I really used to be one of those people that preached that children were not expensive. "We cook from scratch, shop at the thrift store and love hand me downs". I could write 7 articles on how to "afford" a baby, what baby gear is really needed and how to avoid being over cluttered with a new baby.
As I look online there are about 700 articles on how babies don't have to be expensive and somehow that relates to children not being expensive. Wellllll...I don't think it's that easy.
We live here in paradise and food costs are simply very high. We eat soups, beans and rice and stretch ground beef with potatoes. It's still crazy expensive. People on the mainland just don't get it. They talk of closeout prices or specials at the store. There are so many people here that food sells out. It does not sit around and then go on steep discount! That being said. I cannot preach that kids are so cheap, because there are 9 of us eating and it's NOT cheap. At all.
For a long time I tried to do without extra curricular activities for the kids. "Let them play" they said. "Don't keep them too busy, kids just need love". Ok, well if you live on a farm and the kid can play outside and help plant and harvest and do chores that is one thing, but if you live in the suburbs (or on a military base) and dad is gone all the time kids tend to get bored. And I can tell you that is not a good thing. Not to mention having a hobby or love like a sport gives them purpose and yes, builds self esteem. So we get back to cost of children...
A couple of my children are talented athletes. We play base and local leagues which are really affordable. Then they got frustrated because the other kids are not at the same level and don't seem to care. So we found a club team. Big bucks. Do I say "no"? No...because my child works very hard at this sport and shows talent. Also, I want them to have the option to play these sports in high school and not sit the bench the entire time. It's going to take time, lessons and money. I looked up how to save money on kids' activities and found exactly one article that basically said 1. Kids don't need so many activities and 2. Lower level leagues are cheaper. Thanks pinterest...that helps so much.
Should I say no to music lessons? What about ballet? Preschool?
Are these needs? No. But I am coming to realize they can be really important in my child's development. I have big regrets not getting quintin into sports or martial arts when he was younger.
We are blessed that Quintin has a job. He pays for his own boy scout camp, clothes and bowling with friends. Sometimes I feel bad, but it really does help our family out. And honestly...it gives him a sense of ownership and helps him understand the value of a dollar. He knows how hard he had to work to earn the money. I really pray that each of our children have an opportunity like this to earn their money at a worthwhile job. Which helps their family in the process.
I'm conflicted with all this. We have been trying to save for a house, but I also want to take them to private hitting lessons. It's hard. Six years ago the young mom of 5 would have said, "Kids just need love and to hike in the woods". Now I'm not so sure.
So they're not cheap. Doesn't mean they're not worth it. I'm so thankful for my husband's steady job and that we've been blessed to find close activities so far. I have to admit I trust that the Lord will put the opportunities for the children that they need in our path. And I have told them that hard work will go a long way in making up for the lack of camps and special leagues.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Christmas
We have been so very busy this holiday season and while at times I feel very anxious over getting to events, I have been so blessed by each thing we have done. Yesterday I told Dan I was sad that we had not gotten more involved with the chapel earlier on. He reminded me to look forward, not back.
The girls danced for the joint base chapel's family celebration service. They did so well and it was such a joy to watch them. They also sang with the children's choir at the beginning. Ashton and Landon recited the first several words of John 3:16 and others finished it in different languages.
The sermon at church yesterday was so good. It was all about the importance of fellowship for Christians and reminded us that wherever we go we have family in other believers in Christ. I have found this to be so true over the past couple of years. Gatherings with other Christians almost always turn out to be a blessing. Serving for the church can be challenging but I always walk away feeling like I have been filled even more than I filled those I was serving! I am thinking this year that my New Year's Resolution will focus on hospitality and having more friends over to our house and organizing more group events for women and kids to get together and strengthen each other.
Saturday was such a great day. Dan humored me by taking us over to kbay for a "change of scenery". We ate Subway and walked over to see the jets, helecopter and tank on display and run around a brick wall nearby. The kids ran and jumped and we enjoyed the beautiful view of the bay and mountains. Afterwards we went to drive around and got turned back because the president was on base. We ended up finding a beach we had never known about so that worked out well. The kids were excited to get out and run in the sand. It was very windy and the waves were large and choppy. We were content to stay up on shore since no one had bathing suits and there were jellyfish and current warnings. I mentioned to Dan that I feel like each base has its own culture. We (well, mostly just me) really enjoy going to the different bases around the island and playing at the different parks, looking in the different exchanges and seeing the island views. Some bases have really fun pools or beaches and one has a track we like to walk around. Back in the day of way-less-homeschooling I would take trips like that a couple of times a week, but now they are limited to a few times a year. But anyway, that marine base visit was just what I needed. We even finished a short, but really fun, book on the way there and back.
Today was a red letter day because the base thrift store was 50% off everything. I found Landon 4 underarmour shirts and Thea a pair of Merril's to grow into. Landon also got a catcher's bag with wheels on it and everything. Evangeline just had a growth spurt and I was blessed to find 4 cute dresses for her...2 that were gymboree! I even got a workout shirt for myself. The kids were thrilled with the Little People farm set for $4. Why does this make me so happy? Who knows? But saving money is always a good thing.
Tonight we took dinner to Holly. Her baby is six days old and Grandma left yesterday. She is so cute. Those little yawns and sneezes and alert baby eyes...
Too bad I ate way too much while making the stew, salad, cornbread and cookies. Mareea helped me with the Sour Cream Cookies and cornbread. Next time maybe I will teach her to make the soup.
The girls danced for the joint base chapel's family celebration service. They did so well and it was such a joy to watch them. They also sang with the children's choir at the beginning. Ashton and Landon recited the first several words of John 3:16 and others finished it in different languages.
The sermon at church yesterday was so good. It was all about the importance of fellowship for Christians and reminded us that wherever we go we have family in other believers in Christ. I have found this to be so true over the past couple of years. Gatherings with other Christians almost always turn out to be a blessing. Serving for the church can be challenging but I always walk away feeling like I have been filled even more than I filled those I was serving! I am thinking this year that my New Year's Resolution will focus on hospitality and having more friends over to our house and organizing more group events for women and kids to get together and strengthen each other.
Saturday was such a great day. Dan humored me by taking us over to kbay for a "change of scenery". We ate Subway and walked over to see the jets, helecopter and tank on display and run around a brick wall nearby. The kids ran and jumped and we enjoyed the beautiful view of the bay and mountains. Afterwards we went to drive around and got turned back because the president was on base. We ended up finding a beach we had never known about so that worked out well. The kids were excited to get out and run in the sand. It was very windy and the waves were large and choppy. We were content to stay up on shore since no one had bathing suits and there were jellyfish and current warnings. I mentioned to Dan that I feel like each base has its own culture. We (well, mostly just me) really enjoy going to the different bases around the island and playing at the different parks, looking in the different exchanges and seeing the island views. Some bases have really fun pools or beaches and one has a track we like to walk around. Back in the day of way-less-homeschooling I would take trips like that a couple of times a week, but now they are limited to a few times a year. But anyway, that marine base visit was just what I needed. We even finished a short, but really fun, book on the way there and back.
Today was a red letter day because the base thrift store was 50% off everything. I found Landon 4 underarmour shirts and Thea a pair of Merril's to grow into. Landon also got a catcher's bag with wheels on it and everything. Evangeline just had a growth spurt and I was blessed to find 4 cute dresses for her...2 that were gymboree! I even got a workout shirt for myself. The kids were thrilled with the Little People farm set for $4. Why does this make me so happy? Who knows? But saving money is always a good thing.
Tonight we took dinner to Holly. Her baby is six days old and Grandma left yesterday. She is so cute. Those little yawns and sneezes and alert baby eyes...
Too bad I ate way too much while making the stew, salad, cornbread and cookies. Mareea helped me with the Sour Cream Cookies and cornbread. Next time maybe I will teach her to make the soup.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Unplugged
I unplugged today. Every time I do I think, "why the heck do I ever go on that stupid phone or that stupid computer". Dang technology and it's advancements. I prayed hard this morning to be a loving mom who had her priorities strait. And I spend nap time doing devotions and planning instead of watching Heartland. I wasn't depressed and angry when nap ended. Imagine that.
The most busy weekend of my life finally came to a close. We are getting so close to Christmas and we have been so much more involved this year than ever before. For an anxious, introvert such as myself this is a whole lot of fun afterwards, but pretty intense before.
Friday night was the anticipated "Tower Lighting" celebration. The Freedom Tower was the water tower on base during World War II. Every year they decorate it with thousands of lights and a big festival is held for the first lighting. I worked for an hour at the chapel booth handing out glow sticks, candy canes and service schedules. Dan and the Children got some free hot chocolate and cookies, went in the bounce house and chatted with friends they ran into. So many from the base come. The Air Force band played and Chaplain Clark prayed before the lighting. While I had planned to feed the kids a little before and a little after to avoid buying food, we caved and got hot dogs. I am so glad. There would have been some massive meltdowns and that yam before we came was just not enough to hold them over. Next year I decided I'd make pulled pork on buns and wrap them in foil to bring along. Or we will just go later and I won't work the booth.
Saturday I took the 3 girls to the Joint Base Protestant Woman's Christmas party. It was for women of the chapel and the bible studies run through the chapel and friends were invited and encouraged. We had a nice brunch and one of the older women with grown children talked to us about Christmas and wanting Jesus more than anything. My favorite quote was when she was beginning saying she had read something in a devotional. She asked who did devotions each morning and said, "Sometimes my mind don't tell me the right things in the morning so I have to listen to what somebody else says". My goodness, my mind pretty much NEVER tells me the right things in the morning. What wisdom.
After the devotion and brunch we packed cookies we had made and brought into small bags to be handed out the following night when we caroled to airman and sailors on weekend duty. This was fun and the girls were thrilled to make those baggies of cookies. Even Evangeline came home and told her Daddy that "I helped put cookies in bags for Jesus's birthday!" I also met a couple of new ladies who seem really nice. There is really nothing like beautiful Christian fellowship with other women. I miss my bible study so much.
We walked home from the chapel and the big girls changed into their ballet clothes. We drove to the chapel (a different one) and rehearsed for the family Christmas service that's on the 20th. The girls costumes are too big and Sheila is hoping to get smaller ones. That will help so we won't have to pin them in the back. However, bigger means they can wear them for a few more years. Seriously, Thea's skirt is a size 12/14...and she wears a 7/8 now.
Thea and Mareea were so good and we grabbed a quick lunch at Mcdonalds (ugh...why do I do this! I feel so bad afterwards!) and headed over to meet Dan and the boys at the base theater. We are so blessed to have a theater on base that runs movies about a month after they open for about 50% of what we would pay out in town. We had been waiting patiently for the Peanuts movie and with our crazy weekend this was the one time we could fit it in. It was so funny. Gideon and Ashton were cracking up through the whole thing and they both have the cutest laughs. We have been talking about the funny parts for a couple of days now. I may even take them one more time before it isn't shown anymore if it works out.
Sunday morning was rough as I had had a stomach battle the night before. I had to halt my Christmas wrapping and go to bed. It was terrible. I rallied in the morning to do the weekly shopping. It was a big trip, enough to last us two weeks except for produce, and I walked quite slowly through the commissary. Thank goodness I had gotten there right at opening and could take my time getting through. I spent more than I would like, but what else is new.
At Church we lit the advent candle as a family. I was so nervous to be up there, but I just looked at Evangeline the whole time and Dan did the reading a prayer while Q lit the candle. I was honored to be asked, but was nervous. I wish mom had been there to take a picture of us.
After church we had a Christmas dinner potluck. Thank the Lord for not having to worry about lunch! We headed home and rested for a bit before going over to AWANA for the last club of the semester. It was the store! The kids were so excited and I was so proud of them. They worked really hard and were all first or second in their grade for points. Ashton and Landon came home with nerf guns. Big fun here at the Bond house. Thea chose a big package of 20 hot wheels cars lol. What an awesome little girl.
Dan took the boys home after AWANA and ate a free Papa Johns Pizza, but the girls and I stayed to have pizza and salad and go caroling. The chapel had gotten a trolley for us to ride on to each location and that made it especially exciting for the girls. We visited the galley to carol to the workers and single airman eating dinner, the air terminal, a hanger for aircraft maintenance and the homes of a couple high ranking chaplains. I loved caroling for the young guys and was so happy the girls got to hand out the cookies we had made to them. I was not prepared for them all to pull out their phones and take pictures and videos and post in on social media. Yikes! But they smiled and waved as we left and I pray they were blessed by our singing and little gifts. We sang real, live traditional CHRISTIAN Christmas carols that sounded beautiful even though we were a group of people that had never sung together before. Have you ever sung with a group in an air terminal? I highly suggest it. The acoustics are perfectly amazing.
That's the weekend. Wow. Lots of excitement and fun and very, very busy.
Friday night was the anticipated "Tower Lighting" celebration. The Freedom Tower was the water tower on base during World War II. Every year they decorate it with thousands of lights and a big festival is held for the first lighting. I worked for an hour at the chapel booth handing out glow sticks, candy canes and service schedules. Dan and the Children got some free hot chocolate and cookies, went in the bounce house and chatted with friends they ran into. So many from the base come. The Air Force band played and Chaplain Clark prayed before the lighting. While I had planned to feed the kids a little before and a little after to avoid buying food, we caved and got hot dogs. I am so glad. There would have been some massive meltdowns and that yam before we came was just not enough to hold them over. Next year I decided I'd make pulled pork on buns and wrap them in foil to bring along. Or we will just go later and I won't work the booth.
Saturday I took the 3 girls to the Joint Base Protestant Woman's Christmas party. It was for women of the chapel and the bible studies run through the chapel and friends were invited and encouraged. We had a nice brunch and one of the older women with grown children talked to us about Christmas and wanting Jesus more than anything. My favorite quote was when she was beginning saying she had read something in a devotional. She asked who did devotions each morning and said, "Sometimes my mind don't tell me the right things in the morning so I have to listen to what somebody else says". My goodness, my mind pretty much NEVER tells me the right things in the morning. What wisdom.
After the devotion and brunch we packed cookies we had made and brought into small bags to be handed out the following night when we caroled to airman and sailors on weekend duty. This was fun and the girls were thrilled to make those baggies of cookies. Even Evangeline came home and told her Daddy that "I helped put cookies in bags for Jesus's birthday!" I also met a couple of new ladies who seem really nice. There is really nothing like beautiful Christian fellowship with other women. I miss my bible study so much.
We walked home from the chapel and the big girls changed into their ballet clothes. We drove to the chapel (a different one) and rehearsed for the family Christmas service that's on the 20th. The girls costumes are too big and Sheila is hoping to get smaller ones. That will help so we won't have to pin them in the back. However, bigger means they can wear them for a few more years. Seriously, Thea's skirt is a size 12/14...and she wears a 7/8 now.
Thea and Mareea were so good and we grabbed a quick lunch at Mcdonalds (ugh...why do I do this! I feel so bad afterwards!) and headed over to meet Dan and the boys at the base theater. We are so blessed to have a theater on base that runs movies about a month after they open for about 50% of what we would pay out in town. We had been waiting patiently for the Peanuts movie and with our crazy weekend this was the one time we could fit it in. It was so funny. Gideon and Ashton were cracking up through the whole thing and they both have the cutest laughs. We have been talking about the funny parts for a couple of days now. I may even take them one more time before it isn't shown anymore if it works out.
Sunday morning was rough as I had had a stomach battle the night before. I had to halt my Christmas wrapping and go to bed. It was terrible. I rallied in the morning to do the weekly shopping. It was a big trip, enough to last us two weeks except for produce, and I walked quite slowly through the commissary. Thank goodness I had gotten there right at opening and could take my time getting through. I spent more than I would like, but what else is new.
At Church we lit the advent candle as a family. I was so nervous to be up there, but I just looked at Evangeline the whole time and Dan did the reading a prayer while Q lit the candle. I was honored to be asked, but was nervous. I wish mom had been there to take a picture of us.
After church we had a Christmas dinner potluck. Thank the Lord for not having to worry about lunch! We headed home and rested for a bit before going over to AWANA for the last club of the semester. It was the store! The kids were so excited and I was so proud of them. They worked really hard and were all first or second in their grade for points. Ashton and Landon came home with nerf guns. Big fun here at the Bond house. Thea chose a big package of 20 hot wheels cars lol. What an awesome little girl.
Dan took the boys home after AWANA and ate a free Papa Johns Pizza, but the girls and I stayed to have pizza and salad and go caroling. The chapel had gotten a trolley for us to ride on to each location and that made it especially exciting for the girls. We visited the galley to carol to the workers and single airman eating dinner, the air terminal, a hanger for aircraft maintenance and the homes of a couple high ranking chaplains. I loved caroling for the young guys and was so happy the girls got to hand out the cookies we had made to them. I was not prepared for them all to pull out their phones and take pictures and videos and post in on social media. Yikes! But they smiled and waved as we left and I pray they were blessed by our singing and little gifts. We sang real, live traditional CHRISTIAN Christmas carols that sounded beautiful even though we were a group of people that had never sung together before. Have you ever sung with a group in an air terminal? I highly suggest it. The acoustics are perfectly amazing.
That's the weekend. Wow. Lots of excitement and fun and very, very busy.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Lately I feel guilty about not crafting more. Like, since I now know how to sew and crochet I have to be actively using those skills or I'm being lazy/wasteful. Really, I should. These plans I have to make washcloths and face circles for the teachers in our lives would be really helpful money-wise, but I just can't seem to get the motivation to pick up the hook. Sewing? I pretty much just haul out the machine before Halloween to make costumes. If I was a good, handworking mom wouldn't I make clothes for the kids and presents for others out of the material that I have? Since when does a hobby carry so much guilt.
There are things I want to have for dinner and things I really don't. I really don't want to eat black eyed peas and rice. That is what happens to be in the crock pot right now.
While I was blogging this the boys brought me my phone and I saw I had a text from Sheila and realized I had totally forgotten about ballet rehersal today. I yelled for everyone to get in the car quick. Gideon pretty much laid down on the ground and shrieked that he wanted to stay home with his older brothers. I had to yell at him to get in the car and hope the neighbors didn't hear. He and Evangeline (who i had pulled out of bed) had no shoes, but we made it. We were 50 minutes late, but the girls still got 40 minutes rehersal in. I felt terrible! At least we got there. Thank the Lord the boys brought me my phone!
The black eyes peas and brown rice were really good and once I ate them I was very happy we had not gone out or eaten something else. At least I know that about myself! We actually have a ton of leftovers. If we don't eat a lot of it for lunch we may have that for dinner tomorrow instead of chicken noodle soup.
Dan is going to be head coach for Ashton's baseball team and the team meeting is tomorrow. We're really hoping some of Ashton's buddies will be on the same team. I have been praying a lot that Landon and Thea will have an encouraging coach who has sportsmanship as a high priority.
There are things I want to have for dinner and things I really don't. I really don't want to eat black eyed peas and rice. That is what happens to be in the crock pot right now.
While I was blogging this the boys brought me my phone and I saw I had a text from Sheila and realized I had totally forgotten about ballet rehersal today. I yelled for everyone to get in the car quick. Gideon pretty much laid down on the ground and shrieked that he wanted to stay home with his older brothers. I had to yell at him to get in the car and hope the neighbors didn't hear. He and Evangeline (who i had pulled out of bed) had no shoes, but we made it. We were 50 minutes late, but the girls still got 40 minutes rehersal in. I felt terrible! At least we got there. Thank the Lord the boys brought me my phone!
The black eyes peas and brown rice were really good and once I ate them I was very happy we had not gone out or eaten something else. At least I know that about myself! We actually have a ton of leftovers. If we don't eat a lot of it for lunch we may have that for dinner tomorrow instead of chicken noodle soup.
Dan is going to be head coach for Ashton's baseball team and the team meeting is tomorrow. We're really hoping some of Ashton's buddies will be on the same team. I have been praying a lot that Landon and Thea will have an encouraging coach who has sportsmanship as a high priority.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Sundays are always busy. Dan took Gideon on a special date to Starbucks early in the morning and found that the NEX had some good prices on real trees. After a quick oatmeal breakfast we headed over there. We found a really cute 6 foot tree with no brown needles and full to the top. We decorated it after church. Something about having a lit Christmas tree always makes a room feel cozy. I wish I could figure out something else for the rest of the year.
Church was very special. A 102 year old Pearl Harbor survivor, Jim Downing, came to give the sermon. He is a retired Navy Lt. and worked on staff with the Navigators for 30 years. I was so honored to be there listening to him talk about how to have a fulfilled life. My favorite points were:1. People who use their gifts for money and personal gain have a high survival rate and that those who choose to dedicate their gifts to God make the right decision, 2. Be the best in your profession. People will come from all over to hear your testimony (i.e. Dr. Ben Carson), 3. We are fulfilled when we are doing what God designed us to do...everything created was created for a purpose.
It was also mentioned that Mr. Downing read 3-4 books a week, along with the bible, to "get truth into you". He suggested history books and biographies. I cried when Chaplain introduced him and said that Jim had come to Christ through the influence of his shipmates. Please, Lord, may you be present on our ships and give courage to the Christians to share you!
A lady at church talked to me about how well my children are behaved and how quiet they are. I wasn't sure who she was talking about because my children are NOT quiet. It was very clear she had some sort of idea that I have it all together and keep my kids in line perfectly. This has happened a few times over the last month. It always makes me very uncomfortable because I don't want people to put me up on some kind of pedistle as super mom. I'm not. Some days I wish I could sit in my bed and watch Netflix on the laptop all day! My kids certainly misbehave at times and I don't do nearly what I should with homeschool and bible teaching. It's interesting that other people seem to see the good and I mostly think about my failings.
AWANA was exciting. I was a little rude when the other secretary asked if Dan could fill in for her and felt terrible about it! Of course she should go to the kids' Christmas party for her husband's work. But the exciting part was that Ashton and Landon finished their books and Mareea finished her entire review book. Thea is one Challenge away from finishing her book. We have come a long way from the beginning of the year when I had to spoon feed them the verses to get them to work on them to now where they will work on their own.
For dinner we have apple slices, cheddar cheese slices and a mountainious bowl of popcorn. This has become our dinner every Sunday night. With all 7 kids at AWANA and Dan and I volunteering there is no one home to cook and it's really nice to have something easy and good. It's everyone's second favorite meal after pizza.
I'm putting together a list of things to order for curriculum. The boys are about finished with their math books and Dan is going to put them both into the 6th grade book together. Landon is ready and it will simplify things a little. I'm trying to decide about putting Thea and Mareea together in Math next year. If Mareea works all summer I think she could catch up. It would sure make things easier, but I don't want her to struggle constantly. She's really smart and I would hate for her to feel like she is not. I really feel like confidence in their school work is so much more important than just pushing to get ahead or making things easier for mom.
Church was very special. A 102 year old Pearl Harbor survivor, Jim Downing, came to give the sermon. He is a retired Navy Lt. and worked on staff with the Navigators for 30 years. I was so honored to be there listening to him talk about how to have a fulfilled life. My favorite points were:1. People who use their gifts for money and personal gain have a high survival rate and that those who choose to dedicate their gifts to God make the right decision, 2. Be the best in your profession. People will come from all over to hear your testimony (i.e. Dr. Ben Carson), 3. We are fulfilled when we are doing what God designed us to do...everything created was created for a purpose.
It was also mentioned that Mr. Downing read 3-4 books a week, along with the bible, to "get truth into you". He suggested history books and biographies. I cried when Chaplain introduced him and said that Jim had come to Christ through the influence of his shipmates. Please, Lord, may you be present on our ships and give courage to the Christians to share you!
A lady at church talked to me about how well my children are behaved and how quiet they are. I wasn't sure who she was talking about because my children are NOT quiet. It was very clear she had some sort of idea that I have it all together and keep my kids in line perfectly. This has happened a few times over the last month. It always makes me very uncomfortable because I don't want people to put me up on some kind of pedistle as super mom. I'm not. Some days I wish I could sit in my bed and watch Netflix on the laptop all day! My kids certainly misbehave at times and I don't do nearly what I should with homeschool and bible teaching. It's interesting that other people seem to see the good and I mostly think about my failings.
AWANA was exciting. I was a little rude when the other secretary asked if Dan could fill in for her and felt terrible about it! Of course she should go to the kids' Christmas party for her husband's work. But the exciting part was that Ashton and Landon finished their books and Mareea finished her entire review book. Thea is one Challenge away from finishing her book. We have come a long way from the beginning of the year when I had to spoon feed them the verses to get them to work on them to now where they will work on their own.
For dinner we have apple slices, cheddar cheese slices and a mountainious bowl of popcorn. This has become our dinner every Sunday night. With all 7 kids at AWANA and Dan and I volunteering there is no one home to cook and it's really nice to have something easy and good. It's everyone's second favorite meal after pizza.
I'm putting together a list of things to order for curriculum. The boys are about finished with their math books and Dan is going to put them both into the 6th grade book together. Landon is ready and it will simplify things a little. I'm trying to decide about putting Thea and Mareea together in Math next year. If Mareea works all summer I think she could catch up. It would sure make things easier, but I don't want her to struggle constantly. She's really smart and I would hate for her to feel like she is not. I really feel like confidence in their school work is so much more important than just pushing to get ahead or making things easier for mom.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
A busy Saturday
What a day! We went from Target to meet a lady selling some jeans, to a soccer party, to a rehersal for the church Christmas program. The boys did baseball clinic. I would have preferred to just go to the rodeo out at Kualoa ranch. We have never been to one before and it may have been fun. Dan was disappointed with the baseball clinic today. Last week he was very excited about it and felt that the boys learned a lot. Today they did not do as much and he almost felt there could have been favoritism for the local boys. I was just sad that Landon went this week and not last week. He could have used what they learned last week.
Mareea was thrilled to recieve her first trophey at the soccer party. It always annoys me that someone decides to order them because it's another expense, but it really does make the kids so happy. It was nice to see the other parents and watch the girls play together at the splash pad. It's been about a month since the season ended.
At target I saw a young couple. The dad was holding a little girl's hand and the mom was about 6 months pregnant. Boy oh boy did the green eyed monster jump on me. "Don't you wish you were still young and cute?! Don't you wish you were about to have a baby and only have a toddler to dress up and take around to target in peace?" So I prayed because I do not want to be spending my life looking back and being unhappy with my current season. My little ones were really good in target today and I enjoyed taking them.
Dan and I discussed sports and kids activities. We have a hard time deciding how many activities for the kids and how serious to get. Signing up a child for soccer seems cheap at first; you pay the $60 fee. Then you have to find shin guards, cleats and a ball. Maybe you can get it all at the thrift store for cheap and you feel really frugal. Then it's time for team pictures, a potluck dish (and maybe a venue cost) and a trophy for the end of the year ceremony. Throw in a coach's present and that $60 has increased quite a bit. Now the season's over and there's a great opportunity for a clinic at the local university. $200 for a few days of great coaching? AND...your child gets invited to the travel team. This one is not $60 a season and they are required to pay $100 for uniform costs on top of the league cost and there is travel involved. See how it goes?
Last night I read Evangeline and Gideon The Little Engine that Could by, Watty Piper. Evangeline loved it so much. She insisted on having it read again tonight. I didn't mind as it reminded me of sweet times reading that same book to Quintin, Ashton and Landon. Now the binding is falling apart and I may have to order a new one. Evangeline even named the gecko in her room "little blue train". That's a true fan.
The big girls are singing and dancing in the church's family Christmas program. Today was the rehearsal. I am very thankful that Sheila is giving them this opportunity. It's special for us as parents to watch, too.
At Target I bought the children all ornaments for their stockings. Ideally I like to get them off of Etsy so they are personalized and handmade, but this year I needed to do something less expensive. There was a coupon so I think I spent $40 on 6 ornaments. They are cute things like Cinderella, Barbie, Superheros and Yoda. They will like them. Next year I think I may start in about June buying the Etsy ornaments so I can afford it.
Mareea was thrilled to recieve her first trophey at the soccer party. It always annoys me that someone decides to order them because it's another expense, but it really does make the kids so happy. It was nice to see the other parents and watch the girls play together at the splash pad. It's been about a month since the season ended.
At target I saw a young couple. The dad was holding a little girl's hand and the mom was about 6 months pregnant. Boy oh boy did the green eyed monster jump on me. "Don't you wish you were still young and cute?! Don't you wish you were about to have a baby and only have a toddler to dress up and take around to target in peace?" So I prayed because I do not want to be spending my life looking back and being unhappy with my current season. My little ones were really good in target today and I enjoyed taking them.
Dan and I discussed sports and kids activities. We have a hard time deciding how many activities for the kids and how serious to get. Signing up a child for soccer seems cheap at first; you pay the $60 fee. Then you have to find shin guards, cleats and a ball. Maybe you can get it all at the thrift store for cheap and you feel really frugal. Then it's time for team pictures, a potluck dish (and maybe a venue cost) and a trophy for the end of the year ceremony. Throw in a coach's present and that $60 has increased quite a bit. Now the season's over and there's a great opportunity for a clinic at the local university. $200 for a few days of great coaching? AND...your child gets invited to the travel team. This one is not $60 a season and they are required to pay $100 for uniform costs on top of the league cost and there is travel involved. See how it goes?
Last night I read Evangeline and Gideon The Little Engine that Could by, Watty Piper. Evangeline loved it so much. She insisted on having it read again tonight. I didn't mind as it reminded me of sweet times reading that same book to Quintin, Ashton and Landon. Now the binding is falling apart and I may have to order a new one. Evangeline even named the gecko in her room "little blue train". That's a true fan.
The big girls are singing and dancing in the church's family Christmas program. Today was the rehearsal. I am very thankful that Sheila is giving them this opportunity. It's special for us as parents to watch, too.
At Target I bought the children all ornaments for their stockings. Ideally I like to get them off of Etsy so they are personalized and handmade, but this year I needed to do something less expensive. There was a coupon so I think I spent $40 on 6 ornaments. They are cute things like Cinderella, Barbie, Superheros and Yoda. They will like them. Next year I think I may start in about June buying the Etsy ornaments so I can afford it.
Friday, December 4, 2015
Today
This morning I managed to wake up about 6:10 instead of 6:30 and it allowed me to get 25 minutes on the elliptical instead of 15. While I worked out I listened to a youtube video of Elizabeth George talking to a group of women. It was cute, but I didn't feel like it was nearly as meat-y as her books. I should really start reading them again.
We decided to have eggs this morning since all the Cliff bars we ordered from amazon ran out. I added some white rice leftover from last night to make them stretch and hopefully last longer with my always hungry children. I think it worked. I actually like rice in eggs a lot.
After some clean up we headed out to the beach. It was supposed to be Bonita and I but I invited Julie and Holly and it was really nice. Lots of good converstation with 3 very nice ladies. The kids played so nicely and I only had to correct Gideon once. Ashton and Landon had their buddies Calem and Jonah there to play football and skimboard with. I hardly noticed 2 hours had gone by and it was time to leave.
Lunch turned out to be quite an ordeal. We just don't have much for lunch and I never seem to have any ispiration! I thought about sloppy joes or spinach salad with hardboiled eggs, but those would not work for various reasons. We ended up breaking into the frozen pizza from COSTCO. Not ideal, but it was that or go to McDonalds which would have been $40 easy and horrible for us.
While we ate we watched Throwdown with Bobby Flay. The beach exhasuts me from all the sun and it was nice to just sit. He made biscuits and jam in one episode and chocolate chip cookies in another and I am very motivated to try and make both.
We headed into a brief rest time and then onto cello. Thea and Landon are both doing so well. It's hard to believe they have only had about 10 lessons. Landon started the Star Wars theme today so he's really excited. Thea started another Christmas song and I love seeing her little self concentrating so hard while playing. Mostly they love their teacher's little dog, Goliath, but they love their teacher and playing cello, too.
Dinner should have been easy, black bean burgers from leftover black beans, yams and salad. I remembered we had no hamburger buns and decided to bake those from scratch. Then I remembered that the crock pot was in the fridge full of beans so I thought I'd just bake the yams in fry form. Nothing that should have been too hard, but it was time consuming. I'm looking forward to eating it all though. Maybe the kids will like it too. I wish all the time that I enjoyed cooking and it didn't exhaust me to cook dinner. My legs just don't take standing up in that kitchen for an hour at 5pm well at all.
Right now there is Dad and some kids playing at the soccer table and some outside in the alley. Evangeline is tracing letters on the screen. Time to get dinner on the table.
We decided to have eggs this morning since all the Cliff bars we ordered from amazon ran out. I added some white rice leftover from last night to make them stretch and hopefully last longer with my always hungry children. I think it worked. I actually like rice in eggs a lot.
After some clean up we headed out to the beach. It was supposed to be Bonita and I but I invited Julie and Holly and it was really nice. Lots of good converstation with 3 very nice ladies. The kids played so nicely and I only had to correct Gideon once. Ashton and Landon had their buddies Calem and Jonah there to play football and skimboard with. I hardly noticed 2 hours had gone by and it was time to leave.
Lunch turned out to be quite an ordeal. We just don't have much for lunch and I never seem to have any ispiration! I thought about sloppy joes or spinach salad with hardboiled eggs, but those would not work for various reasons. We ended up breaking into the frozen pizza from COSTCO. Not ideal, but it was that or go to McDonalds which would have been $40 easy and horrible for us.
While we ate we watched Throwdown with Bobby Flay. The beach exhasuts me from all the sun and it was nice to just sit. He made biscuits and jam in one episode and chocolate chip cookies in another and I am very motivated to try and make both.
We headed into a brief rest time and then onto cello. Thea and Landon are both doing so well. It's hard to believe they have only had about 10 lessons. Landon started the Star Wars theme today so he's really excited. Thea started another Christmas song and I love seeing her little self concentrating so hard while playing. Mostly they love their teacher's little dog, Goliath, but they love their teacher and playing cello, too.
Dinner should have been easy, black bean burgers from leftover black beans, yams and salad. I remembered we had no hamburger buns and decided to bake those from scratch. Then I remembered that the crock pot was in the fridge full of beans so I thought I'd just bake the yams in fry form. Nothing that should have been too hard, but it was time consuming. I'm looking forward to eating it all though. Maybe the kids will like it too. I wish all the time that I enjoyed cooking and it didn't exhaust me to cook dinner. My legs just don't take standing up in that kitchen for an hour at 5pm well at all.
Right now there is Dad and some kids playing at the soccer table and some outside in the alley. Evangeline is tracing letters on the screen. Time to get dinner on the table.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Twelve
Crochet!
Getting to the point in my crocheting hobby where I could actually make cardigans has been really exciting. So far I have made about five and each one I like better than the one before! This is by far my most favorite thing I have ever made. The yarn is inexpensive yarn from the Hobby Lobby (I Love this Yarn brand) and is so very soft. The way it hangs also has been better than any other yarn I have used. So here is sweet Evangeline modeling her cardi. She humored her mama and let me take lots of pictures.
Halloween 2015
Monday, November 16, 2015
Homeschool!
I have to say that homeschooling is a roller coaster! Having a large family makes it even more of a party. Even though our family is no longer growing, I still feel like things are constantly changing and we are trying to figure out what works best for each member of our family. Lately, I feel like we have figured a system that works...for today at least, who knows what tomorrow holds! This is my seventh year of official homeschooling (if you don't include the previous 3 years of preschool) and last year we really finally seemed to settle on curriculum we are happy with. Phew. I'm not saying we won't change our minds later, but for now we seem to be chugging along (mostly) happily.
Here is what we are using!
Math-Rod and Staff. Love it, love it. Simple and strait forward. Kids understand the lessons and it is clear what dad is supposed to teach. And yes, Dad is the teacher for math. He is my superhero for waking them up at 6:30 to teach math before going to work. Mareea is using Singapore math this year. Next year she will start Rod and Staff, however.
English- Rod and Staff for everyone!
Spelling-Rod and Staff. Suprised???
History- Story of the World Volume 2. Each preschool day (twice a week) we do this. We mostly just read the chapter, do the coloring sheet and the map work. Sometimes we will read an extra book that they have suggested or watch a video of the place we are learning about, but I tend to keep it simple.
Science - Rod and Staff. Ashton and Landon are doing grade 5 and Thea and Mareea are doing grade 2. I really love this. They learn and retain a lot more than with other things we have done.
Music- Thea and Landon are taking Cello and Mareea and Ashton are learning the violin from me. Well, they are supposed to be. I am trying to convince Mareea to switch to cello where she can go to a lesson.
Bible-Ashton and Landon are using the Christian Light Educators bible workbooks and the girls are doing AWANA. The boys are also doing AWANA and learning A LOT of verses this year. It's been exciting to see them hiding God's word in their hearts.
Phonice- Thea and Mareea are using Explode the Code workbooks and the boys have graduated from phonics.
Reading- Pathways readers and workbooks for Thea and Mareea. Ashton and Landon read chapter books either that I have chosen or from the Sonlight sets I have bought from a local homeschool mom.
That is about it. Switching to Rod and Staff has really helped us simplify things. I cannot say enough good about their curriculum and the relief it has brought. Every homeschool parent worries if their child is learning what they need and if they are giving their children a solid educational foundation. Now that we have switched I feel like we don't need to worry nearly as much. The curriculum is very through and uses a lot of review and repetition to really make sure the kids know the material. Each lesson introduces small bites of information so they are not overwhelmed. The cost is also an attraction to us, not to mention that the textbooks can be used over and over for younger siblings. Lastly, I feel like it is very simple for the teacher/mom/dad. There is no lesson prep for me. All I have to do is open the book and teach what it says. I learn along with them whatever I have forgotten
Here is what we are using!
Math-Rod and Staff. Love it, love it. Simple and strait forward. Kids understand the lessons and it is clear what dad is supposed to teach. And yes, Dad is the teacher for math. He is my superhero for waking them up at 6:30 to teach math before going to work. Mareea is using Singapore math this year. Next year she will start Rod and Staff, however.
English- Rod and Staff for everyone!
Spelling-Rod and Staff. Suprised???
History- Story of the World Volume 2. Each preschool day (twice a week) we do this. We mostly just read the chapter, do the coloring sheet and the map work. Sometimes we will read an extra book that they have suggested or watch a video of the place we are learning about, but I tend to keep it simple.
Science - Rod and Staff. Ashton and Landon are doing grade 5 and Thea and Mareea are doing grade 2. I really love this. They learn and retain a lot more than with other things we have done.
Music- Thea and Landon are taking Cello and Mareea and Ashton are learning the violin from me. Well, they are supposed to be. I am trying to convince Mareea to switch to cello where she can go to a lesson.
Bible-Ashton and Landon are using the Christian Light Educators bible workbooks and the girls are doing AWANA. The boys are also doing AWANA and learning A LOT of verses this year. It's been exciting to see them hiding God's word in their hearts.
Phonice- Thea and Mareea are using Explode the Code workbooks and the boys have graduated from phonics.
Reading- Pathways readers and workbooks for Thea and Mareea. Ashton and Landon read chapter books either that I have chosen or from the Sonlight sets I have bought from a local homeschool mom.
That is about it. Switching to Rod and Staff has really helped us simplify things. I cannot say enough good about their curriculum and the relief it has brought. Every homeschool parent worries if their child is learning what they need and if they are giving their children a solid educational foundation. Now that we have switched I feel like we don't need to worry nearly as much. The curriculum is very through and uses a lot of review and repetition to really make sure the kids know the material. Each lesson introduces small bites of information so they are not overwhelmed. The cost is also an attraction to us, not to mention that the textbooks can be used over and over for younger siblings. Lastly, I feel like it is very simple for the teacher/mom/dad. There is no lesson prep for me. All I have to do is open the book and teach what it says. I learn along with them whatever I have forgotten
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Boomer's Disney Night
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Baseball Lessons
We love visiting the local batting cages. They also offer lessons and we try and take the boys once every week or two for some extra practice. Their favorite instructor moved and we were really bummed about it and worried that we would not find someone as good. They tried out a new instructor who just finished playing college ball. He turned out to be really good! It's about 100 degrees in the cages but they still go back.
SOCCER!!! (Mareea's First Game and Silly Kids)Ob
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| Deep concentration on the game going on here. Sweet Mareea seems to be BFFs with her team after only one practice and one game. |
Thea also did great. She scored (FROM MID FIELD!!) and worked her bottom off the whole time. She moved up to the "big kid" field this year and it is literally 3 times as big as the one she was on last year. It was great fun to watch her play.
The boys are being coached by Dan this season and they have won their first two games. It's a little hectic for them. They run from soccer to baseball or vice versa. It's several hours out in the hot sun working hard. They seem to love it though. A rained out game ruins their day so I know they are having fun. Hopefully I can get some more pictures up of the others playing. I was mostly concerned with getting pics of Mareea because it was her first game ever!
A Hike and an Art Desk
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| Notice the sweaty people? Quote of the hike-(quintin) "All we need is a breeze and this would be awesome". lol There was a lot of humidity and no breeze. There was, however, plenty of beauty. |
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| Hawaii shows its unique beauty even in the rain. This was taken on the drive home from the Friendship Gardens hike. |
Mareea is sitting at our new art desk. We bought this desk for Landon, and he used it for awhile, but it really is too small for him. Over the long weekend I cleaned it off and moved it into the living room. I got some courage and put out scary art supplies such as markers, tape and paints in labeled baskets and explained to the kids that they all need to be returned and that they are to only be used at the desk. So far it has gone really well and Evangeline spends the most time there. She loves to color whatever pictures I put in the basket for her. I even ordered some new supplies to put at the desk. It seems to keep the mess down and encourages creativity. It's kind of funny though. I was so worried about putting out markers and no one touches them. Mostly just crayons.
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