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The Hartman FamMoving to the country, gonna eat us lots of peaches... December, 2008 Ben's 7th BirthdayIt's a rainy day here in Middle Georgia, but that doesn't keep us down. Today is Ben's 7th birthday!!! We celebrated by having some friends over for a playdate, lunch and cupcakes. Tonight we'll go to dinner as a family at Ben's restaurant of choice -- Mc Donald's. Oh, to be 7 again!
 . It seems like yesterday I held him in my hospital bed in Long Beach -- very happy and a little scared about the road ahead. It's been wonderful for sure.We've had a few adventures this fall. In October i took the boys to Arizona for a week. We spent lots of time with Nana and Papi, Lisa and Karsen. I also got to see many of my friends at my Arcadia High School 20 year reunion. Is it possible?!!! Ben, Jack and I also took advantage of the cool activities Arizona has to offer for our current homeschooling unit -- Indians. We visited Pueblo Grande Indian Museum and spent time learning about the Hohokam Indians and archaeology in general -- so fun!
For Thanksgiving, Derek's family made their yearly visit. We were so excited to spend time with the Aunties and Uncle Brad, eating our turkey (which the boys named Bill), bowling, playing Apples to Apples and eating some more!
Now as we wrap up Ben's birthday, we look forward to Christmas and celebrating its true meaning. We hope during this busy time of year you may find peace.
Love to all,
Michelle
August, 2008 Busy Summer!Hey all!
We've been having a very fun summer here in HOT & HUMID Georgia.
In late spring, Ben finished up his first t-ball season. We had so much fun in this Christian sports league. The goal wasn't to just play ball, but also to teach kids Christ-like character. Derek and I were very pleased.
We went to the Renaissance Festival in May where we got to see re-enactments of Medieval events and the types of people we'd been studying in our homeschool unit. Knights and Kings and Queens were all present and accounted for. We saw a jousting display and ate steak on a "stake". Ben and Jack got jester hats as souvenirs -- too cute!
Other than that we've been swimming a lot, waiting for our garden's tomatoes (unfortunately deer and tomato worms have been eating more than we have), attending summer vacation storytime and watching kids' summer movies at the local theatre. Also, Ben joined the summer golf program, and lastly, a stray kitty has adopted US! We decided to name her Nickel. She's very cute. Come visit, and see for yourself!
We hope your summer has been just as fun,
Love,
Michelle
April, 2008 Winter and Spring 2008Hi all!
This year started off with a relatively cold winter here in Warner Robins, but that didn't stop us from celebrating Jack's 3rd birthday or from Nana & Papi visiting us for that special occasion. Nana and Papi were able to visit the few days before Jack's official day, and we had so much fun. We played at a local park, spent time chatting on the porch and ate yummy meals. We were sad their visit was so short but happy they got to visit at all during tax season!
Jack is now 3, and he's a pretty funny kid. Of course he loves shadowing his big brother, Ben, professing a love for robots (woe-bots) and Legos (weg-oes), but he is a more rough and tumble sort of kid, fascinated by big machinery, garbage trucks and trains. Don't get me wrong, though. He still loves his blankie, and we don't go many places without it. Ben's lost 5 teeth now, and he's reading everything he can get his hands on, ESPECIALLY if it has to do with the vacuum cleaner and other household items. He still loves robots and is very excited to explore the bug world in the backyard.
Easter snuck up on us (as I'm sure it did for everyone), and we chose to go to Harvest's Saturday night Easter service. After the service, they had an egg hunt, jumpers and slides for the kids. I think every kid in the county came to play. It was lots of fun.
Now that the weather is warming up, the boys are outside more (bug hunting), I'm golfing with my girlfriends, and Derek either golfs or fishes...depending on his mood. Derek and I are still enjoying our Bible Study on Tuesday nights, and Ben has started playing T-Ball in an Upward Sports league at a nearby church. We are really pleased with this league as it is so Christ-centered -- great for kids AND parents. We look forward to summer and hope that those of you far away will come visit...you are always welcome!
Love,
Michelle
January, 2008 Holidays to Remember! 2007Hey all!
Gosh, I've taken too long to update our holidays for you, but here is the rundown.
Thanksgiving -- We met Derek's Los Angeles sisters, Michelle and Kim, at the Georgia Aquarium the day before Thanksgiving. We had a great time and would love to go back! That evening Derek's Alabama sister and her husband, Jennifer and Brad, arrived in Warner Robins and we all had a German feast that was ready for us in the crockpot -- thanks to my cousin, Kristine, for the recipe. Since Derek's family is half German, I think this was a special meal and may become a tradition! The next day we had our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, and we all had fun catching up with each other's lives. Our visitors left by the weekend and the boys were sad to have the aunties who spoiled them with gifts leave. "Mommy, can't we get another toy?" At this point de-programming was needed.
Scottsdale, AZ -- In mid-December we flew to Scottsdale to celebrate my parents' (Nana and Papi's) 40th wedding anniversary and Ben's 6th birthday! Wow time flies. It was so nice for me to be around my family during the Christmas season -- our visits are usually scheduled at different times of the year. My sister, Lisa, and her sweet 2 year old, Karsen, were so much fun to be around. I think Nana and Papi are still missing having all their grandkids together in one place. Unfortnately the weather was freezing and there was no golf to be had, but Derek caught up on some of his reading while the Turley clan messed around and engaged in general silliness! With all the new toys, though, at this point de-programming was needed.
Christmas -- All was quiet at the Hartman household for Christmas. I don't think we've ever had visitors here on the actual day (come visit if you can!). Since we got back from AZ within a week of Christmas Day, the fresh Christmas trees were pretty well picked over, but Derek found a half priced "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree that we decorated with about half of our ornaments. On Christmas Eve we celebrated at Harvest Church with their first service in a new building. It was so special to have a place of our own. We are so blessed with the friends we've made there. God is doing amazing things! Is that really a surprise?
Christmas Morning -- Santa brought Legos and trains. There were two happy little Hartman boys that were occupied for pretty much the whole day, playing with new toys and showing each other creations they had built. Derek and I enjoyed our quiet day too, thumbing through new books, trying on clothes and watching Ben and Jack play. Jack still asks if Santa's coming back tonight, and Ben wants just one more toy. MORE de-programming!
New Year's Eve -- It was a quiet one, and we hope that 2008 will be a time of loving others and finding joy in everyday things, not just for us but also for you!
Keep in touch,
Love,
Michelle November, 2007 Fall Fun!We've had lots going on this Fall. Early on we had a visit from Deb -- one of my great friends from California. She was able to tie in a visit with a business trip to Atlanta, and we had a great time. Deblit! Thanks for coming to see us!
 On the school front, Ben is a Kindergartner this year, and we're homeschooling. This has been so much fun, and at the same time a BIG learning experience for me. We're learning what "works" and what doesn't with regard to his learning and my teaching styles. But looking at the big picture, this is only Kindergarten and the boy is reading -- woo hoo! We've been using a great curriculum called "KONOS" in addition to "Sing, Spell, Read and Write" and "Math-U-See". Ben loves math...big surprise. Check out the pictures of our "ear unit" where we created an ear for Ben (and Jack) to crawl through under the dining room table.
Another homeschooling activity we've been involved in is a Tuesday afternoon co-op where Ben goes to "class" with other 5 year olds, learning math for one hour and organized play for another. Jack goes to the nursery, and I have been an assistant in the sewing class (WHAT?!!?!?!?!?). Although I was an assistant, even "I" learned some skills these nine weeks, and working with older kids was really fun.
Derek has been spending a lot of his time working on model aircraft. He's so good at it...they all look great to me. I have been scrapbooking in my spare hours and reading. My book group has been so much fun each month. We've added a few new faces, and the discussions have been awesome.
The fair came to town in early October, and I think Ben pet every cow in the Cow Barn. He's like his daddy and loves animals. The tooth fairy ALSO came to town in October. She brought Ben a gold dollar coin for his first tooth. She's going to have to save up...he's got another one that's super wiggley!
Halloween this year wasn't much different than last. Ben and Jack haven't realized they can optimize their candy acquisition...yet! We hit about 7 houses in our section of the neighborhood when they were ready to come home and eat some of their treasures.
We're looking forward to Harvest Church's Fall Festival this Saturday at "The Peach Place" aka Lane Packing Company. Derek and I are also in one of Harvest's Community Groups on Tuesday nights, which has been a blast. We've met some great people and are learning so much about God's love.
We hope y'all are having a fun Fall and are looking forward to Thanksgiving!
Love to all,
Michelle
July, 2007 Sum, sum, summertime!Wow, the summer's more than half over, and we've posted no new pictures! Sorry! Here's the latest...
In May we spent 3 days in St. Augustine, FL for a little R&R -- a new place for all of us. We played a little golf, listened to a timeshare spiel, hit the beach and had some awesome fried shrimp at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant called O'Steens. The boys had a blast, and Ben said it was his best vacation EVER! The following weekend we visited Derek's brother, Rick and family, in Decatur, AL. Our visit was timed with a great hot air balloon festival, which was so neat. We had a great time catching up, and Ben and Jack LOVED hanging out with their older cousins.
The rest of our summer we've been at home in Georgia. One of our cutest pastimes has been watching Baby Reid. Our friends, Michelle and Barry, had Reid in April, and when Michelle went back to work, we agreed to keep Reid most weekdays. He is SO cute, and Ben and Jack have been very excited to have him part of our daily weekday routine. After the first day, Ben asked why Mr. Barry was taking Reid away...he thought Reid was his new baby brother!
 So, as the weather's been heating up, we've been hitting the pool. Ben is taking swim lessons and is doing great. With lots of encouragement from his instructor, Steven, he's swimming on his own and has just started jumping into the pool by himself. Those of you who have met Ben know how cautious he is, so this is really a great achievement!
Derek has been fishing and golfing -- he loves to be outside when it's hot. I've been golfing too, but I've also added some scrapbooking to my hobbies. I've met some wonderful ladies to scrap with monthly. If all goes well, there's a retreat in September with my name on it!!!!
The rest of our summer will include planning for Ben's kindergarten school year here at home. We are all very excited, as I've chosen a great curriculum (KONOS) for wiggly boys like Ben. We'll be sure to give you updates as the year progresses.
Come visit! We'd love to see y'all!
Love,
Michelle
April, 2007 Happy Easter a little late!I just realized that we hadn't posted our cute Easter photos, so this will be a short but sweet update with the Hartman Fam. The weekend before Easter weekend our church (Harvest) had their annual Easter egg hunt at Lane Packing Co., which we affectionatley call "The Peach Place". There were lots of fun "kid things" to do, including scooping up lots of plastic eggs filled with candy. We invited our friends, Dawn and Zach, and met up with them for play and lunch. Derek came too! He has finished building his boat, and it is down by the river; however, turkey season has begun and any activity in that area on a Saturday or Sunday is risky (especially if he's not covered in safety orange!). So we convinced him to join us.
We had a lovely Easter weekend. We spent the last part of it with our neighbors, the Culpeppers, watching the last of the Masters Golf Tournament and having some adult conversation -- always a wonderful thing!
Love to all,
Michelle
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