and Daniel chose to make a "Victory Dinner" for their weekly project.

Tera and Daniel used a British website called  "The 1940's Experiment" for their recipes.  I know, I know!  We are studying American history, but this was more in line with the type of recipes they were interesting in making.  So, we went with it! 

Sausage Rolls

Lord Woolton's Pie   (This is not the recipe the kids used, but I think it would have been better with a flaky crust on top.  And a wider variety of vegetables.)

"Victory" Salad   (We'll just pretend we picked these nice greens from our "Victory Garden".)

 Rock Cakes

Commentary:

1.  We probably (most likely) used our weekly allotment (cheese) on some ingredients for this one meal.
2.  War food is very filling!  It kinda sits heavy in your stomach.
3.  The rock cakes were delicious and I would eat those again as a treat! 
4.  I'm sure spices were a lifesaver back in the 1940's.

Happy Birthday to my Mini-Me

Third times the charm or so they say. 

 Life changed from 2 to 3 

 all in one day.

2009 

 

2016

The years pass by quickly.

Inch by inch

Moment by moment

2017

2018

#9 for the last time

Double digits 

on the way.

The only child of mine 

to grow up in the same doorway.

Happy 9th Birthday, my mini-me!