Anniversary Number 9

I love my anniversary presents!  Last year, we began a new tradition.  We go to the Louisburg Cider Mill the weekend before or after our anniversary (number 9 this year!), and I get to pick out my anniversary presents from the bounty that awaits me when I walk through their creaky swinging metal doors.

Only this year, we went during Cider Fest, so I also got to choose from the wonderful handmade goodies in the rows of booths outside the store!  Honestly, we were having so much fun outside the store that we didn't even make it inside.  I chose some hair ribbons, fabric bookmarks, lavender hand lotion, orange lip balm, a cute little fabric credit card holder (I use these for gift cards, coupons, etc. more than credit cards), a soldered charm with the letter C to use on a chain or leather (I can only wear sterling silver or platinum, so I have to be kind of choosy), cinnamon spiced pecans, kettle corn, cider doughnuts, and CIDER, of course!!

The boys were happy, because they got to play in a multitude of colorful, blown-up structures.  And Mike got to talk to two people he knew.  It happens very rarely, when we go out, that he sees someone he knows and I don't see anyone I know.  Apparently I know a lot of people.  Or at least, I know their faces.  Their names... well, let's just say I know their faces.

Mike also spent quite a while gabbing (do men actually gab?  or do they just... converse?) with a man who builds log cabins... oh, the dream of a cozy log cabin on some luscious rolling hills, with a greenhouse, some chickens, a cow named Molly, and a meandering stream that winds its way through sprawling acres of land... and then I woke up and realized that we still live smack-dab in the middle of suburbia.  But we can dream of log cabins, and verbalize (can you tell I went to thesauraus.com and looked up "talk" -- because I totally did) with people who actually live the dream.

A couple of weeks ago, when Borders was still in business (what a sad "before" and "after" that is!!), we went to their establishment and I purchased -- oh, the excitement of book-purchasing!!  It should not be called "buying," for that overused word does not convey the depth of what it means to walk out of a store owning a little piece of someone's heart that they have uncovered on paper for the world to read (much like a blog, but I digress) -- I acquired a lovely book called The City Homesteader: Self-Sufficiency on Any Square Footage by Scott Meyer.  Ideas galore!  I can't wait to dive in to the depths of this volume of inspiration.

Okay, I am now closing thesaurus.com and am going back to using my regular vocabulary.  I mean dialogue.  I mean words.  I mean... sorry, I couldn't help it.

Here is a random picture from our week, because I can't just type a blog and not post a picture as well.

This beautiful lady took up residence in our home on Wednesday of this past week, which just happened to be our actual anniversary date!  She sounds absolutely charming, and the boys love her as much as I do.  I can't wait to begin their "formal music training," i.e. piano lessons!  Bring on the Alfred books!  I will be re-learning right along with them.  The wonderful family who gifted us with this piano -- they only requested that we have her moved professionally so as to spare her, and our backs, any harm -- also gave us some music that was stored in the bench, so the day after she (I don't have a name for her yet, can you tell?  She is a Winter spinet... any suggestions?) came to our home, I sat down and tinkered around with a lovely little piece called, "Wild Honeysuckle Rag," which appealed to me right up until the word "rag," but that's its name, so I suppose I can't change that unfortunateness.

I know, I know, a rag means something different in music, but it can have so many different meanings... we weren't ever allowed to call a towel -- no matter how old, dirty, stained and torn -- a "rag" when I worked at McDonald's.  Oh, no.  It was always deemed a "towel," right up until its counter-wiping days were over and it was laying in a trash heap somewhere.  I still can't call my towels rags.  Habit, I guess.

Sunday is my school-planning day for the week ahead, and when I sat down at my computer at the dining room table I had every good intention of starting that.  So now I will actually go and do that.  My childrens' brains will thank me -- later, maybe years later, but they will thank me!

Smiley

Oliver is 5 months old!  It is hard for me to believe that my littlest guy is so big.  He smiles a TON, which has earned him the nickname "Smiley" at our house.

Sammy loves his little brother!  He will occasionally ask to hold Oliver or feed him, and I just love watching them together.

Oliver loves his Super Yummy Teether from Discovery Toys.  It smells like vanilla, and I use DT's Boomerings to attach it to the high chair or swing or carseat so that it won't get lost.  He likes to play with the Boomerings almost as much as the teether!

As soon as we put Oliver in the Jumparoo and his feet touched the floor, it was destiny.  The sky opened up, the angels sang, and he had a new favorite place to hang out.  He doesn't just want to be held anymore.  Oh, no!!  He wants to jump!  He wants his feet to make contact with a solid surface underneath him so that he can use those chubby springy legs and bounce! He apparently wore himself out in it, and I snapped this picture just before he woke up and smiled at me with those tired blue eyes.

I think he may be a bit concerned with the quality of the food at this establishment.  This was the first bite of one of his first oatmeal feedings.  He wasn't exactly a fan at first, but I think it's growing on him.

 

I have no idea what he was reacting to in this picture, but the look on his face cracks me up! 

A bunch of other fun pictures.  Griffin is very protective of Oliver!  He will run and get his pacifier to calm him down, and he'll stand there and talk to Oliver for a long time while he coos and giggles and blows bubbles at Griffin.  I think Oliver laughs the loudest for his big brother.

Oliver Henry

This is what we have been up to for the past 4 months!  Oliver is such a happy guy, and we have so much fun entertaining him for one of his wide-open-mouth smiles.  He even smiles in his sleep (last picture).

He loves baths, too.  He's sleeping most nights through, with the occasional 3am feeding.

He has lost all of his dark hair that he was born with, and has blonde-ish hair now, just like Griffin and Sammy.  Speaking of, Oliver loves his big brothers!  That is, when they hold still long enough for him to engage them in "conversation."

I'd have to say, though, that Oliver's favorite toy right now is his Mama.  And I'm okay with that.  :-)

This morning before school, we played dominoes.  With Eric Carle pictures.  It is a lovely game called Matchominoes, which was a present to Sammy from Aunt Susan.  Thanks, Aunt Susan!  We have a lot of fun with it.

Next up was a craft made with craft sticks we bought last night on a family outing.  It will eventually be pen/pencil/paintbrush holders, and I'll post pictures of the process when they are done.

I think I *might* need to work with Sammy on perseverance.  He kind of gave up after only a few sticks.  Or maybe crafts just aren't his thing!

Griffin breezed through his schoolwork today, and then the boys wanted to play the Wii.  Only it just happened to be lunchtime.  So I told them that if they would make their own lunch when they were done playing, they could play the Wii during lunchtime.  And I sat here at my computer and enjoyed a lovely lunch of California Pizza Kitchen, Sicilian Style.  Fresh from the microwave.

It was heavenly.  Kind of.  And at only 43 grams of carbs, it totally fit into my diet right now!  Much better than the hot fudge covered brownie sundae with nuts and cherries and whipped cream that I wanted.  Well, I could have had the nuts, anyway.

Speaking of nuts, the boys decided that they would venture into the world of peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich making today.  Thus far, they have only made deli meat sandwiches.  There was more spreading involved!  And more goo!  And more mess!  And more fun!  Whee!!!  Yeah, I think they'll be doing that again.  Those PB&Js tasted WAY better than the ones Mom makes.   And I got a break, and a quiet lunch with only the sounds of Mario, Luigi and Yoshi in the background.

I need to go figure out what's for dinner.  It has just been a lovely day -- did I mention that it is above 60 degrees outside?  I've had the windows open all day -- and I wanted to write about it.

My Work

I read this poem today over at Women Living Well.

My Work

I have the greatest work in the world;
The job of rocking a baby to sleep,
That of guiding his tottering feet,
A baby's clothes to launder and fold,
A precious life to shape and mold,
A drink to give from a little cup,
At night his toys to gather up,
Hurts to heal and fears to quell,
A baby to keep clean and well,
A stack of diapers to put,
Oh, what a happy worthwhile day!
I am a "Mother."

I have the greatest work in to world;
A husband to encourage when things go wrong,
When he comes from work to greet with a song,
Denims and shirts to wash and mend,
A helping hand, when needed, to lend,
Three times a day is meals to cook,
To strive to be my best to look,
His back to rub at the close of the day,
For his faithfulness to God I pray,
When hubby's in the field I take lemonade,
for all these tasks his love has Paid.
I am a " Wife."

I have the greatest work in the world;
A home to keep happy, clean and bright,
Make things go smooth and strive for the right,
Jams to cook and jellies to make,
Cookies and pies and bread to bake,
Washing, ironing, and sewing to do,
So many tasks, will I ever get though?
Lettuce to wash and peas to pick,
floors to scrub, lost items to seek,
Dishes to wash and windows to shine,
These and many more tasks are mine.
I am a "Homemaker."

Help me, Father, to faithfully work,
Forgive if I unconsciously shirk,
give me the patience and love I pray,
To keep myself in duties way;
With all the hustle that each day brings
May I not neglect the needing things;
Each day to spend time alone with Thee
That Jesus Christ be seen in me.
Thank you for husband, our home, our girls and boys;
Thank you for love which brings me much joy.
Thank you , Lord.

----Mary Lou Burkholder

I was overwhelmed when I read it, at first, just because actually thinking about all of the work that goes into what women do every day is exhausting.  And I can also add "Homeschooler" to that list as well, and it's no wonder that some days the house doesn't look it's best!  ("Some days?"  Who am I kidding?!)

I was talking to a friend today about scheduling, and how having even just a yearly schedule would free up so much brain space.  You know, scheduling things like the animals' yearly vet checks, changing batteries in smoke alarms, preparing the lawn mower for another season of lawn mowing (which was what spurred the conversation in the first place; the neighbor was having his serviced today so that it will be ready when it is warm enough to mow).  

I have tried to schedule my household cleaning chores, and it didn't work for me.  I got so behind, I ended up starting my list over again several times before finally deciding that not having a list would be easier than the mental stress of trying to keep up with the list I had made.  But perhaps I was starting with minutiae, when I should have been looking at the overall picture.  I'm off to make a list of yearly "things to accomplish" and write them on my calendar.  Because it's only February, and I'm not too far into the year yet!  

Maybe I'll even tackle a list of monthly "things to accomplish"... or maybe I'll wait another year to see how things go with this list first!  After all, a new baby will be joining us in about a month, and that can change things.  A little.   

Christmas Cookie Cheer

A multitude of heavenly hosts... er, gingerbread men and sugar cookies!

My personal favorite.

It looks so real!  And yet, I still want to eat it.

Ooooo... psychedelic!

I am Angry.

I am scared of Angry.  Eeeek!

Awww... this one is just so... joyful.  (i.e. *filled* with joy!) (and happy little yellow sprinkles)

Love it.

A Conversation Between Men

We had just eaten a lovely dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans.  The boys helped clear the table, and Mike started rinsing the dishes off and putting them into the dishwasher while I put away the leftovers.  Griffin wandered into the TV room, looking forward with great anticipation to the promised Wii game time with Daddy.  Sammy had disappeared, because, well, there were dishes being done.  And here is the conversation that followed.

It's rather deep, so you might have to read it twice to gather the full effect of the eloquent words that were spoken.

Just to set the stage properly, imagine running water and dishes clanking...

Mike: Griffin, come here and help with the dishes.



Griffin: What?



M: Huh?



G:  Huh?



M: I didn't hear you.



G: What?



M:  Huh? I can't hear you, come here.



By now I am cracking up, holding myself up by grasping the cabinets, my rounding belly heaving with the ho-ho-ho laughter I am not even trying to suppress.  It's no wonder we keep getting these ads in the mail for hearing aids!  I live in a house full of men.  And I love my men dearly.

Swimming in the Sea of Homeschool

Just wanted to poke my head above water for a bit and give a brief update on what my life has been like lately!  First of all, we found out that we are expecting baby #3 on March 30th, 2011, by scheduled C-Section.  I am 14 weeks pregnant as of yesterday, and the pregnancy is progressing nicely, if my growing waistline and penchant for pizza (poor Mike, he is SO tired of pizza!) are any indication.  We should find out what we are having around Thanksgiving.  It's so hard to wait!   (I think it is a boy, that is my official guess.)

We are in full swing with our little homeschool now.  Some days are a challenge, but we work past it and I can see that the boys are learning SO much every day!  Griffin generally spends about 1-2 hours working on his schoolwork, not counting the time I spend with him going over his assignments for the day.  His 1st grade subjects are Math (his favorite subject by far), Phonics and Reading, Bible, Science (he just can't wait to mix chemicals together and blow stuff up), History and Geography, Spelling and Vocabulary, and Penmanship.

I am working through the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons with Sammy, and he is doing well and really enjoys the lessons.  Granted, we are only on Lesson 3 (we just started the book this week).  Time will tell!  He loves to use his scissors and glue and construction paper, so right now, preschool is just one big art project!  We have a curriculum for preschool, and he really enjoys matching, coloring, finding shapes, etc. but he doesn't do seatwork every day.  He's still a little wiggle-worm! 

I don't believe that preschool is a prerequisite for Kindergarten, and I also don't believe that Kindergarten is a prerequisite for 1st grade.  Controversial, I know, but my main focus in "Kindergarten" is teaching them how to read well and do basic math.  Everything else is optional, in my opinion.  They learn so much by just living at that age that trying to force a curriculum on them can be a burdensome chore.  Some kids love curriculums!  Kids who like to sit for longer periods of time than a few minutes.  Mine don't.  So we adapt to their needs (for now... yes, they will have to sit for longer periods of time as they get older!) and work with what God has given us.

This has been a short update, because I do have a lot going on right now; I just don't have time to talk about all of it!  I haven't been scrapbooking or card-making much recently (although I do have a big "secret" project that I'm working on!), and I miss it, but I'll be attending the Creating Keepsakes Convention this weekend, and I'm hoping to be refreshed and have my scrapping appetite renewed!

Speaking of appetites... I wonder if we have any pizza in the fridge....?!

Umbrellas and Laundry

No, they really don't have anything to do with each other.  But they have everything to do with the two pictures I have to share today. 

The first picture is one I will most definitely have to scrapbook... but what should the title of this page be?  I can't come up with something cute and clever and... umbrella-ish.

Yes, that is Sammy.  Yes, he is asleep.  In his bed.  With an open umbrella.  Just in case of rain?

On another note, one of my newest passions is making natural, homemade cleaners.  I have made a heavenly lavender all-purpose spray that I use for anything and everything, and an orange-scented disinfectant spray that would be lovely... if only I could find a spray bottle that wasn't broken.  Apparently the $1 bottles at Wal-Mart only have a life expectancy of... well, actually, it never worked.  And my lavender bottle only works if you spray it upside down a few times before you spray it right-side-up.  One day I will find the perfect spray bottle!

Last night I cooked up a new creation.  It is homemade laundry detergent, and it smells so fresh and clean, I could hardly pull Mike away from it!  Here is my recipe (adapted from several others):

1 bar of Fels-Naptha (to clean)
2 cups Washing Soda (to remove stains)
2 cups Baking Soda (to deodorize)
3 cups Borax (I use more borax than some other recipes do because we have hard water, and borax acts as a water conditioner as well as a cleaner.)

1. Grate the Fels-Naptha.  I chopped my Fels-Naptha into 1-inch cubes and stuck it in my Vita-Mix for a minute.

2. Stir all of the ingredients together.

3. Into another bowl, run all of the ingredients (a cup at a time) through a sifter.  Anything that doesn't fit through the sifter, put back into the Vita-Mix (or a food processor or blender) and blend until powdery.  This includes any chunks of white powder plus any of the Fels-Naptha that didn't get chopped small enough. 

4. Stir everything together and store in a container like this (or a big plastic tub would work too if you have one to recycle):

Use 2 TBSP of the laundry soap per large load of clothes.  This batch should make about 140 loads worth of soap.  There are no suds, so don't expect bubbles when you put it into the water, but my, the clothes smell fresh and clean when you pull them out!  You can add a few drops of essential oil (or fragrance oils if your family doesn't have sensitivity to artificial fragrances) if you want a scent.

Out of the Spin Cycle

Another book review!  Oh my.  I think I'm going to sign up for a career as a "book reviewer".  There is nothing like being mailed a (free!) book and then getting to tell everyone else about it.  Everyone who knows me knows that I am an avid reader, and I also love to tell others about the books I think they would love.

Can I just say that I was incredibly blessed by this book?  Because I was.  Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load by Jen Hatmaker is, hands down, the best devotional book I have ever read.  You know it is going to be a good book when you can't make it through the "Contents" page without laughing.  I did not read this book "in order"... I picked out the devotionals with the titles that I liked the most and read those first.  Hee!  Because I'm just like that.   

Jen (I feel like I know her personally after reading this book, so I'm going to call her Jen) uses humor and straight talk to introduce new perspectives about mothering.  I just love how she is so real, and tell-it-like-it-is... because when your little cherub finds the Vicks VapoRub and the Desitin and smears them all over their bed, and their walls, and their closet doors (yes, that happened to me), sometimes you just need someone who understands what that kind of a day is like, not someone who will make you feel like you are doing something wrong because your house doesn't stay clean all day long.

I think that my favorite part of the book is how she took events from history and from the Bible, and turned what could have been presented in a dry fashion into engaging stories that made my mouth water for more.  Each devotional was the perfect proportion of learning something new and being encouraged in my role as wife and mother.

Go out and get this book if you have little people running around your house!  Do it now!  You will definitely not regret it.
                         
                            ------------------------------

Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load, by Jen Hatmaker.  Available June 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.  www.RevellBooks.com

Swing Away!

Sammy has officially learned how to swing!  Hooray!!!

We tried and tried to teach him "the moves" involved in swinging, and it just wasn't sinking in.

Then one day, after a yummy picnic dinner of sandwiches (hey, everything tastes better if you eat it outside!), he and Griffin went down the deck stairs, jumped on the swings and he pushed... and pushed... and kicked... and he was swinging!

He was SO proud of himself.

*sigh*

My boys are growing up.

I remember when he used to be this big.

And this big.

Oh, man.  That is one cute baby.