Friday night - Zander (as you can see still working off the effects of the BHT - no clothes) and Nolan had been waiting for Mike to help them put togehter a little wood semi-truck. They were so excited to have it done.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Monday –
A long day that began early and looks like it will end late.
I finally got Stacia back into bed at 5:30 a.m. I jumped into bed for an hour and then rode 5.25 miles on my bike. It was cool this morning. Saturday it was 110*. It didn’t feel that hot to me but several people have said it was that hot. Today was a welcome respite. No rain but sort of cloudy and much cooler.
In the wee a.m. hours I spent some time researching cellulous and calcium carbonate. This was the result of a conversation at the tea party I attended with Arielle. I came to the conclusion that organic or non, I’m better off buying my cheese and blocks and shredding it myself, thank you very much. I also discovered that one of the ingredients in many ice creams is also an ingredient in anti-freeze. I’m armed with research the next time THIS comes up in polite conversation.:::snort::::
Nolan’s ARP appointment was hilarious. The Special Ed District superintendent was there, the school’s speech therapist was there and NOLAN’S speech therapist forgot. Oops. They talked with her on the phone and she said that he has met all the goals we had for him this year. Yippee! The goal for next year is understandability in conversation. I thought that WAS the goal all along but I guess we were working on specific sounds and now he has them all. He will not attend therapy over the summer. She will give me work to do at home with him. I hope to see a huge improvement over the summer. We’ll begin again in the fall but he will be reduced to ONE time a week. We’re excited about this improvement.
Back at home I decided it would be a wise thing to rearrange the living room furniture! So I did.
Jared and I lugged things up to the attic; loaded the back of a van for a Goodwill run and Josiah drove it all to Goodwill. I finally remembered to get a receipt for taxes next year.
I prepared a nice dinner for all. Mike made a special effort to be home for it. He had to go out for a run so I went along on my bike and got another 4.7 miles in.
When I got home one of my sister friends, Beth from college called. Always fun to hear from her. I miss her and Julie. I hope to see Beth this summer when we drive out for the girl’s graduation.
I did not get all my Tuesday night Bible Study notes typed up. I think I’ll work on them early in the a.m. when Stacia wakes me up.
I have been having a lot of thoughts about the difference between allegiance and submission and doing a few word studies…but really I’m too tired to share that now.
I’ve also been thinking about the difference of loving our children and loving motherhood and that we need to cultivate a love for mothering to bless and compliment our love of our children…but that’s also to much to share…..
So there you have it…my day.
OH Becky, a local friend, made Arielle’s day when she called to see if Arielle could baby-sit for her three little ones. I told her that it would be great to bring them here and Arielle and I will do it together. Then I told her that Arielle will turn 9 next week. She thought Arielle was 14. Do you remember when you thought it was cool for people to think you were older than you were? :::snort::::
A long day that began early and looks like it will end late.
I finally got Stacia back into bed at 5:30 a.m. I jumped into bed for an hour and then rode 5.25 miles on my bike. It was cool this morning. Saturday it was 110*. It didn’t feel that hot to me but several people have said it was that hot. Today was a welcome respite. No rain but sort of cloudy and much cooler.
In the wee a.m. hours I spent some time researching cellulous and calcium carbonate. This was the result of a conversation at the tea party I attended with Arielle. I came to the conclusion that organic or non, I’m better off buying my cheese and blocks and shredding it myself, thank you very much. I also discovered that one of the ingredients in many ice creams is also an ingredient in anti-freeze. I’m armed with research the next time THIS comes up in polite conversation.:::snort::::
Nolan’s ARP appointment was hilarious. The Special Ed District superintendent was there, the school’s speech therapist was there and NOLAN’S speech therapist forgot. Oops. They talked with her on the phone and she said that he has met all the goals we had for him this year. Yippee! The goal for next year is understandability in conversation. I thought that WAS the goal all along but I guess we were working on specific sounds and now he has them all. He will not attend therapy over the summer. She will give me work to do at home with him. I hope to see a huge improvement over the summer. We’ll begin again in the fall but he will be reduced to ONE time a week. We’re excited about this improvement.
Back at home I decided it would be a wise thing to rearrange the living room furniture! So I did.
Jared and I lugged things up to the attic; loaded the back of a van for a Goodwill run and Josiah drove it all to Goodwill. I finally remembered to get a receipt for taxes next year.
I prepared a nice dinner for all. Mike made a special effort to be home for it. He had to go out for a run so I went along on my bike and got another 4.7 miles in.
When I got home one of my sister friends, Beth from college called. Always fun to hear from her. I miss her and Julie. I hope to see Beth this summer when we drive out for the girl’s graduation.
I did not get all my Tuesday night Bible Study notes typed up. I think I’ll work on them early in the a.m. when Stacia wakes me up.
I have been having a lot of thoughts about the difference between allegiance and submission and doing a few word studies…but really I’m too tired to share that now.
I’ve also been thinking about the difference of loving our children and loving motherhood and that we need to cultivate a love for mothering to bless and compliment our love of our children…but that’s also to much to share…..
So there you have it…my day.
OH Becky, a local friend, made Arielle’s day when she called to see if Arielle could baby-sit for her three little ones. I told her that it would be great to bring them here and Arielle and I will do it together. Then I told her that Arielle will turn 9 next week. She thought Arielle was 14. Do you remember when you thought it was cool for people to think you were older than you were? :::snort::::
“You sure have your hands full…”
When I was a young mother with lots of little ones (say under the age of 4) I would often hear the above comment. It used to cause offense in my heart. I understood the comment to mean, “your children are out of control”, “why would anyone choose to have so many little ones”, “my children are never out of control because I was sane enough to stop at 2” and more. As I began to converse with more Quiverful families I learned that I was not alone in my dislike of the phrase. I also learned that other homeschooling Christians can be every bit as critical of others as the world is of us. I’ve received numerous comments from those who use a different curriculum, have a different educational philosophy, have a different parenting philosophy, discipline differently…why we insist that God wants us all to be “cookie cutter Christians”. Hmm….thoughts for a different post. :::snort:::
BUT OVER TIME – I realized that most who make the above comment are NOT trying to communicate disdain or judgment. They may be hoping to begin a conversation and lead into asking for some tips on parenting…they may want to encourage…they may want to applaud for attempting to “handle” so many children…they may just be trying to be friendly…..Over the years I’ve learned that if I’m quick to be offended I need to examine MY heart. The Word says “the steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trust in You. Trust in the Lord Forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4. It’s when my mind is not stayed on God that I begin to be intimidated by well meaning comments and begin to become easily offended.
Seriously, my hands WERE full then and they are full now. If someone observes that, they aren’t necessarily criticizing me. Of course, the phrase is most appreciated followed by a concrete offer of help, or a paid meal, or an offer of childcare…all of which I’ve experienced.{G}
What brought all this to mind? This morning, while out biking, I came upon a woman and her three dogs. She was “walking the dogs”, though truthfully it looked like they were walking her. It was quite funny and I couldn’t help a big smile. They were all pulling at different angles…but they were generally going in the same westward direction. As I passed her I smiled and said, “It looks like you have your hands full”.
Then it all came rushing back. I’m suspecting that many days my crew looks a lot like those frisky dogs.
When I was a young mother with lots of little ones (say under the age of 4) I would often hear the above comment. It used to cause offense in my heart. I understood the comment to mean, “your children are out of control”, “why would anyone choose to have so many little ones”, “my children are never out of control because I was sane enough to stop at 2” and more. As I began to converse with more Quiverful families I learned that I was not alone in my dislike of the phrase. I also learned that other homeschooling Christians can be every bit as critical of others as the world is of us. I’ve received numerous comments from those who use a different curriculum, have a different educational philosophy, have a different parenting philosophy, discipline differently…why we insist that God wants us all to be “cookie cutter Christians”. Hmm….thoughts for a different post. :::snort:::
BUT OVER TIME – I realized that most who make the above comment are NOT trying to communicate disdain or judgment. They may be hoping to begin a conversation and lead into asking for some tips on parenting…they may want to encourage…they may want to applaud for attempting to “handle” so many children…they may just be trying to be friendly…..Over the years I’ve learned that if I’m quick to be offended I need to examine MY heart. The Word says “the steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trust in You. Trust in the Lord Forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4. It’s when my mind is not stayed on God that I begin to be intimidated by well meaning comments and begin to become easily offended.
Seriously, my hands WERE full then and they are full now. If someone observes that, they aren’t necessarily criticizing me. Of course, the phrase is most appreciated followed by a concrete offer of help, or a paid meal, or an offer of childcare…all of which I’ve experienced.{G}
What brought all this to mind? This morning, while out biking, I came upon a woman and her three dogs. She was “walking the dogs”, though truthfully it looked like they were walking her. It was quite funny and I couldn’t help a big smile. They were all pulling at different angles…but they were generally going in the same westward direction. As I passed her I smiled and said, “It looks like you have your hands full”.
Then it all came rushing back. I’m suspecting that many days my crew looks a lot like those frisky dogs.
Hmmm…the days are blurring together.
Friday: Mike had the afternoon off (it was his day off). I think I already blogged about that day.
Saturday: I spent the majority of the a.m. working on “my” co-op order. I have to order on Monday. “MY” order came to $497.99 and so I had to do some rethinking and tweaking of said order.
Arielle had a birthday tea party. (Pictures to follow). While she, Stacia and I went to the tea party the boys and Mike went Mother’s Day shopping. It turned out that they were all starving so they went out to eat instead. They went to Chick-Fil-A and bothered Josiah. The big joke of the day is that Josiah asked for (and received) Mike’s ID. Oh yes…and Josiah got a big kick out of some “looser” stealing the flowers off the table to give his mother on Mother’s Day.
A local friend – John and family – plowed up 2 acres of his property. He had invited us to come plant a garden. We went out Sat. evening with corn, watermelon, red potatoes, cantaloupe and carrot seed. The guys strung out very straight rows (my gardens are always more free-spirited but I guess this looks nice). They then laid out and installed drip tape. John has a well and this will drip water to all the hungry seeds. After they got it all laid out John went in to dinner. We planted. We ended up with 8 rows of corn. John commented to me, “De’Etta – after this all produces someone has to EAT it all”. I don’t think he has a clue how much young men eat…and I currently have 3 of them. We ended up with 3 rows of cantaloupe, squash and watermelon, 8 rows of corn, 2 rows of red potatoes and 2 rows of russets….John has some cooler stuff planted closer to his house and plans to plant carrots and such closer to the home. I finally assured John and Mike that if we couldn’t eat it all we could either 1. visit the farmer’s market, 2. give it away at chapel, 3. open a stand or 4. contact Heather (produce co-op organizer) and offer it free to the produce co-op.
I lost “my” co-op order 3 times. ARGH. I finally got my order down to $700. Hmmm…that seems to have been going the wrong way. I finally realized that I had about $250.00 of splits on my order. I still haven’t downloaded group orders because I know one lady was putting in an order but it doesn’t show up on the web. I’ll have to call her this a.m. and see what she wants and then put together the group order early this a.m. That is not the way I plan to do this – but it’s the way it will work this time. {G} I plan to have our order done on the weekend before it is due.
Sunday: I spent most the day on the phone it seems. Nah, we had church. We had lunch. THEN I spent the day on the phone (my dad, my mom, Mike’s sister Rebecca, Bre, Krista and Mike’s mom – though by the time Mike reached her I was comatose and didn’t talk). We watched Chicken Little – I discovered that we’d eaten nearly 5#’s of popcorn and I need to add that to my co-op order. I was thinking about getting the 25# bag but for $ reasons will get the 5# bag again. Mother’s Day pictures to follow. I finished up Bible Study for the week. Now I need time to compose notes and thoughts for Tuesday night.
It’s now 4:30 a.m. on Monday. I finally got Stacia back down and I’m going to see if I can catch a couple of hours of sleep before I try to get a bike ride in. I have a ton of random thoughts I’d like to develop and share…but I think I’d better get some sleep. This many sleepless nights in a row tend to lead me to migraines.
Today at 1:30 I have a meeting with the school district about future care for Nolan. Pray that it all goes well. I’d love to hear that we need no more therapy but I suspect we’ll need more. I’m not sure if I want him to continue through the summer or take the time off…please pray that whatever is best for him is accomplished at the meeting.
Friday: Mike had the afternoon off (it was his day off). I think I already blogged about that day.
Saturday: I spent the majority of the a.m. working on “my” co-op order. I have to order on Monday. “MY” order came to $497.99 and so I had to do some rethinking and tweaking of said order.
Arielle had a birthday tea party. (Pictures to follow). While she, Stacia and I went to the tea party the boys and Mike went Mother’s Day shopping. It turned out that they were all starving so they went out to eat instead. They went to Chick-Fil-A and bothered Josiah. The big joke of the day is that Josiah asked for (and received) Mike’s ID. Oh yes…and Josiah got a big kick out of some “looser” stealing the flowers off the table to give his mother on Mother’s Day.
A local friend – John and family – plowed up 2 acres of his property. He had invited us to come plant a garden. We went out Sat. evening with corn, watermelon, red potatoes, cantaloupe and carrot seed. The guys strung out very straight rows (my gardens are always more free-spirited but I guess this looks nice). They then laid out and installed drip tape. John has a well and this will drip water to all the hungry seeds. After they got it all laid out John went in to dinner. We planted. We ended up with 8 rows of corn. John commented to me, “De’Etta – after this all produces someone has to EAT it all”. I don’t think he has a clue how much young men eat…and I currently have 3 of them. We ended up with 3 rows of cantaloupe, squash and watermelon, 8 rows of corn, 2 rows of red potatoes and 2 rows of russets….John has some cooler stuff planted closer to his house and plans to plant carrots and such closer to the home. I finally assured John and Mike that if we couldn’t eat it all we could either 1. visit the farmer’s market, 2. give it away at chapel, 3. open a stand or 4. contact Heather (produce co-op organizer) and offer it free to the produce co-op.
I lost “my” co-op order 3 times. ARGH. I finally got my order down to $700. Hmmm…that seems to have been going the wrong way. I finally realized that I had about $250.00 of splits on my order. I still haven’t downloaded group orders because I know one lady was putting in an order but it doesn’t show up on the web. I’ll have to call her this a.m. and see what she wants and then put together the group order early this a.m. That is not the way I plan to do this – but it’s the way it will work this time. {G} I plan to have our order done on the weekend before it is due.
Sunday: I spent most the day on the phone it seems. Nah, we had church. We had lunch. THEN I spent the day on the phone (my dad, my mom, Mike’s sister Rebecca, Bre, Krista and Mike’s mom – though by the time Mike reached her I was comatose and didn’t talk). We watched Chicken Little – I discovered that we’d eaten nearly 5#’s of popcorn and I need to add that to my co-op order. I was thinking about getting the 25# bag but for $ reasons will get the 5# bag again. Mother’s Day pictures to follow. I finished up Bible Study for the week. Now I need time to compose notes and thoughts for Tuesday night.
It’s now 4:30 a.m. on Monday. I finally got Stacia back down and I’m going to see if I can catch a couple of hours of sleep before I try to get a bike ride in. I have a ton of random thoughts I’d like to develop and share…but I think I’d better get some sleep. This many sleepless nights in a row tend to lead me to migraines.
Today at 1:30 I have a meeting with the school district about future care for Nolan. Pray that it all goes well. I’d love to hear that we need no more therapy but I suspect we’ll need more. I’m not sure if I want him to continue through the summer or take the time off…please pray that whatever is best for him is accomplished at the meeting.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Really quick because it’s Friday Family Fun night….
Today was produce co-op and that is always great. I was a grouch – but once the work was over I was ready to play. Heather told me I wasn’t too grouchy….maybe she’s just gracious. :::snort:::
We went to Mr. Gatti’s for lunch/dinner. Mike has had a horrendous week and wanted to do that as a treat. Today was his day off but he worked until 1:00 p.m. At Gatti’s the manager asked what the special occasion was to bring us all together and Mike told her we were “celebrating family”. I loved that. Josiah had to leave before the rest of us for work…but it was fun.
We tried to watch the *Private Army of Sgt O’Farrell* tonight but the DVD is skipping and such. This was our first disillusionment with netflix. They’ll send us another one right away…so next week.
Mike heard the commissary was having a case lot sale. We went but only bought toilet paper and paper towels…they really didn’t have anything else. I did use the chance to buy meat. I find with the produce co-op and the “natural” co-op that I only hit the commissary about once a month now. I did buy some of the no-hormone/anti-biotic hamburger. I was surprised that they had a new brand of sausage that’s also “hormone/antibiotic/nitrite/nitrate free”…they had chicken/apple sausage and hot dogs….not sure if we got any to try. I did buy meat and so we are set for real food again. {G}
Zander had been begging to put a model truck together all week. Mike the younger ones did that while the rest of us got things ready for movies…..in our house that means pulling out a screen, pulling out a player and projector and hooking it all up…we make it difficult on purpose. {bg}
*Road to Rio* is on and I’m going to go join everyone but wanted to check in as SEVERAL of you emailed that Mike is not the only one who wonders what is up if I don’t post in a day…usually I’m simply busy.
Oh yes, Arielle has opted NOT to have a tea party and wants to do Bumper Cars at Mr Gatti’s…in other words a Mr. Gatti’s party…so I booked that and picked up invites for it today as well. Shoot…her birthday is 10 days away…that ALMOST snuck up on me!
Today was produce co-op and that is always great. I was a grouch – but once the work was over I was ready to play. Heather told me I wasn’t too grouchy….maybe she’s just gracious. :::snort:::
We went to Mr. Gatti’s for lunch/dinner. Mike has had a horrendous week and wanted to do that as a treat. Today was his day off but he worked until 1:00 p.m. At Gatti’s the manager asked what the special occasion was to bring us all together and Mike told her we were “celebrating family”. I loved that. Josiah had to leave before the rest of us for work…but it was fun.
We tried to watch the *Private Army of Sgt O’Farrell* tonight but the DVD is skipping and such. This was our first disillusionment with netflix. They’ll send us another one right away…so next week.
Mike heard the commissary was having a case lot sale. We went but only bought toilet paper and paper towels…they really didn’t have anything else. I did use the chance to buy meat. I find with the produce co-op and the “natural” co-op that I only hit the commissary about once a month now. I did buy some of the no-hormone/anti-biotic hamburger. I was surprised that they had a new brand of sausage that’s also “hormone/antibiotic/nitrite/nitrate free”…they had chicken/apple sausage and hot dogs….not sure if we got any to try. I did buy meat and so we are set for real food again. {G}
Zander had been begging to put a model truck together all week. Mike the younger ones did that while the rest of us got things ready for movies…..in our house that means pulling out a screen, pulling out a player and projector and hooking it all up…we make it difficult on purpose. {bg}
*Road to Rio* is on and I’m going to go join everyone but wanted to check in as SEVERAL of you emailed that Mike is not the only one who wonders what is up if I don’t post in a day…usually I’m simply busy.
Oh yes, Arielle has opted NOT to have a tea party and wants to do Bumper Cars at Mr Gatti’s…in other words a Mr. Gatti’s party…so I booked that and picked up invites for it today as well. Shoot…her birthday is 10 days away…that ALMOST snuck up on me!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
AH.....
We've needed a dead insect to study but didn't want to kill one for that purpose. The kids just found a perfectly dead - INTACT dragon fly. This will be much cooler to study than the ant we've had. Tomorrow....oh and I found a frozen ANT in my freezer tonight. Nolan confessed to revisiting the experiment from earlier in the week....I explained that you can't FREEZE them and expect them to come back to "life".
Wonder what tomorrow will bring. I do love a houseful of inquisitive minds.
We've needed a dead insect to study but didn't want to kill one for that purpose. The kids just found a perfectly dead - INTACT dragon fly. This will be much cooler to study than the ant we've had. Tomorrow....oh and I found a frozen ANT in my freezer tonight. Nolan confessed to revisiting the experiment from earlier in the week....I explained that you can't FREEZE them and expect them to come back to "life".
Wonder what tomorrow will bring. I do love a houseful of inquisitive minds.
Blog Comments
Let me catch up on comments in this forum instead of answering at each post. I got behind.
Lis - I have NOT tried any homeopathic teething tricks. Care to share? As for the ears....many times they can kick those without anti-biotics and the docs most often let you choose if you want the drugs...since she isn't in any major discomfort except for being fussy during BED TIME HOURS....I've been content to wait and see what happens when the teeth pop through. I suppose I should buy some orajel but that stuff tastes so nasty that none of the other 8 have ever used it.
Jodi - yes all our pets have first, middle and last names. Even the quail. I've not let them know the grackles that fell out of the tree because I think they are very sad. The apologia science books are really written for upper elementary kids I would think. I've not READ that but I know that my 5th/6th grader has loved them. If I weren't editing on the fly, I think they'd be a bit to old for my 1st and 2nd grader....but I plan to have them cycle through them again in 4th/5th grade and we'll do more of the projects then and they'll grasp even more. I've been surprised at what they do remember. Rascal will need to eventually go off to a new home...that is what we are thinking. We were to keep him 6 weeks to give him a good start and wow has he grown. I'm not sure we'll be able to say goodbye to him when the time comes.
Kelly - I'm also surprised that such a little thing like "food" has such a big affect on Zander. It's bizarre but we are really becoming believers...we've been logging it for 3 months now. I'll get a picture of roller coaster hill for you - it really isn't near as impressive as it sounds. :::snort::: That Doug.....you keep showing him the darling pictures and don't let him read about the sleepless nights. {g} Yes, Kelly, he's adorable and I need to remember that during the bad days. There's a reason for all the diligence. He DOES try to do all that his big brothers do...and living up to the expectations and reputations of 4 of them is a big job for a little guy.
Renee - I never had to worry about forgotten bottles and sippy cups when the kids all solely nursed.
Let me catch up on comments in this forum instead of answering at each post. I got behind.
Lis - I have NOT tried any homeopathic teething tricks. Care to share? As for the ears....many times they can kick those without anti-biotics and the docs most often let you choose if you want the drugs...since she isn't in any major discomfort except for being fussy during BED TIME HOURS....I've been content to wait and see what happens when the teeth pop through. I suppose I should buy some orajel but that stuff tastes so nasty that none of the other 8 have ever used it.
Jodi - yes all our pets have first, middle and last names. Even the quail. I've not let them know the grackles that fell out of the tree because I think they are very sad. The apologia science books are really written for upper elementary kids I would think. I've not READ that but I know that my 5th/6th grader has loved them. If I weren't editing on the fly, I think they'd be a bit to old for my 1st and 2nd grader....but I plan to have them cycle through them again in 4th/5th grade and we'll do more of the projects then and they'll grasp even more. I've been surprised at what they do remember. Rascal will need to eventually go off to a new home...that is what we are thinking. We were to keep him 6 weeks to give him a good start and wow has he grown. I'm not sure we'll be able to say goodbye to him when the time comes.
Kelly - I'm also surprised that such a little thing like "food" has such a big affect on Zander. It's bizarre but we are really becoming believers...we've been logging it for 3 months now. I'll get a picture of roller coaster hill for you - it really isn't near as impressive as it sounds. :::snort::: That Doug.....you keep showing him the darling pictures and don't let him read about the sleepless nights. {g} Yes, Kelly, he's adorable and I need to remember that during the bad days. There's a reason for all the diligence. He DOES try to do all that his big brothers do...and living up to the expectations and reputations of 4 of them is a big job for a little guy.
Renee - I never had to worry about forgotten bottles and sippy cups when the kids all solely nursed.
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