Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Three Cheers for Chapter Books!
I was laying in bed reading and Macy bounced (yes, she bounces...especially at night, that's when she has the most energy) into our room and announced, "I've finished my first chapter book, all by myself!" Wow. I was impressed. The last library visit, she asked to check out 8 chapter books and I had her pare in down to 2 thinking she'd never read them by the time they were due. We've been reading them aloud together and it takes us at least a week to get through one together, aloud. So, of course, being the Charlotte Mason fan that I am, I immediately went into "narration mode" and started asking her all sorts of questions. Wow...she really did read it! It was one of the Junie B. books. The funniest part of this whole thing is that Macy looks just like Junie B! The loose teeth, the glasses, the unkept hair...they could be twins. That isn't to be mean, it is just true. Junie is darling and my sweet Macy is double darling. So, she asked for more books to read. I sent her to her room with a shorter book (all that we had) and she returned in 45 minutes, done. Wow. Double impressed. She was so excited. After 5 minutes of narration drilling, she begged me for more books. I was so excited to be prepared! I went downstairs and came back up with a stack of books I had found at a garage sale, all for first graders. She opened up the first one and asked why I had given her a baby book. I took a closer look (I bought them as they were for first grade, they said so on the covers!) and yes, they were baby books! They were way too easy! I gave her a big hug and said "Macy, that's why we are homeschooling! You would be reading these if you went to school, but the skys the limit, you can read anything and no one tells you what level you are!" Three cheers for homeschooling! I'm encouraged! Double encouraged. Triple encouraged! It is working! She loves it! Praise the Lord. Now, if I could just get her to keep her hair neat all day...
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Whines from a homebody...
I love to stay home and stay home we do. During my early days of motherhood, I didn't quite know what to do with myself each day. I relyed on other new moms for my entertainment and spent many a happy morning at a playdate, nibbling on scones and other morning treats and drinking yummy cups of coffee. I learned alot from those women. Especially my sister. Each woman added something to my direction that I've taken in my motherhood journey.
Fast forward six years later. If I'm going to leave my sanctuary now days, I need some kind of project or learning opportunity that is going to transpire and make it worth all the hassle of getting packed up and out of the house. Whether it be a kid craft project or a book discussion, I need to have walked away thinking that a.) my kids learned something (yea! school's out for the day!) or b.) I've been inspired my someone or something that is going to make me a better mama/wife/friend/sister/daughter. Now that reads so terribly. No one is ever going to invite me anywhere again! What I really mean is that it is really hard to get out the door on time with 3 young kids. It is stressful and time-consuming. I need bang for my buck.
During the week, we're home as much as possible. I'm not one to run around to one activity after another. Two mid-week kid activities...that is the limit. Oh, and you have to be at least 5 years old to get to do the activities. Right now, Macy is involved with Pioneer Club (another version of Awana) and Girl's Club, an activity I made up to foster the love of hospitality and practical homemaking skills. Our family activities include bible study (12 kids in attendance) and church. So that is 12 days per month that social activities that are scheduled. Now add in at least 2 field trips a month (this month was the Conservatory for a "tour of the senses" and a retirement home to sing Christmas Carols and pass out gifts. Oh, I guess we went to the Children's Museum too and then there was Conner Prairie to see the Gingerbread Houses.) So, four field trips this month. So, I'm up to 16 dates on the calendar so far this month. Now, add in family fun activites. This month we went to a Christmas puppet show, a visit with Santa and his reindeer, and an "Evening in Bethlehem" production. We enjoyed a Christmas brunch with friends and are looking forward to a party next week. Okay, so we're up to 21 engagements. Perhaps December is a bit busier than other months, now that I think about it, but seriously, my point is is that the activities add up and that adds up to alot of running around/getting ready/hearding kids! Now I need to add in grocery store visits (once a week) and perhaps 2 or 3 additional errands a week. Now I'm up to 28 things on my to do list. Okay, perhaps I can do more than one thing a day, that's reasonable, but still, I wonder...how can I simplify? That's what I'm going to be thinking about between now and January 1st. Stay tuned. This mama is on a mission!
Fast forward six years later. If I'm going to leave my sanctuary now days, I need some kind of project or learning opportunity that is going to transpire and make it worth all the hassle of getting packed up and out of the house. Whether it be a kid craft project or a book discussion, I need to have walked away thinking that a.) my kids learned something (yea! school's out for the day!) or b.) I've been inspired my someone or something that is going to make me a better mama/wife/friend/sister/daughter. Now that reads so terribly. No one is ever going to invite me anywhere again! What I really mean is that it is really hard to get out the door on time with 3 young kids. It is stressful and time-consuming. I need bang for my buck.
During the week, we're home as much as possible. I'm not one to run around to one activity after another. Two mid-week kid activities...that is the limit. Oh, and you have to be at least 5 years old to get to do the activities. Right now, Macy is involved with Pioneer Club (another version of Awana) and Girl's Club, an activity I made up to foster the love of hospitality and practical homemaking skills. Our family activities include bible study (12 kids in attendance) and church. So that is 12 days per month that social activities that are scheduled. Now add in at least 2 field trips a month (this month was the Conservatory for a "tour of the senses" and a retirement home to sing Christmas Carols and pass out gifts. Oh, I guess we went to the Children's Museum too and then there was Conner Prairie to see the Gingerbread Houses.) So, four field trips this month. So, I'm up to 16 dates on the calendar so far this month. Now, add in family fun activites. This month we went to a Christmas puppet show, a visit with Santa and his reindeer, and an "Evening in Bethlehem" production. We enjoyed a Christmas brunch with friends and are looking forward to a party next week. Okay, so we're up to 21 engagements. Perhaps December is a bit busier than other months, now that I think about it, but seriously, my point is is that the activities add up and that adds up to alot of running around/getting ready/hearding kids! Now I need to add in grocery store visits (once a week) and perhaps 2 or 3 additional errands a week. Now I'm up to 28 things on my to do list. Okay, perhaps I can do more than one thing a day, that's reasonable, but still, I wonder...how can I simplify? That's what I'm going to be thinking about between now and January 1st. Stay tuned. This mama is on a mission!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Mommy's temper tantrum
I need to tattoo this on my forehead: your children are ALWAYS watching you! Silas had a dermatologist's appointment for a little spot on his head today. We arrived at the appointment in plenty of time. The day was gloriously sunny, I treated myself to an eggnog latte on my way and the kids were all doing great (no arguing or complaining.) What could go wrong? The whole appointment. The really, really, really, really BAD customer service. The really rude receptionist, the assistant with NO clue, and the annoying doctor who we waited for for almost an hour. It was a golden opportunity to shine with the love of Jesus (be filled with love and understanding) but instead I got a bad attitude, yelled at the kids and pretty much acted like a 17 year old who didn't get her way. The kids never said anything, but I know they were watching me, and learning. Soaking in my reactions. Dissecting my every move. It's hard being in the spotlight everyday. I so fall short. I'll try to do better, kiddos!
BTW: The spot on Silas' head is a birthmark, the doctor recommended having it removed before puberty as this type of birthmark can become cancerous in later life.
BTW: The spot on Silas' head is a birthmark, the doctor recommended having it removed before puberty as this type of birthmark can become cancerous in later life.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Six outfits...two days.
Having a sick baby is sad. Silas woke up from his afternoon nap yesterday fussy with a gurgly tummy. It didn't take long for the pre-nap bottle to come up...all over me. He waited until I changed into outfit #2 to cover me again with yet another round of curdled milk. So, today's homeschool lessons were put on the back burner and the Christmas movies I recorded were presented with cheers from Macy and Wil while I sat cuddled in the softest of blankets with my sweet but sick baby. As I write this, I'm in outfit #6. It's a freaky one...my flannel pj bottoms and a sweater than I never wear because I feel ugly in it. I didn't manage a shower, so I smell of half-digested curdled milk that managed to seep through outfit #5 onto my bra. The house is a mess...games and puzzles we did after the movie never got put away and the lunch and dinner dishes are still waiting for me. But hey, it was a good day...a good day because we didn't have anything scheduled and we didn't have to go anywhere. A good day because Macy learned how to take care of a sick baby. A good day because my kids are learning how to be flexible and sympathetic. A good day because we're learning to help each other out. A good day because we got to be together.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Switching sites and starting over...
I started this blog yesterday on www.wordpress.com It's too advanced for this girl. Really. I was lost and needed someone to hold my hand. I spent over an hour trying to post a picture but to no avail. Why didn't I just go with blogger in the first place. I don't know...just wanted to try something new I guess. So here I am, starting over, yet I have barely just begun...
Magic Pink Tights. December 14, 2009
I hate mornings. The only good thing about mornings is it is coffee time. Dunkin’ Donuts regular to be exact. This Seattle girl has gone to the dark side and joined the ranks of something that someone in the NW would snub. But I have to say, it is good stuff, I’m hooked. Fresh ground each and every morning, of course.
This morning I managed to get up before the kiddos and got tons done before they woke up. I love being ahead of the game. Now that Silas is sleeping better, I want to get up and prep my day before they even think about waking up. That involves getting up at some crazy time like 6am…I’ve done it before, I can do it again! While I was feeding Silas around 8:30am, I heard Macy running up and down the stairs and wondered what she was up to. She peeked in the guestroom where I was watching the Today show and announced that her show was about to begin and was I ready to be seated? Wil wandered in after her and asked if he could come to the show. Sure. Apparently, all of us has reserved front row seats.
We all followed Macy down the stairs and lo and behold, the livingroom had been picked up and looked beautiful. Two chairs and a bumpo seat were set up in a row by the Christmas tree and we were asked to be seated. Macy was dressed up in her pink leotard and pink tights and was especially giddy about us being there. She had even set up her boom box next to the fireplace and had her favorite CD at the ready (Kid’s Bop 3). She danced over to the boombox, pressed play and started dancing across the floor, stopping after the first 15 seconds or so to explain to us that she made up this routine last night and practiced it in her head all night. “I even dreamed about it.” The performance lasted about 2 minutes. A mix between ballet, riverdancing and the flag girls’ moves from the high school marching band. After she was done and we clapped our hearts out (at least I did) she asked if I noticed how high she jumped in her ballet moves. When I said yes, she said that it felt like her tights were magical and they made her jump really high. I love having a little girl. I love that she is so darn feminine, yet loves to play with any little boy that comes along. I love her little baby-tooth filled smile that I know I’ll miss once those 2 loose top front teeth fall out. I love her vivid imagination that gives me hope that more is possible, if I would just stretch myself a little bit. I love my little girl in magical pink tights.
Practice does not make perfect. December 13, 2009
Okay, world. Here I go…a blog. Catherine, you were the one that inspired me to start. I want to write all clever and saavy like you, but I know that God gave us each our own voice and mine won’t be even close to yours. Oh, well, I’m gonna celebrate the differences and keep going.
The goal of this blog is just to record a day in the life of, well, our family. Someday perhaps our kids will enjoy reading how hard I tried, even if on many days I fail. Practice will never make perfect. I preach to the kids that there is no such thing as perfection…only trying your best. So here it goes.
After church today, I took Wil on a little Christmas shopping trip. He was dressed for the occasion and was so excited when I announced it was our “date.” That’s the key word: “date.” That usually means a fun treat involving sugar or a toy along the way. The kids are so easy to spoil when I am one-on-one. Anyhoo, he was all dressed up in his new Christmas outfit from Aunt Shannon. It was a nice change from the daily superhero outfits which is all he usually will wear. In fact, I didn’t even ask him to dress up, he just showed up in our bedroom at 8am all dressed and wanting to know when church started. Mike and I actually planned on playing hookey from church and stay home, but when he looked at me with his big blue eyes and asked to go to church, what kind of mama would I be to deny my baby a visit to God’s house? So, I take him, just the two of us.
Wil is such a sweetie pie. At our first shopping stop, he gets out of the van and first thing he does is reach for my hand to hold. His little paw is so small, soft and sweet. Somewhere along the line I scared him to death about getting run over in a parking lot so he immediately and without fail always holds hands. Once upon a time he wouldn’t hold anyone’s hand but his own. It was so funny watching him walk along side me with him holding one of his own hands. Makes me laugh just thinking about it. Anyway, after we found Mike’s gift and were walking back to the car hand in hand, I reminded him that the present we got for Daddy was a surprise. He looked at me and said, “I know! I’m gonna tell him I got him a pile of rocks!” It’s the little things like this that I don’t want to forget. The treat of the day (his choosing) was a Burger King cheeseburger without pickles. He told me how much he loved it all the way home. Again, it’s the little things that make me love being a mom. We took a nap together after we got home. Wil and I love to sleep. That kid can outsleep me…it is amazing. Put him in a bed and he’s out. I love napping with him, he’s a cuddler.
Magic Pink Tights. December 14, 2009
I hate mornings. The only good thing about mornings is it is coffee time. Dunkin’ Donuts regular to be exact. This Seattle girl has gone to the dark side and joined the ranks of something that someone in the NW would snub. But I have to say, it is good stuff, I’m hooked. Fresh ground each and every morning, of course.
This morning I managed to get up before the kiddos and got tons done before they woke up. I love being ahead of the game. Now that Silas is sleeping better, I want to get up and prep my day before they even think about waking up. That involves getting up at some crazy time like 6am…I’ve done it before, I can do it again! While I was feeding Silas around 8:30am, I heard Macy running up and down the stairs and wondered what she was up to. She peeked in the guestroom where I was watching the Today show and announced that her show was about to begin and was I ready to be seated? Wil wandered in after her and asked if he could come to the show. Sure. Apparently, all of us has reserved front row seats.
We all followed Macy down the stairs and lo and behold, the livingroom had been picked up and looked beautiful. Two chairs and a bumpo seat were set up in a row by the Christmas tree and we were asked to be seated. Macy was dressed up in her pink leotard and pink tights and was especially giddy about us being there. She had even set up her boom box next to the fireplace and had her favorite CD at the ready (Kid’s Bop 3). She danced over to the boombox, pressed play and started dancing across the floor, stopping after the first 15 seconds or so to explain to us that she made up this routine last night and practiced it in her head all night. “I even dreamed about it.” The performance lasted about 2 minutes. A mix between ballet, riverdancing and the flag girls’ moves from the high school marching band. After she was done and we clapped our hearts out (at least I did) she asked if I noticed how high she jumped in her ballet moves. When I said yes, she said that it felt like her tights were magical and they made her jump really high. I love having a little girl. I love that she is so darn feminine, yet loves to play with any little boy that comes along. I love her little baby-tooth filled smile that I know I’ll miss once those 2 loose top front teeth fall out. I love her vivid imagination that gives me hope that more is possible, if I would just stretch myself a little bit. I love my little girl in magical pink tights.
Practice does not make perfect. December 13, 2009
Okay, world. Here I go…a blog. Catherine, you were the one that inspired me to start. I want to write all clever and saavy like you, but I know that God gave us each our own voice and mine won’t be even close to yours. Oh, well, I’m gonna celebrate the differences and keep going.
The goal of this blog is just to record a day in the life of, well, our family. Someday perhaps our kids will enjoy reading how hard I tried, even if on many days I fail. Practice will never make perfect. I preach to the kids that there is no such thing as perfection…only trying your best. So here it goes.
After church today, I took Wil on a little Christmas shopping trip. He was dressed for the occasion and was so excited when I announced it was our “date.” That’s the key word: “date.” That usually means a fun treat involving sugar or a toy along the way. The kids are so easy to spoil when I am one-on-one. Anyhoo, he was all dressed up in his new Christmas outfit from Aunt Shannon. It was a nice change from the daily superhero outfits which is all he usually will wear. In fact, I didn’t even ask him to dress up, he just showed up in our bedroom at 8am all dressed and wanting to know when church started. Mike and I actually planned on playing hookey from church and stay home, but when he looked at me with his big blue eyes and asked to go to church, what kind of mama would I be to deny my baby a visit to God’s house? So, I take him, just the two of us.
Wil is such a sweetie pie. At our first shopping stop, he gets out of the van and first thing he does is reach for my hand to hold. His little paw is so small, soft and sweet. Somewhere along the line I scared him to death about getting run over in a parking lot so he immediately and without fail always holds hands. Once upon a time he wouldn’t hold anyone’s hand but his own. It was so funny watching him walk along side me with him holding one of his own hands. Makes me laugh just thinking about it. Anyway, after we found Mike’s gift and were walking back to the car hand in hand, I reminded him that the present we got for Daddy was a surprise. He looked at me and said, “I know! I’m gonna tell him I got him a pile of rocks!” It’s the little things like this that I don’t want to forget. The treat of the day (his choosing) was a Burger King cheeseburger without pickles. He told me how much he loved it all the way home. Again, it’s the little things that make me love being a mom. We took a nap together after we got home. Wil and I love to sleep. That kid can outsleep me…it is amazing. Put him in a bed and he’s out. I love napping with him, he’s a cuddler.
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