Random Thoughts About Our Week

Wow, I cannot believe it is Friday.  The weeks go by so fast.  It's funny since John is working later than usual most days sometimes the day seems to never end waiting on him to get home, but then when Friday gets here it seems as if it was just Monday.  Does that make any sense?  Anyway, this week like most weeks we have done a lot and have had a lot of fun.  I have been in the mood to fallinize (Yes, I made this word up) my house and yard.  I haven't made much progress, but excited to do some things with the boys to make it feel more like fall around here (which is my favorite time of year).  When I was planning our meals for the week I wanted to choose fall recipes to get the aroma of apples, pumpkins, butternut squash, and cinnamon in our home.  These aromas are so delightful!   We also have been cleaning up the yard since the weather is finally cool enough to work and not die of heat stroke.  The boys have enjoyed being outside more and getting there toes and fingers in the earth.  That is how is should be, in my opinion. :)  Tomorrow we are going to attempt to make our first scarecrow for our front yard and start cleaning up the back yard.  Things grow like crazy here, especially during the summer.  We have a lot of cutting back and cleaning out to do.  My motivation is to have a nice place for the boys to play and maybe for Christmas if we save up enough money we can buy the boys a used swing set.  We will see.  Since we had a week off from our home school co-op this week we took the time to plant some strawberries in our Earth Box. Mr. Blake the inventor of the Earth Box lives and works in Ellenton which is only about 20 minutes from where we live.  I took Oakley there when he was around Baron's age and bought our first box. We have grown red peppers, kale, and basil.  After Baron was born we haven't done much with it, but now we are ready to grow some strawberries.  I can't wait for Oakley to pick his first strawberry that he grows and eat it!  

     
  Baron fell pretty hard this week and hit his head right smack in the middle of his forehead.  I wasn't in the room when it happened and didn't notice it until I laid down to nurse him to help calm him down and saw this huge bump growing in the middle of his forehead.  It is healing well with ice application at first and now Arnica Montana orally and topically.  It was funny because after he hurt himself and calmed down he went into the playroom to play with Oakley and put the hard hat on.  I took a picture to share.  Its like he knows he better wear this around for a while until he is walking more stable.

       
       Fridays are always fun, but busy days for us.  We spent the morning with John since he was closing and not going into work until 12 then went to the Children's Garden.  After the Children's Garden John called while we were leaving and asked if we wanted to stop by his work and see his new office.  Of course, we said yes since it seems we barely get to see him with his new schedule working later.  We had a nice visit while Baron napped in the sling.  Baron woke up right before we left and happy to see his daddy.  Then we went to the grocery store to do our shopping for the week.  We were at the store for 2 hours!!!!  It was getting very challenging for me to keep the boys happy while I shopped.  I did everything I could think of to keep them happy.  We played eye spy for a while then  Then Oakley helped me find groceries and then he drew on a pad of paper for a while.  I didn't think we were ever going to get it done.  Baron was on my back a content for a while, but then he got hungry so I swung him around and wore him on the front while he nursed.  I was able to discretely nurse him in the sling and shop for a while, but then he wanted to get down and walk.  Well, that couldn't happen because I can't push a cart, entertain a 3.5 year old, and keep a learning to walk 15 month old from pulling everything off the shelves!  Then God gave me a song from a heart to hum.  For some reason it was one my of favorites, "It is well."  As things started to get more and more challenging I found myself humming louder and louder.  Then I had to stop because unfortunately God did not bless me with pretty vocals.  Even for just humming.  LOL!  I can't keep a tune for nothing!  I laughed thinking about how a simple trip to the grocery store can be so challenging at times.  Then I ask myself how would I do this with more kids?  How do people do it?  Our hearts desire more children, but man I can hardly control two!  I could have gone tomorrow while John stayed home with the boys, but I rather do it before the weekend so we can enjoy family time at home and not spend time at the grocery store.  What are your tips on grocery shopping with kids?  I was thinking of going first thing in the morning before the boys wake if John is home, but that is  when I do my bible study.  Hmmm...any suggestions are welcomed, please. :)

Oakley after a long and eventful day.

    I hope you have a wonderful weekend with those you love.  Good night and God Bless.

I'm a Cheetah

Last night when I was cooking supper I had Oakley coloring at the kitchen table.  I thought something was up when he had snuck out into his playroom and was very quite for just a few minutes.  I asked him to come here and he screams, "Mom, I'm a Cheetah!".  Thank God they were washable.  lol

In Our Home

In Our Home

We do second chances
We say prayers
We do I'm sorrys
We play hard
We do loud really well
We give hugs
We do love

We Are Family

One Year Ago Today

As I was posting the last post I ran across this picture of the boys and noticed it was one year ago from today.  It seems like it was yesterday. As I stare into there eyes in this picture I think of several things.  The curls are gone.  The amber necklace has broken (soon to be replaced).  The toothless smile is now full of ten teeth.  The content on my back and smiling baby boy is now on the run.  I can do it myself is heard more than "Mom, will you help me."  Oakley sleeping all by himself and happily going to bed alone.  Asking to go to school and play dates without mom at friends houses without any tears.  The fourth and second year approaches.  Please, oh please let me be still in the moment and endure it all.  I pray that I can take it all in and enjoy what really matters. . . .Help me guide them as they grow and teach them by example.  Help me to be authentic, Lord. 

Thursday: Our School Day

On Thursdays we drive up to St. Pete to attend the St. Petersburg Homeschool Co-op. This is our first semester attending and so far we love it. We were unsure if it would be worth the drive and money, but so far every minute has been worth it. Its our day to get away and have school. Some of Oakley's friends attend school regularly and at times Oakley will ask where they are and I will respond that they are school. He often responds saying he wants to attend school so we thought this would be a fun way to have school, but also be involved. We are unsure on what we are going to do when the time arrives when school truely begins. A lot of praying going on for that subject! I do know that the times are so precious and we have our entire lives to be in school so I don't want to rush it!


We leave the house at 8:00 am at the latest. Sometimes that means eating breakfast in the car and Baron taking an early nap on the ride up. We enjoy early conversation discussing what the day may bring us. It takes us about a hour to get there so lots of time for praise and worship in the car and talking about anything that Oakley would like to talk about. I really enjoy car rides with him. We tell stories and talk about our friends and those we love. He sometimes is able to talk to family on the phone as well.


Once we arrive around 9am we get ready for the first class at 9:15am.

Teacher Doug (we call him) is our Science and Nature teacher. He is very friendly and always bringing one or more of his friends to share with us. Today we learned he has 60 animals total that he cares for! I believe most of them are reptiles and more on the exotic side. You can tell he loves animals and takes very good care of them. 


Today he started the lesson with the song, "The Old Lady That Swallowed a Fly". He had a doll that looks like the old lady in the book of this story and had all of the animals the lady consumes in the story as well. What really through us for a loop is when he started taking the animals out of the old ladies mouth to help save her so she wouldn't die (his personal version) when he got to the spider a live terantula came out!


We were all a little startled at first, but after Teach Doug asked if anyone wanted to be tickled by the spider the line formed of all the brave and adventurous girls in the class. It is funny how the girls are fearless and the boys in the class always hesitate to touch the snakes and spiders. We learned that Matilda the terantula excretes silk from her abdomen. She actually released some while Teacher Doug was holding her. He said she hasn't ever bitten him the 20 years he has had her. We were all amazed.


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Teach Doug is holding the brown terantula Matilda in his hand here.

The next animals Teacher Doug shared with us was a few lizards after a brief lesson on our lungs and how trees release oxygen and "eat" the carbon dioxide released by us. Of course the lessons are very basic since the ages range from 3 to 5, but I believe it is a fun way to lay the foundation of these lessons. Science was always my favorite subject through my years of school.




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Brief Lesson on Lungs. Learned that some snakes only have one lung!


The lizards he brought today were timid and scared. He was very careful with them because they do bite and also will scratch you. He mentioned that many Floridians have Iguanas as pets, but they have problems sometimes when a female human in the home goes through her monthly cycle the Iguana can sense it and gets really aggressive. I personally don't understand why anyone would want a lizard for a pet. It is not something I picture cuddling up too! lol.

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Teacher Doug putting the Iguana to "sleep"

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A Chameleon that can hang from trees like monkeys.


After Science and Nature class we have two hours of free play on the nice big and somewhat shaded playground. Oakley has met a friend that he really loves. His name is "Zeke". Zeke is short for Ezekiel. Zeke and his mom Amanda are very nice. They live in the St. Pete area and are believers as well. I have really enjoyed them on our school days.

Baron is taking off now that he is walking. Playing with a ball that is just a big as he is here.

Oakley's favorite part of the playground is the tire swing. I get sick watching them go round and round.

After some play we have lunch. We usually bring our own lunch, but today we took advantage of the pizza and homemade soup they sale. It was yummy. After lunch and more play fourth period is our second and last class of Waldorf Inspired Art and Handwork Class. Mrs. Yarrow is very sweet and patient with the young artist. We have painted with wet on wet watercolor, made leaf prints with vibrant beeswax crayons, and have made and decorated our own paper. Here are some pictures of Oakley making paper from recycled white paper.

Thursdays are long, but very fun days for us.  I am so thankful that I get to share this time with the boys.  They fill my heart with joy seeing them learn new things everyday.

Lovin This Weather

The weather has been gorgeous since Saturday and we are just praying that it stays this way for a long time.  Summer for us is like winter for most people.  We stay inside in the air conditioning and only get out in the early mornings or evenings.  The bugs are so bad in the evenings sometimes we even stay in during that time too.  We have been in much need to get out and play.  We are not inside folks.  We are happiest when our bare feet are in the grass or sand and when we can breath some nice fresh air.  This time of year we have picnics outside, spend more time at the beach, and more time at the park and Children's Garden.  So glad the nice weather is here.  The boys are much happier when outside as well.  Now lets go out and play!

Baron is Walking

Baron is almost 14.5 months old and now walking more than he is crawling.  I can't believe my baby boy is walking!  He was not in a big hurry to walk it seemed, but you can tell that he is very happy and proud of himself when he does.  His world and our world are both about to change.  I was excited for him to start walking, but in my heart a little sad as well.  My baby boy Baron is getting so big! Tonight, he was taking a shower with Oakley and decided he was all finished and walked wet and naked to me in the living room.  It was so cute.  He is such a joy to us and we love him so much.  Here is some pictures of him lately taking his steps.

So happy to be walking now!

He walks like a monster.  It is so adorable.

Baron is a Big Boy!

Now that he is walking all he wants to do is play with Oakley and his big boy friends.  Here he is playing in the sand at the Children's Garden with Forrest, Oakley, and Oliver.

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