New Things

Today has been great.  Today has been busy.  We began our day knowing that Jeff would be home shortly, only to get changed and head back out the door to continue training for his new part-time job.  You have got to love this man.  His work ethic; his commitment to his family; his willingness to be uncomfortable in the short-term, so that the long-term picture might be better.  As soon as he headed out we welcomed dear friends to visit and play and eat.  What a blessing to be home and for the kids to be here to enjoy one another.  Ages from 10-1, all interacting and having fun.  Two grown up mammas chatting and laughing and commiserating.  Thank you God for that!  After they left, we did some school and now the bigguns are out playing again with our neighbors, who also homeschool.  Yes we will have to read our science later tonight, and yes Ella-Kathryn needs to do her spelling test.  But we can do it later:)  Right now, while it's still not raining, they can run and be silly and make Spartan swords and shields together.  And I am grateful for this life.  Even though I maybe wasn't earlier this morning.  He nudged me gently, and reminded me that I have so very much to be grateful for.  When I was so emotional in church on Sunday, because my husband couldn't join me and my 4-year old did instead but the message was about marriage, not parenting, and we have so many changes on the horizon, He dealt with me gently.  I am so thankful that we serve a kind, gently, loving God and not a jerk you by the scruff of your neck kind of deity.  He who is infinitely patient with this forever messing up kind of gal:)
Sorry no pics today - need to upload a bunch - next on my to-do list...

Life So Far

A quick update in pics:


This handsome guy had been working his "Justin Beiber" hair for far too long, so he finally got is all cut off!  I miss his hair, but it was getting to be a bit much:)  You'll see his new 'do down below.

 Um, yeah.  We let our 2 year old handle hunting rifles?  Don't report us, please...

Jeff and I finally got to go out on a date! 

 This winter has been crazy warm.  Makes me a bit sad to have NO snow this year, but it's great for the kids because they love to be outside.  Here's one of their sandbox creations - a massive tunnel that they tried to convince me Ryan could fit through!

 Ella-Kathryn and Ryan (with his new haircut).

 Will, as always in fighting mode, with this new haircut.

 Jack noticed that he and I had matching jammies:)  Gray t-shirts and red plaid bottoms - he was truly happy about this.  Sweet boy!

I saw this great, super-easy method for curling your hair and made Ella-Kathryn my guinea pig!  You just put a stretchy headband around your head like a sweatband and then begin wrapping pieces of hair up and over the band, going around the whole head.  anyway, the result was amazing!  She looked so cute, but of course it didn't last through the night.  Next time I'll put more product in and then hairspray the tar out of it!

Over the years we have lost many a dining chair.  Kids, adults, moves.  They just have bit the dust one by one.  So, after living with horribly mismatched chairs for a while now, Jeff built some benches!   Here are Jack and EK helping stain the new seating!

Ok so I know there's much more to update you on, but for now this will have to do!  Ha!

Home Educating Family Publishing

Home Educating Family Publishing
Great contest over at Home Education Family Magazine! These flip charts and helps for times tables are super helpful!

First Snow and a Party!

We had our first snow last week.  A dusting really, but the kids were thrilled to wake up to snow:)  It was pretty darn cold, windchill around 14, that day, but of course they had to go out and play for a bit. 

Then, today we hosted the family birthday party for Jack, who will be turning 10 on Tuesday!  What in the world????  Wasn't he just born????  Seriously, he is such a great kid - loves the Lord, his family, friends and neighbors and so enjoys being outdoors.  He gets a kick out of racing his RC car with his Dad, and proving his me wrong when after I do a read-aloud and wonder if anything I ever read will sink in, he blows me away with all that he's retained! We can't wait to see what God has in store for him and what he will do for the kingdom!

From his Aunt Erin and Unlce Jason and cousins, He recieved a cool RCcar stand to hold his car up off the table so that he can work more easily on it.  From Poppy, he got some new tires, and some cool cash from his Grandma and Granpa.  We dug into a white cake frosted with chocolate icing and a whipped cream middle, per a request from the bday boy himself!

It was a fun day - one we get to repeat next Sat. when some of his buddies come over to help celebrate:)  Normally we do it all on one day, but with the boys getting bigger it just seemed more logical to spread it out - for my sanity as much as anything!

Indoor Picnic

I needed to reorganize my homekeeping binder, and for reasons that escape even me, I decided today would be a good day!  Yes, right after doing the breakfast dishes and before beginning our school day, I busted open every binder/folder/pocket and emptied it all out - onto every available surface. 

So when lunchtime rolled around I had to get creative as to where we could eat!  Indoor picnic anyone?  4 kiddos definitely thought that was a great idea!

So happy I can please these sweet faces some of the time:)

New Year Changes

When we returned from our Christmas travels, we cleaned house and then I cleaned my brain:)  I spent a whole day prepping for the upcoming semester.  And I learned a painful lesson about myself.  We lament Jack's lack of diligence on an almost daily basis around here.  It has worn me down as his mom and teacher more times than I care to admit.  However, as I was looking back over our fall semester it became clear how little we had accomplished! And how that meant our spring would be so full and rather crowded with academics - squeezing out some of the fun things I had hoped to do.  Alas, it is all moi.  In my own sin, my own laziness, lack of diligence, I had allowed the kids to not complete work, to push it off til tomorrow, or a handful of tomorrows.  An eye-opener for sure!  Thank goodness for grace and mercy, because after spending some time in prayer about the whole matter, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a "system" that we have now implemented.  The Workbox system, originated by Sue Patrick, was meant to keep children who had troubles staying focused, on task.  I had briefly discussed this with Jeff in the late summer, but dismissed it because the original plan calls for a lot of space, space that we simply don't have to use with shelving and shoeboxes.  So I decided to modify it, and after looking at many others' modifications, came up with our own Workboxes.  Simply put the assignments/daily work is put, in order needed to be completed, in a tub/box.  I print of a weekly schedule, from an Excel spreadsheet original, and put that on a clipboard which goes in the front of the tub.  Each student can then grab their own weekly work agenda and begin working independently.  Of course there are times/courses which require my assistance, but that's built into the schedule.  When an assignment is completed, the child removes that subject/binder from the tub and places it on our homeschool bookshelf, thus emptying the tub one task at a time.  It is a great visual cue that work is indeed being completed and they can see and "end in sight."
                                                   Here are our super fancy workboxes:)

                   The bookshelf where completed work is deposited, albeit, not very neatly!

I have used a planner for myself and the kids' work, but transferring it on Sunday night to the spreadsheet keeps it all rather neat and orderly.  It also gives them ownership of their assignments.  Our first day back was not great, but I really think it was a much due to the fact that we had taken such a long break, as it was the work itself.  More importantly, it was the first time in forever that we completed all of our assignments!  Every single one of them!  Today was much better and Jack completed much of his work in a timely manner and without complaint.  Yeah!!!  Time will of course tell how it really plays out, but I'm hopeful:)

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas - visiting here and in Memphis.  So much fun to hang out with all of our cousins and grands!
Making Xmas cookies with Poppy:)

Jack's new Kepi hat - a gift from the Cauler side of the fam:)

                                           Xmas eve at the Simpson grandparents.

                                     Cousins modeling their new hats!  Precious girls!

                                             Jack recieved a camo-Jags t-shirt!  Score!

              The boy cousins opening their special boxes from Poppy - handcrafted with love:)

                                                     Will chillin' in the bean bag.

                                                            Ryan waiting his turn.

There are some videos I'll post on youtube - since Jeff only shot video on Xmas morning there are  no stills:( Sorry!