12 Days of Christmas

Every once and awhile I like to give the kids a "fun" writing assignment.  Grace dreads writing anything schoolish.  She is very creative and can write very well.  I think its the structure she doesn't like.  It extinguishes her creativity.  If I give a more open assignment, she flourishes.  Since Christmas is just around the corner I decided to let the creativity flow. 

I looked up "The Twelve Days of Christmas" on YouTube and the kids and I had a sing along.  Brought back the old memories at my Grandparents house when we would all take a part and sing.  When the song was over I gave out the writing assignment, Make your own 12 days list.  I knew I hit a good spot when the twinkle in Grace's eye gleamed.

Cameron, of course, selected Pokémon as his topic.  My favorite verse was "Five Pickachu's!"

Grace, her father's daughter, selected a more tropical theme.  Here is her song.  It helps it you sing the song with her words in place of the original .


On the twelfth day of summer my travel agent gave to me..

12....Ukuleles

11...Pretty Shells

10...Tropical Birds

9...Colorful Fish

8..Swimming Goggles

7...Bottles of Sunscreen

6.. Cute Pairs of Flip Flops

5..Tropical Vacations

4... Fruity Smoothies

3..Swimming Pools

2.. Flamingo Floaties

1..Parrot in a Palm Tree


Got to love that girl!  She reminds me daily that every child is brilliant in their own ways.  That children should not be taught on an "assembly line", one size fits all, method.  The freedom that home schooling gives my kids is priceless.  It's not perfect, because I'm a human being who makes mistakes.  But the God I serve is joy giving, strength infusing and full of new mercies for the journey.

The Advent Season

This December I am leading the kids through Focus on the Family Advent devotionals.  A daily guide came in the December issue of "Thriving Family" magazine.  This is a great fit for us this year.  I don't have to prepare a lot, or make a huge display.

Each day we read the passage and application selected.  It does talk about lighting the candles on the actual Advent Wreath, but since I am in the process of packing up this entire house, I did not want to add one more thing to pack.  So I just talk through the symbolism of the colored candles and evergreen wreath. 

The activities after each lesson help to seal the idea of the day.  On day 4 the family activity was charades.  The lesson talked about being "imitators of Christ".  I didn't think they would want to do this game.  I HATE CHARADES!!!!!  I do not like getting in front of people and having all the focus and pressure on me.  These kids LOVED it. (weirdos)  Even Maddie got involved.  After a few rounds I wanted to continue on with the school day, but these munchkins wanted to keep going and going.  My favorite moment was when no one could guess Cameron's.  Maddie wasn't really paying attention during his acting.  Grace and Audrey were stumped.  They were about to give up when Maddie looked up and said, "oh, that's Mario"  She was right!  Like it was sooooo obvious.

Day 9 had them really use their hearts.  We had to write great characteristics in a bowl.  (helpful, kind, shares, loving)  Then each child took a turn drawing a slip of paper out.  The rest of us had to give examples of how that characteristic applied to them.  It went really well until Grace had to think up examples for Cameron and Audrey.  Geesh, girl!  This is an activity that can really build someone up or wound them deeply.  Luckily I was there to fill any cup that she drained.

We have eight days left for this Advent season.  My last season in cold Indiana.  Sometimes I wonder if Christmas and Thanksgiving will ever feel the same way if I'm wearing shorts and have a palm tree in my front yard.  Then I remind myself that the entire point of the season is to tune my heart back to the melody of Christ.  It won't matter if is 30 degrees or 80 outside.  It's my heart that matters.  It's investing into these four kids who call me mom.  It's being obedient to what God is asking me to do.  I'm excited about the move.  I do have a bit of my Dad's adventurous spirit in me to balance out my moms cautious and practical side.  They both gave me good tools to use in life. 

I'm excited about what this means for my family, my walk with Christ, my checkbook, my future.  It's not easy starting over.  It is challenging.  But I have a great peace that this is where God is taking me next.  So when I shed tears at leaving friends behind, I have that place of certainty to land on to help me through. When the task of packing overwhelms me, it's Him that encourages me.  When dark thoughts from the enemy want to blind me from the Truth, it's his holy scriptures that light my path. 
He has confirmed this move over and over again to me.  The harder the enemy works, the closer I know I'm getting to where Christ wants me to be.

"All In" Baptism 2013

We have hit a wonderful milestone in our family.  Cameron and Grace decided to be baptized!  Grace has been asking about it for a few months.  I kept putting her off because I wanted to make sure she realized what it meant.  Along the journey with Grace, Cameron joined in the discussions.  We began to work through a mini workbook that TPCC offers for such an occasion.   I was so blessed to be able to answer their questions and concerns.  Cameron had some real valid concerns that I was able to help him process.  At the end of the book, the children were required to write a letter to Jesus.  What a heart warming experience to hear those letters!

With all that taken care of, we met with the Children's Pastor.  Pastor Tim met with Cameron and Grace one on one to hear their hearts and ask questions.  It was such a special time to hear those discussions and see where C & G are at in their walk.  Then they went to record their video to be shown on baptism Sunday.

The first Sunday of every month is baptism Sunday. Our turn landed on December 1st. 

These are their before pictures.  I am so blessed that Tim stepped into the baptismal with them.  What a sweet moment they shared.

This is by far my FAVORITE picture taken right after.  Thank you TPCC for the picture!

 

 

What a wonderful day!  I am truly one blessed momma!

 

 

Oops! Sorry Gracie

I am cleaning pictures off of my phone in preparation for Madilynn's birthday tomorrow.  You can imagine my surprise when I realized that I did not post pictures of Grace's Birthday a whole month ago.  I have been a bit busy these last few weeks (can't post anything official yet) 

Grace is my creative child.  So as a bonus treat for her birthday I decided to let her decorate her own cake.  She was BEYOND thrilled to have this task

I didn't have any tips for the bags, which made quiet a sloppy design.  She was happy with the results though.

 

 

 The gift that topped all gifts was her American Girl Doll.  She has wanted one FOREVER but they can be expensive.  This year my mom and sisters went in together to purchase Grace her doll.

 

 

She named her Jessica

 

 

I love you Grace!  My life has been more blessed these last nine years because of you!

Thank the Lord for YouTube!

When I home school I like to use different approaches.  I have four children who learn very different ways.  I also am learning that I can't be in four places at one time (Duh!) 

Anyways, I need all the resources I can get.  This semester we have traveled with Native Americans, Followed the Gold Rush of '49, Hid with Harriet Tubman in the Underground Railroad and now we are consumed by the Civil War Era.

Here Cameron, Grace, and I are watching a short clip about The Gold Rush on YouTube.  It makes a difference when they can see real pictures of real people of that time

If used correctly, YouTube can be a home school moms best friend.  During devotions last week, the kids and I talked about tithing, what it was, and how to do it.  They memorized Malachi 3:10 and we read about the widows offering versus the wealthy man.  Words are words.  They are good, but I need something to bring this to LIFE!  Enter YouTube!

This video is called "Tithe Rap"  We watched this about a billion times because the kids could not get enough!

This next song is by the same guys but from a farmers perspective.  I think we watched this one about 2 billion times.  This was their favorite.

So besides History and Bible lessons, a great way I utilize YouTube is when the kids need to get their crazies out!  As the weather turns colder and restricts our outside time, the giggles and antsy pants become a bigger issue.  Take today for an example.  I had the older two at the kitchen table brainstorming a newspaper article written about an event or person from the Civil War.  They were working on "hooks" to get the reader to read their article.  No matter what I tried, the sillies had gotten a big hold on them.  It was one of those laughter's that not even the "Mother means business" look could cure. Grace said something about the Gettysburg Address and Cameron asked why Gettysburg would wear a dress?  See, dumb things like that.  I think Grace turned blue one time from laughing so hard. So this went on and on.  I finally came to a fork in the road.  I could yell and demand they listen and get to work, or take the road less traveled and step away from the task for a bit.  So I called break time and pulled out the laptop.  Can you guess what I did?  Yup!  YouTube!  This time I typed in "Just Dance" 

Now, we don't have a Wii or Xbox or any other gaming device.  "Just Dance" is a game where you follow the dancers on the screen to get points.  It is quiet the workout!  This budget savvy mom has learned that other people post their games on YouTube.  We can watch and dance along.  It has been a great way to get the sillies out.  This is usually the one we start out with. 

 

This is the minis doing "Gangnam Style"

 

"Call Me Maybe"

 

 

 

Reverse Shots

Audrey June is Six

October 25th, 2007, Audrey June entered the world.  What a privilege to celebrate her 6th birthday this past week

This was taken on the day we drove her home from the hospital. 

 Her is Miss Audrey just 6 short years later!

She wanted a "Rock Star" type cake.  So I attempted a microphone

The day started very early.  Audrey is by nature an early riser.  And on this special day was no exception.  Come 5am, a very excited girl was ready to go.  She even went to wake her siblings.  Obviously she was not greeted with the same enthusiasm as she was putting out.  Grace, in anticipation that this might happen, spent the night in Cameron's room on the floor.  I couldn't be mad at her. It was her birthday after all.  So as a compromise, she could snuggle in bed with me.    Then at a reasonable hour, we could wake up and party!

I love when she opened a card from Great Grandma Billie.  She did it so fast I didn't see who it was from.  When I asked who sent the card, she grabbed the envelope and said, "Well, it has fancy writing so it must be from Grandma Billie!"  Love it!

 She was a slightly excited about her "computer" 

After a while, Cam had had enough girly fun.  I love the fact that he stayed in the room and gamed while the girls played Lalaloopsy .

Audrey had a great day playing with new toys, watching Tangled, lunch fun at Pizza Hut, then family dinner at McDonald's.  She is one blessed little girl.  Thank you for all the love from Goshen, Plymouth, Virginia, and The Canary Islands!

Halloween Adventures

What a day yesterday was!  I am actually surprised that I am even making complete sentences.

The weather was HORRIBLE!  All trick or treat activities in the city were cancelled.  No biggie for this family as we are hit or miss with that "holiday" anyways.  I was done with the day before it even got started.  Ever have one of those days?  There wasn't enough Tylenol and caffeine in the world to help this momma stay glued.  I should have read the writing on the wall.  I should have called off school and declared it a PJ day.  Ahhh, hindsight!

A certain strong willed daughter was expanding her kingdom.  I was losing ground fast.  I can't seem to get ahead with her.  Everything is a struggle.  So I have her throwing a fit and screaming most of the day.  Trying to attempt school with the older two.  Entertain Madilynn.  One o'clock comes around and I have not got into the shower yet or made lunch.  I have a play date with Tara scheduled for 1:30.  Not gonna happen.  Several texts later and we have moved it to two.  Jump into the shower, have Grace start lunch, grab a diet coke and out the door we go.

There is a church down the way that has an indoor play gym.  It is a perfect choice for the day as the weather eliminates any outdoor activities.  When we arrive there are gifts for Grace and Audrey to celebrate their birthdays.  The day is looking up.  Tara and I settle on the bench and set the 7 crazy kids loose.  Now I have a BIG topic on my mind to tell Tara.  Hence my bad mood already that morning. How do I break this possible bad news?  I am just starting the sentence, when, WHAM!  Grace trips over Hayley's foot and smacks her head on the metal bar on the steps.  No biggie. Kids fall all the time.  I actually don't jump up right away because as an almost 9 year old, she should bounce right back.  After a few seconds, she wasn't getting up.  This is the part in the movie when the music slows down and everything is in slow motion.  Her cry is different, her position is different. She is laying on her stomach, hands on her face. I stand up and walk to her to help her roll over.  (we are still in slow motion)  As she removes her hand from her forehead...let's just say it was confirmed right there that I am glad I didn't pursue my dream of being an EMT. Blood was everywhere! Bright red, flowing blood.  Grace takes one look at her red dripping hands and loses it.  By the Grace of God my calm mom mode kicks in.  I call for paper towels, wet and dry.  Nothing is stopping the flow.  Alarms are going off in my head.  This is too much blood to be coming out of a head. I use a soft voice with Grace asking her questions like what day is it, what's your favorite color.  Keep her out of shock.  Reassuring her.  After a minute or so, I still can't see exactly the size of the wound.  I can't get the blood to stop.  It's soaking her hair, staining her shirt. Time to round up the troops.  Tara helps me usher the kids out to the vehicles.  (Hope the blood stain comes out of their floor)  After dropping the kids off at Tara's house I rush Grace to the Urgent Care.  She is still hyperventilating, apologizing, I still am in calm mom mode.  (Thank you Jesus)  Now if you wanna get immediate care, bypassing paper work and waiting rooms, walk into the Urgent Care with a blood stained child. I think every nurse in that building swarmed us.  I'm still trying to calm Grace down, calming words, encouraging words.

It was decided she would need stitches.  In order to start the procedure, they obviously needed to numb the area.  I started to feel queasy.  I had to look away as they put the needle inside her wound.  But boy I held her hand tight as she screamed.  Then it got quiet.  The miracle of science.  She even got her smile back.  The promise of candy from the nurse has that affect on her.

We got her all stitched up, headed to the pharmacy to pick up her prescription, bought a new shirt to replace the ruined one.  Once I got to Tara's to pick up the kids, my mommy calm mode had run its course.  I crashed.  I sat at her table and lost it.  She had made me dinner and let me borrow "Monster's University"  The sweetness of friendship.  So we headed home, changed into comfy clothes, ate dinner and popped in the movie.  What a day.  I could not take one more thing.

 This is what it looked like when the bleeding finally stopped and the nurse cleaned it up.  It is in the shape of a horseshoe and very deep.  Praise the Lord that it wasn't more serious.

Taken this morning when I changed her dressings.

What a day.  I'm stressed out just writing it all down.