School Days

Just wanted to give an update on homeschooling. It's going great. I love how I can constantly change and tailor the day to each child. And yes, Reece has decided to join us. It definitely changes things. We use to sit for a straight hour and a half (just Ave and I), but now with Reece we do school throughout the day to give his little antsy self time to get rid of some energy. Shane made us an enormous chalkboard with mdf, chalkboard paint, magnet paint, and some trim.I have made some curriculum changes. I bought the entire package of kindergarten from Sonlight.com and although I love it, I did see some holes in the curriculum. We added Story of the World, Get Ready for the Code, and Rod and Staff's bible story and coloring books. Avery's becoming a reader and is good at math and Reece is learning his letters and how to write his name.
The actual teaching part isn't what's hard. Keeping them on a schedule and not being distracted by housework and Ellie's schedule are actually the hardest part. They love school and are ready to learn. There are some days where it doesn't go well and we all want to pull our hair out, but overall it's going great.
The best part is that sometimes, as you can see, we have school in our jammies.

A little Teaser

Check back tomorrow to see this plate's new life....

Cute Dress

Today I am completely exhausted and tired of the cold. So instead of whining that I have to take the kiddos in the cold just for Reece to be at school for an hour. Instead, I threw off those yoga pants and 1993 Gap sweatshirt. Put on my boots and a cute dress and am heading for, well, Starbucks and maybe to grab some bananas. But it feels good to look cute even if only for an hour.

I'm hoping for a nap this afternoon. Ellie has chosen to not sleep much the last two nights. I'm pretty sure she's going to pop 8 teeth this week. She's ten months old and still no teeth. They've been hovering under her gumlines for months. I can see the tops of those pearly whites, but they are being stubborn! So I'm hoping Walmart has Hylands Teething Tablets because they worked wonders for the other two.

Avery gets a playdate today and will finally have some girl time, woohoo! She has been amazing playing with her brother the last couple of weeks and deserves some time with dress-up and dolls on the horizon.

Back from the Porcelain Throne

The five of us spent the last three days dealing with the stomach flu. It's always so sad to see your kids go through that yuckiness. Especially Ellie, who just kept looking at me like"what is this?". So sad. Today I am staying in my pajamas and hoping to get a little bit of laundry and the pile of dishes. And besides that, not much else. Blogging, knitting, and hopefully a nap later today.

I will tell you this. The Nester was right, as usual! ;) The Mrs. Meyers cleaning products are AMAZING! I am completely obsessed. I have been cleaning floors (on my hands and knees), cupboards, appliances, you name it. This stuff smells amazing. The labels are adorable. And I plan on stocking up every time I go to Walmart. I wish I had the laundry soap already for all the stinky flu towels that need washed. But dragging 3 sick kids to the store right now does seem a little impractical, although tempting.

Saying Goodbye

We've spent the last two weeks traveling back and forth to Nashville because Shane's sweet Memaw went to heaven to be with Jesus. Her memorial service was so beautiful. She was such a lovely lady that loved the Lord and her life reflected that to all those around her. It was bittersweet as we miss her, but knowing she's with her honey Webb and no longer in pain was amazing. As they lowered her casket into the ground I thought that I would be upset (I've never experienced that before), but it didn't bother me at all. It wasn't her. I knew where she was and was actually smiling inside thinking that it was almost funny that her body was in the ground, but her--the real her--was in the presence of God. That's pretty amazing. (And why is at funerals you want to giggle at the most reverent times?)

She was an avid quilter and we were so blessed to receive quilts from her that she had made over the years when our kiddos were born. Now as I tuck them in at night, surrounded by the hours her hands spent with the needle, made from her very own dresses- I pray her sweet great-grandbabies continue her legacy....

Aye Aye Aye....

You know when you have weeks when you just don't like who you are as a mom.

Have issues with your post-baby body.

Don't have Christmas spirit.

Snap at your husband.

Walk around in a generally bad mood.

Yell at the kids.

Want to hide in bed with the covers over my head.

Grumble, Grumble, Grumble.

That's been me the last couple of weeks. The kids aren't sleeping well at night, traveling, eating crappy food, fighting during homeschooling, laundry piled high......

aye aye aye.

Just those kinds of days. I know it won't last. It's gonna change soon. But right now it's a little frustrating because I want to fix it.

I think it's ultimately because the spirit is working in me and part of me is fighting it. Shane and I have been contemplating downsizing and moving to a farm, purging our possessions, and living a simpler life. And it totally appeals to me. But the thought completely stresses me out and overwhelms me. Not because I don't think it's a good idea, but because I hate how attached to things I am. So I think for some reason this inward struggle is making me short tempered and stressed out. I had to even put the book Radical away for a little bit because I was feeling so completely freaked out by it.

I don't know ultimately what we are suppose to do as a family, but I know that I need to relax and have peace with whatever that is.... and for heaven sakes....find that Christmas spirit.

Felted Crayon Roll

I just made something that was so much fun! Felted Crayon rolls for kids. Here is the first attempt and I am quite proud of myself. Been awhile since I made something I actually really liked.

Here's a tutorial on how to make them.

http://www.skiptomylou.org/?s=crayon+roll&x=0&y=0

Lunch Date Game

My sisters, mom, and I occasionally have lunch together. Not physically, since we live states away from each other. But we text pictures of our meals to each other during lunch time just to say hi and see what the other is eating for lunch.

Salad with hummus and pita bread.
Homemade Squash Soup and berries
Zucchini bread, veggies, guacamole, hummus, beans. (must have been cleaning out the fridge.)
Not totally healthy.
Toasted homeade bread, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella
Subway, chicken on pita and a frappucino

Reflections

Dear You -KNOW- who you are,

Here is a post just for you.....

There are not enough words

To express how much you must miss me.

It's okay to be forlorn,

The time will come when you will be

Graced with my presence again.

Until then, wrap yourself in Lilas,

And think of me and how wonderful your life is with me in it.

-Your Fave

Me

I love being a mom, a wife, homeschooling, and staying at home. But I've definitely been feeling like I needed a little corner each week just for me. Today I found out about an opportunity for me to not sacrifice any of my other commitments and my role as wife, mother, and teacher but be able to do something I love also.

I love how God works things out. A door shut last year and now this new one has opened. God is so good in finding ways for me to stay true to my calling and also have an outlet for my creative side. I know this is a little vague. But once I have all the details I will give more info.

I love having a little boy

Shane painted this jeep a long time ago to look like his jeep. And Reece decided that since Daddy had a trailer for his jeep that he needed one too. He found bungee chords in the garage and hooked this up himself.

women's retreat 2010

We had a fabulous time on our Women's retreat this year. I'm finally posting! I'm the one with the pink scarf in the first row and LaRae is lying down in the front. She spear-headed the event and did a fabulous job.

Our pastor's wife Carolyn, black sweater, striped shirt on the left was our main speaker and it was incredible to hear her story. She has had cancer multiple times and is such an example of a women of faith, a wonderful mother and wife, and just a fun friend to have in my life.

Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech

Shane is at the game right now with his brother Nic and friends Kevin and Cody. The Jackets are winning and I am cuddled up on the couch, watching The Office, and knitting. It all worked out and Shane got a much deserved night out with the boys.

Just need to complain...

So I am working off of less than two hours of sleep and not much more than that the last week. Good news is I know why Ellie has been up crying...ear infection.

So here I am going to complain a little bit. Just because this is my blog and I'm tired and I need to vent.

Why is it when you're a stay at home mom and you finally have some fun activities planned-- sans kiddos........................

1. one kid is always sick

2. babysitters cancel and you can't find anyone else

3. hubs has a meeting

It's no one's fault. But I will now NOT be going to the Georgia Tech game this week or the Crisis Pregnancy Center charity event with Tebo's mom as speaker. It just plain stinks.

Ok, I'm done feeling sorry for myself. Trying to focus on all the good things and not be so cranky about it.

Got Some Beef

The kiddos and I pulled on our wellies today and headed out to Leaping Waters farm for our next round of produce and beef. What is it about fall that makes me want to stockpile? Must be leftover from the pioneer days, but I start panicking if the freezer looks too empty. Silly I know. There's 5 grocery stores within 5 miles of my house. But there is such satisfaction in having a shelf of jam we made this summer. A shelf of soups made from summer produce. A door full of frozen veggies. And now a shelf of organic grass fed beef. In a few more weeks we'll get more beef, a couple of turkeys, and some breads that will finish it out for winter. So much easier when it's cold and yucky outside and we're busy with school and activities to just pull stuff out and have dinner already.

Now I am going to find the most beautiful arrangement to make with the pumpkins and gourds we got from the farm. I can already smell the pumpkin pie in the oven.

Ellie's First Trip to the Beach