Wow

I would be remiss if I was not able to say that I am living part of a dream I have had since I started this homemaking journey.  I love home and part of living in this part of the Internet and being a Christian has been the ever present conviction to homeschool my girls.  Last year one child was in 2nd grade and one was in Kindergarten at the local public school.  But this school year I have the amazing privilege of teaching my middle child for 1st grade plus my youngest in preschool.  I do have hopes to bring my now 3rd grader home and she has finally showed some interest, but for now- feeling so very blessed. 

But blessing don't often come without some trial and set backs.  For us it has been losing our laptop to whatever horrible old age diseases that causes it to just not stay on any more.  I lost some of my pictures or at least the way I use to save pictures on the computer (they were in pretty nicely organized computer files if I say so myself)- most are saved on a thumb drive or still on the camera or somewhere on Facebook.  I also lost a lot of ebooks but I am feeling comfort from the fact that I most likely was not going to read them.  Any way, with very little budgeted for actual physical curriculum  we had decided to use All in One- Easy Peasy for Bible Study, History, and Science.  I panicked when the computer stopped working, but my husband had an extra one on hand- thank you God- for always providing.

In the grand scheme of things- this is all first world type problems- but still it has not been fun.  Prayer for patience and just continued flexibility.  I shouldn't have freaked out about the computer and erased everything.  But it is what it is.  I think it is time to do a weeks worth of Joy Dares to bring back perspective- Lord willing- starting on Monday and ending on Sunday.  I appreciate any prayers and looking forward to getting some joy back into my writing.      

Cramming It All In One Post

This entry will cap off the summer and my hope is to possibly return to my Friday entries (9/11/15).  If you have been following my summer at all you will discover only 5 entries.  It was a busy- but fairly non-productive summer.  NOTHING I planned came to pass.  We had a lot of family time, I had fun, and learned more about my husband and myself- it was good, but honestly I was a little let down.  I thrive off of routine and our summer was just about everything but that.  Summer raised a couple of questions for me like- how do YOU keep your summer from ruling you instead of you ruling it?  How do you keep summer intentional?  How do you communicate your needs (especially about routine and summer plans) without sounding selfish or like a dictator?  These are questions I hope to have answers to in the future but for now I will have mull over them till next year.  Maybe the answer is- STOP TRYING SO HARD.  

With introduction out of the way here is the post on camping at Crater Lake, Family Day in the Park, Corn Festival, and Hermione's birthday/Back to School Party.   

CRATER LAKE 

What a blessing to live in a state with such beauty and variety!  This is the place I would very willingly return to every summer.  Perfect trails for little ones plus ones more challenging as the kids get older, fun ranger programs, and it was so beautiful that words can't describe it quite right.  I know many people have said that- but it is total truth!  It also made me miss my dad.  Camping was totally his thing and I had to be the adult this time and I was paranoid much of the time as to whether I remembered everything or not.  But I want to do it again now that I feel I have some experience under my belt. 

 

  

 FAMILY DAY in the PARK

Unfortunately some of the wildfires followed us home and it was a very smokey hazy day in the park for our church's service.  But it was fun and such a great reminder of God's love for us.

CORN FESTIVAL

Our little town of Aumsville has a Corn Festival on the last Saturday in August.  We love getting free corn and watching the parade but this year- we were IN the parade promoting AWANA- our church's Bible club.  It was super windy and it threatened rain but it was better than walking in ninety degree heat so I took it.  The rain came later but we enjoyed the time we had out.

HERMIONE'S BACK TO SCHOOL BIRTHDAY PARTY


We had a late birthday party for Hermione the day before school started because coming back from camping caused our house to explode with all the laundry and supplies.  It took us about a week just to get to a normal state of house.  But I thought it turned out well considering I desperately need many cake decorating lessons.

Hermione

Ariana

Lucy

8 years old- Third Grade- love this crazy girl!  Can't wait to throw her a massive Harry Potter Party next time.

HERMIONE
This girl is tough and easy, serious and hilarious all at the same time!  You can tell by the get to know you questions that she has really grown up and is very nervous being in the testing year.  She is attended Aumsville Elementary School but I am thinking of homeschooling her because she has such an impressionable heart and I pray hard for her.  We love talking books and I hope we can be great friends when she is older but for know I have to mostly be her parent.  

GET TO KNOW HER:
 
What is your favorite color?

Blue

What is your favorite toy?

Legos

What is your favorite fruit?

Plums

What is your favorite TV show/Movie?

Phineas and Ferb, Harry Potter

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

Pizza

What is your favorite outfit?

My Big Sis outfit- it is a pink shirt with a skirt that has flowers on it- a Easter gift from Grandma Cheri

What is your favorite game?

Card games- Go Fish

What is your favorite snack?

Yogurt

What is your favorite animal?

I don't have one any more.

What is your favorite song?

Flawless by MercyMe

What is your favorite book?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Who is your best friend?

Madison K.

What is your favorite sport?

Soccer

What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Swing

What is your favorite drink?

Root Beer 

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

Nothing- sometimes my sleeping mask.

What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

Chicken

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I just want to have a good life, I am scared of being a grown up.  

Family Summer Update

We have had the busiest summer- EVER!  So many parks!  So many hikes!  So many birthdays!  So hot!  Just to name a few places we have been Champoeg State Park, Silver Falls State Park, Willamette Mission State Park, Independence, Pioneer Park, Porter-Boone Park, Triangle Lake, and a place tucked in a random place I forgot its name. 

If you have read this blog at all you know my husband is just a pick up and go kinda guy so I haven't prepared anything much to share about all these places other than we had family fun and drank a lot of water and Lucy always gets cranky at the half mile marker. 

Crafts in the Park

Champoeg State Park- dress up!

Summer Flip Flops

Caught a Grasshopper

Summer Wheat growing in the yard

Ice Cream!

Lost First Tooth

Ariana also had a birthday!  She turned 6 and lost her first tooth!  She wanted to go to Silver Falls State Park with a few friends for her birthday.  It was incredibly hot, which was reminiscent of the day she was born- 103 degrees!  We had lots of fun swimming and hiking.  I love this kid.  She is smart, fun, dramatic, and loves to dance, color, draw, and hike.  It is time to get to know her even better so lets ask her some questions. 

What is your favorite color?

My favoritest favoritest is red violet.

What is your favorite toy?

My Elsa toy because it was from mom and because I really wanted it.

What is your favorite fruit?

Grapes

What is your favorite TV Show and Movie?

My favorite movie is Barbie movies.  My favorite TV show is Gravity Falls because I watch it with daddy sometimes.

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

Sandwiches

 What is your favorite outfit?

 My favorite outfit is my Daphne costume because it has fake jewels on it.

What is your favorite game?

 SuperWhy PBS computer game

What is your favorite snack?

Graham Crackers with frosting

What is your favorite animal?

Horses

What is your favorite song?

"Let It Go"

What is your favorite book?

The Bible because I like the LORD

Who is your best friend?

Shay

What is your favorite sport?

It is soccer.

What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Swing

What is your favorite drink?

Soda!  (what kind of soda?) the little Coke bottles with soda

What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween because you get to dress up

What would you want to eat for your birthday dinner?

Mashed potatoes and tomato soup

What do you like to take to bed with you?

Dora Blankie

What do you want to be when you grow up?

a singer because I like singing and because Ariana means silver and a good singer

These Days

If you didn't know this about me already- I love holidays.  So when I found out yesterday was Fresh Spinach Day it made making dinner a whole lot simpler.  I set out a super spinach salad buffet.  My kids love this especially during summer and my husband has gotten on board as well.  I have been a salad making queen this summer because I feel in love with those tasty, beautiful mason jar salads.  Here is the spread:

Real bacon, bean sprouts, onions, hard boiled eggs, sweet pepper rings, grape tomatoes, sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, and corn bread for the kids!  I could have added at least 4 more things but I was running out of space on my little kitchen table.  I made a brown sugar salad dressing: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 1/3 cup ketchup, 1 TB of Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 cup of white vinegar.  It turned out absolutely delicious and a wonderful summer tradition.  


Also yesterday I said I wasn't have a great summer and I just want to clarify because there is absolutely no reason to feel sorry for me.  There was just a lot of stuff I didn't see coming and NONE of it is bad it just threw off my schedules for everything and especially blogging.  Here are a few of the things I am talking about just to give you some context: My husband has been home (A LOT) more than I anticipated so finding the balance between doing chores or feeling like he was in the way was rough for me.  He wanted to start the South Beach diet and start working out- AWESOME but also now I am cooking a lot more and making more messes.  I have not finished reading ONE book this summer.  It breaks my spirit when I don't even have time to read!  My kids have taken ZERO initiative or responsibility even though I have made snazzy summer binders with lists, ideas, and planners.  Part of that problem is because my husband likes to decide things spur of the moment and I am more of a planner so the children are jerked around a lot.  It kinda breaks down to personality and communication clashes.  Things have finally slowed down a little and I have been able to take a step back.  I will not let fear rule our marriage.  I have not been able to voice my opinion without feeling like the one with the flaws.  We are different.  We need to talk things out.  It seems so obvious but for me so terrifying.  If you were at all wondering why I wasn't putting up my regular Friday post it was because of all the schedule changes and having to processes my new responsibilities.  

There you have it.  Basically everything I thought the summer would be- relaxed, some structure for chores but not overwhelming, fun activities that I planned, and kids who took some initiative became yanked out from under me and became- would you please make breakfast and lunch for me every day (again I love to do but had not needed to do in the last 8 years or so), make sure x,y, z gets done we are going here (some event or location)  btw and I didn't tell you about, and I have a project I need to work on with you (interrupting something with the children).  Prayer for more flexibility, patience, and selflessness would be appreciated.  Thank you!  I pray that summer can still be great but accepting that change joyfully is still a challenge.  Thank you, husband, for making the coffee this morning!   

Three Gifts Hanging Down

This summer has not been as awesome as I thought it would be.  There were a lot of changes that I didn't anticipate and a lot less time than I thought I would have.  I guess I just spiraled into a whoa is me for a little bit, so that means it is time for another JOY DARE.  Counting blessings usually helps my outlook.  Plus I am tired of feeling fear and intimidation just because of change.  So bring it on!!! 

Wonder Woman Apron- a Christmas gift from my husband last year!  LOVE!  I don't wear it too much because I am a beast in the kitchen.  I make huge messes and I want to try to keep this one a little more clean. 

My sweatshirt!  Another gift from my husband- he gave to me just because!  I don't think there was any special reason so I love it plus the kids helped him pick it out.  They know mom likes red. 

Hanging tomatoes!  These are the Early Girls just hanging for dear life- sorry my camera does zoom and the sprinkler was on.  My friend Jessica helped prune these and I can't wait to give them away and maybe eat a few too!  This is where summer rocks.

I hope you are having a better summer than I am, but things are looking up.  See you tomorrow.  

Summer Gardening

Sorry I haven't been around like I said I would be, but let me see if I can make it up to you.  Today it is a high of 98 degrees and yes I have been outside gardening.  I have a lovely plot- 36 x 32.  I have yet to use the whole thing.  I was hoping to try this year.  I set the bar a bit too high, but I am still trying.  I still feel new at this even though I have had a vegetable garden for 3 summers now (I took last summer off and I really missed it).  Depending on funds I am going to attempt year round gardening and got a beginner book to help.

Right now my garden is knee with weeds so I am researching some ways to get rid of them.  I am going to try a a vinegar, salt, and soap mixture and see how that does but for now let me show some pictures of my imperfect but loveable garden.  We just finished the early raspberry season and now we are on to cucumbers, zucchini, and beans.  I still have so much work to do.  I tried staking some more tomatoes but I could only do one before it got too hot and the ground was too hard for me to put the steaks in.  Now I am watering it.  It is a lot of work but I am determined to work out there at least 1 hour a day except Sundays.  I will let you know how the getting rid of weeds works.

 

First year doing Strawberries!!! 

Broccoli just about done and some tomato plants in the back ground.

Raspberries- coming and going- most of the early season is over

Zucchini- looking good!!!  Can't wait for zucchini chips and bread!

Quick Note

Summer is finally here!!!!  Woot!  Okay, so I haven't been updating or anything in awhile.  I honestly was waiting for summer because my child care job is over and now I can focus on other things instead of yelling rules constantly.  But I don't have much to say today except we are in a tiny bit of a family crisis and have some unspoken prayer requests.  I don't know if there is anything more to say on that at this time.  I wanted readers to know I didn't just disappear and I will try to get things back to normal with my Friday updates.  Thanks and happy reading!!