Bucy6: January 2015

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Busy, busy, busy

Wow, I've been MIA. Things are happening. The weather is crazy, school is swinging, and my evenings are full of things and people vying for attention. I've mainly been reading aloud to Rory. I wanted to do it with all the kids, but I stuck to Rory. We're trying to do a reading streak for 100 days straight. The rules are that I have to read to her for 10 minutes before midnight for it to count. It doesn't matter what I read, but I am trying to keep it good books.

So...I've decided to go Whole30 for Lent. I'm trying to get people at the gym on board. I've got a couple, but I feel like a blind man leading a potentially angry mob.

Tomorrow is the due date of the baby we lost before Logan. We named him Reagan. We celebrate his birthday every year even if it can only be something small. Tomorrow we're going to see American Sniper, because that screams romance. Eh, at least we're getting some time together, and we'll do a toast to him like we always do.

Geesh, that's enough of Debbie Downer. The girls and I (except for Kaelyn) got our hair cut today. Marley had been asking, and I was going to do it myself. I used to cut my friends' hair all the time when I was a teenager. I started with cutting Logan's, and that's all I'll say about that. I lied. I didn't want him to cut his hair, but alas, he succumbed to his dad's relentless teasing. :( Then Rory wanted her hair cut to her shoulders. It wasn't as easy as I remembered. I got through it, and it looks good, but then she wanted bangs. I can't do bangs. Marley got nervous and said she didn't want me doing her hair anymore. I called a lady we had met at our friend's house. She comes to you and cuts your family's hair at a discount. She came by this morning, cut Marley's hair, trimmed mine, and gave Rory bangs. First Rory wanted side bangs, and that's what she got. I asked her if she liked them, and she said she was wanting straight across bangs. She's been studying hair styles from books she check out at the library, so I thought she knew what she was talking about. The lady cut her hair, and Rory doesn't like it. She jumped in the shower, so we could style them differently. When we were done, she still didn't like them. I tried to put her hair up in a ponytail, and she said, "I look so cute!" SCORE! Now she just wants to wear her hair up until her bangs grow back. This should be fun.

Logan before

Logan after

Bob's bob cut

Doesn't she look so different? So much older!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

A Snowy Daybook

Outside my window...
Does the title give a hint? We got about 4 inches of snow today. They said it would start around 10a, so the kids and I booked it to BJ's. We got back just as the snow was starting. We lit a fire and started school. That's as good as it gets these days.

Giving thanks...
I have so much to be grateful for. Kevin is at the top of the list because he helps in so many ways, and I never thank him enough. Family and friends are always there, and I have new friends coming into the picture, and that's nice.

In the schoolroom...
The fireplace is going. The table is set up, and then I don't have to clean it off to eat lunch. We just move into the kitchen to eat. Plus, the sliding glass doors let in so much cold air, that it's just cozier in the living room. Plenty of projects on the horizon including a long bow. Stay tuned for THOSE pictures!

From the kitchen...
We're still chugging along with our freezer meals. It's nice having them there, but I'm getting bored of the rotation. I think I'll need to start trying some new meals while I still have back-ups left. I'm toying with the idea of the Whole30, but I don't want a divorce, so we'll see. I've made energy balls that Bob liked and some chocolate that no one liked. Kevin almost choked to death. True story.

I am creating...
A reading list for myself. I want to start reading at night instead of watching TV. I think it will lead to more and better sleep. Of course, I'll have to put my phone down too. :O

I don't ever want to forget...
Bobisms. She says the darndest things. Today Kevin quoted a line from a movie to Logan saying,"It's like you're trying to talk to me." (Finding Nemo) Bob pipes in with, "He is" totally serious. She's just got that dead pan humor.

Rory making sense when discussing an argument we just had. She stayed calm and explained how my behavior during our fight upset her. When did this kid grow up?!

Logan's eyebrow up surprised/anticipating look. It's adorable even though I mostly see it when he's requesting electronics.

Kaelyn actually took care of her phone bill herself and will now be getting her very first bill in the mail. Welcome to the real world!

I am working on...
Chores. The kids need to do more around here like they used to. I've been lazy in getting our chore system going again, so I can't really complain about the house being in shambles.

I am reading...
I have a lot of books on hold that I need to pick up. I'm eating up "Making God the Joy of our Soul."

I am praying...
For special intentions of loved ones.

I am hearing...
The dishwasher because everyone is outside playing in the snow right now. Kaelyn isn't. She's at work.

Around the house...
Things are going to be getting better. I have Logan and Bob's room on my task list for this weekend, and the toy shelf downstairs. Major overhaul happening!

One of my favorite things...
Library holds. I look for the book I need/want, request it, and they email me to come get it. No stress. LOVE!

A few plans for this week...
I'm going to give Bob a haircut myself. I used to cut my friends' hair when I was younger. I think I can. I think I can. I'm sure it'll be fine, and of course, I'll take pictures. Gymnastics, and the gym round out the week. There's a co-op in there, and that's about it.

A picture thought for you...

A new nugget recipe that we tried and the girls ended up liking. They're really good!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Word-full Wednesday - Men Down!

Rory went to a birthday party on Sunday and ended up puking all over their bathroom floor. Poor lady! There is NOTHING like cleaning up another kid's puke. Ugh. Kevin went to get her, and she continued to throw up numerous times later.

The next day Marley had a low-grade temp. We just thought she had what Rory had. Then her temp spiked. After a second dose of medicine, she threw up twice and her fever went down. Mystery solved!

I had to go to co-op to teach the next day and decided to be nice and let Rory stay home. Nana came to sit with the girls, since I had asked Kaelyn to babysit and she too wasn't feeling well. Logan and I were ready to walk out the door. Marley was on the upstairs couch, Rory on the bottom. Kevin took Bob's temp and it was 103.8. What!?! I went to school completely worried. I felt so bad leaving her. When I have ever been sick, I only wanted my mommy. I got through the day at co-op with Logan coming to be after lunch to tell me his stomach hurt. I did a couple more activities with the Kinder kids and left about 15 minutes early.

Logan was better by the time we left. Marley's temp is still going strong, and Rory is on the mend but not wanting to be. She wants the attention Bob is getting. I tried explaining triage to her, but she didn't buy it. She's determined, and I do not envy my tomorrow self.

Prayer please.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Eight Days

That's how long it took for me to falter my New Year attitude. At least, eight days for ME to realize that I had. The most change I've had is my awareness. I've kept my mouth shut when I would've normally stuck my foot in it, I haven't complained when I normally would have, and I haven't lost my temper when I normally would have. On the eighth day, I think I did all of those many times, and I was STILL aware of it. Can I claim PMS and just call it bygones?

I've gotten better since, but there have still been some un-stellar moments. Maybe my word should have been forgiveness instead of EMBRACE. I started rethinking what makes me feel accomplished during the day. Almost any attitude is better with some accomplishment. So, for two days now, I've been trying something. I know. It's only been two days, but this has promise. Before I go to bed, I write down three things to do the next day that will make me feel accomplished. One has to do with cleaning, one has to do with food as far as planning a meal or something, and the other is free game.

For instance, my first list was to clean the downstairs bathroom, spin class, and make tacos for dinner. Kevin laughed when I told him the spin class one, but really, I didn't want to go. Even the night before, I knew I didn't want to go, so it went on my list. The next day, I knew I only HAD to do those three things. It worked! The rest was gravy! I might be on to something here.

Wish me luck!

PS- I have no pictures! I've been such a slacker!

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Five for Friday

Seven is so many, so I cut it to five. Here's what I've been up to this New Year so far...

Our new room

Rory's new room

Bob and Logan's new room

The birthday boy's new shirt

Rory's new hamsters, Yo-yo and Dumpling

Freezer meals :)

So I might be off a number, but alliteration is always more important. We've been busy. Where's that break we were hoping for? I haven't started a fire once. It's depressing. And my Christmas puzzle? Nada. I guess I can look forward to spring break?

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Wordless Wednesday

I found this recipe for Zucchini Poppers on a freezer meal site. I thought it sounded good. Tried to make them once, but I didn't have all the ingredients, so I winged it. Anyone who knows me knows that I can't cook anything without following a recipe precisely. These turned out pretty good even though I burnt them the first time. Since I'm going back on the strictly Paleo bandwagon, I decided to make a double batch. I had to remember what I did to wing it the first time, and then try to double that. I was on the phone with my mom and just winged it again. As you can see even Kaelyn likes them, Rory and Kevin too. I didn't make a sauce for them, but Kaelyn dipped them in melted butter. They are time consuming and gone too fast. I made two and a half trays and only ended up freezing one and a half. We ate that whole tray in the top pic! Make them!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

My New Year "Word"

I had been talking to Kevin about my new word for this year, and how I wasn't quite sure of the word, but I knew the direction I was going in. I knew I wanted something to encompass that I'm going to put my big girl panties on and be a homeschooling mom to these four kids. Regardless of me not wanting that to be God's will, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that it is. I wanted to be ok with where I was at and stop being jealous of people doing it better than me...you know, this whole parenting thing. I was tossing around the word/phrase CONTENTMENT and BE STILL. Kevin knew NONE OF THIS. Here's what happened.

Me: So...I'm trying to come up with my word, and I have a couple ideas, but I can't find the right word I'm looking for. I have some luke warm ones.
Kevin: What if I guessed your word?
Me: (chuckling) Yeah, right.
Kevin: I'm going to try.
Me: Ok, but highly doubtful. Sure...go for it.
Kevin: (He said a word but for the life of me I can't remember what it was!)
Me: No, that's not it. See? There's no way you can guess my word. I don't even know my word.
Kevin: EMBRACE
Me: *#^$&!;#^#*#&!;%*#&!;# HOW DID YOU DO THAT?! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST DID THAT!? (I'm trying to get across that I was yelling this)
Kevin: I told you I knew you. (and he didn't say it smugly which just made me more mad)

And there you have it. My word for the year is EMBRACE. I'm not only going to be content with being a homeschool mom of four, I'm going to EMBRACE it. I'm going to EMBRACE being a kindergarten teacher, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a servant...Then...

I met my friend this morning, who already knew my word was EMBRACE. We were talking about helping each other keep up with our new selves this new year. We come from the same philosophy of not succumbing to the pressures and hardness of life. We like getting up in the morning and trying again, not excuses when the going gets tough.

I was telling her how I'm part of this Read Aloud Revival from another blog. I described our evenings of all being gathered in the living room and reading something, a school book, a book for fun, right now the Advent books. As I was explaining our routine, I had an epiphany! I was doing something "right", and it sounded fabulous! Something I had taken an interest in had come to fruition even before it had been an interest. Did you follow that? I have been reading aloud for more than a year to my brood and COMPLAINING because Rory couldn't read very well by herself last year. Don't get me wrong. She's an excellent reader but the retaining and comprehension are just easier when we read it aloud and can discuss it, and both know what the other is talking about.

I had found this Read Aloud Revival and wanted to "be like them." I figured out different things I wanted to do to make my read aloud time better. Do I need to tell you that I like reinventing the wheel? I really don't, but my actions make people think I do. Anyway, I realized...I AM NOT THAT BAD! It may seem silly, but it was a huge revelation to me.

We homeschool to build tiny servants of God that will grow up into big servants of God. We want to foster faith, respect, family ties, an atmosphere of love. And I finally realized that's what we've been doing. Next I did what I always do...I took it to Jesus. It's Sunday, so we had our meeting in the garden even though I kept stealing away to check on a disgruntled Bob (Marley's nickname). He told me again how hard I am on myself. He thinks I do lots of things great. I'm so quick to focus on my shortcomings and negativity (AKA COMPLAINING), that I don't see the good I'm doing. I am capable of doing good. CRAZY!

So I'm going to venture out with this new phrase this year.

POSITIVE EMBRACE

We were walking into church this morning, and a couple passed in front of us and wished us a happy new year. Kevin said it back and asked how they were. The woman turned around with a big smile on her face and said, "We're great!" I.have.never.EVER.said that. Whenever someone asks me how I am, I start complaining or thinking of the most recent negative thing that has happened in my life. Not anymore. I am now using all my energy to be POSITIVE about my life happenings and EMBRACE them regardless of whether they're good or bad. That'll be the catch, but I'm up to challenge.

Here's to wearing my big girl panties all for the glory of God!

What is becoming our annual picture on the stairs. I would like to apologize for Bob's seated position. She was just following what everyone else was doing...and I couldn't see her!