April 7 - 9, 2013 in Oklahoma, continued

Jessica has been at a leadership conference. Gary and I drove to Norman for a few days to help out with the kids.

The first day we went to the Medieval Festival. Brent asked me if I saw any weird people. Well, maybe it was Gary, me, and the kids who were weird. We were one of the few people there without pointed ears, bells around our waist, a sword in our hand, and piercings covering our skin.

As we entered the gates we ran into a woman walking around with a snake. Anna Claire asked if she could pet the snake. Ofter observing other kids petting the snake I said "okay." 

 

 

 

 

Sutton and Bennett weren't sure about this. They kept their distance.

 

Ma and Anna Claire.

 Ma and the kids aboard the pirates ship!

 

As we were leaving we saw these murals. Perfect!

 

Before we were out of the parking lot everyone except Anna Claire was asleep.

And, now the hunters. Gary, Brent and Bennett got up at 4:00 a.m. Monday morning to go turkey hunting. Bennett went to bed at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night. I asked him why he was going to bed so early and he said "Ma, I HAVE to go hunting!!!"

Anna Claire had school. I was her teacher. I told her to call me Mrs. Orr. She said "Ma, I can't do that." So, I asked "Anna Claire, what will you call me then?" She replied "Mrs. Ma." Brent came home for lunch and greeted Anna Claire and said "Anna Claire, come give me a hug." She replied, "I can't. Ma won't let me out of my seat!" Awww, Ma's a good teacher! In this picture she is writing her spelling words.

Sutton is doing his school work. Looks like he has a magic marker in his hand. Ma's not as good as she thought she was.

Then, I called out the spelling words and Anna Claire had to write each one. If she misspelled the word she had to write it five times. We kept doing this over and over until she could write all ten words without a mistake. She was writing the words on the back glass door. As she wrote three words correctly she could go get a piece of chocolate candy out of her Easter basket. Sutton stayed next to her side and when I said "That's three words in a row" Sutton ran to the Easter basket to get a piece of candy.

Sutton writing his words.

We also worked on addition and subtraction. She made up some subtraction problems. I don't know what she was thinking. She would write subtraction flash cards and put on there 99 - 3 = _____. She made her flash cards so much harder than mine! She's in first grade!

Then, she had Bible verses to work on. Then, we had Reading. I think her day was finally through at 5:45 p.m.! Home school is not easy!!! It was really over earlier but I felt that she needed more practice on her words. When I picked her up from school Tuesday I couldn't wait to find out how she did on the words! She didn't have a spelling test! Shoot! I just knew she would ace it. Also, she really worked on subtraction way above a first grade level and I couldn't wait to hear about that. They didn't spend much time on subtraction. As soon as I picked her up she got in the car and said "Ma, I missed you today!" and Sutton replied "Sissy, I missed you!"

Play time.

Anna Claire, wearing the monogrammed outfit Ma made her, picking flowers.

Bennett is up to something no good!

 

 

All I did was ask Bennett and Anna Claire help me wash off the patio table. Before I knew it, in a split second, they ran in the house and came out with their bathing suits on! This went from a simple chore to throwing mud at each other.

Bennett said "This is the bestest day of my life. Grandad took me turkey hunting and Ma is letting me play in the mud!"