journal

Still having trouble with loading pictures to this blog. 

A little update

In my life this week…

First sickness of the year hit our home this week.  Not all at once. one.family.member.at.a.time.  just lovely.  I am so thankful that we are all gifted with healthy bodies.  When any of us do get sick it passes pretty quickly.  So much to be thankful for. 

In our homeschool this week…

We bought an e-reader for the family.  I'm having fun downloading old book that are in public domain.  Some of the Henty books are available, the Bobsey Twins, and so many more.  Some websites that are helping me navigate through the many thousands of free books~ Old Fashioned Education, Ambleside Online, The Baldwin Project. 

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We had to cancel a couple visits this week due to illness.  We did make it out for our Y day yesterday.  I enjoy playing with them.  It is so easy to spend time managing, cleaning, teaching, but not playing with our children and as I get older I'm seeing how fast these years go by.  I want to capture each moment with them and enjoy the time we have.  I played air hockey and swam with them.

While playing with EJ, I let him know there were ten minutes till climbing class.  He got pretty upset and said he wouldn't participate.  I knew this might be coming and after having thought it over throughout the week I was pretty sure he'd do this.  Why would this little monkey child not want to climb a wall with a bunch of kids?  He's really shy.  It can be so hard to push our kids outside their comfort zones.  I want them to be comfortable, to feel good about themselves, and I also know that gaining confidence sometimes means doing hard things.  I made him do the class.  Later that night at bedtime he asked if he could do it again.  What?  He smiled and said, "I think I know all the teacher's names now and it was really fun.  Can I do it again?"  He feels good about himself and he's ready to go for next week. 

My favorite thing this week was…
I'm enjoying trying some new recipes.  Trying to make healthy, frugal food, that everyone likes.always.a.challenge.  I started reading a book "The Art of Baking".  Very good read about the science behind cooking, which of course makes creating your own recipes go much better.
Mini quiches (in muffin tins), a chicken noodle soup, and a new cornbread recipe were on our menu this week.

quote

Today while making dinner I spilled a bag of baby carrots all over the kitchen floor.  I pulled out our strainer and asked Alyssa to collect them and put them in it to be washed.  She walked immediately walked away from her play and came over to be a kitchen helper.  I said, "thank you for working cheerfully".  My little sweetie stated "work goes fast when you do it without complaining".
There are other quotes I could share from the day, but I like to keep things positive around here.  :)

{Journal}

I have not written for awhile because I am having issues with loading pictures to this blog.  My hope is that I'll get it fixed this week and start putting pictures here regularly.  The intention for this blog is that it would become our family scrapbook and family journal, working toward that end. 
For today I'll just share a little about life here in our little family. 

In my life this week…

Our home is officially up for sale tomorrow.  We know we are so blessed here with friends and family, while we also look forward to this next step in our lives.  Our goal(s) are to buy a larger home (or adoption) and live on some acreage.  It has been a longtime dream of ours to grow a huge garden and raise some animals. 

In our homeschool this week…

We became members to a nice YMCA this month.  We're enjoying some classes their and swimming once a week. 
I started the kids in Rod and Staff English in Jan.  We were using Climbing to Good English.  I feel good about the change as I believe Rod and Staff will give them a better foundation for grammar and writing.  I also like how part of the lessons can be done orally.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…
Make time to just BE with your kids. Make time to play with them. Just have fun, laugh and be silly.  I'm talking to myself here.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We have some plans for having friends over this week.  Looking forward to our day in the "city" at the Y. 

My favorite thing this week was…

I am pretty excited to see our home for sale.Feels good to be clearing out.  I'm selling a lot of our books to clear out space.  Thinking about getting a Kindle.   
I enjoyed visiting with my neighbor.  
Seeing my daughter dive into writing.  I love seeing my kids following their interests. 

My kiddo’s favorite thing this week was…

I think it was going to church.  We are so thankful for this gift that we don't deserve.  :) 

Things I’m working on…

I'm cleaning the home today.  Each week I'm trying to be up by six and get three mile in on the treadmill before breakfast, which means I need to get to bed early.workingonthat.  Getting up earlier feels good and helps me get done what I'd like to in the mornings.

{happy new years}

A whole year has come and gone.  2012 was a good year for our family. 
This past year we: traveled around the state a bit, had a successful garden, painted our home, and we're thankful for our many blessings.
Highlights from this year included:
Samantha says the church campout was awesome.
Chandler seconds what Sam said.
Ethan thinks Christmas was pretty fun.
Alyssa likes camping.
Andy is enjoying a better work environment this year.
I'm happy that I've made the time to exercise each day, as it has made such a difference I feel.

As we look ahead to a new year we are thinking about what it might bring for us. 
We hope to sell our house and move into a larger home on a bit of land, which will enable us to pursue foster adoption and growing more of our own food. 
Some resolutions for this year:
Alyssa wants to learn her timeline better. 
Ethan wants to become a better builder.  His wooden blocks are his favorites for this. 
Chandler will be training himself to be able to do thirty hanging pull-ups in a row.
Samantha work better with the horses she cares for each day.
Andy wants to be more calm, compassionate, and be more consistent with his daily devotions.
For myself I would like to be better organized, read the Bible daily, and jog more. 

{playing}

Alyssa with her "store" set up.

CJ on his thirtieth pull-up.

EJ getting his new truck all decorated.

There (may) be some wrestling happening in our living room.

Enjoying some vacation time this Christmas season.  :)

{today}

A few random thoughts ....

Today the Christmas tree is lighting up our living room, hymns are softly playing, and we have leftovers for lunch in the oven.  Crab dip, pasta, and toast are on warm, while I wait for Samantha to return from her job.  The boys should be back soon from their test flight of CJ's helicopter.  My boo says "mom, aren't Legos the best toys ever"?  Yes, they are pretty neat.
Outside it is cold and rainy.  Winter weather is setting in here.  We had a lovely Christmas time with family and friends.  I am so blessed.
I would love to enjoy a few days of snow with the kids...we'll see what January brings us.
Note to self for next Christmas season:
start in October not December
do operation Christmas Child with the kids next year
think homemade gifts for friends and family
write a Christmas letter
attend a cantata
have our own candlight devotional
Some things we did enjoy doing this past month were a banquet with our church family, helping the kids buy present for eachother, cardmaking, reading "Jotham's Journey", and attending a play.
We are having a lovely quiet day here at home.  After lunch we're going out to a park for a bit then we'll settle in for the evening together. Hopefully we'll try out one of our new games tonight. 
Blessings~ 

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:11

For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.