Daybook

June 26, 2013 / Stacie / 1 Comment

Outside my window…it’s sunny, beautiful, and hot. Oh how I wish we had a pool.

I am remembering…a beautiful baptism.

One of my favorite things…little girls with bows!

I am thankful…for the big trees in our backyard and the shade they provide…I think I might have already said that, but really…how would I survive a Texas summer without them?

I am thinking…of dinner yesterday. We had just finished eating and we turned on our History Channel Presidents documentary. We watched the section on Franklin Pierce and how he lost 3 sons, including one that he saw die in a train accident. It was said that his wife died soon after and then Pierce spent the remainder of his days after the Presidency drinking. Joseph looked up and said, “Well at least we won’t have to worry about that with James Buchanan…he wasn’t married, so he didn’t have any problems.” Oh dear, is that what he really thinks of marriage and wives?

In the kitchen…today was Waffle Wednesday, so fresh waffles and berry syrup. Mmmm!

I am wearing…olive green shorts and a striped v-neck t-shirt. I don’t match. As usual.

I am creating…a list of things to do.

I am going…to hang all my diapers out to dry soon. They are in desperate need of some sun bleaching.

I am reading…Hold on to Your Kids.

On my iPod…Nicholas Sparks’ The Best of Me

In our learning room…Presidents and birds. Plus all those fun summer plans that I labored over during the spring…literacy centers, math centers, and lots of reading.

Around the house…catching up on laundry.

I am pondering…this thought from Susan Macaulay…”Look well at the child on your knee. In whatever condition you find him, look with reverence. We can only love and serve him and be his friend. We cannot own him. He is not ours.” For the Children’s Sake

I am praying…for grace in parenting.

One of my favorite things…listening to Andrew said, “K, coming!”

A peek into my day…

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Summer Plans

June 25, 2013 / Stacie / 2 Comments

We don’t stop schooling during the summer, but we do school a little differently. a little lighter, and a little more learner led. We keep up with math and phonics (reading or spelling, depending on whose lessons we’re referring to), but the rest of our “school day” is led by the children’s interests. This summer we’re spending our days studying the presidents and birds, both topics chosen by Joseph and happily followed by William. Here’s a basic overview of our plans:

Presidents:

Each day we’re studying a new president. After reading all about the president of the day, Joseph makes a timeline page to add to his President Book. Here’s what we’re including on each page: The President’s Name; Years in Office; Vice President; # President; 5 Facts; President’s Nickname; Birthplace; Born and Died Dates; First Lady; a star sticker to symbolize the president’s party (gold for federalist, silver for democratic-republican, blue for democrat, red for republican, green for whig); a sticker portrait of the president; and a quote from that President. Some days we complete just one, other days we complete more. All last week, Joseph was up by 6:30 am (he who usually sleeps til 8!) to work on his President page. After all the pages are complete, we’ll laminate them and have them bound into an official book.

The books we’re using for our research include the following: So You Want to Be President; Don’t Know Much About the Presidents; The Scholastic Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times; DK Eyewitness Presidents; Wit and Wisdom (for the quotes); The Look It Up Book of Presidents

Some of the other things we’re supplementing our Presidential studies with include: Melissa and Doug President puzzle; The History Channel’s Presidents; Men of Destiny board game; Jingo American Presidents and First Ladies game; Meet the Presidents board game; Mr. President (and old time radio show); Sing a Song of Presidents (book and CD); President Activity book; Presidential Cookies (as soon as I’m back to baking, we’ll add a cookie recipe each week to supplement our studies); Dover President coloring book; Dover First Ladies coloring book

Birds:

For our bird study, we’re spending a lot of time outdoors with our binoculars looking for birds and learning to recognize them. To do that, we’re using a Bird Log; Backyard Birding for Kids; and our Birds of Texas Field Guide.

Here are the extra resources we’re using for studying birds: Fifty Favorite Birds Coloring book; Birds Alphabet Coloring book; Bird Mazes; Learning About Birds; Your Backyard DVD (this is what sparked their interest and got us started on this unit study!); Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Birds; Crinkleroot’s 25 Birds Every Child Should Know; The Bird Alphabet Book; Baby Birds and What They Eat; Reading Rainbow’s DVD: Birds of a Feather; Blues Go Birding; Tea with Lady Sapphire; Adventures of Sammy Jay; rubbing plates of birds; Bird Toob; Common Bird Songs; Bird Fun board game; Bird Watching Trivia board game

{this moment}

June 21, 2013 / Stacie / 1 Comment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

Daybook

June 18, 2013 / Stacie / 1 Comment

Outside my window…it’s sunny and beautiful, but incredibly hot. Daxson just pointed out that it’s not officially even summer yet…guess it’s going to be a hot one. At least we had a beautiful and mild spring!

I am remembering…Joseph’s excitement on his birthday when he discovered Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Gary got him a bike…a real bike.

I am thankful…for big trees and lots of shade. Couldn’t make it through a Texas summer without them.

In the refrigerator…fresh berries. I just adore summer and all the fruit that the season brings.

I am wearing…a striped shirt and black capris. I’ll be so happy when I can put the maternity clothes away!

I am creating…Katie’s announcements.

I am going…nowhere these days and loving it. I actually like the “no driving” restriction that always follows my babies’ births.

I am inspired…to plant sunflowers.

I am reading…Hold on to Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate.

On my iPod…The Sundays.

I am looking forward to…Katie’s baptism and Andrew’s birthday.

In our learning room…Presidents and birds. Plus this week we’re adding in all those fun summer plans that I labored over during the spring…literacy centers, math centers, and lots of reading.

Around the house…just a little here and a little there…Daxson’s still pulling most of the weight around here, but at least I’m a little more helpful than I was last week!

I am pondering…monotony.

I am praying…to find grace in the midst of chaos.

One of my favorite things…big brothers eager to hold baby sister.

A peek into my day…

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

{this moment}

June 14, 2013 / Stacie / Leave a comment

Magical Six

June 11, 2013 / Stacie / 1 Comment

Six.

It’s magical.

It’s filled with wonder and excitement.

Every day brings a new adventure,

a new opportunity,

a chance to meet a new friend,

discover a new place.

Life is good.

Happy Birthday, my sweet six year old…may this year be filled with all the wonder and excitement that comes with being six. I love you.

Daybook

June 10, 2013 / Stacie / 2 Comments

Outside my window…it is sunny and beautiful. The weather channel says the heat index is 98 but with the shade and the breeze, it feels delightful. Katie and I have been trying to spend a little time outdoors with the boys each day and just like her brothers, she is loving the warm air.

I am thinking…these days pass too quickly.

I am remembering…6 years ago…I was bringing home another sweet baby.

I am thankful…for my husband.

In the refrigerator…not much. We are at Grandma Nury’s mercy these days since I’m on bedrest. I am so thankful for Nury’s delicious cooking!

I am wearing…knit pants and a pink v-neck t-shirt.

I am creating…2013-2014 school plans.

I am going…a little stir crazy. Bedrest with three active boys is not an easy feat.

I am inspired…to blog again…these days pass so quickly and I wish I could record it all.

I am reading…Karen Andreola’s Pocketful of Pinecones.

On my iPod…Mother Culture by Karen Andreola…finding so much encouragement in her words.

I am looking forward to…a routine once again. I just dread chaos.

In our learning room…we are spending the summer studying the presidents and birds. I’ll post detailed plans soon because we are having a lot of fun!

I am praying…The Divine Mercy chaplet with Trish Short.

One of my favorite things…big brothers meeting baby sister for the first time.

A peek into my day…

Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Dear William

April 9, 2013 / Stacie / 2 Comments

Dear William,

Tonight I said goodnight to my sweet 3 year old for the last time. When tomorrow arrives, you will be 4. You are eagerly awaiting dawn. I am not. I want to hold on for as long as I can.

You are growing so quickly. Each day I am astounded by the things you say and do. You are rough and tough, yet compassionate and concerned. You are the first to wake up each morning and you always exclaim that you’re “ready to start the day!” and you take that task very seriously, conquering each moment with gusto. You are full of energy and full of life. You spend a good part of your day asking “why”, trying to satisfy your curiosity. You are an eager learner and a devoted helper. You inspire me with each passionate moment.

At the end of each day, your head hits the pillow and your eyes struggle to stay open…you are exhausted from the energy used all day. I snuggle with you each night until you fall asleep. Just last night you wrapped your arms tightly around my neck and whispered, “Oh Mommy, I just want to be loved.” My dear, you are loved. You are loved and you are cherished. Goodnight my sweet 3 year old…tomorrow I, too, will be ready to start the day…the day we celebrate you, my growing, vibrant 4 year old.

Love, Mommy

An Easter Daybook

March 31, 2013 / Stacie / 2 Comments

Outside my window…I can hear three little boys squeal with delight as they toss water balloons through the air. There are some good things about living so far south…one of those things is that water fun begins early for us.

I am thinking…my to-do list continues to grow.

I am thankful…for simplicity. Our egg hunt was simply eggs with birdseed, confetti eggs, and a few eggs each with a hershey kiss inside. Three very happy boys.

In the refrigerator…the tea is cooling until it’s time to add the strawberries and lemonade; the dressing is made for the blackberry salad; the lamb cake (which looks eerily like Marley, the dog) is half eaten.

I am wearing…a hot pink shirt (it’s the only one Target had in my size) and jean shorts.

I am creating…next year’s curriculum…it’s going to be a fun year!

I am going…to try to blog about our Lent and Holy Week sometime soon.

I am inspired…to get things done. I have 8 1/2 weeks (if even) before this little one arrives and about a million things to do. I did get the school room closet organized this weekend…here’s a peek. I should have included a before picture…you’d be much more impressed. Go ahead…ask me where something is. I actually know!