Because the Kids Aren’t Getting Any Younger

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Zachary, 10; Laurianna, 13; Kaleb, 8; McKenna, 12

So the kids are growing up. Proof positive in the picture above. In case you don’t recognize them - well, those are our four. It’s been a bit since I’ve shared a picture and looking at the family pictures on our wall in comparison - yikes.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day and a chance to grab a few snapshots to document just how much they’ve grown and how beautiful (or handsome) they are becoming, both inside and out.

McKenna would love to have you notice that yes, she IS taller than her older sister. This is the first time in a long time that she has worn her hair down, which we love!

These two girls can be the best of friends or drive each other crazy all in the span of 15 minutes. They are growing into beautiful young ladies (that in and of itself sounds too grown up!).

And the boys - well, they aren’t so little anymore either. There’s a part of me that keeps thinking Kaleb is six. He’s eight. Sigh. It should be noted that Zachary wanted a pink shirt for Easter. He got plaid.

Rick and I aren’t getting any younger either - but you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. At all. This man is all sorts of amazing and I am blessed to have him and those crazy kids along for the ride.

A Christmas to Remember

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This Christmas was a little more laid back, or at least it felt that way. Completely wonderful. Relaxing. Fun.

In short – exactly what we had hoped and wanted it to be.

This Christmas we scaled back on the gifts and focused more as a family on giving more to others than we did to ourselves.

Christmas Eve we surprised my parents with a visit from one of my brothers. Can you tell that his visit was enjoyed by his nephews?

There was excitement watching others opening their gifts…

Thrilled responses to gifts that were meant to be enjoyed together…

Even a thrilled little kitty who could finally quit ripping open all of the wrapping paper underneath the tree and play with a real gift {just for him}.

Today the tree came down and we are packing up the last of the Christmas decorations. As much as I enjoy the fullness and color that all of the decorations add to the house, there is something to be said for the open and clean feeling in the house when everything has been put away.

Merry {belated} Christmas from our family to yours – and Happy New Year too!

 

No Matter Who Wins…

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Today the kids went to the polls with me and walked through the 2012 presidential election process. They took a sample ballot from both parties so we could talk about the different issues that we were voting for.

After our ballot was counted, there were stickers.

Tonight as the kids got ready for bed, Zachary’s prayer just made my heart smile – and is a good reminder for all of us:

“Dear God, help us remember that no matter who wins tonight, you are still in charge.”

Amen.

The Start of the School Year

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This year marks our seventh year homeschooling. Without the school photographer on hand to take pictures of the kids, I get to have the fun job.

And by fun…well, you know how it is trying to take pictures of your own kids. Near water. And bridges. That kind of fun.

We did manage to document how the kids have grown and kick off the school year with dinner out to celebrate.

Laurianna, age 11	McKenna, age 9
Zachary, age 7	Kaleb, age 5

 

And because a picture is worth a thousand words, this one definitely sums up a few things…

The 10 Minute Squirrel House {not really}

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All morning long, Zachary had been mulling over plans in his head to build a squirrel house. He was certain that with all of the scrap wood in Rick’s workshop area he had more than enough to build a habit for the gray critters.

He insisted it would take him only 10 minutes.

Later in the morning I heard the banging on the hammer. Knowing Rick wasn’t home, I immediately ran downstairs to see what was going on. Zachary had pulled out nails, the hammer, a pile of scraps and he started his building project.

Twenty minutes later I came downstairs to find him practically in tears. He hadn’t even managed to get one nail completely through a piece of wood. It was bent. He was a little more than frustrated.

Hours and hours later, he kept at the project, determined to get it looking like he envisioned {apparently having his shirt off helps him work better}.

He even brought the ‘big guns’ out and pulled c-clamps from the workshop.

And the finished product was filled with birdseed, written on with sharpie:

“Squirrls Only! NO Birds!

 

As much as I love my son and his workmanship, the feeder was removed from our porch. I’ve been trying desperately to get the squirrels OFF our porch and away from our bird feeders, so we found a place in the trees where the squirrels could feast to their heart’s content…away from my house.

One day of summer down ~ how many more to occupy?

Strong Character

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Last week during our history lesson we were talking about Eli and Samuel. Our lesson made the point that Samuel was a boy of strong character and Eli’s own sons were unruly and disrespectful.

I asked the kids how they thought others would view them ~ as unruly or as a child of strong character.

And asked Zachary first.

He thought for a moment and then said, “Well, I am strong and I really am a character.”

Isn’t that the truth.

Reading and Drinking?

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On the bright side, Zachary is really trying hard to read any and everything around him and really showing interest in what things say.

On the down side, we went out to eat tonight and when the waitress came to the table, he handed her the bottle of ketchup and asked if he could trade it for a Bud Light {via a sign on the table}.

She laughed a bit and then said, “Oh, the things they pick up in school.”

Most likely didn’t help any when I mentioned we homeschool.

{sigh}

He Washed His Hands, But…

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Zachary has lately been climbing the metal poles in our basement and then sliding down them, his hands squeaking and squealing against the metal the whole way down.

{think fingernails on chalkboard as I hear the sound coming through the floor from the basement ~ shudder}

The sliding process leaves a lovely residue on his hands and we’ve finally convinced him to wash them occasionally. The other day as I was working in the kitchen, he came running up the stairs, went into the bathroom, and yelled out to me, “I know you’re shocked. I’m washing my hands!”

I pretended to fall over from the shock of it all. When he saw me, he continued… “Don’t get excited. I still pick my nose.”

Ahh…the refreshing honesty of a 7 year old boy.

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!

 

Only a Mom of a Boy…

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I knew that parenting would require me to answer some tough questions, but Zachary asked me a tough one the other day and I wasn’t sure how to answer him.

The question?

Do droids wear underwear?

Anyone have some insight on this one?

Four Naughty Words

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At the dinner table tonight, Zachary leaned over to me and said, “We aren’t supposed to say the one ‘D’ word or the two ‘S’ words. OR the ‘H’ word.”

I looked over at Rick and inwardly braced myself for what was going to come out of his mouth next. I calmly asked him what words those would be ~ a bit afraid that I might have to intervene.

In case you were wondering, the four no-no words are ‘dumb’, ‘stupid’, ‘shutup’, and ‘hate’.

Phew.

When Your Children “Borrow” Your iPad

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You know your iPad has been borrowed by your children when you turn on the camera feature and realize that there are over 150 pictures taking up space…and few of them were taken by you.

Obviously the Photobooth feature is too appealing to my children ~ and don’t tell them, but they secretly make me giggle.

Do you recognize these children?

  

    

Fill in the Blank

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The kids and I have been working on a new homeschool vocabulary curriculum this summer and getting into the groove of it before the school year starts up. We’ve been talking about and creating compound words.

The kids need to use the base word that they are given and then add a new word to it. For example, ‘fire’ plus ‘man’ equals ‘fireman’.

Zachary has a little more trouble coming up with words at times so I would try to give him some hints. He came up with two words to go along with the word ‘head’, headband and headlight, but then got stuck.

I sat in front of him and pointed to my head and said, “I have a word for you! Mommy gets these quite a bit!”

Zachary looked at me and the light dawned in his eyes.

“Oooooo! I know!! Headlice.” And he furiously began to write the word down.

Yeah. Not so much.

I was going more for HEADACHE, but it’s good to know where my hygiene stands with my kids.

 

Head on over to Mary's at Not Before 7 for some more Tiny Talk Tuesday!!