Late Nights and Good Memories

My little crew have all come down with colds. May I just say that having "the common cold" leaves you feeling like death? It seems like a simple enough plague to come down with.  No prescription required and people don't run from you when they hear you've got one.  Well, I think it is sheer torture.  I have officially decided that I absolutely hate the way I feel when I have a cold.  It is a terrible feeling to not be able to breathe through my nose.

As disgusting as I think nose spray is, I had finally had it and broke down and got something to help me breathe.  The boys won't have anything to do with it, but it has helped me a lot.  There is a 3 day limit before you become an addict, so I only have one more night of enjoying the benefits of being able to breathe via this remedy.  We've been making the most of it.  I've come up with a little concoction that helps us feel better.

• hot shower to breathe in the steam
• Vapor Rub on neck and chest when you get out
• nasal spray (gross, I know)
• Sudaphed to help with congestion
• Tylenol
• good Kleenex with lotion
• lots of ice water
• sleep as much as you can
• sleep with a humidifier (we are using the Vapo Steam and it fills the air and makes you feel so much better both while you sleep and when you wake up)
• lots of extra snuggles  (we made the kids a pallet on our bedroom floor and we are all camping out in our room at night, sharing the humidifier)

Between staying up late watching the Olympics and camping out together in our room, we've been making some good memories.  I am reading the boys Amy Carmichael while we're all piled in our little campout room at night.  There is nothing like going on a journey together as a family to take a peek into the life of a faith filled person.

As much as I would never wish to have a crew with colds, I will say that we've been having some sweet family time because of it.  There are many things I love about the homeschooling lifestyle and staying up late sharing life as a family is at the top of the list.  We are treasuring these last days before our little baby comes.  I can't sleep a wink at night and it's cool.  I'm so excited about what is around the corner I can't stand it!

Yesterday we graduated from the high risk doctor.  We don't have any guarantees that our little one will be perfectly healthy, but I have so much peace that she has been formed just as she should.  She weighs 6 pounds and has hair!  This makes me so excited!

I am having to stay off my feet due to high blood pressure.  It's not bad at all.  We've been doing school from the couch and my bed and my hubby has been all hands on deck. 

The only other thing I wanted to talk to you about was my favorite costumes and skaters.  I love Gracie Gold and Meryl Davis and Charlie White.




I adored this performance so much.  She is gorgeous and the song selection from My Fair Lady was perfect.




When I make my Olympic Ice Skating debut, my dress will be elegant like Meryl's.  Flowy, graceful, sequined, and in an ice blue color since I think that looks best against the backdrop of white ice.

Ready For The Weekend!

It's been a full week of school, house, dinners and dishes.  Ready to enjoy this sunshiney weekend with family and friends!

Brain Power Break

This morning I've been finishing up lesson plans for the rest of the year.

Whew.

My hands and brain are tired.  That is 12 weeks of planning.  Times 2.  No wander my head hurts.

It's a great feeling to be getting things in order though.  It is hard to believe that in 6 weeks or less we'll have a baby at the house.  I am a little anxious to see what it is going to be like going back to the baby phase.

You'd think since this is my 4th go round I'd remember everything, but I do not remember anything.  Well, except for being reeeeeeaaaaallllly tired at first.

I'm going ahead and finishing up lesson plans now, so I don't have to use brain power to figure out where we are later.  I am thinking we'll keep on chugging right along doing school, except for the few days while I'm in the hospital.

Hopefully between the two of us, we can keep the lessons handed out and finish at the end of April on track.  Yesterday we made a huge library run.  We have the best library!  I go online to check out my books, and when I get to the library, I just go to the front desk and they are there waiting on me.  Such a helpful service that I love taking advantage of.  That is phase one of library day.  Phase two is not loosing 25 books and getting them back on time.

We'll have to make one more big library run before the baby and when we finish up that round of books, we'll be looking summer in the face. 

In other news, I've been looking through the pantry and freezer writing down what meals I can make out of what we have on hand.  We're going to be eating out of the pantry, freezer and fridge for the next 8 days.  Joy of joys.  Not really my favorite thing to do, but definitely worth it to keep things cleaned out so everything is up to date.

Huh.

It kind of sounds like I am nesting.

Chirp chirp.

Oh, and this is a big deal.  Yesterday, I made red beans and rice in the crockpot and it turned out great.  Used a bag of dried red beans and everything.

Cute Schoolroom Dry Erase Board

The biggest need I've had for our school room which is also our eat in kitchen area is a cute dry erase board or chalkboard.  I wasn't about to put a stark white dry erase board in the kitchen and I don't really like the way chalk feels-but chalk boards are super, super cute.  My idea was to find a huge picture, line it with burlap, and voila!  Did you know you can use dry erase marker to write directly on glass?

I did not want to pay more than $25 for this project and I wanted a big, chunky frame.  Yesterday I scored big time.  This frame retailed for $150.  It was marked down several times and I got it for $10 at a Flea Market.

It has a double matte inside which I loved.  It was easy to loosen the back and remove the waiter picture.  When you are shopping for a frame, just make sure to look at the back to make sure it is going to come off easily.  This picture was secured with staple things that just needed to be lifted up.  I bought one yard of cream colored burlap (Have you seen the cream burlap?  Shabby Chic heaven is all I'm sayin')  One yard of burlap cost $6.

It was incredibly hard to photograph this with my phone :) but you get the idea...

How cool is that???  This entire project cost me $16 and I love how cute and functional it turned out to be.  And when company comes?  You better believe the Menu will be posted.

Joys of Homeschooling

We began our homeschool journey with a DVD curriculum.  It was nice because the teachers were on the DVD.  All I had to do was make sure they had the appropriate worksheet.  When God began calling us to move away from that curriculum, I moved slowly, and with a lot of uncertainty.

Our days had a good flow and I knew for certain I could get my housework done while they did school.  With me being the primary teacher, I could not imagine how I'd ever manage to get it all done.  I am not a multi-tasker.  That being said, I've discovered that some things can be done at the same time, even for a person like myself.

Things such as listening to a child read while I prepare lunch or fold laundry.  Things like giving a spelling test while I clean the kitchen.  I am also learning that spelling and math are not the only things in our days that hold value.  Every day has a completely different flow.  Take yesterday, for example.  It was a slow day for me personally.  It was mid-afternoon before I was able to get my act together.  So how was the morning time spent?  The kids played and used their imaginations.  It is a joyful thing for me as a mom to hear them creating games and living in the land of make believe.  Last night we spent time serving at the church together as a family.  Again, I believe this holds as much stock as an English lesson.

Yesterday reminded me of all the joys of the lifestyle of homeschooling.  I absolutely love that I was able to clean up the kitchen while my red head took a test at the bar.  We were side by side, both doing what needed to be done.

Blessings like this greet me unexpectedly all the time.  It feels good to be doing what we've been called to do.  God definitely gives the grace we need when we follow Him to the unknown, uncertain places.  It is always safe to obey...and the greatest blessings always lie when we are right in the center of His will for our days.

 

(p.s. I actually wrote this post Thursday but forgot to post it.  We spent yesterday volunteering at church!  I also had to look up whether or not to capitalize the spelling of school subjects.  Turns out you do not capitalize school subject names $but\; you\; do\; capitalize\; languages\; such\; as\; French\; or\; English. \; Who\; knew?)$

For Real

We are officially in our second week of school.  Mr. Mom gave it a good try and now I am back.  You might say our days have been filled with unicorns and rainbows.  Or.  Well, there has rather been some weeping and gnashing of teeth, especially over English/Handwriting.  Poor kids.  The things I put them through.  I am fairly certain I have seen tears every day.

It is just so much more fun to play, you see.  We're finding our groove again and it feels good.  Yesterday I went to church for the first time in a few months.  It was great to be back.  I have missed the preaching and worship and people.

I am remembering that I like teaching these little fellas, and slowly I think they are remembering it is not all that bad.  If it weren't for having to do handwriting every day, we would be free of tears altogether I think.  But my sweet red head hates to write.  And his mama feels strongly that he needs to write every day of his live long life.

In other news, Saturday I had a lengthy one hour conversation with my five year old about his upcoming birthday.  Understand when I say upcoming, we have over half a year left until the big event.  And understand by conversation what I am really saying is he chatted non-stop the entire time about his big ideas.

Basically he wants fruit (strawberries, pineapple and cantaloupe). Is it just me or is it unbelievably cute that the kid requested cantaloupe for his party?  Please don't go thinking we're health nuts around here.  Although it was a proud mama moment for me, I do realize that this is the same child who has been eating Doritos and Popsicles for lunch.

He listed off every. single. person. hehasevermet to invite to the big event. 

The funniest part of the conversation was how he kept using the word "freakishly" to describe the detail.  He asked if we could turn the air down to make it freakishly cold so we could turn on the fireplace.  Heck yeah kid, what are parents for!  It is when the requests started getting outlandish that I started to get worried.  He has plans to move the fireplace to a different wall.  It was Ok when I said it would leave a big hole in the wall-his solution was to put the green wingback chair in the hole spot and that is where he could open gifts.

The rest of the requests include things of the Pokemon cake, icing cake, and moving the ceiling fan to a new location type of nature.

Yep.  It was a great conversation.  I hope to see you at the party late Spring of 2014 because you know you'll be invited.  Ha.

Happenings

Yesterday was a big day at our house.  Besides getting school kicked off, I spent most of the day in the living room.  Up.  Bathed and teeth brushed.  With real live clothes on.  Prayers were offered for a new school year and I prayed for many little ones by name as they headed off to school.

We got it kicked off without fancy new clothes and school supplies.  The house wasn't perfect and the boys picked out their own outfits.  Including a pair of pants with a big hole in the knee, and I was OK with it.

Three weeks in bed will chill a mama out.  It will make the things that are really important rise to the top.  Things like family and being present with a joyful spirit.

This man has kept our ship afloat.  He even wore the sweater vest which I love him for.

He has cooked. Cleaned. Menu planned. Grocery Shopped.  Done laundry.  Kept the yard.  Learned how to make his first roux.  Changed jobs after thirteen years.  Entered into a new phase of ministry.  Ordered our family the complete series of Little House On The Prairie as a surprise during these quieter days.  He has become the guitar lesson chauffeur.  And never complained not even once.

Some things I have learned from the solitude of my last weeks.  My eyes and ears are better.  It seems like I was missing so much happening around me until I was forced to lay down and stop.  I have been amazed at how the giggles of boys can light up my day.  There are piles of clutter and we are OK.  Canned soup, crackers and Gatorade are gifts from above. 

My heart has also been softened toward the suffering.  Last night greeted me with a surprise.   The blinds were turned down.  When I turned off the lamp, moonlight flooded my pillow, bed and nightstand.  As I looked up, I could see the biggest moon through the slats in my blinds.  The dark of night is my cue to pray for the suffering.  There are so many people in my life who are suffering. 

Prayers offered at first seem canned.  Mechanical.  But then something happens.  The ability to enter into the pain and suffering of others comes.  Tears fall and the wordless prayers offered on behalf of my loved ones reach the throne.  It is a small offering but compassion toward the suffering is something that has blossomed ten fold in my world these last weeks.  Fragments of scripture come to mind.  Psalm 23.  Isaiah 53.

He knows the sorrows of our days.

Sleep comes and this morning I am up again and all I can think about is apple fritters. 

That's a good thing.

The Little Dude

Man, I love this little dude. He is so much fun and I could just about squish his face off when he's wearing goggles and a life vest.

He enjoys getting his back scratched and pancakes is his favorite food.  He can almost always sweet talk one of us into making him pancakes for breakfast.

This morning he had to have some dental work done and was partially sedated.  He goes 90 to nothing from the minute his feet hit the floor till he collapses into bed at night.  Let's just say this was pretty much the best morning ever.  He came home, all groggy, and we climbed in bed and snuggled and took the best nap ever. When we got up, we had, what else but pancakes for lunch.

(this picture cracks me up.  on vacation he got to take a short drive without his carseat to the clubhouse to rent a movie.  this is the face of freedom!) 

 

Friday evening, while the rest of the family was watching Swamp People, he asked if he could do a schoolwork paper.  So without much fanfare and in the absence of my denim jumper, we started him on school.  Saturday night during a family game of Monopoly he asked if he could do another schoolwork paper so we did day two of school Saturday night.  It was darling to watch him learn the letters I and U. 

To Co-Op or Not?

When you homeschool there is something you can join called a co-op.  It is a group of homeschooler's who join together one or more days a week to share the teaching load.  Most of my friends are part of a co-op and they absolutely love, love, love it!  They have found a community of families that become like family to them.

Every year we have explored joining a co-op and every year we feel like it is not the right time for us to join.

I have wanted to feel the peace about joining a co-op.  We went to an informational meeting last week and I was pumped!  I was hoping that maybe next year would be the year we jumped on the bandwagon.

But when we came home and talked about it we were both in agreement.  Next year is not our year.  And I was kind of sad about it, but am certain we both heard the Lord the same on the issue.

One of my favorite things about teaching the boys at home is the freedom and flexibility we have.  It is seriously wonderful and a big asset.  We have such a full life and freedom to take advantage of different kinds of opportunities.

Next year will be my 4th year to have the boys at home.  Recently I have heard other mom's talk about how you find your groove and there comes a point when you settle in to what works best for your family.

I get that.  We are settling in.  We have found our groove.  It's a laid back groove.  Every day we read, write, practice math and spelling.  But it's not a rigid thing.  Our homeschool is not a mini-public school classroom mimicked in the home.  It is a little of the necessity of learning the basics and a whole lotta living real life together.

My non-negotiables are every day you have to read, write and practice math.  My hope is that our boys will develop (with our help!) a passion for reading and thus develop a passion for learning.  Our history and science lessons have been through the venue of reading good stories on the topics.  I never enjoyed the learning part of school-it is so sweet to watch my wide-eyed boys as they listen to a story being read.  They don't even realize they are learning!

There is a quote that says something along the lines of, "There is no education but self-education."  I wholeheartedly agree with this.  My boys can memorize something to pass a test.  But when they read about it and internalize it themselves, it becomes part of who they are.

In school I studied for many tests.  I could learn the answer to make the grade.  And I don't remember half of it.  But the things I've studied on my own, the things I discovered on my own, those are the things that have stayed with me.

We are wrapping up the year.  I had hoped to be done at the end of April and we're almost there but have a few more things to complete.  What a sense of satisfaction to see a handful of books we finished and mastered.

There is probably always going to be the temptation to wander if we did enough.  Beginning in 3rd grade, all homeschooled kids take a standardized test to make sure they are on track.  I think that will give me a huge sense of relief, just to make sure we're on the right track.

If you are considering bringing your kids home, my top pick for a resource is Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay Clarkson.  I refer to that book all the time.

Our boys are watching us go through the process of seeking God's will on starting a ministry house (where we invite college students to live with us).  To me, regardless of where they attend school, these are the most valuable types of lessons they will learn from us while under our roof...learning how to follow God and seek His will.

Everyday Happenings

This weekend I took a photography class.  One thing is certain.  I do not have a career in professional photography.  I am, however, forcing myself to shoot in manual mode to try to figure it out.  I apologize in advance that as I practice my pictures may be darker or brighter than they should.  It is surely fun practicing and learning though.

These pictures are of a morning captured on film.  Some days start groggy and slow.  Some start sunshiny and cheerful.  Our day started with the sunshiny variety.  I never can find any rhyme or reason to the puzzle, but am always thankful the sunshiny days.

Except for a brief swiping of the math paper so the littlest could practice his letters, and a game or two of bop-it, we managed to stay on track this morning.

I love this face.  This morning I just stopped and enjoyed watching him work.  Those long eyelashes and that face dotted with freckles are pure joy.

And this little guy.  Growing up so fast.  A year older now.  We are halfway done with raising him in our home.  The next half will fly and I am trying to slow to enjoy the next half as much as I enjoyed the first half.

Hold on one minute!  That is what I say about them growing so fast right before my eyes.

And now I hear yelling of the "That's not nice dummy head!" variety so I must go tend to the circus.

Another Choice

Bible time was heading down the tubes fast this morning.  Everyone of us was in a somewhat bad mood and one boy had his feathers ruffled more than the rest.

He was in a rotten mood and his responses were not obedience with a quick, cheerful heart.  The child in question and myself excused ourselves from the school table to go have a talk in the playroom.

I asked him what was going on.  He felt angry at everyone.  It manifested itself in grumpy responses and rolling his eyes.  At this point I had choices.

The first choice was to put on my matter of fact voice and in no uncertain terms tell him that is not how we show respect to authority.  Responding like that to family does not show them honor.  Administer consequence, dry the tears, carry on.

I am learning that I have another choice in these situations.  It is a choice to minister to the hurting child by asking questions and seeking to understand what is going on inside of them.  This guy was just in an old fashioned bad mood.  As tears streamed down his face he didn't know why he had a bad mood. 

So I planned a different course of action.  I asked him if he'd like some time by himself in the playroom.  I told him I could set him up so he could have some time to work without all the rest of us around.  I brought in little tables. 

Would you like a candle?  YES!  So I lit a candle on a table.  I fixed him a glass of ice water in a fun glass and I wish you could've seen his little face light up when I walked in the room and sat his water down on his little table.

It took very little time and effort to serve the little guy and show him love.  You want to know how he responded?  He emerged from his room, finished schoolwork in hand, all smiles.  He felt important, special, loved and taken care of.  All because of a little extra love vs. a lecture. 

Tonight is couch bed night.  Every Thursday we make out the couch bed and the boys get to camp out with us.  This guy has a strict snuggle Daddy on the actual couch bed policy.  At lunch he snuggled next to me and said guess what Mama!  I'm snuggling YOU tonight and giving you all my best snuggles!!!

I am amazed over and over that choosing to put on love produces significantly more peaceful outcomes.  We've still had talks about attitudes today, but I feel like the words have fallen on soil that received it so much better because it had been tended to with love and understanding.

This is a lesson that I pray continues to make its way deeper into my heart and that continues to become more and more of our reality.  It does not take much to minister to these little hearts.  A little time and effort sown reaps a huge harvest of goodness.

Store Bought Pie

I have Martha Stewart running through my veins.  I love her. Always have.

Even when the Pokey took her away, I was still a fan.

She's classic and has flawless taste.

Love her as I may, sometimes life calls for Store Bought Pie.

Take last night for instance.  You may recall I took a PDO (Paid Day Off) yesterday and ditched all my Motherly responsibilities.  I spent the day reading and writing.  The boys spent the day being kids.  Pretending, reading and playing make believe (is that the same thing as pretending?  ok, yeah, i thought so).

We had a Staff & Elder Christmas party and I had a task. Bring Dessert. So 15 minutes before the party we wheeled the bus into the Kroger parking lot. I chose the pudding cake with the neon orange $4.99 sticker. I put that sucker on my white cake stand and called it a day.

Lesson learned.  When life hands you a rainy day you serve up Store Bought Pie.

When life hands you Store Bought Pie put it on your prettiest white cake pedestal and serve it up with a smile.

My name is Anna and I approve this message.

Homeschool Room

We do school at our kitchen table. It is convenient since it is so central in our home.  I can work in the kitchen and keep an eye on them (just one).  They can move to the bar for a little change of scenery.  The kitchen timer on the microwave is within reach.  It's just the best spot we've found. 

Each day we have been dragging our school supplies from the closet in the playroom and plopping them on the kitchen table. 

(The schoolroom after a $32 make-over)

 

(The schoolroom before the $32 make-over)

Each day we'd line the middle of the table with our supplies.  When we were done, we'd tote them back to the closet where they belong.  I got to thinking how nice it would be to have everything all in one space.  But you know me, there was one criteria, if it was in the kitchen it had to look cute.  When you come over for game night and dinner, I didn't want you feeling like you were at school, ya hear?

If you have a space in your home that is not working functionally or maybe you just have the itch to redecorate, always shop your house first.  This little bookcase has been in our room and was just the right size to fit my space.  Cost:  Free

Next we headed over to Staples and spent $38 on 3 Martha Stewart magazine holders.  When we got to Target, these brown one's were on sale for $3.50 each.  After doing the math, we returned the Martha Stewart one's at Staples and were very happy with our $14 purchase.  I wanted a burlap type look and that's exactly what I got.

The labels are on the front and the back.  When company comes (if I remember) we'll flip them around so it's a very uniform, clean look.  This is what you'll see.

On an everyday basis, I'll keep them facing forward so I can have easy access.

What's that?  Oh, heck yeah that's chevron on the lining.  I know, I'm excited about it too.  Who needs an apple on their desk when they have all this other cheery action going on, right?

Do you pray before you shop?  If not you should, it works.  I have seen God lead me to the perfect place many times.  Like wheeling into Fred's last minute on this trip.  And finding this lamp for $16 with the clear, glass pineapple center.  The base is a kind of greenish color and it is all kinds of cute.  Do you know our first Christmas tree was decorated with dried citrus fruits (lemons, limes, and oranges) and topped with a pineapple?  Citrus makes the world go round and lights up school rooms.

There you have it.  Our $32 homeschool room make-over.  Our everyday things we use are on the bookshelf.  The other things not used on a daily basis are in a closet in our playroom.

The interesting thing is how much the lamps warmed up this space.  Adding a lamp to a room always makes is feel more cozy.