- – -

i feel like i’m jumping into the middle of life to stop in here real quick. we have way to much catching up to do.

we will go back and fill in things like christmas & vacations & texas & new years & life – but tonight we’re going to give a little press to dolly.

she turned 5 today. i’m sure when she turned one i thought the whole ‘i can’t believe she’s one already’ thoughts.

but i honestly don’t remember thinking that when she turned 2 or three or 4 – those ages just seemed appropriate & she fit into them nicely – but 5!

oh my …..

5 is like half way through kid age, like she’s well on her way to 10 now : ) i know huh, i don’t overreact or anything.

she’s beautiful, our dolly.  she likes fancy & flair & zebra stripes. she’s dramatic & emotional & slightly irrational.

we made muffins & read stories, we got the oil changed & picked out party plates, we went to the library & at fish tacos. she got a bike & a booster seat.

i was going to take her picture along this great white wall by the library ….. and she sat there all darling & smiling & my battery was dead.

and then tonight when i decided her candle blowing out needed more than just phone pictures i went & got a little point & shoot in my purse and after one blurry picture that battery died too.

she sat super excited waiting while rex wheeled in her bike.

so this is what we have ….. instagram snaps of her lighted birthday brownies, her happy birthday song & her blowing out her candles.

happy birthday dolls, i love you.

we’ll be back soon : )

- – -

 

we aren’t mailing cards this year.
i’m extra sorry for those who don’t read about us online who would usually get one.

benny colored a hand drawn nativity scene that was going to be our card.
we took enough pictures to mail cards for the rest of this decade.
but as you can clearly see – the perfect moment was never quite captured : )

- – -

merry christmas!

i’m up late …. the computer ate a christmas project i was working on ….. and i’ve just spent the time to redo it.

the first post on facebook at 1:18am was a youtube clip about newton, connecticut. i’ve played it several times.

we have 6 year old. we also have a 7 year old.

there are moms all the way across the country who don’t anymore …

i wonder what they’ll do with already bought christmas presents.
or maybe they had airline tickets for a christmas family vacation.
or maybe they hadn’t taken their christmas card picture yet ….

man, i’m glad God is bigger.

- – -

christmas is coming along here. the kids are out of school. we’re reading an exciting book that goes along with the advent this year. we’ve been to plays. we’ve been shopping. we’ve been stressed : )

we were asked to be a part of a christmas program at church. back in october i didn’t think it’d be a big deal to come up with a little something ….. that was in october, now it’s december! rex’s kids ad-lib very well ; ) 

- – -

i feel like i repeat myself sometimes in posting these …. but amie doesn’t instagram & obviously we need to explain to her why we took each one – so for amie …..

• well this is just dolly & frosty
• benny made his bed ‘just like dad’, was totally proud of himself & wanted me to send a picture to rex
• did i tell you we got a dog? he showed up one morning & hasn’t left. his name is charlie
• benny stood just like that once  … in that crib, wearing those zippys, smiling – i had to take a picture
• 3 guesses who drew that & the first 2 don’t count
• he took the girls to the nutcracker …. i was almost jealous : )
• pink joseph & blue mary were taking a trip, i guess
• that was the pound cake ….
• he’s got mad climbing skills, especially with his jumper – it was the first time rex saw him do it & he was smiling for him
• well you know what those are …. you can just call it christmas on your bum : )
• that’s our tree … at night … in black & white ….
• i have aspiring goals for those!
• it was probably a tie over who was prouder – rex, for tying it up or roo, for keeping it there : )
• they were playing ring around the rosies with rosie …. yes it was that beautiful
• obviously she gets her fashion sense from you
• i know, he’s crazy adorable : )
• this one …. you just woulda had to of been there
• chady was tickled to be at the table & regan was tickled to have him there
• the sister friends in their seats waiting for the nutcracker to start
• debbie insisted i send you this for shock value & proof
• well that’s rex : ) at lowes : ) pushing our tree in to pay for it : )

• she said it was the 1st time i’d ever bought her a happy meal, i believed her
• and i know …. this is hard to believe …. i took my 6 children to mcdonalds, bought them all happy meals & let them play all over the play place. they had fun.

 

 

i know that was a lot of pictures …. i need to instagram more than …. well more often than i do : )

- – -

merry christmas –

 

benny thought the boughs should be reindeer antlers & he was doing his christmas dance. regan had already done her christmas dance & jack was trying to get chad to look at the camera. they all picked their own clothing – i think that’s all the disclaimers the new header needs : )

- – -

i don’t think we’ve picked out a christmas tree by ourselves, just the two of us since 2002 ….

it was my idea.
we were out on a date and had the truck ….

no crazy trek to the mountains to cut our own, or family trip to the fancy tree lot to all agree on which one would be perfect.

nope, the local lowes parking lot had a section of just marked down noble firs – ta da, done.

rex actually felt a little guilty.
i went with buying them little boxes of twinkle lights for the windows in their rooms to mask the fact that we got the tree without them : )

but the decorating …. after he strung the lights …. that was all them.

pajama clad, while muffins bakes & have yourself a merry little christmas played they hung ornaments in the same middle section of the tree.  we don’t have lovely christmas trees with matching ornaments all perfectly placed. we have funky trees with hodge podge ornamants dating back to 1979 complete with my feather angle with the gold crown made in my sunday school class when i was 5. and jacky’s face on a glitter paper bell that takes up the whole of one side : )

chady got put in his walker so he could watch more & help less : )

- – -

we say we’re heading to the mountains next year, where there is snow & hundreds of trees & memories waiting to be made ….

but this was kinda a fun way too and, they like their festive lights around the windows.

5:45pm can not come soon enough.

friday afternoon homework is dragging & i’m not sure who will be more excited when it’s finished – sailor or i!

i don’t think i can handle one more question for another piece of paper. yet the lopsided snowman standing next to colorful christmas trees they are drawing on those pieces of paper are slaying me with their darling-ness so i keep saying sure, one more each time they ask.

at one a.m. last night i was thinking i’d rather chad be crying & fussy during a nap time than during my nights sleep (or lack thereof!) but what do you know …. this afternoon during his fussy nap i wasn’t convinced.

he’s teeth are bothering him, i’m pretty sure ….
i can’t even believe i’m typing that as i hate that line for a fussy baby. oh it’s teeth – like that is the only forever reason a baby is allowed to cry or fuss.

i do have to say my mom skills in the midnight hours have improved through the kids …. i am much more patient. i do not flop back into bed hard enough so rex knows i’ve been up for the 27th time, like i used to : )

so all in all chad is reaping the benefits of not being the 1st …. (or 2nd, 3rd, 4th …) kid.

and boys & jeans & rain …. there is way more rain & not enough jeans.

and lest you think i’m on the verge of needing drugs to alter my mental state! let’s assure you that i’m really ok : )

i am so struck right now with this thought – i can show love because God has shown love to me!

i can show love … i can.

i can be patient because He is patient with me.
i can forgive because He has forgiven me.
i can …. anything really, because He has …. everything.

so.

a couple of weeks ago molly made some passing comment about how rex should buy her a blow up snowman.

i totally agreed with her … in a ha, ha, ha sort of way.

fast forward to yesterday when rex said he had to go to home depot & molly wanted to go with him.

jokes on me ….. he bought a blow up snowman & now our yard is just super classy for this holiday season & an almost 5 year old little girl is delighted!

- – -

1. why would you not leave the grocery with a brown bag on your head??
2. he was thinking outside was better than inside.
3. she likes to dress herself, regardless of the hardship to herself.
4. again, her cuteness makes up for her lack of skill
5. he likes to help
6. owl pellets …. youtube that & you’ll have it stuck in your head too.
7. the lunch help
8. how the boys think they should ride to bed every night.
9. her after run morning hot chocolate.
10. watching his brothers play ball
11. a brother playing ball
12. at the polls
13. she likes to hold him more than he likes her to hold him
14. rex was sweating just looking at him
15. their art ….
16. she seriously hopped all the way to school
17. then she vacuumed.
18. then she rang the bell to call the kids

- – -

so, on days when drugs might have helped – lol.
nothing a babysitter & leopard print flats can’t fix … yay for 5:45 : )

happy weekend.
plug in a blow up snowman & enjoy it’s wonder!

- – -

 

chady isn’t into cleaning up the house.

he’s trying to impress me with is mad pull up on the couch skills.  he gets up, blabs to get my attention & then rocks back & forth & smiles.

- – -

i have discovered the beauty of ordering on amazon. when your address & credit card number are already on file & they ship it to you for free and it comes in 2 days, it is way, wAy too easy to shop.

add to cart. add to cart. add to cart.
click. click. click.
way too easy : )
merry. merry. christmas.

the cat  & him compete for leftovers - 

- – -

i want to go on a date.
i want to read library books to the kids.
i want to not what number the scale says when i stand on it.

we’re going to put chad to bed. he is more important than a picked up house & he is no longer impressed with is mad couch skills.

- – -

i love this.

let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness & for His wonders to the sons of men. psalms 107

we worked from 11 to 12 last night. we figured we’d have more time from 11 to 12 last night than we’d have from 8 to 9am this morning … even though both were an hour.

the kids were showered & in bed. we’d watched a movie & rex had fixed some part on the car.

we grated cheese & chopped nuts for a cheese ball.
we listened to christmas music.
my veggie dip fell off the counter & landed on the ground.
at 11:45pm it was actually really funny – i laughed : )

somehow mixing spinach with the sour cream & seasoning for a bread bowl dip made me think of grandma. of her kitchen & the sounds & sights & smells of thanksgivings there.

i was going to use her relish fork for my veggie platter, i decided.

you weren’t ever suppose to use your fingers to pick up olives from her vegetable spreads & this year just because i have her silverware we weren’t going to use fingers either.

for the record …. i actually don’t think i ever used her relish fork at thanksgivings for olives …. unless some aunt was watching ; )

sailor woke up at 3am throwing up.

rex was insanely sick friday & saturday. the germs spread & sunday, monday & tuesday a better part of us were down.

throw in a wicked case of mastitis for me & we have had a brutal few days.

but by wednesday we were back & really looking forward to thanksgiving with family we hardly-ever-less-than-once-a-year see.

’til 3 am.

b.u.m.m.e.r.

- – -

i will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart & i will enter His courts with praise. i will say this is the day that the Lord has made, i will rejoice for He has made me glad.

He has made me glad, He has made me glad, i will rejoice for He has made glad.

plan b.
we’ve watched the parade. we’ve ate muffins. we’ve made brown bag indian vests. we’ve even watched the national dog show. we cut feathers for brave headbands. we’ve loved sailor. we’ve played legos. we’ve eaten our cheese ball.

we’ll take naps. we’ll watch football. we’ll play football. we’ll go for a walk. we’ll love sailor. we’ll be thankful.

he who is not thanking God for His benefits, is forgetting them.

there are way to many benefits to be forgetful, so we’ll be thankful.

- – -

- – -

rex bought a paper …. my email is full …. the commercials are everywhere …. doorbusters, doorbusters!!
ahh, to be at target at 9pm or not ???

poinsettias for 99 cents.
and thanks to genius marketing, i now think i need a new washing machine & a scarf in every color & christmas dishes & new throw pillows for my bed : )

he is the darling-est little indian boy brave ever.
happy thanksgiving ~

‘have you thought about what we’re going to have for dinner? benny just asked me.

no, i haven’t.

well you’d better. it’s getting pretty far into the afternoon.

i’ll get right on that ben : )

i was actually scrolling through pinterest.
mozzarella & mashed potato pie ….
summer spaghetti with garlic sauce ….
caramel filled apple cider cookies …..

there is a reason i am never on pinterest – that is why : )

- – -

in more real life news – we cleaned the frig today. i could hear chady coming from around the corner …. he was excited. the door was open! and bonus for him i was sitting on the floor.

- – -

instagram is posting blurry pictures & i do not have the energy to figure out why right now ….
besides it’s pretty far into the afternoon : )

- – -

they made lunch –

 

they being these two –

it was epic. the cheese slices were 1/2 a block thick & there was generous amounts of peanut butter applied -
   

the reviews were favorable -

  

- – -

there’s a 30 degree difference in the temperature from yesterday to today.

my little chad calvin is dressed in cozy baby clothes asleep in his bed.

it’s raining.

target shoes are cheap.

i am attempting to make soup.

if they can make lunch …. surely i can make soup …. surely : )

- – -

we will light a candle.
we will take a hot shower.
we will wait for rex to come home.
we will listen to molly recite prepositions …

here’s a surely that is sure!

hello monday.

hello an open front door.

hello cookies baking in the oven.

hello 3 kids napping.

hello 3 kids on their way home from school.

hello treadmill & a 5k.

- – -

i think it’s kind of ironic that on a monday i’m not in school i decide to post about it! i’ve been wanting to for awhile now.

a day in the life sort of post.

week days usually start like this. and i have to say …. it does my heart good to see it.

i might not have learned amazing math techniques or the greatest science experiments from the homeschool convention this summer but! i did learn two things.

1. you should own a treadmill
and
2. you should own a laminater

school days equal run days around here : ) do i care if they all want to run together vs individually on the treadmill … no.

they just have to run.
the beginning of november brought an increase in distance …. lucky them : )

her & i spend the start of our mornings waking up, ha! (joke. ok, sorta ….) and reading and getting breakfast and sometimes we have hot chocolate ready for them when they come back.

do you know what Vh means …. neither did i …. or at least i didn’t remember, till this year again. it’s a helping verb, did is a helping verb. and now you know, too.

school is different for us this year. it’s no longer done at the kitchen table. we don’t have to sweep away cheerios before spelling tests. we have super cool things this year like ipods & headphones, magnetic white boards & colored markers, soccer balls, hula hoops & bikes for recess. we have a screen door on our very own school room. we have an online history class. we have a real for life candy jar. we have an american flag & a globe. we have a school bell & recess cards.

they go to school. yes, we homeschool …. but we leave the house every morning. they walk out the back door, across the back grass & they go to school.

and they’re learning. when i quit beating myself up over the fact that jack doesn’t know all the words & ben sometimes forgets what number 17 is when he sees it or sailor can’t remember an intransitive verb from a transitive verb – when i get over my hang ups i can tell.

they are learning.

maybe school will always be a roller coaster for me. maybe i’ll always ask myself if what we’re doing is the best. maybe rex will always get crazy texts from me.

maybe one day they’ll all know how to read. maybe one day they won’t remember when they didn’t know math facts. maybe one day grammar & sentence diagrams will make sense.

maybe : )

but the great thing about roller coasters is at least they’re never dull : )

- – -

lunch on wednesdays are usually spent here – at the park before pe class.

he doesn’t quite play soccer or football yet – he lays on our picnic blanket and sucks his thumb. sometimes he crawls off & eats grass but usually regan will rat him out when he does.

- – -

molly’s learned her numbers …. at least 0-10.

sailor in class working on adverbs. jack giving a show&tell presentation. molly in science learning about crayfish.

- – -

sometimes we get the how do you do it questions. the how many do you have in school questions. the what do you do with the baby questions.

great questions : )

today actually, since molly was still down & didn’t go to class we had a day where it was just the little girls, chad & i.

they played, watched pbs, ate lunch together & took naps – all of them.

but today wasn’t a normal day – good day, just not normal.
on normal days the 3 of them are a part of what goes on. 
those are good days too, for the record!

he moves around finding crayon wrappers or headphone cords to chew on till nap time. he likes going out with sailor at recess. he likes grabbing for whiteboard markers. and he gets frustrated when he gets himself stuck under a chair or desk or in a combo of both.

- – -

regan too …

  she comes and cheers on flag football

  she brings her lunch to class on mondays

  she has her own table where she colors or listens to the ipod

- – -

 

it’s way later now.
i’m thinking this is pretty disjointed : )
please consider it was written over the last 8 hours.

go vote tomorrow.
and ps, we don’t have a laminater …. yet. and it’s two weeks ’til thanksgiving break.
: )