Dusty Ricochet!

Introducing the newest member of the Montgomery Family! And no international air travel required!

Day Trip to Columbus, GA

Packed 'em up in the car on Saturday morning.

Headed to Fort Benning to check out the AAFES Exchange and see if they had anything cooler than our own exchange. Answer: Yes, of course! Can't beat an AAFES!

Then we explored a little and found the Columbus Museum of Regional History and Culture. Lovely little museum. It had displays on Native American history in the area, with some very insteresting exhibits. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to use photography in the museum. There was also a nice exhibit of the history of Columbus from the days of slavery through modern times. Quite educational for the kids as well as myself. Truly enjoyed the visit.

Afterwards we went outside to check out the fountain.

The kids threw coins into the water. I made them stand backwards to do it.

Then we drove to the river front to check out the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. There was a pretty garden across the street so we walked through there first and the kids enjoyed the water. It was a refreshing break from the heat.

The Space Science Center (http://www.ccssc.org/) was a small building but it had some pretty cool activities for the kids and grown-ups to enjoy. There were flight simulators (wish I had taken photos of us trying to fly our fighter jets), and this contraption that Jay was checking out. He didn't let the kids play, because he wanted it all to himself. Merrilee started teasing him and pushing buttons and messing him up when he was trying to fly his jet. Wonder where she picked up that harrassment package?!

There was also this planetary display where you could push the buttons and choose which planet you wanted to learn about. The globe would change to look just like the planet. It was some kind of projection device, but very, very cool.

Merrilee and I thoroughly enjoy the Infrared display that allowed us to see all the IR around and on us via an IR camera. We liked putting our hands on the floor and seeing the handprints we left behind.

When we were done with the displays we headed to the planetarium to watch a show about the creation and expansion of the universe. It was a very fun afternoon, and we got out of the space center just in time as a huge storm came upon us. The drive home was a little too exciting as we passed through several whopping thunderstorms and heavy rain. We were happy to be home, but so thankful that Daddy took us out for a delightful afternoon.

Our New Athletic Pursuit

On May 25, while Grandma and Grandpa visited, Merrilee had her Gymnastics Family Night. Her class is very small and of the six kids, only three showed up for Family Night. It made for an intimate presentation of their floor and beam routines. Afterwards the kids got to show their families some of their skills on the bars and trampoline.

I asked her to wear her newer purple leotard for the occasion, but she insisted on wearing the one shown in the photo. She said it felt patriotic and she wanted to feel like she was at the Olympics. In the end, I think she really did feel like a star!

That's Coach Renee in the photo above. I love Renee. She's firm and doesn't put up with any goofing off or lack of attention during practice. The girls' social time does not coincide with practice time, and Renee makes sure the girls don't think otherwise. She's kind and loving towards the girls, but business is business. Just my style! I've been telling Merrilee for the past two years that when she's in practice her attention must focus solely on the coach, both for safety reasons as well as because I'm paying for her to learn gymnastics, not chit-chat. I love having an instructor back that up now! But it's not a total social loss; yesterday Merrilee was invited to a gymnastics birthday party for one of the other girls on the team. The girls will get to enjoy all the equipment they love without being "in class" this Saturday--not to mention cake and gifts! What fun! I'm so glad this is also an opportunity for the Merrilee to make friends.


Here is Merrilee's floor routine she performed on Family Night.

Here is Merrilee showing us some of her skills on the equipment. She was able to do a pull-0ver on the bar all by herself on her first try and I was so happy for her! She and I both love the bars the best, but they are by far the hardest. Merrilee is blessed to have upper body strength that I have always lacked.

Each child got a medal for his/her hard work. Merrilee wasn't expecting any kind of award, so she was in heaven!

After the program was over, the coach came up to me and handed me a piece of paper which stated that Merrilee had been selected to be on the gymnastics team. To say that this came as a surprise would be an understatement! We had put Merrilee in gymnastics as a recreational source of physical training, not for competitive athletics, and I was pretty sure the coach of the gym had understood that. So for the next week I did some research into the pros and cons of being part of a gymnastics team, and even spoke to a friend back in Maryland whose daughter is on a team. In the end, we decided to say "yes" to the two-hour practices three times a week, as well as the upcoming monthly competitions, fundraisers, and snazzy new leotards.

We ended the evening with dinner at Golden Coral, one of Merrilee's favorites. We had so much fun, and really enjoyed sharing the special occasion with Grandma and Grandpa.

So far the team thing has worked out well. The more she goes to practice, the more she loves doing it and wants to go back. I had a feeling it would work out this way; she's a natural athlete and loves the pressure of pushing herself to do better. That's not to say she didn't point out her sore pectoral muscles after doing at least 50 push ups last Friday, but she did not complain about it once. And I'm finding that it's giving me the opportunity to spend several hours a week working on Merrilee's quilt that I started before we brought her home from China. Who knows...I might even get her quilt done in the next year!

Using Fonics is Phun

Found this on the floor outside Jacob's room one night. He knows he's not allowed to put tape on the walls, so I guess he figured it was just as effective if he left it on the floor.


If you can read this, you spend way too much time with early elementary school kids.

Pioneer Clubs

The kids had their little end of the year celebration at church after completing Pioneer Clubs for the school year. They had an award ceremony where the kids recited their Bible verses and received their badges. Jacob had earned four badges and I had to iron them on a special T-shirt prior to the ceremony. Of course, we got to church that evening and one of the badges had already fallen off; I suspected someone had been picking at it until it was completely removed. Why did I suspect this? Because two more of the badges were just barely hanging on, and his shirt was soggy from the spit he had used to try to "stick" them back on. Needless to say, he went to the ceremony with only one remaining badge attached to his shirt, and two wet spots where the other badges used to be. I don't know that I will ever get used to having a boy....

Merrilee's badges were permanently affixed to a banner, thankfully! She finished up the second grade program and was eagerly looking forward to being in the third grade program next year. As it stands now, that won't be happening. She's joined the gymnastics team which practices on Wednesday nights. That's a story for another post.

After the ceremony, the kids changed into their swim clothes and headed outside to get wet! Katie Mei came along with us because Daddy wasn't home. I didn't even think to pack her swimsuit, so I just went ahead and let her get wet in the clothes she had on. She didn't seem to mind! She's not used to playing in a kiddie pool with other little kids, so she was a little surprised that the other kids took the bottles of blowing bubbles into the pool and decided to use them to make a bubble bath instead of blowing them. On top of that, one of the more agressive boys took a bottle of bubbles suds and dumped it over Katie Mei's head. She was more baffled than anything and was at a loss for words. Fortunately there were not episodes of bubbles in the eyes or anything, and everyone played nicely.


The kids had great fun, and I am very thankful for the folks at church who take the time to prepare lessons and teach our children God's word.

Native American Culture Festival

Back in April our local Chehaw Park had its annual Native American Culture Festival and I decided to take the kids to see it. We have a family pass to the zoo, and since this event took place at the zoo, we were in for free!

We don't have any Native American links in our family history, but I still love to expose the children to many other cultures. Since we've talked about the Native Americans and different tribes several times in our study of American history, I thought this would be a delightful way to experience some of what they'd heard about.

We enjoyed the music, dance, and attire of different tribes from across America, and ooohed and aaaahed over the elaborate beadwork on some of the clothes.

The children in the crowd were given the opportunity to do some of the dances with the performers, and though my kids were a little shy about getting out there (who woulda thunk?!), they did it, and had a good time!

After the performances the Snake Man gave a talk about the local snakes and brought out some diamondback rattlesnakes. His purpose was to demonstrate how they are not out to attack humans, but are actually not really even conscious of our presence unless they're bothered and need to protect themselves. He was a rather inspirational speaker and I really enjoyed his talk, but when I went up to thank him afterwards I was a bit disappointed in his demeanor. I think he likes snakes much more than he likes people.

His wife was very kind, however, and was willing to talk and answer questions. I asked her if a baby rattlesnake resembles the adult (thought that would be good to know, since we seem to live in rattlesnake country--two dead in our cul-de-sac already this spring) and she happily pulled out a little box with a baby rattlesnake in it. I was encouraged to see that the baby looks exactly like the adult, but when she decided to open the box on the ground about 18 inches from my kids and then accidentally let the snake fall out, I was a bit taken aback. It took her a few moments of flustered grabbing with a stick to finally get the happy-to-be-free critter back in its box. It was one of those Thank You Lord moments when you're really grateful a fun situation didn't turn bad.

After all the talking and a little shopping for souvenirs (a bracelet for Merrilee, a drum for Katie Mei, and a headband with a feather for Jacob), we went to the different demonstration centers.

The kids favorite was a very kind man who showed my children how to start a fire with a drill bow. Fortunately, it was just complicated enough that I don't think I have to worry about Jacob trying to do it on his own.

My kids asked some really great questions and showed a lot of interest in the man's display, so much so that he allowed them to step over his "do not cross" rope and look at all his stuff. It was really cool, and I have to admit, I was really proud of my two. I think being homeschooled adds a dimension of maturity with other adults that classroom schooled kids don't often have. Several of the folks doing demonstrations asked me if my kids were homeschooled (there were lots of other kids there because this was the day the event was open to the schools), and they commented that they can usually tell the homeschoolers by their deeper interest and more thought provoking questions. Merrilee and Jacob really enjoyed listening and learning from this man.

The TeePee was an added bonus, and they all wanted one for our own backyard. I reminded them that they have pop up tents at home to play with.

The woman who was demonstrating weaving with her diminutive loom engaged a small crowd of children. As we were all standing there, the other mom of these four blond heads walked up and introduced herself. She was also a member of our homeschool association. We HS moms sure love to take the teaching outside to events like this, don't we?

And finally we got to really see how a spinning wheel works and learn how to spin some natural fibers. This woman had wool from different animals, as well as cotton. We talked about staining the fibers and somehow got on the topic of their different properties. When she found out we had a microscope at home, she gave us samples of her different wools and cotton and told us to take them to look at. How generous!

We had such a great time that afternoon, and the kids and I look forward to next year when we can learn even more about Native American Culture and life in the expanding Old West.

I am still so impressed with all that the Albany area has to offer. I cannot understand it when folks complain about living here and say "There's nothing to do." Southwest Georgia may not be a suburb of Atlanta, but it sure does have wonderful opportunities for getting out there and enjoying life!

Another Little One Goes Home

Our family has been praying for Chrissie since we learned about her last month. She fought a valiant fight, and her mother faithfully stayed by her side through all of it. But yesterday Chrissie's struggle to hang on to this earthly life ended.

For those of you who prayed for Chrissie, your prayers were not in vain. Prayer is not just a way to get what we want from God, but a means by which He draws us closer to Himself. Many, many people were touched by Chrissie's life, and God used her circumstances to work on hearts.

And ultimately, the prayers for healing for Chrissie were answered. She is now made whole again. She is not in pain. Her body can no longer fail her. And most joyful of all, those who loved her and who claim Jesus as their savior from the penalty of sin, will once again be with her when they too are called home.

Prayer is not temporal. It is not always answered in a way that brings us happiness and satisfaction in the here and now. But it always answered by a loving and all wise God. And it changes lives.

Please continue to lift up Chrissie's family as they plan for her funeral. They grieve deeply.

www.allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com

Thank you.

Love,
Petrie