1st Day of School - 2014

If you would have asked me 5 years ago if I'd still be homeschooling now... I don't think I would have said yes.  I was just thinking at that time... Let's just get through this first year!  I jumped into this adventure because of a call I felt on my heart from God... But just because He calls, doesn't always mean it will be easy.

I love to teach my children, to have them near me during their days, and to have so many opportunities to be able to mold their hearts and character.  But homeschooling is also hard, messy, stressful, and places a huge weight on a mama's shoulders.  There are many days that are filled with smiles and laughter but also tears and meltdowns.  Most days are filled with great teaching moments along side ones where I fail big time with patience or the right attitude towards my children.  I have learned that this adventure of homeschooling makes me lean in and depend more on Him... And that He is the One who gives me strength and supplies me with all that I need to the job He has called me again this year to do!

Our first week of school was filled with smiles and tears by all (even me....), but overall thankfulness for the blessing of this adventure!  Here's a few pictures from our week...

Our First Day of School

August 19, 2014

 

Liam - 4th Grade

Ainsley - 1st Grade

Kallan - Preschool

Our school table...

Lunch time

Math

Project: Entertain baby

Practicing spelling words

Shaving cream fun!

Of course it doesn't hurt to practice your spelling words in it while you are at it!

Working hard on his math.

I love my students!

I love that doing school at home can look like this...



SEVEN.

My dear Ainsley,

Today you turn seven years old.  Seven. To me, that seems so old. You are not little any more.  You are way closer to 10 than you are to “little girl”. And this last year has shown that.  What you say, how you think, how you interact with others... they all have started to show that grown-up side of you.  But it feels like only yesterday your perfect little body was put into my arms and I saw you and snuggled you for the first time.  It seems like just a few days ago that I was trying to calm your crazy hair with bows and dress you in all the pink I had.  It feels like we were just going through the stage where you would only wear dresses, loved princesses, and wore pig tails and fake jewelry.  I have blinked, and the little girl I love has turned into a sweet girl I love. 

 

So who are you at seven?  You are tall and skinny.  You tower over most kids your age whenever you are in a group setting with others.  You have lost quiet a few teeth.  Your smile is big and has lots of holes in it!  You are now wearing glasses.  You love having long hair, but mostly want it in pony tails every day.  You have left the dresses, and would rather wear shirts with shorts or jeans.  Dressing up and wearing dresses isn’t as fun as it used to be to you. 

 

You are creative.  You love to create with colors, paper, markers, art supplies, and lately Rainbow Loom.  You love to dance and sing.  You love to draw pictures and people.  You love to imagine that you are a mom, or a puppy, or anything else you can think of and pretend play with Kallan.  You love ribbon, and boxes, and pipe cleaners, and all things art.  I love to see the things your mind dreams up come to life in front of my eyes.

 

You are thoughtful.  You easily think of others.  Your friend got stung by a wasp, and you wanted to make them something.  If Liam or Kallan do something good, you want to celebrate them.  Your heart for others is big and deep and it blesses me to see how thoughtful you are towards those around you.

 

You love horses.  This is a new passion of yours.  I have no idea where you got it from, but it is strong.  You even decided to drop dance and take riding lessons.  But seeing you up on that horse each week, makes me smile because I know how much you love it.

 

You are a sister.  You are actually a sister to three brothers.  This year has been a little hard for you because you feel like you are “living in a boy world”, but you hang with the boys well!  You love to try to connect with Liam by being interested in the things he is interested in.  You relate so well to Kallan when you pretend play with him.  And, you are a passionate sister to Baylor, smothering him with love and snuggles, songs and entertainment.  You are a relater and nurturer at heart, and I see this in your role as a sister.

 

My prayer for you Ainsley is that this year you would grow in your love for God and soften your heart towards the love He has for you.  I pray that you would know how much He loves you and cares for you.  You can trust Him sweet girl… you can trust Him with all that you are!  I pray that our relationship would grow closer as a mother and daughter, and that there would be more days of smiles and giggles than clashing of heads.  And I pray that your heart for others would continue to deepen and grow, as you tenderly reach out to those around you.  I love you so much sweet girl!  Thanks for being my splash of pink from God!  You are so loved!
 

Always,

Mama

A Horse Party for a Horse-Loving Girl

She has fallen in love with horses.  That is all there is to it.  So when I asked her about how we should celebrate her seventh birthday, she knew exactly what she wanted to do... and even the cake she wanted me to make for her!  We decided to take her friends to the stables where Ainsley takes riding lessons, and it turned out to be such a fun day!!!

Her friends arrived, and we started the party by decorating canvas bags.

They loved being able to tie a colored bandanna on the handle when they were finished.

 Everyone also was able to make a braided bandanna bracelet.

If they didn't know how to braid before the party, they sure did by the time they left!

After the bags were decorated and bracelets made, we played a little

"Pin the tail on the horse"

and celebrated with cake, ice cream, and presents.

Then it was off to the stables!

The kids were so excited to ride the horses!

Definitely my favorite picture from the party!



Ainsley's teacher, Miss Allison, did a great job talking to the kids about the horses

and then letting them ride them, lead them, and brush them. 

Everyone was full of smiles and thrilled to ride the three different horses. 

It was the best way to celebrate this girl!

Happy Birthday to my horse-loving Ainsley!

My crew at 7 Months

Here they are...

Oh how I love them!

Baylor - 7 Months

 Baylor - how can it be that you are seven months?

Baylor at 7 Month

Weight: 19ish pounds

Eating 4-5 6 oz bottles a day

You are eating oatmeal or rice cereal every morning and has started baby food, and you love it all!

Eating: Sweet potatoes, Squash, Carrots, Beans, Peas, Applesauce, and Bananas

Just tried puffs for the 1^st time – you really liked them!

You still spit up… but it’s starting to get to be less and less

You take three naps a day – one around 9:00, one around 1:00, one around 5:00ish

Sleeping from 8:30 to 6:30 or 7:00 and waking up once sometime after 4:00

 

You have gone this month from laying on the ground playing... to rolling, sitting, and “moving” a bit on the floor by rolling around.

Even though you aren’t moving, you think that if you lay on your tummy and kick both legs as hard as you can, that you will eventually go somewhere!

Sitting well by yourself… I still put a pillow behind you because you will still fall back at times.

You got two teeth this last month… which means tons of drool and some fussiness!

You got a double ear infection this last month – which meant lots of sick days, lots of sad days, not eating much, and you just not being yourself.

Starting to like Peek-a-boo

You have moved passed the impossible to put to sleep, and now will put yourself to sleep when you have your green paci and your blue blankie.

Your favorite toys are your raspberry teether, your blue hand, your yellow teething wrench, anything cold, and your exersaucer.

You are good at playing and entertaining yourself

You are a super happy and content baby with a slight temper when you don’t get your way.

I love your smiles, your big eyes, your sweet hair, and your baby chub!

I love you Baylor Boy!

Welcome August!

August is just simply just a crazy month for me.  It makes me feel sorry for all the school teachers in this world who have children who have birthdays in August! Ha!  "What was I thinking having a baby in August"... I find myself saying a lot during this month. :)  For me, this month entails the longing to squeeze in that last goodness of summer and spending time doing that, mixed in with a daughter who loves celebrating her birthday and wants to plan and prepare with her mama, (and then throw in having a party!), and at the same time, a mama who knows school is just around the corner and needs ample time to think it through and prepare.  All this is slightly stressful for me!

When life feels stressful and overwhelming, I'm reminded to turn my eyes towards God and focus on Him.  To take the time to notice the every day blessings He lavishes on me... He wants me to see and know His goodness!

Making cake pops together...

Quietly playing...

Peaches ready to make into baby food...

Little fingers learning to eat puffs...

Going to cheer camp with her best friend...

My Kallan.... with his blankie and monkey...

A precious moment captured forever...

Her smiles, silly ways, and sweet heart...

My paci boy...

My joy boy... filling my days with smiles...

Finding a quiet place to read and be caught up in a book...



May I see and know Your goodness every day, Lord!