One reason why I love homeschooling...

Just one of the many reasons I love homeschooling...

P.E., Art Appreciation, History, Bible and a bunch of other stuff covered in one half hour bike ride:

Look at the beauty of what our God made...

"The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament show His handiwork."  Psalm 19:1

Enjoying God's handiwork...the whole gang!

Secretly in my heart, I foolishly and pridefully thought how wonderful it was that being so pregnant (just over 9 weeks to go!) I could still ride my bike.  Well, after a flat tire incident on Caleb's bike, Ben was going to pull the boys with my bike and let me ride his bike.  Needless to say, my pride was defeated as I realized that no...I cannot ride a regular bike, but my "special" bike that lets me sit up more, with a big, cushy seat, is what allows me to ride with the belly.  But I am very thankful for my new bike, since I didn't have one.  Our friends have been so kind as to let us borrow a bike trailer until we can get one.

And this is Ben's new mountain bike, which he has been hoping for for quite a while.  We finally found a deal that was just right (65% off!!) and so he is enjoying his new bike as well.  

Company Picnic

Ben's work had a company picnic at a park here in Ojai.  We had a great time as a family, just hanging out and meeting some of the other employees.  We played some games (Emma and I did the three-legged race), ate some good food, and then the kids got to bat at a pinata.  Good fun.

Well, we didn't win...but we didn't FALL!!!  Yeah!

My Brother's Wedding

Evidently I have a lot of catching up to do!!  Here are a few pictures from my brother's wedding in San Diego.  We had such a great time, and then got to spend the next day at Sea World with the happy couple! 

Happy Couple-Mark and Nancy,    Ben and the kids

 My three brothers!

Surgery...

Noah's pediatrician had informed us that he might possibly need surgery (not a major surgery, but a surgery none-the-less).  Anyway, I had taken Noah to a urologist in Santa Barbara, but I was by myself, and I left feeling a lack of peace, and wishing that Ben had been with me to ask some more questions.  My mom suggested getting a second opinion, which I considered brilliant and wondered why I hadn't thought of it!!  Anyway, after searching and searching (there is not a pediatric urologist within 60 miles of here!), I found my way to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where they have a Minimally Invasive Urology Institute.  Then I found my way to the Pediatric Director of that Institute, who was a provider on our insurance!!!  I felt so much peace and comfort; I knew that God was providing and directing.  We made an appointment and saw him yesterday...Ben and I were both able to be there.  So, the bummer is that Noah does in fact need surgery.  But God's grace has sufficiently provided the comfort and peace that Ben and I needed to proceed confidently with his surgery.  Yeah!!  And, it is actually the Pediatric Director of this Urology Institute that will be performing the surgery, not to mention that they have 10 pediatric anesthesiologists on staff since this is what they do!!  All praise be to God, who has most certainly gone before us and worked out all these things on our behalf.  And, if you think of it, we would appreciate your prayers on September 16th...that's when Noah is having his surgery!

"Karma" in the Hester house

Okay, this actually happened a few months back, but I was telling my mom about it and she said that I had better blog about it...So, here goes.

Caleb is truly obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which brings me back to the days of being a kid, when my brother shared the same obsession.  Caleb hasn't seen any of the newer stuff, like TMNT or anything, but we did find some of the old cartoons which has only added to the obsession.  Anyway, in one of the cartoons, "Master Splinter" mentioned something about karma.  The minute I heard it, my stomach felt yucky as I began thinking about how I was going to talk to and explain that to a 4 and 5 year old.  

A few days later, the kids were playing Ninja Turtles, and I overhear Emma and Caleb:

Emma:  Come on Caleb, let's play "Car-math"

Caleb:  No, I don't really want to.

Emma:  Well, what about "Truck-math"?

Caleb:  Mom!!  Emma wants me to play "Car-math" and she wants me to add up all the cars.

"Mom, Look What I Can Do!"

I am constantly amazed at how fast kids learn.  The rate at which they change, grow and learn new things seems exponentially greater than my own.  The kids JUST learned how to ride their bikes. We have been loving our bike rides, going almost everyday.  Emma has been showing off her new tricks, like riding up and down driveways, riding through the field or on dirt, and the big deal...standing up and pedaling at the same time.  Caleb loves to ride off of curbs and go up and down driveways.  I keep telling them that practicing tricks is really something they should do with Daddy (since I can't really bear to watch!)  For tonight's ride, Ben had Caleb wear his shin guards, his elbow pads, and knee pads.  I know, a picture would have been great.  Sorry.  But anyway, he was flying down our street (which is a good hill) towards our driveway, and looked like he was going to hit the trash can (which he avoided) and then maybe Ben's car (which he also managed to avoid!)  But as he flew up the driveway and onto the sidewalk, he finally lost control of the bike and fell onto the sidewalk.  All of his pads saved him some good scrapes...and he stood up and said, "Well, that's ONE way to get up here!"  He makes me laugh.

A Little Competition...

Since Emma has been delighting in riding her bike without training wheels, Caleb decided that he must be able to do it also!  And so he is...we had been wanting to get Caleb a bigger bike for some time.  We found a bike on Craigslist, and went to check it out, but it wasn't right for him.  So, we went down to the thrift stores in Ventura, and found him a bike for $7!!  Yeah!  So, he is enjoying his new "big bike" without training wheels, and although he acquired many scrapes and bruises, he made the 2 mile ride from our house to Grandma and Grandpa's.