Olivia the Elf

Our neighbor Mrs. Tammy is always taking our kiddos to fun community events! She is a treasure to have as a neighbor and we love her! She took the kids to the Old Fashioned Christmas held in the Farmers Market this past Sunday. The kids had a great time enjoying hot cocoa, face painting, Christmas cookies, carolers and a hay ride. Olivia came home ready for the Christmas season!

Ryan, Are you sleeping back there?

We were riding in the van and the little boys and Olivia had all fallen asleep and Ryan was really quiet in the very back. We thought he had fallen asleep as well, when Taylor turned around and said, "Mom, Look!" So I checked the mirror, and low and behold, there was Ryan, READING a BOOK! He was so engrossed, he read the rest of the way home, a good 45 min! ;-)

Field Trip to the Jack Hanna Show in Rolla!

Today we went to the Jack Hanna Show at the Leach Theater in Rolla. The kids loved it and got to see some really interesting animals. The Theater was very nice and accommodating for us homeschoolers, they reserved the first 5 rows for us! I thought that was really nice of them!

On our way!

Ryan, Keegan, Alec, Jack and Miss Olivia waiting to get into the theater.
Waiting patiently.
This was a 2-toed sloth.

A leopard.

A Cheetah!

An enormous python!

A rare Macaw.

An Arctic fox.

 

A Monday in the Davis House

So I (mom) decided that this week we are going to start taking advantage of this gorgeous weather and start walking in the mornings before school. Today was day number 1, and all things considered, it went really well. We only had to carry Jack 1/4th of the way home as opposed to half the way ;-) We got back home around 8 am, had a light breakfast and dove into school. Ryan and Olivia take their book baskets and flop on the floor or a couch and start in, while Alec and Jack sit at the table with Taylor and I. This works out pretty well, if you can get Jack to sit up instead of upside down! But whatever works is typically the rule here. Alec and Jack typically start with math and Tay and I work with them, then they do a subject like handwriting and this gives me a few minutes to check in with Ryan and Olivia and answer any questions they may have. Then Alec and Jack do reading and language arts, and Tay and I usually split them up for this. After they both finish their individual subjects then they come back together to do history, science, art and music. They LOVE science, and now that Alec can read just about anything, they love to attempt their experiments by themselves. They are quite funny in the kitchen getting out their supplies and talking about their experiment and why it did or didn't work out. Ryan and Olivia are pretty self learning unless there is new material being introduced in math or science. Then I prepare ahead of time and teach the new concepts to make sure they understand it. Their other subjects are pretty self explanatory and when they have a problem they come and ask and we work it out. I try to check their work as soon as they complete it. This lets me know where they are having any difficulties, and what needs to be gone over again. It is also easier for them to see their mistakes while it is fresh in their minds. We love to read and discuss anything. So we typically add a lot of reading and discussion time to history, especially. We were all done today by 12. The boys went out and started demolishing their old swing set. We are really hoping to replace it come spring. The boys had a blast using the big mallet and the ax to chop it all up. Now lets hope they picked up all the screws and bolts before Ryan mows again! Taylor and Olivia go to piano Monday's at 2pm. Their teacher is wonderful! They both love Miss Faith. They have learned so much since starting lessons again. Faith is also good for Taylor. Since she was a lot like Taylor when she was younger, she is really good at pushing Tay out of her box. For those of us that really know Tay, this is huge! We are making homemade pasta carbonara for dinner and have both our crock pots filled with apples to make applesauce and apple butter tomorrow. Ryan goes to Boy Scouts on Monday nights. He is a Star Scout and is two ranks away from his Eagle. So that about wraps up our Monday! Have a great and blessed week!

The Girls!

Interspersed with our trips and travel over the summer, we have had the pleasure of watching the twins. They are growing into such characters! The kids can't get enough of them. They have twin withdrawl if we don't see them for a while! So here are some cute photos of my kids favorite past time!

Teagan and the bike helmet! Both she and Mairin played with this for hours!

Teagan helping Alec with his reading work. He would read, she would clap!

Here the tiny twosome jump on the couch and cheer while Olivia plays the piano for them!

Olivia helping Mairin play!

Teagan doing her version of a duet!

Olivia's Big Break!

Olivia was in her first stage production "American Ideal" at church with the kids choir. It was a spoof on "American Idol" and Olivia played the part of Willa Win. Other contestents were Anita Ward, Emma Tate & Neal Down. Liv had her first solo and she did a great job!

It's Just Jack ;-)

Mom: "Jack, everyone needs to learn to read."

Jack: "Why? Ryan, Alec, Taylor and Olivia can just read for me."

Olivia: "Hey Jack, knowledge is power!"

Jack: "You don't want me to be any more powerful than I already am!"

That about sums it up ;-)




Above: Jack doing his best mean look! (looking like
a mini Ryan while doing it!)
Below: Our cute happy guy!




Jack is my constant reminder that without God I can do nothing! He is a sweet boy who really just wants to please you. . .but on his time! We have two types of "time" in our house, our time, which runs on a normal clock. Then there is Jack time! The time it takes to slowly walk from the van to a store in a rain storm, or the time it takes to find the missing shoe when we are already late. Or the 20 min. (okay, probably not that long, but it sure seems like it!) it takes to get out of the van at church every Sunday because Jack is looking for something under a seat! Or hanging upside down on the bench under the table, beating the floor like a set of drums while doing your math worksheet! Yup, that's "Jack time"!

Meet the cast!

The Cast!

First up in our colorful cast of characters is Taylor (pictured here with her very cute little cousin, Mairin). Tay is her mom's right hand, left hand, brain. . .you get the picture! Has a rather heavy bent to the obsessively organized side. You know the type, she has lists for her lists! Taylor is a senior this year and can't wait to check that off her list! Her adoring fans (i.e. little brothers) love spending time with their Tay-Tay!

Next up is good ol' Ryan! Ryan is a hard working guy who is into guns and Boy Scouts. Ry is a Star Scout and is two ranks away from his Eagle. He loves to mow lawns and go to work with his dad where he puts in a mans day of work. Ryan loves to cook and he is a great griller! Ryan and Taylor are a hot commodity on the babysitting circuit and often tag team sit. Ryan is an aspiring stand up comic! But 9am when mom is trying to teach anyone anything is not a good time to practice your new material! His little brothers think he is pretty hysterical (and so does the rest of the family!). In the picture above Ryan is showing off his new gun a bolt action .22 Springfield which he has since outfitted with a scope. He spends many Friday afternoons at the shooting range with our neighbor!

Smashed in the middle is Little Miss O! Olivia, who at 11 is so very academic, but can't seem to find her shoes on a daily basis! Olivia has a touch of the drama gene and her brain is always going in 80 different directions. Olivia will read ANYTHING and everything! She also has a photographic memory and can look at something once and never forget it. We have learned never to debate her on facts because if you look it up, she's probably right. Olivia is starting to be a big help at home with cooking and baking and taking care of the house. Under the tutelage of her big sister she is really blossoming into a little lady. Olivia plays piano along with Taylor. She is also into animals and very much wants to be a vet. She has just signed up for 4-H and will be doing horsemanship, veterinary science, archery and quilting! Olivia not happy with the headgear, dressed as a Roman during the days of the early church for VBS!

Alec and his big boy bible on his 8th birthday!

4th in the line-up is Sweet Alec! Alec is almost 9 and he is a great joy to us all. Alec is sweet and considerate and laid back. He loves to snuggle! Alec LOVES to garden and be outdoors. He is into bugs and wildlife! Alec is in 3rd grade and moving right along in his studies.  We call Alec "Butter" because he is so soft and cuddly!

Jack tickling the ivories at the Scott Joplin House!

Last but certainly NOT least, is the Jack-attack! Jack is a 7 year old ball of energy! As those of you who know Jack, can testify, he's a trip! Sometimes a trip better left un-taken! Jack keeps us in stitches around here, and he also makes sure that our frustration capacity is stretched on a daily basis :-) You never know what Jack is going to do next! Alec and Jack are always together, where you find one, there is the other! I love to listen to them play together and create their make believe worlds complete with dress ups. Jack is as high maintenance as Alec is laid back, but they get along great!

Here is Jack (in his dad's kimono) playing with one of his swords.

Did I forget to mention he is a self described "100% weapons lover!"

The Producers!

Here's mom and dad! We are the parents of this gang of great kids! We are very blessed with a dad who is a good role model of his Christian faith to his children. We covet our family time and really enjoy doing lots together! We are thankful to God that he gave us each and everyone of our children. We have a loud, noisy and fun house and we wouldn't have it any other way!