What we've been up to

My blog has taken a back seat lately.  I've been capturing lots of memories, but just haven't had time to sit down and share them!  (And our wifi is terrible - it kicks me off all the time and, as a result, it takes FOREVER to upload pictures and try to write something on here.  I usually just give up.)  

Let's see...

I've felt stressed lately about getting All The Stuff done.  I emailed an online friend and she was SO encouraging.  She reminded me that all will be well if I cut back for awhile.  I am in a season - with a baby and young children - and I don't need to try to do everything I think we should be doing.  Plus, we all know that education is an atmosphere, and if I try to cram in more than is necessary at this time, causing unnecessary anxiety to myself (and taking it out on everyone around me), what will my children really be learning from me?  Nothing worthwhile.

So, we're focusing on getting the basics done before lunch - math, reading instruction, at least one AO reading, copywork at least 3 days per week - plowing through so that we're free the rest of the day, with plenty of outside time and play time and time to enjoy this sweet, little stinker :)

A few weeks ago, on a day in which we got nothing done and I was feeling discouraged, Izzy came out of her room at one point during the day with a book she had written!  She had been working on it most of the day, here and there, sounding out words (many of them misspelled and all of the letters 's' are backwards :) ), illustrating it, and taping it all together.  It's about her favorite animal - a lion.  

They're laughing at their favorite part in the book - when Addy faints because she sees the lion.

She created.  She thought.  She put forth effort.  And then proceeded to read it about 120 times in a row, lol.  She was so proud.  So, I would say it wasn't a wasted day.  

We finally took Izzy's training wheels off of her bike.  She hasn't ridden it much lately, so we hadn't really thought about it.  But over the weekend I asked her if she wanted us to take them off and she said yes.  Jared was the nervous one this time, not me!, but we convinced him, and she did it on the first try!  She was definitely ready. 

This little booger is getting so big - almost 7 months!  She's not crawling yet, just pushing up with her arms, strengthening those baby muscles :)  She's so fun and sweet, such a happy baby.  <3 Baby love <3

We've been enjoying the beautiful spring weather, as I'm sure you all are as well.  We've gone on lots of nature walks and identified different plants and things, but the nature journaling hasn't been very consistent around here.  Anyone else need encouragement in this area?  

Playing Pooh-sticks.

Trying to catch tadpoles.

See all the periwinkles?

There's a neat bird sanctuary close to where we live with tons of bird - peacocks, guinea fowls, turkeys, and much more.

I don't think I ever realized how ugly the heads of turkeys are.

And other random photos...

This girl and her cat.

What have you been up to?

An update! Finally!

Well it sure has been awhile!  We've been quite busy around here the last several weeks/months, and I'm sure most of you have been as well.  I felt it was time to share some pictures and give a little update as to what's been going on with us.

I've been wanting to blog, but my hands just haven't been free to type lately.  Man, is nursing demanding!  I spend most of my time reading while I'm nursing Paige; trying to type on the computer is too difficult.  She is four months old now (four months!!) and I gave up nursing long before this point with Izzy and Addy (unfortunately).  I've decided that I just wasn't informed of the time required and demanding nature of nursing the first two go-arounds.  Although, I guess that's just an excuse.

I've had conversations with other moms about how nursing is supposed to be the most natural thing between a mother and her baby, but it sure doesn't feel like it's natural.  It feels like work sometimes, especially in the beginning.  But, that's the way God intended it, isn't it?  It's a gift He's given us, this time spent with our precious babies.  I must stop many, many times throughout the day (and sometimes at night) - stop whatever task that's taking up my time - and spend it with my child.  I must stop what I'm doing and hold her close, gaze into her face, feel her soft skin against mine, breathe her in.  These beautiful moments with her snuggled up against me so much throughout the day will only last so long.

Oh, there's just something about a baby!  Jared and I have commented to each other that it seems as if we are just enjoying Paige more than we did Izzy and Addy (again, unfortunately).  I don't know if it's because we could have lost her, or because we're a little older now and a *little* more laid back (him more than me on that last point).  I think it's a little of both.  And maybe because at this point we aren't planning to have any more kiddos, so that's probably a factor, too.  (Although, you never know...)

I had to throw in this pic because Izzy is such a goob.

Speaking of Izzy being a goob, I accidentally signed up for Amazon prime (actually I forgot to cancel the one month trial) which allows you to borrow one free kindle book each month.  The pickins' are quite slim.  I did manage to find a book called The Child Whisperer, though.  It's basically about learning your child's inner nature and how to respond and nurture that nature in raising him/her.  Izzy is hands-down type 1 - fun-loving, playful, happy, social.  Addy is a little harder to figure out.  I'm thinking maybe she's type 2 - sensitive, emotional, relaxed, tender (someone is going to say yeah right to the last two, but that's probably because we haven't been encouraging her to live true to her nature).  It's all very interesting.

Paige, well she's a baby and I'm just not sure yet.  She seems like a type 1 - she loves to be talked to - she gives the biggest smiles all the time and is so happy.  She does not like to be left alone!

I just love this picture.  So, so sweet.

What else?  How about some random photos from the past month or so?  

Christmas at the square.  No Paigey-pie (that's her baby nickname) - she was at home with Nana and Papaw.

Christmas day.

Izzy and her new pogo stick.  She's pretty good! 

Izzy's teeth are beginning to fall out.  She's lost three so far and is about to lose a fourth.

No tea time is complete without covering yourself with stickers.  And my sweet mother-in-law got me my new favorite thing - a book holder!  Love it.

Oh yeah!  Paige has started rolling over!  (That's light from the window on her face.)

Paige in her big girl chair!  We haven't given her any cereal or anything yet; she just hangs out with us and gets mad after about ten minutes.  Luckily Jared eats fast.  This doesn't happen too often because she's usually hungry when we are.

Remember what I said about Izzy being type 1?

Hmmmmm, I don't think they love their baby sister or anything.

Until next time!  

The girls

Day 5!

(Except it's November 9.)

(Oh man, I'm so behind.)

(I will make it all up at some point.)

(This is why I shouldn't commit to blogging challenges.)

How blessed I am to be the mother of these two girlies.  They are so sweet (most of the time) and so much fun (most of the time) - they make me laugh everyday.  They are best friends (most of the time) and I am so thankful to be with them each day, watching them grow into beautiful young ladies.  

Yes, they dressed themselves.

They are wonderful big sisters - so helpful - and love their baby sissy so, so much.

{Nature} River visit, and guess what we saw!

Day 4!  (Although I'm a day late.) 

We went to the river the other day and had a lot of fun.  I'm so thankful to live in such a beautiful part of the country.  We are surrounded by lovely landscapes - all attesting to the glory of our awesome and creative God.  I'm also thankful for time spent together as a family, enjoying each other and the outdoors.

I think this is a great blue heron?  We can never see them up close.

There's nothing like spending time together throwing and skipping rocks.  Simple pleasures :)

Who says you need toys?

We saw something that I've never seen before in real life - TWO bald eagles!  Can you see this one in the picture below?

They were on the other side of the river so we didn't get to see them up close.  My camera won't zoom very far, but you can tell what they are.  So, so cool!  And then, of course, this week's bird selection from the Burgess Bird Book had to be the bald eagle :)

Making mud pies.

Two beauties :)

And another one, fast asleep :)

The perfect place to climb.

Ahhh, ladybugs :)

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the Lord is the great God,

And the great King above all gods.

In His hand are the deep places of the earth;

The heights of the hills are His also.

The sea is His, for He made it;

And His hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture,

And the sheep of His hand.

(Psalm 95:1-7)

What are you thankful for today?