another wesley-ism

"Momma! I need sauerkraut on my elbows!" ... which, when translated, means: "Momma! I need Solarcaine on my shoulders!"
:: Happy Playing in the Sunshine (but not first sunburns)! ::

~right now

my baby is making "vroom, vroom!" noises with his cars at the bottom of the stairs (a little too loudly)

my toddler is napping in his bed (without his blankie...with BBQ chip dust on his face)

my 4 yr old is listening to my 6 yr old read Biscuit to him

my 8 yr old is drawing baseball players

my youngest daughter just came in excited, thinking she hears the baby birds

my teenager is putting make up on, as she gets ready to lead her little class in their Spring Recital

my husband is talking politics with my father (yikes!)

my mother (who just had knee replacement surgery two weeks ago) is sound asleep in my daughters' room

...i just got on the computer to write a lovely Mother's Day post...but i think i'll go join my family instead.

:: Happy Mother's Day Weekend! ::
~Kathi

how i'm not losing the baby weight

Lately, it seems like all I've been doing is writing posts about what I'm NOT doing...


I'm NOT putting in a brand-new, built-in swimming pool.
I'm NOT a super military spouse.

I did NOT get all my great Easter plans accomplished.

I'm NOT following the rules of blogging.

I'm NOT meal planning and frugally cooking from scratch like I should with a large-ish family.



So...

...in keeping with the 'NOT' theme...I'm NOT currently losing my baby weight. And yes, for the record, I know that Judah is not actually a baby. He's a toddler. A walking, talking, fit-throwing, buzz-headed toddler.

I'm going to be totally honest here, because it always seems like when I talk all-things-body-image, some one will undoubtedly tell me how pretty I am, that I'm not fat. So, I'm gonna just lay the true to size me out:


I'm pretty close to 5 feet, 6 and 1/2 inches tall. I'm 33 years old. I've given birth to 7 children, starting at age 19. And I weigh 200 pounds. Yep, I do. And I think that's almost 8 pounds 8 ounces less than what I weighed the morning I was admitted to the hospital to have Judah (who, coincidentally weighed, you guessed it, 8 pounds 8 ounces).


So...what's my problem? I don't know. Could it be I don't exercise? Yes. Could it be I eat a lot? Yes. But I don't sit around (hello...7 kids). And I don't eat everything, all day, and it's fairly balanced.

And, I didn't have this problem with my first 3 children, but things have changed with the last 4:

I gained approximately 40 pounds with each of the first 3. With Kylie, the weight just went away. How? I don't know. Could it have been the fact that I worked, went to school, mothered, didn't eat, and smoked instead of snacking? Yes. With Korinne, the weight almost just went away. I remember (loosely) following the Slim-Fast plan for a few weeks. With Connor, I never got back down below 165-ish. Then with TJ, I gained the normal 40 pounds, which put me slightly over the 200 mark for the first time. And I got back down to about 180-ish. And then with Wesley, I was so, so, so, sick...and lost about 20 pounds the first trimester with him. Gained my normal 40, lost 20. With Benjamin, gained 20...didn't lose a pound after. And the same thing with Judah. Gained 20, haven't lost a pound.

Here is what I have done: nursed for 19 months, while eating much like when I'm pregnant. And I'm hungry and thirsty...all.the.time! Switched to Diet Coke about 2 months ago, and only drink 3-5 a week. Quit putting sugar in my coffee about the same time. And increased my fruit intake, and some days my water intake. And I exercised for 25 minutes a day, for about 2 weeks, a month ago. And lost 4 pounds. That's it!

And gained 2 back!

So, my great Lose The Baby Weight advice is to exercise every day. And eat healthy everyday (and less). And you'll lose a few pounds a week.

May I take my own advice! (I'll keep ya posted)

children's book monday: miss lina's ballerinas

Miss Lina has eight little ballerinas in her cozy white house in Messina. Christina, Edwina, Sabrina, Justina, Katrina, Bettina, Marina, and Nina. In four lines of two, they dance...doing math, while reading, into bed, at the park, at the zoo, and at the beach.

plie' . releve' . pirouette . jete' .

But when a new ballerina, Regina, is added to the group...the girls are unable to twirl in their well-loved four lines of two, and 'befuddlement' follows. When Miss Lina kindly shares with her ballerinas how nice it will be in three rows of three...order returns, and dance practice continues until it's perfect! (all the number regrouping makes it a perfect living math book)


Just look at those illustrations in perfectly beautiful pastel (pink!) colored pencil! I love the ones of the sweet granny piano player and her cute, little tabby cat (sure beats a CD player...ahhh, to go to dance class pre-technology)! And the story itself is simple, rhyming, and so much girly-twirly fun! P.S. The reviews are right, we immediately thought of Madeline!

We bought this book for our Big Girl Ballerinas, and we all love it, and we're sure your Little Ballerina will love it too!

***speaking of Ballet...it's Trump de la Lumiere week! Saturday night is THE big night! Pirates, and Spirits, and Smugglers, and swords, and bandannas (NO buns!), and black tights...our first NON-traditional ballet, oh my!***


:: Happy Reading and Twirling and Pirate-ing! ::

salute

 

Salute from Kathi Bailey on Vimeo.

homeschooling year round

Since the beginning of our home education journey, we have pretty much been year round homeschoolers.

The first summer we homeschooled, the girls completed public school in mid-June, and by the end of July, we were schooling at home. The next summer we took five or six weeks off, and I can remember sitting in the driveway with Brian, discussing how 'crazy' the kids seemed, and that it was probably due to all the free time. We decided that a few weeks was more than likely enough time off from school, in order to keep everyone in good spirits. So, last summer we took about three weeks off. And it was perfect.

Now, please don't assume that we school five days per week, fifty-two weeks per year. Not at all. We school when we can, and take days and weeks off as needed. If Daddy's off, we're most likely off. If company comes down to visit, we're visiting, not schooling. If there are doctor's appointments and a trip to the grocery store all in one day...you can bet we only got half of our schooling complete. Or none. Nutcracker = no school. Easter Week, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Week, Christmas and New Year's Weeks = no school. And many other days that just POP up (life).

I feel that learning (school) is just a part of life. And I know that my children completely thrive on routine, and knowing what to expect out of a day. If I were to shelve all our books come the end of May until the beginning of September, life would be crazy, and no one would know what to do next.

BUT...

I'm feeling that urge. I want to shelve it all. I want to sleep in. I want to play in the pool all day. Or swing on the swings at the park all afternoon.

But I know, that even if we do proclaim Summer Vacation, that those things will not happen. We are a Large Family. We have an 18 month old all the way to a fourteen year old, and most ages in between. It takes a METHOD to keep all those different ages and stages content, happy, going! My boys have never slept in a day in almost nine years. We can play in the pool like no body's business...for about forty-five minutes. And we can swing on the swings...until someone has to go potty, or falls and gets hurt, or needs a drink!

There is just no way I can put the learning part of our family on the shelf. It would be like halving our life. Every day there would be something missing. Like routine. And brain exercise.

And then I would spend September through May panicking, as I struggled to complete this or that by a certain date.

So...learn, we will. Every day. Because learning is a part of our life. (Almost) the best part. And it gives us the freedom to take February 17th off, to watch movies on the family room floor by the fire, as the snow piles up. Or May 6th off, to meet friends at the park in the spring sunshine. Or October 23rd off, to carve pumpkin moon shines on the sunporch as the leaves fall. Because that's part of life too. (Almost) the best part.

:: Happy Learning (every day)! ::

daybook, april 14th

Outside my Window...it was a perfect evening weather-wise, but I just saw on Facebook where my friend Suzanne is WARNING her fellow Arkansans about the weather...so now it seems like the perfectness may be gone

What We're Learning...how to pray for the different branches of the government, how Spin Brushes work better than manual brushes (according to our dentist), how there is a difference between mopping the kitchen floor sometime last weekend...or maybe the end of last week...or sometime recently

I am thankful for...the older boys' lead tests coming back normal, and for my mom who is a good listener, and for the rest of the 383rd that is FINALLY! home now.

From the kitchen...for dinner, I made pancakes & bacon, and Korinne made warm, cinnamon applesauce

I am wearing...gray capri pants, Army tee

I am reading...The Classical Teacher, Spring 2011 (it came in the mail today, and has some pretty good articles in it)

I am praying...for my mom's recovery from her knee replacement surgery on Monday, and for my Baby Judah, and for my husband

I am creating...I should be creating my Homeschool Highlights post...but here I am, writing a silly Daybook Entry

I am hearing...Hank the Cowdog playing on the Boys' CD player (they are all asleep, why don't I go turn it off? Because I love Hank.)

I am remembering...to help the kids make their Daddy's Uncle a Birthday Card tomorrow...we keep forgetting, so Brian wrote it up on the white board. I have a terrible memory. Lists are my friends. So are white boards. And husbands who write things down for their wives to remember.

I am going...I should have gone to a Homeschool Mom's meeting tonight. We are going to join a local group soon, but after the dentist this morning, I just wanted to be home.

On my mind...wondering if there will ever be 8ight. A lot lately. I'm ready.

Noticing that...Judah went all day without nursing today. I'm ready for that too. No, I'm not. Yes, I am. No, I'm not.

One of my favorite things...TJ's new toothbrush and the joy it brings him :) It's bright orange and green with a suction cup on the end of it...OH! The Place That Toothbrush Has Been Today!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...The Library and maybe the grocery tomorrow. And Korinne has Ballet. And it's Family Movie Night. Remember the Titans (last week was Dawn Treader, HOW DISAPPOINTING!). And Brian's Homemade Popcorn.

quiet time now

Remember this post? Well, I do. Because I'm still living it. I still have not figured out a way to make the hours between 1 PM and 4 PM work.

It seems like I'm always hitting my wall, just about the time I need to walk in the kitchen and start dinner (and I don't enjoy cooking). So, needless to say, I have to...I must, find a way to make our afternoons less chaotic.

Here's what Quiet Time looks like for us right now:

12:30-ish...I'm sitting on the floor, in the hallway, between all the kids' bedrooms, Reading Aloud. I love doing this. The kids love it. This is working. (it also gives Judah and Benjamin time to fall asleep)

1:00-ish...Quiet Time starts. Big Kids (the girls and Connor) are reading for approximately 90 minutes. This is Book Basket time (Science, History Independent Reading) and the last little while is for 'fun' reading.

. what does TJ do during this time? Well, he'll look through a book or two for about 10 minutes, and then he'll completely konk out. Every day. For about an hour. And he's 6.

. what does Wesley do during this time? It depends. Sometimes he peels the paint off his wall. Sometimes he changes his clothes a few times. Sometimes he sings. Sometimes he ______. And yes, I'm still fighting this 3 yr olds-must-nap thing. Because I think they must...but clearly, Wesley does not agree. He's back to being 'quiet' in our bed.

2:30-ish...Snack Time. Cereal. Tea Time has officially been reserved for Fridays. This time is still quiet, because evidently everyone is famished from Quiet Time. It's kind of odd how quiet this cereal-eating time really is.

3:00-ish...we should do Science. Or Nature Study. Or Art. Or Music. What do we do? I don't know. I usually spin around in circles from 3:00-ish until 4:00-ish.

So...

Tell me why. Why do our afternoons get waaay off track every.single.day?

Do large families just not do 'Nap Time?' How in the world do the little ones still get a nap...if everyone else is just going about their business...opening and closing doors? going up and down stairs? turning on faucets?

I've been thinking of really trying to get all our 'school' finished in the mornings. I think it may be feasible. That would push Nap Time back atleast an hour, and the Littles are up at 6:30 AM...I'm not sure they could actually stay up until 2:00 PM.

But it would completely free up the afternoon. For playing, and free time, and no more spinning. Just fun.

Or am I dreaming?

how we celebrate a birthday

Many of you who know us, know that we do not plan elaborate birthday parties for our children. We never have. It's always been just family. We'd do an easy meal, cake and ice cream, and most guests would bring a gift. But there has never been a petting zoo, a bouncy gym, a clown, etc.

BUT...since we have moved down here, where it would take family nine hours to drive to the birthday celebration, I have tried to come up with a few "special things" to make the birthday child's day a happy one to remember:

***Before the big day I make sure I have:

. Red Lipstick - for writing Birthday Messages on bathroom mirrors (I've been doing this a few years now), I buy the $1 tubes, and they last a few birthdays
. Paper Streamers - to hang from the birthday child's bedroom door and dining room entrance

. Balloons - just the simple kind, we blow them up and throw them all over the floor

 

***On the big day I am sure to make:

. Breakfast - at the birthday child's request (this has turned into donuts...often with Brian making an early morning run to Daylight Donuts)
. Dinner - at the birthday child's request (if a child is particularly enjoying dinner, they will anxiously announce, "This is what I'm havin' for my Birthday Dinner!"...you may hear that from the same child, about ten different dinners, all throughout the year)
. Birthday cake - any desert (not just cake) at the birthday child's request (some recents are: Strawberry Shortcake, Oreo Goodness, Carrot Cake, Pumpkin Pie)
. *Everything is eaten on a special "Birthday Plate" ...which is just a cheap black and white plate from WalMart, but it's only brought out on the birthdays for the birthday child...I would like to buy a nicer one that says CELEBRATE on it, but we have to prioritize here, and usually birthday gifts come before birthday plates...

***On the big day the birthday child is sure to get:

. cards - lots of homemade ones from each of their siblings, and one boughten one from the entire family. I would like to start writing a birthday letter to each birthday child every year. I did this once when Kylie turned 9, and she still has it. For now, I've really been trying to write a very thoughtful post on their birthday, like Kylie's 13th or Wesley's 3rd, and Korinne's 10th was fun to write!

. gifts - we try to think of something or a few somethings the birthday child will really LOVE

***An added bonus is being free from chores on your birthday, and believe me, they don't let you forget!***

children's book monday: madeleine takes command

Madeleine Takes Command
by Ethel C. Brill

We finished this Read Aloud last week, and let me just say that we all (Momma, Girls, and Boys) thoroughly enjoyed it, and we were so sad to see it end.

Madeleine Takes Command is a true historical novel about the 17th-century Canadian frontier (New France). In the story Madeleine de Vercheres, a 14 year old girl, along with her 12 and 10 year old brothers, bravely and heroically hold down their father's fort (while both he, their mother, and youngest siblings are away) against the Iroquois Indians, in defense of faith, family, and New France.

Not only was this a refreshing and welcome 'educational' story (we have not learned much about Canadian Colonization...OK, we hadn't learned anything up until this point), but it was also a wonderful book for my children (siblings) to hear because of the combined effort of Madeleine and both of her brothers to stick together, talk things through, and encourage each other through the attack. Their love and respect for one other was very evident.

If you haven't had the opportunity to share this story with your family, I highly recommend it, not only for it's historical content, but also for it's life application for families.

:: Happy Reading! ::

~Kathi

P.S. You can see other Children's Book Monday Reviews over at Elise's place...or Kristin's place.

early morning math class

A few weeks ago, we decided that Math at the end of Quiet Time was no longer working for us, and that a lot of time was being wasted at the start of our day.

We implemented a new morning routine for the older children that included doing their Math bright and early (6:30 AM for Kylie...Korinne and Connor to follow at 6:45). Everyone closes the books at 7:15 (whether they've finished the page or not), and heads to the Family Room for prayer with Dad before he heads to the gym or work.

So far...it's working wonderfully for us. The best thing is that it gets the worst part of the homeschool day (Math!) out of the way...*AND* Dad is still home to deal with any questions (Dad is the Math teacher here in the Bailey Home).

I've done a few things to make this early-morning-math-routine less painful for my little students:

. I make sure to open the blinds in the dining room (where they sit at the table and do their pages). Who doesn't feel better about things when looking at a Brand New Day?! This morning, the birds were even singing, and I slightly opened one of the windows, so the kids could hear them.

. I turn on very soft music. Right now, it's Vivaldi. I wish we had a copy of Hidden in My Heart that would play in our music player, that would be the most perfect early-morning-math-routine music!

. I go ahead and turn the tea kettle on, line up the cups and saucers, and put the tea bags in the cups. Sometimes I'm in the kitchen when the kettle starts to whistle, most mornings Korinne will get it. The girls have been drinking tea in the morning for a few years, but this is something new and exciting for Connor. It makes him less grumbly about having to do early-morning-Math, instead of listening to Mom read Stuart Little (he still grins, embarrassed, if you peek at him while he's drinking from his cup).

. I've even lit our Jesus candle a few mornings.


It's strange that such a small thing is making our days flow more smoothly, but it is. Maybe I should remember this, and switch up our routine more often!



:: Happy Homeschooling! ::

st patricks day book basket

A Pot O' Gold

selected and adapted by Kathleen Krull
illustrated by David McPahil

from Music K-8: "Though it may only be a small emerald isle, Ireland's heritage is very large indeed. In A Pot O' Gold, noted writer Kathleen Krull and illustrator David McPhail bring this legacy to life. This anthology compiles classic and rare examples of Irish culture including songs, poems, stories, recipes, and even a little blarney. From legends of leprechauns and fairies to the classic poetry of Yeats and Joyce, this treasury is a perfect way for anyone to share the wonders of Ireland."

:: Happy March! ::

hey diddle diddle

Hey! Diddle, Diddle! from Kathi Bailey on Vimeo.

isms ... february 2011

I walk in the door, arms loaded down with bags and bags of newly checked out Library books, and Wesley hands me a folded up piece of paper from an old red purse of mine, that he's claimed is his mailbag, and wears crossed over his chest,

"Here's your mail Momma."

"Um...there's nothing on it, Baby"

"...I know, Daddy wouldn't let me write...but it *would* say have fun at the Library Momma."

 

" H-I-O! What's that spell? BUCKEYES! "

The boys are continually reminded by their Father that they may not ask for chocolate milk in the morning before saying "Good Morning."

 

" Can I have my choc ... Good Morning Momma. Can I have my chocolate milk? "

 

" Mommm! Rin hit me! On Accident! "

During Bath Time:

" That was very kind of you Momma. "

" What was very kind of me? "

" Rinsing the soap off of me. "

Me: "Wesley, eat your Peanutbutter Bite (flax ball). "

Wesley: "But Mom, I do not enjoy them."

daybook, february 21st

Outside my window...50 degrees, Fair, Feels like 50 degrees, Wind NNW at 13 mph, Humidity 74%, UV Index 0 Low, Dew Point 42 degrees F, Visibility 10.0 mi, Sunrise 6:43 AM, Sunset 5:51 PM (I heart my TWC app on my iPhone)

I am thinking...I shouldn't love my iPhone so much, and I should apologize to my husband for thinking he was crazy this past year for loving his iPhone so much

I am thankful for...an unexpected text from my Momma this morning (can't wait for this weekend)

From the learning rooms...Immanuel, Rhode Island, Vermont (complete with pancakes and real Maple Syrup), Daniel Boone, finishing Amos Fortune Freeman, starting Madeleine Takes Command, listening to Tchaikovsky's story, Air...

 

From the kitchen...we had big pretzels and homemade cheese sauce for lunch, and BBQed chicken, baked beans, and real mac and cheese for dinner

I am wearing...jeans and an Army tee

I am creating...getting ready to write out my school plan for tomorrow

I am reading...The Excellent Wife, The Mysterious Benedict Society (aloud to the kids), thinking maybe, just maybe, I'll start Chosen By God (maybe)

 

I am hoping...my Mom's vacation day is approved

 

I am hearing...silence (except for the fan, somebody pinch me!)

Around the house...pretty clean and tidy...announced at bedtime that Wesley and TJ's room and the upstairs Toy Closet would be getting an overhaul tomorrow...Korinne asked, "What's and overhaul?"

 

A few of my favorite things...Original-Scent Liquid Tide, April Fresh Downy, and Bounce Dryer Sheets (0 or 2)...I tried Charlie's Laundry Soap (and wasted $40)...tonight, I did my laundry the way I love, and the smell wafting from my laundry room is heavenly~

 

A few plans for the rest of the week: lots and lots of learning (so glad to be using my My Father's World TM again, makes my life so much easier, and our 'school' more fun!), ballet, library trip, and hopefully a busy weekend with my parents!

love letters from connor

To: Kylie

From: Connor

..."I love the Bengals but not as much as I love you."

To: Mom

From: Connor

..."Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love Love BE MINE"

To: Judah

From: Connor

..."Have a chunky Valentine's Day"

To: TJ

From: Connor

..."It's Valentine's Day! MVP TJ"

...and Korinne's, which is sadly missing, said, "The Colts are tough but not as tough as my love for you."

red hot cinnamon play doh

We are studying Jesus, The Bread of Life.

Our Science, which goes along with our Names of Jesus Study, is about Bread...dough...yeast, etc. this week. One of our Science Experiments was to make homemade play dough.

So, I decided to add a little Valentine's fun to it!

Here's our most favorite homemade play dough recipe (beats boughten Play Doh anyday):

2 C water

red food coloring

2 T oil

3 t cinnamon

1 C salt

4 t cream of tartar

2 C flour

...mix all ingredients in your pan, stir over medium heat until all the lumps are (almost) gone, knead on your kitchen counter like you would bread dough (add more food coloring, if needed), and give to your excited kids. Mine love it all warm and squishy and smelly-good!

:: Enjoy twenty minutes without getting a drink for a little person, or breaking up a squabble between little people, or reading Go, Dog. Go! to a little person! ::

Now...if only our 'bread' turns out as well later in the week!

daybook, january 25th

Outside my window...it is cold, and it is snowing...just barely, but it's snowing nonetheless

I am thinking...about what our goals are for our girls...what goals the girls have for themselves...will they line up...does it matter if they don't...I don't know about this teenager stuff...it's pretty hard...and even harder when you throw God in the mix...OK, so I don't 'throw' God anywhere...but raising a Godly teenager is hard...well, not really, because our teenager is a good kid...but one day...

 

I am thankful for...good health

 

From the learning rooms...a little Chinese history, adding -ing, and birds...I'm kind of tired of birds

 

From the kitchen...cereal for breakfast, leftovers for lunch, and I have no idea what's for dinner...I'm working hard in the kitchen today

I am wearing...jeans and my purple sweater wrap (yes, purple...it's one color I don't mind to wear)

I am creating... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

I am going...I may start going to a Mom's Book Club this Thursday, "Fat souls are better than clean floors." or it may be postponed by one week (the hostess has company this week)

I am reading...The Well Trained Mind, Ch. 16, "Why 1492? History and Geography," in hopes of finding a way to 'beef up' Kylie's History studies. I'm thinking we're going to use Outlining again (which TWTM explains in depth), add in some memorization (Declaration of Independence and Preamble to the Constitution), and TWTM's Notebooking is so thorough...

I am hoping...the house stays quiet for just a little while

 

I am hearing...the fan, TJ breathing (he's asleep, on the floor, in front of the fireplace...a new favorite spot of his)

Around the house...superclean, after all the after-sickness disinfecting

One of my favorite things...read aloud time. Give me a good book, and my babies, and I'm good!

A few plans for the rest of the week...ballet, (maybe) our Mom's Book Club, and The Last of The Mohicans Friday night

not my salvation story

Since we are a Godly, church-less family right now, we watched Love Worth Finding as our 'church' this evening. The sermon was entitled 'Understanding The New Birth.' And, just like most times when I sit in church, and it seems the pastor is speaking directly to me, such was the case this evening. Impossible I know, but it felt that way just the same. Something really spoke to me at the end of the sermon. Dr. Rogers was speaking about how we know for certain we have been born again. And the answer, "If we are now trusting Jesus, we are born again." Emphasis on now. He went on to say that some people have a story. A day. A place. Something in their past, that they know for certain, from that moment on, they were saved (born again). But some people do not have a story. And that is OK, because the bible does not say that we must have a story.

 I'm one of those people who doesn't have a story. I remember a few years back, when we first moved down here, and we wanted to 'join' our old church. The pastor came over, and at the end of the visit, he wanted to know our 'salvation stories.' I don't even remember what I said. But I remember wanting so badly to be part of that church, so I made up a 'salvation story' right there on the spot. It was based on my 'experience,' and it sounded good. But it was made up. It was a lie. That I told to my new (old) pastor. (...and you're thinking, "Maybe that's why you are church-less Kathi!" Maybe you're right.)

The truth is, I don't know exactly when I was born again. All I know is that in 2005, I had just had my fourth child, my husband had just left for Afghanistan, our home was getting ready to be in foreclosure, we were broke, and my life seemed rather bleak (to say the least). I remember thinking, "There is no possible way I can do this alone." As the days, weeks, and months passed, I found myself reading the bible. I found myself praying for my deployed husband, my lonely children, and help...I needed so much help. I found myself taking my family (minus their Daddy) to church. I discovered K-LOVE. I started reading bible stories to the kids. And we made it.

 I believe it was the Holy Spirit calling me to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and God answering my prayers. It is my 16-month long 'salvation story.' And I am still trusting Jesus. Right now.

an english lesson

We use Rod & Staff's Building Christian English Series for our english (grammar and composition) lessons starting at age 9-ish or so. I *heart* it. My girls *heart* it. Really, I'm not lying...you can ask them.

We go over the lesson together, do the oral drill together, and then they complete the lesson on their own. Kylie even grades her own, and we go over anything that she totally flubbed together. I grade Korinne's, and we go over anything she has totally flubbed together. They rarely totally flub their lesson. They are pretty smart girls (in my not-so-humble opinon).

R & S English is textbook-style, but it is also in narrative-style (the book 'talks' to the student, much like a parent-teacher would). We leave out the extra workbook pages, and we don't do the tests. The girls just learn, master, and move on (with review-ish lessons thrown in every 5 lessons). All my die-hard Charlotte Mason readers are now having heart failure. I openly admit, that this (grammar, not so much composition), is one area that I do not completely agree with Charlotte Mason on.

The only thing I do NOT like about R & S English, is that they put the 'grade level' in great, big black numbers right on the front of the book. I'm not a 'grade level' type of homeschool mom, I'm not even an 'age-level' type of homeschool mom...I'm more of a 'are they ready' type of homeschool mom. Once I convinced my girls that the 'grade level' was not important (and that they were NOT so many years behind!), I learned to live with the big, black numbers.

I'm telling you all this, simply because I wanted to share Korinne's lesson for today. It reminded me what a blessing homeschooling is. It reminded me that things matter, things like being polite. Even when the world tells, NO! shows us they do not matter...'put YOU first,' the world says. We say differently, Rod & Staff agrees with us. *And*, we can teach our children a better way (even through English lessons)!

I *heart* homeschooling. I do. I was born to be a homeschool mom.

Here is the lesson, taken from 'Preparing to Build,' Unit Three, Lesson 22, More Practice With I and Me:

God's Word is wonderful. In His Word He tells us how to do what is right. He tells us how to treat other people. Here is one Bible verse which tells us how to treat others:

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; love; in honour preferring one another." (Romans 12:10)

The verse tells us to prefer one another. This means that we should think about someone else before we think about ourselves. It means that we should treat others with courtesy and respect.

We show this courtesy in many ways. One way we show it is when we are walking with someone. When we come to a door, we open the door and step back. We let the other person go through the door first.

We can show this courtesy when we speak and write, too. Yes, even our speech can show whether we are "preferring one another." When we speak or write about someone else and ourselves, we should always say the other person's name first. We should say I or me last.

Say: Mother and I baked a cake.

Father spoke to Robert and me.

Let the name of the other person go first. Then let I or me follow.

:: Happy Homeschooling! ::

daybook, january 18th

Outside my window...dreary, wet, chilly

I am thinking...about how learning as a large family is a struggle...so many levels to teach

I am thankful for...tylenol, advil, amoxicillin, delsym

From the learning rooms...Jesus' healing miracles, France in the 1700s, adding the -ed suffix, plural pronouns, and some Mayflower Compact copywork that went missing (...it just vanished!)

From the kitchen...chicken soup

I am wearing...brown socks, khaki cords, and a red shirt with coffee and books all over it that my mom left me (the beige girl)...I feel clown-ish

I am creating...we put together our Family History and Science Notebooks yesterday

I am going...nowhere...well, Korinne has ballet this evening, but I'm not going

I am reading...I am ordering Large Family Logistics with leftover birthday money as soon as I finish this little post

I am hoping...this flu-ish illness is quick to leave our family, and I stay well

I am hearing...so much coughing

Around the house...tidy, but could use a dusting...and, with the sickness going around, we still have our Christmas decorations up (minus our tree)

One of my favorite things...my birthday presents from my parents

A few plans for the rest of the week: lots of learning, chores, ballet...GETTING WELL!!!

thirty three

. a birthday card in the mail, a day early, from my grandparents "we hope your day is Special." they write

 

. my 3 year old wanting so desperately to give me my 'bob the builder birthday pictures' the night before, but being as patient as a 3 year old can be, and waiting one more day

 

. my childhood best friend letting me know that she remembers tomorrow is my birthday

. hearing the van start up at 6:45 AM, as my husband heads to the bakery for donuts...a double gift. I don't have to make breakfast, chocolate in the morning

. my daughters making and hanging 'happy birthday mom' streamers

. greeted outside my bedroom by SE7EN (count them...one, two, three, four, five, six, se7en) blessings (gifts) from God singing 'happy birthday dear momma' at 6:48 AM

 

. the smile on Wesley's face as he (finally) gives me my 'bob the builder birthday pictures'

 

. my mom and dad and their kitty, louie, singing 'happy birthday to you' over the phone...and then saying, "we'll see you tomorrow!"

 

. a text from my brother, "happy birthday sis!"

. 'happy birthday mom' on my kindergartner's handwriting page

. a 'happy birthday, love you' email from my grandma

. a text from my husband, "won't be home for lunch, have errands to run before b-day bash tonight."

. a voicemail from a sweet lady at our old church. more singing, "happy birthday, God bless you..."

 

. ABC magnetic letters, placed just for me

 

. my daughters in the kitchen, baking for me

 

. a birthday dinner (italian food!), made by my husband

 

. Kylie's watercolor birthday card

 

. two blue, sparkly, burning '3' candles, 33!, and another round of singing, 'happy birthday'...hearing excited giggles, seeing happy smiles, Brian laughing and recording

. NOT blowing out my candles, thank you Benjamin!

 

. packages wrapped in leftover Christmas paper (crocheted dishrags by Korinne, handmade jewelry by Connor and TJ, chocolate kisses...1 for each day of my 34th year, my that's a lot of chocolate kisses, new watch, new bible...NKJV, genuine leather, ultra thin, large print, reference, so perfect!)

 

. sharing a piece of chocolate, chocolate cake with Judah

. having my 8 year old son 'tie' my new necklace on me, beautiful!

. one last voicemail, my sister and her three sons, singing a muffled and excited 'happy birthday (this one to) Aunt Kathi, happy birthday to you'

. choosing one of our hymns, 'it is well,' my favorite

. too many facebook messages to count, thank you all!

 

:: Hello Thirty-Three, welcome to my life, I do believe we'll get along fine! ::

winter book basket

:: In honor of the SNOW that is falling ::

The Long Winter
(an audio radio-show version)by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Winter Poems by Barbara Rogasky

...a variety of poems (Rachel Field, Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, Emily Dickinson) that celebrate Winter itself. I love it (and I'm NOT a poetry fan), and the illustrations are so cozy.

 

Treasures of The Snow by Patricia St. John
...the movie version of this is also wonderful!


Owl Moonby Jane Yolen
...A little girl and her father go Owling on a moonlit Winter night near their farm. A 'Living Nature Book,' so calm and perfect for quiet, snow-y days and evenings.


***Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby, The Mitten, The Hat, and The Three Snow Bears all in one Snowy Treasury ***


Snowflake Bentleyby Jacqueline Briggs
...a heartwarming picture book biography about the Vermont farmer who photographed snowflakes. Beautiful illustrations of wood block prints by Vermont artist, Mary Azarian (A Christmas Like Helen's, LOVE!).

 

And, of course, Sleepy Bears!

thoughts on mother culture

To read about our Mom's Night Out, you can visit my real-life girlfriend, Mrs. C.

 

A link to learn what Mother Culture is ... and in case you didn't know, Karen Andreola blogs!

"Charlotte believed that this countenance of contentment, of serenity, can come about even during stressful times when a mother learns to occasionally do for herself what she does for her children - go out to play. Charlotte tells us we would have happier households if we mothers "would only have courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or a half a day, out in the fields, or with a favorite book, or in a picture gallery. . ." For a mother to allow herself a bit of leisure to rest and refresh herself by exploring her own interests, to find a little time for herself, especially when so many others depend on her, is a what Karen calls, Mother Culture ®.

 

When a busy homeschooling mother takes part in Mother Culture she safeguards her enthusiasm, so she will be better able to cope with her responsibilities. To partake in Mother Culture is to feed herself with the Word of God, with ideas from books, nature, art, music, etc., thus taking care to keep growing spiritually and mentally. If there such is a thing as the joy of childhood, there is also such a thing as the joy of motherhood, and Karen admonishes mothers to recognize and live within such a blessing."

...and a few more Mother Culture-ish ideas!

today i:

. cleaned up after a Victory Party

. made oatmeal for breakfast (and the kids happily ate it)

. washed our bed sheets (fresh bed sheets are heavenly)

. heated up leftover Victory Party food for lunch (OK, so we had snacks for lunch)

. cleaned out the pantry

. went through my cleaning rags, finally throwing a few in the trash (I LOVE to throw things away, I LOVE it!)

. texted Brian to bring bags of salad home for dinner...added shredded cheese and croutons and everyone's dressing of choice...complete with ice water (and the entire family happily ate it)

. sang hymns with my husband and children out of our new hymnals

. and managed to DELETE my 'Learning' page

... and soon, I'm going to take a hot-ish, warm-ish shower, put on my new flannel nightgown and old cotton socks, get in our bed (which has freshly washed, heavenly sheets on it), and doze off as Brian flips through the channels. And, as soon as he turns the TV off, Judah will wake up, and I will nurse him back to sleep...and then...then I will go to sleep!

:: Good Night! ::

our new year's letter 2010

As Twenty Ten comes to an end, I thought I'd take a few moments and reflect on what the year held for our large, little family:

Of course, Judah had many, many milestones...turning 3 Months Old (leaving behind those precious newborn weeks) is always a bittersweet time for me. By 6 Months, I was feeling a little better about mothering a growing infant, and enjoying all the wonderful 'baby things' that they do and discover at that age. And then, that First Birthday came around, all too quickly, breaking and filling my heart to overflowing all at once. Baby Judah has been a real 'teether' for us, a late crawler and walker, and our first child to leave such a mark on his Momma for so long (something neither of us are ready to give up yet!). He brings his four big brothers, his two big sisters, and his Momma and Daddy more joy than one could think a Se7enth Child could possibly bring.

Our Happy Elf, Benjamin, turned TWO this year! He still LOVES all things Radiator Springs, he enjoys 'doing school' (drawing), and is an expert Escape Artist...disappearing on us whenever he can. When he's found, he's still at that age where he puts his hands over his eyes...if he can't see us...we can't see him! So cute, but so exhausting too! Benjamin also gave up his pacifier in July (accidentally...he lost it in the car on the way to Cincinnati), and will soon be attending SSG Daddy's Potty Training Boot Camp!

Wesley has grown, matured in so many ways this year. He's got almost the exact personality of his big sister, Kylie, and the motor-mouth to match too! He turned Three this year, and likes to dress up in crazy outfits on an almost daily basis (many of which are eternally posted on Facebook!). He still has the hardest time when Daddy goes out of town, and goes BANANAS upon his return. Wesley also gave up his nap this year, but we recently gave it back to him!

TJ. Oh, TJ...such diversity in a 6 year old little boy. TJ's Birthday Post will forever be one of my most favorite writings. He truly is a blessing in so many, many ways! Kindergarten was one of his biggest milestones this year, and the boy would 'do Art' until the cows came home. He also LOVES catching toads (he literally caught a hundred this past summer...one three-legged friend more than once, *AND* I have an absolutely hilarious video of a certain toad-y friend flying a Tonka Helicopter!), and he can set up a Battle like a True Soldier's Son!

Connor spent 2010 learning the ways of the Cub Scouts and attending Camp with his Dad, and playing lots and lots and lots Baseball (both with his brothers, and on his first team). He spent the night with The Gameball and his team earned the status of League Champs! He also experienced an interesting Biblical Breakthrough, and flew away oh! glory. Connor turned Eight this past year, and also turned into my first Little Man. Sigh. Good sigh. Proud Smile.

Korinne turned Ten in Twenty Ten! She spent a lot of time building a beautiful friendship, practicing crocheting dishrags, reading and reading and reading and reading, and Twirling (which earned her a Promotion to Ballet 3.5)! She also appeared in Cinderella and performed in The Nutcracker again this year!

Kylie had a HUGE year! All that talk about becoming A TEENAGER!!! And now, she's almost A Teenager Plus One! Where did fourteen years go? (it was just yesterday she was running down the aisle at our wedding!) She went on The Youthtrip again this summer, and let her dad tag-along this time. She cross-stitched and photographed and crocheted and cooked and wrote and read and read and read...and Twirled, also appearing in Cinderella and again in The Nutcracker. Kylie earned a Promotion to Ballet 4 this fall, and will be starting the Teacher Assistant Program at The FOA this spring term. Exciting! And scary...next thing you know, she'll be driving (they do that at 14 down in these here parts, ya know!)

Brian and I celebrated our 12th Wedding Anniversary and our 32nd Birthdays! Brian has been busy with school, and will (FINALLY!) graduate this spring. I have (sort of) learned (slowly) how to manage a large-ish home. And, we both created a Family Driven by Faith, and are now learning how to Shepherd their little Hearts.

It's a full life. A blessed life. And it's been a very, very GOOD YEAR!

:: Love to All, and Happy, Happy (safe) New Year! ::

happy birthday to my grandma

Happy Birthday to my Grandma who has loved me with Chicken and Dumplings, Bread Pudding, fluffy paisley blankets, baby aspirin, and an always open door (and wallet).

Happy Birthday to my Grandma who always listened and laughed at my frog jokes, and has kept my Snowman Story for 25 years.

Happy Birthday to my Grandma who thought it was absurd that we watched The V...but let us 'watch' Dallas.

Happy Birthday to my Grandma who taught me how to: peel potatoes, massage feet, shine my sink (looong before FlyLady...because who wants their company to have to wash their hands in a soapy-toothpasty sink), make a yummy pot of (Frisch's) chili, super stock my pantry, and be ready for any kind of Emergency that could be fixed with a Bread-Tie.

(yes, those are my Bread-Ties, in my Chicken Bouillon Cube jar, in my Kitchen...and I bet you'll find the same thing in her's!)

I LOVE You Grandma, I hope you have a Wonderful Birthday

Love,

Kathi (your First Girl)

not doing everything i mean to do

I almost didn't open the email from Stacy. I thought it was probably about yet another thing that I had gotten behind on, making yet another person feel angry with me.

But I opened it today. Eight days after she sent it to me.

She was apologizing for herself and her children not being prompt with their penpal letters. I wanted to laugh, and then I wanted to cry. I felt rotten that she would even think for one second that I'd be upset over that. After all, don't we all have enough to do, without worrying that people are getting angry with us over silly things like penpal letters.

I know I do.

So, to all of you who have been expecting this or that from me, I ask for grace and that you might lower your expectations.

My plate is just so very full with all the blessings God has placed in my life. And I'm trying to put first things first, and embrace my current season. That means my family, my home, and all the 327 (thousand) things that need to happen each day to care for them, get checked off the list before the penpal letters get stamped and addressed.

And, to Stacy...I say Thank You!