Kirsten Story Collection

Lydia and I have been reading the American Girl book, Kristen Larson's Story Collection. It's about a Swedish girl who, with her family immigrate to America in 1854. It was originally written in 6 books - Meet Kirsten, Kirsten Learns a Lesson, Kirsten's Surprise, Happy Birthday, Kirsten!, Kirsten Saves the Day, and Changes For Kirsten. These books are perfect for Lydia, not being too scary, but with enough excitement to keep her mind from wandering.

In Meet Kirsten, Kirsten and her make make the difficult journey from Sweden to begin a new life on the Minnesota frontier.

Book 2, Kirsten Learns a Lesson (picture)

Kirsten must learn English at school. She learns an important lesson from her secret Indian friend, too.

In Kirsten's Surprise,

Kirsten and her Papa travel to town to get their trunk from Sweden. Their errand turns into a terrifying trip.

Happy Birthday, Kirsten!

After taking care of Mama and the new baby, Kirsten gets a birthday surprise during the Larsons' barn raising.

Book 5, Kirsten Saves The Day Kirsten and Peter find honey in the woods, but their discovery leads to a dangerous adventure.

In Changes For Kirsten a raccoon causes a disaster for the Larsons, but Kirsten and Lars find a treasure that means better times.

A picture from Kirsten's Surprise

Photo Shoot With Lydia

Lemon Balm

"Can you see me? Join me in a game of hide-and-go-seek!"

Peek-a-boo!

I see you!

"This sunflower is almost as tall as me!"

Making Playdough with Lydia

"Dramatic" Photography.=P

Flour!


All done!

Lydia didn't want to put any coloring in her batch of playdough. We used the "real" salt that's brown, making this clump look like a potato.

Having fun with the freshly made playdough.

Garden Pictures

Budding peas

Beats

Strawberry plants

Almost red!

"Red" strawberries!

Reagan's Family Tree

Creepy Crawly

Yesterday, to keep the children occupied, we make this movie together. There's no point to the story - I was just playing around with our camera and Window's Movie Maker. We filmed the first scene over thirty times and used six AA batteries. I lost a couple shots in the process of making it, but here is most of it! Enjoy!

Sarah and Stephen's Wedding

Click Here to see Matt Bryan's post about the wedding with pictures that he had taken.

Pictures From Birch Bay

On Father's Day, our church, plus the Clark family, went to Birch Bay to celebrate. Ali took these fun pictures out on the beach.

Wading in the cool water.

We found this fun log and took some pictures posed on it. Back Left the Right: Matthew, me, Teddy VC, Brad Clark, and in front, Hannah McDonald and Krista VC.

Garden Update

Sweet meat squash starts

Lemon balm

Happy peas climbing their trellis.

I accidentally planted beans with the peas. Oh well!

Chocolate peppermint just harvested yesterday.

Strawberries! I took this picture in a rather strange angle-whatever way I turn it, it just doesn't look right.

Radishes

Turnips

Cilantro

Little Reagan

SARAH AND STEPHEN ARE GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!

Books, Books, and More Books...

I have stacks upon stacks upon stacks of books on my reading list, but I've limited myself to reading only six books at a time, although sometimes a seventh sneaks in. At all times, I must always be reading my Bible, a Joel Salaton book, one of my books that needs to be read before it enters my hope chest, a biography, a book that Matthew and I read together, and a pleasure book - no more no less. But there are just way too many pleasure books that are prowling around waiting for me to read them.

For my Joel Salaton book, I'm reading Salad Bar Beef on all the ins and outs of raising beef. I've read about eight chapters, but I'm so bad at keeping up with that book I only read it about once or twice a week.

The needs-to-be-read-in-order-to-go-in-hope-chest book is Robinson Crusoe. I've only read the first three chapters - it hasn't quite sparked my interest yet.

I'm working my way through the Christian Heroes: Then and Now YWAM series. I just finished a book on Rachel Saint, and I don't remember whom the next book is about - I haven't started reading that one yet. I really like the style in which the authors of these book uses. It's not the dull life year in and year out of a boring spinster who went to China, but rather a personal account, written in story form.

Freedom Trap, from the Promise of Zion series by Robert Elmer, is the book that Matthew and I are reading together. We're about halfway through, but with all the hectic wedding planning going on, we haven't been reading too much lately.


My pleasure book is Beric the Briton by G. A. Henty. I think I've read about a grand total of seven chapters (the chapter are so long I never have time read a whole one at one time...well, I should say, the book looses my interest far too quickly.=)

The latest prowling pleasure books have been Happy Trail (I posted about that one), and a Pat McManus book(I'm not sure how his name is spelled.) While waiting to watch a movie in Jon and Phil's room Sunday night, I picked the book up, and have been reading it ever since. (I finished it this morning.)

What books are you reading?

Horses!

66 years ago...

The Invasion of Normandy - June 6th, 1944

See if you can figure this out

Microsoft Interview. The following is taken from an employment interview with Microsoft.

"Given a gold bar that can be cut exactly twice and a contractor who must be paid one-seventh of a gold bar every day for seven days, how should the bar be cut?"

Source: Fortune Magazine, January 22, 2001

Teasing the Bride-to-be...

The other day, Sarah had written on the white board in big letters, "Vows!" since she hadn't written hers yet. I was feeling a bit mischievous, and I erased the "S" and added "ELS" to the end, making it say "Vowels!" When Sarah saw that, she marched right up to the board and erased it. Hannah and I had a good laugh, although Sarah didn't see it as quite so funny.=)

Quote From Sarah...

After getting off the phone Stephen, "I love that guy! I love him so much I could marry him!"

Practicing Wedding Hairstyles...

We girls have been practicing on each others' hair for the wedding; curling, pinning, clipping, and piling. Hopefully, you all can come to wedding and see the finished product!

Take Up Your Cross

Verse One
My child, if you would follow
You must really count the cost
For in giving of yourself, I'll make you free
And in taking of my new life, you old like will be lost
Come along, take up your cross, follow me.

Chorus
Take up you and follow me
My burden is light and easy
Put on my yoke and learn of me
Take up your cross and follow me.

Verse Two
You may have a humbling weakness
I will give for you to bear
It is only that I want for you to see
That in your small affliction, My strength is always there
Follow on, do My work, trust in Me.

Chorus

Verse Three
I'll go with you, I will love you
I will lead you I will stay
No matter what your trial on earth may be
Just remember that the sufferings of this present day
Cannot compare with the glory that will be.

Chorus

From In His Name, Bluegrass Brethren

Happy Trails

A little while ago, our dear friend Emily Clark gave us girls Happy Trails: The Story of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. We were very excited to start reading, but, as Hannah would say, it's unethical to start reading another book when you're already loaded down with five other books. But a couple nights ago, I finally picked it up and started reading. And I couldn't put it down! I read with a flashlight until 2:30 that night, and then read it all the next day, and finished it yesterday morning. The book, by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, with Carlton Stowers, is written in three parts: part one: King of the Cowboys written by Roy; part two: Queen of the West written by Dale; and part three: Partners with both Roy and Dale writing. I've read a book by Dale telling her story, so I knew most of what was said about her, but I did learn a lot I didn't know about Roy. One particular thing that stood out to me was, in part one, King of the Cowboys, as Roy was writing, he didn't say anything about being so famous. When Carlton Stowers would write sections, he said that there were more fan clubs in the United States and even in others countries than any other celebrity in American history. I better not say any more if you're all going to go out and read this book.=) Thank you so much, Em! I've really enjoyed this book and I know Hannah is, too!

Happy Month of June!

Only nine days 'til Sarah and Stephen's wedding!

JON'S COMING HOME TODAY!!!

One of the first things he has to do when he gets back is bath Reagan!

Violin Recital

Playing the Bach Double

Alla Hornpipe and Andante and Caprice by Gluck