she loves to talk on the phone (or at least pretend to)Sunday, May 31, 2009
Berry Picking
Today, while I was adding to our compost pile, which is close to a blackberry bush, I decided to go on a hunt for more berries. It seems as though every time I dump something in the compost there are more berries and we eat them as we pick them. Eating one berry at a time gets old since our family loves fruit so much, so, Courtney, K, and I set out on a search for more berries. We didn't have to go very far into the woods next to our house to spot ripe blackberries. They were everywhere. It reminded me of when I was a kid and I used to pick berries in the summer. Before we started picking, we went inside and grabbed one of Baby L's oversized empty yogurt containers to hold the berries.
As we ventured through the woods, we came across a lot of bushes and we almost filled an entire container. We probably would have if K wouldn't have been steadily eating them as Courtney and I picked them. Did I mention he likes fruit? As we ventured through the woods, much to my surprise we came across a blueberry tree too. YEAH!!! We now have fresh organic blueberries at my disposal. And to think, not even a couple of hours earlier Courtney was asking me to buy blackberries at the grocery store. Picking them in your backyard is not only cheaper, but it's a lot more fun and creates wonderful memories.
*I would have taken pictures, but my camera was hiding in the couch and I didn't find it until much later.
As we ventured through the woods, we came across a lot of bushes and we almost filled an entire container. We probably would have if K wouldn't have been steadily eating them as Courtney and I picked them. Did I mention he likes fruit? As we ventured through the woods, much to my surprise we came across a blueberry tree too. YEAH!!! We now have fresh organic blueberries at my disposal. And to think, not even a couple of hours earlier Courtney was asking me to buy blackberries at the grocery store. Picking them in your backyard is not only cheaper, but it's a lot more fun and creates wonderful memories.
*I would have taken pictures, but my camera was hiding in the couch and I didn't find it until much later.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Garden
We officially have a garden. Or does something have to actually be growing before you call it a garden? Courtney, K, and I spent a couple of hours creating our 4x8 garden the other day. We planted corn, okra, tomatoes, squash, and watermelon. As I told a friend about it and what we did, she said I could have planted more seeds in the rows, but to be honest, there aren't really that many vegetables that I would like to have in abundance in my house. Plus, I'm not really sure how my "garden" is going to turn out. I'll post pics as (and if) things start to grow. 
Everything is growing!!! YEAH!!! I'm already thinking about what we're going to plant next.
Am I really becoming a homesteader?
Everything is growing!!! YEAH!!! I'm already thinking about what we're going to plant next.Am I really becoming a homesteader?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Big 3-0!!
It's official, I've hit the 30 club. We celebrated on my birthday, Monday morning, with breakfast in bed (but I ate in the kitchen) and the a cake. To show off their math skills, the girls put the numbers 19, 8, and three individual candles to mark 30. (19+8+3 = 30). After the morning celebration, we did some schoolwork and did a Memorial Day lapbook (I forgot to do it last week). After school, we lounged around for a little while and then went to a friend's and ate crawfish. It was good and the crawfish were HUGE!!!!
All in all, it was good day and a wonderful birthday!
All in all, it was good day and a wonderful birthday!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Spelling/Phonics
Today, as we were driving home from church, Courtney asked if we could go to the M*A*L*L today? That was all she said. She didn't have a previous conversation with Victoria. I told her, "not today" and she politely said,"O.K."
It wasn't but a few seconds later that K asked, "Can we go to the mall today?" I was baffled. I turned to Courtney and asked her if she had been talking about going to Victoria and she hadn't. So, I asked K why he asked me that and he said because Courtney asked.
I was amazed that my 4 year old knew what Courtney had spelled. He's reading a little, but only on his terms. Maybe we should start spelling around the house more so he'll learn spelling and reading quicker.
It wasn't but a few seconds later that K asked, "Can we go to the mall today?" I was baffled. I turned to Courtney and asked her if she had been talking about going to Victoria and she hadn't. So, I asked K why he asked me that and he said because Courtney asked.
I was amazed that my 4 year old knew what Courtney had spelled. He's reading a little, but only on his terms. Maybe we should start spelling around the house more so he'll learn spelling and reading quicker.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
You Know You're a Homeschool Mom When...
I found this on a website and thought it was very appropiate and had to share.... How many can you relate to?
You Know You're A Homeschool Mom When...
*When a child busts a lip, and after seeing she's okay, you round up some Scotch tape to capture some blood and look at it under the microscope. - check
*You find dead animals and actually consider saving them to dissect later. - check
*Your children never, ever leave the "why?" stage. - so far
*You look at every room in your home to try and imagine how to squeeze in another bookshelf. - check
*You turn your china cabinet into book shelves. - don't have one or it would
*When your teenager decides to take one community college course, and comes home and asks you why the teacher wrote "At" on his paper. (A+)
*You ask for, and get, a copier instead of a diamond tennis bracelet for your wedding anniversary or Christmas. - check - got one this past Christmas
*Your kids think reading history is best accomplished while lying on the floor with their head resting on the side of their patient dog. - or upside down on the couch
*Your husband can walk in at the end of a long day and tell how the science experiment went just by looking at the house. - we usually do them when he's home
*You never have to drive your child's forgotten lunch to school.
*Your child will never suffer the embarrassment of group showers after PE. - but have to be reminded to take showers
*The only debate about the school lunch program is whose turn it is to cook. - only because they don' t want to clean
*You never have to face the dilemma of whether to take your child's side or the teacher's side in a dispute at school. - Teacher is usually right!
*If your child gets drugs at school, it's probably Tylenol. - or Ibuprofen
*Your neighbors think you are insane. - yeaI live next to a public educator
*Your kids learn new vocabulary from their extensive collection of "Calvin & Hobbes" books.
*Your formal dining room now has a computer, copy machine, and many book shelves and there are educational posters and maps all over the walls.
*You have meal worms growing in a container....on purpose. - check
*If you get caught talking to yourself, you can claim you're having a PTA meeting.
*Talking out loud to yourself is a parent/teacher conference.
*You take off for a teacher in-service day because the principal needs clean underwear.
*You can't make it through a movie without pointing out the historical inaccuracies. - LOL
*You step on math manipulatives on your pre-dawn stumble to the bathroom. - we don' t get up before dawn and we're still done before 1 p.m.
*The teacher gets to kiss the principal in the faculty lounge and no one gossips.
*Your honor student can actually read the bumper sticker that you put on your car.
*If your child claims that the dog ate his homework, you can ask the dog.
*Someday your children will consider you to be a miracle-working expert and will turn to you for advice.
*Your kids refer to the neighbor kids as "government school inmates." - LOL
*You can't make it through the grocery produce department without asking your preschooler the name and color of every vegetable.
*You can't put your produce in your cart without asking your older student to estimate its
weight and verify its accuracy. - or amount per ounce... even though it's on the pricing sticker, they still have to figure it out
*You live in a one-house schoolroom
You Know You're A Homeschool Mom When...
*When a child busts a lip, and after seeing she's okay, you round up some Scotch tape to capture some blood and look at it under the microscope. - check
*You find dead animals and actually consider saving them to dissect later. - check
*Your children never, ever leave the "why?" stage. - so far
*You look at every room in your home to try and imagine how to squeeze in another bookshelf. - check
*You turn your china cabinet into book shelves. - don't have one or it would
*When your teenager decides to take one community college course, and comes home and asks you why the teacher wrote "At" on his paper. (A+)
*You ask for, and get, a copier instead of a diamond tennis bracelet for your wedding anniversary or Christmas. - check - got one this past Christmas
*Your kids think reading history is best accomplished while lying on the floor with their head resting on the side of their patient dog. - or upside down on the couch
*Your husband can walk in at the end of a long day and tell how the science experiment went just by looking at the house. - we usually do them when he's home
*You never have to drive your child's forgotten lunch to school.
*Your child will never suffer the embarrassment of group showers after PE. - but have to be reminded to take showers
*The only debate about the school lunch program is whose turn it is to cook. - only because they don' t want to clean
*You never have to face the dilemma of whether to take your child's side or the teacher's side in a dispute at school. - Teacher is usually right!
*If your child gets drugs at school, it's probably Tylenol. - or Ibuprofen
*Your neighbors think you are insane. - yeaI live next to a public educator
*Your kids learn new vocabulary from their extensive collection of "Calvin & Hobbes" books.
*Your formal dining room now has a computer, copy machine, and many book shelves and there are educational posters and maps all over the walls.
*You have meal worms growing in a container....on purpose. - check
*If you get caught talking to yourself, you can claim you're having a PTA meeting.
*Talking out loud to yourself is a parent/teacher conference.
*You take off for a teacher in-service day because the principal needs clean underwear.
*You can't make it through a movie without pointing out the historical inaccuracies. - LOL
*You step on math manipulatives on your pre-dawn stumble to the bathroom. - we don' t get up before dawn and we're still done before 1 p.m.
*The teacher gets to kiss the principal in the faculty lounge and no one gossips.
*Your honor student can actually read the bumper sticker that you put on your car.
*If your child claims that the dog ate his homework, you can ask the dog.
*Someday your children will consider you to be a miracle-working expert and will turn to you for advice.
*Your kids refer to the neighbor kids as "government school inmates." - LOL
*You can't make it through the grocery produce department without asking your preschooler the name and color of every vegetable.
*You can't put your produce in your cart without asking your older student to estimate its
weight and verify its accuracy. - or amount per ounce... even though it's on the pricing sticker, they still have to figure it out
*You live in a one-house schoolroom
A New Friend
While K was playing outside, he found one of the hundreds of lizards that live right outside our 
doors. He asked me to catch it. I did. It peed on me. That's the first time I've ever been peed on by a lizard, but I'm sure it won't be the last.
L didn't seem to mind the lizard. She actually tried to pet it and give it a kiss.
doors. He asked me to catch it. I did. It peed on me. That's the first time I've ever been peed on by a lizard, but I'm sure it won't be the last.
L didn't seem to mind the lizard. She actually tried to pet it and give it a kiss. Despite his asking to keep the lizard, we let him go so he could go back home.
School Outside
Today is such a beautiful day that when K asked me to watch him play outside, I really didn't want to say no. So, I didn't. Instead of doing Bible Study and History at the dining room table, we took it outdoors. While L took a nap (in her crib inside), the girls and I did Bible study and History while K rode his bike, threw rocks in the ditch, and looked for woodpeckers with his binoculars. I love the flexibility of not being confined to the four walls of our kitchen and the boundaries our our kitchen table and chairs.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Going Green
Last year, M mentioned that we need a garden. As much as I liked the idea of having one, I never did the proper research to create on, therefore never made a garden. It was an even better idea this year since we now had two teenagers living with us, but once again, it was only a thought never to be acted upon. One day!
Although we haven't started our own garden, we have done a couple of things to help the environment. We recycle cardboard and plastic and we've started a compost pile.
When M mentioned we should start a compost, I quickly realized he meant he wanted me to start a compost pile. So, I did! We now have a food compost. Although a compost can contain a lot more than just food, he wanted to restrict it to food since it is somewhat visible in our side yard.
Although we don't have a garden yet, our lifestyle is becoming more environment friendly and even K helps with the compost pile and no longer throws food in the trash. Did you know if more people recycled or had a compost pile, as a nation, we could conserve 10 tons of garbage a year?
Although we haven't started our own garden, we have done a couple of things to help the environment. We recycle cardboard and plastic and we've started a compost pile.
When M mentioned we should start a compost, I quickly realized he meant he wanted me to start a compost pile. So, I did! We now have a food compost. Although a compost can contain a lot more than just food, he wanted to restrict it to food since it is somewhat visible in our side yard.
Although we don't have a garden yet, our lifestyle is becoming more environment friendly and even K helps with the compost pile and no longer throws food in the trash. Did you know if more people recycled or had a compost pile, as a nation, we could conserve 10 tons of garbage a year?
Friday, May 15, 2009
It's about...
I found this post that I posted last year on another blog, right after I had my daughter and I thought I would post it here. Although I no longer have to deal with 2 a.m. feedings, my feelings and thoughts are the same.
As I lay in bed trying to go to sleep, I can't help but think about the importance of life and the little things we, I, tend to take for granted. Life is more than diets and exercise. It's more than always knowing the right answer at the right time. It's more than going to bed on time, the dishes always being done, the living room always clear of toys, and the laundry always clean. It is definitely not about being someone you're not in order to impress or please someone else.
It's about having an appreciation for the things you truly love and enjoying things you are passionate about. It's about being able to say no to things that really don't matter and won't have a lasting effect on you or someone else. Life is about having hope and being able to give it to others.
To me, it is about wiping away my son's tears and holding him when he cries because he is hurt. To me, it is about changing my daughter's diapers or feeding her at 2 or 4 am if she needs it, because it means I'm taking care of a child God created and gave to me to take care of. To me, it is about making sure I truly am my husband's helper, not only because that's what God commands, but because he works hard for our family for me to be able to stay home with our children. It's about having a loving relationship with Jesus Christ so that I walk with Him constantly in all the things I do and not just when I need His help.
To give up hope is to give up on God. "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8
What does life mean to you? What are some of the "little things" that you once enjoyed but somehow seem to overlook these days
As I lay in bed trying to go to sleep, I can't help but think about the importance of life and the little things we, I, tend to take for granted. Life is more than diets and exercise. It's more than always knowing the right answer at the right time. It's more than going to bed on time, the dishes always being done, the living room always clear of toys, and the laundry always clean. It is definitely not about being someone you're not in order to impress or please someone else.
It's about having an appreciation for the things you truly love and enjoying things you are passionate about. It's about being able to say no to things that really don't matter and won't have a lasting effect on you or someone else. Life is about having hope and being able to give it to others.
To me, it is about wiping away my son's tears and holding him when he cries because he is hurt. To me, it is about changing my daughter's diapers or feeding her at 2 or 4 am if she needs it, because it means I'm taking care of a child God created and gave to me to take care of. To me, it is about making sure I truly am my husband's helper, not only because that's what God commands, but because he works hard for our family for me to be able to stay home with our children. It's about having a loving relationship with Jesus Christ so that I walk with Him constantly in all the things I do and not just when I need His help.
To give up hope is to give up on God. "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8
What does life mean to you? What are some of the "little things" that you once enjoyed but somehow seem to overlook these days
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Laughter.. Good for the Soul
This girl love to laugh and Courtney is really good at making her laugh. L laughs at anything that is not "normal" and cracks up when people jump or fall.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Surprise!
We threw my dad a Surprise 60th Birthday Party and he was surprised. You see, my dad works about 6 hours away from his wife, my mom. After all these years being married, they still enjoy seeing one another as often as they can. They are a wonderful example!
My brother had come up with the idea to throw my dad this party, which he would never suspect because he's not the type to want or expect anything like this... we're not much alike in that sense. Well, the key was making sure my dad went home that weekend and didn't want my mom to meet him 1/2 way. That turned out to be the easy part. Since my dad's birthday is around (this year was on) Mother's Day, my mom told him she was going to have everyone over for Mother's Day. My dad didn't realize she meant EVERYONE. He thought she meant her family.
When he got home late Friday night, he wasn't too surprised to see my family since we had gone to Dallas to pick up a van, it only made sense that we drove 2 more hours to see them for the weekend. Shortly after my dad had gone to bed Friday night, my brother and his family arrived. When my dad woke up and saw another vehicle outside, he didn't know who it belonged to, but he soon found out. He was glad to see them. A couple of hours later, my sister and the rest of her family showed up and my dad didn't know what to think then.
Well, we did as we usually do, we started getting things ready for the Mother's Day cookout. K went fishing with my sister's youngest daughter, her step-son, and her husband. While some fished at the pond, a few of us ran to the store to pick up a few things and of course, you can't get my brother and sister together without a sword fight in the middle of the store... it's always fun with them two around.
Shortly after we got back, I asked my dad to show me how to get to Wal-Mart so I could pick up some things for my mom for the cookout. I needed an excuse to get him out of the house because they needed to decorate and some of his family were coming in and we didn't want him to know. So, we went shopping. My dad is not a shopper. Although we were only gone for two hours (it takes 30 mins. to get to the store) my dad was ready to leave and was worried about everyone having to wait on us to get back. I wasn't sure when my dad's family was going to be there, so I did everything I could to stall, including parking on the side of a small road so he could look at my GPS and try to figure something out.
Well, needless to say, we were gone long enough. As we drove up, my dad noticed the unfam
iliar vehicles, but had NO clue who they belonged to. As we walked up to my mom's house and turned the corner, everyone shouted "Surprise", sang Happy Birthday, and started shaking their maracas. My dad's brother and sister had made it before we got back. He was completely surprised. In my 30 years of living, I can't recall my dad ever having a birthday party. This was the first time ALL my parent's grandkids had ever been together at the SAME time. Here's a picture with my parents and my siblings with their spouses and kids. M wasn't able to stay, so he's not in the picture.
May is a busy month for our family. We have 4 birthdays and Mother's Day! Although the party was for my dad, my mom surprised everyone that has a birthday in May with their own cake that my Aunt made. They were good too!
My brother had come up with the idea to throw my dad this party, which he would never suspect because he's not the type to want or expect anything like this... we're not much alike in that sense. Well, the key was making sure my dad went home that weekend and didn't want my mom to meet him 1/2 way. That turned out to be the easy part. Since my dad's birthday is around (this year was on) Mother's Day, my mom told him she was going to have everyone over for Mother's Day. My dad didn't realize she meant EVERYONE. He thought she meant her family.
When he got home late Friday night, he wasn't too surprised to see my family since we had gone to Dallas to pick up a van, it only made sense that we drove 2 more hours to see them for the weekend. Shortly after my dad had gone to bed Friday night, my brother and his family arrived. When my dad woke up and saw another vehicle outside, he didn't know who it belonged to, but he soon found out. He was glad to see them. A couple of hours later, my sister and the rest of her family showed up and my dad didn't know what to think then.
Well, we did as we usually do, we started getting things ready for the Mother's Day cookout. K went fishing with my sister's youngest daughter, her step-son, and her husband. While some fished at the pond, a few of us ran to the store to pick up a few things and of course, you can't get my brother and sister together without a sword fight in the middle of the store... it's always fun with them two around.
Shortly after we got back, I asked my dad to show me how to get to Wal-Mart so I could pick up some things for my mom for the cookout. I needed an excuse to get him out of the house because they needed to decorate and some of his family were coming in and we didn't want him to know. So, we went shopping. My dad is not a shopper. Although we were only gone for two hours (it takes 30 mins. to get to the store) my dad was ready to leave and was worried about everyone having to wait on us to get back. I wasn't sure when my dad's family was going to be there, so I did everything I could to stall, including parking on the side of a small road so he could look at my GPS and try to figure something out.
Well, needless to say, we were gone long enough. As we drove up, my dad noticed the unfam
iliar vehicles, but had NO clue who they belonged to. As we walked up to my mom's house and turned the corner, everyone shouted "Surprise", sang Happy Birthday, and started shaking their maracas. My dad's brother and sister had made it before we got back. He was completely surprised. In my 30 years of living, I can't recall my dad ever having a birthday party. This was the first time ALL my parent's grandkids had ever been together at the SAME time. Here's a picture with my parents and my siblings with their spouses and kids. M wasn't able to stay, so he's not in the picture.
May is a busy month for our family. We have 4 birthdays and Mother's Day! Although the party was for my dad, my mom surprised everyone that has a birthday in May with their own cake that my Aunt made. They were good too! My uncle Mike (my dad's brother) holding L, my aunt Michelle (my mom's sister-in-law), my sister-in-law and brother, their son (walking by), and my sister and me being goofy... none of my parent's kids like to miss a photo op.
Mother's Day
My brother had a wonderful idea to throw my dad a surprise 60th birthday party. Unfortunately, M had to work and wasn't able to be there. Although he wasn't able to stay for the party on Saturday, he found a van for me in Dallas, which is only 2 hours from my mom's. So, we all loaded up in his little truck (the only vehicle we fit in) and we drove 7 hours to Dallas to check out this van that we hoped was in as good as shape as it looked. If it wasn't we were going to have to figure a way to get M back home (5 hours from my parents) by Friday night so he could go to work and still attend my dad's party on Saturday.
Lucky for us, the van was exactly what the guy said it was, we purchased it, and drove it on to my parent's house. The 6 of us, baby included, spent a total of 10 hours driving/riding. I have to say, all the kids did really well to be that cooped up for that long.
I can't believe I own a van. It seems so... I don't know.. I can't say soccer mom, because I like that title. I can't say "momish" because I LOVE that title... I don't guess I really knew what to expect. Everyone that I know absolutely loves their van and I have to say that I understand why. It really is nice to be able to fit the entire family into one vehicle and still have room for someone else.
HAPPY MOTHER's DAY! My husband is so good to me!
Lucky for us, the van was exactly what the guy said it was, we purchased it, and drove it on to my parent's house. The 6 of us, baby included, spent a total of 10 hours driving/riding. I have to say, all the kids did really well to be that cooped up for that long.
I can't believe I own a van. It seems so... I don't know.. I can't say soccer mom, because I like that title. I can't say "momish" because I LOVE that title... I don't guess I really knew what to expect. Everyone that I know absolutely loves their van and I have to say that I understand why. It really is nice to be able to fit the entire family into one vehicle and still have room for someone else.
HAPPY MOTHER's DAY! My husband is so good to me!
Lions & Tigers & Bears.... Oh My! 2009
We went to the Houston zoo a couple of weeks ago. We took L to her Nana's and then made a quick stop at someone's house to look at their van that they're selling... Yep, I'm getting a van.... just not the one we went to Houston to look at. It would've been nice, but it wasn't as clean on the inside as I would have liked and it had too many miles on it. I wanted something a little newer with fewer miles..... I'm not too worried about navigation or dvd, but I really wanted leather seats. Cloth seats don't seem to hold up too well in my cars....
Anyway... so after we test drove the van, we headed to the zoo. We all had fun. It was the first time I had been to the Houston Zoo and the girls haven't been to a zoo in a long time. We had fun learning about so many different animals. My favorite was the "mysterious" bat cave that K kept referring to (from a of his books that someone gave him last year).
L is walking
Although she took her first step on April 7, a little over a month ago, she's walking consistently now. So, now when her brother is eating a popsicle and she wants it, she can walk to him... ;-)
I wasn't able to get a long video because our camera full.... I have a lot of catching up and blogging to do...
I wasn't able to get a long video because our camera full.... I have a lot of catching up and blogging to do...
Saturday, May 2, 2009
L's 1st Bike Ride
M took L on her first bike ride the other day. She seemed to like it. Now that it's getting nicer outside, K and Courtney have been biking around the neighborhood almost everyday. Sometimes, we all able to go as a family.
Ironman
Sunday, as we were leaving Cubbies, K & L were each given a birthday present from their favorite sitter and good friend, Ms. Alex. I absolutely LOVED what she gave them and K, although he has never seen the movie, but only clips of it, knew exactly what his was when he opened the package; an Ironman costume. He was SO excited that he put it on before we got to the car so he could "fly" home. Aside from when we went to the zoo, he was Ironman for 3 whole days. When he was wearing his costume, he could fly and had to be called Ironman. Now, although he still wears his costume, he doesn't wear it as much because he doesn't want to get anything on it. I loved watching the responsibility of him taking care of his favorite gift as he took it completely off to go to the restroom and (sometimes when he ate) then put it back on by himself when he was done. He is so much fun to watch as he is constantly learning.
Ironman even does his math....
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