7 Quick Takes Friday

~1~

I can. not. believe it is Friday again already. I am actually ANGRY at how quickly time is flowing by, and me barely noticing because I am flitting from one child's needs to another to another.

~2~

First week of school roundup. It was alright. We got up on time, ate breakfast, and got math done. And it wore us all out. My eldest began his community college classes (for dual high school and college credit) this week, and his speech and debate. The other kids all started their choir. We kept the cleaning and laundry and menu planning on track.

~3~

Sounds great, doesn't it? But I shudder to think that I have to add in all the other subjects, plus one entire child as one was off fishing with my husband in Canada. Wha--? how--? why--? Yes, that's right, I begin school while my husband is off fishing in Canada. He did deserve the break, but the timing is awful. If this happens in the future, the timing is going to have to be different.

~4~

I did a craft with the 5,7 and 9 year olds this week . I really think it is futile to do crafts with 5 and 7 year olds, although I have done them with all my kids. But really, it is all about crying, disappointment and mommy finishing them off. The 9 year old did just fine, and it seems as if that is the perfect age for meaningful crafts. Same with cooking. I can not cook with my little kids, because my brain starts to smoke. Outside of letting them pour a few things in the bowl, and stirring for a few seconds, it's hands off. Now at 9 years old, that I can handle. By 10 they can cook on their own, so why drag the whole process out for 5 years? Sort of like potty training or reading. I start my kids later and in no time they are caught up to the kids who have been doing it for years. Wisdom or laziness? I report, you decide.

~5~

I also have had a toothache all week, which has led to a headache and jaw pain. I am a doof, because I have a scheduled appointment with the dentist next week, and just put up with this instead of calling this week and having it looked at. Why? I don't know. Mostly I just didn't have time to deal with it, so I have just been taking ibuprofen every 8 hours, and being crabby. My teeth aggravate me.

~6~

The baby has taken a decidedly uncute turn this week. Very demanding. Grunting as soon as she sees me. Chewing me out when I do pick her up or take her from a sibling. Very few smiles. Do you think she noticed that we started school this week, and she no longer has a monopoly on my time?

~7~

Lastly, I had a child with severe stomach pain in the middle of the night. Lower right side. Husband in Canada. Middle of the night. Screaming child. 1 hour solid crying. Husband out of phone contact, even. Quickly check internet for "appendicitis", not encouraged, begin to frantically look for insurance cards. Trying to work out in my mind what I will do, who I will take with me to the E.R., who I will leave in charge, yada yada yada.

Suddenly, said child "expressed" some very stale air, stopped crying, and said he felt much better now. I have never. and I repeat never. been more happy about "expressed stale air" than I was at that moment. Stale air that smelled of peanuts. Come to find out child had ingested "four or six" hands full of peanuts for a snack after lunch. Peanuts, being legumes, did their usual, and thus the middle of the night panic.

Isn't my life GLAMOROUS!? !

More quick takes at Jen's

New School Year, day 2

School has begun, and on day two we are still on schedule! Woot Woot! The kids are getting up early, one child makes breakfast while everyone else gets dressed, makes beds etc. So far so good, but no one is yet tired at night for bed time. I figure after a few days of getting up early, the tiredness will come. It has come for me, but then, that is no surprise.

This is only a modified beginning, as my eldest has begun classes at the local community college and begins speech and debate tonight, the rest are only doing the morning routine and math, as well as our choir rehearsals beginning tonight.

After Labor Day, we'll add in more classes, and then in October add in Spanish for the older two.

I want to thank my faithful 20 who according to my stats counter still faithfully check in, despite my lack of posts. I have considered shuttering this place again, but decided to just plug along, and if nothing else, I have a good record of my thoughts and the kid's littleness. I am hopeful I will be able to get back to more regular posting some day. Until then, I'll pray for you if you pray for me, deal?

Blessings!

P.S. Home school question: Does anyone have an opinion on the difference between the D.I.V.E CD-ROM for Saxon Algebra II versus the Saxon Teacher CD ROM? I need to get one soon, and am leaning toward Saxon Teacher, but wouldn't mind some input if anyone has any. Thanks!

7 Quick Takes Friday

So here we are again. The weeks are flying by in a very disconcerting way.
~1~
The biggest thing on my mind right now is that my tooth, the one that was acting up a year or more ago, then settled down, is now aggravating me again. I have a crown on this tooth now, so I see another root canal in my future. Swell. I have never had so much tooth pain as I have since going to the dentist regularly. Hmmm.
~2~
I am pretty much ready for school to begin. In theory. What I really need is an office manager, to keep the schedule on track. I can do the teaching, but keeping all seven students on track and where they are supposed to be while managing my home is going to be a challenge.
~3~
Baby is 5 months old now, and will soon be crawling, and then the fun will really begin. She is not a sleepy newborn anymore, and is weaving her into our day more and more (which we all enjoy immensely). School will be interesting. I forsee lots of turn taking as far as baby duty goes, while I try to stay on track. This is a reason I love nursing, as I will be forced to set, relax, and enjoy her even on my busiest days.
~4~
I am going to get back to the icon workshop the second week of September. I thought I would be taking a six week break, and that turned in to a six month break. But, icons wait for you, so now I can get back to The Samaritan Woman at the Well, and begin a St. Melania.
~5~
I have been working on getting rid of "stuff". On average, I have been bringing 3 bags a month to Goodwill. (BIG bags) It doesn't even look any different around here, where it shows, but my Stash and Dash hiding spots are getting cleaned out, and then I can use that space for useful things. THEN, it'll look different around here.
~6~
I have no real plans for the weekend. And I love it. Peace and quiet!!
~7~
We purchased two bows for our kids last week. They have been having a blast! It seems like a good thing, keeping them active and working on upper body strength. They encourage each other and watch each other, the big kids help the younger ones, and it isn't attached to the Wii. Real, live outside archery.

I was going to put a photo of the kids practicing their archery, but the pictures are still on my camera, which is in the baby's room and she is sleeping. So, here is a gratuitous baby photo, of Melanie in her pram. The very same pram I got at the thrift store for $12.

More Quick Takes over at Jen's

I have Lot Of Important Things to Say...

...but no time to say them.

So, besides taking photos of Melanie (that don't even do justice to her cuteness) what have I been up to and why haven't I been blogging?

Well, I meant to blog last week, in fact I kicked my teens off of the computer, just for that purpose. But, lo and behold, said teens were in a talking mood, and any parent of teens knows you take those opportunities when they arise. So blogging could wait.

Then, later in the week, I intended to blog after dinner. My husband, who hasn't been around much during the week for the past 18 months, and is now reveling in being here more, bought some wine and snacks and wanted to watch a movie. So blogging could wait.

Then, this morning, at 6:00 am, after feeding Melanie and putting her back to bed, I wanted to blog, but my 5 year old got up and wanted to eat, and have breakfast with me "when no one else was up". So we had breakfast of cantaloupe, fried eggs and sprouted grain wheat bread and, once again, blogging could wait.

Just now I was able to get my eldest to hold my youngest so I could upload the photos of Melanie. To come are photos of my birthday, and some things working their way through my consciousness regarding marriage, romance, and Jane Austen.

School begins in a week, a modified schedule, gearing up to full throttle by the day after Labor Day. It is going to be a busy, busy year, and I am not entirely certain where blogging will fit in, but I hope to keep it up as much as possible.


Blogging isn't the only thing I have been neglecting since Melanie was born, so don't take it personally!!

5 Months Old!

She is finally chubby. I love those creases!!



She is sitting up by herself from time to time. She has to keep her arms out for balance, and wobbles quite a bit, but boy does she like being upright!
Look who is on all 4's already! Bets on how long til she crawls. Slow down, baby!!

Melanie's sweet little face. She always gets a shocked look on her face when I take her picture because of the laser focus on the camera and the red eye strobe before the flash. If I turn the flash off, the photo is nothing but a blur because she never stays still. Trust me, though, she has other looks besides the wide eyed look of shock.
I love all her pretty little dresses. This rack used to hold my scarves.

A close up of some of my favorites. Thank goodness for the thrift store, that is all I have to say!

7 Quick Takes Friday

1) Still alive over here. I had a KICKIN' Birthday party for myself. I'll post photos later.

2) Baby is so sweet. I am enjoying every moment with her, but let my camera battery die, and missed her fourth month almost entirely, photographically speaking, that it. I soaked it up in real life. Camera is back working, so I'll get some baby pictures up before she turns 5 months old (ONLY 10 DAYS AWAY). How could it possibly be that she's almost 5 months old? But I have loved every day!

3) School planning is coming right along. Panic has abated somewhat, and what doesn't go away, a glass of wine knocks right out. Isn't that the proper use of wine???

4) My husband has a new job, of sorts. One that keeps him in the same state. Now that is it over, I can say that he's been working out of state for the last year and a half. Much ruminating to follow about that, when I have the time. Warning: I am having Jane Austin type thoughts. Might be mushy.

5) I had to clean out baby's dresser, and empty out all the newborn and 0-3 month clothes. Sniff. Bawl. I am saving them in case a friend of mine from church has a girl baby this fall. The gowns, onsies and sleepers will work well, as I used them for the early spring. The first of many heart aching transitions with this baby, to be certain!

6) I am totally getting into cooking again. I am enjoying planning and making meals. I pretty much lost interest in all that while I was pregnant, and while baby was small, so I am happy to be "back" in that way.

7) It was just a year ago, right before my birthday, that I found out I was pregnant. What an awesome and memorable year this has been!

Check out Jen for more!