FINALLY!!! I Can Crochet!

It only took 3 years to figure out how to crochet. :-)

I remember years ago trying my hand at this.  Crochet needle, yarn, and the whole process just didn't make sense.  Well, toward the end of last year, I really said to myself, "Margaret, you WILL learn to crochet!"

Well, after begging a friend to come over and take me through step by step how to do the 2nd row of links, things finally clicked!  Whoohoo!  A big hug to my faithful kaibigan (friend in Tagalog).

Below are the 1st two projects I tried.  Hubby is still waiting for his beanie.  Fun stuff!

Mia's 8th Birthday

Our little girl turned 8!  She enjoyed celebrating with family and friends at a gymnastics place. 

Her favorite things to do were the balance beam, foam pit, and eating pizza and ice cream cake after.

Back in Time: Camel Barns Field Trip

Recently, the children and I went back in time; back to the 1800's!  We visited the Camel Barns Museum and was gifted with information of the city of Benicia from hundreds of years ago.  After touring, the children got to participate in some hands on activities that were part of life in the 1800's.

                                        No washing machines back then!

                                      Grinding corn~

Trip to the Winery, Fresh Grape Juice

Adear friend brought the kids and me to her parents' winery.  We were able to pick grapes straight from their vines.  It was AWESOME!  That evening, the children and I used the grapes to make our very own homemade grape juice.  Delish!  Thanks Auntie J!

Kajukenbo w/ Offie

All summer long, Offie was talking about being in a karate class.  As shy as he WAS, he told anyone who would listen that he WILL be in karate when he's in kindergarten.  Well, as promised, Dad and I enrolled him when school began, and he is LOVING his kajukenbo class.  Even taking the class at the end of a long day, after swim class in the morning, Offie still has a ton of energy left. 

September Highlights--A Month Later

It can a bit of a challenge to sit and post during the beginning months of school, but, today is the day to catch up!  Here are the highlights of the previous month.

Gold Rush Days in Sacramento with the Lendway Family.  Being a history enthusiast, this field trip was right up my alley.  It was both educational and fun.  The whole family enjoyed seeing a re-enactment of the Pony Express, a saloon gun fight, gold panning, and playing dress-up as pioneers.

Next up, September birthdays!

Timmy turned 14 this year.  Our family is big on doing something on the day of, even if that something is small.  Timmy feels most blessed when we buy him donuts.  So, buy donuts we did.  His siblings and I bought a dozen yummy donuts and surprised him at school.  He ate 2 before we left.

Jazzy turned 12!  Her request was a skating get together with her friends and a luncheon.  (Thanks Groupon for a deal on skating!)  She was very thankful that her friends were able to celebrate with her.

2011-20112 Tran Fam School Yearbook

Because our children are homeschooled, they don't get the opportunity to have a yearbook at the end of the year.  A couple of years ago, we decided to compile pictures of their schoolyear activities so we can create a yearbook of our own.  We just got the yearbook for this past schoolyear!  It's fun to look back and be reminded of what God has accomplished in our lives in the past year.

                      Sample page below...