Caleb's Recital

Caleb had his end of the year violin recital last night.  It was a lot of fun.  We really like his teacher.  She knows just when to push and when to let off.  It's been amazing to watch his improvement this year under her tutelage.  She has some students that she teaches at home, some she teaches at a music school and some at an area college.  Last night was just her home students.  With all of the students playing, the whole thing lasted about an hour.  That's my kind of recital.  Caleb played three Bach minuets and did a great job.  Also, thanks to his accompanist.  She did a great job too.

A Caleb Video

Happy Bithday, Caleb

I talked with Carrie, Joe's wife, the other day and she was lamenting birthdays close to Christmas. Joe's is the 27th, Lucy is on the 28th and Caleb is on the 29th. From growing up with Joe, I have tried to make our kids birthdays specials, especially for Cal and Lucy. It's hard though. This year we had some friends over to celebrate both kids.

I am consistently thankful for Caleb. He has a heart that is big and bold. It shows in the love that he has for others and the love that he has for God. Caleb, may God continue to shape your heart to be more and more like his this year. We love you.

Thanks again, Abigail, for the pictures.

Homeschool

When you're homeschooled, this is the kind of stuff that makes for great laughs.

Shube's old glasses, circa 1995.

Sharp Dressed Men

These boys are becoming young men before our eyes.  It is a wonderful process and one that I am thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of.

My Boys

First Day of School 2012

When mom is also teacher, it complicates things sometimes, especially when mom is recovering from a cesarean section.  It also simplifies certain things as well.  Getting all of the kids ready to start at the neighborhood school I think would have been pretty difficult over the last few weeks.  Today was the first day of school for us though.  Amanda started off slowly with just jumping into math today.  I will begin history on Thursday.  We'll see how things go.  

This year we added Molly, our fourth pupil to the Gammons home school.  She is very excited.  I asked her at lunch how it went and if she like it.  She said she loved it.  She said she has her own math book.

We look forward to another grace-filled year of educating our kids at home.  Amanda is amazing in her patience, strength and skill.  The class is full of great students.  You can see the class roster below.

Ben, almost 10-years-old, grade 5

Caleb, 8-years-old, grade 3

Matthew, almost 7-years-old, grade 1

Molly, 5-years-old, kindergarten

Lucy, 2-years-old

Nathan John, 3-weeks-old, diaper school

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV)

Vids Party

The vids party originated at Brad's house as an excuse for Brad to be able to stay up late and play video games.  The recurring parties have been highlights for our boys.  This time around they went to Gregg's house.  As you can see it included some retro Nintendo, Wii and PS3.  According to Ben they were up until 12:30 AM.  What's better than hanging with your uncles playing vids and eating popcorn?

Caleb and cukes

Like last summer we have a bounty of cucumbers coming out of the garden.  Therefore, the kids have reopened the cuke stand at the side of the road.  The ones that we had were a little big so they dropped their price to $.25.  All of them were out there for a while yesterday but they soon began to drop like flies.  It was hot.  But Caleb, who has become the supervisor, was out the whole time.  When I got home at 5:00, he was still waving his sign, red faced as could be.  The other kids helped him get everything inside and he paid his workers according to the time that they worked.  It's fun to watch, especially because Caleb does such a great job with it and is so proud of his work.

Summer Sports Co-op

For the last three summers the kids have enjoyed a home school summer sports co-op. Every Thursday night we get together with a bunch of other families and play baseball and soccer. It's not very serious, but the kids have fun. Here are some shots from last night.

Quotes: I helped.

When Amanda got back from the grocery store, she was impressed to find that the kitchen was spotless, everyone was dressed and that the dishwasher was even running.  Caleb was put in charge and did great.  Amanda said, "He's so much like your brother!"  Uncle Joe likes a clean kitchen too.  Caleb comes from a line of men who know how to help in the kitchen.

When I got home we were hanging out in the kitchen with Ben and I asked him if he helped at all.  He said,

"I helped.  I cleared my place and got dressed."

Ben is a little bit more like his dad.

Evidence

I wrote about Caleb and Lucy in the water.  I think this video demonstrates what I was referencing fairly well.  Enjoy!

Vacation '12: Alpena

After the U.P. we drove over the bridge and headed to my mom's in Alpena.  My mom has the place for sale, so this might be have been the last time that we were there as a family.  Tricia's family was there for the first part.  We lit off fireworks, swam, played in the sand, swam some more and generally had a great time.

One of the highlights of our swimming everyday was watching Lucy learn to go underwater.  This consisted of her throwing herself in the water, looking to us like she was drowning and then eventually emerging.  He has no fear.  At first this was scary.  But eventually, we got used to it.

Caleb didn't though.  He was the rescue crew.  Whenever he was near her, he would pull her out.  Caleb loves Lucy and is by far the best at watching over her.  He's going to be great with the new baby too.

We also took a glass-bottom boat tour of some of the shipwrecks in Thunder Bay.  This was a fun way to spend some time out on the water.  The boys are really interested in the shipwrecks so they thought it was great.

Thanks for having us, Mom!  It was another great time in Alpena.

Singing in the shower

Last night I walked up stairs and Caleb was singing in the shower.  I asked him if he could give me another rendition.  He didn't know I was recording it.  I chopped the end off because Ben threw the door open and things got a little PG-13.

My Boys

If you've ever been a grade school boy . . .

then you've spent a few evenings like this.



The boys have been hoopin' it up in their room a lot lately. Joe and I passed lots of time on our Nerf hoop in our bedroom. The technology has advanced bedroom basketball ages. No more orange spongy ball with a cardboard basketball. The hoop the boys just got is plexiglass with a blown up ball and everything.

BONUS POINTS:
Can you name the sound track?

8

Caleb Joseph Gammons has been a part of our lives for 8 years.  He has been his own unique person right from the very start.  I'm not sure if it is just that he is the second born, but he is so much like my brother Joe.  Regularly, after Caleb has said something or done something Amanda and I look at each other and just say, "Joe."  I love my brother (whose birthday was two days ago), so it is fun to have a miniature version of him around.

Caleb and I went for our normal breakfast this morning.  He is so sweet and special to be with one on one.  I asked him a number of questions.  He said that the job that he would like to have some day would be a scientist or a veterinarian.  One of Caleb's favorite presents from Christmas was a book about frogs, toads and salamanders.  He would make a great vet or wildlife biologist.  He's our frogman in the summer, spending hours down at the pond.

We love you CalJo.  Happy Birthday!  May God bless you and grow the fruits of his spirit in your life this year as you seek to know him more. 

First Skate at Providence Pond

The boys tried out the pond for the first time last weekend.  We are excited for what the winter will bring.

New skis

When my mom was here this fall, she got cross country skis for all the boys.  Today was our first day out.  It was great.  We are so thankful to live in a place where we can do this just outside our door.  The boys started on the driveway and once they got that down they headed into the back to break some trail.  When I watch the boys in situations like this, their personalities all stand out so prominently.  Matthew is our natural athlete.  He looked as if he had been skiing all his life, very fluid and effortless.  Caleb is quiet and determined.  He put his nose to the grindstone and got to work.  Ben started out complaining about the cold until he made it into a race with the other two.  Then his competitive side came out and he was off.  Molly, our sweet little girl, came out and stuck right next to Matthew.  They are best friends and it's fun to see how much she loves him.

We look forward to many more days of skiing at Providence Farm.  Thanks, Mom, for the skis.

The race is on.

And Ben is the winner.

See all the skiing photos here.

December

"The Assassination of Lincoln" by the Gammons Players

This is the kind of stuff you do when you're educated at home.  The boys were studying Lincoln's assassination.  Amanda sent me these photos of the kids' subsequent production.  I especially love the performance of the actress portraying Mary Todd Lincoln.