1884. school supplies and curriculum all laid out and ready to go for our first day of School 2013-2014
1885. the baby boy's sweet first hair cut
1886. a weekend full of fun family time
1887. hearing the kiddos laugh during Despicable Me 2
1888. Jim n' Nicks' muffins with dinner after the movie
1889. Peanut enjoying the warmer water in the pool
1890. friendly mothers who keep their big kids from splashing the baby
1891. watching Peanut play in the bath tub for 10+ minutes AFTER the water has been drained
1892. Scott surprising us all with a putt-putt date today (even though I've had to forgive him b/c I didn't know to bring my camera...and I didn't even have my phone with me!)
1893. watching Birdie chase her ball around the green until it finally went in the hole
1894. hearing the kiddos say, "Thanks for taking us to play putt-putt, Daddy. That was awesome!!"
Psalm 136:1-3, "Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits. Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits."
Monday, July 22, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Mighty. Mother.
I have no words, only tears.
We are mighty, because we mother. Go to battle and be not broken!
http://youtu.be/Xa-7jtvi7J4
We are mighty, because we mother. Go to battle and be not broken!
http://youtu.be/Xa-7jtvi7J4
Monday, July 15, 2013
Multitudes on Monday
1875. friends who give me encouragement when some days as a Mama are just plain hard
1876. extra sweet coffee on mornings when it will just make the day start off better
1877. Kashi fruit bars for the baby boy who still can't have dairy and is very limited in foods that are easy to take places
1878. rediscovering my jean jacket and finding that it's still in style
1879. spending a day at the mall and only spending money on lunch and a train ride
1880. enjoying this almost-7-year-old stage with Birdie more than any other since she was a tiny babe
1881. finally finding a snug pair of PJs that actually fit snuggly on the baby
1882. a new Hanna Anderson outlet close by with the cutest.dresses.ever. at $8 and $12 WooHoo!!!
1883. Mimi spoiling Buddy-Ro on his first over-night stay to her house
Psalm 69:30, "Let me shout God’s name with a praising song, Let me tell His greatness in a prayer of thanks."
1876. extra sweet coffee on mornings when it will just make the day start off better
1877. Kashi fruit bars for the baby boy who still can't have dairy and is very limited in foods that are easy to take places
1878. rediscovering my jean jacket and finding that it's still in style
1879. spending a day at the mall and only spending money on lunch and a train ride
1880. enjoying this almost-7-year-old stage with Birdie more than any other since she was a tiny babe
1881. finally finding a snug pair of PJs that actually fit snuggly on the baby
1882. a new Hanna Anderson outlet close by with the cutest.dresses.ever. at $8 and $12 WooHoo!!!
1883. Mimi spoiling Buddy-Ro on his first over-night stay to her house
Psalm 69:30, "Let me shout God’s name with a praising song, Let me tell His greatness in a prayer of thanks."
Friday, July 12, 2013
The School Room
The school room is organized. Again. And it is waiting patiently for school to begin.
Summer affects my brain severely at times and I start thinking things like, "Oh, let's just start back to school now." Eeeek! The heat can be over-whelming, apparently.
But, truly, I am excited about school starting back. Probably sooner rather than later since we tend to take breaks throughout the year. Here is where we will be for the most part. We have tried "school" all over the house, but my kiddos truly do better in our school room. While we often read books on my bed, just about everything else is done here.
The kiddos love to have their art work displayed!
Scott built this for the playroom a few years back, but these cubbies are great for organizing our games, puzzles, manipulatives, and maps.
Here is our desk. It's under all that clutter somewhere. Birdie-girl is obsessed with office supplies (especially sticky notes) and her "collection" is obvious. The clutter used to overwhelm me (it still does on bad days), but I've learned to appreciate Birdie's ability to waste nothing...and collect everything. She is able to concentrate on her math while she's at the computer, so for now I'm learning to let it go. See.....Mama learns at home, too. ;)
Sometimes it's just fun to decorate. :)
We have been using the Workbox System for over a year now, and it has worked out well for us..
Scott made the large white board/cork board for our school use. It's very handy having a handy-man for a husband. :)
We are going with My Father's World curriculum this year. I am very excited about it, especially Birdie's curriculum where we are studying geography and people from different cultures all year. With My Father's World there is a heart for missions deep in their curriculum, and that makes my heart happy.
MFW has a system that they call "reading basket" - where you keep suggested reading and books for fun. We love to read, so this was an added bonus for us!
I love the quote that hovers above us in the school room. It's our reminder that we don't do things in our own strength. So when school days get hard (which they will), we can keep going. His strength is sufficient!
I feel myself already getting into school mode. School supplies have been purchased, everything is organized, we talk about school often to get the kiddos excited. I know it won't be a perfect year, it won't always be fun, I know I'll be stretched beyond my own capacity - but here we go anyway!!
Summer affects my brain severely at times and I start thinking things like, "Oh, let's just start back to school now." Eeeek! The heat can be over-whelming, apparently.
But, truly, I am excited about school starting back. Probably sooner rather than later since we tend to take breaks throughout the year. Here is where we will be for the most part. We have tried "school" all over the house, but my kiddos truly do better in our school room. While we often read books on my bed, just about everything else is done here.
The kiddos love to have their art work displayed!
Scott built this for the playroom a few years back, but these cubbies are great for organizing our games, puzzles, manipulatives, and maps.
Here is our desk. It's under all that clutter somewhere. Birdie-girl is obsessed with office supplies (especially sticky notes) and her "collection" is obvious. The clutter used to overwhelm me (it still does on bad days), but I've learned to appreciate Birdie's ability to waste nothing...and collect everything. She is able to concentrate on her math while she's at the computer, so for now I'm learning to let it go. See.....Mama learns at home, too. ;)
Sometimes it's just fun to decorate. :)
We have been using the Workbox System for over a year now, and it has worked out well for us..
Scott made the large white board/cork board for our school use. It's very handy having a handy-man for a husband. :)
We are going with My Father's World curriculum this year. I am very excited about it, especially Birdie's curriculum where we are studying geography and people from different cultures all year. With My Father's World there is a heart for missions deep in their curriculum, and that makes my heart happy.
MFW has a system that they call "reading basket" - where you keep suggested reading and books for fun. We love to read, so this was an added bonus for us!
I love the quote that hovers above us in the school room. It's our reminder that we don't do things in our own strength. So when school days get hard (which they will), we can keep going. His strength is sufficient!
I feel myself already getting into school mode. School supplies have been purchased, everything is organized, we talk about school often to get the kiddos excited. I know it won't be a perfect year, it won't always be fun, I know I'll be stretched beyond my own capacity - but here we go anyway!!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Multitudes on Monday
1867. learning to cut the grass at the ripe old age of 34
1868. 45ish minute reprieve of the rain to watch fireworks
1869. all three kiddos in the paper together
1870. jumping on a crazy trampoline with bungees in order for Birdie-girl to give it a try - a great workout and lots of fun!!
1871. cooler summer temperatures
1872. breaks in the rain to play outside
1873. new school supplies for the kiddos and the Mama
1874. watching a TV show uninterrupted for the first time in months
Psalm 138:2 (The Message) "Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!” Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength."
1868. 45ish minute reprieve of the rain to watch fireworks
1869. all three kiddos in the paper together
1870. jumping on a crazy trampoline with bungees in order for Birdie-girl to give it a try - a great workout and lots of fun!!
1871. cooler summer temperatures
1872. breaks in the rain to play outside
1873. new school supplies for the kiddos and the Mama
1874. watching a TV show uninterrupted for the first time in months
Psalm 138:2 (The Message) "Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!” Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength."
Saturday, July 6, 2013
This boy
This boy made me a better Mama.
With the first two, I was so anxious to do things "right." To let them cry enough so as not to spoil them. To get them to go to sleep "on their own." To teach them to be independent early. I read all of the books {multiple times}, followed strict schedules, and tried very hard to make my babies little adults. Instead of following my heart, I followed books written by strangers. (It gave me great joy to burn one specific book when Birdie-girl was about 13 months old...and I was 4 months pregnant with #2!)
The third time around, there are no books to be found in our home with the how-tos of being a good mom. There are no strict schedules where I fret if we are off by 15 minutes. And there is no chance of me making my baby grow up too fast.
I suppose it comes with having more children, but experience is really the best teacher. I don't need a book to tell me what the baby's cries mean - I can listen my with my own ears and decipher. I don't need a book with a formula for how to structure my day. We simply have a routine and go with it. I have come to learn that I can't expect the baby to be tired or hungry at the exact same time every day - because I surely am not! :)
With experience comes confidence, I suppose. I now have the confidence I need to follow my instincts. To follow my heart. When the baby is tired, I rock him. Goodness knows I wish I could go back and rock my older babies more than I did. When my baby wants to be held, I hold him. I now know to be true what everyone told me: Time goes by fast. My two older kiddos are now too big to hold and tote around, and it breaks my heart. They still need me, they still want to cuddle on my bed and read together...but they are now too big to hold against my chest. Too big to cover them with kisses any time I want to.
So this boy, he has made me a better Mama. Not a perfect one - not even close - but a better one. I am relishing in every day with him because I know they will be gone all too soon. I spend more time in the floor playing so that I can hear him laugh and watch him learn. I spend less time worrying about this and that and instead enjoy just being Mama. I spend more time playing with his two big siblings. I spend more time listening to them and being in their company. They don't feel that they missed out on their Mama's love because they can't remember me fretting to do it "right." But I remember.
And this go 'round, with This Boy, I'm turning into the mother I wish I had been all along.
With the first two, I was so anxious to do things "right." To let them cry enough so as not to spoil them. To get them to go to sleep "on their own." To teach them to be independent early. I read all of the books {multiple times}, followed strict schedules, and tried very hard to make my babies little adults. Instead of following my heart, I followed books written by strangers. (It gave me great joy to burn one specific book when Birdie-girl was about 13 months old...and I was 4 months pregnant with #2!)
The third time around, there are no books to be found in our home with the how-tos of being a good mom. There are no strict schedules where I fret if we are off by 15 minutes. And there is no chance of me making my baby grow up too fast.
I suppose it comes with having more children, but experience is really the best teacher. I don't need a book to tell me what the baby's cries mean - I can listen my with my own ears and decipher. I don't need a book with a formula for how to structure my day. We simply have a routine and go with it. I have come to learn that I can't expect the baby to be tired or hungry at the exact same time every day - because I surely am not! :)
With experience comes confidence, I suppose. I now have the confidence I need to follow my instincts. To follow my heart. When the baby is tired, I rock him. Goodness knows I wish I could go back and rock my older babies more than I did. When my baby wants to be held, I hold him. I now know to be true what everyone told me: Time goes by fast. My two older kiddos are now too big to hold and tote around, and it breaks my heart. They still need me, they still want to cuddle on my bed and read together...but they are now too big to hold against my chest. Too big to cover them with kisses any time I want to.
So this boy, he has made me a better Mama. Not a perfect one - not even close - but a better one. I am relishing in every day with him because I know they will be gone all too soon. I spend more time in the floor playing so that I can hear him laugh and watch him learn. I spend less time worrying about this and that and instead enjoy just being Mama. I spend more time playing with his two big siblings. I spend more time listening to them and being in their company. They don't feel that they missed out on their Mama's love because they can't remember me fretting to do it "right." But I remember.
And this go 'round, with This Boy, I'm turning into the mother I wish I had been all along.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Multitudes on Monday
1853. catching up on Downton Abbey
1854. speaking with a British accent when "getting on to" the kiddos to keep discipline light - when it needs to be
1855. an unexpected answer to prayer
1856. a full weekend of birthday parties that kept me from having to cook anything other than breakfast
1857. citronella candles and our "bug things" (Off! clip-ons) to make sitting outside on evenings enjoyable
1858. hearing the Peanut say, "Daddy. Daaddy. DaaaaaaaaDeeeeeee!" over and over and over
1859. knowing that the Peanut said, "Mama" first ;)
1860. making cute shirts for Birdie who has been asking for them for weeks
1861. instilling patience in my children........because Mama can't do everything all of the time
1862. dreaming out loud with Scott about what may be in our future
1863. knowing that God understands and cares about the desires of our hearts
1864. knowing that we can trust God to fulfill our dreams, even if it's not on our terms
1865. house-hunting with Mimi whose house is on the market so that she can move close to us
1866. Birdie's anticipation about going to the dentist - and not being let down once she got there
Psalm 28:6-7, "Blessed be God— He heard me praying. He proved He’s on my side; I’ve thrown my lot in with Him. Now I’m jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to Him." (The Message)
1854. speaking with a British accent when "getting on to" the kiddos to keep discipline light - when it needs to be
1855. an unexpected answer to prayer
1856. a full weekend of birthday parties that kept me from having to cook anything other than breakfast
1857. citronella candles and our "bug things" (Off! clip-ons) to make sitting outside on evenings enjoyable
1858. hearing the Peanut say, "Daddy. Daaddy. DaaaaaaaaDeeeeeee!" over and over and over
1859. knowing that the Peanut said, "Mama" first ;)
1860. making cute shirts for Birdie who has been asking for them for weeks
1861. instilling patience in my children........because Mama can't do everything all of the time
1862. dreaming out loud with Scott about what may be in our future
1863. knowing that God understands and cares about the desires of our hearts
1864. knowing that we can trust God to fulfill our dreams, even if it's not on our terms
1865. house-hunting with Mimi whose house is on the market so that she can move close to us
1866. Birdie's anticipation about going to the dentist - and not being let down once she got there
Psalm 28:6-7, "Blessed be God— He heard me praying. He proved He’s on my side; I’ve thrown my lot in with Him. Now I’m jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to Him." (The Message)
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