Still here?

Yes, we are but in modified form. Our computer decided to flip out on us in August (as I was printing off an entire summer's worth of worksheets and lesson plans that I had spent an insane number of hours on no less) and we are slowly regrouping and reconfiguring..... I promise an update at some point before Snowflake goes off to college.

Sorry, no new pictures either. :(

I am off Facebook due to these half-solved issues as well- so sad to be missing the election nonsense and football trash talk. Yeah, um, that's it, sorry to be missing it. (ROLL TIDE!)

The school year is going well and Snowflake is fitting in almost perfectly. She watches her "school video" too and usually loves it. We even caught her starting to sing her ABC's the other day! She also loves having her own white board to doodle on.

Well, back to reality- lunch break is over 'round here!

Homeschooling Ideas

A friend of mine writes a fabulous blog. Really, everyday I laugh or cry or nod my head in complete understanding! It's great.

She just finished up a 5 day series on how she homeschools with Classical Conversations. The link will get you to the first in the series. Her tips can easily be applied to any homeschool so I encourage you to check it out! She has some great links and printables too.

The Muse

This  is the best picture we got of "Baby Cow" at the July 18th Cow Appreciation Day. Oh dear! This computer is being fussy. :( errrr. We go every year because we love us some chicken! The people that own the Chik-Fil-A across the stress are super sweet and kind and friends of some of our friends so we tend to support their business. Baby Cow loved that all the "REAL" cows came over to talk to her. Sidenote, do you see the ridiculous length of my ponytail? Yeah, totally Locks of Love time again.

 

As I was looking for pictures I noticed a definite theme to our collection. Snow Flake! Seems to me that whenever she does or says anything even remotely adorable someone says, "Quick- Electron, grab your camera!" He has become the family documentarian. Snow Flake is his muse of choice. We have all kinds of exploitive funny videos and pictures of her doing the strangest things. I promise you if they ever figure out she can be trained to do a trick, they take pictures of her doing it! They think it is hilarious that she will now carry her own diapers to the trash, and then clap for herself, and she will carry her step stool over to the "ish-y" tank and beg us to turn it on so she can watch they "ish-y" and scream at the top of her lungs, "HEEEEEEEEY!" She must think he will eventually come out of there and respond, "Well, hello there little one. I am so glad you've chosen to visit with me again. We must have tea sometime." She cracks us all up. I have to start remembering to take more pictures of all of them instead of letting them just take pictures of her. They are such a troupe of circus folks. By the way, she begs to take baths all day long and loves when she has company and her other favorite thing to do is to walk to the lake and eat berries while watching the fish and turtles and geese. Funny girl. By the way, do NOT ever try to go out the door without taking her too. She was born to be outdoors. She is her daddy's daughter!

Birthday Girl

Kelsey Peace, August 11, 2009- 3 years old

Our Sweet Pea turned 3 years old yesterday. It seems like only yesterday she was born and then again, it seems as if she has always been a part of my heart. Funny, at first my (our?) grief was so new and fresh that it hurt like an open oozing wound. Now it seems to be more of a constant dull pain that is always there, never going away for even a second, but it has become such a part of me that it would be wrong for it to be gone.

Truly I think now it is more the pain of loving her and not being able to hold her and "check in" with her..... yet. Yesterday I found myself just wishing I could pick up the phone and talk to her for just a sentence or two, "Hey, it's Mom. Just wanted to say I love you and I can't wait to see you again."

I suppose living in the age of microwaves and emails and cell phones does weird things to your heart. Anyhow, I (Melissa) went to the cemetery yesterday and this time I went alone. It effected (affected? not that far in our grammar curriculum yet, sorry) me in a whole new way. It was strange but it was instinct to be visiting a 3 yr old and not the newborn that we had taken out there. This was a definite first for me.

One of the hardest things for me has been to cope with not being there while she grows up- to miss her milestones. Maybe yesterday was just God's special gift to my heart.

There were several new babies since I was there last.... that always rips my heart out. By the same token, when there are no new graves or only one or two, it makes me smile and rejoice. Something new that really made me smile was that about 6 months ago the funeral home that handles the babies began to put the baby's picture on the temporary marker! I LOVED seeing the sweet faces of those precious ones. And yes, if I'd had the option, I would've said,"YES!".

Anyhow, this is the way "Baby Land", as it is called, looked yesterday. It is so sad to see all the graves that don't have flowers or even permanent markers. Breaks my heart, the circumstances that cause that are even more heart breaking usually.

Yes, every single one of these is  a dead baby. Many parents leave toys, notes from grandparents, precious things that give you insight into the family that loves the little ones buried here.

GIVEAWAY!!

One of the blogs I love is doing a giveaway today: The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking.

The company sponsoring the giveaway: MadeOn Skin Care Products, is doing a special coupon code for those who want to try out this green way to keep bugs off. They have a bunch of really neat products that I would love to try. So, for all of you wannabe crunchy folks out there (like me) who are just beginning your journey, check it out. The details are on the blog. Then follow the link to the company and try it out! And don't forget to enter for the giveaway too. :)

Blogs I love:

Hello friends/family/random folks who stumble across this-apparently- rarely updated blog.

I always promise to do better but the truth of the matter is I am technically challenged and the camera is not easy to figure out. I have been far less than diligent about trying to figure it out. So, as we head into another school year there is again a promise to do better with the knowledge that actually, I'm simply waiting until Electron has time to figure it out. Clear as mud?

He did get a few pictures uploaded so that I can use them. Enjoy:

The lover-ly Birthday Princess! :) 

The very first sister tea party ever!!!! LOVE that we got it on camera! Thank you Electron!

If you are my Facebook friend you know that I am furiously avoiding my lesson plans and Mom -aka the Category 5 Energizer Bunny, was here last week and so much progress was made towards my never ending to-do list that I can now see the bottom of said list..... not much has been done to it since she left mind you. The children that populate the house went into major withdrawal because I did not read to them the entire week Mom was here and so I have been required to make up for lost time- Anne of Green Gables is hard to put down.

I would like to state for THE RECORD that I have completed at least 5 of my Pinterest projects. This completely disproves the theory that I am all ideas and no follow through. Do I make myself clear? :) The fact that there are 500 projects waiting in the wings is of no consequence. Again, clear?(glaring eyeballs bulging so you'd better agree....)

I would also like to point out that I have filled up one side of my carport, not once but twice (I am taking a bow here), with items that we no longer fit/need/use that are looking for a better home. I may end up at Goodwill with them but I hope to get them to consignment of some sort so that I can have a few bucks towards the list of clothing/book needs that fusses for attention.

Also finally, after nearly 16 years (yikes!) gotten around to painting and decorating our master bedroom. I wish I could post pictures but that darn camera thing.... sigh. It is really nice to have a coordinated place to crash at the end of the day instead of a dump spot for whatever wasn't used in decorating the rest of the house. I am, dare I admit it? actually almost happy with how it turned out. It's not exactly Rex's style nor is it mine but it is a happy medium that lends a (deceptively) peaceful atmosphere to a rather chaotic household.

Making drill sheets for math also got checked off the list.

Anyway, I am avoiding said lesson plans right this very minute. :D BUT, I simply have to share with you a few blogs that are near and dear to my heart.

#1: A very amazing woman recently became a Mom to an absolutely heart grabbingly beautiful little girl! Click on over to see her sweet family.

#2: A friend is celebrating her bloggy half birthday with TONS 'O PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS and she is gearing up to write a book that I can't wait to read.

#3 I found who I want to be when I grow up! This woman is amazing. She has 2 blogs that I adore-A-DORE, no really, like totally, completely ADORRRRRRRRRE... one and two .... Seriously, this woman is my hero and I'm darn near close to sacrilege in my idol-worship of her. I'm totally doing her one year challenge if I can get my family on board. Not the kind of challenge that I can do alone - requires cooperation. darn.

Anyhow, check 'em out and hopefully soon I will finally get some pictures of my new master suite ;P, Pinterest projects, and my glorious new schoolroom that I am totally falling in love with! Oh yeah, some pictures of the kiddos would be nice too, right grandfolks? xoxoxox

Snowflake cuteness!

It's been WAY too long since I've posted any pictures of our now adorably cute 1 yr old. She is laughing constantly, learning sign language (and will "please" you vehemently to get what she wants), and toddling about in the cutest fashion  (not with hands in the air like every other toddler- oh no, not her- she LOVES to carry things around with her when she walks.... you know, DS cords, glasses, tv remotes, any cell phone or keys she can find.... contraband only for this kiddo!). She is addicted to the outside and every time she wakes up she "please"s to go outside. Here are some recent shots of her royal cuteness in many of her favorite places:

Eating french fries on a date with Daddy.....

In Glitter's arms......

In her swing.....

Being all cute and knowing it.... she loves to squinch up her face and stick her tongue out!

Have you noticed that she now has enough hair to have a "Pebbles 'tail" instead of the sweet little headbands with bows and flowers that we've been using to designate that she's a girl? :) Playing dress-up is one of our favorite activities... "our" being Me, Glitter, AND Snowflake!

Someone else said it too....

Warning, this is not a happy, happy, joy, joy warm and fuzzy post. A very precious friend of mine has suffered yet another loss. I won't go into details- they are her details to share- in her words. I encourage you, especially if you do not understand from your own experience, to read around on her blog. She is very real and honest.

Anyhow, today she posted something that expresses my heart in better words than I could ever hope to have.

For those of you that have felt the sting of loss, in whatever form-even the unspoken ones that are only told by your eyes, my heart aches with you and the Lord frequently brings you to mind. Even when I do not tell you, I DO pray. Only one thing do I know for sure..... HE knows. HE cares.

Welllll,

Time has rolled on. I haven't been a very good blogger. Maybe I'll catch up and maybe I'll just move on. But in the mean time, I ran across this:

.....which I hope will lead to this:

This summer is going to be one for the record books I hope! :D Momma's got plans....... but no checklist.... yet..... well, except the one posted above..... but it's in pretty colors and a fun font so does it really count as a checklist? hmmmmmmm, no time to ponder! Fun awaits. And in case you're lost, we are finished with our homeschool group (except Electron who has one more week) and so we are unofficially "done" with school though math books and testing are yet to come.

Almost 13 yr olds, texting, humor, and pi

The time has come in my life when I must respect the bizarre humor that comes with being an independent minded almost teenager. We're coming up on a birthday VERY quickly. Sigh..... but all year long the humor has been sneaking in. It started being absurdly random, "Hey Mom, guess what?" "Um, what?" "Pumpernickle!" oooooookkkkkkkkkk. I know I deserve this. I tortured my mom too. So he and I began a back and forth running commentary that has kept me on my toes all year. Somewhere around Christmas this turned to "PI!!!!" grunted out by a burst of breath that can only come from an almost 13 yr old boy to which my homeschool brain automatically replied, "3.14". And so began the "new phase" of randomness. It had a purpose.

This morning as I was making my bed I got a text message. Rather unusual because A) I don't text well and very infrequently at that B) The few people that DO (the "kids" i work with) text me aren't usually awake this time of day. Curiosity got me and I stopped to check it.

This is what it said, "HAPDM". It was the babysitting emergency phone that we keep for the children. ? I was confused and sent back the random letters that my fingers hit first. The game. Brightened my day immediately. I got this reply, "That means, 'Have a Pi Day, Mom'." Oh. Ok. I sent back, "3.14" I got back, " Ya face. ;P" I love this kid.

13 is going to be so much fun. Especially when it's 13, 15, 16, 18...... and 5. I love when life makes me laugh.

I send profuse apologies to all my teachers, parents, and friends' parents. I have vivid memories of a conversation about how to make bug juice sandwiches using carpets squares on a car ride that lasted about 20 minutes. As I said, profuse apologies.

Books-

Yes, I know, bad blogger. I haven't posted anything of significance in pitifully too long. I'd love to say that this will change..... but it won't. Second semester does this to me. My escape thus far has been to read Electron's books before he does so that we can discuss them before he writes papers on them. I am also reading the "Little House" series out loud to all of them.

I read to escape. I read to become smarter. I read because I love to. I read because it is one of the few "me things" I can justify at the moment....... but:

 

Dost thou agree?

Hello, my name is Melissa. I'm a serial checklist maker.

Yes, a 12 step program is probably needed. My year has started with so many checklists floating around that I need a list to keep up with my lists. Please excuse my serious absence from blogging. There are lists, er, children, to be tended to.....

We had a crazy Christmas break and, sadly, we did not get everything done that we needed to do. We have rooms still to be organized and playdates that never materialized. I am tempted to be sad about this but I am  not because we DID watch lots of movies with Daddy. We DID sleep in ...a lot. We DID make lots of yummy baked goods. We DID enjoy being lazy and going with the flow. Yes, my first week back to school has been quite unorthodox and way to unpredictable for my liking and a bit too scattered for the children to feel at ease BUT, though we still have one more day in our week, we HAVE gotten done what is the most important to do- we started reading the New Testament together. If all else fails, we have been successful.

 

Oh yeah, we had a marvelous zip through Montgomery to see everyone. It was glorious to actually put my feet in the homes of those we love. There were so many people to see that we only had about 2 days in each house but they were rich days full of laughter, picture taking, good food, and memory making. And everyone got to snuggle with Snowflake. She's crawling now by the way! I have no pictures because I never got to take the camera out of the car but Rex's iphone and Electron's Christmas gift (he got his own camera- thank you Mr. Rex) documented the trip and one of these days I'll share but for now..... I have to check "Hug kids" off my list. Don't laugh. At one point I actually had this on my checklist! I don't feel too bad though. I know a man that has a 5:30 alarm on his iphone to "hug wife". She appreciates the hug when he actually reads his iphone and remembers it too.! :D