St John Bosco Day

While I am not Catholic I respect a lot of their faith and seriously you get Feast Days all the time, what a great excuse to make cookies!

I read this quote over at The Waltzing Matilida:
"What I love most about St. John Bosco was that he didn't just want his boys to hear that they were loved---he wanted them to know they were loved. His three-fold method of education was religion, reason and kindness. (My new homeschooling mantra)."

I like that. We are going to make her suggested cookies and drink hot cocoa today too. It will be nice break from the cleaning and the girls will love the time together.

An Almost February Daybook

Outside My Window

After a gorgeous day yesterday with a high of 68, today is a complete opposite. It is only 38 with a high of 44 today.



I am Listening to

Dora! Ugh, I don't like Dora but Sissy is sick today and I am letting her watch some morning TV.


I am Wearing

Jeans and a giant t-shirt, barefoot as usual, but thinking I need some slippers my feet are cold today.


I am so Grateful for

Hubby had the weekend off :)



I'm Pondering

“It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts…it is to teach them to think.”
Albert Einstein

I am Reading

Sue Patrick's Workbox System


I am Thinking

Maybe Netflix would be a good idea.

I am Creating

A house to show, seriously why can't people realize I have kids and kids come with lots of stuff and this is how we live. I get that it should be clean but why magazine worthy?



On my iPod

Vivaldi's Four Seasons



Towards a Real Education

Pretty much down to Phonics and Math with Sissy which is sad because I love the preschool/early elementary crafts and fun learning. Need to do something about that this week. Thankfully Bean is at a science and art class my friend does on Monday mornings. It is the sweetest little class and I am so grateful for it and I will certainly miss this friend when we are gone.


Towards Rhythm and Beauty

I am getting back to being a morning person and I am loving the less cluttered look of the house.



Seasonal things around the house

We have a few Valentine's decorations around the house. I am going to look today for some kind of groundhog day activities even if it is just a coloring page and watching Puxatony Phil. I would also like to incorporate some Candlemas activities.


I am Hoping and Praying

For peace about our relocation, I can feel I am starting to build up some resentment about this move and I don't want that.



Around the House

Serious mess upstairs, but the downstairs is looking better, I have gone through and have 3 give-away bags to take to goodwill. Next I will get give-away bags from upstairs and clean up there. Then I am thinking a small storage unit or room in a friends garage to hold somethings we won't need right away.


From the Kitchen

Healthier eating will be happening this week, it has to.



One of My Favorite Things

Fresh honey, from my friends bees, on homemade bread.



A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week

More cleaning, more decluttering. I am really trying to stay home more. Therapy for Sissy. Our homeschool group's Art Fair is this Thursday, Sissy will be reciting a Robert Frost poem.

Picture thought:
I guess I haven't taken any new pictures this week, so here is the Bean before Christmas with an Advent bag

A Rainy Day Sort of Daybook

Outside my window:
Cold and dreary, rainy sort of day.

I am listening to:
80's Music Choice station and the girls playing a new favorite game they got for Christmas. Flip Over by Thinkfun, and the buzz of the dryer reminding I have chores to do.

I am wearing:
sweatpants, holey t-shirt and ponytail, I am all set to exercise :)

I am grateful for:

~A husband who works so hard for us.

~3 little blonde haired girls.

~A warm house with everything we need.

I am pondering:
When do you say goodbye - the dog is on 3 medicines twice a day, and in diapers or peeing all over my house. She is 12 but seems to be doing well with her meds. I just can't take all the pee.

I am reading:
More Hours in My Day by Emile Barnes I borrowed it from a friend before the holidays but I finally have time to read it.


I am thinking:
I am so ready for some warmer weather! It has been cloudy and bleak for a few weeks now and I am feeling it's affect. Can anyone say Seasonal Affective Disorder, I am so glad we are moving to the "sunshine" state of Ohio, oh wait what, they have even less sun, great.
I think that after school time this morning we will break out the Valentine's decorations. I need a lift in my mood and it can't be food today, so maybe some glittery pink hearts will do it. I am not as depressed as that just sounded it's just so dreary outside it time for a change. Also on the agenda, tag some stuff for the huge consignment sale that is this week! If I don't do it today I won't get it done and I need to carve out some space in out home before we try and sell it.

I am creating
Not a lot right now.

On my iPod
um...haven't used it in a while, but I am putting Awanas CD and the Bears on Hemlock Mountain on Sissy's.

Towards a Real Education:
Lots of hands on in the kitchen, math and reading and lots of picture books about snow!

Five in a Row: Before FIAR: Snowy Day Volume 1: Katy and the Big Snow These were supposed to be last week but somehow time got away from us. No field trip this week.

Ok, that's enough for this week... I leave you with

Picture thought:
Found this on my camera today, I think Sissy took it. Just don't mind the mess, that was from Marshmallow day.

Somethings I learned today...

1. Since my last pregnancy I have let myself get completely out of shape...and the baby is 2 almost 3, this isn't good, I need to get in shape if I am to have anymore.

2. Quite toddlers aren't necessarily a good thing.

That is Little E cleaning her art off the wall, that's what I get for blowing out my hair.

3. I know how to clean but I don't know how to keep it clean.

4. I need to trust my heart more...

5. I have some really good friends here.

6. I like lists.

A Thursday Evening

So I just might have the cutest kids ever. Little E is just so silly and I am soaking in ever last minute of her twoness. Sissy says the darndest things, and goes from being a totally immature little girl to acting like a tiny adult. And the Bean keeps things interesting with her love of all things pink and purple to constant talking, she is learning and growing and so very smart. We are so lucky to have these blessing and I only hope that Lord blesses us with more. Yes I know things are messy and I let myself get over stressed about things that don't really matter, but I love it. I have the best job in the entire world.

We had our Five in a Row field trip today to the NC Museum of Art, the big girls got to take a tour with a docent, while Little E and I got to hang out with some other moms and toddlers. They saw Egyptian artifacts, I had a diet coke in the cafe. They hopefully got cultured, and I got the rejuvenation of talking the ins and outs of homeschooling.

Mollie is still hanging in there, but she is peeing everywhere. She is a good dog but I don't think I can take much more of it.

Christmas

The Sunday before Christmas we had the sisters exchange the gifts they had bought for each other. They had a good time picking out what to get for their sisters and wrapping the gifts up. We did this so that they would remember it is more fun to give than receive and I wanted them to realize that these presents were from each other and not get mixed up in with everything else.


Then Momma put a call in to the big guy and Santa came a few days early. We do not want to have to travel with all the gifts from us and my mom.


They were so happy to get their American Girl Dolls from my mom





So now we know what they want for their Birthdays, more American Girl Doll Stuff!!!!

Daybook

Outside my window:
Clear and cold.

I am listening to:
The sound of my girls playing, the washer humming and the dishwasher swishing.

I am wearing:
Capri yoga pants and John's T-shirt, (hot, isn't it)

I am thankful for
We are all healthy today

I am pondering:
How to get Lillian caught up with schooling...We struggled so much at the beginning of the year and now it is like a switch went on and she "gets it". But we are not as far a long as my "well laid plans" would have us, but she just couldn't go any faster earlier this year.

In the Kitchen:
Needing to add more fresh fruits and veggies back into our diet. Baking Banana Bread today.

I am thinking:
I really need to get up with a lot of things, cleaning, blogging, scrapbooking, organizing, etc, etc.

I am Creating:
Clean areas in my house

On my Ipod:
Toby Mac

Towards a Real Education
Getting back to it after a long Christmas Break. Starting Bella down the Alphabet path and "Rowing" which ever book I get from the library first.

Toward Rhythm and Beauty:
Reinstating nap time for the U-5's in the house, Lilli and I need the quite to get some math and reading done.

I am Hoping and Praying:
For grace and patience for me and for my girls to find the love of the Lord and show love to one another. There has been a lot of time indoors and it is starting to show, can't wait for warmer weather.

In the Garden:
The backyard was flooded last month and it is still icky out there. Thinking of relocating the garden for this spring to get more sun.

Around the House
Decluttering 2010 has begun!

On Keeping Home:
The downstairs is once again livable and it is onward and upward! Time to get the bedrooms in order.

One of My Favorite Thing:
My hubby completely spoiled me this Christmas :)

A Few Plans For the Rest of the Week:
No Music Makers this week. Friends house on Tuesday. Bowling Thursday with our homeschool group. Lillian has a sleep study Thursday night, keep her and John in your prayers while there that she will be able to sleep and that there will be no significant findings.

Funny things over heard at our house

Bella: "Why didn't you name me Pretty Sparkles?"

Ellie: "Mill(milk) - hoppy in dere" (think of the Nesquik mascot)

Lilli: "I think I've had enough of those lettuce balls!"

Where did November go?

I have no idea where the whole month of November went. We had a fun Thanksgiving at our friends house and then a second one on Friday (If you don't cook it, you don't get the leftovers!)

We had company for a long weekend too, it was fun to show Ruthie and Shane all around Duke's campus.

The girls have been keeping me very busy.

Lillian was getting behind on her math and we have tried to buckle down and get it done, but she just doesn't like it. But she is progressing well with her reading and science. She has also been enjoying her Girl Scout meetings and playing with the neighbor girl.




Bella had her first violin recital, it was so cute! Bella showed off her terrific violin posture and then her teacher played "All Around the Mulberry Bush" and Bella would pluck the E string for the "POP". Very cute. I finally gave Bella her first hair cut, it isn't very even but she only allowed me one snip, you would have thought I was hurting her, I think she has a lot of self-identity in her hair and doesn't want short hair. I took the back and twisted it then one snip and we were done, she cried for about 30minutes after. It looks a lot better and is still hits her mid-waist.





Elliana is adding to her vocabulary and cuteness everyday. We have tried a new sleep training technique that seemed to be working, until she got sick again, she was up twice last night.


There were also 2 field trips, one to Agapé Center for Environmental Education

and to Falls Lake. We also had our homeschool groups family event. It was a fun time outside with lots of food and games. The theme was based on the book The Gullywasher. So we took a Mexican theme with it. I made the girls skirts so that they could look like the American Girl Doll Josefina. But then it was cold that morning so I also cut some fleece ponchos for them. We also took Carnitas with cheese and tortillas and a bean and corn salad that I want to make again. I was also in charge of the sound discovery/make your own instrument table. Thankfully one of the other mothers made everything and I just had to "man" the table. My camera died half way through the day so not many pictures...






I guess that is November in a nutshell.
We are having a good start to the Advent Season, the girls are relearning the Christmas carols, the tree is up, most of the shopping is done and hopefully I won't get as far behind this month.

Jasmine

Picture thoughts from today

My Bella...

For some reason the girls have been talking death, so I have had many questions to answer. I am doing my best to tell the truth without telling too much if you know what I mean. Well, Bella has decided that when she goes to be with God she is going to be a butterfly, not just dress up as butterfly, but be a real butterfly and then she will come back to our house and live in my flower garden. I don't even know what to say, but she is so sweet.

Oh kids

Lillian is sick so she was watching a movie in my room while I was downstairs with the other girls, I am hoping that no one else gets sick. Anyway, I hear the phone ring one time and then nothing, I didn't think much of it because that happens from time to time. But...then Lillian came downstairs and said "Mom, I called 911, I was watching the movie and got scared"
Me: "you what!?!?" "for real?"
In the meantime I am looking through the phone book for the police phone number. The phone rings again and I can't find the cordless (John had left it upstairs) I run upstairs to find it and decided to dial *69(we are so 1990 and don't have caller ID) and the man that answers says: "This is the relay operator, your call is being recorded".

Me: "um this is the last number that called me, do you know why?"

"I was calling about a 911 call"

"That was my 6 year old we are all fine, I am so sorry"

Oh boy, we've already had the fire department out for a false alarm, but that can be blamed on my cooking :)

"Well, I got the 911 call and no one talked and then I called back and heard someone breathing and then hang up after a minute or two and then called and got your voicemail"


"I couldn't find the phone, but we are ok"

"I will tell them but they may still come out to check, at least you know she knows how to call 911"

"um yeah, I guess"

Then I see the message from the relay operator.

I start speed cleaning the downstairs, nothing like knowing the fuzz is on the way to get you off your duff and cleaning. Lillian is hiding in the bathroom.

The officer shows up, I apologize, and tell him Lillian wants to say sorry and how we talked about how it's only for emergencies. She didn't, she hid behind the door. Then he gave Lillian a police badge sticker! Way to reinforce calling 911.

A fabulous trip...

I love, love, love the beach. John, not so much, but being the fabulous husband he is, he took us all to the beach. Granted he was in a conference the whole time, but he did arrange for us to stay in a beach front hotel. It was such a nice break; warm sun, soft sand, crashing waves, water that was nice and warm. The girls and I would get up, take daddy to work and then hit the beach till they were worn out hungry. Then it was back to our tiny hotel room for a picnic lunch and naps. After naps we picked up daddy and then dinner out and some time in the pool. On the beach we found a huge crab, saw dolphins, and played in the sand (and we didn't even have sand toys!) We were very sad to leave. Here are some pictures from our adventures.






I love this man, thank you honey.

The Fourth of July!

I love the 4th of July, it has everything I like about summer. In our quest of making great memories for the girls we went to downtown Durham and the girls decorated their bikes and wagon with supplies from the Scrap Exchange and some American flags. Then we had a parade around the block that ended with some frozen pops. The Durham fire department was there too and they sprayed their hose to cool of those who wanted it, it was a lot of fun for the girls to run in the water.















After a quick nap we headed to our pool, Parkwood Swim Club, for their pool party. They had an awesome waterslide that both Lillian and Bella loved! There was cookout, potluck and we let the girls eat some delicious cupcakes. Our friends Norah and Kristen were there too!

Easter 2009

The big girls had a blast coloring Easter eggs, we didn't do it last year because I was very pregnant with Ellie and had her the day before Easter (they day my mom got her and I was going to make her do it) Anyway, it was great fun, they also had glitter in the bags to make glitter eggs.





I guess that is what Ellie did during the egg coloring.




Easter Morning










Then we went to our friends house for an Easter Egg hunt and delicious dinner.






Checking out their loot