SIZE MATTERS

For awhile, I thought our house was too small.

In a sense, I still think so..but in another sense--I'm okay with it.

Don't get me wrong, there are a million and three things I would like to change, finish, tweak, etc.

And I still hope we can put on an addition sometime in the nearest possible future.

For the time being, however, lets look at our space in a positive light:

A small space forces us to interact with one another.

No one is able to just go hide in their room--or anywhere else for that matter.

No one has their own room.
Honestly, I don't know if I would even allow the kids their own rooms, even if we had the space.
There is a LOT to be learned in sharing a bedroom.
(Now, if I could just have my own room......)
 

We are in each others faces, very literally.

We have to learn to share.

We have to learn to respect one another's boundaries.

We have to learn to be (at least somewhat) organized.

We have to connect.

Plus, I really don't want to have to CLEAN a larger house.
With homeschooling and parenting as my FULL-time job,
cleaning house is sometimes put on a back-burner.
Our small house can get pretty un-tidy..
(There is a difference between filth and mess, ya know)
I can't imagine trying to keep a larger house clean.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I started this post last week sometime and kinda lost my train of thought..

I think you get where I am coming from though.
At least, I hope so.

Thoughts?

ART CLASS

Last week I took the oldest 2 (and the youngest) to their first "art class."

It is for ages 5+

There is a studio that offers weekly classes, but I'm shooting for once a month.

This class focused on clay.

What did Michael make?

An Angry Bird, of course!

He kind of made it a trend, because once he announced his intentions of making an Angry Bird, several of the other kids (including his sister) also made Angry Birds!

They both really enjoyed it and are looking forward to going back.

FAIL. OR IS IT?

Today, very UN-intentionally, we have not cracked a single book.

It was not my plan, but the day just got away from us.

Other than our Bible devotions this morning, we have not done any "official" school work.

I could call this a fail of a school day.

Or is it?

We went to storytime.

We played some computer learning games.

We read about Abraham Lincoln.

We baked cookies.

We listened to an audio book.

We made some spinning art.

We cleaned up our rooms.  

We made messes of our rooms.

I completed my lesson plans for Friday 

(usually I do it the Saturday ahead, but was out ALL day this past Saturday)

So, you tell me--just because we didn't open a book or do "traditional" schoolwork, was it a wasted school day?

I don't know about yours, but my kids love to use the computer.  

As long as it is supervised, I'm okay with it.  Just another educational medium.

I wanted to share a few FREE sites we've been using recently.

www.education.com

Free worksheets on nearly anything.

www.xtramath.com

Daily math practice

www.starfall.com 

 Phonics Games and Reading

http://progressivephonics.com/ 

Phonics Games

http://www.lessonpathways.com/ 

A whole multitude of learning stuff

Are there any that you use and find worthwhile, that you wouldn't mind passing along?

p.s. A few of those books may still be cracked open tonight, we'll see.  ;)

JUST BECAUSE

SNATCHES AT BREAKFAST:

Every morning is different.  

However, every morning is the same in its very random, imaginative breakfast conversation.  

Enjoy.

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I'm a superspy!

Me goofy..

You're Mickey Mouse superspy.

It's my story.  It's my story.  It's my story.

I'm in charge of it.

I know why we call them seahorses..because they live in the sea and neigh like horses.

Imagine having 300 brothers and sisters!

We would have no room in the house with 25 sisters.

What about kids all over the house?

We would need lots of food.

That would be good.

Seahorses don't have stomachs.

Seahorses are just like chameleons.

I have glue hands and whatever I touch sticks to me.

Chocolate inside.

Tell me when you need more cutting.

Mommy, BIG BOAT!!

I cut your fingers off.  Does it look like only my pinkie is on?

E-I-E-I-O MEE MEE MEE MEE MEEEEE

I'm in jail!

Get me out!

Who wants ice cream?

  The floor pinched me!

A custard pie for me?!!

(pretending to throw pies and resulting scrunched up faces)

 

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This is just a small sampling.

It is no wonder these children will sit for literal HOURS at each meal..

too much talk not enough eating!

FINDING THE NEW NORMAL

 Not sure if there is a point to this post, other than just venting.
Here goes.

Lately, I'm feeling like I need about six more hours per day.

I just can't seem to get anything accomplished.

Yes, the kids are fed and clothed but..sometimes that feels like it!

Jared is now three months old, and I'm thinking maybe it is time for a "new schedule."

Schedule..like I really "schedule."

I don't in a strict sense, but rather have a loose plan for our days.  

If you don't know it by now, I'm pretty flexible.

Anyway, being 3 months old, he does not sleep the majority of the day away anymore.  Yes, he still sleeps quite at bit, but not the same as his first few months.  Nor is he as content to be put in a chair or swing.  This most certainly affects our day.

At any given moment, you may find cobwebs in the corners, (clean) laundry on the couch, books littering..uh, everywhere, dishes on the counter, toothpaste spatter on the bathroom sink...yes, you guessed it.  My greatest challenge these days is NOT educating my children, it is keeping my house clean in the way I like it to be clean. 
And I don't even have a big house!
(Though that in a roundabout way contributes to the mess,
there is not a "spot for everything" around here)
I haven't yet found a way to balance housework and schoolwork.  I've cut back on "seat work" where I can, but time is still elusive.  The kids can help me with certain things, putting away their laundry, clearing/setting the table for meals, vacuuming...but they are still a bit too young for the "heavy lifting."  I don't like the disarray of our abode. 
I REALLY don't like the mess.

I don't expect perfection..we LIVE here. 
KIDS live here.
Kids school here.
 Something has to give.

Mike helps out when he can, which is a huge help--and even more important--he gets it.
He totally understands (or at least pretends to) that raising 5 young children, keeping house, homeschooling along with everything else is a full time job and like I said--something has to give.
I am not superwoman..well, except for on Tuesdays... *wink*
Anyway, point I'm making is
that the bulk of the homemaking/housekeeping/child-rearing is up to me.
And that's okay, because it is my job.

So, we come full circle.
I don't feel like my job is getting done.

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Three months old this past Saturday.

These pictures are from Saturday.

Still not total neck/head control, but working really hard on it.

He has rolled several times, both ways--front to back AND back to front.

He has suddenly become Mister Smiley and will hold a conversation with you.

Not interested in toys yet, but will watch what is going on around him.

Look at those eyelashes, huh?!

  (The picture below is SO Carina!)

Let the drooling commence!

Hands in mouth..and we might have a thumb sucker..debatable.  

Teething?  Hard to say.

Still sleeping well, 8-12 hours a night.

Napping through the day, though he is awake more now, as is expected.

Happy 3 months, little man!