In our homeschool, lately.

New beginnings.

Mondays. New Years. Spring. Throwing off the old, putting on the new (in Christ). I love them all. I guess mornings would fit in there too, but try as I may, I do not love mornings.

Anyway, I'm sitting outside right now watching the kids on their bikes, listening to the birds, reading a magazine. Ahhhh, Spring. We celebrated today by putting away our winter books and pulling out the spring. Amelia, most of all, loves these days of switching over the seasonal book basket. She spreads them all out, sits in the middle of them and digs in:) Some favorites off the top of my head are:

Little Cottontail

Make way for Ducklings

Butterfly Children

Brambly Hedge: A spring story

Spring by Gerda Muller

The Bee Tree....

And many more!:) 

Happy almost spring to you! Jen

A welcome break.

The package man brought an envelope from amazon and I literally squealed when I opened it and found this book that I forgot I had ordered. A new book, just for mama. 

Now it's snowing, the girls are taking a long, warm bath, Ollie is sleeping and Sam is playing with Legos. Oh yes, perfect conditions for a little break, and if I don't fall asleep, I am looking very forward to a cup of tea and a few chapters of a book. Moments like these are much needed for all mamas, of course, but I think for those who choose to have school age kiddos plus younger little ones home with us pretty much 24/7, they are vital. I'm trying to be better about grabbing them when I can. Which means I must post this and get to it:) Jen

Another adventure with daddy.

Gosh, I love that they have a super adventurous daddy who loves to include them on his adventures!:) That amazing sled Joel is pulling Jubilee on was a yard sale find years ago and has seen lots of use- one of our favorite yard sale finds ever!! A good day had by all (though most of mine was spent cleaning/decluttering- but at least the work got done!). All for now, Jen

One thing I hope never to forget is the feeling of a little one sleeping on my chest. Sigh, there's just nothing like it. 

                                          Happy Valentines Day from our little loves to you!

                                    

I really love this picture of the kiddos, ready to head out to their Waldorf program Valentines party. Though, to keep things real, immediately after this sweet picture I found them slugging it out in the van over who got to hold the basket of valentines. Ahem. 

So, I like this next picture even better. A trip to Target after the party. All were in festive, happy moods, and no one fell out of the cart or got their fingers run over (which I assume is why several people looked concerned when passing by. Possibly they were concerned for my sanity? Hehe). Good times, cute kiddos.

On to pizza making and telling each other why we love each other so, and then bed time for babes and movie watching for the grown ups. Hope you had a lovely day too! Jen

To my mama on her birthday.

Every year I say this, but it's just so true, that it is so fitting you were born on a day that celebrates love. Because you, who you are, celebrates love. Not the superficial, hyper sweet kind of love, but the deep down, nitty gritty kind. The Jesus kind of love. That is the kind of love I have known since I was born. It has been my example of what the word really means. 
You have cheered me on in every endeavour of my life. I mean cheered as if I were an Olympian! From gymnastics in the front yard, fun runs, jump rope teams, friendships, heartache, choir, marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, mothering. So many times, your belief in me is what has made me believe in myself. Seriously. And now I get to see you love my children. And, oh, they know your love is special too. From fairy picnics to hand made scarfs, to thoughtful full moon dates- it is a gift to see you be a Mammy. 
I have watched you love others well too. I have watched you love them abundantly, not just well. I have seen you forgive, I have seen you hope, I have seen you seek the best, I have seen you live out I Corinthians 13, really. In big ways. 
Oh mama, this life has not been easy for you. From birth to this very day, you have had so many trials, so many heartbreaks and so much pain. I was thinking today as I was washing dishes how fun it will be to see you in heaven with no more pain! Rest for your weary soul. Ultimate love for your heart. Not that I want you there anytime soon, though. My heart would shatter into a million pieces. 
I love you, mom. I'm thankful for you in more ways than I could ever write. I hope you feel loved today, because you are. Thank you for your consistent example of God's love and for always reminding me of His faithfulness, even through the poop that life brings. With all my heart, Jen

                    P.S. What am I wearing in this picture and look at those tiny babies!! 

One of the sweet ones...

Sometimes a mama just needs a sweet day where things mostly go right. I'm thankful for the one we had today!

Though I don't really ever question homeschooling the kids (it just fits for us right now. I enjoy spending my days with them and they tear up when I tell them they won't be able to homeschool in college;), sometimes I question the *best* ways to spend our days. How to best nurture their learning journey while nurturing a toddler and babe too- whew, it can be tricky! Then days like today come along and I feel like I took a deep breath of fresh air.

Last night I miraculously came up with some Waldorfy valentines ideas to make with the twins today. (Have I mentioned they just started going to a Waldorf program on Fridays. Um, so excited.) They were SO excited to roll some beeswax candles, so excited that we started at 7:33am- hehe. Oh Sammy, he's such a project guy. He worked so hard and long on his candles, the tags, etc. Pretty sweet. Amelia loved the chance to paint, to cut, to create a huge snake out of beeswax...ever doing her own project, that one! Before we knew it it was time to scramble up some eggs for lunch and start the process of getting ready for Wild Wednesday. Gosh, I probably haven't even mentioned Wild Wednesday here? It's a program at the Ogden Nature center that we try to go to most Wednesdays with the Cox's. It's pretty great and the kids love it! Today's program was called " Wild Love" and was all about how animals attract their mates. It was interesting,  gross, and amazing!;) Back home and dinner waiting in the crockpot. Ahhhh. Now I'm watching American Idol with Jubilee (does that cancel out the beeswax and watercolor?! hehe) after getting baby down to sleep and letting the kiddos play ( "we haven't played together all day!") a bit late. 

I think some reasons this day went well:

* I got six hours of sleep in a row last night.

* I drank a chai tea this morning (2 1/2 weeks with no diet coke- hurray!).

* I had a plan for our morning that I was excited about, and they were too.

* The plan was beeswax and water colors- how can that go wrong?hehe

* We spent time with friends. 

* We learned fascinating things about animals. 

* Dinner was made. Everyone liked it. Enough said!

Thanks be to God for smooth days, for breaths of fresh air, and for encouragement. I know it's all from Him. 

Hopefully more soon, Jen

Operation declutter!

Room by room we are going to take everything out and only put back in what is useful, beautiful, and/or very meaningful! It will be slow going, only one room a weekend, but we are SO ready to simplify this house in a big way! Man, I'm so tired of feeling like my days are spent managing *stuff*. So, anyway, today we started with the kitchen. It seemed like the easiest place to start since I'm not very attached to kitchen items (ahem). Here are the helpers. Doesn't Amelia look thrilled? Hehe

The helpers were rewarded with an afternoon play time with buddies and popcorn and a movie tonight:) Cheer up, Amelia, it's not so bad! 

That's all for now folks:) 

Jen

I have approximately 1.5 million things I want to write about, but I'm just.too.tired. 

I do, however have the energy to say that I want to remember that at age 6.5, Sam still says "soup case" for suitcase and Amelia just said that Sam is asleep on the " crouton". Surely by now she knows it's called a futon? Oh goodness, it's so funny that I don't care:) Also cute is the fact that for all her two year old stubbornness, limit testing, and general feistiness, Jubilee is the most thankful child I've ever met. I mean, give that girl some milk, open a package for her, serve her a sandwich, zip up her jacket, and I get the most genuine " thank you mom! Thank you!" And I tell ya, it melts my heart. Mmm, love that sweet one. Love them all- even after days like today, when I'm so tired I just want to sleep for five years (I get a bit dramatic when I'm tired). 

That's all folks. Hopefully more soon!! Jen

I grew up on 160 acres in Hockley, a teeny tiny rural community about an hour outside of Houston. Our family was whole and we children were very loved Our life in the country was simple and fun. Things weren't perfect of course, but boy it made for a sweet and solid childhood. I guess that's why I love it so much there. Why it feels like that land is as much a part of me as anything. 

Yesterday I got to go back there with the kids. Again, not perfect ( picture us running freely through the fields reliving my childhood and one child trips over another and screams that they did it on purpose, etc:), but oh it was special to me. Our neighbors from across the street (and pasture) bought the house I grew up in and they met us there and let me walk through it. It was really so neat to see them too. They have known me since I was one. Richard said, " I knew you'd be back one day. I really did." I wanted to say I'd be pitching a tent if I had to to live there forevermore. A bit dramatic, I know.  Shanyn was there with us and knew how much it meant for me and she surprised me with a little grapevine wreath made from the grapevines in the front yard. I will treasure it! 

Afterwards we went to our dear friends the Cutaias right up the road. They are good friends with both of our families, watched us grow up,sang at our wedding ( oh how i love their voices!!), and now it is just amazing to get to see them love on the littles. Diane let them lead around her beautiful horses and feed them carrots and Jimmy patiently showed them how to put bait on a fishing rod and they looooved getting to cast it into their pond over and over. She sent us home with a huge pot of delicious soup and a full heart.

Feeling thankful for days full of family, and rich experiences. Even though trips like this often overwhelm me with the logistics and energy it takes to travel with young children, it really is so worth it. Much more to share, but I'm snuggled up to Ollie to take a much needed nap. I hear my mama playing beauty salon while she washes Amelia's hair in the sink...all is well.

Jen

There's nothing quite like being with a friend who has known you your whole life. Two days in a row I got that treat. I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of my visit with Anna (I blame it on having a very, very fussy toddler distracting me), but she sent me this one of our youngest babes:) The big kids loved playing with Ellie (9) out in their big yard with chickens and bunnies and a fort in the woods...right up their alley! Despite Jubilee being a tired mess, I loved getting to visit with Anna and sweet John (14). 

The next day it was out to visit with Kristi, who happened to be in town from Canada! Hurray! Honestly, it's so surreal and special seeing our kiddos together. I especially couldn't get enough of Jubilee and Ellie. Twins!:) 

Amelia (6), jubilee (2), Hudson (6), Abigail (4), Ollie (7 months), Ellie (2), Sam (6). 

Look at all of those kiddos! Love it. And I love these forever friendships and am so very thankful for them. Jen

As close as it gets...

Joel is watching a football game while snuggled with a sleeping jubilee in the crook of his arm. I'm reading a book with a sleeping Oliver snuggled in under the covers with me. This is as close to vacation as it gets for parents of babies:) I'll take it! Jen