Tuesday, April 30, 2013

CHECK, CHECK AND CHECK AGAIN



It is that time of year.





Make sure you are checking yourself, your children and your pets for ticks.
In the past few years its amazing how many people have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease.


Feel all creepy crawly now??


Monday, April 29, 2013

NOTHING MUCH AND EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE



Helllooooooooo!
I feel as if I have not blogged in the longest time.
So, I'll just highlight some stuff that has been happening lately.
We were sick for what ended up to be quite awhile after it went through all the kiddies..

We've been busy getting the yard in shape.
Cutting up the tree from Sandy..getting the garden ready..etc.
Whoops!


WHOOPS!


Land Rover to the rescue.


I got the bug and did some rearranging of the furniture.
In the process, I'm trying to purge.  
Changing over the clothes is always a fun time.  NOT.  It is really a chore..
I have yet to complete the task.  The weather has been so up and down; I'm glad we still have the winter stuff around.

T-ball has started.  
The kids are loving it.
They are the "Angry Tigers" this season.

I got my hair cut off FINALLY!!
It is so much easier to take care of, out of reach of baby hands, and I don't feel like quite the frump.
Did you know that there is a local organic salon?  I didn't.  This place was recommended to me and I figured I would try it out.  All of their products are organic, from hair coloring to nail polish and everything in between.

Little things,

like such, make me happy.
You would think that buying a pencil sharpener would be easy--No!
I searched and searched and read customer review upon customer review...
We had gone through a couple of electric pencil sharpeners and I definitely wanted an "old fashioned" manual one.  So far we have had no issues with it.

I'm excited for next year's curriculum.

J has two little teeth.
Sharp little daggers, I mean.
I think there may be some more making their way through too..
Tonight, he found it amusing to try test them out.
I'm telling you, he was doing it on purpose.
He would bite down slowly while eating and when I made it clear that it was NOT okay, he would let go and grin up at me!  OOOh!  If I have a Boogie Junior, I don't know WHAT I will do!


There have been so many horrible things happening in the world/country of late.
How do we deal?
I mean, evil is real and has been around and infecting us since the beginning of time.
Is it that I now have children that it seems more prevalent?  Or IS it more prevalent?  I think it is a bit of both.  These are sad, frightening times we live in.  
The Boston bombings, the Gosnell trial, the Romeike case, the list goes on and on and on..closer to home?  Mike called just tonight and while he was at work, a car was stolen by thieves with guns.  Apparently, they hit up a couple of more places after taking the vehicle too.
Mike was the one to call 911.

How do we deal?
Or I should ask, how do you deal without faith?
Where is your hope?


So, I started this post over a week ago.
You know how it goes, 
there was more I was going to write, but I'll wrap it up.
I hope you have a nice week.

PRIORITIES



Sleep that extra few minutes or have a smooth morning?

Spend the extra time snuggling the baby or squeeze in 10 more math problems?

Tackle the piles of dirty laundry and dishes or go play outside?

My house is loud.  
Pretty much the only time it is NOT loud is overnight.
Sometimes, it gets to me.
I have to yell just to be heard.  Literally.

However, it won't be loud for long.
These days pass all too quickly.
Those with grown children will attest that these are the best days--Not high school,  certainly NOT college, Not as empty-nesters--NOW.  Amidst the chaos and noise..let them be little.
Let them be messy and loud and dirty if need be.
Mess and dirt clean and noise is temporary.

I'm not a "young" parent anymore.
I need to let go of the un-important and joy in the present...
the Gift of 5 healthy, active children,
'cause it won't be like this for long.



Thursday, April 25, 2013

THE FACE OF FOUR

Four years ago today, Messy
Missy entered our lives.














Happy Birthday!!
We love you!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

FIVE

Happy 5 months, my boy!


What are we up to?
Two bottom teeth, rolling like crazy--all over the room, still nursing only, still sleeping well.
Holding himself up pretty well, so we'll probably be sitting solo pretty soon.
Also, he gets up on his knees when on his belly..so we could have a crawler before we know it!
He really is interested in what is going on around him and studies people.
On Sundays, it looks as if he is really paying close attention to the sermon..and who knows
--maybe he is! 

(This picture --taken a few minutes ago--really reminds me of my middle brother, anyone else see that?)

Friday, April 12, 2013

LET'S READ!



I've found many a good book from people posting about what they have been reading aloud.
So, I thought I would share what we have been reading aloud this year (so far).
Keep in mind, this is only the "official" read aloud list, it does not include the many hundreds of just-for-fun shorter stories, holiday related, and audio books we have read/listened to--not to mention the tangents that most of these books have led us on!

Where the Wild Things Are

Mr. Popper's Penguins
(plus lots of books on penguins)

The Biggest Bear
(plus maple sugaring books)

The Swiss Family Robinson
(the unabridged version--a significant chunk of literature!)

A Little Princess 
(the children's version)

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Little Rascal
(plus raccoon books)

The Indian in the Cupboard
(plus books on Native American homes and the Iroquois in particular)

The Return of the Indian

The Light of the World:  The Life of Jesus for Children

Blueberries for Sal
(plus books on blueberries, bears, Maine, Robert McCloskey, )

Pages of History:  Secrets of the Ancients
(Think "Story of the World" but more fun and from a Christian perspective!)

The Adventures of Ulysses
(plus stories of the Trojan war and Greek mythology)


So many books, so little time.
What have you been reading to your children?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

ALL WORTH IT



I was a bit hesitant in signing Carina up for T-ball.
I'm glad we did.

She is not very strong:  she doesn't throw far or hit hard etc. but she is having fun!
She is doing an awesome job.
This is her journal entry from today


Sorry for the poor picture,  if you are unable to read it, it says,
"I luv tebol! I luv mi bat!  Mi favrit purt uv te bol is hiting!"

I love this!
Spelling and all.

Monday, April 1, 2013

LET ME REVISE THAT



What was once a sick day--
has become a sick week and could potentially spread into a sick 2 months.
But let us NOT go there.

Whatever it is that the kiddies have caught is knocking them for a loop.
Travis was the first to go.
Lots and lots of sleeping.
Tears.
Wanting to be held every second.
Projectile vomit for several days with not even water staying down.
It has moved to the other end now.

Let me tell you, as much as I have wanted Travis completely potty trained, 
I am SO thankful that he is not completely during this stint.
MESS.
Mess that a 2 year old (let alone a 10 year old or a 25 year old) certainly could not handle.

After 5 days and no one else getting ill, I thought we were over the hump and on our way back to health.  He was starting to smile....
He started asking for food..

For the record, I just caught two-hands worth of chunky vomit.
Yes, caught it.
Saved me the clean-up, I guess.
One of those automatic Mom-things I guess.  
Unless you are MY Mom. ;)
In our house growing up, if you vomited anywhere outside of the toilet, garbage, puke bucket (you get the picture) you cleaned it yourself.
 Incentive to make it to the bathroom.

My older ones are good about getting it into the bucket, and once he had one--so was Travis.
That first vomit was a doozy though and caught us all off guard.

Anyway, back on track--
5 days and I thought we were in the clear.
Ha!
What a horrible April Fool's joke!
Carina is down for the count.

Pray that it does not last a week and oh please, oh please, that no one else gets it!