What We've Been Up To

This past weekend the Reber Clan headed to Boone Hall Plantation to participate in the Charleston Highland Games.  

Boone Hall provides beautiful scenery for these games but it was hot!! Wearing the kilt and then piping in hot weather is a total workout for me.  It was a good day but I came home exhausted!

 I am always amazed by how people really get into the spirit of the games.  Check out this guys painted face.

 Then we have this guy who amazed me by sleeping while dozens of pipers were warming up right around him.  Talk about being able to tune out the noise.

 Here we are competing

 Meg and Pascal

 Owen

 Still sleeping

 and still sleeping

 We love our daily morning bike rides.  We usually pass the same people out doing their exercise.  Its funny how we don't know their names but we feel like we know them because we see them everyday.

 After our bike rides we sometimes like to whip up some blueberry muffins

Meg and I are huge fans of the illustrator Helen Oxenbury.  I requested every book I could get my hands on at our local library. She is probably best known for illustrating the very popular book, We're Going on a Bear Hunt.  We just love her work!

 Meg's favorite book It's Your Birthday

and here we are on one of our thrifting outings.  You just never know what you are going to find

 I was joking when I told the kids I was thinking about getting this hot dog machine for our homeschool cafeteria.  Owen's eyes totally lit up.  He said,  "Mom, can we really?"  "I think it's a good idea."

 Meg had a friend come and visit.  She had a great time!

 and then there are the photos I find on my camera that I have no idea how they got there.

and that's a wrap.  Stayed tuned we have a very special guest arriving in two weeks.  We are super excited!!

Reber Round-Up!

Hello September!  Team Reber accomplished week two of school and we are rolling along.  Somedays we don't roll along and it feels more like we are pedaling up a huge hill but we are making it.  It has not been super easy getting back into routine.  

With Pascal home shrimp is back on the menu - Owen and Pascal are fans, the girls not so much.  

 We volunteer at the local thrift store every Thursday.  Meg loves it and Owen is a bit more motivated by the fact we end school one hour early in order to volunteer there.  Our job last week was sorting the military supply room.  Owen was into trying things on.  

 We just finished reading Johnny Tremain.  Meg wanted to act out the Boston Tea Party.  So here they are in all their Broadway glory.

 Meg and Owen designed this zipline for Meg's stuffed animals.  It was actually pretty cool.

 We read outside almost everyday if the weather cooperates and they aren't mowing.  Here is Owen in his WWII trench coat one day during reading.  Why you ask???  I have no idea.... because he is Owen.

 a morning run when I feel like God is giving me a special little art show

 A girl after my own heart.  This is Meg's window and the first thing she does when she wakes up is open it up.  I love open windows!!

 Here are a few of our latest Goodwill finds.  We found these roller boards for $3.00.

 Meg loves games to I try to pick them up at thrift stores when I see them  I picked up Dr. Eureka yesterday for $1.75.  It is a hit!! a fun game even I think is interesting to play

 Froggie Boogie was a bust!!  It ended up not having all the parts. waaaah,waaaah, waaaah...I only paid two dollars for it.  (you win some you loose some)

Apples to Apples  - a win!  we've played this one before!  

 
Chess with Popsicles - a win

 Eating at our favorite restaurant .  Tazikis!!

 A very dear friend sent Meg a huge box of clothes her daughter grew out of.  Meg was thrilled!!

 she has a new fall and winter wardrobe!!

                                                               40 BY 40!!

A few years ago I challenged myself to run 40 road races by the time I turned 40!! I wasn't much looking forward to turning 40 so I thought if I set a goal then when I turned 40 I would feel a sense of accomplishment.  Well, I turned 40 this past week and I did it!! The big 40 means a new age bracket for racing.   There is so much negativity about getting older and it is so easy to get down about it.  So I am trying my hardest to stay positive.  I bought new running shoes and registered for a big race in November.
Time for a new goal.  

 The kids made travel journals about our big road trip.

and that's a wrap.  We have lots of piping events coming up.  The Charleston Band is the host band for some games on the 16th so we are piping hard and preparing for competition.  Owen has hockey try outs this coming weekend.