Watching My Boys

Love watching the boys.

Watching them with new experiences.

Or with old ones, but with renewed confidence.

No need to buy fancy toys
when nature is so abundant and free.

Love watching the boys enjoy each other
in God's creation.

Many blessings.

Dry Homemade Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent making day.

What recipe do you use?
Liquid or dry?
We use dry.
Playing with combinations, but currently I like:

2 cups of Fels-Naptha finely graded
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup washing soda
1 cup Borax

I use between 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load.
We have hard water so might be adjusting my recipe soon.
Try to put a splash of vinegar in the rinse cycle
when I remember.
Also, love to add essential oils too.
Love the smell of lavender and tea tree oil.

I really do enjoy making my own laundry detergent.

Really I do, promise.

Soccer Love

Many Blessings

Cub Scout Camping

My hubby and oldest son

went on their first camping trip
with the Cub Scouts.
Oh my with all the prep.
We had to buy a tent,
sleeping bag, and of course lots of snacks.
Ready.
Off they went on a fun filled, packed weekend.

Archery.

Crafts.

Rock wall climbing.

Sling shots with dog food.

BB gun shooting.

Lots of hiking.
Oh, there was canoeing, camp fires, story telling,
rope tying, Frisbee throwing,
and eating.
Did I mention hiking, lots of hiking?
My hubby's words, smiles.
We heart Cub Scouts.

Too Cute

Too cute not to share.
Many blessings.

Grammar Land

Here is a fun grammar resource we have been reading,
Grammar-Land by M.L. Nesbitt.
The book is about
Judge Grammar and his nine parts of speech.
There is a rich Mr. Noun, a busy Dr. Verb, a ragged Article, etc.
A very whimsical book written in 1878.
Written to help children understand the nine parts of speech
without being too bored.
We are reading a chapter and doing the exercise
suggestions at the end of each chapter.
My son is enjoying the stories.
And yes, the stories have made learning
about the nine parts of speech fun.
No yawning noted.

You can download it free here and here.
Can purchase it here.

Downloaded our copy from homeschool freebie.
Wonderful site, by the way.

Another site to get free book downloads is
Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project.
(bringing yesterday's classics to today's children).
They did not have Grammarland, yet.

A Website

We love Thornton W. Burgess books.

These are great nature read aloud books.
Was told about this website recently
and had to share.
A great place to purchase Burgess
paperback books for around $2.50.
So wished we lived close to this society because
we would definitely visit and take advantage
of the programs they offer.

Many blessings

A Nature Reader

Here is a reader we are enjoying.
Happy reading.

Brotherly Love

They fight, they wrestle, they pester,
but mostly
they love each other.

Caught these pictures of two of my boys
playing, smiling,
and getting wet.

Many blessings.

Another Nature Adventure

While on a visit to South Florida,
my husband found this lovely place to visit.

Most of the coast in Florida is flat and sandy.
This was a treat for us.

It is called Blowing rock because at high tide
when the waves hit the rock
it is like the rocks are blowing the waves up.

When we arrived it was low tide,
so no blowing waves.
But, we had a blast.

Nature Adventure Continues

Here the boys are looking over the rocks.

Running.

Staying put.

And getting wet, very wet.
Wonder what high tide would have brought, smiles.

Nature Adventure Continues

The views were beautiful.

Loved watching the children watch the waves.

Being amazed by the sea.

Yes, we enjoyed
and will be back at high tide next time.

Tree Blocks

Simple.

For all ages.

Where imaginations soar.

Homemade Valentines

After a 11 day bout of fever,
everyone is better.
Better in time for Valentines.

This year the children had several opportunities
to exchange valentines cards.
We wanted to make our own.
So, out came the watercolors.

I cut card stock paper in halves.
Then with a white crayon,
I drew hearts in all shapes and sizes.
The children watercolored the paper
with shades of pink, red, yellow.

Each card was unique.

After the paper dried,
I cut the paper in half again.
Each full page made 4 cards.
They turned out great.
The children loved handing out
valentines they made.

Illness

All 3 children down and out.
And have been for over a week.
Lots of snuggles and reading time.

Beach

Beach, here we come!
Much to do and see.

There are shells to find.

Bird feathers to catch.

And truck driving to do
in these wide open spaces.

Lunch

One of the twins wanted to fix lunch
for his brothers.

He set the table.

He chose peanut butter and jelly to make.
The brothers ate it all up.

Cleaning After Little Boys

One little, two little, three little toilets,
four little toilets done.
Mommy has decided that there will be target practice
this afternoon.
I am really thinking of painting that fly too!
Many blessings.

Good Morning

It is 0700- glancing out my kitchen window
I see neighbors passing by taking their children to school.
It is a cold and rainy wet outside.
I pour a cup of coffee and take a sip,
still in my slippers.
I hear giggles upstairs as the twins awaken
and are deciding if it is okay to come downstairs.
My 8 yr old wanders in the kitchen,
gives me a kiss and goes to snuggle under a blanket on the couch.
Twins do finally come down in full spirit hugging everyone.
Daddy appears- showered and dressed for work.
Kisses and hugs and Daddy is off.
We, on the other hand, are home.
Home.
No rushing to get dress, no rushing to get breakfast,
no rushing to find homework, no rushing.
Breakfast is made at leisure, getting dressed delayed.
This is how we start our mornings.
We have a natural rhythm to our mornings, no clocks are attached.
How does our rhythm look, what is it filled with?
Well,
-with breakfast
-with the usual morning chores
-with free play time
-with circle time of reading, singing, snuggling, and sharing
-with more free play time for the younger ones
-with creative writing, reading, and math for the older one
-with outdoor biking and dirt digging
-with maybe just a little baking or art making
and maybe still in our slippers,
home.
Some say they would go crazy being with their kids all day every day.
Well,
just call me crazy then,smiles.
Many blessings.

Five, That Is Us

Monday, our holidays truly come to a close.
My husband had taken an extra week off after
the holidays to do nothing, to relax.
We have really been soaking up the family time
with just our little five.
It will be sad to let it go.
To my husband and I family being together is important.
Just the five of us.
We have family dinners.
We go on family bike rides,
even shopping for groceries together.
We enjoy being around each other.
We have been sleeping in, snuggling on the couch,
building train tracks, out door playing,and lots of giggles.
This is my little slice of heaven.
After Monday we will still do these,
but duty does call, bills must be paid, smiles.
We will still have our afternoons, evenings, and weekends
to look forward to.
Many blessings

I Have Begun

Today was day one of 90 days!
Here is where to read about day one.
I am both excited and scared.
I have always wanted to read the Bible
in its entirety.
I have started many times, but never completed.
I think with a mentor and a accountability group,
this time will the time I complete.
In reading my first 12 pages,
I got chills.
These very familiar stories took on new meanings to me.
I could really see and feel them.
God's presence was wrapped around me.
One of my twins snuggled with me quietly while I read.
Thank you Lord
for Mom's Toolbox and this challenge.
Many blessings.

One Word Resolution for 2011

One word,
no resolutions, just one simple word.

Quiet.



I love this.
I want to inhale this.

Quiet

Meaning...

still,
hushed,
silent,
not easily excited,
peaceful and relaxing,
calmness.

Quiet chose me.
Quiet will be my guide for my/our daily rhythm.

I want to be quiet so I can clearly hear the Lord.
Quiet waters.
I want to be quiet so I can hear my children.
Gentle and quiet spirit.
I want to be quiet so I can wrapped my arms around
my love ones and breathe.
Quiet rhythm.

Have you chosen a word for 2011?
You can find inspiration at Ali's blog.

Happy New Year
and
Many blessings

Farewell 2010

On these last couple of days of 2010

we visited another plantation,

climbed some very big trees,

chased birds on the beach,

and talked about the adventures 2011
will bring.

Happy last day of 2010.
Many blessings.