autumn book basket

Storybooks:
Move Over, ROVER! by Karen Beaumont
:: The rain is pouring...it's a good thing Rover is snuggled up safe and sound and dry inside his doghouse. But slowly, one by one, some friends show up looking for a cozy place to wait out the storm.

Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor
:: Sylvie Ann sets out across her Grandmummy's cornfields to find "the very finest and largest pumpkin," so she can make a pumpkin moonshine (jack-o-lantern). But when she finds the perfect pumpkin, it's so very big, she decides to roll it home...which causes quite the predicament.

The Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter
:: Because I have a Benjamin. Because I love Beatrix Potter. Because it mentions a scarecrow.

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain
:: Three little bears, with light, stick, and rope...do they dare go into the spooky old tree? (This is about as 'spooky' as we get here. I hear the audio book is wonderful...too bad it's only available in audio cassette, for $50!)

The Surprise from Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
:: It's October, and Frog and Toad decide to secretly surprise one another, by raking the other's yard. They are both happy...to have done a good deed for their dear friend. I *love* this story.

Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long
:: You can check the link to read my previous review of this sweet, little book. What Mama doesn't want to show their little baby the harvest moon?

and our new book, this autumn:

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams
:: "0nce upon a time, there was a little old lady who was not afraid of anything! But one autumn night, while walking in the woods, the little old lady heard . . . CLOMP, CLOMP, SHAKE, SHAKE, CLAP, CLAP. And the little old lady who was not afraid of anything had the scare of her life!"

Read Alouds:

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
:: The most fall-ish one in the series, in our opinion. It's been read over and over by my three oldest, and the boys all *love* to listen on audio book as they fall asleep.

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
:: An easy, sweet little story about a very brave little girl, and her new friends. Sarah and her father finish building their new home in fall.

Poetry, Songs, and Nursery Rhymes:
Leaves by Elsie N. Brady
Gathering Leaves by Robert Frost
I'm A Little Scarecrow (I'm A Little Teapot)Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

:: Happy Reading in autumn! ::

circuses and evening sun

Today while reading My Book House, I discovered that TJ has a fear of circuses. He gets that from me. We do not enjoy Dumbo. Does anyone enjoy Dumbo? What *is* with that whole elephants on parade scene? Scary.

We didn't have tea time this afternoon, we had chocolate milk time. With graham crackers ... which we dunked into the chocolate milk because you do not have to use tea time manners if you're not actually having tea time.

We spent the late afternoon outside sledding down the hill on boxes again, playing with the kitties, and taking a walk (or road march ... whatever). When we got home, we moved to the back deck where I snapped a picture I love of all the kids, and then another one of the view of the neighborhood and beyond from the deck.

As we were getting ready to set the dinner table, I noticed the evening sun shining through the front windows. And it made me happy. The poor massacred flower on the table, however, makes me sad.

Happy Sleeping,
kathi

a full day

This morning we did bible study. Without Brian. It seems almost wrong to do it without him, but he needed to get ahead at work this week, so he left exceptionally early each morning. But tomorrow, he'll be staying for it. And it made my heart sing when he reminded the girls to get their reading in before going to bed.

Little Bitty is all over. And when you're frantically getting everykid ready to head out for most of the day, you need to put him somewhere safe. And stationary. Because he. gets. into. everything. And is super fast about it. *this morning, I chose his highchair. In the family room. Where he could watch The Lion King.

Our first stop was Storytime at our new library. Our library that is the size of a small hospital. The selection of material within the walls of this library is like nothing I could have ever imagined. They had absolutely every title that was looked for. (it is, however, missing that cozy feeling we still have for our library in Jonesboro) I took the Littles into Storytime. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, and If You Give A Moose A Muffin. Miss Kim, the new Story Lady, was excellent. And there was some singing and dancing too. And! ... at the end, they didn't do a craft. Oh no! They got a beanie baby moose. Really. And Miss Kim even gave one to the boys to give to 'their baby'. So, now we have four little mooses (?) floating around the Bailey Home. One is named Andy Dalton.

We left the library, and got lost. But I stayed calm and reminded everyone that getting lost in a new place is how you get to see all the neat things that are in the new place. It worked on everyone but my paranoid child, Kylie. Who kept reading the street signs to me. In a 'freaking out' voice. I texted Brian a few times, enough times to where he finally just texted me to meet him at the Chick Fil A by his work, and he'd get us all lunch. Good deal. Get lost, get lunch. It's one of those neat places that have outside tables, and the weather was perfect, so it was really nice and picnic-y. (and I hadn't told the kids that he'd be there ... so it was fun to see their faces when he pulled in)

We finished our day out with a trip to Sam's. Yes. We did. Me ... and eight kids. In Sam's. It went remarkably well. Until the end when some old man mistook Korinne for the older sister. Kylie is getting tired of that, and Korinne only just passed her up in height. Sorry chicky.

I made BLTs for dinner. Then we all headed outside to play a little before baths. I suggested a bike ride, but Connor reminded me that they hadn't played football all day ... so football it was. ... and some baby feet.

Sleep Well,
kathi

singing in the rain ::

 

 

The first few pictures are from Monday and Tuesday. It rained. A lot. And the kids were out in it most of the afternoons. So much so that our neighbor, Rhonda (who we just met for the first time today. Actually, she's the only neighbor we've met), said she saw them playing outside in the rain, and texted her husband that they HAD to come over and meet us. I'm so glad that she thought it was fun, and not terrible-crazy. She also invited us to church. But I think we're headed back to the one we visited a few weeks ago. We all loved it.

Today, I looked outside to find all the kids drawing on some of the eight million boxes still laying in a mountain-sized heap in our garage. Upon calling Judah and Benjamin in for their baths, I realized that they were all out there drawing with Sharpie markers. So, we will be visiting that church again, with colorful little boys. ... I also took a few pics of them 'sledding' down the hill on some boxes. But they were blurry.

I also snapped a few of Zach in the tub. He's a bathing maniac. I literally need a raincoat in there. I wanted to share his largeness with all of you. He is by far our biggest baby ever. I love him.

We also seriously need to go to the grocery store. For tea time today, we had to have plain tea with only sugar, no cream. You would have thought I was poisoning them. So, being the good mom I am, I suggested putting marshmallows in. And they did. ... we also had popcorn. Yum. Anyone want to stop by for a spot of marshmallow-y tea and popcorn tomorrow? Maybe it will rain again, and we can all go out and sing in it, while Rhonda watches from her window.

{ pretty, happy, funny, real }

{ pretty }

 

a South Carolina sunrise

 

 

{ happy }

 

tasting homemade chocolate icing for the first time

 

 

{ funny }

 

having tea time ... while college football is on the TV behind them

 

 

{ real }

 

'reading' Little Pea to Mr. Ribit ... reading, and reading, and reading to your kids makes READERS!

 

 

homeschool: how it's going, how it's not ...

You'd think I would consider myself a homeschool veteran at this point. But I don't. I actually still consider myself a homeschool newbie. Very much a baby homeschool mom.

I still struggle with the most basic of  homeschooling things ... like curriculum, schedule, lesson planning (what's that?).

However, I'm choosing to not focus on my lack of good-homeschool-mom-abilities. And instead, I'm trying to stay focused on our homeschool method:  a lifestyle of learning to love learning, and continuing to learn throughout all of life --- reading lots of  books (picture books, poetry books, history books, fun books, bible books) --- running and hollering and playing outside --- focusing on creation-based HisTory --- listening to music (Christian music, folksongs, classical music, toddler music, hymns) and drawing and coloring and cooking --- talking and arguing and discussing and praying --- and asking ... "What do YOU want to do? What interests YOU? Let's focus on a few of those things. Let's be productive. Let's live interestingly."

Some days have been full of academics, some days have been full of play and passion-following. Some days have just come and gone. I'm trying my best to ensure everyone is getting to and through the basics. Adding in just a few challenges. Throwing in some fun, some unexpected. Seeking balance in it all. Putting Him first, and throughout. Using what we have, letting go of what we don't. And breathing. And living. And soaking it up. Not taking a moment of it for granted. Grateful for this opportunity.

And praying I don't blow it. Lord, please. I don't want to blow it.

hello. from south carolina.

Hi. It's me. Popping in for just a moment to say all is well.

:: I am making a house a home.

:: I am establing routine.

:: I am doing double laundry in a tiny washing machine.

:: I am teaching a brand new kindergartner his letters.

:: I am deciding what's worth the time and money.

:: I am putting my family first.

:: I am making a house a home.

... things have gone slowly. But *finally* there are no boxes in view. School books have arrived.  Brian has gone back to work.

... and as I walked up the stairs tonight to put the kids in bed, I was tired ... but comfortable. Like I'm home. Finally.

* We'll talk more tomorrow.
Love,
kathi

ps ... I'm really too tired to upload any pics tonight, but you can check out my Instagram photos in the sidebar to see what we've been up to today.