Educating for Eternity

Are You Missing the Wild Joy That Should Come with the Holidays?

2011-11-16T13:31:00.001-07:00

Then let me recommend this book:

Hundred Dollar Holiday; The Case for a More Joyful Christmas by Bill McKibben. It is so good that I check it out from the library every year and read it. Here are a few quotes:

"There is no ideal Christmas; only the Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions. If it takes you two hundred dollars to celebrate Christmas the way it seems to you it should be celebrated, then that's fine. If you can do it on fifty dollars, that's fine, too (unless you're just being cheap). The limit is not supposed to hem you in. Just the opposite-the hope is that it will serve as a spur to your creativity. Having lots of cash (or more likely, lots of credit) may free you in certain ways, but it doesn't spark your ingenuity as much as a challenge. The goal, however, is not to spend as little money as possible, or do as little environmental damage as possible, or any other worthy thing; it's to have as much fun as possible."

"If there is one way in which the world has changed more than any other since 1840...it's that we've become such devout consumers. That consumption carries with it certain blessings and certain costs...but the greatest cost may be the way it's changed us, the way it has managed to confuse us about what we really want from the world. We weren't built just for this life we find ourselves leading-we were built for silence and solitude, built for connection with each other and the natural world, built for so much more than we now settle for. Christmas is the moment to sense that, the moment to reach for the real joys."

This book isn't about squelching all the joy and magic from Christmas, it's about finding MORE joy from the season. It won't stress you out, giving you yet another list of things to do in order to have a simpler Christmas. Instead it plants a seed in your mind, a vision of the way Christmas can be more fun, more peaceful, more Christian, and more filled with deep joy. I've been working toward a simpler Christmas for many years now, each year reminding myself to calm down, and this book has helped me feel less stress, less anxiety, and more hope for what Christmas can mean to me and my family. I can't recommend it highly enough. Here's hoping you have a wonderful, peace and fun-filled Christmas season.

Valentine's Trivia

2011-02-10T19:00:00.002-07:00

Name who the Valentine note is from, and whom it is for. I wrote this for my son's 5th grade Valentine's party. Have fun!

Dear Valentine,

I love how we complement each other. I am way too nutty without your sweetness. Although we are wonderful alone, together we are so much better. I cherish all the memories we made in the lunchboxes of kids all over America. What can I say, you are the love of my life. Together we make a great sandwich.

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine,

Although we are complete opposites I adore you. You are the light of my life. Without you, I am in complete darkness. Your warmth, your light, make everything in the world come alive. How cold my life would be if it weren’t for you. I wish we could see each other more often, but it seems that whenever you are going to sleep, I am just coming alive. I suppose I will just have to admire you from afar.

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine,

Our life used to be so perfect. We could sit around all day and eat wonderful fruit and never have to work for it. We were perfect. I’m sorry I ate the apple. What can I say? That awful snake told me to do it! Though we are not in paradise anymore, I still love you. We’ll have to work hard but we’ll be okay...

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine,

Well, it’s been a long journey. We’ve crossed many rivers and travelled many roads together. When the President asked me to go, I couldn’t think of any one else better suited to help me out. We mapped the great plains, and rivers, and learned about America’s native people. We’ve had a lot of books written about us. Who would have known we’d become so famous? Well old buddy, thanks for your help on the trail. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Sincerely,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine,

Even though our chases and battles always got really violent, it was all done in good fun! Remember when you sliced me in half with a carving knife? I never thought I’d get over that! Or how about the time you slammed my tail in a waffle iron?! Ha ha!, that was a good one. Though I used lots of elaborate traps to catch you, I admit I was no match for your brains and wit. You were always a worthy opponent, and we gave the kids a good laugh on Saturday morning.

Love

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine

As soon as I laid my eyes on your blonde beauty back in 1961, it was love at first sight. I still love to watch you model all the latest fashions! I’ve been there for you through your many careers as a mother, model, astronaut, doctor, dancer, and surfer just to name a few. I always try to match your outfits with my own and I hope you think I’m stylin’. Honey, you’ve always been the only doll for me.

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine

I can’t believe our dad abandoned us in the middle of that forest. It was good thinking of you to leave those bread crumbs so we could find our way back. Darn those birds! If we ever get out of this candy house, I think we should make dad divorce his new wife. Don’t worry, we’ll get out of here alive. I’ve got big plans for the witch and her oven.

Love

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine

Oh the memories we’ve made at all those barbeques! There’s hardly been one that we’ve missed! Even though some people say you’re too sour, I think you’re just right. To me, no hot dog or hamburger would be complete without you!

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine,

Who would have known we’d come to such an accident on our famous climb up that hill! All I wanted was a drink of water! I lost my footing and fell down that blasted hill, and bashed my head hard! Before I knew what was happening, you fell right after me! I guess we’ll have to try going up that hill again if we ever want any more water, and let’s try to be more careful this time, okay?

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine

You were just the man for a smart, power hungry babe like me. Ours was such a match! We united the two greatest empires in the world. Too bad you had to get yourself murdered, and by your own best friend too. Boy, you really need help picking your friends! Don’t worry about me, though, I’ll be fine. I’ve got my eye on your old friend Mark. I rule!

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine

It’s true, ours has been a stormy relationship. But I always follow you. Even though you are dangerous and destructive I’m attracted by your light and can’t help but let out a loud rumble when I see you. My roaring existence wouldn’t be possible without your bright, blinding flash of brilliance.

Love,

Your Valentine

Dear Valentine

I’m just no good without you. I’m bland and boring and no one wants me. But your yellow goodness brings out the best in me. I’ve seen you with lots of hot vegetables, but I hope you’ll stay true to no one else but me. You were made for me!

Love,

Your Valentine

In Which I Blather On About Greek Yogurt, Kids, and My Complete Health Overhaul

2010-11-17T11:30:00.005-07:00

Has anyone tried Greek yogurt? I am absolutely loving it. Greek yogurt has double the protein, less fat and calories, and is creamier than regular yogurt. I take mine plain all the way. Sometimes, I add some berries. Or a handful of walnuts and a drizzle of honey. Or if I really need a shot of sweet I'll add a spoonful of jam. Unfortunately, my favorite brand (Fage) can only be had at health food stores and is twice the price. Yay. I usually make the trek to Whole Foods and fork over my 10+ lousy bucks for my weekly supply though, because the taste and texture is superior. So there you go. You are now one of the People Who Know. About yogurt, anyway.

Anyone else notice how much better their kids are compared to yourself at their age?

I have. Mine surprise me with how much smarter, more responsible, good, and organized they are than when I was when I was just a lass. I was constantly unprepared, losing papers, dumb at math, lazy, and just kind of bouncing around with a confused wide-eyed look on my face. I guess some things never change! I feel so blessed to have kids who are so much better. They make me proud, every day.

And my knitting is calling, so I'll save My Complete Health Overhaul for another post. And now, it doesn't sound so interesting anyway, so maybe I'll just forget it. See, this is why I never post anymore.

Separate

2010-05-26T20:14:00.010-06:00

Christ Separates the Sheep from the Goats, 6th Century

They'll notice. The people around you who don't share your beliefs will notice how you live yours. They'll notice when you do or say something different from what you claim to embrace. And they'll be disappointed.

I've witnessed this phenomenon first hand. I was with two women who didn't share my religion. They were talking about a man that one of them worked with, but they both knew. In spite of professing to be a member of my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), he went out after work and drank with his co-workers. The women I was with were irritated about the situation. They discussed it angrily for about ten minutes. They were disappointed. And they aren't members of the church! Without knowing it, this person damaged the opinion that these two women (and maybe others) had about the members of the church.

I was reading in Alma chapter 5 a few nights ago and the word SEPARATE seemed important in verse 57:

"And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye SEPARATE, and touch not their unclean things..."

I looked at the footnotes and read the additional scriptures:

"And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had SEPARATED themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel..." (Ezra 6:21)

"Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not SEPARATED themselves from the people of the lands..." (Ezra 9:1)

"And the seed of Israel SEPARATED themselves from all strangers and stood and confessed their sins..."(Nehemiah 9:2)

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye WITHDRAW yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly..."(2 Thessalonians 3:6)

In the dictionary the word "separate" means: to make a distinction between; dissimilar in nature or identity; and my favorite: to set aside for a special purpose.

We can read clearly that it's a requirement to be different. Otherwise how will God know that we belong to Him? Have we separated ourselves from what the world says is important? These are some of the things I notice that the world places huge importance on:

Money

Beauty

A Good Time!

Thinness

YOURSELF!

Sex

And then this is what God by way of the scriptures, says is crucial:

Love and Charity

HUMILITY

Obedience

Patience

OTHERS!

Virtue

Have we separated ourselves from the obsession to be rich/gorgeous/thin/selfish/sexy/fun? And are we united, and joined, and married to the commitment to love and give/be virtuous/do the commandments/live for others/be long suffering/and full of humility?

Um...I know where I stand. And it's a bit uncomfortable to reflect on. I need to get my other foot out of the puddle of the world.

It's vital to live up to what we say we believe, because if we don't, they'll notice.

I Recommend:

2010-03-25T15:28:00.002-06:00

1. L'oreal's Infallible Lipstick. I put this lipstick on at 7am and it's still on the next morning, and it's not all dry and cracky looking. This product gets an A+ from me.

2. Having a day off. Every few months or so, I ask the hubs for a day off. We coordinate schedules, pick a good day, and then I'm gone! I had one in August and I browsed the Daybreak model homes for decorating ideas, wandered through yarn stores, book stores, and had dinner with my sisters. Recently for the latest day off, I attended a homeschool/parenting seminar and then caught a movie and dinner with my sisters and mother-in-law. I can't tell you how nice it is to do just what I want, with no hurrying. Try it today.

3. I got this book for James for Christmas, and have been impressed. I was looking to up the excitement factor for our daily scripture study. While the lessons in this book for the most part, are a little more involved than I want to do on an every day basis, it has been a fantastic tool for doing quick, easy family home evenings that are based on scripture. Excellent! I bought the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon ones. Find them at LDS bookstores.

4. Read this recently for book club and wondered why it took me so long to get around to this amazing book. In the back of the edition that I read, it said that Harriet Beecher Stowe didn't really want to write this book, but she felt that God was calling her to do it. After reading the book, that statement certainly rings true to me.

5. Are there young women in your life who need lessons on sticking to their principles, even in the heat of passion? This is would make an excellent resource. Good luck getting them to read it, but you should read it and apply the story to the young people you influence, somehow. I'm just convinced that this book can help young people make good choices!

6. Is the snow losing it's charm? Maybe you could collect the spray bottles in your house, fill them with colored water, and let the kids "paint" the snow. The snow doesn't stick too long at this time of year, but maybe you could remember this little tip for next winter...
7. Need to fix your kids? Go here and start clicking around. These people wrote a book called Let's Fix the Kids! They also have CD seminars. You can get both at the library. Want to stop yelling? Give it a try. http://www.familyhood.com/index.html

No, Seriously! I'm Actually Posting! I Know!

2010-03-11T20:03:00.009-07:00

I Love My Life!

I have the best life out of all of you hands down, guaranteed! Every morning I wake up and think to myself "What fun surprises are going to happen to me today?" "I am the luckiest mother in the world!" "My children are such a delight!"

Perhaps it will be gum in Mary's hair? We don't allow her to have gum, yet somehow a piece found her mouth, got chewed up, and of course, wound up in her hair.

Maybe Kate will find my camera?

If it's a really special day, Kate might wander into the office unattended, climb up onto the desk, locate a Sharpie, and scribble all over the computer monitor and office furniture. Her dad then, if we're lucky, may contemplate leaving home. Don't have pix of that one, was too busy coaxing husband to stay married to us.

Only my precious children would think of throwing three books into the bathtub to disintegrate into very very small particles of pulp. I had to get creative cleaning that one up, but like I said, I am soooo blessed!

The always popular crayon/pencil/pen/marker on the wall! It just makes my day!!! I never know when I'm going to turn the corner and find that unexpected joy!

Makeup is a perennial favorite! Many a time I've come upstairs to my bathroom and found Mary into bottles, jars, tubes, and compacts.
Bath salts scattered on the floor? Why yes!
Lipstick dug out of the tube? Of course!
Mascara smeared on eyebrows? Check!

And then there's the stunt that is the best of all: Poop in the crib. Everywhere. So that you have to take two days out of your very busy life and clean and disinfect it all. This gift was brought to me by Kate. Thank you Kate. Oh, it just makes a mother's heart absolutely sing!

Now tell me: Am I not blessed and lucky?

Women's Liberation

2010-01-04T12:27:00.003-07:00

I guess I've always been a swirling mix of feminist and traditional woman. As a child I liked to imagine myself as a princess, and I daydreamed of wearing dresses all the time. One year in elementary school, I did wear a dress every day. I was trying to become Anne of Green Gables. I also played football with Jeremy Reynolds, Stuart Hart, Shaun Bergin and any other boy that showed up in Jeremy's back yard. I was faster than them all, too.
I believed wholeheartedly in time travel, and knew that if I just found the portal, I could go back in time to when women were ladies, drank their tea, and oversaw the home. I also wanted to be a lawyer like the women on "LA Law".
As I grew older, I knew that what I really wanted to do was be a wife and mother. If I happened onto a job that I liked in addition to that, well, fine, but I mainly wanted what I have now.
I've always liked to joke that I was born in the wrong century. It's true that I dislike the vulgarity, ugly clothes, ugly buildings and general nastiness of our day. But there are so many wonderful things about being a woman right now.
I've read so many books and seen so many period movies that underline the fact that women simply weren't free to live as they pleased. If a single woman became impoverished, but still wished to remain a lady, her options were to marry well, or to become a governess. Maybe a couple of other options, but really that's about it. And what if she did marry well, and she discovered her husband was a monster? Well, she was simply trapped, as far as I've read. Denying anyone freedom to conduct their lives is simply wrong. It doesn't matter if we agree with the way they live or not.
I feel that mothers are best at home. Anyone who reads this blog can see that plainly. But, I'm glad that there is freedom there for women who feel they must be out in the world for whatever reason. I'm relieved for them that they do not suffer social ostracism for it. I'm glad I live in the time that I do. I still think I'd go back in time, if I could...but I'm learning to appreciate the liberation of modern times.

Haunted

2009-07-11T17:09:00.002-06:00

My sixteen year old self went to the cabin one year. The world was wide open, and the answer to every question she ever asked was "Yes!" She was fearless, bold, and believed in her beauty. She knew that undiscovered miracles lay around every corner. She went on a walk after it rained with the son of her parent's friends. He was good looking enough, played basketball, and liked her. Romance reigned supreme at sixteen, though, and she knew that a kiss was waiting just around the next tree. Hands were held as the mist wandered through the mountains, but no kiss was ever given. I bump into the ghost of my sixteen year old self every year at the cabin. She's still looking for that kiss.

I'm also haunted by the fact that I know I need to be treasuring every moment I have with my young children. You know that article by Erma Bombeck about how the footed pajama feet had been replaced with high fashioned boots at Christmastime and she longs for those precious times? (If you don't just Google it). I cry EVERY SINGLE TIME I think about that article, and about how I will miss my small ones. It's like I'm haunted by my future empty-nester self. She'll tell me that I didn't enjoy them enough. That I should have read more stories, played more games. She's chiding me to stop and smell the roses. There's an army of these older women out there, marching like the soldiers they are to the beat of "They grow UP so fast, they grow UP so fast, they grow UP so fast...
Yet. At the end of every day I have an unbelievable headache and an urge to seek out alcoholic beverages. A day can be a thousand years long to a mother of young ones. How to reconcile the desire to fully enjoy the littles, when at times it's insanely difficult...?

My trip to the cabin seems to come at just the right time every year, when I'm in the middle of my summer funk. You've heard of winter time depression? Well, I always seem to go into a summer time tizzy of sorts. Wondering what it's all about, trying to muster the energy to do what I'm supposed to do, and basically just putting one foot in front of the other. Once I come back from the cabin, fall is just around the corner and everything is fine again. Strange.

The picture above is of the Bitterroot Mountains in northern Idaho. Aren't they beautiful? I can't wait to get back there, pick huckleberries, read about how to be a better mother, become amazed at how beautiful and loving my kids are, and, oh yes, bump into that sixteen year old girl that haunts the place. We leave in a week!

Roses and Rutabagas

2009-05-15T12:06:00.009-06:00

When in the garden while you're tending to a vegetable plant- watering it, inspecting its leaves for pests, making sure it's getting enough sun, and anticipating the day when you can bite into those vitamins-have you ever been irritated that the plant you are so carefully nurturing doesn't give more beauty to the world? Have you ever insisted that it become a rose and so missed the nourishment of the vegetable?

If it were your job to take care of a rose bush-to trim it, fertilize it, and make it productive-would you become impatient with its bold red blossoms and wish that they were serviceable, usable vegetables instead? Would you decide that the rose bush is useless, silly, and should become more practical? Would you try to force your flower into being a vegetable, and miss its beauty?

When starting the garden of your family, it's just the two of you together, with a plot of land, a couple of second hand garden tools, and a garden manual. You dream of a garden full of roses-wild and bright-eventually blooming large and decorating the world with their colors and fragrance. And then, your plants come up and instead of roses, you get rutabagas. Or, you get a daisy. Or up comes a rose, a rutabaga, and a mango! You didn't even know mangos grew in your area! No one in your family has ever even had a mango! How do you even take care of a mango? Do rutabagas even have a purpose? "This rutabaga got planted in the wrong garden!" You wonder why in the world you got a field full of crazy weird veggies, when all you ever wanted was a rose garden.

This all sounds pretty dumb, right?

I mean, every one knows that daisies aren't better than carrots. And carrots aren't better than daisies. But they're different. Daisies have a great purpose, and so do carrots. Trying to make my kids follow paths that aren't theirs is like trying to turn a rose into a rutabaga. Everyone is born with different purposes and talents. Getting annoyed by one of my kids for not being more into books is sort of like wishing an orchid into an orange. It's not gonna happen. And I shouldn't really be wishing it.

Was it Franz Joseph Haydn who was a terrible student? But his music! And John Nash (of Beautiful Mind fame) had a younger sister who had this to say about him:
"Johnny was always different. [My parents] knew he was different. And they knew he was bright. He always wanted to do things his way. Mother insisted I do things for him, that I include him in my friendships... but I wasn't too keen on showing off my somewhat odd brother." But he later received the Nobel Prize.

Having said all that, I still believe that there are some lessons and "fertilizers" that benefit all "plants". Love, discipline, kindness, honesty come to mind. Also, even a rose has to develop her intellect, even if it's obvious that her true talent is to give beauty to the world. You don't completely ignore mathematics, just because your child is gifted in language arts. Every good mother knows that even the best athletes should further their education as much as they can, even if they already make millions playing basketball.

I'm slowly learning to give up the control I felt entitled to when it comes to my kids. They've each come into the world with fantastic things to offer and weird/wonderful things that they're obsessed about. Even the rutabagas. It's my job to let them figure out what that is, make sure they don't ignore all the other disciplines, and then step aside. After all, I think that we can trust our kids to know what they love to do...and what they love to do is usually what they're great at!

Note: Comparing kids to different kinds of plants isn't my own idea. A long time ago a friend of mine told me about a paragraph she read in a book that compared kids to plants-some are flowers, and some are veggies. Unfortunately I never knew the name of the book or the author...but I've been thinking about the idea ever since. Sorry I don't have more info!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

2009-05-14T11:33:00.002-06:00

Jen, it's you! No, you didn't win a chicken dinner, but you can have your choice of two little gift boxes:

Choice #1: Home made lasagna, put together and ready to throw into your oven (or freezer, if you want to enjoy it at a later date), a jar of home made chicken noodle soup, home made wheat bread, and home made strawberry jam.

Or Choice #2: Two knitted dishcloths, a bottle of Mrs. Meyer's Cleaning Day Rhubarb all purpose cleanser concentrate, and an apron (probably not a home made apron, but cute none the less.)

Email me and we'll figure out a good time for me to drop whichever box of love you decide on! littlekristy2@juno.com or you can call me if you want...

I wish everyone could have won! I'm glad you guys were interested. I'm gonna do another one of these next month, 'cause it was so fun!

Kristy

Clarification on the Giveaway

2009-05-08T11:54:00.004-06:00

I realize I was a little vague on the giveaway. It will be a random drawing of everyone who leaves a comment on the "Three Posts for the Price of One" post. The contest will close on Wednesday (May 13th) night at 10 pm Mountain Standard Time. The winner will be announced Thursday morning. Wow. That sounds really official. Good luck!

Three Posts for the Price of One...

2009-05-07T18:25:00.008-06:00

A (hopefully) helpful post, a giveaway post, and a recipe post. It's your lucky day.

Post Numero Uno:
Wondering what in the world to do with your kids this summer? So am I. I've found myself wondering how in the world I ever homeschooled. When faced with thoughts that they will be home all day, every day in the summer, my palms started to sweat. And then I remembered; "Oh, that's right, I love my kids." Also, I'm planning to borrow heavily on my homeschooling experience to keep things lively. Also also, I'm planning more of my weekly group fun activities for moms and kids. Last year, these activities were sparsely attended, but a couple of my friends assure me that "for sure, really, we will come this summer." So I'm going to do them again this summer. More on that in an upcoming post.
I thought I'd share with you a couple of my plans for summer with my kids. Nothing too ambitious, just enough to keep things from getting stale. After all, even cherry popsicles and Slip n' Slides lose their flavor after so many.
So I've noticed that the entire subject of history is practically missing at school for my kids. I'm sure I've mentioned this before but The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer is priceless. There is a link to this book on the right of my blog. Visit it!!! I really cannot recommend it highly enough. For all you non-homeschoolers: Seriously. Buy this book and the activity book that goes with it. Each week, on Monday, say, take 5-10 minutes and read a section from the main book out loud to your kids. Before you say "My kids won't sit still and listen to me read some history book", they will. Trust me!! They will. After you read the section, copy off the map page in the activity book and have your kids do the mapwork (it tells you exactly how to do this in the activity book). They will also love the mapwork. Oh yes. They will. On Wednesday, pick a couple of the suggested children's literature titles from your local library and read them out loud to your kids. On Friday, or whenever you want to, pick one of the activities from the book and do it. It will probably take an hour. Sometimes it's an art type thing, other times it's like an experiment, always, it's fun-and goes along with whatever the history subject is. Feel free to pick and choose the chapters you and your kids want to learn about. Play it fast and loose and apply no pressure. If your kids are like thousands across the U.S. they will be begging to do this stuff after the first one. And? They will have learned some history and geography along the way.

Keep their math skill fresh by playing any one of a number of math games on the market.

Pick a science subject and read about it and do experiments about it once every couple of weeks or so. This summer, we're doing plants. We're using the Usborne book on plants. It has experiments already in the book. These are easy, mom friendly experiments that are still cool enough to capture the imagination of your kids.

Keep your kids reading by letting them pick out books from the library. Ask them to tell you what the story is about.

My kids love to sell lemonade or Kool-aid. Suggest this activity to your kids and see what happens. Make sure you have a card table, a non-breakable pitcher, Kool-aid, and some plastic cups on hand before you say that!

Take some field trips! Oh wait. Don't. Come with us on some field trips!

Post number two:
I'm having a giveaway. If you've never won anything, don't worry, you will. I get so few commentors that you're bound to win! Just leave a comment and consider yourself entered. Whoever wins gets a home made parcel of domestic bliss! You will adore it, I promise.

Post three: A recipe that'll do double duty

I know it's not soup season. But I'm cooking this tonight and couldn't resist sharing the recipe, for it is oh-so-good. Make it the first night as soup. Serve it with whole wheat bread and salad and YUM! The second night...take your leftover bit of soup, then grab some frozen cheese ravioli from your grocer's freezer, unite them and let them make sweet love in your oven for 20-30 minutes or so at 350...add a little mozzarella or parmesan, and oh, honey!

Creamy Tomato Bisque from Martha Stewart...tweaked a little by me

2 Tbsp. Butter -----melt in soup pot.
1 medium onion sliced or chopped
3 cloves of garlic minced or pressed with your garlic press----add these last two ingredients to the butter and cook until transparent.
3 28 oz. cans whole tomatoes
5 1/4 c. chicken broth
Oregano, basil, rosemary to taste.
Sugar to taste (about a teaspoon, maybe?).----Add these last ingredients, squish up the tomatoes with a potato masher or something, and simmer for 45 min to an hour.
Now blend the whole mess in your blender, filling the blender no more than half full (ask me how I know this). You'll have to work in batches. You may think you're done now because it looks so good! But now, add about a cup of heavy cream just to push the whole thing up over the top. Love!

Unmeasurable, Uncompensated

2009-03-27T18:11:00.002-06:00

On Wednesday, James and I were being driven to our refinancing by the mortgage guy. We were making conversation, and he mentioned that his wife would probably be getting a big promotion. "That's cool." We said. Then he mentioned the amount of money she'd be getting. My eyes almost popped out of my head. Think big. I figured that she must be getting paid a lot already, to be in the running for such a promotion. Of course, this started me thinking. What would it be like if I brought in that kind of money? Imagine the feeling of pride she must have contributing to the family like that! And their retirement! Their kid's college and weddings, missions...all that stuff...her hard work would make possible. I was impressed. I still am.

I started feeling inadequate. I know. Only a woman would do this...but I started feeling like I was such a drain on the family finances! I mean, I bring in nothing! James makes it, I spend it. Little that we do, as mothers, can be measured. Even at the end of our career when we (hopefully) have good people to show for all our efforts, I imagine we won't even be sure if anything we did even made a difference, or if the kid would have turned out fine under any circumstance. We just can never know. And then the fact that nothing I do can bring in money, or even be measured, started to get under my skin. 'Cause I work hard!

Then I remembered something that James's grandpa Nelson told me once, when I was over at my mother in law's house years ago, folding laundry and complaining with my sister-in-law that it felt like I wasn't accomplishing anything in my life. Grandpa Nelson told us not to worry about it. "You two moms accomplish more just sitting in a chair doing nothing than I'll accomplish in a whole lifetime...because you're moms!"

What he said has come back to my memory many times, and I'm glad it did this time. How do you pay for your child's favorite home cooked meal on a hard day? How can you measure the security and comfort it gives your kids when you cuddle them for a story, or listen with sympathy, or do that one funny thing that can always get them to laugh, that no one else can do? How can you count the value of a fantastic relationship with your grown children? You can't. When Kate catches sight of me out of the corner of her eye and comes crawling as fast as she can toward me with her tongue hanging out, breathing heavy...I know I'm the most important person in the world. I'll just have to wait a little longer for my salary.

My Entrancing Twenty Five...or Six

2009-03-25T18:39:00.008-06:00

You know on blogs...how sometimes the blogger will have a "My 100" list? Well, I'm so uninteresting (or so unself-aware) that I could only come up with 25. Here they are.

1. When I hear music I choreograph dances to it in my head.
2. Child stars irritate me.
3. I'm a procrastinator.
4. I'm not a good story teller, however;
5. I'm good at reading out loud.
6. Out of my siblings, "One of these kids is not like the others." And it's me.
7. I'm kind of a restaurant snob.
8. I've never had a cavity.
9. I really really really love hot water.
10. I love breastfeeding...and the boobs that go with it! :0
11. I almost got kidnapped once.
12. The sound of the wind makes me feel hopeless.
13. I'm not funny.
14. I hate confrontation and (almost) always avoid it, except with my husband!
15. I daydream about performing in front of thousands.
16. I'm very old-fashioned, however;
17. I have a definite Rock N Roll side and I think Mick Jagger is totally sexy. (Does that count as two?)
18. I ignore expiration dates on food with reckless abandon.
19. I'm completely offended by commercials for tampons, personal lubricant, douches, and pills for E.D.
20. I've been thrown in jail!
21. I was a terrible student in jr. high and high school, however;
22. I pulled it together and was on the Dean's or President's list every semester in college.
23. Rainy weather makes me happy.
24. I love the smell of baby spit up.
25. I'm good at trivia and dumb at every thing else.

Aren't you just SO glad you read all that?

Are You Angry?

2009-03-11T19:02:00.004-06:00

Have you ever been angry at your body? The last three months or so, I've been angry at mine. I was angry at it every time the button on my jeans was tight. I was angry whenever the scale stayed defiantly at the same place. I was angry when I looked at myself in a photo. I was angry at my body when I flipped through Shape magazine. I was angry when I thought about swimsuit season. And then I started thinking; "Maybe my body feels sad that I'm mad at it. Maybe I should appreciate it more. " So I did. I started thinking about all of the things that it does for me. It breathes. It patches up cuts when I'm careless with sharp objects. It makes music. It lets me take care of four babies. It fights various microscopic enemies that I know nothing about. It lets me know when something is wrong.

It helps create life.

So I've decided to look at and treat my body with kindness. When I hang out with my friends, I don't focus on all the things that they lack...I appreciate all the wonderful things that they are! My body is my friend. It does so much for me. I'll appreciate more of the good things about it. When a friend is hurting, I try to give her the support that she needs, not sabotage her with thoughts or words that hurt her worse! In the same way, I'll give my body the things (good nutritious food, exercise) that it needs to serve me better. Do I wish I looked like a Shape model? Sure. But I've decided to focus more on good health so that I can be a strength to my family, and instead, admire and savor the miracle that is my body. Maybe if you've been feeling angry at your body, you could try it too.

The Protectors

2009-02-09T22:02:00.002-07:00

There is a story in our family that my dad tells of when he was almost drafted into the Vietnam war. My mom was very pregnant with my brother. The draft letter told him to report for a final physical at the bus (or train?) station before leaving for training. He and my mom made it to the station, prepared to say goodbye. He left my mom for a minute and went into a makeshift exam room. The doctor looked him over, and noticed a scar on my dad's shoulder. He asked my dad about it, and my dad said it was from a dislocated shoulder, the result of an old football injury. The doc was quiet for a while, and then he said, "I could probably go ahead and clear you for active duty. You've told me that it doesn't hurt too much. But son, you've flunked your physical. Now get the hell out of here, and don't come back." My dad took my mom's hand and they ran.

I write a lot about motherhood on this blog. Because I am a mother, and mothers are mostly the ones who visit. It's not Father's Day, but I'd like to dedicate this post to fathers anyway. To my own father, whose eyes lit up when one of us came into the room, who told me how gorgeous I was, who laid out Valentine's gifts on our bed (girly things, like pretty white gloves, and bubble bath), who protected me from my own brattiness as a teenager, who came between me and an angry neighbor, when I wrote my name all over her wet cement, who sadly cleaned up the beer cans that were scattered on our lawn by an angry ex-boyfriend, and never told me about it, and who guessed all of our secrets, and kept them. He's the dad by which all other dads should be measured. I hope you all feel the same about yours. Take a minute, now, if you are reading, and appreciate all of the sacrifice of your own father.

To the dad of my kids, my own dear James, I thank him for being my protector. I thank him for standing watchfully in the shadows, trying his best to delay a stressful church calling that was looming, because he knew I wasn't physically strong enough yet. I thank him for being the only friend I could turn to, when my feelings were hurt, and for knowing my secrets, and keeping them. I thank him for stepping between me and an angry, crazy landlady, and absorbing the anger himself. I thank him for protecting me from my own children, when they threaten to drink the last of the water that is in my emotional and literal cup, for hearing the buzzer that goes off in my head when I've had enough for the night, and taking over. Accepting protection doesn't mean that you couldn't protect yourself, if you had to, it just means you don't have to. Take a minute, now, if you are reading, and appreciate the protection of the fathers of your children.

I thank the protector of my soul. The One who came between me and justice. Take a minute now, if you are reading this, and appreciate the love of your God, and your Lord.

For our protectors, whether we think we need them or not, let us be grateful, and rejoice that they were created to do what they do.

Thanks

2009-01-25T13:33:00.004-07:00

Thank you so much everybody for your responses, opinions, and advice. Summer, thank you for your thoughts about homeschooling and your support and tips for things to try. Thank you Kassie for your encouragement! Jen, your friendship has been a treasure. Thank you for reminding me to listen to my own inspiration. Julie! I had no idea you were here! Thank you so much for commenting and for reminding me that I can influence my children for good, regardless of what I decide. My goodness, I miss you too. Mandy. Thank you for being an inspiration of faith and endurance. And for expressing your belief in my ability to do what's best. Thank you also for putting me in touch with your friend, Jenn. What a source of wisdom she turned out to be. Emily. I love you. Asking me what the Lord said is not trite or condescending, it was wisdom, and love, and I felt that love! Thank you also, so much, for reminding me that there is no such thing as perfection in education (or anywhere else). I really really needed that. Kristiana, thank you so much for understanding the "I can't take this anymore- feeling." Thank you for sharing your struggles with me too, and reminding me that motherhood is just hard, no matter what. Your life and blog have been and continue to be an inspiration to me. Wendy, thanks for being able to compare the homeschool lifestyle with the public school one and telling me what you've found to be the pro's and con's for you and your kids. Your kids are great! Lindsay. I love you and love that I can always count on you to "get down to brass tacks" and tell me how it really is. I appreciate your honesty, and am grateful for it. I'm grateful for your offers of help. Thanks also for your example of keeping a wonderful, orderly home.
We've decided to put the kids in public school. Friday afternoon, I went into the office (James works from home a lot of the time) and asked James for his final opinion. I already knew in my heart what my decision was, though I didn't want to do it. He told me he had been feeling like they needed to go to school. I went immediately to the local elementary school to register them, but no one was at the office. I decided to wander around and get a feel for things. I ran into the two third grade teachers and started talking to them. I knew right away by the feeling of peace that I felt that my kids' education, and my values would be safe there. I left with a feeling of calm and peace and weightlessness that I haven't felt for a long time. My fellow homeschoolers: know that I tried everything that you said! We took breaks, we changed up the routine, we tried to do more of the fun stuff, just stick to the basics...nothing brought us peace or joy as a family. We've been floating along unhappily for far too long. I already feel a million times lighter. It was such a burden to feel undecided and unresolved. We told the kids, and I could see immediately a change, a relief is the best way to describe it. We picked out backpacks...they're thrilled. We know that this is the right decision for our family. We knew when we started to homeschool, that at the time that was also the right decision. I do think there is a reason that we felt the need to homeschool. It may have something to do with the boundary school where we used to live? We just moved in October, so the kids will be attending a different school from the old boundary public school in our old neighborhood. The reason may not be apparent, but I know there was one. Thanks again everyone for your advice and love!
Kristy

Help

2009-01-22T14:11:00.003-07:00

The Marathon Dorando Pietri Finishes First But is Disqualified Because He was Helped at the Finish.

Well here we go. The post we've all been waiting for. I'm in need of advice and help. I'm standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to throw in the homeschooling towel. I have so many conflicting thoughts and emotions swirling around in my brain, it's hard to know how to organize them and let you know what it is that I'm really thinking. This year (from last January until now) has been the most difficult for homeschooling, without question. Why has it been so difficult? Hmmm. I don't know, I just know that life isn't working as well as it used to. We are doing the bare minimum in school and we're not even enjoying that. I have to argue with Keller to get schoolwork done every day. The fighting drives me crazy. Housework is not getting done. At all. I don't even have time to eat as evidenced by the fact that I've started a new diet (not really a diet) and you're supposed to eat three meals and two snacks a day. I can barely manage to eat lunch. I'm running from the moment I wake until the moment I sleep and accomplishing nothing. What I want to know is this:
If I quit homeschooling, and put Keller and Ella in public school, will my life get better? Or will it still be as chaotic and out of control? I appeal to EVERYONE who is reading this blog, whether you've commented before or not, whether I know you or not. Whether you homeschool or not. Will I suddenly have large amounts of time in which to iron for crying out loud, or to exercise, or hang pictures on my dang walls, for the love of all that is Holy? Will my children be happier? They need more playtime with friends and as a homeschooling mom, that's one more thing that it's on you to provide, because it's not automatically provided by sending them off to school, and I haven't been providing it in the amount that they need BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO EAT, LET ALONE HAUL FOUR KIDS TO A HOMESCHOOL EVENT. But. And I cannot overstate this. I don't want to quit, just to find that it is no better on the other side!!! Please! If you are reading this, weigh in with your words!!!
I've just come to a place where I'm not sure it's in me to keep going, as much as I would love to. For those of you who know my kids: Does it seem that homeschooling is serving my kids? I'm not looking for compliments, I'm looking for the truth. Do they seem better off for having been homeschooled, worse off, or neither? I started off on the homeschooling path so committed to the idea of a traditional, classical education for my kids. The kind that doesn't exist anymore unless you homeschool. I'd be kissing that goodbye for my kids. That makes me sadder than you can imagine. But sanity is sanity. And a happy home is worth more than a classical education.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not yelling my lungs out every day or anything...it's just that there is an absence of joy that used to be there for all of us. We used to love learning together, and now I've come to resent having to to it at all. Why?
Will life be as crazy or even crazier if I send them to school? What with homework after school and all...will I ever even SEE my kids anymore? I don't want to send them to public school and then just have us all live out our separate lives, disconnected and uninterested in each other. I'm so divided, and I just can't live like this any longer. I either need a miracle in our homeschool lives, or I need to feel fantastic about sending them to public school. Please, PLEASE comment and give me some help.

Cookie Time

2009-01-14T10:51:00.003-07:00

Anyone interested in some Girl Scout Cookies? Ella is selling them for her Daisy Girl Scout troop. They are $3.50 a box. They have a yummy new flavor this year Dulce de Leche, as well as the old favorites (Thin Mints, Samoas, Do-Si-Do's). If you're in, send me an email at littlekristy2@juno.com with your name, address, phone number, what kind of cookies, and how many of each kind. They will be delivered around the first week in March, which is when we would pick up the money also. Here is a description of all the types of cookies (sorry this is such a boring post, I promise I'll do an interesting one soon):

Lemon Chalet Cremes: The height of lemon flavor. Uniquely designed to feature Our Chalet, this delicious vanilla sandwich has a hint of cinnamon-ginger spice and a refreshing zesty lemon creme filling.

Trefoils: Light and delicious! Delicate-tasting shortbread that is simple and satisfying.

Do-Si-Dos: Peanutty Excitement! Crisp and crunchy oatmeal cookies with creamy peanut butter filling. No artificial color or flavor.

Samoas: Chewy and rich! Tender vanilla cookies, covered with caramel, rolled in toasted coconut, and striped with a rich, chocolaty coating.

Dulce de Leche: Inspired by the classic confections of Latin America, these sweet, indulgent cookies are rich with milk caramel chips and stripes.

Sugar Free Chocolate Chip: All of the taste, none of the sugar. A classic favorite with real chocolate chips-now sugar free.

Tagalongs: Wildly popular! Tasty cookies topped with creamy peanut butter and covered with a luscious chocolaty coating.

Thin Mints: Extra thin, extra minty! A thin wafer covered with a smooth chocolaty coating. Made with natural peppermint.

All cookies 0 Trans Fat. They make great gifts and freeze well...
Sorry for the shameless cookie promotion post...

Wow. Another Movie?

2008-12-03T20:53:00.004-07:00

Any fans of British period romance dramas out there? If you loved Pride and Prejudice produced by the BBC with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, you will want to marry North and South. It's almost blasphemy, but I liked this better than Pride and Prejudice! Girls. Listen to my words. Rent this movie now! And unlike the last movie I recommended, I'll be darned if your husband doesn't get drawn into the story as well.
This movie is based on a book by Elizabeth Gaskell. I've never read the book or any of Gaskell's other works, but I'm going to fix that and fast. Going beyond romance, this movie explores the class/social system in a northern England cotton mill town, and the good people who can be found on both sides of a difficult and delicate labor dispute. As well done as the labor/management conflict story is, it is still the most romantic movie I have ever seen. Perfect for curling up on the couch with your hot beverage of choice and getting lost in another time and place. If you haven't seen it, you are in for a treat. Please SOMEBODY! Rent and watch this movie so I can talk about it with someone!

Things We Can Control

2008-11-13T19:44:00.005-07:00

I suppose trouble has been a constant companion of the world since Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. As I've studied ancient and medieval history along with the kids, I've certainly learned that struggle, and strife, wars, diseases, and famines go along with every civilization that ever was. I look around me, and I see that it is certainly the case with our place in time. The state of the continent of Africa in the last 15 years alone could provide enough hardship, trouble, warfare, famine, sickness, and poverty to fill volumes. The state of our own country's economic entity has everyone worried. And thanks to the media, every thing that ever existed that would cause fear is broadcasted in detail, from the number of dust mites (or whatever they are) that feed on your eyelash junk, to the state of the nations water supply, to the deadly gene you are undoubtedly carrying and you don't even know it.

Aren't you glad there are some things we can control? Here are two that I'm grateful for:

Our own homes. Ikea proclaims: "Home is the most important place in the world." I couldn't agree more. Home is the place. You control the music. You control what kind of food is prepared and served. You control the temperature. You control the emotional climate. You say when the t.v. is on and what kind of programming is being watched. You are the decorator. You establish the level of cleanliness. You decide what comes in, and what goes out.

Our tempers and reactions to others. Determining our own answer to someone else's behavior is a blessing. And I'm glad that I have the choice. Anger that is out of control is at best unproductive, and at worst, damaging to ourselves and others. Choosing to become offended, also, is fruitless and can damage relationships. We should, if we can, choose to let people say what they need to say, and if they have some problem with us (or our kids!), well, it's their problem. That they can deal with. And we can peacefully move on with our lives. I'm pretty hard to offend. Really, you have to be trying to hurt my feelings. However, say something that is the opposite of complimentary about my kids, even if it was meant well, and you will risk bringing out the mother-monster. And I'm sure you're all familiar with her. It's something that I've actively had to work towards; letting things roll off my back that involve my children. But it's the same principle as ignoring those who have a problem with me. (It's just so much harder!) (For me.).

As the drama and toil of the world tumbles and heaves and threatens to make us feel debilitated against the tide of fear, we can take comfort in our own power. The power to create a haven and to rule and reign a home for ourselves and those we love, and the power to rise above the trivial (and even the not so trivial) irritations and clashes of human relationships. And I thank God for these gifts.

About the Artwork

William Bougeureau (1825 – 1905) created a lush fantasy realm filled with idealized mythological figures, angels, women and children. His masterful command of human form, delicate colors and enchanted light brought the souls and spirits of his subjects to life with captivating realism. A tireless worker, he created 800 life-size works whose unique style and subjects drew an enthusiastic following of students and imitators. A member of the French Academy, he singlehandedly opened it to women.

Open Heart Surgery

2008-11-08T20:57:00.003-07:00

I'm an introvert. I have moods when I'm extroverted, but my default social self is contemplative and quiet. It takes me a good while until I feel close enough to a neighbor to just pop over and hang out without planning all out first. It takes time for me to open up to other people. It's a slow pace, and a long spell until I feel like I fit in. So moving was hard. I've felt sad about leaving the wonderful people that it has taken me so long to get to know. In the course of goodbyes, our neighbor Melanie came over for a chat. She's great. She grew up on a ranch in Wyoming, loves to have my kids over for cookies and conversation, AND, she's married to a man from Egypt. I never knew that until we were saying goodbye! Ibrahim grew up on the Nile River! The Nile River was one of my kids favorite things that we've ever studied and we were living right next door to a man who grew up in the ebb and flow of that mighty river. He remembers it before they built the dam that stopped the yearly flooding. What an opportunity lost! If I hadn't taken so long to open my heart to the people around me, we could have pumped Ibrahim for pictures, stories, and descriptions of the Nile. We could have invited him over to help us build a model of it.
I have this fear that I'm bugging people if I (or my kids) go over to other people's houses without calling first. I'm afraid of interrupting people and their daily business. I never want people to be sitting there thinking "Boy, I wish they would go home so I could finish (fill in the blank)." Also, I'm rarely the inviter, I'm mostly the invitee. I wait for people to call me to do something, instead of putting something together and inviting others. This is not because I don't want to spend time with people, it's because in the back of my mind, this little voice is ALWAYS saying things like; "maybe they don't want to be friends with you...better hang back and let them invite you, that way, you'll know that they want to hang out with you, and they're not just being nice."
But, I've decided to try to open my heart earlier in the game in this neighborhood. To try to seek out friendship, and not just let it tumble into my lap, like a wished for but unearned shooting star.
Friendships are such a gift in life. What are we all here for, if not to support each other through rough patches in our roads, to make each other laugh when we need it, and to rejoice with each other when human victories grace our lives? Life truly is too short to stand back, and hope that someone will notice us and want to be our friend. So, I'm performing my own surgery. It will probably be uncomfortable, but the reward of a richer life is the promise. I must try to BE a better friend, and then, my heart will be open, and I will be blessed.

...no really, one last thing tonight...

2008-10-29T21:55:00.003-06:00

Does anyone out there know how long it takes eyelashes to grow back, or (gulp!) if they do at all? I am mourning the loss of mine from a very quick but hot explosion that left no lasting effects except robbing me of my precious eyelashes. The hair on my arms has grown back (oh joy) and my eyebrows are okay, but my lashes are struggling. Is there something I can do to make them grow back?

...just one more thing...

2008-10-29T21:43:00.004-06:00

I really love the internet. I've been dorking around online, and have found, to my relief, that I have not felt one emotion or frustration, that mothers everywhere in the world and throughout time have not already felt before. What a sisterhood!

Halloween Complaints

2008-10-29T19:41:00.003-06:00

Complaint #1:

I'm longing for a good old fashioned Halloween. One where children actually walk door to door and go good old fashioned trick or treating(GOFTOT). Not walking from car trunk to car trunk in a very small parking lot. Goodness. Are we so lazy that we can't get out in the neighborhood and meet our neighbors? Is walking around the block really that big of a deal? Is it unsafe somehow to go GOFTOT, even if you are RIGHT THERE with your kids and there is no possibility of them getting snatched? This is just one more reason why we as a nation are raising a generation of coddled pantywaists. Who invented these things anyway? Heaven forbid our darlings get any exercise in the form of trolling the 'hood for treats. And don't EVEN get me started on trick or treating at the mall. That is just wrong in so many ways.

Complaint # 2:

Why, when you go to the Halloween store to buy a costume for yourself, are all the women costumes slutty? Wait, wait, don't tell me. Because a man designed them?

Disclaimer:
We attended a trunk or treat last night and had a blast. Of course, there were games, and lots of hanging out getting to know each other beforehand AND, it didn't replace GOFTOT.

Just A Cute Scene I Saw

2008-10-23T13:24:00.004-06:00

So I've seen this particular cute thing happen several times now. On Saturdays, we're usually busy going to Keller's football games. (Yes fellow Alta Hawks, that's a Brighton uni). This is Keller's first year playing as it is for most of the other boys he plays with. They are about 8 or 9 years old. They look adorable and tiny in their pads and uniforms. The referee for most of the games is this teenage kid who looks like he might be a high school football player? Not sure. But he's young. When the play starts and the ball is snapped, like most young sporties, all the players kind of just follow the ball around on the field. When the running back (or the kid who runs with the ball) finally gets tackled, they all dogpile on top of him and everyone winds up in a five foot stack of flailing arms and legs. The ref comes over and stars grabbing these little kids by their shoulder pads, picking them up in the air and setting them on their feet one by one, just like you would for a toddler who was learning to walk. I can't explain why it's so cute. And I'm not sure the cuteness is coming through in my words, but it just makes me smile every time. It makes them seem even smaller. Like little baby puppies or something.

Another moment of football cuteness: The smallest kid on our team (and I mean he's TEENY) ran and tackled the biggest kid on the other team while he was running for a touchdown last Saturday. I mean, he took that big kid DOWN! It was awesome and hilarious.

Stormy Days

2008-10-21T14:35:00.002-06:00

Whenever I stop to think about it, I'm always astonished at the absolute necessity of good mothers. When you consider the responsibility of nourishing, clothing, teaching, and raising separate human beings to be excellent people, aren't you amazed too? Simply caring for their most basic needs is a formidable task. Add character training, discipline, teaching, and all other life skills into the mix and you begin to realize that it really is the career of careers.

Somewhere in the course of history we've decided that caring for children and tending to their needs is menial labor. That it's unimportant. We are wrong. In our society, juvenile depression and juvenile crime rates have risen for years now. These symptoms tell us we are wrong. The depression one makes me really sad. Depressed kids and teenagers can do weird things. They can do tragic things too sometimes. Should we keep thinking that child care is trivial? No. These symptoms tell us that it is vital to give our utmost energy to the tasks of motherhood. Rank those kids very high on your list of urgency. If we treat the job like it's unimportant, we'll get unimportant results.

I know where your mind is headed (some of you), because mine goes there too. Go ahead. Say it. "What about me?" I know, huh? I want to write. I want to craft, and make floral garlands for my windows. I want to knit. I want to sew and be creative in a thousand other ways. I want to do what I want to do. But. I made the decision to be a mom. So, there you go. I read a great line in "The Well Trained Mind". I can't quote it word for word because all my books are packed, but it's coming from a mom whose kids are grown and she's homeschooled them. "I came to realize that my kids were the most creative project I'd ever been involved in."

I'm not trying to tell moms that they can't have their own hobbies! By all means, take an hour or two a day for yourself and listen to your iPod full blast, or pound out your frustrations on some kind of instrument, read up on your favorite book, finish up a craft project that's been neglected and rejoice that it's finally done. Maybe just do these things while your kids are in bed for the night, or napping. I have more hobbies than I can keep up with. I'm just reminding us all how vital it is that we give of our time, attention, and concentration to these kids that we've decided to bring into the world. I'm going to risk offending someone, but I have to say it. It's selfish to bring kids into the world and then pursue your own interests or talents without moderation. You can be anything in the world that you want to be! But if you decide to be a mother, make a true and wholehearted commitment to it.

The best person to raise a child is that child's mother. Yes, there are grandmas, and daycares, nannies, babysitters, and friends that can step in now and then. But the best person is the mother.

Love and Money

2008-10-14T13:59:00.003-06:00

The cool thing about money is that it's all relative. What I mean by that is that there's always someone with more money than you. On the other hand, there's always someone with less. This fact makes it easy to feel either very grateful and blessed, or deprived and denied, depending on how you choose to look at your life. I've been on the poor side of the tracks when it never seemed like there would be enough money for anything, but we were always happy. We never knew how poor we were! Even at the times when I couldn't buy a magazine without upsetting the family budget, there was always someone with less. Always, there was a reason to feel blessed. Like we had enough.

The cool thing about love is that it's not relative. If you have love, you have it. There's no comparing how much love you have in your heart with how much someone else has. You have it, it makes your life rich, and makes you happy, and that's it.

What else is love but understanding and rejoicing in the fact that another person lives, acts, and experiences otherwise than we do…?: -Friedrich Nietzsche

Bag Lady

2008-09-15T21:57:00.006-06:00

The contents of my purse:

My striped planner
Wallet
Car Keys
Mini Magnalite flashlight
2 iPods
1 battered travel sized package of Kleenex
Bubble gum wrappers
A DVD of one of Keller's football games
Chapstick with a transparent bead stuck in it
Thank you note from one of the Primary classes
An arbitration agreement
A bag of keys to the nursery at church
4 packages of Kool-Aid: Cherry, Grape, Orange, and Strawberry
Checkbook
A story Keller wrote about catching a fish at the cabin
A picture Ella drew of Grandpa Tom
A small silky square of fabric
An ad for Bella Dolci gelateria (Don't recall collecting this at all, where could I have gotten it?)
Costco card
1 oz. tube of baby sunscreen
34 receipts
3 Transparent beads (not including the one that was stuck in the chapstick)
An elastic headband
7 Large green beads
$1.48 in change
3 Grocery lists
2 rebate forms

The Lacy Bonnet by Erika Knight

2008-09-10T13:43:00.006-06:00

Here is the Lacy Bonnet. I just put the bows on last night.

Here's Kate, eating the bow, like I knew she would.

My lips are permanently attached to those cheeks. And why wouldn't they be?

The back view of the starflower lacy pattern. I love that little bit of neck peeking out. The pattern came from the book Knitting for Two by Erika Knight. Things I learned:
How to make a stitch without leaving a hole in the work.
How to pick up stitches and knit them.
The hardest part was making the bows. Go figure.

Does Your Mother Know?...

2008-08-20T17:19:00.012-06:00

Well ladies, this doesn’t happen very often, but I saw a movie last night that I think every woman needs to see! Yes, it’s Mamma Mia! Don’t be scared. This movie is 100% pure untestosteronated (yes, that’s a home made word, y’all) fun. Lots of dancing, singing, skipping, flirting, and celebrating being a frilly, silly, emotional girl. It made me so happy to be a woman, and so happy to have daughters. I always pictured a house full of wild boys when we set out on the parenthood path, but instead I’ve got a house full of girls, and as dumb as this sounds, it took seeing a movie like this for me to finally figure out what an honor it is to have them around.

So….

Grab your mother,

Grab your friends,

Grab your sisters,

Put on a costume, fire up your ABBA tunes, and get ready to unleash your inner Dancing Queen!

Oh. But first? Two warnings:

First- Do not. Take. A. Man. With. You. He will roll his eyes, tell you how gay and lame this movie is, sigh, and wear a glazed expression throughout the whole movie and in short, he will spoil your good time.

Second-When Pierce Brosnan looks as if he is going to sing, close your eyes, plug your ears, and hum. It’ll be over soon, darling, and then you can get back to the girly fun…

Why are you still sitting there?! Leave the kids with the husband, and go, girl! Go!

What Keeps Me Up At Night...

2008-08-19T21:36:00.003-06:00

Kate

Mary

Ella

Keller

School Year 2008-2009:

2008-08-15T22:41:00.011-06:00

Here, finally, is the plan for this year. The books are ordered. The crayons are waiting in the closet, and the pencil sharpeners are lined up on the shelf.

Keller:
Math-Singapore Math, Speed Math for Kids, Creative Problem Solving, Calculus by and for Young People
Reading-Books on his level and interest, library books corresponding to our history studies
Spelling-Spelling Workout
Writing-Journal, Improving Cursive, Narration, Dictation, Letter writing once a month
Grammar-Winston Grammar, Capitalization and Punctuation
History-Story of the World Vol. 2
Science-Experiment books and books from the library (Human Body, Plants, Simple Machines)
Geography-Mapwork from Story of the World, and Smartglobe
Art-
Art appreciation-Artistic Pursuits
Art instruction-Art Adventures at Home
Gospel-Picture Scriptures, Gospel Art Kit, FHE, Family Scripture Study
Music appreciation-Classical Kids on CD and DVD
Latin-Latin Primer
Memory Work-Scriptures and poetry
Logic-Relying on Reason, Mind Benders
Manners-Manners, Please!

Ella:
Math-Singapore Math, Math-It
Reading-Books on her interests and level
Writing-Journal, copywork, Handwriting Practice Workbook Manuscript
Spelling-Spelling Workout
Grammar-English for the Thoughtful Child
History, Science, Art, Gospel, Music Appreciation, Memory Work, Geography and Manners-Same as above!

Mary:
Math-Sneak into Keller and Ella's math manipulatives (teddy bear counters, unifix cubes, coins, etc.) and scatter them around the floor!
Reading-Beg mommy to read you Go, Dog, Go for the thousandth time!
Writing-If there is a pen or marker ANYWHERE in the house, find it and "write" on the walls!
Manners-Work on not screaming "MIIIIINE" whenever anyone has something you want in their hands!

Kate:
Socialization-Be cute and smile at everyone. Make everyone realize that life is a treasure.

A Really Really Big Announcement...

2008-08-15T22:20:00.002-06:00

Ssshhhh! Don't wake her up...'cause this girl is...

FINALLY SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!!

Let's all hope I didn't just jinx it by announcing it too soon...It's almost been a week though. I just couldn't contain my ecstasy.

A Buffet of My Thoughts

2008-08-10T00:08:00.003-06:00

It's like going to Chuck-A-Rama today. You get to pick and choose which one of my random thoughts you like and want to chew on for a while. Enjoy the smorgasbord of confusion:

First off; Okay, we get it!! Football is serious. Practice is every evening from 5:45 to 8pm. Except Sundays, thank goodness! Otherwise: "IT'S GOD OR FOOTBALL, PEOPLE!!" If your son is puking, and he doesn't feel up to tackling, or you run late for a practice because you can't locate your son, expect a phone call from the coach. Toto, we're not in soccer anymore.

Next; Why was Henry VIII such a butt? Seriously? Six wives? Focus on something besides producing a male heir you doofus. Like maybe appreciating your awesome first wife, Catherine of Aragon who was like, the smartest woman alive at the time.

Third; James and I have read these amazing books. They are called For Men Only and For Women Only. They are companion books written by a husband and wife team. I've always thought that I understood men pretty well. But. Holy cow was I wrong. Seriously? My jaw just dropped. Especially while I was reading the chapter called "The Visual Rolodex". James was equally astounded. We kept asking each other "Is this true??" I highly, highly recommend these books. I've always felt that James and I had a fantastic marriage, but these books opened up a whole new world. Give them a shot.

Next; I turned 32 on the 4th. Happy birthday to me.

Next; camping is a lot less fun, now that I'm the mom and not the kid.

Next; If you do not own a window squeegee you need to take care of that, and fast. I bought this little beauty a few months ago, and kids, cleaning windows is a blast now. And so speedy. And you don't even need soap! And there are really no streaks!! And you don't waste paper towels!!! (Inhaling, exhaling). Just go buy one, okay?

Next; my blog is really really dumb.

Next; You know what is making me really sad right now? The fact that my family is hostile to homeschooling. It's dangerous to rant on your family on your public blog, but I'm gonna anyway. Apparently, a couple of my family members ambushed James and staged a full scale intervention. They think that homeschooling is a bad idea. They think he should make me stop. You know what bugs me the worst? It's that they didn't come to me. (Okay, I'm kind of glad they didn't). But seriously, it's like they're scared to ask me anything about it. They don't ask what we're studying, they don't ask how it's going, they don't ask where we get our materials...all of the stuff that people usually ask...and they are just silent. And this is my family! It's like they're afraid to ask, because then, they might have to think it's cool. And if homeschooling is cool, well, that's gonna change the way they view their whole world. They might have to open their minds. (They think that their minds are already open, because they are liberal democrats, but their minds are closed to anything that they don't agree with. Like homeschooling. Just to name a random example.) They might have to admit that they were wrong.

Next; I hope that the above rant doesn't kick me out of my family.

War Buddies

2008-07-05T16:24:00.004-06:00

On June 26th, James and I celebrated our ten year anniversary. I did a little "ten days of our anniversary" thing for James, (like the twelve days of Christmas). For one of the gifts, I wrote him a letter, and as I was writing to him, trying to think of all these lovely little romantic things to say, I realized that being married for ten years (if you're raising kids), is less like a romantic comedy, and more like a war drama.
Don't you all feel this way too? When you look at your husbands, don't you see the man who has carried you on his shoulders through the battlefields of motherhood? You see the man that at times, you've had to drag by his heels through the killing fields of fatherhood. I know that throughout the ten years, I've had so many moments of being overwhelmed, and feeling like I'm going to die for the sake of being a wife and a mother. I've been on the brink of a freak-out many times. As has he with respect to being a father and all that that includes! Ups and downs in jobs, feeling like we're going to kill our kids, and then wanting to die of guilt because we snapped and yelled at them...we've both done it. And we've both saved each others lives along the way. And we've always been united in a great cause, like all good soldiers are. The cause of raising a family and doing it well is the greatest war effort there is.
At the end of the day, we collapse on the couch (or wherever we happen to be standing after the kids are put to bed), and we look at each other, astounded at what we've had to endure for the sake of the cause. But so grateful that we have each other. No one told me when we joined the army, that I'd have to clean poop off of every solid surface in my two year old son's room the VERY FIRST DAY that my war buddy went off to fight other battles in the office just days after I gave birth to my second recruit. Nobody told James, when he was drafted, that he'd be kissing his wife goodbye, as a sexual being, for at least six months after each of the recruits were born, or that he would be waiting alone at the end of a hospital hallway facing the fragile mortality of his unborn daughter, and his hemorrhaging wife.
There has been joy, pride, comedy, and much happiness too, knowing that we're fighting the good fight, and raising wonderful people. Like all good war buddies, we rely on each other, trust each other with our lives, love each other, and serve each other.

Here's to another great ten years!

The Sunshine Maker

2008-05-23T22:28:00.003-06:00

As I've slowly pulled myself together after the birth of Kate, I've noticed the clouds lifting here at home. The first few months after Kate was born are a fog, and I now know that I was walking around the house in a sort of daze. I wasn't depressed, but I was overwhelmed, and as an overwhelmed mother, I went into a sort of auto-pilot mode. Did you ever see that Adam Sandler movie called Click, where he can fast forward certain parts of his life? To everyone else, he looks like he's there, he's responding to the conversations (sort of), but he isn't really there. Well, that has been me.

Now that life has crept into my body and mind, I'm looking around me and noticing what has happened to my little family. The kids are fighting more. Keller hasn't been as nice to Ella as he usually is, and Ella is yelling at Mary just for being Mary. Mary is hitting everyone. The kitchen was always a mess, a consequence of my children constantly foraging for some sort of sustenance, like a pack of hungry wolves. Dinner has been hit and miss and you may remember what it's like around here when dinner doesn't get cooked!

The point I'm (slowly) getting at is this: As the mother goes, so goes the rest of the family. If the mom is in a bad mood, the rest of the family starts fighting, even dad yells more. In the book Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott (a sequel to Little Women), Marmee tells Beth one day when Beth is very discouraged with the cares of home and family "You are the sunshine maker of the home." I feel the awesome weight of how hard it is to have to carry on the emotional climate of our entire families, but I also know that it's important that we remember this and try to be happy and create happiness at home. It's really hard to be cheerful all the time. But lately I've tried remembering this; I'm GOING TO make mistakes. Luckily for me (all of us) Christ is there to atone for not only my big fat sins, but all my shortcomings, even my childish little bad moods, and the times that I don't do what I should just because I don't wanna. Somehow, KNOWING that I'm going to fall short makes me happier. Being perfect would be a big let down, because we would never know the joy and sweet relief of laying it all down at Christ's feet.

Let's remember that our families look to us for their emotional feeding, just as much as they look to us for food.

Weekly Report Weeks 3 and 4

2008-05-16T11:06:00.002-06:00

School is humming right along. I'm happy with the amount of work that is getting done. Kate is really predictable with her naps now and it has made such a difference. We've even done several science experiments this week. Granted, they didn't have anything to do with earth science (which is what we're supposed to be studying), but they were fun and very educational.
Mary was sick yesterday with a high fever, but she was actually a lot easier than normal, so we still did school, though it was pretty much just the basics, yesterday. I'm trying to think what else we've been up to that has affected school...I think that's it. Right now I'm working on a list of chores that the kids need to do before they can go out to play. I'm feeling a lot like the family slave lately. That needs to change.
First off, I'm still so pleased with Winston Grammar. Keller already has common and proper nouns, articles, and personal pronouns down pat, and we've only been at it for about 3 weeks. This is a great curriculum for us. He enjoys doing it too, which is totally the point.

Last week math had a few bumps in the road for Keller. This week has been better for him. Ella is using unifix cubes to help cement the idea of larger addition and subtraction problems (sums of up to 20). She's doing pretty well, though I'm not sure how much it really means to her. She loves having her own work to do alongside of Keller though, so I just let her do it and try not to push her to finish if she doesn't want to.

Keller finished his White Star book. He's doing better in reading, skipping less words and being a little more careful, sounding things out instead of just fudging and guessing. Ella's doing great on reading. She's fun to listen to.

Keller has a fit every time he misses a spelling word. I try to calm him down and tell him it's okay to make mistakes, but he just hates to miss any words! Next week, we'll practice a little more. Ella needs work on writing. I've got to find her a writing program. Suggestions?

Science was fun. We put pepsin ( the enzyme in your stomach that digests proteins) onto gelatin and watched it dissolve the gelatin. We also labeled the parts of the digestive system, and we also tested different foods for starch content. Plus Keller had his MacGyver class both weeks. They raced their rocket cars and our car (our real car that we drive) narrowly missed being attacked when one of the cars blew up. It looked like the space shuttle explosion. But, needless to say, the boys loved it.

Um, we pretty much skipped history. Except I let them watch a video on the Celts. We'll work on improving that next week. I need to find a new book for Keller to love, also.

Well, that's it! All in all a good couple of weeks.

Tornado

2008-05-15T16:13:00.004-06:00

I know you all will think I'm nuts, but a tornado just blew down my street not 10 minutes ago. I was minding my business and enjoying the beautiful weather out on the front porch when all of a sudden, seed pods from the neighbor's tree are pelting me in the face and papers from the binder on my lap are being torn out of the rings. I looked around and the world was in chaos. Trash was everywhere. Leaves and blossoms and pollen were falling like rain. I looked over at the end of the street and I actually saw the grass flatten as the tornado made its way to the corner. In about six seconds, everything was still again and I was left wondering if I had imagined the whole thing. My only clue that I wasn't crazy was a plastic shopping bag and an unidentifiable black thing floating very high above my house.
Okay. OKAY! Maybe it was only a whirlwind, but it was a darn strong one!

Introducing My Kids: Volume 1

2008-05-15T00:08:00.008-06:00

Keller, my first born son. My only son. Junior. Didders. Dids. Bud. Mr. K. He's high highs and low lows. I remember the first time I took him outside in a storm. He must have been around 5 or 6 months old. The wind was blowing the trees and flowers and there was lightning and thunder. And Keller looked around and just squealed with delight. He is an outdoor boy.
He loves wild weather. When he was about 4-ish months old, he ate my husband's math book. I know every mother says this about her kids but seriously, his laugh is magic. He is a people person. He NEEDS human interaction. He's exactly like my dad in that way. One day, we had been going all day to social events, he was playing with friends earlier in the day, then we went to a party, then we went to a park play day. After the play day at the park was over, we got in the car...and about two minutes later he asks me "Can you call Anna and have her come over and play when we get home?" I used to have the worst time trying to get him to go home from fun activities. One time we were at the park, and he threw a fit when it was time to go. He must have been around 4 or 5? Anyway, I told him I was going to leave without him, so I got in the car and drove away (around the corner watching him) and he totally didn't even care. He loves being in a big group of people. When the good times end, he is one sad boy. He's really in tune to what I'm feeling a lot of the time. When he was little he used to say "Just be happy at me mom." or "Will you make your eyes happy?" He's a good big brother because he's really patient with his little sisters! When Ella was between about 1 and 3 years old he called her "honey". Every time he talked to her he called her "honey".
He's beautiful. He has bad breath. His feelings get hurt pretty easily, and he can really pick up on when someone isn't being nice to him. He's not aggressive in every day life but is super aggressive in sports. He loves sports. He's never been really good at imaginative play, but give him a game to play or a ball to kick around and he's happy. He won't play with kids who are mean. He was an easy birth. I went to the hospital and they were going to send me home, but then my water broke and three hours later he was born. He has really pretty skin. When he was 1, he ate one of my pearl earrings that James gave me when we were married, then it came out in his diaper a couple of days later! Don't think I don't still wear those earrings! Keller has never had stitches or broken any bones. We've never been to the emergency room or had any health scares with him. (Knock on wood now, every one). He isn't afraid of doing anything, like jumping off diving boards, climbing trees, getting hurt, or anything like that. In fact he's an adrenaline junkie. One time I came out of the house and he had climbed a ladder up to our roof! And he was a lot littler than he is now when he did it!

He is afraid of scary movies though, and the dark.

Once he peed on my mother in law's carpet. This was waaay after he was potty trained. He has to say "favorite part of the day" every night before he goes to sleep. Titanic obsessed. Lagoon obsessed. Likes the Tram at Snowbird. Loves to build huts. Looooves to build dams in the rain gutters and make rivers and lakes in the dirt. I think he's going to build a real dam some day. He loves to work in the yard with his dad. Loves to work with his dad or grandpa doing anything. Desperately wants to be grown up and have sugar drinks before bedtime and stay up late. Desperately wants to be grown up and be productive and helpful like adults. He loves the scriptures. Learned to read because of the scriptures. Can pick out songs on the piano by ear. Naturally athletic. Fast runner! Loves to sleep in a tent. PEOPLE PERSON. A water bug. A joy to raise.

Tongue Tied

2008-05-13T20:50:00.004-06:00

I know it's been a long time since I've posted. I just feel lately that I have nothing to say that would interest anyone beyond my immediate family! I'm just pretty boring that way. Actually, my best blog post ideas come at about 2am, but then, I get so busy during the day that I just forget about them!

Weekly Report Week 2

2008-04-28T20:51:00.003-06:00

The microscope and all the new books came last Wednesday. The microscope has been a huge hit! We spent all of Wednesday afternoon setting it up and looking at bug parts. Then on Thursday morning, we picked flowers and cut them apart and looked at them. We saw plant cells! We looked at skin cells from the inside of my mouth (gross I know, but the kids loved it).

We kept plugging along with math. It's feels so good to be doing it every day. Math is one of those subjects that needs to be done regularly. Keller is still working on techniques for working math problems in his head. During one lesson, he just wasn't getting it. I just kept repeating myself in the same tone of voice ( I was being patient)! Finally he says: "Oh, I know, I could just do this..." and then he went ahead and did what I had been explaining over and over. Yep. You could do that, Keller... LOL. It's fun to watch the "light" come on.

Winston Grammar is a hit! I love it. It's a visual and tactile way to learn all the parts of speech and sentence mechanics, and it's fun. I just didn't use the First Language Lessons of the Well Trained Mind. I don't know why, but we just couldn't get thrilled about it. Winston is better at getting the student involved.

Spelling is rolling right along. Both kids are doing the Spelling Workout books.

We started cursive writing! Keller has been begging me to do this for more than six months! How sad. I kept telling myself that I would research cursive writing books and choose the best. Finally I just broke down and ordered the first one that I saw. Of course, he loves it. He just wanted to learn it, forget about how.

Still doing our journal pages. Nothing new here.

This coming week, what we need to do better:
Get back into picture scriptures. The kids are begging for them.
Fill out Keller's weekly planner. The days go so much smoother when I do this!
Ella is bitter because Keller is learning cursive and grammar, and she's not doing these. The grammar program said that kids don't think abstractly enough to really understand parts of speech at her age. I'm not letting her do cursive, because we need more work on printing first. So, since she's feeling bitter I need to find something special that's just for her. Hmmm. Ideas?
I need to make cards for spelling and Latin. Making cards with words for them to know works so well, but I didn't do it last week. Must do it this week. Now in fact.
I need more ideas on what to do with Mary during school. For now, I've been filling pots and pans with water and letting her play with them out on the deck, but this only works when it's warm outside! Filling up the kitchen sink with water and bubbles works too. Anyone have any other ideas for occupying a precocious two-year-old?
That's it for now! I welcome comments, especially those with ideas!

I'm In Love

2008-04-24T15:08:00.004-06:00

It's not like I didn't love her the minute she was born. I did. But the past three months or so have been such a blur. Over the last couple of weeks, I've realized that I have finally fallen completely in love with my baby. I think about her adorable little smile. I'm happy when she wakes up from her naps, because I get to see her smile. She's my sweet thing in life.

She found her thumb the other day. This is a picture of when she found it. It doesn't do her justice. She had the cutest look on her face-proud and concentration and sweetness all mixed together. She's delicious to me.

Weekly Report Week 1

2008-04-18T23:33:00.009-06:00

This week we're still easing back into the schedule of school. Kate is just barely starting to be a little bit predictable with her naps, and I think all of us are really anxious to get back into school!
This won't look like much, but it's a beginning!

Math: Keller did two pages of Singapore this week and to my relief he flew through, and was able to do most of it in his head. Ella loves her Singapore work book. She's doing great.

Reading: Keller is reading White Star. It's about a dog on the Titanic, so of course, he loves it. Ella is amazing me with her reading ability. Seriously, I taught her the sounds that the letters make, and she's done the rest. She's reading scripture verses with almost no hesitation. She seems to understand what she's reading. She's a sharp one.

Writing: Haven't done our journal pages, but I've got the blank pages copied off and ready to go.

History: We finished our ancient studies! Rome has succumbed to the various Barbarians. They did their map work, outlining the East and West Roman Empires, and also the final map, where they named and colored the continents and major countries that we studied. Next week, we're moving on to the bold middle ages. Yay!

I ordered a grammar program for both the kids, a microscope, and a surprise piano course for Keller (and Ella?). Watch next Friday for the next weekly report and we'll see how the new programs work out. We've been doing school at the kitchen table instead of in the school room. Katie sleeps in her swing and I can be doing dishes while they work on their stuff.

Hey, it's a start.

96 Years Ago Today...

2008-04-15T14:28:00.002-06:00

At 2:20 this morning, Titanic sank 96 years ago. Ask me how I know this. I know this because about four years ago, I bought Keller a book on the Titanic for Christmas. It was on clearance for $3.99 and I thought "What the heck?". And so, an obsession was born. You want to know anything about the Titanic, Keller's your guy. And me too now.
That's one of the funnest things about having kids. They have a way of drawing you into their interests, and you find yourself learning things you would have never learned or thought of. Keller also loves hurricanes, tornadoes, lightening, the weather in general, and just about any kind of science. He loves to build and learn about dams. Dams? I would have never considered dams or how long it takes to design and construct them. OR how long it takes to fill them up and make a lake. Now I do.
Ella really loves horses and art. I'm horrible at art. But I've been forced to buy books on how to draw and paint so that I can teach her. I've learned about all about the different kinds of lines that are used when you draw. One day, she was running around the room showing me all the different kinds of lines she could see. I became drawn in too, looking for and finding different lines in everything that I saw.

Kids have an awesome talent for waking you up to the world. What have your kids woken you up to? What have you learned more about because of your kids?

A Day in the Life of a Super Hero!

2008-03-28T21:52:00.004-06:00

Hi, James again... I just wanted to take a moment to tell my wife "THANK YOU!!!" Thank you for everything you do every day. If you ask Kristy what she accomplished today she would most likely say, "Not much." But let me just take a moment to brag about what she really did today... and tell her thanks along the way. I was at work today, so unfortunately I can't tell you ALL the wonderful things she accomplished today, I can only tell you what I saw or can see the results of. Kristy changed Mary's poopy diaper and didn't make me do it. Thank You Kristy. She made sure she took care of a ticket she got because I forgot to register her car. Thank you! Kristy did the laudry. Thank you. She folded the laundry. Thank you. She cleaned BOTH of the bathrooms and now they sparkle. Thank you, they look fantastic! She mopped the kitchen floor. Thank you. She did the dishes. She wiped down the counters. The kitchen is spotless! Thank you, Kristy! She made a blanket to give to a pregnant friend. Thanks! She organized the hand off of our children to the grandparents for a trip we are leaving on tomorrow. Thank you! She got the kids all packed and ready. Thank you. She prepared dinner, fed the kids dinner, AND cleaned up after them all by herself while I entertained a guest. Thank You! Now all this might sound like a big deal... but that's not even the most important part. She gave Mary that special one-on-one time she craves...several times. (That was so cute watching the two of you say prayers together!) Thank you. She didn't lose her temper with Mary when she woke up the baby, almost broke the baby's swing, almost broke Lindsay's bouncy chair, or drag out laundry Kristy had been folding. Thank you, Kristy. She made Ella feel special by letting ONLY her go with Kristy to the store to pick out some shoes. Thank you! Now, in contrast, while Kristy and Ella were at the store may I just tell you what I accomplished. Um, I held the baby. Watched some basketball on TV. Uh, I held the baby. I had Keller keep Mary busy. And boy was I tired and frazzled after all that! Whew, was I glad when Kristy made it home! She was gone a WHOLE HOUR! (Notice the sarcasm there.) As you can see I am married to a super hero of a woman. The things I've listed are only a small portion of what she did today... I was at work and so I missed lunch time, nap time, probably several kissed owies, comforting hugs, and many words of encouragement and affirmation. Thank you, Kristy. You are SO incredible with our children. You are such a wonderful mother to them. They adore you! There is a reason Mary has a melt down when you leave... you are great with the children. If I was two years old, I'd cry every time I had to be away from you too. Thank you for managing our home. You do a great job... much better than you give yourself credit for. I am so happy with everything you do and are. You are so appreciated, so loved, so adored, so admired and needed. Honestly Kristy, I don't know how you do it. You truly do amaze me. I love you so much. You really are a....

(I couldn't find a "Superwoman" logo... sorry.)

Classic Cashmere Sweater by Erika Knight

2008-03-22T17:45:00.008-06:00

This is a sweater I knitted for Kate. The pattern is found in 'Simple Knits for Cherished Babies' . Things I learned with this project:
*Mattress stitch
*Casting on at the beginning of a row.
*Casting off in the middle of a row.
*When putting stitches on a stitch holder, make sure the right end is at the point of the needle when you slip them back on!

Thanks to my cute model Katie.

This is a close up of the mattress stitch. You use it when you sew pieces of knitting together. You can't see the seam, can you? It's magical.

Easter: A Celebration of the Greatest Moment in Eternity

2008-03-20T23:24:00.014-06:00

So you’re sitting in Sunday School and the teacher asks you, “What’s special about Easter?” Class in unison: “It’s when Jesus was resurrected.” And that’s that. We know that. We believe that. But do we really understand the true weight of that answer? Have we given it much thought beyond that? Often the miracle of Easter is somewhat overlooked or under appreciated. The power and importance of the doctrine of the resurrection is made clear in the Bible Dictionary.

Bible Dictionary – Resurrection

To obtain a resurrection with a celestial, exalted body is the center point of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is the most glorious of all messages to mankind.

The center point of hope in the gospel. The most glorious of all messages. Those are powerful statements. Note that it is a resurrection with a celestial, exalted body... meaning not only salvation from physical death but salvation from spiritual death also.

Mormon also tells us that the resurrection is the center point of hope in the gospel.

Moroni 7:40 – 41

40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

The resurrection is such an important doctrine that God put reminders of it in our daily life. Baptism is a symbol of death and resurrection as we are buried in the water and arise new and clean. The seasons remind us of death in the winter and yet every spring, those very trees that had lost their leaves and appeared dead bud into lush, green life. The sun is buried in the horizon every evening leaving us in darkness, yet it rises again each day. And the closest, most intimate reminder we have is when we go to sleep at night. We bury ourselves under our covers. Our bodies appear they are dead. But each morning we rise… renewed and refreshed. Restored. I can think of no other symbolism that God has placed so blatantly and prevalently in our physical world as those reminders we have of the resurrection.

This Easter season may we all ponder a little deeper, and appreciate a little more what really happened on the glorious morning of Easter Sunday.

I leave you with President Hinckley’s final testimony of the resurrection and of Savior of the world. (“We Testify of Jesus Christ” by President Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign Mar. 2008)

"He is the chief cornerstone of the Church that bears His name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved (see Acts 4:12). He is the Author of our salvation, the Giver of eternal life (see Hebrews 5:9). There is none to equal Him. There never has been. There never will be. Thanks be to God for the gift of His Beloved Son, who gave His life that we might live and who is the chief, immovable cornerstone of our faith and His Church.
We know not all that lies ahead of us. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others, disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do not know. But one thing we do know. Like the Polar Star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith. In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us.
He is the central focus of our worship. He is the Son of the living God, the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is “risen from the dead, … the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). He is the Lord who shall come again “to reign on the earth over his people” (D&C 76:63; see also Micah 4:7; Revelation 11:15). None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare His divinity without equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak the name of Jesus Christ in reverence and wonder. He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! He lives, resplendent and wonderful, the living Son of the living God."

-- Happy Easter everyone. Love, James.

My Whole Life Story

2008-03-16T15:16:00.008-06:00

In an attempt to take everyone to new heights (or is it new lows) of boredom, I've decided to post my life story every week. The reason I'm really doing this is that I've been meaning to write my personal history on Sundays and now I'm going to do it. It seems like a pretty good Sabbath activity.

This post will be about a couple of my ancestors and what they mean to me. The photo above is George Wallace Armstrong, my Great Grandfather on my dad's mom's side. I love this photo. That was his football uniform at the University of Idaho in Moscow. It looks like the football pads were built right into his pants.

His mom gave birth to 16 children, 15 of whom lived past their youth. I can imagine her in her homestead on the farm sitting down probably for the first time that day to answer the questions of the census enumerator. Sixteen kids. And this is before all the housekeeping helpers we have now. Imagining her workload just scrambles my brain.

On my mom's side, there is a branch of the family whose last name is Lindsay. They were from Scotland. The father, William Lindsay, and the sons worked in the lead mines.

"Oft times in the winter time we scarcely ever saw the daylight except on Sunday. We were in the mine before daylight and didn't get out until after dark. In the spring of 1861 we moved into the town of Kilmarnock and were there only a few months when our dear and loving father was killed by a large stone falling on him. Brother James and I had left him all right and were gone about thirty minutes and returned to find him dead. We were two frightened little boys and in our haste to get help our light was knocked out to make it more terrible. This was a dreadful time for all of us especially our dear mother. Our home where peace and love had always reigned supreme was turned to one of sorrow. It seemed all our hopes of ever getting to Utah were blasted. Some of our friends, mostly LDS members, aided us at this time and our dear father was buried in St. Andrew's Churchyard in Kilmarnock....
(me at St. Andrew's where William was buried in Scotland)

for a time we were so grieved we were at a loss which way to turn. But mother did not give way to despair and said to us boys, 'Never mind, we will get to the Valley yet on the very first ship next spring.' ...The words came true...but it was the emigration fund of the Mormon Church that got us here. Then the word came giving us notice to sell everything not needed and to be in Liverpool by the 21st of April, 1862 to go on board the sailing ship John J. Boyd, where passage had been secured for our whole family of eight children and mother. Some people have quite a trial in leaving their friends and their relatives and native land but we were happy in having the privilege to do so."

When I have a difficult day and my spirits are low, sometimes I think of these women, my ancestors. Mary Elizabeth Armstrong, who cooked for, sewed for, cleaned for, taught, and raised 15 children on a farm. And Christina Howie Lindsay who had to bury her husband in Scotland and then take eight children by herself on a 39-day sea voyage to New York and then over the plains and mountains to Heber, Utah. When I think I'll never pull through my trials I sometimes remember them and think "Their blood runs into mine...I'm made of the same stuff that they were...I can get through this...this is nothing, don't make them ashamed to call me their posterity."

Gossip

2008-03-14T17:48:00.003-06:00

Note: This post is taken from a journal of mine. It was written solely for my benefit. I thought it might help others, too. I just didn't want to sound like I was preaching a sermon, or like I was perfect.

Why is gossiping so harmful?
In a ward setting, it creates tension and destroys the feelings of love, acceptance, trust, and inclusion that should exist within a ward. It hurts people's feelings! It damages reputations of sometimes innocent people. It makes people feel uneasy: "What are they going to say about me when I walk away?"

How to stop yourself from gossiping:
Pray.
Beware of gossip's disguises: "I like Cindy a lot but..." Often it is done with a thin mask of concern: "Is something wrong with Lisa? She lets her kids run all over the neighborhood...I'm worried that she's depressed..." then the conversation takes off about poor Lisa. These women aren't "concerned". If they were, they would lovingly watch out for Lisa's kids, and drop them off at home if they wander too far or get into a dangerous situation.
Find other topics of conversation, read the newspaper, talk about your own life, various gospel topics, politics (!?), recent family vacations, etc.
Realize that when you gossip, you sound rude, critical, unfriendly, and unChristlike. Is this the vibe you really want to radiate to your neighbors and friends?
Along with gossiping, a close cousin, is backstabbing. Backstabbing (or backbiting) is unkind remarks made about another person who is not there. It's just as bad or worse than gossiping.
*BE HUMBLE*: What are your own weaknesses and failings? What excellent qualities does the person you are tempted to gossip about possess? The thing is, we are all different! The way I choose to raise my kids is different from the way my neighbor does. Why must we tear down another person to prove that the way we do things is the "right" way?
Look for the good in others instead of the bad. This can be hard at first if you're not used to it. In the beginning, you will probably have to make a conscious effort to shut out the negative thoughts that enter your head about people. A wonderful way to break this habit is to replace every bad thought with a thought about what makes that person good.

How to stop others from gossiping: We can't control what other people say or do...but we can make it harder for them to gossip (at least when we're around). Some things we can do:
Change the subject. It can be useful to keep a mental list of interesting topics of conversation that can used to gently steer the topic away from people.

Gossip is ugly. It's mean. It's a weakness that is an overwhelmingly female trait. Let's all try to do better. We are better. Let's be sisters.

Green Hour Pix

2008-03-13T11:52:00.011-06:00

It took me long enough to get these pictures added. Life with a newborn...
Anyway...this is a cool rock we found on our nature walk. It had a shiny spot with shimmering rainbow like flakes of rock that would peel off...

This is one of the peelings from the rock.

Keller and Ella getting excited about some crocuses that were blooming.

A tiny little pine cone. Ella called it a baby pine cone.

A leaf Ella was excited about. I don't know if we'll keep doing this...I've got a lot going on already. The kids loved it though. And now... we're off to tour the State Capitol Building. By the way...do you love Keller's mismatched outfit? He looks pretty homeless.

Hotel Mother's Day

2008-03-11T21:05:00.003-06:00

I'm opening a hotel, and only moms who have had really bad days can go there. It will have a massive hot tub in the lobby where moms can congregate, soak their feet, and share stories of their bad days. Also in the lobby there will be a gigantic dessert bar with an emphasis on chocolate. There will be a large staff of massage therapists, child psychology experts, and shrinks. There will be a mandatory lights out at 11pm to ensure that each guest gets a good nights sleep. Courtesy wake up calls will be available for those who need to get back home to get kids off to school the next morning. I will charge $5/night. See you there.

Green Hour

2008-03-05T20:57:00.005-07:00

We've decided join the Green Hour Challenge! We're committed to spending an hour outside a week, just observing nature and learning more about it. I'm excited to get this going. I know the kids are gonna flip. They love this kind of thing, especially Keller. He's such an outdoor boy. We'll start tomorrow and I'll return and report.

From the Teacher's Desk

2008-03-05T16:46:00.005-07:00

The lazy girl's guide to the library:

1. Go to your library's website.
2. Choose the books you want (you can browse around by author, subject, title, and more) and put them on hold using your library card number. It doesn't matter if the book you want is already at your regular library, put it on hold anyway.
3. Check your library account in a few days and make sure all items you've put on hold for the week are there.
4. Go to the library where you've chosen to have your books delivered.
5. Go to the hold shelf and locate the letter of your last name.
6. Pick up your books and check them out. Make it out of the library in five minutes flat, even with four kids in tow.
7. Go home and read.

I Have Something I Need to Get Off My Chest...

2008-03-04T22:14:00.004-07:00

Okay. The self loathing and anxiety attacks every time thank-you notes are mentioned need to end. Here it is:

I DIDN'T SEND THANK YOU NOTES AFTER MY WEDDING!

How tacky. How ungrateful. How rude. How thoughtless. How lazy.

James and I were overwhelmed by the kindness of every one who attended our wedding and brought gifts. We were so appreciative of those gifts and the friendship of everybody who gave. Why then, didn't we take the time to send out thank-you cards? I have no good answer.

Despicable, isn't it?

Time

2008-02-28T11:11:00.004-07:00

Yesterday, I wasted a lot of time. I dorked around on my blog, read other people's blogs, checked email, browsed through some catalogs, read a little, you know, that kind of day. At about four o' clock, I decided I better snap out of it and get some things done before James got home. In just an hour and a half, I made a serious dent in the laundry, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the bathroom, made dinner, and cleaned the living room.

After I had done all that, it got me thinking. What could I have accomplished if I hadn't wasted the entire day? Hmmm.

Memory Lane

2008-02-27T11:48:00.005-07:00

I'm gonna do something really dumb and post some of the things people wrote in my high school yearbook, senior year (1994). Yes, that's me in the photo. I used to get up at five in the morning to get my hair to look like that. Wow. I should have slept in.

"Kristy
Well it's been a long one huh? Word processing was killer. That's when I decided I had a crush on you, the first day. I can honestly say you are one of the coolest girls I know, I just can't believe that my #1 sexiest girl is leaving me without a date. Take care don't forget me. I know I won't forget you Mike Hansen P.S. Call me so I can ask you out."

"I don't know you but your name is most likely Kristy. That is a very beautiful name kind of like you. Have a good summer. Mike."

"Girl, I dream! sometimes i look at rocks. I like to drive. I like to be human. I hate boiled hot dogs and cotingslingers. Cory Lynn Jacobs"

"Kristy my little one I'm going to put you in my suitcase and take you to a foreign land. your bud Nate Richins"

"Kristy helpful hints:
When you get hungry this summer make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich they taste great.
And when you think about doing somethign bad think of the consequence of a naked man jumping a barbed wire fence. Call me and we'll go out Adam Hunt"

"Hey Kristy
Howdy little pretty woman. I hope you remember our saran wrap job on Mrs. Fewkes portable. You probably do that's something you don't forget. Have the funniest life. C.J."

"Hooker!
Your the hottest on 2nd and State! I (heart) ya tonz and keep in touch (heart) Lindsay Jensen"

"Kristy and the Shalimar. Wow. Well, have a super life. You are very beautiful. Someone thinks you are special, I do. Love Mandi Erekson"

"Kristy, or as Joe says fatty,
you are one crazy girl. I love to be around you when a cute boy walks by. It's the funnest. Have a good time graduating FINALLY can you believe it? Take care. Call me and we'll go party. Erin Martin"

"Kristy-
I didn't know you too well, but don't ever steal my markers or I'll break your leg. Have a great summer. Tyler Crayk"

This one is from the hottest guy in the whole school. Yes, he was my boyfriend's best friend and I had a huge crush on him:
"Kristy It's been fun. I'm glad I got to know you a little better. I hope everything works out for you and Andy. He is a great guy take care of him for me when I leave. Best of luck Matt Smo"

And now these from my best friends. I still get together with them every month. I'm seeing them tonight, in fact:

"Hi Tiny your my littlest bud and you will always share a place in my heart I know that we will never lose touch. Good luck with Andy and keep him happy Love Chelci"

"Kristy Hey chic! This is the saddest thing ever but I know we will always stay friends. This was the funnest year ever and we have to have a kick ass summer! You are the bestest friend in the whole world. I know I am the biggest cheezer but what in the hell am I supposed to write? BFAAA Love, Jaycee"

Kristy Killer Babe-
Hey girl, you rock my world! Well we made it! Thanks for being a totally great friend!! (Talk to me goose!) I hope everything is groovin' next year. We have to stay in touch forever! I love ya tons!! The Courtster you know the #"

"Kris-
Yo chic! What's up with you? The memories we've shared have been the best. I love you to death and I will miss you more than life itself. But you're the best. Good luck with Andy You better write me and keep me updated Call me too! I love you-this isn't the end! (heart) ya Kole P.S. never forget cutie and hotty-they're the highlight of our senior year!"

"Kristy "cute" Keller-
Hey you hanging? This yr. has royally rocked. "Como?" I know that's what you're thinking huh? No lie. too bad you and your soccer player boyfriend are so cute together. A match made in heaven. We can't have a lame summer and not call each other or hang together K? I can't believe we're finally out of here. It's sad but cool @ the same time! Rock On! Shana Ulrich"

What does your yearbook say? I love it how everyone wants you to call them so you can go "party". I always halfway wanted to call some of these people (that I barely knew) over the summer and say "Well you said you wanted to party, so let's party!"

Doing the Best You Can

2008-02-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, James and I were talking and he asked me to come up with a way to track our scripture study and prayer over a period of years. He wanted something that would look good on our wall. The photo above is what I came up with. I gave him this calendar for Christmas and he loved it. We started using it at the beginning of January and we've had family prayer and scripture study every day since!
I wish I could say that reading and praying every day has made this huge miraculous difference in our lives. The truth is, I find myself just muddling through, putting one step in front of the other, and doing the best I can. We have a cabin on a river in northern Idaho. I love to swim upstream in the river. I swim like the wind, not even taking time to take a breath. Then, I stop, stand up and look around. I'm in the same exact place that I started.
That's how I feel about life sometimes.
You can run, and drive, and fix, and cook, and teach, and soothe, and improvise, and fold laundry like there's no tomorrow, and sometimes at the end of the day you're left wondering what all the effort is all about and what you've really accomplished.
Doing the best you can sounds so noble, doesn't it? It sounds like you would be zooming through the sky with fireworks shooting from your feet, astonishing the world with your abilities if you did the best you could. The cold hard truth is that a lot of the time, doing your best isn't much. Often, doing your best isn't very graceful. Or inspiring. At times it isn't elegant or polished. Usually, doing your best just means that you didn't do your worst. There are days when you're glad the world couldn't look through your window and see what your best was that day, because it definitely wouldn't astonish anyone.
However, I've come to appreciate the "just muddling through". I believe in the power of putting one step in front of the other. I've been reading about David in the Old Testament lately. I can't get the tragedy of his story from my mind. "There is a lesson there", I keep thinking. I've decided that the lesson, at least for me, is to be found doing the things you said you would be doing. What was David doing out of bed looking at his neighbors in the middle of the night? Why was Bathsheba bathing on the roof in the middle of the night? Why did David ask his servants who she was? The lesson is to be found doing the right things, at the right time, in the right place. These choices seem so small, but eventually they led to adultery and ultimately to murder. What does all this have to do with doing your best? If you're doing your best, even if it's a little tiny best, you can still be found on the path. You will still be making progress, even if it's an inch at a time.
So while my best doesn't impress, it doesn't awe, it doesn't sing and shout, I'm still on the path, putting one foot in front of the other, and I can be found right where I said I would be, doing (even in a small way) what I said I would be doing.

Tagged

2008-02-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B: Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Here's all you never wanted to know:

10 years ago:
I got engaged.

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Clean House
2. Write more Thank-You's
3. Do what didn't get done yesterday.
4. Do school
5. Girls laundry

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Chocolate
2. See's Chocolate
3. Hot chocolate
4. Homemade chocolate pudding (warm)
5. Chocolate shakes

What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
Hire a cook, a maid, and a nanny!

3 of my bad habits:
1. Biting my nails
2. Procrastinating
3. Gossiping

5 places I have lived:
1. Montana
2.Utah
3.
4.
5.

5 jobs that I have had:
1. Chuck-A-Rama (!)
2. Shalimar Wedding Reception Center
3. Discover Card
4. Dos Serranos (waitress)
5. Mom

5 Things people don't know about me:
1. I almost got kidnapped once.
2. I've been thrown in jail!
3. I'm good at reading out loud.
4. Child stars irritate me.
5. I'm completely offended by commercials for tampons, personal lubricant, douches, and pills for E.D.!

I tag:
Wendy, Robin, and Brandy

Back to School

2008-02-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

We started up school again today and I'm happy to report that it went much better than I anticipated. Also, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would! I've been feeling so overwhelmed lately wondering how I was going to balance school with everything else. My patience has been really short too, so I was worried about that. I decided that instead of trying to keep doing our morning schedule (8am-noon), and struggle with trying to find something to keep Mary occupied during that time, we would try an afternoon schedule for school while the babies were taking their naps. This turned out to be a good plan. Less stress for everybody involved. It looks like the kids, in spite of our huge long break, haven't forgotten everything they've ever learned. Their math and reading skills appeared to be as sharp as ever. Yay.
Here's to small miracles.

A Funny

2008-01-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

Just now I was fixing lunch for the herd. Mary was in her high chair crying for some spaghetti instead of soup. I was running around trying to fix soup for the girls, spaghetti for Kell, and a cup of herbal tea for myself. Meanwhile, Kate was crying at the top of her lungs in her swing. In other words, it was chaos. Keller, my ever sensitive Keller, who always knows my mood and what I'm feeling, said "Whoa. One mom versus four kids."
Amen.

Questions

2008-01-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

Why does a new baby put the entire family into emotional free fall?
Why aren't babies born with stomachs that WORK?
Why can't we fit into our regular jeans the day after the baby is born?
In the Anne of Green Gables series of books, when Anne marries and has kids of her own, there is a woman who lives with them and does the cooking, cleaning, and occasional watching of the kids. Where did these women go? Why do only the ultra rich have "help" nowadays?
How can babies sense that they're not being held?
When will I feel normal again?
Why would we do it all over again?
Why does it have to be so physically traumatic to give birth?
Why am I ALWAYS low on iron?
Why can't kids just do what you ask?
Why do they have to drag out every toy and leave it where it drops?
How do I juggle it all?
Why do I want to eat nothing but chocolate?
Why does life have to be hard?

Our Baby Is Here!

2008-01-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Kate McKinlay Willhite arrived on Tuesday, January 15th at 5:43pm. She came into the world without a lot of fuss. She is sweet and we are glad to have her here! She also has three mothers! Me, Ella, and Mary. Mary thinks it is her baby. She screams "mine!" whenever anyone else tries to hold her. It's going to be a long couple of years.

Book

2008-01-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I finished reading a book called "A Thomas Jefferson Education". Everybody in the whole country ought to read this book. In this book, the author, Oliver Demille tries to sell the reader on studying the classic works of literature.
To those who enjoy reading but don't spend a lot of time on the classics; I encourage you, read them. They may be difficult to read. Keep going. I've abandoned classics myself that were difficult. But when I persevere, it is always worth it.
There were a couple of paragraphs in "A Thomas Jefferson Education" that allude to "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, and how it is a valuable book for studying moral courage. I suddenly remembered my favorite quote in the whole book. I kept thinking about it. Then it was shown on Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday and I thought about that quote again. I decided I'd better write it down on my blog just to get it out of my head. Here it is, for anyone who has struggled to do the right thing (everyone).
First some background: Jane Eyre is hired as a governess in a wealthy man's home. She falls in love with this man and he with her. They decide to get married. At the last possible moment it is revealed that Mr. Rochester is already married (to a madwoman). Jane has decided that she must leave Thornfield Hall. Mr. Rochester begs her to move away with him and become his mistress. He uses every possible argument.
"...for you have neither relatives nor acquaintances whom you need fear to offend by living with me."
"This was true: and while he spoke my very conscience and reason turned traitors against me , and charged me with crime in resisting him. They spoke almost as loud as Feeling: and that clamoured wildly. 'Oh comply!' it said, 'think of his misery; think of his danger-look at his state when left alone; remember his headlong nature; consider the recklessness following on despair-soothe him; save him; love him; tell him you love him and will be his. Who in the world cares for you? or who will be injured by what you do?"
"Still indomitable was the reply- 'I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad-as I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation; they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth-so I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insane-quite insane; with my veins running fire, and my heart beating faster than I can count its throbs. Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot.' "
"I did. Mr. Rochester, reading my countenance, saw I had done so."

I try to remember this quote when I'm tempted to do something bad. It has saved me more than once. Isn't this the best argument there is for reading good books?

A Really Wonderful Day

2008-01-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

Keller was baptized today and it was such a happy event! I felt the Spirit several times during the day and was so touched by the love of our family and friends who were there to encourage Keller in his decision to be baptized. Not that he needed any encouragement. He has been so excited for this day to come. He kept saying to James and I (afterward) "I love being baptized! I'm just so excited!" James told him that the joyful excited feeling he felt was the Holy Ghost telling him that he'd made a good choice.
After the lunch at our house, James and I gave him his scriptures. He was thrilled! He had to take them to the restaurant that we went to for dinner. I don't think they've left his hands all afternoon/evening. He just now came into the room and showed me a scripture verse that he'd found in the Bible that he loved and I guess I'll end this post with it:

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Just a fantastic day, full of the love of God and the joy of what life is really about.

The Return of Victoria

2007-12-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

I still remember the first time I discovered Victoria magazine. I went to the orthodontists office with my friend Jaycee when we were about 15. While she was getting her teeth worked on, I flipped through magazines in the waiting room. I picked up one with a beautiful photograph on it. I opened it and was astounded. There was an entire magazine devoted to the Victorian era?! A magazine for freaks like me who desperately wanted to travel back in time and wear those beautiful dresses, and live in a mansion that looked like a gingerbread house! A magazine filled with hair-do's from the past, food from the past, clothes, home decor and books, ALL FROM THE PAST!!!! I read the magazine faithfully for years until one month it inexplicably disappeared. Years went by with no Victoria.
Fast forward to last month. I stumbled across someone's blog and she happened to mention that Victoria mag was back! James surprised me with a full year subscription for Christmas and it came yesterday in the mail. He let me see it, because, he figured, it would be dumb to read the Christmas issue after Christmas was over. So, the above picture is what I did last night. I consumed an entire box of Godiva chocolates and read Victoria cover to cover. I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Hijacking - Part 2

2007-12-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

It's me, James again. I had one more thought that came to me a few days before the previous one and thought I'd share that too. The other day, as I was pondering while driving in the car somewhat of a parable or parallel came to my mind. The thought occurred to me that reading and praying everyday is like regularly contributing to your savings account. So often it is said, “Pay yourself first” in order to encourage people to contribute to their 401K plans and set aside cash for a rainy day. I have no problem saving money. It is something I want to do. It is something I have made a habit of doing. I should also contribute to my spiritual savings account. Those contributions, for me, need to be made daily thru scripture study and prayer. I know that if I will do this that I will be blessed to find greater blessings from the Lord. He will bless me in the fight against the adversary and will help me be a strong leader to my precious family. There are other parallels that can be drawn from this such as compounding interest being compared to the grace of God and the atonement. Or that when the stock market is low it is usually a good time to invest because of the inevitable rebound in the market. This might be compared to the especial need to read and pray when times are tough and often the Lord will bless you with greater rewards/returns. The main thing that really stands out to me at the moment though is the need to contribute daily to my spiritual savings so that when I retire I might be blessed to have a mansion in heaven.

This Blog Has Been Hijacked!!!

2007-12-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Hi I'm James, Kristy's husband. I'm hijacking Kristy's blog to post a thought that had an impact on me recently and I can't get it out of my head. Since I don't have a blog of my own, and if I did, I'm sure no one would read it, I thought I'd post on my lovely wife's blog instead. So here goes...
A couple weeks ago, I had been helping the kids clean for a couple hours. I had told them several times throughout the day to put things away when they were done playing with them. Kristy and I have been preaching this for as long as they’ve been alive but it seemed to be a theme throughout the day yesterday. So at the end of the day Ella went outside for all of 5 minutes. Shortly thereafter I got in the car to go pick up some dinner and of course Ella had left out her bike, scooter, and a push toy. I discovered this because as I backed out of the driveway I could hear something dragging under the car. It infuriated me to the point that I had to just drive away because I knew I would blow a gasket on Ella if I got out and came into the house to yet again reiterate the day’s theme and tell her to clean up after herself. After a few minutes the steam blew off and I instantly stared to laugh when the thought came to my mind that this is probably how God feels about me. He tells me over, and over, and over, and over again to read and pray EVERY day. I am probably prompted at least once a week to "pick up" (get it?) the pace and yet I don’t do it. How grateful I am for the Lord’s patience with me, for His infinite mercy. I hope I remember these lessons and am more patient and gentle in my admonitions to my children in the future, and also that I might not try the Lord’s patience any further!

Assets and Liabilities

2007-12-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

As we were listening to the Little House books on CD as a family a few months ago, it struck me over and over again how much help the children were to the parents. Children were an asset. I kept thinking about how children are raised today, and how parents give, and give, and give to their children, and these kids sometimes turn out to be black holes of need and want, rarely giving anything back.
In a society like ours, where existence doesn't require all of our time and energy, it can be so easy to spoil a child. I look at the amount of toys and clothes my kids have, and it makes me shudder that they're surrounded by nice things and they don't take care of any of it! Then I listen to the story of Laura Ingalls, and how she cares for that rag doll of hers like it is a treasure. She had one Sunday dress and she was very careful never to get it dirty or tear it.
I'm not suggesting that we take all of our kid's toys away and give them just one set of blocks to play with. We're all products of our time, and it's okay if our kids get their clothes dirty, that's what washing machines are for! But there's a balance somewhere, I'm sure of it. Just as I'm sure that most Americans (and for sure their kids) are on the spoiled side of the line. I think we're producing a generation that "can never get enough of what they don't really need, now, my oh my..." So what do we do? Maybe we could try a couple of these:
1. Teach our kids good stewardship. We (meaning my family) need serious work in this area. Somehow teach them to make the things they've been blessed with last. Maybe if they mistreat a toy, then it gets taken away. Maybe if they leave their toys out to be stepped on and ruined, the toy needs to be put away for a time. I welcome any tips in this area.
2. Teach them not to be "consumers". It gets on my nerves that I'm called a "consumer" by the media, by corporate America, and anyone else trying to get their hands on my money. I devour my fair share of food, products, and resources like everyone else. But I'm more than a guzzler, an inhaler. I don't like to think of myself or my kids as brainless "consumers", prey to the marketing whiles of whatever is touted as "hot" this holiday season. I work hard to keep my kids from wanting the next big thing. One really good way to curb this tendency is to homeschool! Another really good one is to severely limit TV time with its commercials. Think twice before buying toys at random for your kids. Watch and limit the amount of "stuff" that comes into the house. Teach them (when they're old enough) to be savvy to common advertising tactics. Teach them to take the next big thing with a grain of salt. Let them know it really won't change their lives for the better. Be happy yourself, without that next big thing.
3. Wake them up to the fact of want and poverty. Don't just tell them that there are kids out there who don't have as many toys as they do (or any toys at all), show them. Take groceries to a family who has to make a choice between utilities and food. Take toys to a needy family personally if possible. Make a conscious choice to give to those less fortunate and involve your kids in the joy of it. This is a perfect time of year for it.
4. Teach kids to be obedient. Obedience has somehow become a nasty word in our generation of raising children. Like it somehow stifles their individuality or their free will. The truth is, obedience increases freedom. If your kids don't learn obedience from you, they'll have to learn it from a teacher, natural consequences (like heavy debt or bankruptcy, strained personal relationships, or difficulty with employers), or eventually a judicial system, none of whom love your child like you do.
We all hope to raise assets, not liabilities. Assets to us as parents, and assets to the world at large. There are a million different ways to parent. We're all trying to do the best we can. Maybe these tips will help you, maybe they won't make any sense at all. Take them or leave them. They're just my two cents!
Kristy

Just a Fun Website...

2007-12-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

If you homeschool, you've probably heard of or seen this site, but it is so fun! It has all kinds of fun, interesting and fascinating videos (mostly taken from YouTube). There are science experiments, music videos, poetry put to music, funny animals, decomposing fruit and veggies...I promise your kids will love it. Here is the link:

greathomeschoolvideos.com

Enjoy the site!
Kristy

What I Don't Do

2007-12-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a woman should run faster than she has strength." Mosiah 4:27

This post is prompted by three things: a previous post I did about how women can't do it all, and a post on my sister in law Lindsay's blog about how she thinks she's lazy (she's definitely not), and a great comment from my mother in law regarding Lindsay's "lazy post".

Here are some things that I've decided not to spend my time on in this season of my life:
I don't shop. Except for groceries.
I don't garden.
I don't do crafts.
I've decided to not sew anymore, for now.
I don't decorate my house.
I don't scrapbook.
I don't devote time to bettering my cooking skills. I feed the family and get it over with.
I don't play a musical instrument.
I don't "entertain".
I don't exercise regularly (though I would like to change that).
I have just decided that "couponing" will have to wait awhile.
I don't work outside the home.
I don't do service outside of my church calling.
I don't do household projects, such as painting a room.
I'm not involved in any sports.
I don't collect things.

There are many more things that I don't do, but I won't list them all. This isn't meant to be a negative post. I'm looking at it calmly and have made the decision not to do these things right now because every thing we do takes time and energy, and there's only so much that I have. When you make the decision to do something, there is another activity that you won't be able to do. Obviously, there are other things that I do spend time and energy on, and those are the things that I have chosen for this part of my life. Almost all of the things on this list are things that I wish I could do, and things that I want to do. But based on my limited time and endurance, I've chosen to do other things. And I'm glad! I wouldn't want to be doing them all at the same time!
So, now. What have you chosen not to do? Let's all celebrate what we don't do!
Kristy

Carschooling

2007-11-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

Don't waste the time you spend in the car. Lately I've been amazed at how much my kids are able to learn while we're out and about. The main way that they've learned is through tapes and CD's.
We've listened to the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I can't say enough about these books! What a peek inside the life of a farming family a century ago. You'll have to hear it to believe some of the things they knew how to do. It was a good look at what every day life was really like for average people back then.
We've listened to Egyptian, Greek, and Roman myths and legends and they're fascinating! There is a particular guy who narrates these really well. His name is Jim Weiss. Look for CD's by him in your library's books on tape for children. They're not to be missed!
I ordered a series of CD's about the lives of the great composers. Though not as fascinating and well done as the Jim Weiss series, (I wish he would do some of the composers!) these have certainly been educational and have introduced my kids to the beautiful music and the lives of these interesting men.
Lately we've been listening to the multiplication tables put to music. It's pretty painful to listen to, I must admit. But, maybe it will help them learn their multiplication facts!
I've also seen CD's about the state capitals, and tons of other educational subjects...give it a try!
Oh! And by the way, there is an added perk to listening to stories in the car...the kids fight a lot less!
Happy Homeschooling,
Kristy

The Floating Baby

2007-11-20T16:37:00.001-07:00

Is the floating baby countdown at the bottom of my blog giving anyone else the creeps? It should kick or move or something.

Our Past Projects

2007-11-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

This post was Jen's idea. She wanted me to post a list of the projects that my kids have enjoyed. Did you notice I don't have a picture for this post? That's because I'm a slacker mom when it comes to taking pictures. That's one of the best things about creating this blog; I'm taking more! So my one big piece of advice for homeschoolers (and non-homeschoolers) out there: TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE HAVING FUN DOING A PROJECT! Most of the history projects come from The Story of the World Activity Book One: Ancent Times. The science projects come from various books about science experiments and from the Noeo Young Scientists Club and various science books from the library.

History Projects: (Throughout these history projects there are coloring pages and map work pages for every country and geographic area we studied. My kids love their map work!)

I took them to an abandoned field to do an "archaeology dig".
I sent them out in the back yard to make a hut or shelter using whatever they could find to simulate how the nomads lived.
We made a model of the Nile River complete with grass seed, dirt, and rocks. We "flooded" it every week or so over a period of a few weeks and watched the grass (crops) grow.
We made cuneiform tablets out of clay and they wrote their names in cuneiform.
Made a Heiroglyphic scroll.
Made pyramids out of sugar cubes.
Made stained glass windows to show how the Phoenicians made glass.
Made a Moses and the Ten Plagues sticker book.
Drew pictures of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Made an erupting volcano like the one that erupted on the island of Crete.
Made a greek charm bracelet out of Shrinky Dinks. Charms included the Parthenon, a greek olympic cup, grapes, and spartan warriors.
Made comic books about the Spartans.
Made a sculpture of the Parthenon out of blocks.
Made a roman Fasces.
Ran a roman restaurant.
Made a roman aqueduct.
Played the "Ransom Caesar Game". (Like Battleship)

Still to do:
Mint our own coins
Learn the Roman Numerals
Make a mosaic calendar.
Make pendants with secret pockets (the early Christians had to keep their identity a secret).
Make a Life of Jesus Puzzle.
Make a Shabbat sand art candle holder. (the end of the ancient Jewish Nation).
Make Nero's new crown.
Make a salt dough map of italy.
Make a secret symbol like the early Christian symbol of the fish.
Make Constantine's shield.
Have a Celtic Feast.
Reassemble a Roman pot.
Read the Cat in the Hat in Latin!!!????

Science projects:
We grew bacteria!
Made a weather station.
Grew plants.
Made models of the heart and lungs.
Tested our lung capacity using straws and 2-liter bottles.
Put Alka Seltzer and water in film canisters to demonstrate how rockets take off.
Made a model of the Solar system.
Made constellation viewers out of film canisters.
Demonstrated the magnetic pull of the moon on the ocean using magnets.
Compared the size of the sun and the earth using Cheerios.

I can't overstate how effective projects are at "cementing" information into kids' brains (at least my kids). It seems like once we've done a project or experiments for that subject, they just never forget it!

The Weekly Prediction

2007-11-19T12:41:00.001-07:00

Our weekly menu:
Monday: Taco Salad
Tuesday: Spaghetti
Wednesday: White Chili
Thursday: Thanksgiving
Friday: Turkey Sandwiches
Saturday: Pizza or go out
Sunday: Turkey Sandwiches

My to do list:
Order James's Christmas gift
Order next week's library books
Make reminder cards for talks in primary
Order scriptures for Kell
Plan Keller's birthday party
Call mom about Christmas present ideas for the kids
Call Regan and plan Christmas Primary activity
Wrap Morgan's gift
Chop fruit and make dip for Co-op party
Make stuffing and cream cheese filling for pumpkin roll

Our library books this week:
Shakespeare: the animated tales (Julius Ceasar)
Julius Caesar: great dictator of Rome
Scat, Cat!
Mousekin's Thanksgiving
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Thanksgiving
Ancient Rome and Pompeii
Three Young Pilgrims
Miss Swiss
Hunk of Junk
Apollo 13: space emergency
The Celts
Roman numerals I to MM
Thanksgiving on Thursday
The Usborne first encyclopedia of space
Space Disasters
Cleopatra the queen of kings
Twister on Tuesday
Thanksgiving is...

Homeschooling; the Nuts and Bolts (Part 2)

2007-11-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in the last post that we homeschool using the classical method. This post is a look at how we actually do it, for anyone who's curious.

From The Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer:
"What is classical education? It is language-intensive, not image-focused. It demands that students use and understand words, not video images. It is history-intensive, providing students with a comprehensive view of human endeavor from the beginning until now. It trains the mind to analyze and draw conclusions. It demands self-discipline. It produces literate, curious, intelligent students who have a wide range of interests and the ability to follow up on them."
There are four periods of history repeated three times that we will study. The ancients are studied in grades 1, 5, and 9. The Medieval-Early Renaissance is studied in grades 2, 6, and 10; Late Renaissance-early modern in grades 3, 7, and 11. And the Modern period is studied in grades 4, 8, and 12. By the time they reach twelfth grade, they will have studied each period three times delving a little deeper in the middle grades until in the upper grades, they are studying from unabridged primary documents and books. Clear as mud?
There are three stages of a student's classical education: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. Grammar is grades 1-4, and the students in this stage are eager to learn, curious, and love to memorize things! It is the time to gather knowledge. In the Logic stage, students start to question why things are done the way they are, and supposedly, kids in this stage love to "trick" adults, and be know-it-alls. They learn to recognize fallacies and false statements. Formal logic is introduced in this stage. Rhetoric is the stage where the student learns to express thoughts with "fluency, grace, elegance, and persuasiveness". Rhetoric stands on the shoulders of the first two stages. To make a clear argument about anything, a student needs to have knowledge and the ability to weigh the value of any statement.
So how we do school on a daily basis? This is our daily checklist:
Journal
Scripture Pictures
Math
Spelling
Memory Work (a video of Keller memorizing a scripture).
Latin
History (Mon, Wed, and Friday) Science Tues. and Thurs.
Reading
Grammar

At the beginning of every week, I put all of Keller's work into the folders labeled with the day of the week (in latin! That way he will have to learn the days of the week in latin!). On the right of the picture above, you can see our checklist. He just has to look at each subject, read what pages to do, and do it! This way, he knows when he's done, or how much further he has to go.

We start school at about 8:30 am and we rarely go past lunchtime, unless we have a project or something. After school, the kids are free to read, play with kids in the neighborhood, build forts, dig up worms...the sky's the limit. This is also when we do extra things like field trips, group activities (like homeschool co-op), ballet lessons and scouts. I told my sis-in-law Lindsay a few weeks ago that my kids aren't allowed to watch tv. The truth is, my kids don't ask to watch it! I put a cost of one ticket for one half hour of tv, and they always choose to do something else with their ticket. I occasionally put in a science or history video, if it ties in with the lesson. Sometimes you just have to get a visual of how big the solar system is to really understand it!

So that's pretty much how our days and weeks go by. With science and history, we do the reading on Monday through Wednesday, then on Thursday and Friday afternoons we do our projects and experiments. If anyone has any questions about what books or programs we use for specific subjects, post a comment! I love homeschooling. My kids tell me they do too!

Homeschooling; the Nuts and Bolts (Part 1)

2007-11-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

This post comes from an email I sent to someone requesting more information about homeschooling. A lot of people have questions about the details of homeschooling. I'll try to answer some of those questions in this post, and in part 2.
Although I think homeschooling is wonderful and we have a great time doing it, it isn't for everybody. So don't feel bad if after you've researched the idea you feel it's not for you. There is so much to ask about homeschooling, isn't there? There are tons of different ways to do it. Here are a few that I know of:
1. First, is distance learning. I think this is what most people picture when they imagine homeschooling. You sign up for a complete curriculum and an accredited school (like Calvert) will send you the materials in the mail, and you do what it says. Like I said, it's a complete curriculum. You don't prepare any of the work and you don't choose what materials your children learn from. There is a program here in Utah called k12. Basically, it's public school done at home through the computer and various books. They even send you science materials! It's also free! I think there are only certain times of the year that you can sign up for this though.
2. The Classical approach. This is what we do. This method is best described as the education that our founding fathers had. It's the study of great books through the ages from ancient to modern using a system called the Trivium (Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric). It's academically rigorous. If this sounds interesting to you, a wonderful book to read is called The Well Trained Mind. It will guide you from 1st grade to 12th and tell you exactly how to do it.
3. Unschooling. Unschooling is the polar opposite of the Classical approach. Unschooling is child led education. As I understand it, the child sort of decides what they will learn about and how much they will learn. They are free to follow their interests, talents, and passions.
4. Charlotte Mason. The Charlotte Mason sounds similar to the classical approach with more of an emphasis on narrating what you've read and encouraging students to spend lots of time in nature.
5. Eclectic. Eclectic is a little of every approach. I guess this is us too.
I think all of the methods have truth and merit to them. There are more approaches that I've barely even heard of!
If homeschooling sounds like something you'd like to try you should read a book called Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Getting Started Homeschooling. She outlines the legal requirements for homeschooling, answers basic questions, and gives you a few things you need to know before you start. Then she goes into each approach in more detail than I did and directs you to different resources for each approach.
The most important things to know or think about before homeschooling in my opinion are:
1. Choose a method that speaks to you and seems to fit your family and parenting style. Don't try to do it the way someone else does. You've got to do what works for you .
2. If you're going to homeschool, you need to enjoy being with your child/children.
3. Homeschooling won't solve discipline problems. However, homeschooling provides you with time to get to know your child better, and you are more aware of what is causing the trouble.
4. It's a sacrifice of time on the part of mom (or whoever is responsible for the teaching). Your hobbies will have to wait (at least until the kids are in bed for the night).
In the next part of the post, I'll get into the classical approach in a little more detail and show you what our typical day looks like.
Good luck,
Kristy

Dinner's Back!

2007-11-09T17:10:00.001-07:00

As I was putting away my groceries this afternoon, I read this on the grocery bags:
"How to prevent underage drinking:
Buy Groceries
Make Dinner
Eat Together
Studies show children and teens who eat dinner with their families at least five times per week are 35% less likely to use alcohol. To learn more, visit ParentsEmpowered.org"

When I don't cook dinner, I find that our evenings are so disjointed. The kids wander off somewhere, ( I usually feed them kid food on the nights I don't cook, like mac n cheese) bored and lost. James hops on the computer to check and recheck football scores. I guess he figures if there's not going to be any dinner, he's off the hook for hanging out with the family. And me? I'm slinking off into a corner somewhere reading a book, but not enjoying it because I know that sooner or later, one or all of us is going to get hungry and I'm going to have to do something about it. The kids end up staying up later which ends up making me irritable. I usually do cook. I hate it when I don't. So, in honor of dinner, I'm going to post our weekly dinner menu. What's everybody else having for dinner this week? If you've read this post, consider yourself "tagged"! You have to post your dinner plans this week on your blog for me to read! So without further ado, here is our menu for the week. (Drumroll).
Friday: Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Saturday: Tomato Bisque (I'm bringing it to the ward dinner).
Sunday: Pork Roast, potatoes, and broccoli
Monday: I'm going to try to recreate the Cafe Rio Pork Salad, wish me luck!
Tuesday: Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad
Wednesday: Pork Burritos
Thursday: Barbeque Chicken, cole slaw, biscuits (and no, we're not going to KFC)!
Can you tell pork was on sale for .99 cents/lb?
Well, I'm off to make dinner!
Kristy

Let the kids make a mess!

2007-11-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

Picture a kitchen sometime in the 50's. There is a mother in the kitchen putting cherry pie filling into a pressure cooker. She loads up the cooker and intentionally sets the pressure too high and doesn't latch the lid tightly. On purpose! She turns on the pressure cooker. The pressure builds up and soon the lid flies off and, like a miniature volcano, the cherry pie filling is launched all over the kitchen, covering the ceiling and cupboards with thick dripping oozing red gunk. Later she will clean it up. She'll scrub down the ceiling, the counters, the floor, and the cupboards. She willfully exploded the cherries so that her 8 year old son could indulge his passion for filming movies. He wanted something that looked like blood dripping from the cupboards.
At the age of 13, her son is still shooting movies, charging 25 cents for the kids in the neighborhood to come see his movies while his sister sells popcorn. At 16, the boy writes and directs his first independent film and it is shown at the local movie theater and makes a profit of $100. A writer for the local newspaper expected great things to come from the young filmmaker.
Later in life he creates films called:
Jaws
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T.
The Indiana Jones Series
Poltergeist
Gremlins
Back To the Future
The Land Before Time
Jurassic Park
Schindler's List
Minority Report
Saving Private Ryan

Yes, the boy shooting horror films in the kitchen was Steven Spielberg. What a nice mom he must have had. I remember this story every time my kids ask me to do something messy. Who knows what great things they will do someday if they're able to follow their passions, however messy. I would have made him clean up the cherries, though!
Kristy

Women and their guilt!

2007-11-05T15:53:00.001-07:00

Moroni 10:8 "And again, I exhort you, my sisters, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many;and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto women, to profit them."

I think it's time to put to rest the myth of the woman who "has it all". No woman has it all or does it all. No woman. I think one of the dangers of reading fashion or celebrity magazines, watching tv shows, or even reading other people's blogs is this tendency women have of looking at an image or reading a short message and thinking, "Wow, that woman really has it all together!" A woman's next thought will surely be "I really need to get my act together." What we don't realize when we read magazines or blogs is that they are a snapshot. One moment. A few minutes in another woman's brain, or one look at the way another woman cleans, cooks, raises her children, or decorates her house. What we don't see is the real life that goes on behind and beyond that image. We don't see the dirty dishes in the sink, the baby crying in mom's arms and the toddler smelling like she needs a diaper change while the older two are bickering over a toy.
Now don't get me wrong. I love blogging and I love to read other blogs. I read home decorating and sometimes even fashion magazines. I like to see what other women are doing, and I like to steal their ideas for cleaning schedules, homeschool ideas, and meal plans, and outfits! But we women need to remember: It's only one small moment in her day, her life. She has faults! We all do. She has talents you wish you had. We all do. It's so easy to get on someone else's website and melt into a puddle of inadequacy. After all, there is Superwoman, dispensing wisdom and tips and so clearly more talented and hard working than you. But that's the problem. None of us live in cyberspace and not one of us is Superwoman. She never existed, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we can go about our lives, taking information and ideas when they are helpful, and having a healthy respect for the gifts of others.
If my children were perfect and I had no challenges at home or in my life, I would have nothing to blog about. I try to choose to write my blog when I'm upbeat and when I feel like I have something to offer others. I've always felt that there is enough written about how difficult motherhood and family life is. I like to look at the flip side and celebrate how wonderful it is too.
Homemaking is not about showing off or "having it all together". There are so many different gifts and talents from woman to woman. Let's thank God for the gifts He has given us (if you don't know what they are, pray for Heavenly Father to reveal them to you), cultivate the ones we find within us, respect and praise those who have other gifts, and not berate ourselves for not having the same ones. It will never benefit us to slink into despondency over a sister who has an eye for photography, just make sure you have her name and number when it's time for a family portrait! Some women cook gourmet meals, some take beautiful pictures of their families, some have such an artists eye for scrapbooking and crafts, others are wonderfully organized and their homes are a haven, still others design or sew beautiful clothes for their girls. You have talents! Don't ever doubt it.
If I've ever come across as perfection please forgive me and remember that electrons on a screen cannot compare with a personal heart-to-heart. If you start to feel like you're not measuring up to a cyberspace or glossy yard stick, feel free to come back, read this again, and refresh your memory. Now, if I can just practice what I'm preaching!
With love,
Kristy

Pumpkin Roll!

2007-11-02T15:55:00.001-06:00

This was the dessert we had at book club last week. It was soooo good. Give it a try!

Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs

1 cup sugar (could probably be cut down)

1 tsp. lemon juice

2/3 cup pumpkin

¾ cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

½ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. salt

Beat eggs, then add sugar, lemon juice and pumpkin; mix. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Line a jelly roll pan (large cookie sheet) with greased waxed paper, and grease the sides of the pan. Pour batter into pan and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle a towel with powdered sugar and lay hot cake on towel, remove wax paper and roll. Cool in rolled position.

Filling:

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

6 oz. cream cheese

2 Tbsp. margarine (soft)

½ tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar and cream cheese, then add margarine and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Unroll cooled cake and spread frosting. Roll up again. Wrap in foil and freeze. Remove from freezer 30 minutes prior to serving and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into 1 inch slices.

Maisie Dobbs, A Ladylike Detective!

2007-11-01T22:19:00.000-06:00

A good mystery is so fun to read, but up until lately, most of the mystery books were kind of shallow, more focused on the story than the characters. The content in lots of the mystery series too has been nasty, graphic, or peppered with the sexual exploits of the female detective solving the case.
I'm happy to recommend a wonderful alternative. The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear is a mystery series that is thoughtful, compassionate, and clean. Maisie Dobbs is a young woman living in post WWI London. She calls herself a "psychologist and investigator". She grew up as a working class servant and through her intelligence and work ethic, is rewarded with an unusual education that has provided her with the career that she enjoys so much. This mystery series features good writing, interesting characters, and great stories.
One of the first things I want to buy when I get this baby out of me is a little navy blue skirt suit, like the one Maisie wears. If you give this series a read I know you'll like it!
Happy reading,
Kristy

Fear vs. Faith

2007-11-01T16:58:00.000-06:00

I've been living in fear a lot lately. Have you ever immersed yourself in a sorrow that doesn't exist? For example, James left for Denver early this morning. Instead of going back to sleep like a reasonable person, I laid awake thinking "What if his plane goes down?" Then I thought about the sorrow I would go through if he died. I would look at his whiskers in the sink and think "He's never coming back..." Same goes for the clothes in his closet, his grey sweatpants he always puts on at the end of the day. I don't know why I do this. I've done it with each of my children and other members of my family. Does anyone else do this? Why?
With this pregnancy, I can't stop dwelling on the fear that something will go wrong again. What if the baby dies? What if I die? I've even started writing instructions for James in case something happens to me.
Should I try to stop thinking this way? Or does this kind of imagined fear serve some kind of purpose?
Faith is the opposite of fear, so do you just have faith that nothing will happen and refuse to entertain the possibility that something might happen? Hmmm...what a weird post for me.
Kristy

Kids Bored With Schoolwork? Play A Game!

2007-10-27T10:44:00.000-06:00

I have a secret weapon in my homeschool. When the kids get bored or the day is ho-hum, I pull out an educational game. It's like sneaking blended up vegetables into macaroni and cheese. Your kids don't even know it's there, and they gobble it up. When we play these math games at our house, my kids don't even realize that they're practicing math. To them, they're just playing games with mom and having fun.
Math is an especially easy subject to practice with games. I started this when Keller was just 4. We took a set of dice and we each rolled one. He would count up the dots on the dice and decide who "won" that toss (whoever got the biggest number). Another easy "game" is to grab some cans of food out of your cupboard and label them with prices. Then give your kids a pile of coins and a shopping basket and tell them they have to come up with the right amount of money for each item. I remember my kids always begging me to not stop whenever we did that one. It was so easy and fun, and they learned some simple adding and the value of each coin in a heartbeat.
In language arts you can make a stack of nouns on index cards, some proper and some common, and they have to choose which ones are proper. Whoever grabs the most cards with proper nouns wins. These are some cheap and homemade games.
When you step into the world of manufactured educational games and products, your head will swim with the possibilities.
I bought an expensive globe last year and worried that I would regret it. It's called the
Oregon Scientific SmartGlobe.It has a game programmed into it that lets you compete against one another for who can find the most continents, countries, capitals of countries, and states. I've never had to devote any time to geography as a separate subject because of this globe (combined with mapwork during history and a large world map that we have on the wall).
There are entire web sites and catalogs devoted to educational games. Here are a couple:
Excellence In Education
Mindware
Love To Learn

Whether you homeschool or not, play an educational game with your kids. They'll have fun, and you'll be happy knowing that they're learning! So go have fun with your kids!

Until later,
Kristy

Simple Pleasures

2007-10-25T16:43:00.001-06:00

A tribute to the simple pleasures of life today. Like classic books and knitting to keep me busy when the kids are in bed. It's book club tonight and I'm looking forward to the discussion. Our book this quarter was so good, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. Here's a wonderful quote about getting lost in a good book, taken from a book I just finished:
"The minutes and hours glided by as in a dream. When the cathedral bells tolled midnight, I barely heard them. Under the warm light cast by the reading lamp, I was plunged into a new world of images and sensations, peopled by characters who seemed as real to me as my room. Page after page I let the spell of the story and its world take me over, until the breath of dawn touched my window and my tired eyes slid over the last page. I lay in the bluish half-light with the book on my chest and listened to the murmur of the sleeping city. My eyes began to close, but I resisted. I did not want to lose the story's spell or bid farewell to its characters yet." -Carlos Ruiz Zafon The Shadow of the Wind.

Another simple pleasure is being able to hold your baby close and cuddle for a while. This pleasure doesn't come often enough for me, since Mary isn't a cuddler, but she's been sick and so I've been able to just hold her in my arms today. It won't be long until she's kicked out of her baby status by a new sister. How quick the time went. Enjoy your babies!
Until later,
Kristy

I'll Bet the Romans Didn't Have It This Hard!

2007-09-18T16:56:00.000-06:00

As you can see in the photo above, we've been studying the Romans! This is Keller, Ella, and James dressed in their Roman togas when the kids opened their Roman restaurant. We had a blast! We served simple foods like plums, cheese, soup, and bread. James and I had to pay for our dinner with "Roman coins".
The following week, we took a stab at making our Roman aqueduct. The photo above is the very messy sand dough that we had to cook first.

Keller and Ella, putting scrollwork on their aqueducts.

After we shaped the aqueducts, they had to be baked. Here they are, coming out of the oven!

Disaster! One of the aqueduct bridges fell down and we tried several times to repair it, but it was no use.

After many attempts with the sand dough, we settled on building blocks! Here's a very happy Keller with his halfway done aqueduct.

Success! We put the "pipe" on the top, and the "holding tank" down below, and poured water through it, hoping for the best.

Here is a live shot of the aqueduct and the enthusiasm:
Our Aqeduct Video
We started this project at about 1pm. It wasn't working until about 4:30! This took way longer than I predicted. The beauty of homeschool though, is that if something isn't working, you can always try something else. I hope the kids learned a lot even though we failed at first. Keller said "I bet the Romans didn't have it this hard!"
Until later,
Kristy

This Classroom Will Now Come To Order!

2007-08-28T16:48:00.000-06:00

In spite of my previous post about keeping school in session for the summer, we took a brief break! Vacations are an educational experience of their own kind and we've been on quite a few! The picture above is from our beloved river cabin in northern Idaho.
Now it's time to gain the momentum for school to officially start again. In this post, I offer a few resources and curriculum ideas that I'm particularly excited about:

First, I have a homeschool planner that I ordered from lovetolearn.net. It is an excellent resource! I have used Franklin Covey for years, but finally had to face the fact that it seems meant for people who work outside the home, not for full time homemakers and homeschoolers! I've tried other planners as well, but none really helped me feel as organized as this one. It has a place for weekly personal goals, phone calls, menu lists, church callings, and shopping and errand lists as well as your basic weekly schedule. In this planner (which comes punched for a standard sized three ring binder), I put my science experiment materials needed lists, library book lists, and lists of items needed for history projects. Now I don't need to wander into the school room and locate each separate subject binder to locate items needed for our activities! It's all in one place and if I'm out running errands, I can quickly scan the lists for what we need. Brilliant.

Second, I downloaded yearly goal master pages for each child from donnayoung.org. On each child's page, there is room for each subject, the goals stated for that year, the resources or curriculum to be used and its cost. This has really helped me focus on what I want them to learn for each subject this year, and it has kept me from forgetting some of the great books and games we have on hand.

Third, we're starting Latin this year! Were going to try Prima Latina. I'll let you know how it goes! Have a great time in your homeschool this year!
Until later,
Kristy

Be Legitimate!

2007-07-03T14:52:00.001-06:00

My homeschooling affidavit came in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Time to renew our legal permission to homeschool! I'm publishing this post as a reminder to get or stay legal. In most states, this is a very easy task. Make up a letter of intent to homeschool, have it notarized, and send it in to your local school district. A couple of weeks later, the school district will send a certificate of exemption, and you're good to go! Note: This is how it works in my state, your state will differ. For details on how to be legally sanctioned in your state, visit the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Until later,
Kristy

Homeschooling; The Peaceful Path

2007-07-02T17:24:00.000-06:00

Every time I tell someone that I homeschool, I almost always hear something like this: "Oh, I could never do that. It would be way too much stress." Or, "I don't know how you do it", "do you still plan on homeschooling now that you're pregnant?" And each time I hear one of these comments, I try to convince whoever I'm talking to that homeschooling is really not that stressful. When I tell people this I'm always met with bewildered expressions that seem to say; "How can that be?"

I think people view homeschooling as a slave-like devotion to the education of your children to the exclusion of all else. I think when other mothers try to envision themselves homeschooling, they imagine a "school day" that begins at 8am and doesn't end until 3 or 4pm, leaving little or no time for housework, baby care, social pursuits, meal preparation, or free time. Visions of a house hopelessly cluttered with science projects, papers, books, and pencils seem to enter their heads, scaring off many moms from the idea.

The reality, based on my own experience and that of other homeschool moms I've met in the community, is that homeschooling is remarkably peaceful.

There is no 7am rush to get everybody fed, dressed, combed, brushed, and out the door with permission slips signed, homework done, and show and tell items accounted for.

There is no worrying about the latest playground drama and how it will affect your child today.

There is no juggling of younger children when you go do your volunteer day in the classroom so that you can stay involved and connected to your child's education.

There are no fund raisers where you need to drive your child around the neighborhood to hawk cookie dough for money that will probably never directly benefit your child.

There is no homework after school is done! I can't imagine having to help with homework after I've put in a full day at home with younger children, housework, meals, etc. No wonder many parents end up yelling at their kids over homework! This is the most stressful part of the day for everybody. Kids are hungry, mom is trying to get dinner on the table, and dad has put in a long day at work. Not to mention the fact that the parents weren't the ones giving the initial instruction, so they have to spend twenty minutes reading the material so that they can explain the concept in a way the child will understand.

I start school at 9am and we're done at noon. I've found this to be enough time to get every subject covered and covered well. As my children grow older, I imagine they will be devoting more time to their academics. However, they will be older, and will require less one on one instruction, and I anticipate moving into more of a guiding, than a teaching role.

Life is stressful no matter what you choose to do. I happen to believe that homeschooling offers less stress about trivial matters. If I'm going to be stressed, I'd rather be stressed about something that matters!

Until later,
Kristy

Testing, testing...

2007-06-18T11:54:00.000-06:00

In states where yearly testing isn't required, many home school parents come to the question; "Should we have our child tested?" This is a brief explanation of why we had our first grader tested this year.

First, my husband, though he is supportive of our homeschooling adventure wanted some sort of proof that Keller was really learning all he needed to know. I know he was kind of uneasy when he found out how little time was actually devoted to academics (3 hrs. max). He wondered how Keller could possibly be learning what he needed to in that amount of time when the public schools apparently needed so much more of our child's time to do the same. Also, we would skip a day here or there or sometimes even a week during the holidays, or when someone wasn't feeling well. He kept asking me, "Do you think he's learning everything?" I kept saying "yes", but he kept asking. Finally I asked him if it would make him feel more at ease if I gave Keller a standardized national test. This turned out to be an easy process. I ordered the test from Family Learning Organization, administered the test over about a week, and sent it in for scoring. The scores came back about a week later, and that was the end of "Do you think he's really learning everything? How do you think he compares with other kids his age?" In The Well Trained Mind it is quoted "Test results demand respect." I've found this to be true. I must say, it put my fears to rest, too. Even if the test results had been different, at least we could have seen where we needed to fill in the holes.

The second reason why it seemed like a good idea to have him tested was just to get him used to the experience of taking tests. Sooner or later he will have to take one, and if it's not a new experience, hopefully it will involve less anxiety for him. That's it.

I know there are other ways in which to gauge how much a child knows, but as a tool for capitulating any homeschool naysayers, testing still seems to be the gold standard.

Until later,
Kristy

Guidelines for Homeschool Success

2007-06-13T12:15:00.001-06:00

Yes, I know that we've only been at it for a year, but here are some things that I've learned along the way. These are my top tips for a successful homeschool.

1. School happens every day. No ifs ands or buts. I have found time and again that if I slack of for even one day, then I will hear about it for at least a week in the form of whining and complaining. When the kids know that chores and school need to be done before anything else, the complaining magically goes away. Your consistency is absolutely necessary if you want cheerful obedience when it's time to crack the books.

2. Get up before your kids! If I make it a point to get up before my kids, I'm so much more ahead. I can get the dishes unloaded and a load of laundry put in and be showered before I need to respond to requests for matching pants, and new hair do's.

3. Be cheerful. If you approach school with a smile on your face and some excitement in your voice, it will be contagious. If you get to the school room use a bored voice and a "we have to get this done" attitude, once again, your kids will catch that attitude too. Come to school as if it's an adventure (which it is), and you'll have excited kids, ready to learn.

4. Choose good materials. It's possible to wrestle an education out of black and white science books from the 1960's that you found at a garage sale, but I prefer to use the exciting homeschool materials that are being produced today. The majority of these are excellent teaching tools with little or no preparation required from the mom. Using the most excellent teaching materials you can afford makes a huge difference in you child's learning. If a program or curriculum isn't working for you, SWITCH IT! That's the beauty of homeschooling, the freedom to choose what is best for your children and you!

5. Throw in some flair now and then. One week this year, the kids were lagging and seemed really bored. In a moment of desperation, I thought up "the school candle". I lit the school candle whenever we started school and blew it out when we were done. I don't know why, but the kids absolutely loved this. Sometimes, my son gets disenchanted with one of his subjects. I find that taking a few days and playing math games instead of doing his Singapore workbook will infuse some life into the subject. When he got bored with writing and spelling, I taught him a few cursive letters and he ate it up! Try to make things fresh every now and then. Sometimes all it takes is lighting a candle!

Happy homeschooling,
Kristy

Happy homeschooling,
Kristy

In Favor of Schooling Through the Summer!

2007-06-11T13:17:00.000-06:00

It is so tempting to break for the summer like everyone else! Here, a few reasons why you might want to rethink taking an entire summer siesta.
First and most obvious; kids will forget much less if they continue to work through the summer. I have heard others say that the entire first third of the math books deal with math from the previous year so as to bring kids up to speed from the long summer mental sabbatical. It just doesn't make sense to not keep up! It seems to me that if you go on through the summer, your kids will be that much more ahead in their academics.
Second, you don't have to struggle through that difficult first month or so of school in the fall when it seems the kids brains are still asleep and their academic habits have been forgotten. I always notice that when we take a break for the holidays or some other reason, even if it's just for a week, it takes twice the effort to get everybody going again! If they're already used to schoolwork then you can continue seamlessly into the next school year.
Third, it's fun! By about the third day of summer, kids are bored anyway. Why not continue school with it's science experiments and history projects, math games and journal writing? I have found so far that if I keep it fun and loose and have a good attitude myself, my kids get a kick out of learning! Summer is a great time for all those big projects or educational field trips or day trips that you never seem to get to in the colder busier months of the year. Why not take the kids to an abandoned field and let them do an archaeology dig? Have them set up a small business selling things to learn about money and how to run a business-it could even be something as simple as a table and chairs and a pitcher of lemonade to sell.
Summer is a great time of year. Time for daydreaming, swimming, playing with friends, and time for learning! Make sure you allow enough time for the fun things of summer and add a couple of educational projects and your kids won't complain about summer school!
Until later,
Kristy

Social Education

2006-11-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

I believe that kids have a definite social need. Sometimes as homeschoolers, we focus so heavily on the academic part of homeschooling that we leave little time or energy for cultivating our children's social skills. These social skills are just as important. Why is it important? A person who lacks social finesse as an adult will be hobbled in their business associations or career. They will probably have a hard time finding a wife/husband. They will lack the comfort and happiness that having a set of close friends brings. Many times I have met or observed someone who seems to have all the book smarts in the world but absolutely no social grace. It is almost painful to watch. As human beings we must come in contact with other people, and there are certain rules you have to know for getting along with others. As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children how to be successful social beings. The keys to opening the door to a satisfying social life are good manners.
In this day and age I think the word "manners" has become a synonym for stuffy, antiquated knowledge of which fork to use at a twelve course dinner. This is not what manners are. Manners are thinking about others and what would be the nicest for them. The absolute most important area in which to have manners is conversation. Talking with each other is the way we get to know each other. If you cannot speak to another person without offending or annoying or boring, you will not get very far in business, with friends, or even with family. For an intense study of manners in conversation, I would recommend reading a book on manners with a large section on conversation. Letitia Baldridges Guide to a Great Social Life is a good one, though out of print, I believe. For now just a couple of hints that I've learned the hard way:
First: Think before you speak! In some cases think three times before you speak. By doing this you will avoid embarrassing yourself or others by saying something stupid, unkind, insensitive, or too personal. Always think of the effect your words will have on the group or the person!
Second: A good conversationalist will be genuinely interested in the other person and ask questions about his/her interests. There will be give and take. Neither party should be doing all the talking.
Third: If you know that others in the room have different political or religious views, avoid these subjects. There are so many other topics of conversation that are interesting.

Start with these tips and teach your kids to do the same. You will be giving them a valuable asset.
We threw a last minute Halloween party for the kids on Halloween. We had about sixteen kids come! It is so good for kids to learn how to behave in social settings! Plan for socail activities with your kids. Budget your time for it. It's just as important as Math!

A Word About Homeschooling and Housework

2006-10-11T11:39:00.000-06:00

One of the major roadblocks for families wanting to homeschool is "What about housework?" It was a major concern for me, too. While in the research faze of homeschooling, I think I read about every book out there on homeschooling. Each one seemed to give the impression that housework would suffer. It seemed that homeschooling and keeping a clean home just didn't mix. Alas.

This was discouraging to me because I'm a person who needs to have a clean house to be happy. That doesn't necessarily mean that my house is clean all the time. But when it isn't, I feel irritable, short on patience, and inadequate. I know that many people out there feel the same way, and so, a few tips on keeping house while homeschooling.

First, establish a system in which the children are helping out! I cannot overstate this. Children need to work. They need to feel that they are contributing to the family and the home. They need to be trained in basic cleaning skills so that when they grow up, marry and start their own families, they will not be a burden on their spouse and children. I've struggled for years to find a way of getting kids to help that made sense. Until recently, that "system" was just asking and nagging them into it. We tried a couple of chart systems with limited success. I finally found a plan that works for us. It's called Accountable Kids. It's based on the law of the harvest; "you reap what you sow". If they don't complete their chores, they don't recieve basic privileges like playing with friends. It puts the responsibility on them, not the parent. So far, it works for us. Find one that works for you. Make a list of every chore that your kids need to do every day. Get them doing these chores for about a week. Then add weekly chores that are bigger for which they can be paid. Consistency is key here. When kids are doing chores on a daily basis, it's like magic! I can't even tell you how wonderful it is to have the dishes done, the beds made, and bedrooms remaining clean with no labor on my part. When kids are putting away all the toys and paraphernalia that they've dragged out every day, it's astonishing to see how much easier it is to do the more thorough cleaning like mopping, etc.

Second, but equally important; get yourself on a system! For the last five years or so, I've been doing all my laundry on one day. That's about eight loads washed, dried, folded and put away in one day. I tried keeping up with this system while homeschooling and you know what happened? We wound up with mountain of laundry as high as myself and no time to do it. What went wrong? Well, with homeschooling, everty day was pegged for school and basic picking up type cleaning and the day off (Saturday) was supposed to be for deep cleaning and laundry. But instead, it turned out to be the only day that I have to run errands (alone) and it is also the day that two of my kids play soccer. Obviously, laundry was not getting done. Finally my husband took the kids all day one Saturday and I conquered the mountain. The week after that I changed the system to doing one or two loads of laundry a day. Problem solved. Lesson to be learned: If something is not getting done, there is a problem with the system. Rework the way you are doing things until you find a way that works for you. I can email or post my housework schedule for anyone who is seeking help.

Good luck on your homeschooling adventure. Remember that the home still needs to be run. Find a schedule and routine that helps you get things done, and don't overwork yourself. Forgive yourself of shortcomings as you would others. It may not be fun to scrub toilets and iron shirts, but there is satisfaction to be had in knowing that the home is a nice place to be, a refuge from the outside influences and stresses of the world. Until later,

Kristy

Curriculum Overhaul!

2006-10-09T22:01:00.000-06:00

Okay first, I know it's been a long time since I last wrote. This is why. There began to be a lot of eye rolling from Keller each day while we homeschooled. It seemed that every correction I tried to make was met with a tantrum or a huge sigh. When it was time to move on to a different subject I got more rolled eyes and sighing. After a couple of days of this I started thinking to myself "This is not what I set out to do. I didn't start this so that my kids would come to hate learning! Something is wrong." So I put myself on a mission to make homeschooling fun!
We had been doing Saxon math. I'm sure that Saxon is a great math program for many homeschoolers. It just seemed to be too slow and boring for Keller. As a matter of fact, my four year old daughter Ella was doing the assignments right along with him with no problem. I had to erase everything that I'd heard about Saxon and start fresh. I decided to try Singapore Math. The price was reasonable and so I figured that if it didn't work not too much money would be lost (unlike with Saxon). This simple change worked like a charm for math.
Next, I needed to mend our writing program. I had been writing a scripture verse on our whiteboard and having him copy it. This was taking twenty minutes and a lot of cajoling to get him to finish it. Once again I researched different ways to teach basic writing skills. I heard about getting kids into journaling. I told Kell that we would be making a journal that someday his children and grandchildren would read, and they would be able to read about his life someday. He said "Can we start RIGHT NOW!" Case closed.
Reading had become a major chore as well. I was having him work on the Phonics Pathways book every day for about 20 minutes. The solution was so obvious I'm almost embarrassed to write it. All I had to do was find a book on his level that he wanted to read. This turned out to be the Frog and Toad books. He's flying through them and his reading is amazing. When we were working on straight phonics I was amazed at the seemingly very simple words he was tripping over. I think he was just bored and wanted a story! It took me way too long to figure that one out.
Right about the time I debugged these subjects, I finally implemented the long awaited history and science lessons. These are a huge hit and the kids look forward to these subjects every day! About a week ago Keller said to me, "I like doing this better than going to school. At school we only got to do a few seconds of math." Hooray! He's enjoying it and loving learning. That was the goal. It is so fun to hear my kids talk about the things that we've been learning together. I'm so glad I'm able to hear their insights and connections they make from the things we've studied. We are blessed and so happy to be homeschooling! Until later,
Kristy

2006-09-19T17:52:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my blog. My name is Kristy and I homeschool my son, Keller 6 yrs., my daughter, Ella, 4 yrs., and I have a third child, Mary, who is 5 months. My purpose for writing this blog is to encourage and invite other mothers to join me in homeschooling their own children. There is nothing more fun! Learning is delicious to me. I want to pass that on to my kids.
I can recall so many times in my own education in the public school system being bored with learning. It wasn't until after my school career ended that my real education began! I homeschool because I believe that children are best educated at home by "a loving mother teacher." I borrowed that phrase from Diane Hopkins, the founder of lovetolearn.net in her booklet "I Love Homeschooling!"
Though I am a newbie at homeschooling I want to encourage anyone who has the slightest interest in homeschooling. Do it! You will not be sorry. For those who think they are unqualified, think about this: you have been educating your child since birth! Who taught him to walk? Talk? Feed himself? You are your child's best teacher. Whether you realize it or not, he is looking to you first. He is watching what you say and do. He sees you when you're stressed and frazzled and he watches how you act during such moments. He takes these actions for his own, good or bad. His attitudes, beliefs, and feelings are shaped by the things you do and the emotional climate you set in your home. Homeschooling will strengthen everyone in the family, including you! I've been struck lately with how much more patient I am since we began homeschooling. Since I know I am the main example my children see during the day, I think twice when tempted to lose my cool. When I was young, one of my friends mother's had this written on her kitchen wall: "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" How true this is! Mothers, let's stay in control of our own selves!
I feel like I'd better state that I am a member of the LDS church. I believe in God and Jesus Christ. I believe that God has a plan for each and every one of us and that each soul has worth in God's eyes. These beliefs and attitudes will be apparent throughout my blog. It is who I am.
I reach out with love and support to anyone of any faith who desires to begin this great adventure of educating your children at home. I'm excited to begin this blog and hopefully entice someone out there to try it and to also sprinkle a little spice and humor for those who are already on the homeschool path. Until later,

Kristy