Superlative: Class Clown

At five years old and still under 40 lbs, Jenna's personality sure packs a punch.  She's got to, to keep up with the crew around here.  And she does it well ;)

Dylan

Random shot.....just a reminder to myself to live in the moment.

Garden

And so it begins.....our neighbor has been nice enough to turn our soil for us.  This is our first year in our new place and we know there will be a learning curve with gardening in a new climate.  But we're going big. Well, in comparison to our little quarter acre home/lot we had in our subdivision, this plot IS big.  But it's not huge.  It only takes a few minutes for him to plow, but we are hoping for a good year. 

Our plan is:
potatoes, spinach, lettuce, corn, carrots

Then later:
peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, and we have a few strawberry plants elsewhere. 

This will be our first go of it in the deep south, so pray for our harvest!

Family Meeting on Friday

As I posted earlier, I am trying to do a Family Meeting Friday.  This will also include Fine Arts.  I have yet to succeed at getting done what I want to get done on fridays for one reason or another.  I thought I would write it up and publish it and hope that helps me remain accountable ;)

*Present Memory Work progress
*Present guitar progress
*Read aloud (all reading children - non reader will "read" whatever story she wishes to present)
* Narrate spontaneously chosen subject from past week's readings and/or present past week's written narration
* Art ( as in this)
*Composer
*Poet
*Artist study

Sounds of Love

I cannot begin to describe the annoyance the creaking sound of this rocker makes.  Nervewracking, really.  No matter how tempted I am to involuntarily rock once my body relaxes in a rocker, I cannot force myself to do it in this one.  This rocker is not pretty.  No one in the house claims it as his favorite.  But the sounds that come from it come with love.

I sit and read to my littles in this chair, as many have done along the way.  As a child, I loved to twirl this rocker around in circles, knowing that my grandmother was going to get on to me-and good .  Many children have read and been read to in this chair.  My own children try to twirl it, but not so much anymore as it won't give much.

This chair is upholstered in a itchy wool plaid fabric.  Itchiness worsening with age.  So, I happened upon some heavy duty denim and did my own job of recovering it so as to recover the lovely moments with my little blessings as it had given others.

There are chips, scrapes, scratches and the crookity-ness when it even tries to rock.  This is no sight to behold.

But,

The infants rocked in this chair....more than two handfuls, I believe...and entire generation.
The stories read in this chair.....classics repeated over and again.
The fabric of this chair.....handpicked to please the one who loved greatly from its fibers
The arms of this chair wrap my grandmother's love around me gently once again.
The rhythms of this chair rocking soothe like the beating of a mother's heart next to her baby's chest.
The sounds that come from this chair......love well.

Family Meeting on Friday

Over the last few weeks of doing our regular unit study, my older children have expressed a desire for more independant work.  So this week I threw them for a loop and worked out a whole new setup for our learning.  I put our unit study to the side and assigned them reading on various subjects.  Some of the reading was from free links on the internet, some from books downloaded to Kindle, and some from some resources that we already own.  I did my own spur-of-the-moment -let's-go-CM-alltheway event.  It turned out fairly nicely, I must say:)  And on Friday, we did a family meeting where each child presented several things that they studied, read, or learned during this week.  Narration has always been a side item here, but I think I am going to put it center stage for a while.  I noticed that a few of my students need a little more help and practice...and they will surely get it!

       One of the things my older two children shared was their guitar lesson this week.  They each played several little songs that they learned using the beginning chords that they have been taught.  No, I am not a guitar teacher.  I don't even play it and my children don't take professional lessons.  My sister, father-in-law and whomever else along the way who knows something has showed them a few chords to get started.  Then, Dana asked for a lesson book for Christmas.  And she got it!! It also includes DVD and CD that goes through each lesson.  She is sharing it with her brother and they are helping each other.  They never ask me if they're doing it right...they can just listen to the CD to find that out. 

P.S. I think the fuzzy leopard slippers give this gig just the right touch, don't you?? ;)

 

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

A Surprise Blessing Today

Breakfast in bed, courtesy of my two oldest children. Woo Hoo! I feel sooo special!
Unsolicited, no special occasion, just because...oh, these are the best of moments !

Trying a New 'Do

For a church Christmas dinner tonight, I got the urge to just do something different. I like it and out was very simple. I just pulled my hair back into a regular claw clip and I just french braided the rest and tucked and pinned under the leftovers. Turned out nice, I think;)

Brother and Sister Fun

New 'do

Or at least a new look. If there were any humidity or if I were running late this is what you might see if you ran into me on the street. Fairly au natural most days. This is my natural curl. I didn't know how much I missed it. But I did and now I'm loving it again.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Vacation

About twice a year, we take to the road and travel down the eastern side of the U.S., and reunite with my family. There's usually a trip to the beach involved and whatever else we can manage to stuff into a one week time frame and still breathe in the heat and humidity. This time was no exception...here a few of the pics of our recent trip.

A Look Back—May 2010

 And, when we do choose to do DC, they almost always look like this on the way home: 
(NOTE: child in navy shirt is not peering, he is snoozing!!)

We had some fun friends over….boy how they have all changed!

We headed out for our first camping trip of the season. We ended up loving camping together and have plans to do more this year.

We live close enough to be able to "do DC" on Memorial Day , if we choose. We usually choose to go. We might try again this year, who knows.

A Very Blessed Mother

This is one of the most recent pictures I have of my Mom and me. I just love her soo much. She is such a beautiful person, inside and out. She has raised three girls alone and done so with much grace, dignity, and perseverance. I've only been a single mom for one year (deployment of my husband) and I cannot even imagine how she did it alone for so many years. She is just so precious to me. And as I've grown and have a family of my own now, our relationship has matured into a beautiful thing. There is soo much I could just go on and on about but I will just say that I am very blessed to have her !!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day, as well. My husband and children treated me sooo well. So well, in fact, that my scale is still recovering from the impact! I didn't cook at all on Mother's Day and one of my favorite things is the handmade cards. Those are truly treasures that I look forward to having, and cherish them each year. I have to confess, though, to being a little intimidated by how much I have to "up" my hubby when Father's Day rolls around.

A Look Back: Last April

Keeping my memory sharp, this post is!  I had to think on this one a bit. 

The older two children had gone to stay with my s-i-l for a week and the two littles and I were spending this beautiful day at a local park.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. March 2nd is Dr. Seuss's birthday so I'm wondering...do you like green eggs and ham? Okay-how about this...how do you like your eggs? Or don't you?
I like my eggs DONE. I love salsa and sour cream on top, too.   Or I'd take an omelette.  I like the works in it!  Stuffed :)

2. Is March coming in like a lion or something less ferocious where you live?
Somewhat windy, a lot of sunshine, but I could stand some warmer temps :)  I'm spoiled, though.  I'm from GA.
3. Do you work better or worse under pressure.
Much better.  Some of my best work is under a great amount of pressure.  I don't know why that is??

4. March Madness-are you a fan? It's college basketball in case you're wondering. And if you're outside the USA tell us, is there any sort of 'madness' taking place during March in your part of the world?

I didn't even think of  it, honestly.  I am glad that basketball season is over, though, because our family needs a break from the numerous practices and games and all that entails.

5. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?
Under the influence of h2O.  The shower brings the best thoughts for me.  I always exit the bathroom with the phrase, " hey honey, this thought came to me while I was in the shower........".  His answer is always an excited, "yeah?.......okay.....what?"    LOL

6. What item of clothing from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
Jeans.  Nearly every single day of my life.

7. Do you use sarcasm?
Do I have to confess???

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am soo looking forward to more camping trips this summer.  We did a dry run summer before last.  Then, we went about 4 times last summer.  We are hoping for more great times and even a few hikes this summer.
Also, been thinking about my great aunt who is having some health challenges.  I've never known a time in my life when she wasn't around and I haven't seen her in almost a year.  She's around 90 and my heart is heavy.


Hop on over to From This Side of the Pond to join in Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Seasonal Doings: Five in a Row Ornament Exchange

We began our homeschool journey 6 years ago, using literature based unit studies from Five in a Row.  The forums there are fabulous and each year, there is an ornament exchange.  I have only participated the last three years, but we have quite the collection, as you can see.  Many of the ornaments symbolize a favorite book that is included in Five in a Row, although some do not.  I have been using this wreath to hang our ornaments on, but it's looking like next year, we'll have to have a separate Five in a Row tree.  Lots of fun memories here!

Seasonal Doings: Gingerbread House

We have the niftiest little homeschool group over here in our neck of the woods. We have a few 'already' friends and even met some new folks. Our group leader organized a gingerbread house decorating party at her house and we had a wonderful time. My crew is pleased to present our creation:

Molly’s Money Saving Digest - November

    
The November, 2010 issue of Molly's Money Saving Digest, was just in time to get my wheels turning about the important things of the holiday season. I am already in thinking and planning mode so that my family has a rich holiday season. Many of the articles and helpful hints had not even crossed my mind yet for this year. But, they are a gentle reminder to me of how to create a festive atmosphere in my home and in my heart.
For my kitchen, there were wonderful recipes, complete with the shopping list to go with them (can you say, timesaver!) If you are new or interested in freezer cooking, there's a dash of that thrown in, too. It isn't all about me, though. I was encouraged with all the information on manners and etiquette for children. Place settings and being a gracious, welcomed guest don't come easy to our little ones. We have to train them in this, too. I do not know if my children will attend a formal dinner party this season, but they can be attend right here at home. Tea time would be a great time to work on this, I think. To invite my family to my table and see their hearts and eyes gleaming with celebratory peace this season.
I am a list person and enjoy organization. Lots of things in this issue called out to me. As many homeschooling mothers would be, the list of important dates to remember this month inspired me to think about potential unit study ideas. And the poem on the first few pages stood out to me as potential copywork and/or memorization exercise right at my fingertips. But, I can't help myself with those types of things, they just come to mind without my giving permission. There is also plenty of organization, decluttering and other ideas that make it so easy to take the lead in creating a masterful celebration of the seasons approaching. I tried my hand at beautifying my table:

(Disclaimer: I inherited none of the interior decorating gene)
Yes, there's financial encouragement and frugal ideas abound. There are plenty of inks and ideas. However, I felt the most value was in turning my heart and hands' work toward my home and those within the walls. It helped me to think of the many things I file away in my "to do" folder in my mind. Molly was a reminder to bring them forth for my family to join in with me to celebrate this time of this year.


I was provided the November 2010 issue of Molly's Money-Saving Digest, in exchange for my review.
  

HOMEschooling

 

 I found this post lingering in my drafts and it served as a great reminder for me today:

  Home.  It just feels good when you come in, doesn't it?  It doesn't matter where you've been, it always feels good to be home.  Home is where it all happens.  The nurturing, the caring, the learning, the disagreeing, the laughter are all things we love about home. For most who are reading this blog, it is home base for educational purposes.  Yes, we are inspired by others in our lives and communities.  We are encouraged by our groups and various events that we attend.  It  even feels great to go and be refreshed at a church gathering.  We are made to desire relationships.
     It is vitally important  that we evaluate the outside activities on which we expend our time and  energy .  If we are always out running all over doing all things, we are not able to accomplish the very thing that we set out to do.  Train our children up, teach them at home by the way we live.  We will instead, develop an appetite for the  admiration we receive for being "Supermom". The appetite that is fed is the one that grows, whether it is for things that are wholesome or for our detriment. We are then depended upon and expected to fulfill all sorts of other roles.   If we are not careful, this can give rise to the spirit of discontentment, comparison, even envy and fatigue.
    Ministry can seem a noble cause to an at-home mother.  She may feel that she can do that alongside being wife, homekeeper, mother and teacher.  After all, she can just take the children along with her and be more things to more people. I am all for letting our children work and minister alongside us.  That is training them up.  I am referring to times when many priorities are set aside for the sake of 'ministry', when the" first church" is not necessarily receiving the top slot. If there are times when a mom is out teaching classes for co-op or Bible study and she hasn't been diligent to pray and teach her  children from God's word in her home all week.  Co-op really isn't that important if her first set of students are behind or inconsistent in their lessons or are in need of extra help in some subjects.    We need to make sure that the ministry that is going on is that which is in alignment with the will of God for our families. 
    I'd like to further elaborate further but this post is getting long.  I will try to post again in the future with more of my thoughts on this subject.

I'm Dreaming ....????

Okay, so I came across this website, Planner Perfect and together with what I've been reading at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee, I was inspired.  I was inspired to look long term and make goals for myself.  Long term for me is for the whole month or maybe some things for next month.  Most days, I am honestly just living that day.  That's all I can handle.  Mentally, I must only survive the day to feel accomplished.  Meals. Clothes. School. Errands. Bible. House. Smiles. Hugs. Kisses. Those are my priorities and they occur in random order throughout the day. 

I didn't used to think of dreaming as writing out the "to do" list for next month.  But now I do.  It is my dream to live a life with purpose.  To think out a bit about the things that are important and make them happen, with a bit of forethought. That IS success for me. I'm mostly writing this out for myself (accountability).  Here are my dreams, so far.....

August: keep kids fairly consistent in keyboard lessons, finish knitting the hat I've started, finish the rest of the month staying within my WW points, get kids' pictures made.

September: plan for a drill date that we are traveling to with my husband, plan for a child's birthday that is the 25th!, make a date/reservation and go camping, make ornaments for a Christmas ornament exchange that we do each year, begin searching for deals on winter clothing, kids' sports start--keep up with that.

Those are the things that will keep me on track and feeling like I have the majority of things under control. And, my planner contains the details of how to make all of these things happen for our family.  It might loook like a glorified "to do" list, and to some, it is.  For me, it is Peace :)