...but sometimes they can lead to one.
Tonight Dale was cleaning up the supper dishes and, in true 10-year-old fashion, carried Brooklyn's plate to the next room. He wanted to know if he could eat her leftovers.
And, in true 10-year-old fashion, he dropped the plate, food side down.
Fortunately for the carpet, most of the food landed on Brooklyn's blanket. This, however, was more of an unfortunate development for the hour before bedtime. Said blanket should have been safe in its bed, not the playroom floor.
THE blanket, the ONE that we MUST have for sleeping, was now dirty. :-/
We proceeded with our bedtime routine as usual. When I tucked Brooklyn into bed I gave her a sweet, soft little blanket printed with pastel cupcakes. When she balked, I talked to her like a big girl and reminded her the other blanket was dirty. (She had seen and noticed it herself.)
The age 4 and up crowd sat together in the next room and finished our bedtime prayers, but we could all hear Brooklyn crying in her bed for her blanket.
As soon as the last 'Amen' was said and the boys all scattered for last minute hugs and potty stops, I looked up to see Dale with a wet soapy paper towel and a certain gingham and flower print purple blanket, scrubbing away.
A little spot cleaning and he presented his sister with THE blanket she needed.
I love that boy. He's alright, you know.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Back to School
Today marked our second day back into school full-swing since the Christmas break, and, if I'm being honest, since the move! We've definitely had full school days since moving, but we are into something now we can settle in to and get lots done for weeks to come, hopefully.
After over two weeks of no routine or structure, yesterday was ah-MAZ-ing! Then today was a harder day, maybe from adding the 5th kid into the mix? (Alan was gone most of Monday for a scheduled checkup.) At any rate, we stuck with the plan the whole way through both days.
Our day is sectioned into half hour blocks. We try to keep things moving by the clock, but don't sweat it if we get off. It happens. The important thing is to keep marching through the list of things to get done!
I wake Dale up at 6:30 for him to shower and do his "Morning Jobs". He begins his first round of school work after that. Alan is up at 7 for his shower and Morning Jobs while I make breakfast. Daddy gets home from his bus route between 7:30-7:45 and we all have breakfast together before he goes to class at 8.
After breakfast, Dale and Alan have personal Bible reading/devotion time and study their Awanas lessons. Tyler washes the breakfast plates or bowls. I dress Daniel and Brooklyn and then finish the breakfast dishes while Tyler dresses.
We all work together on some cleaning up, particularly the playroom, then have Bible time all together. We are going book by book. We started in Genesis in August and began Joshua yesterday.
Dale then goes off to notebook that day's Bible story and Alan joins Tyler and Brooklyn and me for preschool time. While I stand by the belief that preschool isn't "necessary" I also believe it is fun and does have a lot of good. A consistent preschool time has been missing in our days since we moved, so I'm really happy to get back to it! We are using Hubbard's Cupboard, a favorite from both Dale and Alan's preschool days.
That brings us up to 10:00am. Are you bored silly yet? I'll spare you the rest for now. We are all happier being back into a routine and having productive days again. Even so, I may have to make room in the schedule tomorrow for some outside time. It will be the first time in 2 days we've gotten above freezing! Brr! And, construction has begun on the new playground almost outside our back door, so we have to walk over and check that out!
After over two weeks of no routine or structure, yesterday was ah-MAZ-ing! Then today was a harder day, maybe from adding the 5th kid into the mix? (Alan was gone most of Monday for a scheduled checkup.) At any rate, we stuck with the plan the whole way through both days.
Our day is sectioned into half hour blocks. We try to keep things moving by the clock, but don't sweat it if we get off. It happens. The important thing is to keep marching through the list of things to get done!
I wake Dale up at 6:30 for him to shower and do his "Morning Jobs". He begins his first round of school work after that. Alan is up at 7 for his shower and Morning Jobs while I make breakfast. Daddy gets home from his bus route between 7:30-7:45 and we all have breakfast together before he goes to class at 8.
After breakfast, Dale and Alan have personal Bible reading/devotion time and study their Awanas lessons. Tyler washes the breakfast plates or bowls. I dress Daniel and Brooklyn and then finish the breakfast dishes while Tyler dresses.
We all work together on some cleaning up, particularly the playroom, then have Bible time all together. We are going book by book. We started in Genesis in August and began Joshua yesterday.
Dale then goes off to notebook that day's Bible story and Alan joins Tyler and Brooklyn and me for preschool time. While I stand by the belief that preschool isn't "necessary" I also believe it is fun and does have a lot of good. A consistent preschool time has been missing in our days since we moved, so I'm really happy to get back to it! We are using Hubbard's Cupboard, a favorite from both Dale and Alan's preschool days.
That brings us up to 10:00am. Are you bored silly yet? I'll spare you the rest for now. We are all happier being back into a routine and having productive days again. Even so, I may have to make room in the schedule tomorrow for some outside time. It will be the first time in 2 days we've gotten above freezing! Brr! And, construction has begun on the new playground almost outside our back door, so we have to walk over and check that out!
Friday, December 13, 2013
December 13
So....when I had the goal to blog 25 days of Christmas, I kind of also had it in my head that we would do a little something Christmas every day.
Today....not so much.
Except biscuits. I made and froze 37 sausage-cheese biscuits to bring to our Christmas week get-together.
It rained almost all day.
We had hot dogs for supper. Again.
Dale is still working on division.
I got our game closet cleaned out/reorganized. How unimportant is that 11 days before Christmas?? But it is kind of part of the bigger project of rearranging and setting up a schoolroom/guestroom. So. There ya go.
The kids watched waaay too much tv today. There was Toy Story marathon on. They soaked up a lot of that, while also channel hopping over to PBS to catch some Curious George (Alan's a fan, lol) and then we topped it all off with the Grinch. The real one, from 1967, not the Jim Carey one that is on tv every.other.night.
Now it's 10:00 and Alan can't get to sleep. Couldn't have anything to do with the fact that he watched FOUR STRAIGHT HOURS of television this evening.
Mercy...we're going to need a brain and body cleanse tomorrow. TV and hot dogs. Tomorrow we'll do better.
Lamest blog post ever, but I didn't want to skip a day. :)
(And we did do our One Wintry Night reading. Today was actually THE big story, of "The First Christmas". Bethlehem, Manger, Shepherds, Angels. A precious 20 minutes spent together.)
Today....not so much.
Except biscuits. I made and froze 37 sausage-cheese biscuits to bring to our Christmas week get-together.
It rained almost all day.
We had hot dogs for supper. Again.
Dale is still working on division.
I got our game closet cleaned out/reorganized. How unimportant is that 11 days before Christmas?? But it is kind of part of the bigger project of rearranging and setting up a schoolroom/guestroom. So. There ya go.
The kids watched waaay too much tv today. There was Toy Story marathon on. They soaked up a lot of that, while also channel hopping over to PBS to catch some Curious George (Alan's a fan, lol) and then we topped it all off with the Grinch. The real one, from 1967, not the Jim Carey one that is on tv every.other.night.
Now it's 10:00 and Alan can't get to sleep. Couldn't have anything to do with the fact that he watched FOUR STRAIGHT HOURS of television this evening.
Mercy...we're going to need a brain and body cleanse tomorrow. TV and hot dogs. Tomorrow we'll do better.
Lamest blog post ever, but I didn't want to skip a day. :)
(And we did do our One Wintry Night reading. Today was actually THE big story, of "The First Christmas". Bethlehem, Manger, Shepherds, Angels. A precious 20 minutes spent together.)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
December 12
Today seemed like a really busy day! Not sure what filled it up, but I don't think I slowed down much. And that's a good thing.
Breakfast this morning was homemade biscuits and fried eggs. I don't like fried eggs. But I like frying them, and everyone else likes eating them, so we still have them.
Our One Wintry Night reading was about how God prepared the world and chose the exact time for Jesus to be born. The Roman rule of so much of the world, including Israel, made so many elements just right for he birth of the Messiah. We also read about Mary's gentle obedience to God's will for her, her trust in His angel messenger, and her song of praise.
Today's big event was our local Christmas parade! It had to be rescheduled twice because of weather, but I guess the third time was the charm!
The weather tonight was clear and cold, but not too cold. Just cold enough that everyone was ready for a cup of hot chocolate when we got home!
During our Bible reading time (Mary's song again - I love it when things work out like that!) I showed Brooklyn the magic of laying under a Christmas tree. Tyler couldn't resist joining in. :)
Breakfast this morning was homemade biscuits and fried eggs. I don't like fried eggs. But I like frying them, and everyone else likes eating them, so we still have them.
Our One Wintry Night reading was about how God prepared the world and chose the exact time for Jesus to be born. The Roman rule of so much of the world, including Israel, made so many elements just right for he birth of the Messiah. We also read about Mary's gentle obedience to God's will for her, her trust in His angel messenger, and her song of praise.
Today's big event was our local Christmas parade! It had to be rescheduled twice because of weather, but I guess the third time was the charm!
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| Random parade float. I loved the smoking fireplace/chimney! |
The weather tonight was clear and cold, but not too cold. Just cold enough that everyone was ready for a cup of hot chocolate when we got home!
During our Bible reading time (Mary's song again - I love it when things work out like that!) I showed Brooklyn the magic of laying under a Christmas tree. Tyler couldn't resist joining in. :)
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
December 11
Another dentist day.
In his checkup yesterday Dale was found to need a little work and we were able to get him in today.
He was scheduled for two hours, but thankfully done after just one. Alan and Tyler and I hung out in the waiting room watching tv, playing on the tablet, reading. I was so, so grateful for a friend that volunteered to keep kids for me during that time, so we didn't have to keep Brooklyn and Daniel contained and entertained and quiet in a little waiting room.
We read a chapter of One Wintry Night after we got home and got the littles in bed for naps. Today's reading brought us all the way up through the time of the judges and prophets. So close to the coming of the Messiah!
We started working on hand-sewn ornaments, something they've been asking to do for a while. Dale was still numb from the dentist (and frankly, a little grumpy) so he didn't feel like doing anything.
Today was an exciting day for all 3 big boys: Daddy drove the school bus route that stops right in front of our house! Red. Letter. Day. There was jumping, waving, shouting...oh it was more exciting than Santa in a parade.
Potato/broccoli soup for supper, then Daddy and 2 biggest boys went to church.
That's it. No pictures, very little Christmas-ing, hardly anything to count as 'school'. But the kitchen is clean, the playroom is vacuumed, we tended to our teeth, visited with friends, read good books and used our hands. And that somehow filled another whole day!
In his checkup yesterday Dale was found to need a little work and we were able to get him in today.
He was scheduled for two hours, but thankfully done after just one. Alan and Tyler and I hung out in the waiting room watching tv, playing on the tablet, reading. I was so, so grateful for a friend that volunteered to keep kids for me during that time, so we didn't have to keep Brooklyn and Daniel contained and entertained and quiet in a little waiting room.
We read a chapter of One Wintry Night after we got home and got the littles in bed for naps. Today's reading brought us all the way up through the time of the judges and prophets. So close to the coming of the Messiah!
We started working on hand-sewn ornaments, something they've been asking to do for a while. Dale was still numb from the dentist (and frankly, a little grumpy) so he didn't feel like doing anything.
Today was an exciting day for all 3 big boys: Daddy drove the school bus route that stops right in front of our house! Red. Letter. Day. There was jumping, waving, shouting...oh it was more exciting than Santa in a parade.
Potato/broccoli soup for supper, then Daddy and 2 biggest boys went to church.
That's it. No pictures, very little Christmas-ing, hardly anything to count as 'school'. But the kitchen is clean, the playroom is vacuumed, we tended to our teeth, visited with friends, read good books and used our hands. And that somehow filled another whole day!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
December 10
This morning I loaded up our crew of 5 and we went for our first visit to our new dentist since moving. Dale was the only one with an appointment today, and so far we really like everything and everyone about their office! The others behaved themselves very nicely in the waiting room while Dale had his checkup and cleaning.
This afternoon I should have been doing any number of productive things, but instead I enjoyed myself very much 1 - cuddling with my husband before he went to work after lunch, 2 - visiting with our new pastor and his wife when they dropped by, 3 - chatting with my sister on the phone. (Hey - at least I was putting away clean laundry for that last one!)
As much as I enjoyed the phone call, I did hang up from it in almost panic mode that ohmygoodness-it'sonlytwoweeks tillChristmas!!!!
So when Daddy got home from work I insisted we all go shopping together. The two main items I wanted to find were not available, but we did get some other things checked off our list, both holiday-ish (like trade gifts for an upcoming party and supplies for the kids to make gifts for their friends) and everyday-ish (like bananas and diapers). :)
We had a late supper, got the kitchen clean and the groceries put away and spent some time reading from Matthew 1 about Joseph being a just man and not making an example of Mary. We sang a few Christmas carols, said prayers and sent the kiddos off to bed.
Then, I was able to get a big chunk of Christmas shopping done online! Those items I couldn't get in person today are now paid for and hopefully on their way tomorrow! Which reminds me: Mom, Dad... that package from Amazon with my name on it you'll get in the mail one day next week? Don't open it!! :)
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| Slim pickin's on pictures today, so you get one of me trying to figure out how to wear my scarf before heading out to the dentist's office. :) |
This afternoon I should have been doing any number of productive things, but instead I enjoyed myself very much 1 - cuddling with my husband before he went to work after lunch, 2 - visiting with our new pastor and his wife when they dropped by, 3 - chatting with my sister on the phone. (Hey - at least I was putting away clean laundry for that last one!)
As much as I enjoyed the phone call, I did hang up from it in almost panic mode that ohmygoodness-it'sonlytwoweeks tillChristmas!!!!
So when Daddy got home from work I insisted we all go shopping together. The two main items I wanted to find were not available, but we did get some other things checked off our list, both holiday-ish (like trade gifts for an upcoming party and supplies for the kids to make gifts for their friends) and everyday-ish (like bananas and diapers). :)
We had a late supper, got the kitchen clean and the groceries put away and spent some time reading from Matthew 1 about Joseph being a just man and not making an example of Mary. We sang a few Christmas carols, said prayers and sent the kiddos off to bed.
Then, I was able to get a big chunk of Christmas shopping done online! Those items I couldn't get in person today are now paid for and hopefully on their way tomorrow! Which reminds me: Mom, Dad... that package from Amazon with my name on it you'll get in the mail one day next week? Don't open it!! :)
Monday, December 9, 2013
Dec 9
- Read from "One Wintry Night" from God's calling of Abraham to the Exodus from Egypt and settling in to the promised land.
- Sang Christmas carols 'round the piano.
- Painted on our candy-cane striped J's, a project still in-process:
- Had a little preschool time, with some Christmas finger-plays/"action rhymes", then read The Night Before Christmas
- Finished Farmer Boy! Yay!
- Put together a little Pinterest project...
...which was a great hit with the nappers when they woke up!
- After a supper of frito pie, we ended this cold dreary day with a few fun rounds of Jenga, before our nightly Bible reading and a few more Christmas carols.
I love Alan's face in this pic! He was ready for it to fall any second! (It didn't.)
- Sang Christmas carols 'round the piano.
- Painted on our candy-cane striped J's, a project still in-process:
- Had a little preschool time, with some Christmas finger-plays/"action rhymes", then read The Night Before Christmas
- Finished Farmer Boy! Yay!
- Put together a little Pinterest project...
...which was a great hit with the nappers when they woke up!
- After a supper of frito pie, we ended this cold dreary day with a few fun rounds of Jenga, before our nightly Bible reading and a few more Christmas carols.
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