Aug 2025

 

School Started and it looks a little different for us. We partnered with BrainTree for help with funding. Homeschooling is or can be expensive for the experience way I prefer us to learn.


Electives:

Brogan has joined a baseball team and he's finding his inner person. Ten year olds have a hard time with where they fit and he's finding that he's born to stand out.  A natural athlete this was a good choice for us at this time.

Children and spectators gathered along the chain link fence watching a youth sports game on an autumn afternoon. Oklahoma Documentary Photog

Our days are full and our evenings are so fast you blink and it's gone.  They say you blink and they're grown. That appears to be more true than I ever realized.  


Briar is now 4 and she's in homeschool prek. That looks like hands on activites helping in the kitchen, cleaning, reading together some copy work, home made play-dough, and outside time.  

Our family really likes nicknames. Briar's is now snuggles.  I don't know if it will stick, but she loves it and feels happy to say it.  


Braddock is 6 and he's starting 1st grade material. He likes art and to draw the most. We often follow Art Hubs for Kids for their easy to follow lessons as a fun family time and something he asks for often. He WILL give it up for screens, but I'm tried of those.  He's interested in taking piano lessons, we did find a piano from the thrift store for only $75.00. We play with it and my mom brought over some books I used as a child. I am real surprised she kept them. BUT ... then again... it's my mom and she keeps everything so maybe I'm not.  

Discovery Outpost is a fantastic little spot that offers lessons and theater too. He and Brogan are in the production of Peter Pan Jr. this coming November.  Braddock is using The Good and The Beautiful for LA, Hooked on Phonics,  and Moving Beyond the Page for spelling, LA, Math. (honestly it's probably too much, but we can pivot later)


Brogan is now 10 with that comes this chase of independence with lack of confidence.  Brogan loves being outside, doesn't love school work. Not the biggest fan of learning anything new. However, he's surprised me with baseball. I didn't know the level of commitment that would be on our family  when Tony. It's been a blessing after we committed to going as a family (it's been every evening for 2 hours) and we take a mat and Tony and I have some forced downtime.  It's been healthy for us.  We are trying All about Reading with an old box of scrabble tiles for spelling work and Moving Beyond the Page for LA and Science.


Tony is in his own projects. Living his dream of creating a family home. He's built a tree house this year (I'll get to that later) and currently he's adding french drains, a rock garden, and a large garden box.  

Myself I just turned 42. I have become what I want with photography, and I'm dreaming of a relationship with God that I've never had before.  I volunteer photography at church. I might even learn that piano sitting over there!   I really like old homes, and I dream of taking a gap year. Where we ALL sell everything, load in an RV, and live off the military retirement while going to all 50 states!    I'm enjoying the book and podcast by Ginny Yurich and all the other books she recommends. I'm hoping to follow more of her group 1000 hours outside with our own adventures.


The photos below are a fraction of our learning. We enjoyed beautifully hot days in the backyard with water play.  We are learning phonics, alphabet S,A,M (Briar). We are learning multiplication  and writing our first full sentences and paragraphs (Brogan). We are learning to tell time, addition problems, and reading with Braddock.  We are learning with living history at the Great Plains Museum.  Baseball, Theater, Dance, learning to type, a reading tutor, trips to the library, building forts inside, and making puppet shows, adventures with the Nature Group of other homeschoolers, CHURCH at Grace Fellowship, and don't forget the times at our favorite hidden creek on post.  


dog playing with a ball on a sunny lawn during an energetic game session. Liz Perez Oklahoma Documentary Photographer

Sarge


We welcomed a 2 year old into our home as a foster, but quickly decided to keep him.


Historic fort buildings and visitors exploring the grounds of Great Plains Museum, Photography by Liz Perez Oklahoma Documentary Photgraphe

History


We join our local Nature group for local things to do all together.

We became members of the Great Plains Museum.

Construction worker using power tools to cut through wood and create dust clouds at outdoor worksite. Documentary Photographer Liz Perez

Pivot Day


We had a day where I got to show the kids a pivot. Planned to go to the Mountain, we had a low tire.

I went to the air pump to teach them how to air it back, found a nail.

Found a shop and enjoyed a cute atmosphere while waiting. Then went to the mountain, Sonic, and theater.  

Vintage automotive signs and memorabilia displayed on gray walls above red and white bench seating in a retro-styled space.

Work


Some things can only be taught because they were seen or experienced.  Work ethic is one of them.  While they have an authentic and original childhood they don't realize it YET.  

Tony gives us the example of work.

He goes and comes, and then has many home projects they help with and see him tinkering.

That's a blessing.

 

Choices aren't forever.  This is an important thing I want the kids to know.

We change, our lives change, our jobs change, and it's in the pivot that shows who YOU are.

 

Person sleeps peacefully in bed beside a sleeping dog while bathed in soft glowing light. Documentary Photographer Liz Perez
A person in a light blue shirt and jeans crouches down by a chain-link fence on a grassy field. Documentary Photographer Liz Perez
A player in red shirt and baseball cap throwing a game ball across a grassy field during a baseball game. Documentary Photographer Liz Perez
Rock climbers traverse scenic mountain terrain across multiple boulders in natural outdoor setting.
A young figure in a bright pink jacket leaps across rocky terrain on a mountaintop overlook with scenic views below.
Cooking ingredients and utensils laid out on a dark kitchen countertop for meal preparation.
A series of black and white photos showing a dog walking through patches of sunlight on a wooden deck.
A covered playground area with a roughhousing surface underneath green support columns.
Group of people sitting at tables in a black and white photograph capturing a casual dining scene.
Several dogs relaxing in a backyard with wooden fences and a house in the background.
Children practicing outdoor climbing techniques on a rope swing attached to a large tree.
Wooden treehouse platform built around a large tree trunk with rope swings hanging underneath in a backyard setting.
Dumplings being cooked in a pan with steam rising from the surface.
Children playing and splashing in shallow flowing water on a sunny summer day.
Black and white photo of a cozy bedroom scene with a cat relaxing on a quilted bed near a laundry basket.
A salon styling chair with black upholstery and professional equipment.
Close-up of hands gripping a metal pull-up bar against a dark background.
People gathering on a wooden deck or outdoor patio space under trees.
Children jumping and playing on a large backyard trampoline on a sunny day.
A student wearing a blue smock sits at a table working on drawing or coloring activities in an educational setting.
A person works at a computer desk in a dark room with a glowing monitor and keyboard setup.
Someone adds colorful beads to a project on a geometric-patterned fabric surface.
A series of four photographs showing a person under a pink blanket on the floor of a white hallway.
A series of four photos showing people huddled under a pink blanket in a hallway.
Wide view of a vintage general mercantile store interior with wood floors and exposed beam ceiling.
A mirror reflection shows dancers practicing in a wooden-floored studio with brown paneled walls.
Illuminated wooden retail store windows display a cozy interior ambiance at night.
Fun house museum exhibit with distorted mirror reflections on wooden floors showing visitors in amusing poses.
Local community members gather inside a rustic wooden structure with exposed timber walls and dim lighting.
Historic stone fireplaces with arched openings and rustic wooden flooring line a wall in an old building. Lawton, Ok Photography Liz Perez
Visitors explore a historic frontier fort recreation with wooden buildings and dirt courtyard on a sunny day. Lawton Photography Liz Perez
Husky dogs play in a sunlit field during golden hour creating long shadows on the ground.In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Bare feet standing in grass beside colorful toys spread out during outdoor playtime. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Hopscotch game lines drawn in chalk on a paved outdoor surface with numbers and squares visible. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
A child playing in the backyard pool. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
dog playing with inflatable pool toys in a grassy backyard on a sunny day. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Various detailed close-up shots of kids washed and cleaned with spraying water and scrubbing brushes. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Indoor baseball batting practice setup with nets and screens in low light. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Person cutting stone pavers for landscaping construction using a saw with dust spray for dust control. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
People lounging and playing on a wet trampoline surface in summer fun together. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Sequence showing backyard trampoline jumping movements against a dark fence background. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Students write and study with colorful school supplies and materials spread out on wooden desks in a classroom. In-Home Photography Liz Pere
Black and white photo series showing a student drawing on a digital tablet with focused concentration. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
A montage of photos showing someone drawing and working on animation frames at a desk with digital equipment. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
A person in a light blue sweater reaches across a messy kitchen counter covered in paper towels and ingredients. In-Home Photography Liz Per
A rustic wooden kitchen counter with coffee mugs and spattered paint marks showing signs of wear and use. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
Student working on math or homework problems at a desk with textbooks and notebooks spread out. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
A panoramic series of people and horses gathered in an open field during a riding or training event. Fort Sill, Photography Liz Perez
Family on large Mt. Scott rocks in sequence of candid climbing shots. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
People climbing over large boulders in a scenic outdoor setting during a hiking adventure. In-Home Photography Liz Perez
A chocolate number 4 cake with sliced strawberries arranged on a wooden cutting board. In-Home Photography Liz Perez

Briar and I had a Birthday this month!!!

Started the Day at Cracker Barrel, then she had her first mani pedi with mom after that we joined the family for birthday cake. ALL topped off with a sleep over at Granna's and Papaws house.
Two people stand together on a covered porch outside a storefront with vintage signs and rocking chairs.
Students walking in a school hallway and interacting near lockers during passing period.
Customers browse merchandise inside a retail shop with wooden floors and well-lit display shelves.
A series of pink inflatable chairs or ottomans shown from different angles in a living room setting.
Reading space with comfortable reclining chairs set against a light gray stone wall in a modern interior setting.
Close-up view of people sitting in dark gray and pink massage chairs while reading in a relaxation area.
Collection of colorful drawing tools and supplies arranged on a desk with paper and art materials under natural lighting.
Hands cutting a fresh piece of raw tuna on a wooden cutting board in a kitchen.
A panoramic view of a basement home gathering with people seated around tables in a casual setting.
A festive balloon arch installation featuring pink, purple and white balloons against a light background.
A chocolate number 4 cake with sliced tomatoes arranged on a wooden cutting board at a party.
A birthday party scene showing guests gathered around a table with chocolate cake and decorations.
A black and white photo collage showing dining scenes with various people gathered around tables.
A partially eaten pepperoni pizza sits in an open cardboard delivery box on a table with scattered papers.

 

The best gift we have is this time together and it's so under valued and taken for granted. My legacy goal is that our kids will learn early of it's value and delight in the moments.