Ten years of towels

I'm up very late folding towels. I'm folding towels because they need to get folded and because Craig is burning the midnight oil. So I keep him company by doing some laundry.

I was noticing that my towels are starting to get frayed. I still remember picking these towels out before getting married. My MIL (very wise and much loved) had told me to pick the more expensive ones so they would last. Its now been ten years and they are starting to show their age.

They're not ready to be thrown out. They still have many years left in them. But they have aged along with me. I was a future bride full of dreams when I picked them out. I am now a mother of five and these towels have held all my babies after bath times, during sick spells, fun times and of course messy times. And each time they were used, I washed and folded them so they could be ready.

A time will come when they no longer will be needed. And they will be retired. One day I will be retired too. God will say I am done with his children. And so I will cherish all the new babies, bath times, sick times, fun times and messy times. Its amazing how quickly ten years goes by. I pray it is God's will that he gives me many more years with my beautiful family.

Off I go to fold my towels!! ;-)

Old Fashioned Toys

A few weeks ago I bought the kids Little People along with a house and village. I found these at a Resale Shop. I purchased them both for sentimental reasons as well as for the fact that they LOVE playing with little things (Polly Pockets, etc.).

These have been a hit!! I've even played with them a few times. Now I'm on a hunt for the airplane and the airport. I played with Little People up until high school!!! Not very cool huh??

Here's the house. The only odd thing about it is the house doesn't have a room for the bathroom furniture?? So they put the bathroom (blue) in one of the bedrooms!




Here's the village. I used to spend hours playing with the Little People village at our church on base. Why can't they make toys like this anymore??



The Little People have motivated Isabelle to work diligently. She can't wait for recess so she can play with Little People!! How sweet that my 8 yo still loves to play!!

Roses from My Beloved

I'll leave you with this last picture. Craig came home with these beautiful roses. He always tries to find the most open roses. I'll enjoy them for a few days in the vase before I dry them so as to keep forever. I still have some roses from Anna's birth!

Tupperware Baby!

Catherine has joined the ranks of her Smith siblings. She, too, has discovered the tupperware cabinet!! A natural playspot for baby Catherine!!

Sophia's Hunting Gear

This is Sophia going hunting with Kolbe's Old Betsy!! A girl can't go hunting without her hat!!

Crochetting Barbie Clothes

Today I spent a good amount of time crochetting Barbie clothes. It began with Isabelle wanting to learn how to crochet. She didn't have an interest last year so I was very excited when she expressed a desire to try again. I thought making something small for her first project would give her an immediate sense of accomplishment.


I told her about how I used to crochet for my barbies. So she made a poncho for hers. I then ended up making dresses and hats for the other two girls.

Sophia's barbie looks a little funky ... she chopped her hair off!!

Jamestown Replica

Last week Isabelle studied about Jamestown and built a model. She used Lincoln Logs, Little People and some farm animals. This was a fun activity and helped her to realize how hard it must have been.

The logs kept falling over and she wanted to quite at one point. I pointed out that the "gentlemen" didn't want to do any work either. She smiled and said she didn't want to be like them. So she persevered and built her Jamestown.

She noted that it must have been hard to get all those logs standing up. She also realized how devestating the fire must have been to Jamestown, especially being fortified with walls. Also, she will never forget that it was in the shape of a triangle. This project was a little harder than it looks.


When she was done taking pictures she went and drew some pictures from "God's view" as well as some pictures of Pocahontas. All this without my prompting!!

* This was a big deal because she doesn't like drawing.

GOOD JOB ISABELLE!!

Inspirational Video Clip

I just recieved this link from one of my homeschooling groups. It is a very motivational video clip that is worth the time to view. Its also a good reminder of why I homeschool. Just click on the purple button at this website to see the video. ENJOY!!

*I've not taken the time to see the rest of the website so I'm just recommending the video right now. Maybe I'll have time later.

Knitting question

OKAY! I've just finished seeing some gorgeous knitting creations and have been won over! Actually, Angoraknitter has been knitting some of the most darling dresses for a while. So I would like to learn how to knit and need to know where to start!

I already know how to crochet pretty good. I can follow any kind of crochet pattern. The problem with crocheting is that it just looks soooo homemade. It doesn't have that polished look like knitting. I tried learning a few years ago but then started homeschooling for the first time. I'm ready to start again. Any pointers??

And what's the difference between buying yarn at the store or ordering it? Is there something wrong with Walmart yarn??

I'll be anxiously waiting a reply!!

Late for Breakfast??!

This morning Isabelle was late for breakfast!! This is exciting news. She was late for breakfast because she was reading a book!!

Last night she started reading "The Biggest Bear" by Lynd Ward. I'm not sure how difficult it is. Its a great little book that I've had for some time. The nice thing about it was she had never read it before. She read about half of the book to me and then went to bed.

This morning she finished reading the other half on her own. She was able to narrate it to me and I'm so excited!!

I had decided last night to just have her read good books to me, instead of "readers" (which can sometimes be boring). I picked this book out because it was brand new to her. She has an uncanny ability to memorize so I wanted it to be all new to her. I need to find some good books that she will enjoy. This one was a Caldecott Medal winner. Any suggestions?? I'm all smiles right now!!!

Homeschooling Meme

I've been tagged by K. at Cirque de moi . Here it goes .....

1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed.
I have read so many helpful ones. This one was just a pleasure to read because it gave me an insight into how a family homeschooled. Also, I would love to be that flexible and not worry about syllabi and workbooks. Anyways, the book is Homeschooling for Excellence by David and Micki Colfax.

Also, Better Late Than Early by Raymond and Dorothy Moore. There are some days I need to remember not to push so much. This book helps me tremendously!!!

Okay, just one more!! PLEASE! Miseducation: Preschoolers at Risk by David Elkind.

And anything with Montesorri on it!! (too many to name)

2. One resource you wouldn't be without.
Laura Berquist!! More specifically:

Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum,
Teaching Points and Techniques
Mother of Divine Grace Syllabi

All of it is here.

3. One resource you wish you had never bought.
Miquon Math (too easy, boring) thinking I needed to supplement Singapore Math.

4. One resource you enjoyed last year.
Singapore Math! All of it! Especially fun for my kiddos was the Rainbow rock computer games for 1A/1B and 2A/2B.

Also, Math It ...... Actually all my math manipulatives on my shelves!

We LOVE math around here!

5. One resource you will be using next year.
Vroot and Vroom designed for Singapore 3A/3B and 4A/4B.

6. One resource you would like to buy.
?????? Gosh, I normally just get it. ;-)
I can't think of anything right now.

7. One resource you wish existed.
Private housekeeper and cook!!! Then I could homeschool uninterrupted!!

Also, a baby toy that the baby would actually play with ... for more than 1 minute. I can keep her entertained for an hour but that involves bookshelves and my purse. If I could find this toy I would sacrifice the housekeeper and cook!

8. One homeschooling catalogue you enjoy reading.
Emmanuel Books and Rainbow Resource.

9. One homeschooling website you use regularly.
This was easy, Donna Young. I go there about everyday!! Also, homeschooling blogs!! They give me encouragement and support.

10. Tag five other homeschoolers.
I tag (*drumroll*):
1. Far Beyond Pearls
2. Angoraknitter
3. Blair and Steven (I know you're discerning ;-)
4. I'm not sure what other homeschooling bloggers are reading my blog!! So leave me a comment and I'll tag you!! Or just consider yourself tagged and let me know who you are!

(*note to self: I need to find more homeschooling blogging friends!!!*)

The calm after the storm

I don't like Mondays!! Our homeschooling never goes as planned!

PLAN: Children wake up with smiling faces as they eat what I have made for breakfast. We then proceed to schoolwork as they work diligently because they've missed it all weekend!

REALITY: Children wake up moaning weekend is over and complain about breakfast fare. Many a tear is shed over schoolwork because they'd rather be playing.

Lunch time seems to be the time of day we can regroup and start all over. After lunch we did our read aloud (Little House in the Big Woods) in the living room. Sophia and Kolbe fell asleep on the floor (*YEAH*) while Anna and Isabelle were mesmorized. After 40 mins. of reading (that's 2 chapters) they went to their rooms and played "Little House." The baby fell asleep and the house was quiet.

I'm realizing that I am the storm who blows in (Monday mornings) and expects everyone to jump into their schoolwork. They are the calm after the storm. I am realizing they need to ease into school after a weekend of relaxation. I can't believe I'm the storm!! I was so sure they were the cause but they are definitely the calm after the storm. And so next Monday I will try to be more calmer!!

I must go now to finish our schoolwork. My girls are trying to see if they can span each other's waists with their hands like Pa used to do to Ma. They want to see if they can span mine (*YIKES!!!).

Catherine in good spirirts!!

Catherine in her car seat

Something was just too funny for Catherine!!

Catherine has developed a "smirk" instead of a smile. Isn't she kind of young for this?

Cutie Catherine

Catherine went for her Wellness Checkup and has been declared my smallest baby!! I've always had chunkey monkeys who outgrew their baby car seats at 5 months. My other babies reached 20 lbs. by 5 mos. They wore 18 mos. by the time they were 7 mos.

Catherine has decided to be a maverick! She weighed in at 21 1/2 lbs. She is still using her baby carseat (holds up to 22 lbs.) and is wearing 12 mos. WOW!! I'm actually getting some use out of my baby stuff!! And she was in the 50% . That has NEVER happened before! Do I sound happy?

Well, its not that I don't like chunky monkeys (I do), its just kind of neat to have a smaller baby for a change. She's lighter, can wear her clothes longer and .... she's letting me enjoy having a little baby just a little bit longer. I did tell her she had to stop growing and just stay small. Maybe she's humoring me and growing slower so I can cherish the moments??

On another note, her doctor gave me some great advice on our little nursing issue. And I think we were reprimanded??? When asked about her eating habits I happened to mention that the kids and my dh like to sneak her cookies and ice cream when I'm not looking. Good eating habits start young so I need to be more vigilant!! This for my lightest baby!! ;-)

Also, I always feel so unprepared for these wellness check ups. Almost like I fail them. I didn't know whether she could follow one step commands or whether she can drink from a sippy cup. So, I came home and tested her. She CAN drink from a sippy cup and she CAN'T follow one step commands. I need to work on her language development. I always have late talkers. But she did get a clean bill of health ... and isn't that what's most important!!

Houston, we have a problem ....

Its 6am on a Saturday morning and I'm awake blogging! Something is not right! I'm awake because Catherine is awake. Normally I would just nurse her and we would be sound asleep in our comfortable king size bed. However, it is very painful to nurse right now. I've developed dermatitis and the only thing that "helps" (according to doctors) is to keep dry and use lansinoh cream until it heals. That's kind of hard to do!!

I had this happen while I was nursing Kolbe, although he was 15 mos. old at the time. Catherine is only 11 mos. I don't want to wean her permanently (or even temporarily) but I'm at a lost at what to do. I need to find a lactation consultant because I don't like the answer the "doctor" provided. But, even if I knew one, I couldn't call her up at 6am. So I'm waiting ..... waiting for an answer to drop into my lap ..... or to be healed within the next few hours (before nursing time again). I sometimes can appease her with yogurt or fruit sauce. But not this morning.

All night I nursed her (painful as it was) but I just can't this morning. She's already drifting off to sleep but I'm wide awake now. I guess I'll search the internet (again, *sigh*) to see if I can find a solution. Is there a patron saint for nursing??

Bye Bye Ballet!!

This week has been crazy so I haven't been able to post. We (Craig and I) made a bold decision and decided not to continue ballet this year. This past weekend I was prepapring to buy all our ballet gear (ballet shoes & tap shoes, tights, leotards, hair nets, new bag for Sophia, cover up clothes) and registering for classes when I realized how crazy this was making me. Isabelle, Anna and Sophia would be dancing three different days at different times. So, at any given time only one child would be in class while four of them would be in the hall waiting with me!! Not fun. I was envisioning all the chaos and thought there had to be something else just as fulfilling and not as crazy. So, I brought it up to Craig and he (with a BIG GRIN because he was never crazy about ballet to begin with) suggested Taekwondo.

He's been hoping for a change but I was so adamant about my girls dancing on stage as little ballerinas. I never envisioned them in martial arts. I said I would be open to the idea and then had to go and sell it to the girls. I think I faked it pretty good!! Two of them started crying and one was in shock. NO BALLET!! NO RECITAL!! TAEKWONDO???

I signed them up for a 6 day camp and told them to just give it a try. Afterall, we still had to time to sign up for ballet if need be.

I'm happy to say that all three girls are crazy about it!! They love it!! And I actually like it too. The biggest selling point for me .... NO SHOES!!! I went from having to have 6 pairs of shoes (3 ballet and 3 tap) to bare feet! That alone sold me. And I love their uniforms! And the "Yes MA'M!!" and the accountability sheets they bring home everyday to work on "virtues." Also, they can be in class together, there's a playroom in the back so Kolbe can play while we're there. I will not go insane this year.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE ballet and will probably not be able to see a ballet performance for a few years without getting nostalgic. But I just wasn't cut out to be a ballet mom. I don't know that all those ballet classes fit into a big family's life style.

As soon as Kolbe turns 4 yo he can start too. YEAH!! We switched from ballet to Taekwondo successfully!!

Catherine's First Stand!!

Catherine can now stand up. Well, she can't actually stand up .... more like she can stay standing if you stand her up. But she'll fight for her balance and stay up for up to a minute!!! We spent a good 30 minutes last night screaming and clapping while watching her in the living room. She was probably thinking, "You guys need to get a life!"

We filmed her for 20 minutes. One of the many benefits of having 5 kids is that 4 of them will run and stand the baby back up while I enjoy the filming. Craig and I just sat back while they did all the hard work!!

Congratulations Catherine!! Maybe you'll walk before your 1st birthday??

Anna's 1st time putting the baby to sleep. Catherine has always been willing to go to sleep with Isabelle but not Anna. And for the longest time Anna's feeling were hurt. So she's been trying for a while. This day Catherine was VERY tired and probably would have slept with anyone but we won't tell Anna.

My redesigned/organized homeschooling room.

Our first day of school picture. Kolbe's everyday uniform consists of Spiderman.

These are the "overheads" Craig built for the kids. They like to take naps and enjoy story time underneath them. They also play house and Starbucks in them.

This is the fresh water Red Snapper my dear family "caught" while on their fishing trip. Notice the mischievous smiles I mistake for joy!!

They did eat it BTW and I didn't have to fix it.

Blogger Debut

Just wanted to welcome my good friend, Blair, to the world of blogging. Go visit and meet her. WELCOME BLAIR!! This is very addictive!! Love ya!

TGIF

I really love Fridays!! It's my favorite day of the week (of course Sunday is my favorite day of the weekend).

We actually finished all our schoolwork this week. And Craig will be home in a few hours. YIPPEE!! The kids and I are excited. He left early Tuesday morning and has been dearly missed! This also means I get to cook up something nice.

When he's gone (he travels during the week for his job) I tend to not make big meals. Yesterday we had carne guisada w/ rice. That was easy because I used my slow cooker for the c.g. and rice cooker for the rice. Wednesday we had chicken chalupas. Tuesday night we had soup and sandwiches.

So tonight I get to whip up something nice!! I love it when Craig comes home. I don't think I'm co-dependent. He's just my absolute best friend who knows (and accepts me) better than anyone I know.

I love how the kids get excited when he arrives. They all go screaming to the door, jump all over him, and totally forget that I even exist!! Never mind that I've been bathing, feeding and clothing them the past few days. The person they really want to be with is DADDY!!

But that's okay!! I love that they love me so much and are with me so much that they forget. And I love that they miss their dad so much that they forget me!! Because Craig doesn't. Amid all the chaos with the children at the door, Craig always searches me out and gives me the first kiss!! He doesn't forget me!! And the kids will start screaming and laughing. Sophia will especially start acting squeamish!! Something about mommies and daddies kissing that makes her laugh and scream as if she didn't like it except that she'll say, "AGAIN DADDY! Kiss mommy again!!" And so he will and then he'll go play with them and the weekend will have started!!

I LOVE FRIDAYS!!

Thought to Ponder

Yesterday, as I was making the rounds on some of the blogs I frequent, I came to Danielle Bean's . She posted a mom's comment about how difficult it can be to make good "mommy" friends. There were many comments with some good advice but this one really spoke to my heart.

Kate says, "Loneliness is one of Our Lord's great schools of love. He gives us this cross with tender love and affection for He and His Sorrowful Mother know well the pain of loneliness, isolation and rejection. So, while you wait for a good friend to come into your life, offer this pain up to Our Precious Lord and He will comfort You."

I don't know if this is her own thought or from somewhere else. Either way, how beautiful that even something like loneliness can help us become more holy, bring us closer to God and help us understand God's infinite love. What a shame that so much suffering is wasted instead of being used to bring us closer to Our Lord.

I will always remember this quote. I think SAHM's (especially homeschooling ones?) battle with this. Or maybe its just me?

Overhearing Child's Play

As I was folding towels this is what I overheard:

Isabelle: "Hello, welcome to Starbucks."
Anna: "Yes, what can I get?"
Isabelle: "Well, you can get a grande latte or a scone."
Anna: "OK. I'll get a grande latte."

You see, I've been taking Isabelle to Starbucks in the mornings about once every other week. She's been going to KPI every morning for an hour since February and sometimes needed a little incentive in the mornings ;-) I guess some of that culture has made it into her play world!!

So far so good!

Well, I've survived the first two days of school. WHEW!! I'm pooped. It takes a lot of energy to stick to the syllabus and homeschool a 3rd grader, 1st grader and keep two preschoolers and one VERY crawling baby out of trouble .... and stay patient and cheerful ..... and not get overwhelmed with the chaos slowly taking over my home!!

But I've realized this summer that I need to treat homeschooling as my full time job during schooling hours. So, no more sneaking in housework, computer time, phone calls or anything other than a nursing baby, hungry toddlers and hugs and kisses here and there.

My prior post did seem rather .... idealistic. I did get a little shelf for the preschoolers going. And I'm reading to them before nap time. But most of my energy will have to go to the older two. I think as long as I can give them educational type toys that are reserved only for homeschooling time, they should be fine. Although Sophia (4 yo) is wanting her own special homeschool time. So she gets a little lesson on colors, numbers and her own uniform.

If we stick to the syllabus (Mother of Divine Grace) we should get Friday's off for library visits and picking up the house.

For art I found a wonderful book called Discovering Great Artists by MaryAnn Kohl that we will do altogether. It teaches about the great artists and any major techniques they were known for and then gives an art project in the same style. All I have to do is have the art supplies and references from the library on the artist.

We managed to make it to the YMCA fitness class today. They did kickboxing and seemed to enjoy it!

Something new I've started this year is partial uniforms. I have collected so many uniforms in the past that I only had to buy Belle a few shorts and a jumper. Monday through Thursday they wear uniform bottoms with a tee shirt (vacation Bible school or saint tees .. we have a bunch of those) or a plain white top. They get dressed before breakfast, we take Isabelle to KPI for an hour, come home, do our morning Gospel reflections and then start schoolwork. We have lunch, play for a while, put Kolbe and Sophia down for naps (around 1pm) and then finish any schoolwork. Hopefully this will become our routine. I find things work as long as I stay on the ball and don't get distracted. I do indulge myself and keep the kitchen clean but that's about it!! ;-)

Finally, yesterday Craig went and bought a telescope. For the first time ever I saw the moon up close (or at least closer). Oh, yeah, the girls and Kolbe did too!! Craig is doing a unit study on the solar system with Isabelle. He just won a bid for a sailor's nautical compass. He wants to navigate with it the next time we drive to San Antonio at night! Good thing I already know the way! ;-)

Well, this post was just a mix of a little bit from yesterday and today.