Castleberry Academy

Things have been going really well here at the Castleberry Academy. :) I am still in awe of how much Ella Beth has learned in just the past 4 1/2 months, and Landon is really starting to show interest in doing "lessons" just like his big sister. I can't believe Ella Beth is just about finished with Kindergarten. We have been stretching our lessons out because no one is quite ready for the end of this school year to end. But, we will be doing some school during the summer because Ella Beth just doesn't want to stop. I'm sure that will change as she gets older ;), but for now we'll be doing some fun outdoor science experiments a couple times a week. You know, when we can fit it in between going to the pool. Hey, I'm thinking we could do lots of experiments AT the pool - buoyancy, the effectiveness of sunscreens, etc!!!

Here are a few pictures from a day-in-the-life of school...

We did our first science lesson last week. The kiddos LOVED it. Sometimes I tend to forget that even simple activities can be a lot of fun. The was one of those.

I gave each of the kiddos a sheet with different things on them. They had to cut them out, and then decide if they were Living or Non-living things. I helped Landon with cutting because there were a lot of "things" to cut, but they both cut, glued, and placed things on their charts.

Both of my kiddos are very hands-on learners, so they really like doing activities they can touch and move around. Ella Beth l-o-v-e-s to play the Banker's Game (a Montessori game) with our manipulatives.

Basically, I will ask Ella Beth to bring me a certain amount from the "Bank" - I always write the numbers on the board for her so she can visualize the number first. Here, she's sitting with the manipulatives spread out on the floor. (We have a Thousands cube, 10 Hundred squares, 30 Tens rods, and 100 units...not all are out.)

 

 Ella Beth brought me 1,497 from the bank. She just LOVES this game, and asks to play every day!

Right now, Landon and I are working on number concepts. I will give him a number, and he has to count out the correct number of objects.

Here, he is using the Farm Boards. He is counting his animals and placing them anywhere he'd like on the farm.

Good job, buddy!

Ella Beth usually wants to begin each day with math because it is very natural to her right now, which means we tend to end our days with phonics and reading. There are some days that I will have her switch it up because even though she is reading very well, sometimes it's easier to end the day with a more hands-on activity than to end being confined to her seat. If she knows she has an "activity" to look forward to instead of just "being done" she tends to concentrate better. Typical human behavior I think. ;)

I love how sweet her mouth looks here sounding out a word. She really does try hard; well, when she wants to.

And, oh, I just love that little finger moving along as she reads.

It's not always picture perfect at the Castleberry Academy, but school has been going really well lately. I think it's all the prayer that's been going before it lately. :) I'm just so thankful for this time to teach my children. I even went yesterday to a curriculum sale and purchased everything for 1st grade and K4. Ella Beth asked when I came home, "Mama, did you bring me home some homework to do?!!!" Love that girl's enthusiasm!

A Warming Trend

With the weather warming up, we are finding fun ways to cool down.

Sprinklers are always a good idea. :)

Ella Beth had no hesitation.

Landon...well, he needed to watch his sister for a couple minutes before he dared get wet.

Smiles all around,

...and maybe a little shiver or two. :)

Perfect In Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."


There have been days lately when I have felt so overwhelmed that I can barely stand up, let alone put one foot in front of the other.

I have been weary.

Weary: –adjective;  1. physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc.; fatigued; tired: weary eyes; a weary brain. 2. characterized by or causing fatigue: a weary journey. 3. impatient or dissatisfied with something.

The physical exhaustion of motherhood is nothing new. Heck, that kinda set in during Ella Beth's first week of life - I'd say I'm pretty used to that. Fatigue, yeah, used to that, too.

It's the "impatient or dissatisfied with something" that I'm struggling with. I have continually thought that my impatience has been directed at Ella Beth (which can be a challenge with a 4 year old) - but after prayer and journaling and searching with the help of the Holy Spirit I have realized that most of my impatience is directed at myself.

But why am I so hard on myself? It's called a foothold - Satan knows my weakest area is Perfectionism and he is using it against me. I've been a perfectionist for a very long time. Perfectionist in appearance, cleanliness, doing things well, doing things "right." But what I am finding is that the more I strive for perfection the more I fall short. If Ella Beth doesn't act well, then it's something I haven't done well. If Ella Beth speaks disrespectfully, it's because I've done something wrong. If Landon pitches a fit and has a complete melt down, it's a reflection of me as a mother.
 
All of those statements may in fact be true. But I can NOT allow myself any longer to believe the lie that I must be perfect. Christ says His power is made perfect in my weakness. Made perfect in weakness. But if I can't let go of my weakness - if I can't stop trying to "fix" it on my own - He can never make perfect.
 
I'm not talking about making me perfect. I'm talking about how He can use me. But, He can't if I won't let Him. My weaknesses are of use to my Heavenly Father, and I need to start seeing them as such. I need to stop beating myself up day after day about my failures, and instead give them over to Christ for Him to use. "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." When I boast about my reliance upon my Savior - my need for Him in every area of my life - only then can Christ's power rest on me.
 
I know that I'm not the only mama out there who struggles with this. So I encourage you, just as I am encouraging myself, to boast about our weaknesses. We are not to be proud of our sinful nature, but we are to show others how our reliance on Christ's grace and sufficiency is a true testament of His love.

Multitudes on Mondays

233. Mother's Day

234. being a mother on Mother's Day

235. being a mother after a long time thinking I may never get to be one

236. giving gifts to the special mother's in my life

237. writing letters

238. good smelling hand soap

239. a clean kitchen

240. warm mornings

241. kiddos sleeping in

242. running through sprinklers

243. a brother and sister so close they are best friends

244. fun band-aids to make boo boos feel better

245. new dresses for Ella Beth to twirl in

246. kittens that fall asleep in kiddos' arms

247. kiddos who are mesmerized by tiny noses, tails, and paws

248. old photographs

Hebrews 12:28-29 "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Kickin' Boo-tay in da Muthahood!

My friend, Andrea, posted this on her blog and it is just too fun not to share!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Another Family Adventure

On Sunday after church, Scott surprised the kiddos and me with a new adventure. His parents showed up around 11 a.m., and we took off to an undisclosed location.

We made it to Vogel State Park about an hour later, after stopping by KFC for some yummy chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, and biscuits. :) It was such a nice day to go hiking in the mountains. The weather was at least 10 degrees (if not 15) cooler, so we enjoyed our hikes without sweating too much.

Right when we got there we were greeted by this sweet family.

The kiddos were just mesmerized at how close they were able to get to the goslings and feed them. They were just so cute!

Ella Beth found a branch to swing from, and Landon was happy to find one he could reach. :)

Ella Beth pretended for a good part of the day that she was a daddy's girl, but she assured me she was still mama's girl after our hike.

This picture CRACKS me UP! Landon was going hiking, and he was serious about it. ;)

He couldn't quite keep up, so he turned around and asked, "Where's Ella Beth?" My two are just lost sometimes without each other. Makes my heart just melt.

Quick photo with this mama to show that I really was there.

We hiked around the lake at Vogel. There is a spillway at one end that is just so pretty.

 Doesn't this picture make you feel as though the water is really moving?!?

We hiked down and around it. The kiddos went on ahead with Nana and Papa. So sweet that they ALL are holding hands.

And a picture at the bottom. It was SO loud. I was laughing b/c Nana and Papa were having to yell to get the kiddos to look at the camera.

And then Scott and Landon hiked back up a little ahead of us. This is what we found when we caught up to them. Love these two, and love them together.

Photo op with Daddy because we all love him so much!

And we ended our fun adventure with a dip in the creek. (I have NO idea where this girl gets her dramatic flare. Ha!!!)

What a great day!

Multitudes on Mondays

216. long hikes with excited kiddos

217. new family adventures in the North GA mountains

218. the beauty of nature in its most hidden spots

219. Mickey Mouse and Princess fishing poles

220. 4 year old bare footprints

221. listening to Ella Beth recite her new Bible verse from Waumba Land

222. listening to Landon repeat it

223. silly kiddos in the bathtub

224. visits from friends

225. watching blueberries grow

226. playing baseball with the kiddos in our backyard

227. hearing Ella Beth and Landon squeal with delight when they hit the ball

228. beautiful Sunday mornings

229. Scott making breakfast

230. encouraging words from a friend

231. watching movies

232. baby goslings

Psalm 118:21 "I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation."