Thankfully Blessed

This is one of my favorite parts of our house . . . the kids' play area outside.  It's been a work in progress since we moved in, and just seems to get better with time . . . and costs not much more than the bags of sand we buy every few months.   We've spent many hours out there lately and it feels so good to my soul!



We've had a good couple days lately and it has just filled me with thanksgiving.  Realizing that I don't have a RIGHT to have children or to be a mother . . . and yet God allowed me to anyway!  I remember during those years of infertility, people would try to encourage by saying things like "oh God will give you your desires," and other comments that seemed to imply that I had a right to be a mom . . . that "of course" God would answer that prayer. But no where does it promise that we get to have children . . . and so I'm daily reminded how thankful I am for these two (almost three) precious children that God has BLESSED me with. I think that's the real meaning of "Children are a blessing . . ." They aren't a right, a promise or a reward.  They are simply a blessing.  And I sure am thankful for them.

As I think about the upcoming year, there is going to be a lot to balance.  I'm thankful for this year, as we've worked through some balance issues, practiced with routines and talked about what is important to us.  As all our friends get ready to send their 5 year olds off to school and we get ready to undertake Shannon's education at home; I'm thankful we've worked through why it is so important to us to train and educate her.  It certainly isn't going to be easy to add "teacher" and "mom of a new baby" to our routine, all at the same time.

As we get ready to add another child to the family, I'm thankful for siblings who adore each other and play well together.  Today's conversation at lunch "Shanny, I love you bigger than the tree."  "Forest I love you bigger than the moon." And on and on. 

As we start a new Ranch year with only a couple boys, and struggling ones at that; I"m thankful for a good support system around us.  And I'm REALLY thankful for four weeks of vacation this summer!  Most of which will be spent up north again!



So there we are!  I'm 18 weeks pregnant and feeling great.  Struggling a bit with back pain issues, but otherwise feeling good.  Ultrasound on May 14th!!!!!!!!!!!!  Dear friends coming to visit on May 6th, whom I haven't seen in five years!  New babies around the Ranch, so lots of photo-taking opportunities.  As I remind these families, I am NOT a professional and have no desire to be so . . .I just happen to be able to take better pictures than they can; I like the practice and can hopefully "bless" them through it.  A few of my favorites (btw the belly and the baby aren't from the same family!).










Speaking of blessing . . . my brother's friend is getting us into Disney tomorrow!  Yippeee for free perks of living in Florida!  Then we shoot into a busy next two weeks, much busier than I'd like as far as appointments and things away from home.  Hopefully then we can nest back home again!  Because home is sure where my heart is!

April Update

Hey friends!!!!  Hard to believe it's April, where in the world is time going?  We just finished a lovely, week-long Spring Break and now are gearing up for our last "push" until summer vacation.  The boys go home on June 19th, so it's nice to have an "end date" for our year.

What's going on?

PREGNANCY
Things are going great, I certainly can't complain.  The first trimester was definitely the easiest of my three pregnancies and even those issues are over. The non-stop exhaustion is gone and replaced by a more normal and manageable tired.  The constant-nausea is gone, and replaced by the simple need to put something in my stomach right away but not sick.  I'm having to start some back exercises already but I think a lot of that ache is because I'm suddenly crazy-active, now that I feel so good!  And in six weeks we'll hopefully find out if this little baby is a boy or girl!  Can't wait!



I'm ALWAYS working our little nest here . . . with more specific projects in mind now.  We're really working hard on going through the kids toys and simplifying.  No matter which kid ends up sharing a  room, we need to make room for a 3rd!  Now that I'm feeling better, I need to paint our bedroom & hallway . . . and I'd love to have that done before we find out what we're having and I jump into a whole host of projects related to that!  


WORK
Boys are doing okay, actually.  It was good to have a break- always refreshes the patience-tank.  Now that spring (summer) is here, it's been much more fun to be outside, especially since it's light at night.  Makes it easier to take Shannon & Forest along with everything we want or need to do.  And we should be swimming soon, if the warm weather keeps up!  We're starting to think about next school year- doing evaluations, making decisions about what staff will return, etc.  It always feels good to round this corner and think about finishing well.  Out of our 8 boys, probably only 3 will return, so we have lots of transitions to work on!


KIDS
We took about a month off of any kid of school, due to visitors, etc.  We're gearing back up for a good and steady two months, before summer schedules start here at the Ranch, and then vacation away from Florida.  Trying to push ahead with Shan's reading & math mostly.

I was also able to participate in an event with a friend &; her homeschool group, to a really neat "Florida style" Pioneer village.  I think we'll be joining this group for the next year- basically a "field trip co-op" where there are 10 families and we each plan two events during the year. They only meet the 1st & 3rd Friday of the month for events (which are always optional but obviously encouraged), so it's not a huge commitment.  While the events are interesting (think museums, zoo, parks, farms, etc.) our main reason for participating is for Shannon to have a group of friends that aren't here at the Ranch.



Her best friend (our neighbor daughter who is Shan's exact age) will be going to public school in August . . . so that's going to be a big change in their relationship and friendship.  For that reason and because I want her to stretch and get to know other kids, I think this will be a good fit!  Forest can come along and obviously baby can too, when the fall comes.



Otherwise, these two just keep growing and growing!  I love when I see glimpses of that 5 year old, going on 10 year old . . . those mature conversations, or mature ways of dealing with her friends.  It's so neat to watch her grow and change.  Forest seems to have made it over the "worst" of the threes, though there are definately still some issues that we're working hard on.  I am so thankful for the chance to be home all day with him, so we can work on those things over and over again!

And of course their love for each other is my favorite thing in the whole world!



A few other pictures- my parents came to visit in March, we got away (just Jer & I) for two days, to St. Augustine, got to the beach and had a lovely and quiet Easter!



Our bed and breakfast- an old Carriage house for a mansion!



Beach trip





Easter

11 Weeks!

Hey friends!  After many false starts or starts and poor finishes of posts . . .I decided a short and imperfect one is better than none!  And since my brain shuts off early these days, how about some "bullets?"  I do have a pile of pictures I'd like to share, but this will be good for now!

* 11 weeks today!  Physically doing well- after 8 weeks I suddenly stopped being so sick (and then of course started worrying and wondering why, ha!)!  I still feel queasy in the mornings and have had a few bad days thrown in, but nothing like weeks 6-8 where I was practically incapable of doing anything or caring for my family.  Thank you Jesus! 

*  Finally had my first appointment at the Birth Center (staffed by amazing Christian midwives, where I had both other kids).  Felt so good to be back with professionals who believe in the ability of a woman to grow and birth a baby! 

*  We're still kind of in "triage" mode . . . my required napping in the afternoon has really cut into getting things done around here- those were traditionally my two hours to exercise, clean, organize, etc.  I'm learning to be patient with myself and really focus on the priorities right now.  When I feel good I take full advantage of it and try to work hard!

*  Speaking of, whenever I have good days, I can't believe how the nesting instinct has kicked in!  I'm on a mission to make room for a third  . . .I don't want to just add more for a third, I want to have empty places in our house, so when we add those little things (crib, bouncy seat, etc.) we aren't feeling crowded. 

*  Our "Ranch" boys are doing okay . . . we have two that are really, really struggling and that's been hard on us.  One boy in particular is about to make us pull our hair out!  Pray for D, that we would have clarity into how to help him, and more importantly, God's love . .. . because ours sure isn't enough.  And pray for our leadership to be wise and truly see if we are a good fit for him (and now just keep him "because we are a better place than home").

*  Shan and Forest are great . . . what a neat thing to have kids old enough to enjoy the excitement of a coming baby!  They both say they "want a boy or a girl," which is fun because no one has their heart really set on a gender.  They study my belly daily, asking if it's growing (it is, pictures to come).  They are considerate when I don't feel good.  And they pray for this precious one. 

Well, brain is turning off (don't you HATE daylight savings time!?!?!?!).  I do think of you friends often, just haven't been able to fit blog time into my triage list!  I hope to be back this week with some pictures!!!!

A new "one"

Well, about a week and a half ago we shared this news with our kids . . .

We've known since January 19th, but were trying to wait as long as possible to tell the kids . . . partly because it was fun to have a secret, partly because we weren't ready to tell the world and partly because 9 months is a long time for little people!

But I was so sick and miserable that day, we decided it was time to tell them so they can at least know why I'm laying on the floor in a heap in their room, HA!  They were thrilled of course!  Shannon has been praying for months and months. She didn't stop talking about it all day, and has continued to each day.  It's so fun to see her experience it like this- when Forest was conceived, she was just 13 months old!  A baby herself.  This time it's something she prayed for and can be a part of.  Forest just stared at my tummy and then said "I think there is a baby in my tummy too."  HA!

Our kids spread the word around the Ranch, which was fun.  It was getting hard to hide the fact that I was close to puking at breakfast and I'm so bloated by dinner that people commented on the "bump." Yikes! 

So anyway!  I'm just about 8 weeks pregnant, due October 1st.  Feeling my usual pregnant symptoms- horribly nauseated all day (I don't usually throw up, just feel on the verge of it) except for about 3 hours in the middle of the afternoon.  And exhaustion. The usual :) 

That's it for today!

Pontificating

The post in which I pontificate at great length about our daily lives.  Feel free to skip it if you don't want to know every.single.boring.detail.  But if you're nosy about what other people's lives are like, like me, keep reading!  I'll try to through some pictures in to make it more fun, HA!



 Two weeks into January and we're moving right along in a good direction.  I set a few goals for the year, but most of my "goal setting" is done in July, when we're starting a new "Ranch Year."  It just seems to make more sense for our lives.  That being said, January is also a good time to re-set goals, re-consider them and re-work them.  I'm still working out a few- specifically for the kids.  Areas I want them to grow in over the year (pysically, educationally, spiritually, etc.).  One of the big ones was for Forest- get rid of paci.  And we did it Jan. 4th.  He's been fine, just MUCH noiser at bed and rest time.  As if he wasn't already noisy the rest of the day, HA!

I am no stranger to boys- grew up with 2 brothers and have been houseparenting little boys for 12 years now . . . and wow, did I get a boy or what!?!?!  We may have to do his homeschool on a treadmill or trampoline!



Which leads me in to one of our other big areas- school.  We started "school" in the fall, as I posted about previously.  Kind of working on a pre-k level for Shannon, Forest tagging along and doing what he chose, and doing some pre-school kind of activities.  Spending time evualting our lives over Christmas, I realize that the Fall will always be a horrid time to "do school," as long as we work here.  From mid-October to December, our lives are filled with normal family activities and then a very full Ranch schedule.  Keeping that in mind, one of the best things about homeschooling, is the ability to shape it to fit OUR family.  So I think we'll have to focus the majority of our school work from Jan-October, rather than the traditional September to June routine.  Which is fine ;)



So!  We started last week with a very structured school routine, focusing on Kindergarden for Shannon.  If we do it all start to finish, we're done with our basics in an hour.  Most mornings one thing leads into another, which is fine, but on busy days, we can be done quickly.  Looks kinda like this:

*  Together Time- start in Mom's room (until I can buy an MP3 player!) and dance to our song for the week- Steve Green songs- last week was "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin . . ." as a good foundation for WHY we are memorizing.  The kids get on my bed and jump & dance & sing LOUDLY to the song a couple times.  I can straighten my bedroom while they do this.  Then we read from our Bible book, pray and move into the kitchen.

*  Reading- Shannon and I find a quiet spot (depends on where Jer is and what Forest is doing- still working on his "leave us alone" skills).  We are doing the 100 Lessons book.

*  Writing- Alternating days with Handwriting Without Tears, Draw Write Now books (copy work and my kid's favorite- drawing!!!!) and some basic writing pages (like Confessions of a Homeschooler stuff).  We do this at the table, where Forest often joins us and colors or "writes" his own things.  We usually discuss letters or sounds all together.

*  Math- Miquon math and C-rods, MEP math (British system you can print free online) and a variety of other things mixed in (practicing number recognition, doing a really fun math puzzle which made Shan want to learn to add!!!!, and practice writing numbers).  Probably will add some Singapore math in the fall.  Math is important to me- not the "doing" but the ability to think mathmatically about things is such an important skill.



If we do this and are still wanting more (99% of the days), we go on to optional subjects.  I consider these optional in the K years . . .  .but most of our days are filled with these subjects anyway!

Monday- Science . . . mostly involves animals and nature at this point.  We pull out animal matching games, studying animals from certain countries, etc.
Tuesday- Art . . . working on different mediums (watercolor, acryllic, clay, murals, etc.)  Again, this is something that happens spontaniously around here anyway, but this is one day I plan on it intentionally.
Wednesday- Geography . . . continuing studying our world, which is SO fun.  Seriously ladies, we have an amazing, amazing world and it's so fun to introduce the kids to it!  Using Confession's world study and the internet!  We read books, do art, look at maps and gaze at pictures on the internet.
Thursday or Friday- Holiday or seasons :)  This is where I'm bringing in some of the fun printable stuff from the great internet world

So!  We are doing this very intentional and structure routine for 4 weeks.  Every day.  For MY discipline.  End of January I can re-evaulate and change if necessary.  BUT it's working well so far.



Which leads me to our daily structure.  Our boys come home each day at 4.  At that point, I talk to their teacher for a few minutes and then they change clothes and we all head out for "work detail."  Raking leaves, cleaning up the garbage area, etc.  I am supposed to help supervise and that means Shan & Forest have to come.  Then bedtime . . . it has to be carefully planned so that I can help supervise free-time and yet get my kids in bed and then still help Jer get the boys in bed (meds, laundry, etc.) all by 8.  If the kids have messy bedrooms to clean before bed, it throws us off.  Or if they don't have snacks ready for work detail, I have to rush and get flustered (or frustrated, or irritated or mad!). Being real here.



And so I realized that less stress in my job and life means I need to be highly organized and ready . . . which means I have to be VERY intentional about our routines and schedule.  They have to be down for rest time early enough so that I can get them up early enough to clean bedrooms, give snacks and all be dressed.  Which makes work detial flow smoothly and bedtime . . . because we go from dinner to play, come in from play to get ready for bed (in less than 20-30 minutes tops!!!) and everything is clean!

I don't mind structure and routine, but I try not to be overly structured . . . and yet over Christmas break, I realized we may need more of it.  We don't live a normal life here.  Routines and relaxed ways of doing things in "normal" SAHM houses might not be part of our life.  And I'm finally okay with that.  For the longest time I was really almost bitter that our lives were so governed by our jobs.  Then I realized I don't have a "right" to be a SAHM and our lives are just different.  And that's okay.



SO!  Kids are now in bed between 1 and 1:15, meaning they can get up at 3-3:15.  That gives us time to clean, snack, dress and play before the boys come home!  Last week went GREAT!  And here's hoping this week will too!



Wow, you made it!  Our boys are doing okay after a long Christmas break.  Pray for D . . . he came back a wreck.  He's been in trouble non-stop, talking back or arguing non-stop (instead of saying "yes ma'me"), and now being physcially aggressive to the other boys.  AND we got a new guy N last night.  So now everyone else has to show off and act up.  9 little boys is a lot, keep us in prayer!

Wrapping it up!

That loud noise?  That was just me giving a huge sigh of contentment!  I had no idea how badly I need a vacation until vacation started . . . and WOW, it's amazing!  We've had a great week (+2 days) already . . . and it's wonderful to realize we have another week.  Sometimes I "forget" how much extra having a full-time job adds to my life, until it's gone . . . and then I realize that I sure do work full-time!  HA!



We've had a good blend of playing together (as in Mommy sitting and playing with kids), and me working while they play (usually in the form of me cleaning a room that they hang out and play in, while I do it).  It's been lovely to be together, with no rushing to the cafeteria, etc.



We had a lovely Christmas- simple, focused on family and of course enjoyed a few gifts.  This was the "year of the horse."  We found two big horse toys {at the flea market} for $5 each this year . . . and that's what the kids got for their "big gift."  While we enjoy giving our kids gifts at Christmas, we do get them things through the year, partly for the purpose of not making Christmas a big gift event. I know everyone has their own theory about Christmas, and I totally see the benefits of both.  This is working for us at this point.



The second Christmas was over . . . well actually that afternoon . . . I started cleaning, organizing and getting rid of stuff.  This fall has been pretty rough- between being gone for 4 weeks this summer, our busy schedule at the Ranch and all the not feeling well . . . it was high time for a clean out!  I have a mountain of garbage and a mountain of "stuff" to get rid of and it feels good.  I want to have empty places in our home again.  When we first moved in, we had empty shelves and storage . . . and like most families, we filled those places.  Now it's time to empty some of them out!

And finally, I've been working on photography again (as in, other people).  As with many things at this point in life, I'd love to get better and put more time into it.  But this isn't the season.  Perhaps if I wasn't working full-time, but that's not a reality at this point.  I work on it when I can . . . and lately that seems to be happening more (yeah!).  Unfortuantely my new camera (that Jer worked so hard for!), died!  Thankfully was within the warrantey, but it meant I didn't have it for the holidays, which stinks.  I did end up doing two "photoshoots" this month.  First, a set of maternity pictures for a lovely girl I work with.  That was a first for me, and we had fun experimenting.  (Let me also say, I certainly don't charge for these, so there isn't a whole lot of pressure other than wanting people to be happy.  I try to make sure they understand I am learning and am NOT a professional!)  Second, was a set of family pictures . . . for a group of 17 . . . with all kinds of various tricks, including step and blended family groupings.  It ended up going well and I learned lots . . .and had some fun!  This is one of my favorites from the mommy-to-be shoot.  Any guesses how excited I am to take pictures of her baby?????



Well, I hope you all have a great end of 2012 and beginning of 2013!  Maybe if I'm feeling inspired, I'll actually get to a "year round up" post!  HA!  Oh, and if you made it this far, how about a treat?  HA!  Wanna see what my house and kids REALLY look like on any given evening?  GO HERE

Pictures in the midst

We have had a lot of fun in the midst of these months of sickness and weirdness!  A few highlights for you . .

An impromput Christmas photo shoot on the first morning I was feeling better, after the Metformin . . . resulted in some of my favorite pictures of the "twinies," ever!

They really do love each other.



Have fun together.



And take care of each other.



We found a turtle one morning.



And decorated the cottage tree together.



Crafted and cut and pasted . . . and even more of a miracle, the boys cleaned up after themselves!



The boys had their big Christmas party (these were the 4 Jer hung with that night, I had the other 4)



And Christmas Jammies arrived!!!!!!!!!!!



And so we continue on . . . if everyone seems healthy on Friday, we surprise our boys with a trip to LEGOLAND!  A fantastic, new lego themepark!  Just because :)  Here's hoping and praying for health!