Blessed By the Sirs at Bedtime

Sir MMH Hubby had a workout last night, so I flew solo during prayer time with the boys. The routine is: I open up prayer with thanks and praise for all the good in our day, especially the good things I noticed the young Sirs doing. We then go around our trio lifting up prayers for others, ourselves, and whatever else is placed on our hearts.  Last night it went something like this:

Me: “Lord I thank you for these boys and for blessing our day in every moment: playtime, school time, and even our meal was wonderful (meaning no complaints about food and the average in-seat time for the kiddos was more than 10 minutes). Thank you that Sir Wallace was so diligent in his work today, completing assignments and learning new things with a happy heart. Thank you for Sir Lionheart and how his heart is changing…he was so helpful today in many ways. Boys?”

Sir Lionheart: “God please help Grandpa Jim’s knee to feel better and he knows you did it.”

Sir Wallace: “Ummm…I’m thinking…”

Sir Lionheart: “Mama, maybe we can pray for the people who live by vampire bats that they won’t bite them and suck their blood.”

Me: “Sure thing buddy. God please keep the people safe who live by bats.”

Sir Wallace: “I don’t have anything.”

Sir Lionheart: “And maybe we can pray for monkeys not be eaten by giant snakes?”

Me: “You bet buddy.  God, please protect your creation.”

Sir Wallace: “Mama did you read the hippo book today? In case you didn’t, did you know that an angry hippo can run faster than a human if he’s angry at the human?”

Me: “Nope, sure didn’t. Thank you Lord for blessing me now.”

Followed by laughter and these other facts Sir Wallace picked up in a book at the library today: A hippo can snap an alligator in half with it’s jaws. It can also kill a lion with those jaws, and apparently panda bears can swim. I’m so out of my league teaching this boy at home! (Now if he wants to talk nursing theory, I may have a chance) Thank you God for a wonderful library and a seemingly endless supply of books.

AMEN.

I Should Be…

A few thoughts about what I should be doing…

I should be…

• finishing up my bible study, but I’m still on Day One.



• three-hole punching my coursework for school.



• organizing my remaining paperwork for clinicals.



• washing clothes.



• gathering library books to avoid late fees.



• getting schoolwork organized for the Sirs tomorrow.



• balancing the checkbook and paying a few stray bills.



• writing a list of curriculum needed for Sir Wallace since I’m quickly running out of lessons in some areas.



• filing and shredding.

Instead, I am…

eating ice cream, listening to my night time serenade by Miss Bear, staring at the pile of should do’s, enjoying my furniture free from laundry in various stages of folding, and indulging my INFJ self with a bit of reflection and peace.

The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Amen.

Fall Begins

It has been creeping up on us.. the cool nights giving way to fog in the morning, the afternoon storms as the pushy north winds try to overtake the warm leftovers from the ninety-plus degree days, a few leaves giving in and littering the yard, and the emergence of bees (seriously).  Though the calendar may not officially say it, our home does.

It’s the first fire of the year…and it’s divine.  Just the other day we enjoyed a meal of fish tacos, our last toast to summer…

And today it was chicken and noodles…

And for a snack as I prepared for another quiz tonight, Sir MMH Hubby used his culinary skills to make me a chipotle cheese quesadilla…

*smile*

What is your favorite thing about fall?  I hope to get out and grab pics of all the reasons I feel abundant and blessed living in our little town during this season, and I will share soon!

A Cup of Coffee

As we played with Play-Doh this morning, Sir Lionheart was a bit exuberant.  At some point I ended up with a cup of coffee with blue Play-Doh floating in it, and it reminded me of a post…

This weekend Sir MMH Hubby and I experienced a first: our kids awoke by themselves and fed themselves breakfast.

Upon my advice, Sir MMH and I decided to enjoy the quiet of the morning and the moment of newfound independence…until… *sniff*  “Do you smell smoke?”  “Yes…something is BURNING!”  Upon arriving at the kitchen, we found two boys with eyes as big as saucers stammering something like, “Forgot…you…coffee…”  Let’s see if you can add it up…

So, our two loving boys wanted to make us coffee, and it was precious.  AND we bid farewell to a wonderful pot that has served us many cups of coffee over the past eight years.

Wordless Wednesday…My Favorite Pics September

To see more Wordless Wednesdays…click here.

Happy Birthday Sir Wallace

Seven years, Sir W.  I can clearly remember that Saturday morning that you arrived with gusto and so fast that nobody believed you were really there!  That has not changed much…you are full of life and so eager to do anything and everything you can!

Over the past seven years, I have seen you grow from such a curious and talkative little boy into a well spoken and gifted big boy.  God has blessed you with a sensitive heart that truly soaks up and gives love so freely.  I am blessed every time I reach out and you still hold my hand.  Every hug and moment of snuggle time I cherish.  I know that these days are limited; you are growing up so quickly as God has planned. 

You are my oldest, and you broke the mold I am sure.  God knew what he was doing when he gave you to us.  You have challenged me to be a better Mama.  My mind and heart renew each day when I am with you.  I love watching you play basketball with your Dada, teaching you at home, and listening to all the thoughts your creative mind devises.  You show me true enthusiasm and zest for life, as well as how to think without so many boundaries.  Thank you.

Your sisters adore you.  You are such a great big brother to them.  They reach for you to carry them, to hug them.  They really enjoy playing with you; thank you for playing with them.  You truly have taken on the role of protector for those little girls.

Sir Lionheart, oh what to say?  You two battle so hard against each other, but you battle even harder for each other.  Thank you for being your brother’s best friend.  Some day that will be so precious to you both. 

From tricycle to training wheels to two wheels, the time just flies by.  Just the other day I am sure I dropped you off for your first day of preschool, and now you have moved on to first grade.  Soon enough I will watch you graduate and move on to the calling you receive.  Just know that we love you…and we pray to God that you continue to hold that precious gift of Jesus in your heart, that you seek Him, and that you love Him with all that you are.

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Love,

Mama

The Tomato Show

I know I keep saying how quickly time seems to be flying by, and I know how many posts I have written…in my head.  I thought it would be fun to share why we lose a week of our lives every year in our little part of the world…the Tomato Show.

Yes, tomatoes.  It is a week filled with parades, baking contests, vegetable judging, photo judging, pedal tractor pulls, 5 mile runs, Big Wheel races, tomato tosses, Little Miss Tomato, and even races where grown men and women ride in bathtubs full of…you guessed it, tomato juice.

Our first year here, we attended.  Our second year I entered some rolls in the baking tent, and won a blue ribbon.  Hubby entered the 5 mile run and won his age division.  We were hooked.  Last year we skipped the run, but I entered more baked goods and Sir Wallace won the Big Wheel race while taking second (to his good friend) in the pedal tractor pull.

This year we were there every night, one night until well past bedtime.  And it has taken every night since then to get back into routine, seriously.  Our homeschooling is turning into unschooling more than I ever thought it would, but it works for us.  Of course we have also dealt with a couple of ear infections this week…  In any case, here is my toast to tomatoes and the Tomato Show…and a few pics to share!

Sir MMH Hubby in Mile 1 of the 5 Mile run

The Misses and The Sirs on their float; it won Best Costumed. (The theme this year was Rockin’ and Rollin’ Through The Years.)

Sir Lionheart looking perfectly like himself!  I LOVE this picture.  He won first in the 3/4 year old Big Wheel race.

A hint as to why our kids have an advantage in the Big Wheel races, LOL.  Here is Sir Wallace awaiting the 6 year olds, and yes he was taller by almost a  head than all the others there.  He took first again as well.  His biggest thrill, I think, was his blue ribbon for his chocolate chip cookies.  Alas, no picture…but they were tasty!

And here is what everyone looked like after it was all over.  I am thankful for this week, back on schedule and no extraneous appointments or commitments.  *deep breath*

 

Coming Up For Air

It  has been nearly a week since my last post, oh my.  We have been adjusting to our ever changing and challenging schedule.

School, well it has been adjusted.  As much as I long for a set schedule, after the first week that hope went out the window.  The boys do really well working through their lessons knowing that the day is theirs when they finish.  However, with the twin tots it is just unrealistic.  The new plan, which has been written down nowhere, is to complete Calendar Time, Bible, and one other group activity in the morning.  When we finish with those, it’s free time for the boys and interactive play with the Misses.  Preschool is completed during naptime, and Sir Wallace begins his boxes then as well.  One on one time with Sir Wallace often occurs around 8pm because the rest of the troops are in bed (Sir Lionheart may be reading with Dada.) and he is our night owl.

Here are a few things that we have been doing…

Bugs…and more bugs.  After the caterpillars from our bike ride, we spent the week outside enjoying the wonderful weather ushering in fall.  The bugs were very literally finding us, and the kids loved it.

Our very late garden is finally bearing fruit.  Along with the Aunt Ruby’s (my favorite this year), our Pac Man Broccoli has been abundant and tasty (and a bit smelly!).

Sir Lionheart had a run in with the wheel of his wagon and the concrete as Dada was pulling it.  He now understands that our warnings to not drag his hand on the ground are warranted.

We have continued to enjoy popsicle time after naps, though I’m devising snack plan B as the weather cools.

Due to the Twin Tots, homeschooling has moved upstairs a few days per week.  It will most likely remain this way until we can adapt the other areas in the basement more for them.

I am thankful and blessed for this season in my life, and though the best laid plans change rapidly I know God is in control. 

Technorati Tags: Our Adventure,Our Home,Homeschool

 

Going on a Bug Hunt

We have been rolling with a few themes this week…Intro to Geography (Expedition Earth from Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler), The Letter L (Raising Rock Stars Preschool from Carisa at 1plus1plus1), and Bugs (Well, from this Mama of four kids who LOVE bugs). Today it was barely 80 degrees and sunny, so we decided to take our Science Saturday outdoors to the bike trail.

Sir Wallace wore his helmet in the truck, so he could hop out, hop on, and go. (Very indicative of his personality).

Sir Lionheart had to step up to the plate today. He has been on two wheels for quite a while now, but he has been riding a really small bike because his feet hit the ground when he sits on it. His big boy bike was a size too big when we bought it (on purpose…if you knew how tall our kids are and how fast they grow you would understand). The last time we rode the trail Sir Lionheart grew weary quickly because he had to do two to three times the pedaling as everyone else due to the size of his wheels. So, today I told him he had to ride the big one if he wanted to go. Whaddya’ know? He hopped on that thing and was lapping the yard in minutes. There is definitely a warm Mama Moment when your little guy grows up just that little bit more and accomplishes something new.

The girls loaded up into the trailer, pulled by Sir MMH Hubby, and I followed.

We stopped and watched butterflies, bees, bugs, and beetles. Unfortunately I’m still dealing with a point and shoot with a shutter speed slower than the feet of my six year old when you tell him it’s time for bed. Thus, no good photos of anything that did not crawl.

We herded up a few caterpillars, all different colors and textures. As we study the difference between moths and butterflies we are eager to see what these caterpillars will turn into… For now, they sit in my canning jars *smile* with twigs, leaves, and holes in the lids in hopes of seeing them build cocoons. And there are two little boys even more excited about bugs.

Technorati Tags: Our Adventure,Mama Moments