today

.....started rough.

The kids wouldn't get up.

I decided I have to sleep till 6.  These afternoon headaches are killing me.

Hunter didn't pack his lunch last night. {We figured it out at 7:45}.

Carlee has {misplaced} our home cell phone.

I am up to my eyeballs with laundry.

My floors are disgusting.

Children went to school sad. {I HATE that!!}

This weekend wiped me out!  I feel like we were just moving in with all the changing and cleaning.  But most of it is done, and it is starting to feel normal again.  The new arrangements are wonderful and the rooms are being used with much EXCITEMENT! 

I am really trying to slow down and enjoy these moments.  These headaches are caused from stress I am convinced.  I've realized that I go around all day trying to keep the house {PERFECT} and everything going smooth and stay on top of everything and my body is telling me to {RELAX}!!  I can do everything and keep it perfect, but I miss out on all the {little moments} of living with my family.  I decided I have to choose what I want and I've decided I want to

{cherish the moments}. 

I still can't figure out why we put so much stress on ourselves for every aspect in our lives to be perfect!  And the stress will make a person sick!  So if you come to my house and my floors are dirty or there is laundry piled up needing to be folded or my kitchen is well used, it is because I am living in the moment and  cherishing my child's childhood.  My sister had a class in RS and a lady taught it who is a councilor.  She said a lot of people's problem is they do not "live in the moments" of their lives.  I am totally understanding what she means.  I will be doing something only to be thinking about what I had to do next or a list I need to make, ect.  She suggested only thinking about what you are doing at that time and really "live" in that moment.  Then make time to make your lists and things like that. 

I took the kids to school and the bell had already rung. 

When I got home I found this beside my bed.

Happy returned, and I realized again what life is all about.

I read a wonderful article HERE this morning.

Heavenly Father new just what we would need.

{National Entitlement Awareness Day} Plus a Giant Giveaway!!

NYTimes bestselling authors, Richard and Linda Eyre have written an exciting new book called

The Entitlement Trap: How to Rescue Your Child with a New Family System of Choosing, Earning, and Ownership and they invite you to join them in the cause to stem the tide of entitlement that is causing so many problems in today’s world.

Go HERE and be entered to win some awesome prizes!!

I am so excited for mine to arrive!  Spread the word today!!!

two more

I love books!

And this is the time of year I tend to "stock" my library.

I am LOVING both of these books.  I have been waiting for MONTHS for

{The Rhythm Of Family}

to come out.  It was just as good as I had anticipated!  I am so excited.  We are changing around rooms and I am going to get to have a {Learning Studio} for the kids and a {Library/Writing Room} for the whole family.  Below is a room I adore that was on the {Playful Learning} website.  Go there! Have FUN!!

This author has a blog that is so much fun and inspiring!  She has two more books two!  I have them all!  So our weekend project will be taking apart beds, putting them back together, organizing closets, and decorating rooms!   The kids are so excited and so am I!

stitches

I really can't believe that this is our first time with stitches.  During summer break we had gone to eat pizza at the school.  We were done and leaving when Hunter got up and starting walking and tripped right over Fisher who had bent down for something and he fell and hit his face on the bench.  I saw the whole thing.  It was horrible.  Tons of blood.  Which I don't deal with very well at all.

After about an hour I decided it was bad enough to have him looked at.  So I took him up to Dr. Wright and he decided to put in a couple stitches in hoped it would help it heal right.  Sure enough, it looks just like new!  He was pretty nervous about stitches but did wonderful!  So proud of him!

two of our MOST {favorite} books

Hunter has been having so much fun with this book!  The projects are perfect for his age and years to come.  There are so many great things for boys to learn to do.  I love to see him carrying it around with him and find joy in a book! Plus it keeps his little mind busy doing good things!



{Project List}

*Making a Buckeye Bow {Archery}
*Home-Made Fishing Tackle
*Home-Made Boat

My girls are loving their book too!  Such lovely girls things to do in this book.  I love how it teaches what was done years ago.  My girls think the projects are so cool!  Can't wait to post a finish project.                                    

{Project list}

*Botany As Applied to Art (Painting using plant designs)

*Making Your Own Picture Frame

*Making Holiday decor

{kids swimming trip}

In July while Jeremy was gone to Africa this time we went to see Emily and her family and stayed in a hotel and went swimming.  The kids had so much fun!  It was nice to break up some of the two weeks of Jeremy being gone.  As a child my parents would take us to a hotel somewhere to swim and eat during the summer.  I loved it, and it always brings me back happy memories.  But I have to say that I now appreciate my parents VERY much.  It was tons of work!  We had a great time, but now it is me doing all the work, not just the enjoying!!  I love summer.  I can hardly believe it is almost over. 

 I love my family!

Sisters Weekend 2011

school has begun once again

and we are loving every minute of it!  The kids enjoyed meeting their teachers Tuesday night and Wednesday was their first day back.  Jeremy and I have had a lot of discussion and prayer about school this year for the kids and what was the best option for our sweet children.  We both feel there are some issues with the school programs, but we feel very impressed that our children need to be there, and learn to be "in the World, but not OF the World".  We are disappointed with programs that were taken away and other things going on, but then it occurred to us that it is OUR responsibility to teach our children all that we want them to learn!  Instead of complaining about what the school isn't, we can provide what is important to us as a family.  So we are creating a home of learning and happiness where they can feel a love of learning for life!   We are having tons of fun doing it too!  Right now we are working on learning all 50 states and their capitals, Jeremy is teaching them Spanish, multiplication to 12's, handwriting, history and geography, science fun, typing,  music composers, and art appreciation, and LOTS of nature study.  The girls each have a book they are working on and Hunter is doing great with his reading skills.  Every Wednesday we work on a "Life Skill" our family wants to learn or we feel in important.  I love it cause learning together in our home makes learning seem a natural way in our daily lives.  It is fun and exciting!  I love the{Charlotte Mason} learning methods.  We believe that kids learn best from the world around them, we just have to help them see those things.  I love to read how other families are learning  and get fun ideas from them.  

This was Wednesday morning and everyone was beaming with excitement!

Loralie has our beloved Mrs. McDougal this year.  She has been excited about it since the last day of school in May.  Mrs. McDougal is our neighbor and we love her so much!

4th Grade

Miss Savanna has Mrs. Peterson.  Her classroom is awesome!  She is such a sweet lady and I have heard such great things about her.  We were so happy Savanna got her!

Kindergarten

Our Mr. Hunter has Mrs. Bryce this year for 1st grade.  Loralie had her and we absolutely loved her!  She is fun and enthusiastic!  Learning is fun in her classroom.  We are excited for another great year with her!

1st Grade

Fisher had to be included in all this craziness.  He will have Mommy as his teacher for the next 3 years!  And boy does she love him!

Carlee has Mrs. Williams this year.  She is new to the 5th grade.  We have heard really great things about her and Carlee is loving her class so far.  When we met her Tuesday Jeremy and I really liked her.  Carlee is super excited about the 5th grade.

5th Grade

This face makes me smile!