Finishing school

Here is what my kids do in their free time--they were fighting a battle in the backyard.

We finished Swimming Creatures (Marine Biology) the first half of this school year and made ocean boxes to show some of the creatures we studied.

Catching up...

I'm a little behind on these photos--here are some from Hanna's 13th birthday and Thanksgiving with the Naumanns.

We went to Foothill Park for a walk. Maggie found a tadpole.

Cousins are such fun! Here are Philip, Louise, Maggie, Sophia, Lily, Hanna, Christine, and Trey.

Opa's favorite ice cream parlor: Screamim' Mimis. His favorites are Hazelnut and Cassis.

Thanksgiving feast--yummy food, lots of laughter, and lots of music into the night. The children took turns playing piano, violin, and flute, and then Georg jammed on the piano, Heidi sang, and Vati and I did some improv on violin and viola.

I just canned 44 quarts of apple sauce and am completely exhausted--but God gave me all 4 kids and even Jennifer Jung to help me with all the apples (we did have to go through Trey's bunch and take out some seeds, dirt, etc.!). I probably overdid it, but it's done! Praise the Lord!

Pumpkin time

Here we are--Jessie, Pippi, Butterfly Lil', and Sir Lancelot.

We got to go apple orchard and pick delicious, crunchy, fresh apples.




We also went to a pumpkin patch and farm and had fun feeding animals, climbing the hay, playing in a hay maze, and seeing how tall the corn grows.



For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11,12

John 8:12 Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

Maggie didn't want to carve her pumpkin. She wants to be like Oma Johanna and keep the pumpkin for baking!

A Beautiful Day at Doran Beach

Although we didn't go camping, we did spend a gorgeous morning at Doran.









We saw lots of these little creatures.


And Lily...dressing up!Trey and Lily on location for a photo shoot for a painting.

Prints for Sale!

I just posted a bunch of prints that I have ready to sell--check them out at my art blog:

http://artbykasteen.blogspot.com/2010/10/prints-for-sale.html

Prince Carl and Princess Lilyana...

...are chatting in my kitchen as they daintily eat a snack. They are discussing their honeymoon plans. "Let's fly in a hot air balloon," Princess Lilyana suggests.

"Yes, to In 'N Out," Prince Carl suggests.

Lily wonders where Carl and I went. Maine.

Prince Carl says, "Shall we go to Maine or Africa?"

"Maine," Princess Lily says. "Three days after our wedding. We'll stay seven days."