Oak Tree Vibrations....

Happy Valentine's day

2012-02-14T06:27:00.002-05:00

Kizoa slideshow: v day 2012 - Slideshow

These are some of the pictures that we too to make into a photo collage for daddy for valentine's day

Caila's big show

2012-02-12T19:51:00.002-05:00

flips - slide show

Here are a couple of pictures from Caila's big Valentine's day gymnastics show. She did such a great job and had so much fun as you can tell from her toothless smile!!

Natural Remedies

2012-02-11T18:07:00.006-05:00

This is a picture of the herbal store where I get lots of help and wonderful organic herbs. Although I do order from Jean's greens as well... they also have a wonderful selection of bulk herbs at great prices and super fast shipping!!

I've never been one for taking pills or medication I never was sick often as a child so I just never think about taking medication. I believe we currently have 1 bottle of Advil for my husbands recent root canal and cavity, as well as a bottle of children's ibuprofen in our medicine chest this does not include the herbal medicine we do have on hand. I do like to dabble in natural remedies and one day wish to be more fluent in herbal self help especially for the children. I am a big believer that these methods have been around for hundreds of years and have proven themselves time and time again. Unfortunately in the world we live in today it is frowned down upon by most doctors and pediatricians they tend to call it old wives tales. I don't think it's because they believe that these methods don't work but more that they don't want to believe that a simple dose of garlic or a tincture of elderberries can trump their extensive knowledge of antibiotics...it's like saying that the 8 years they spent gulling in med school were all for nothing. I do believe there is a place in this world for doctors and that they are very valuable in the medical field but I also think that patience are so trained these days to run to the doctors at the first sign of any ailment instead of giving their bodies aides to help heal itself.
our family tries avoid going to the doctors as much as possible especially the kids who do go for their year well check up but that's usually it (and to tell you the truth I even missed that appointment once and my son wasn't seen for two years....oops) What the doctors don't know is the ear infections, diaper rashes, and common colds that the kids did have in between the visits.
I bring this subject up because of the current UTI that my daughter is fighting off...
She has been such a good little patient through all of this. c We are currently having her drink 3/4 cup water every hour this makes urine to run clear so it will stop the burning sensation.
We are also giving her CranActin which comes in a veggie cap that is very easy to pull apart and mix with yogurt or applesauce. We have been doing this 2 times a day and plan on continuing this treatment for 3 days and see where we are.
So the water is what is going to flush out the bacteria that's in the urinary tract, and the CranActin (which are simply cranberry extracts with vitamin C) this is what stops the bacteria from sticking to bladder cells.

I'm also doing all the research I can to do the unheard of thing of trying to prevent Annabelle from getting jaundice. My trouble is that I would love to have just one child where there is little to no intervention and unfortunately not being able to afford a home birth has made us play by the hospitals rules. This means that jaundice is a very BIG medical emergency and we need to get those bililights on that baby as soon as possible, and unfortunately each one of my children's levels are higher and higher. There is very little research on this subject and I have gotten little to no answers from doctors. Although I was pointed in the right direction by a local known herbalist who mentioned milk thistle which is one of the best know liver tonics. So by supporting the function of the liver with milk thistle, the organ will be able to efficiently filter bilirubin out of the body and since what mama takes baby takes maybe we could get ahead of this problem that all my babies seem to have. Although back in day day it was perfectly acceptable to just breast feed and get as much natural sunlight as possible (which naturally helps break down the bilirubin) but doctors see a problem with this because they want an instant fix (insert rolling of eyes at this so called medical emergency).
I will be going to my midwife in a week and was going to ask her opinion of my idea to take one capsule of milk thistle a day for the last trimester, it hopes to prevent jaundice so I would be able to leave the hospital the day after Annabelle birth so we can enjoy our newest addition to the family.
Another resource I'm turning to is Susun Weed's book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year, such a wonderful resource for any mama to be.
She talks about including rich minerals, and proteins to promote healthy livers which will help clear the extra red blood cells.
She also mentions dandelion during pregnancy and early lactation to help baby develop a strong liver.

What are your thoughts about natural remedies?

Weekly art fun

2012-02-11T06:15:00.002-05:00

Before I post about our art project for the week I wanted to link you to frontier dreams wonderful giveaway!! She's giving everyone the chance to win 6 color starters Glob non toxic paint. So please hop over to her blog to enter for a chance to win!!!

SO about our art project for the week I first want to start off by mentioning one of my favorite art blog resources out there...

She has so many wonderful lessons that she breaks down by grade level so it's easier to sort through. We've done A LOT of her art projects and the kids always seem to have a blast with them. This week we decided to try her Valentines Day Art Bouquet Project, we shared this art lesson with some friends that visit every week.
Here is the process as well as our finished products...

What did you guys do this week?? Leave me a comment to let me know you stopped by and grab my button so we can all check out your art work:)
Thanks for stopping by!!

{this moment}

2012-02-10T09:18:00.002-05:00

{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. Link back to soulemama so we can see your moment.

Stash Bash

2012-02-09T14:00:00.005-05:00

So this week has been very busy and I did not get to the project that I wanted to...for some reason I've been very tired at night these days and that is usually when I get most of my sewing done. So for now I will show you the fabric that I plan on getting to today/tonight and hopefully make some curtains for my country themed bathroom...
On the side I did start these arm warmers with yarn from my stash which I guess could be part of stash bash week I just really wanted to get to these curtains because they have been in the back of my mind for a few weeks now...actually a few months because I did buy this fabric with the intention to make curtains out of them one day...so wish me luck ladies that today it the day I will make them..lol
These are the arm warmers I've been working on.

Fabric for my soon to be curtains...

Don't forget to check out crunchy catholic mama for her stash bash link up!!!

Happy little hearts are baking

2012-02-09T12:04:00.008-05:00

This week we made our homemade granola which is on demand at our house very often!! It's a quick and fun recipe to make which is a good thing because it needs to be made almost weekly in our house..
4C Rolled oats
1 and 1/2 C chopped almonds
1/2C brown sugar
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 C vegetable oil
1/4 C honey
1 tsp van
1 and 1/2 C raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

Mix oats, almonds, brown sugar,and cinnamon. In saucepan mix oil and honey on low heat then whisk in the vanilla. Pour liquid over oat mix and mix well. Carefully spread mix over 15x10in baking pan.
Bake 30 min @300 making sure to stir the mixture every 10min. Take out and let cool store in an airtight container and enjoy!!

If you look closely you can see that this picture was taken when Rick was stirring the oatmeal but he just so happened to stir it out of the bowl by accident exactly at the same time as I snapped this shot.. (This was the highlight of the entire afternoon)

Come join in on the fun over at happy whimsical hearts to show us what you've been baking up this week:)

Yarn Along

2012-02-08T08:07:00.010-05:00

I was able to get some good quality knitting done this week, especially with this past weekends Superbowl Sunday I was able to knit up this baby cocoon that night .. (I'm not a big football fan although I did enjoy the half time show.

The pattern is from Tricia Drake's new book Welcoming home baby...It worked up very quickly on size 19 needles. I'm not sure if it's complete though....I'm thinking about adding a crocheted edge of another fluffy yarn around the head opening for an extra snuggle feature...lol
I also finished my cowl that I have been working on here and there...

I'm very happy with both projects I got done this week and I already found some beautiful yarn for my next project... That I will probably work on here and there...(I get bored working on the same thing every night.)

I hope to make a granny ripple crochet blanket with this yarn. I was going to make it with this yarn and then pick up some solid cotton in rainbow colors to match and make it the ultimate rainbow blanket...Oh how I love rainbows so much...I think it puts a smile on everyone's face to see all those beautiful bright colors blended together!!!!
Although I haven't done much reading this week I have been listening to Before Green Gables an audio book from the library. I treasure Anne of Green Gables, I have very fond memories of snuggling on the couch with my mama and watching movies.

What have you been working on this week?? join in the the fun with Ginny over at Small things for some knitting inspiration!! Also check out frontier dreams for more crafting goodies:)

UPDATE at 2:57pm: I ran to the yarn store today picked up some fluffy yarn for around Annabelle's cocoon it really gives it a nice finished look...I'm so please with the way it came out...now we just have to wait for Annabelle to arrive:)

The water cycle unit study

2012-02-07T13:15:00.013-05:00

So Caila has been learning about the water cycle for her science for the last week. We first read the Sonlight recommended book starting point science Vol 1 (I just love their choices in books but we prefer to find our own worksheets and projects this way we can spend as much or as little time on a certain subject as we want.
So after reading the first few pages of S.P.S. we colored in this water cycle page...

I then read the story of Mr. Drippy the rain drop.. it's the cutest story of the water cycle..Caila really enjoyed this!!

We also sang the water cycle song..

Water Cycle
By Lori-Ann Phelan

(Sang to the tune of She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain)

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does
(use pointer finger to make a big circle)

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does
(repeat finger circle)

It goes up as evaporation
(moves hands up to the sky

Forms clouds as condensation
(make a cloud overhead with arms)

Then comes down as precipitation, yes it does!
(sprinkle with fingers while bringing arms down in front of you)

We then did our experiment of creating our own water cycle. We first made some home made clay and formed it into a shape of a mountain then placed it in a small Tupperware container and painted our mountain...then we added our "ocean".

I then laid a cooling rack across the top and placed a few pieces of ice on it and Caila covered it up with pieces of toilet paper (only because i didn't have any cotton balls to use as clouds) we then put it under a Mr.Sun which happened to be my husbands craft lamp when he was a kid..lol Who knew that watching ice melt could be so entertaining...lol

We are going to finish the unit off today by watching the Magic school bus movie about the water cycle which I found here to watch instantly and for free..BONUS!!
Rick's school day was just the usual stuff although we did start reading Little house in the big woods last week and have been working on a BIG lapbook for each chapter. I don't know who loves this book more the kids or me..lol I will post pictures when we finish our Little house lapbook but I must warn you we are taking our time because I have found so many fun lapbook ideas that we just want to make all the crafts!!!!
Here's a pic of Rick working on his new math (Rod and staff grade 2) that we started in Jan.. I have fallen in love with this math very much..it's a lot of review and workbook work which Rick likes plus I can really see what he understands and what we still need to work on... This is the notebook that I use instead of a chalkboard because it's just easier for me and makes for a nice review because we can always just look back.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are having a great Tuesday too:)

Giveaway

2012-02-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

>Just a quick post about a beautiful giveaway over at Herbal roots
head over and check it out for a chance to win too:)
Good luck to all!!

Weekly art with the kids

2012-02-04T16:16:00.000-05:00

So I have seriously slacked in the art department with my kids in the last few months so I made a promise to them that we would get back into it. I've added a link up for you to join in on the fun so just grab my button and link up so we can inspire each other and pass it on to our kids because as Picasso said
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

So our art project this week was inspired by this This was done by Jim Dine. Jim Dine is closely linked with the development of Pop Art in the early 1960s. Much of his work includes heart which is perfect for Valentine's day which is right around the corner...Here is a link with some of his prints.
You can also find a post about this art project at art projects for kids her blog is chuck full of wonderful art ideas to get those creative juices flowing:)
We did deviate a little from the original works of Jim Dine and instead if the same bold background we decided to make a stained glass effect with watercolor so that the heart was more of the focus point. For the heart we used oil pastel which is one of my favorite art tools because of it's rich bold colors!!

P.S. This was a very big post for me too because it's the first time I made a button for myself with a link up..

Cookie making day

2012-02-03T13:54:00.007-05:00

Today we decided to surprise daddy and make some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies...it's his very favorite. I think it's so wonderful how excited children get when it's baking time, they all come running into the kitchen and start getting their aprons on...Caila runs to get her stool and they are all ears for what's on the baking menu for that day, and Jameson just runs around the kitchen yelling "I cook...I cook" come to think of it I will have to make him an apron soon too...maybe for his birthday (March) I'll make a tractor one!! I'll just add it to my ever growing list of crafts to get done...so much crafting so little time!!

Nothing like the smell of fresh baked cookies for when daddy comes home from work:)

Stash Bash

2012-02-02T13:48:00.001-05:00

So I've been crafting along with crunchy catholic momma in her awesome stash bashing Thursday post. I have to admit I had other plans for this weeks post but I just didn't get around to it, I've been spending most of my time on my yarn along project...but I'm the kind of crafter who likes to work on different things throughout the week. I also like to bite off way more then I can chew but I think I work best when I put pressure on myself..lol So this weeks stash bash projects were of course another dress..I've made it a personal effort to make at least one every week for her so she'll be all set for the spring before baby #4 arrives. I have to admit this is twirliest dress pattern I have. It's one of her favorites because it's so long on her and she loves to twirl and sit really quick so the dress makes a big ring around her...boy do these kids know the secrets to a joyful life.

My second project I've been working on is woodworking and making a few toys for the kids. My husband is a very big toy maker and after his Christmas production he had a lot of scraps that he offered me so I've been trying to make some simple toys here and there for the kids. I cut out a couple figures on my scroll saw and I've wood burned them, so now I just need to sand some of the edges and paint them. The horse it still in the beginning stages, but the other figures are a Tomten, a cluster of mushrooms and a little woodland girl, none of which have anything to do with each other...lol

Next week for sure I will get to my other project that was on my list for this week!! Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit the stash bash to join in on the fun!!

Yarn along

2012-02-01T12:30:00.003-05:00

So I'm knitting along with Ginny again and having fun using these circular needles especially now that I've done a project with them, I'm much more confident. I do hope to eventually upgrade to the wooden interchangeable needles rather then the medal ones I have now, maybe that will be my birthday present to myself this month..shhh my secret..hehe. I just love the feel and looks of the wooden needles so much more.
So the pattern and project that I'm working on this week is a euro cowl. I am so excited for this to be done I'm in love with the earthy colors, I can't wait to wear it!!
Along with knitting I've been reading Large family logistics. this book really should be mandatory for all mama's. It has such wonderful tips for managing the home it's already done wonders for me and keeping me on track as I tend to be a bit flitty and forgetful. Although I was quit surprised at it's size...(it's not a book you can snuggle up in bed with and read while lying down..lol) but it really has been giving me great useful tips!! I also just bought this book called Writing down the days for my son as I would like him to be more comfortable journal writing, I'm hoping that starting a journal with some of these ideas will build his confidence in free writing. It not only give fun writing prompts but it also give lots of fun info too.
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to stop by Ginny's for some great knitting inspiration!!

Stash Bash

2012-01-26T12:44:00.008-05:00

So I have so many little balls of peaches and cream cotton yarn lying all over my house so I figured what better way to get rid of it then new dish cloths which i need desperately anyway.. I figured it was a good excuse to practice my crocheting as well since I just learned...
So here are a couple and one cloth that's on the needles right now. (sorry the picture isn't that great I had to use my phone camera since I dropped my camera and it's waiting to be brought into the camera shop for some well needed TLC)

I also finished the take home dress I was making for baby #4 (Annabelle Grace)due May31st. This was a big knitting accomplishment for me because it's my first knitting project in the round so I am very proud of it!!! Plus I had to learn how to make button holes another first for me!!
So please come join us at http://crunchycatholicmomma.blogspot.com/ for another week of stash bash...it's so much fun and exciting to see all these projects that were on my list getting crossed off!! I also found another stash busting blog that you can link up to at the creatingafamilyhome blog.

(This moment)

2012-01-20T08:29:00.002-05:00

My little helper...

{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, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Stash Bash/ keep calm craft on

2012-01-19T07:21:00.007-05:00

I want to first start off by saying thank you thank you thank you so much http://crunchycatholicmomma for such an ingenious idea as a stash bash because I know I am a big collector of crafts...I always have big big plans for everything I buy but then time steps in the way. I also want to thank frontierdreams for her link up of Keep calm craft on..because that is exactly what crafting does for me!! So check out both of these mama's blogs for wonderful crafting inspiration:)
Here's a couple of pictures of my stash..but trust me I have a lot more...hehe
I like to call my self creatively distracted...aka a messy crafter as you can clearly see from my fabric stash...
and this is just one of my three basket collections of yarn...
I also like to collect patterns and as my own personal goal I'm going to TRY to not buy any new patterns...wait let me just add this to the goal....I will try not to buy any new patterns at least until the spring catalog comes out..lol

This is my stash bash for this week...I was down to crunch time because I just realize yesterday that today would be stash bash day so I made a dress for my daughter...who only has two that I made her for this season..(I really thought I made more) so she was very happy..plus I had extra horse fabric so my son requested more clothes for his doll I made him for Christmas this year.. I think that will be my stash bash for next week...(doll clothes)

Here is my fabric stash that I'm going to use up..

And here is the "bash"...Caila's new winter horses dress, and as you can see from her big smiles...it was a big hit!!

Daddy's Birthday

2012-01-18T22:56:00.007-05:00

Today was my husbands 27th Birthday...it's shocking to write that never mind even thinking it..in our heads we are still eighteen. I think when you start having children it's so much about them and trying not to loose a second of them growing up...that you don't pay any attention to the fact that your also getting older. So we spent the morning making homemade waffles for daddy and greeted him in bed after we let him sleep in (for as long as the kids could handle it which was 9:00) we gave our special hugs and kisses and homemade cards and gifts.
My hubby then had to go to the dentist because he's been having major pain in his back teeth/jaw, so while he was gone we did our schooling. He came back with the predictable news of needing a root canal (this will be his fourth) and he also has 3 cavities and his wisdom teeth don't look good either. Nothing like getting good news on your birthday ha?? You'd think he hasn't been to the dentist in years but nope it's been the usual 6 months not to mention he is by the book when he brushes and flosses his teeth DAILY.... I can't honestly say I floss daily.,,my poor hubby he's such a trooper about it too I think because he's just so used to it.
Well anyway after that bad news we decided to go on a family outing and he's been really wanting to go to the New England air museum, so we did just that and had a great time... (plus it was a perfect intro to an Amelia Earhart unit study that I was already planning on doing for school next week. It felt good to get out of the house the kids have a touch of cabin fever.

Here are some pictures from the air museum. My son Ricky also wanted me to mention his jacket that he made sure to wear special for the visit because it's his bomber jacket that he loves so much, Jameson also had his on, they were bought special from their Poppy. Ricky actually picked out a patch to add to his bomber jacket..it's the small things in life that excite kids!!

Poetry break day today

2012-01-17T13:30:00.002-05:00

Today we celebrated poetry break day (a day late..mommy brain for sure) We enjoyed sitting by the fireplace reading wonderful poems. The kids especially enjoyed Falling up and Where the sidewalk ends books by Shel Silverstein...they thought the poems were supper silly. We also enjoyed a few other books like The llama who had no pajama, For laughing out loud, and Mirror mirror, so as you can see from our poetry collection that we read today it kinda set the mood for silliness all morning, it was nice to do something different for school today!!
After reading for a better part of our morning we decided to try this poetry thing out. I found a few great resource for doing poetry with children...
Here is the site I found helpful...
http://www.kathimitchell.com/poemtypes.html
http://www.canteach.ca//elementary/poetry1.html
http://ethemes.missouri.edu/themes/1398
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/

We did a Bio poem which is

Method

Line 1: First Name
Line 2: Four descriptive traits
Line 3: Sibling of...
Line 4: Lover of
Line 5: Who fears...
Line 6: Who needs...
Line 7: Who gives...
Line 8: Who would like to see...
Line 9: Resident of...
Line 10: Last Name(we did middle name instead)

Caila

Silly,playful, loving, toothless

Sibling of Ricky, Jameson, and Annabelle

Lover of snuggly bears

Who fears the dark

Who needs lots of snacks

Who gives laughter

Who would like to see God in heaven

Resident of planet earth

Eleanor

Rick,

Crafty,silly,playful,snugly

Sibling of Caila,Jameson,Annabelle

Lover of family, lego's, woodworking

Fears the dark,

Needs to sleep late,

Gives gifts to people I love

Who would like to see Alaska,

Resident of the earth

Daniel

We also worked on a 5W poem
Method

Line 1: Who
Line 2: What
Line 3: Where
Line 4: When
Line 5: Why

Rick's poem called Lego's
Lots of colors
Easy to follow directions
Good fun
Obsessed with this great toy
So many thing to build

It was a super fun day for sure I actually think we might add one day in the week to have a poetry break time in the middle of school, where we can read a few poems and then write a poem of our own. Maybe even start a family poetry book because they enjoyed today so much!! We can't wait for national poetry month in April. Well I'm off to do our lunch dishes, and afternoon chores...I might even sneak in a little nap too! hehe (pregnancy always makes me so tired)

What winter days are made of

2012-01-17T07:46:00.008-05:00

Well we finally have been getting some winter weather complete with below freezing temps and jack frost nipping at our noses, and what a difference from the last few weeks of mid 40's temps and the kids just playing outside with just a sweater on. I have to admit I have mixed feelings about this winter weather that is upon us now, you see I love being house bound in winter weather. There's nothing more special then cuddling up on the couch with the kids and reading a good book while there's a roaring fire in the fireplace and the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven...this is what winter is to me. As much as I love house bound winter days I am eagerly awaiting spring weather...I just love getting my bare feet in the dirt of my garden, especially because I hope to add a few more beds to our garden, as well as a plot for just culinary and medicinal herbs. I love poking around in the garden and listening to the sound of the kids playing and giggling in our yard...I dreamed about those moments for so many years when we were saving for a house. I know I should just being savoring these times now and not rushing to the future especially being pregnant I should be just enjoying these special moments...I just can't help it though:-)
These days we have been enjoying our fireplace and the smell of fresh baked breads. We've also been focusing on school and one of my new year's goals of decluttering and getting a family cleaning rhythm down pat before the new baby comes. Rick (my hubby) and I have been talking about giving the children more daily chores so this week we started a chore chat from which we got the idea from The country blossom. The kids are really excited about it and they love to put their names on the hooks when they have completed their chores. I believe I will be vititing the country blossoms blog quite often this year because she is just so organized and has wonderful ideas please check out her blog if you get a chance...I know I'm hooked!!
I've also been busy these last few days knitting up a hat for Jameson especially with the cold weather here he really needed a winter hat!! I especially love the way this one came out and it was very quick to knit up..I just added a crocheted edging in contrasting color....unfortunately I didn't notice the hat size and it fits my daughter better then my son...so I will be stating that same hat pattern over again just on a smaller scale....BIG OOPS....yeah I'm still new to knitting clothing so this is a learning process for me, luckily i enjoy it and don't mid taking it out just to start it over again!! Oh and by the way the pattern can be found here if you are interested.
Here are some pictures from the last few days...
Monday's fresh baked breads

Here is our roaring fire that we had going all day yesterday from our house to yours...

Our Martin Luther King Jr. lapbooks that we finished yesterday...

And last but not least the completed knitted hat that is 2 sizes to big for Jameson...oops

Well I have to go start school for the day today we are going to pretend that it's poetry day today even though it really was yesterday (oops again I really have mommy brain these days) So I think we will spend a good part of the day diving into wonderful poems and trying a hand at it ourselves... Wishing you all a wonderful day as well!!

Yarn Along

2012-01-11T08:52:00.005-05:00

So last week my very good friend got a wonderful gift from her husband to go to a hotel for the night PLUS she was also able to take me!! What a memorable night thought we would just craft and watch the lifetime movie network....we were both really excited to watch cable because we both have been without it for a couple of years now...well it turns out we aren't missing much at all!!! So instead we spent the night chatting and crafting oh how wonderful it was. The next morning we were able to have breakfast in bed and sleep in (our idea of sleeping in was 8:30 lol) Then we went to a yarn shop that made our heads spin...it was so wonderful we spent 3 and a half hours there. All the colors were so beautiful I wanted to feel every soft skein. I was on the hunt for cotton yarn to make baby #4 (Annabelle) a sweet little dress to take her home in. I also got some other yarn for a few other projects I have had in the back of my mind.
So I found some beautiful yarn and I've been working on her dress very diligently. This is also my first project using circular needles, and although it took me about 45min to connect the two sides together (I spent most of my time on youtube watching many ways of connecting them but finally got it) It's been easy so far I'm just a little nervous about adding the bodice part of the dress but I will post pictures of it complete when I finish it!!
Drum roll please as this is a very big step for me in the knitting world.....

This is the pattern I've been following from ravelry.
You'll also notice that I'm also reading Above Rubies magazine My friend just introduced me to this magazine and I love it so much, the stories and families are just so inspiring!!
Thanks for stopping by to my second Yarn along post...hosted by Ginny over at Small things.

{this moment}

2012-01-06T08:44:00.001-05:00

{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. Join in the fun over at SOULEMAMA'S blog

My son's talent's are shinning through

2012-01-06T08:10:00.000-05:00

Another completed project from my 8 year old, he is so much like his father they are two peas in a pod out in that workshop together. This is a little jeep that little Rick made last week out of scrap wood that was left over from Christmas projects. It came out so cute plus he used the drill press for the first time (with Daddy's help) to make the holes for his men.

My new custom made spice rack

2012-01-05T19:46:00.000-05:00

So last week I started cleaning out my cooking cupboards because they were so bad. They had gotten to the point where my husband would throw things in it and just shut the door quickly so he didn't have to deal will the mess...yeah I know it was pretty sad!! So here are the before and after pictures of the second shelf i tackled, as well as the beautiful spice rack that my husband made to fit the jars that I found.
Before....

After.... I was able to also add all my teas on the bottom shelf where before I had to drag out a chair and reach them on the top shelf. I know it looks a little cluttery on that bottom shelf but all the spices on the left are just back up for the spices in the spice rack.

And my new spice rack that I LOVE so much!!!

I know it clashes with the bright red trim but I'm also hoping to paint the trip VERY soon...I am looking more for a country red color rather then a red hot chilli pepper color. lol

Yarn Along

2012-01-04T18:32:00.005-05:00

So this is my first Yarn along with Ginny and I am very excited to join in on the fun!! There are so many talented knitters it's so fun to look at all the different crafts!!.
This week I started to knit a corn on the cob for my etsy shop, I'm trying to craft up some more things since the few things I did have in my shop sold over the holiday season. I'm also reading Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin again, it is so inspiring to read about all the beautiful birth stories I recommend this book to every mama especially if your addicted to listening to birth stories like I am!!

thank you Ginny for hosting yet another inspiring yarn along I love looking at everyones projects and although I would consider myself a beginner knitter I dream of knitting in the round and making beautiful sweaters...maybe for this new little joy due May31st. I can't promise I will be joining Ginny every week as I also like to do other crafts, but I will pop over when I strt another knitting project!!

Newest baby blessing...

2012-01-04T08:30:00.005-05:00

Heading to the ultrasound right in 1/2 an hour to get a peak at our little one..hehe I will post pictures as soon as I get home...I am so excited I just couldn't wait to tell you all!!
~UPDATE~
Well all went well today at my ultrasound and my midwife visit. My prayers were answered and my placenta was in a good spot (no placenta previa), as well as the baby being healthy. I really wanted a DRAMA free visit, I would be fine with one maybe two midwife visits throughout the whole pregnancy....the first one would be "Yup there's a baby in there" and the second would be "Yup she's growing good... and we'll see you when she'd ready" but instead they check your pee, your weight, your belly size and then ask the same questions every visit... "I noticed you haven't had your quad screening for down syndrome, when did you want to schedule that?" I'm guessing not very many people turn down this test, because the of the silly look I get when I say I've refused it. What happened to the days when women could just carry a baby and it wasn't turned into a medical drama, it was just a part of life. I have to say I look at birthing babies in a completely different way then when I did 8 years ago with our first, of course I was only 19 and I just assumed labor was like the movies, you lie down with your legs up in the air and out popped a baby after 10 min of pushing, and of course the doctors were on your side they wanted you to have a wonderful natural birth.... WELL THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE in America. It's such a medical emergency and wow do those doctors LOVE to throw in some drama!!
With this pregnancy I really hope to have my second VBA2C baby, although it was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life it was the most rewarding. I'll never forget the rush of emotions that came over me after Jameson was born, I swear I heard angels sing at that moment! My hopes with this baby are to stay home longer, although my dream would be to have a home birth money just cant stretch to that dream. So instead I would like to stay home for much longer and be in a more comfortable setting especially because as soon as I get to the hospital they need to attach a fetal monitor as well as start an iv in my hand if fluids need to be administered (which is such a pain in the butt all because I had 2 c-sections before) oh well it is what it is... if interested in my first VBA2C here is that post, just be warned it's a long post!!

And now drum roll please.....
introducing our newest member of the family and it's Girl, I'm still in shock I was sure she was a he, I just assumed I was right with my other three I must be right with this one but life sure throws curve balls at you!! lol

These are both profile pictures and her head is pressed against my placenta, and in the second picture you can see her littlefist under her chin.

My 2012 list

2011-12-30T18:11:00.004-05:00

So I love lists, it just feels so good to cross things off your list plus I believe it helps to keep me focused on the things I want to accomplish. I tend to be a little whimsical and flitty and find myself far from the track sometimes. I have to admit my list is usually lost after a week, or the kids have colored on it or spilt something on it..but just putting it down on paper is a great start!!

So here goes my 2012 list

Make my own soap (not the melt and pour kind)
Make my own herbal shampoo
Go to church more regularly
Have another natural VBAC baby (due June 1st)
Garden more this summer (I'd like to expand my herbal garden as well)
Get a few more chickens to raise
Expand my knitting knowledge and learn to use those needles that are connected
Try to Simplify my house more
Can and preserve much more then I did this past year

This post was inspired by little homestead in the desert who also has some great goals for the new year!

{this moment}

2011-12-30T14:45:00.001-05:00

Simplifying

2011-12-29T08:51:00.000-05:00

Well this month I will be trying trying to simplify my house which for me is a BIG step, you see I am the biggest clutter bug you will ever meet and I have absolutely NO organizational skills. Although it may look like a crazy mess to some people I usually know where everything is...but I usually go through a sort of spring cleaning before Birthdays, and after Christmas. This is where I fill bags and bags of old toys and things around the house that simply just clutter our lives. It's the greatest feeling to get rid of clutter and junk that we're just drowning in, plus we live in a humble little home..and when I say humble I mean you blink your eyes and the house tour is over..lol So it's just not plausible to have clutter especially with three little ones and another on the way. This is my goal for 2012...to simplify my house...I want to Soulemama my house!! I was thinking of doing one room a week and seeing where that takes me...
this week I'm working on the heart of the home..my kitchen this is where we gather together, we cook together, we greet daddy from a long day of work, so what better room to start with then this one!!

So I started with on top of the fridge and that was an easy fix since it was all junk up there and just needed to be thrown away. It's a bad habit of ours to get the mail or whatever and before dinner we put it above the fridge and since we are both short people we don't notice the junk pile above the fridge.

Next I did under the sink with was a mess as you can see...
(yes I know..."How did we live like that?")

I've also decided to trade in all those bought cleaners for some natural homemade ones. I've been wanting to make the switch for quit some time and just haven't gotten around to it...
These are some of the recipes we will be using now..
All purpose cleaner
1/2 C vinegar
1/4 C Baking soda
mix into 1/2 Gallon water

Floor cleaner
1/4 C vinegar in a bucket of water add 10 drops of essential oil

Dishwasher soap
1 C Borax
1 C washing soda
1/2 C citric acid (this was tricky for me to find but I found in in a natural heath food store)
1/2 C Kosher salt

mix all together and store in an air tight container...I was just going to use one of our old Charlie's soap laundry detergent container
If you need an extra rinse agent you can add a little vinegar to the wash as well.

For a light shower cleaner
1 part hydrogen peroxide
2 part water

for more scrubbing power in the shower
use baking soda
and for tough tub floors wipe with vinegar first then scrub with baking soda.

Toilet cleaner
1/4 C baking soda
1 C vinegar
Let it sit in the toilet for 15 min and then scrub

Drain Cleaner
pour 1/2 C baking soda down the drain
then pour down 1/2 C vinegar
Let sit for 30min then rinse with hot water
this mixture has a chemical reaction and should break down the clog in the drain.

Window cleaner
2 tsp vinegar
1 liter water

And for cleaning water spots on wood floors you would scrub with mayonnaise then buff out....I was shocked about this one but WOW it really worked on most of our water stains. Some of the stains right outside our bathroom are very deep and just need to be sanded but it did lighten those water stains quit a bit...I was impressed.

Next I worked on our baking cabinet...it's a wonder I do all the baking I do with a cabinet like this one.. There was flour everywhere when I cleaned it out...I do believe this is my favorite change. As you also see Jameson and Ricky felt the need to "help" with the flour...and when I say they helped what they really did was make flour angels.

Before pic...

After pic...

My flour child

More posts to follow...I'm just waiting for my husbands handiwork to build me a spice rack...I can't wait for this next project either!!!

Project time tuesday

2011-12-27T19:29:00.000-05:00

Following along with Proverbs 31 Living I wanted to show you one of the best gifts my husband had made me. It's a paint rack for all my acrylic paints which is perfect because they were all over the house before, and now I have them all together in the heart of our home of course (the kitchen).

Head on over to Abbi's blog to check out what well loved gift she gave this year for Christmas..

Handmade Holidays 2011

2011-12-26T08:49:00.001-05:00

Here are a few more of our Handmade Christmas gifts from this year. This is our second year making handmade gifts for everyone and we just love it so much this year we only bought my brother-in-laws gift but I was a good thing because he really loved it plus we bought it used and not from the big named stores that are usually flooded with shoppers this time of the year. Although we make everyone's gifts we do buy gifts for each other and that's because we rarely buy things for our selves throughout the year so this is a nice way to treat each other to a few treats, and the few gifts we buy the kids are from the big guy..wink wink. I have to say I really do love watching the reaction of when everyone opens your gift that you created and worked so hard on and you can see that your hard work was all worth it!!
Here are a few pictures of our gifts we've been busily working on...we have a few more handmade things but they went without me getting pictures because they were the gifts we were working on the night before Christmas or I already wrapped them up.
Here is a shop clock for my Dad..this is my husbands handy work ..he did all the wood work and airbrushing for it...

These are quilted place mats that I made for my mom.. I was really excited about these because i have never quilted before but I thought they came out pretty good for a first time project!

This is a marble mat I felted for Rick

This is another waldorf doll that I made for Jameson...he loves Caila's Emily doll because he has a fetish for her wool hair he likes to rub it on his cheeks...so he got his own farmer girl with tractor overalls..

These are a few train destinations that my husband made for http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifour nephew Gavin...he's getting into the Thomas the train stuff...but I must say my husbands are much better..why you ask oh because you don't have to worry about our red paint containing lead in it and having it recalled...

These sword and shields have been in the works for about a year, they were a gift that was never finished last year but I'm happy we didn't because they came out so beautiful and the kids absolutely love them they already have a few dents in the swords...we also got these http://www.etsy.com/listing/83339357/leather-sheath-with-strap to match the set from etsy. I was working on matching capes but didn't finish so I think I will give those to them later...maybe Easter??

These are a pair of peanuts print pj bottoms for Jameson...(Big brother
r got a matching pair too)

Here is another beautiful wood project from my husband..he made Caila a rocking cradle for her dolly's...she loves it so much I also made a crocheted blanket for her dolls too...this was my first crocheted project as well, my mother-in-law just taught me how last month. I did this blanket in a granny square and I single crocheted the outside in the two solid colors to kinda pull some of the colors out of the middle.

Rick's been wanting a boy Waldorf doll so here he is. He has no name yet so if you have any suggestions that would be great!! I'm not sure if you noticed but he also has the matching Peanuts print pj's..lol This doll was alittle tricky to do because I had to learn to crochet a cap for his head so I could hook and loop all of his hair. I followed the weircrafts directions for the cap .

This is a wooden roadster that my very talented husband made for Jameson..

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This is a set of felted acorns and matching sorting bowls for Jameson.

These are wooden cookies which I stole the idea from Melissa and Doug. They have velcro on them so Jameson can switch the frosting or slice them apart..these were fun to make!!

And last but certainly not least is the crayon box that my husband made Caila because she is our little artist and loves to doodle in her bed before she falls asleep but her crayons were always scattered about her bed so daddy came up with this beautiful/stunning crayon box with a secret drawer for her colored pencils. He painted this quote on the sides..."Paint the world with imagination, let your dreams be your inspiration"

Sorry these pictures are so late it's just we were so busy making the gifts and just didn't have time to blog about our creations..lol Maybe next year it will be alittle better and I wont be so tired from being pregnant. One of these years we will have everything alittle more organized.

Baby on board

2011-11-29T13:52:00.004-05:00

So although I started early on my Christams to make list I just can't seem to stay up at night and burn the midnight oil anymore, my new bedtime is usually 8:30-9:00 I think the more pregnancy's you have the more tired you become with each one...either that or it's just that our days are so busy with school and house cleaning by night time I'm wiped out (I just don't know how Soulemama does it)I have been feeling alittle better and for those of you who don't know I'm expecting my fourth and I'm 14 weeks pregnant. We are very excited about our new little blessing although I have to admit I am feeling alittle nervous about having a fourth. So much is running through my mind all the time "Will I be able to pull everything together so I can continue to homeschooling?" "Where are we going to fit another one in our humble little home ?" "Can we afford another one?" But as my very good friend puts it so perfectly I wont be 80 years old and regretting that I didn't have that fourth child that I always wanted because I didn't know where to fit him/her or because money will be tight for a little while longer...no I will be enjoying my grandchildren and telling them stories about their mommy or daddy and all the crazy fun times we had together in our humble little home.
This pregnancy has been easy so far I just have a long list of do not eat because I get crazy heartburn...But that's understanding especially when you try to mix mashed potatoes with butter and cheese and decided that blazzin' Buffalo chips would be fantastic crushed up ontop of the mashed potato and don't forget the sour cream too...yeah that's on the do not eat list!!! We were able to hear the heartbeat at 10 weeks as well what a beautiful and reassuring sound of this precious little gift growing inside... Thank you Lord for yet another blessing in our lives!!
So this post was going to be about Christmas pictures but I forgot that I didn't mention on my blog that I was having another little one. We actually waited to tell our family as well because we wanted it to be around Thanksgiving but it ended up being a week before Thanksgiving because my brother-in-law notices when you gain or loose 2 pounds right away and every week he would mention something so I knew he was catching on...so we went over to my parents house for dinner and my in-laws we're also there and we had Jameson wear a shirt that said future big brother....sounds cute right..well it would have been if everyone caught on but my parents just thought it must have been a salvation army shirt they thought nothing of it and my in-laws are oblivious to everything so at the end of the night we didn't know what to do because we thought for sure SOMEONE would have caught on so I took a verbal poll "How many people noticed Jameson's new shirt??"" cricket cricket...then my dad said he noticed but figured it was a salvation army shirt...lol It was a funny night but I'm glad the cat is out of the bag now so I don't have to worry so much about wearing shirts to try to hide my little growing bump :-)
This was going to be a post about all the elfing that has been going around the house but I then realized that I didn't mention that we have another on the way, so i promise that my next post I will write about our Christams gifts that we have finished in the past few weeks.

So behind on my blogging....

2011-11-22T07:27:00.004-05:00

Well I have been away for a while and so much has happened in a month. You see the night before Halloween we got a major snow storm and lost power for almost a week, our mission that week was to stay warm in front of the fire place. Although it was a hard week I do believe it was a special week as well because it brought so many families, friends, and neighbors together. We all got back to our roots...we told the kids it was like camping in our house...We cooked on the fire, used our camping lanterns, and lite candles for nightlights, I can even say that I truly burned some midnight oil and crafted by the lantern at night. We also took in some friends that had not source of heat along with their six children....(it was a busy week) But I did enjoy it!!
We have been also gaining the benefits of the storm by receiving LOTS of free wood...we have so much wood we had to turn some of it down. We do burn alot but we're also thinking about investing in a wood stove as well for our basement...
I will be update very soon with Christmas projects that we've been working on or have already finished..

More to scratch off the done list

2011-10-17T22:17:00.002-04:00

So here is one of little Rick's Christmas gifts that daddy was working on last week. Hubby is VERY proud with the way this set came out especially since he tried a bunch of new things with this project.

Please meet Amy, Caila's Birthday doll that I finally finished. I also make a few outfits to go with her and I'll be wrapping but this basket with a green silk for her fairy house(my daughter LOVES silks). I was lucky enough to know a WONDERFUL blogger that is willing to barter for a hand died silk for a few knitted animals. I have to say making doll outfits is quit time consuming...In the time it takes me to make one doll outfit I could have made two dresses for Caila..lol But I did have alot of fun making them and picking out the fabrics and I do plan on making a few more Dolley dresses for Christmas gifts too.

This week I'm working on Halloween costumes. This year Rick is going to be Indiana Jones, Caila is going to be Little Red Riding Hood and Jameson is going to be Robin Hood as long as I can finish in time and the pressure is on because they have a Halloween party this Sat...YIKES!!! This week in the workshop Daddy is working on a special box for Caila's doodle stuff. She likes to wind down in her bed before she falls asleep and doodle but by morning her has crayons in her sheets and doodle paper all over her bed... Pictures to follow as soon as newest projects are finished...Wish us luck..

I think I'm going to paint a car today hun...

2011-10-10T20:28:00.001-04:00

My very ambitious husband decided to paint his car today and WOW am I impressed at what that man can do. It came out so beautiful..and please take note that he has never painted a car before but he looked like a professional it's just amazing the talent he has!!!

Greetings from the workshop...

2011-10-09T14:56:00.002-04:00

So here is daddy's progress on Birthday and Christmas gifts from the workshop. This is a tractor and a trailer for Jameson for Christmas. He loves tractors so much he calles them knack knack's I have to say it's one of my favorite words he says...it's up there with horsey pronounced hore-hee in Jameson's world.

This next picture is the start of Ricky's wrecker which we think is going to be a birthday gift. Woodworking is a slow process...lots of nights where you make a cut, then you glue together, then you clamp the pieces together and your done for the night...LOTS of gluing and clamping:)

The hardest thing this year about using the shop to make gifts is that we can't leave our gifts just lying around anymore because we have two little woodworkers in the making. Here are there latest projects...
Rick's fairy house (a Christmas present)

And caila's homemade family tree sign...

I love how the kids are interested in the crafts that Mommy and Daddy like to do. I don't know what I would do with my free time if I didn't have my crafts, and I know Rick feels the same way. Happy Crafting everyone may it give you as much joy and it brings me:)

Preparing for Birthday's

2011-09-30T19:55:00.001-04:00

Well Ricky and Caila's Birthday's are the 6Th and 15Th of November and to think about it...that's not that far away...SO I've been working on Birthday gifts and Daddy has been tinkering away in the workshop...This year I'm making another cloth doll (a companion for her Emily doll That I made last year) I would also like to make a good collection of clothes for this new lovie doll. Daddy is working on a wooden toy truck and is almost done with that too....Here is my progress on the new Dollie...
This is the dying of the yarn for the hair...

Here are the pieces ready to be stuffed and formed (notice she only has one eye so far..hehe and no lips yet) I have to say that I am much more confident and excited (rather then frustrated) making this doll...last years didn't come out the way I had pictured in my head. I think a big resource for making this doll is a book called Growing up sew Liberated...it's awesome plus she has on-line links for help to make the hair on the doll too!! I would recommend this book to every mama who's crafty.

I'm enjoying it so much more that I'm going to be making Jameson one for Christmas as well...He;ll be getting a farmer since he LOVES Caila's Emily doll that I made last year. (I'll update you on that one when I start it.)
I will have to post pictures of Daddy's progress tonight since he brought his projects to work today to tinker on there..

Saint George and the Dragon

2011-09-29T15:40:00.005-04:00

St. Michael's Harvest Song
In autumn Saint Michael with sword and with shield
Passes over meadow and orchard and field.
He's on the path to battle 'gainst darkness and strife -
He is the heavenly warrior protector of life.

The harvest let us gather with Michael's aid;
The light he sheddeth fails not nor does it fade,
and when the corn is cut and the meadows are bare
We'll don Saint Michael's armour and onward we'll fare.

We are Saint Michael's warriors with strong heart and mind,
We forge our way through darkness Saint Michael to find.
And there he stand in glory; Saint Michael we pray,
Lead us into battle and show us thy way.
- Anonymous

This is our second year celebrating St.Michaelmas although we celebrated this festival last year I was still very new to Waldorf and the festival celebrated. Although I am a very loose waldorf homeschooling mama I do try to incorporate a waldorf spin on things because I do love it so. This year I was much more prepared and we started learning verses and reading stories like St. George and the Dragon and A Michaelmas story: The story of George & the dragon
We also set up a play scape in the living room so the kids could play the parts with the St.George and Princess Una that I painted last night.

We then decided to do a watercolor painting of the dragon, the princess and the knight. We did a resistance painting..which is a drawing first with oil pastels then you watercolor over your drawing and it really makes it POP!!

In the late afternoon we also made some Dragon bread dough in our bread machine here is the recipe..
1 and 1/4 c warm water
2 tsp better
3 C flour (we use 2 C white and 1 C wheat)
1 and 1/2 tsp salt (we used our seaweed sea shakers)
3 TBS sugar
1 and 1/2 TBS dry milk
2 tsp yeast
(I also added Dried Nettles to turn it green)
Select dough machine, when finished I placed it on our stone and shaped it like a dragon let rise alittle more for about 30 min then bake for 30-40 min at 350 degrees..
I would show a picture but it seriously looked more like a dinosaur rather then a dragon...but everyone loved the fresh bread with dinner even if it was a dino bread rather then a dragon bread lol
Hope you all had a fun day too!!

Our Daily thanks..

2011-09-20T17:33:00.008-04:00

So Caila and our neighbor's daughter set up a lemonade stand and cookie's they decided that it would be a good idea for all the proceeds to go to our local animal shelter. They we're so cute and did such a great job. What a great day and they made good money for a lemonade stand...$32
And Ricky has also been busy with his donations we decided we wanted to help leukemia children...so we talked about what leukemia is and send out hand signed cards to all of our neighbor's and we're able to collect $80 ($5 was Ricky's own money) He made me so proud when he said e would rather give his savings as a donation.
All this talk about the less fortunate also got me thinking about how else I can get the kids to realize that it's not the wants in life that make us happy it's the small little things that we already have...So as a daily writing we do our bible study (Leading little one to God) then we have a special notebook that I have them write what they are thankful for that day and they also draw a picture to go with it.

Here is Rick's...today he was thankful for mom and dad...his picture is of his daddy's car because he loves it so much and he drew "nature" for me ( a stick and a spider in it's web) because I love anything nature related..

And Caila is thankful for her pets..and the picture is of her cats and her chickens:)

Camping in September...

2011-09-16T21:46:00.002-04:00

We had so much Camping this past week. We went with some really close friends who have six children and also homeschool. The kids are all around the same age and together they had so much fun!! They mostly rode their bikes but we played games went to the park and of course built fairy houses:-)

We stayed for 6 days/5 nights...the longest we've ever been camping and it was just so fun and relaxing...which I'm sure comes as a shock with only four adults and 9 kids between the ages of 8 and 16 months lol.
Oh we also went to one of the nearby beaches which was fun in September we got to watch some surfers, walk the beach, and collect some drift wood and sea glass..

(This Moment) Farmer Jameson

2011-05-06T08:24:00.003-04:00

{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.

inspired by soulemama

Getting back to our roots..starting a healthful journey.

2011-05-05T08:58:00.005-04:00

So a few BIG changes are being made in our home as a family right now.. it started with our new baby chickens (which are really teenagers now) but they got me thinking about our food and where it comes from and then that got me to reading labels which included ingredients that sounded like a science paper for college more then an ingredients label, and what about this corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup is it good or is it bad for us? Well I've been spending alot of time over at farmama's blog who has a beautiful family and in my eyes they are living the American dream she and her family organically farm 3 acres of land and her blog is just so charming to read please check out her blog (I try to daily lol) if you have a chance..but anyways she also has a wealth of knowledge on her side bar which is jam packed with links and studies about our food and where it comes from. I also just finished watching Food.inc as well as Corn King as well as Food Matters (did I mention I was obsessed with learning about our food) shocked is my overall feeling about the grocery story as well as our old diet which was generally corn based... I may have thought I was feeding my family steak, or cereal, or log cabin maple syrup (which by the way has NO maple syrup in it)but really it was corn we were eating and I wont mention the chicken nuggets that we used to eat... I feel ashamed that this is the quality of food that I have been feeding my kids not to mention the meat that we have been eating and the abuse that those animals had to go through to get to our dinner table. That alone has made me want to buy/freeze a half a grass feed cow for our family we're also thinking about raising meat chickens with a good friend of ours. This is fairly new to us so for now I'm starting with our fridge stuff and cupboards first such as organic dairy products, making all of our breads, as well as homemade chicken nuggets lol, and I'm looking into making our own condiments tas well So for right now I'm just on a corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup strike, which by the way is a very hard task to accomplish especially since that was 75% if not more of our diet but on the positive side of things the farmer's market has started so that will make it easier to buy local fruits and vegi's, and not some genetically modified fruit that was picked a week ago and since then has lost alot of it's nutritional value. I never looked at it this way but did you know that in this generation we spend about a third of our income on food where as generations before us spent over half of their income to feed their families yet this generation has the most cases of diabetes, obesity, heart complications the list goes on...that is just baffling to me...yet no one stops and says wait somethings wrong here SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE!!! Please educate yourself...if not for YOUR health for your FAMILIES health...help with this movement because our bodies deserve better...these are our temple and we only get one of them...
I will be updating on our diet and how my children and husband are adjusting not to mention my withdrawal from a serious cereal addiction I have!!!
Here are some links...
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_22715.cfm
http://www.telegram.com/article/20110306/NEWS/103060427/-1/NEWS06

Blossoms everywhere

2011-05-04T19:54:00.003-04:00

So I've just noticed the blossoms on our dwarf apple trees...I can't wait to see what becomes of these...I know they are potential apples but I just can't believe that a 2 year old tree can already produce apples. This year we're really trying to expand our planting area and variety. I think part of the reason is because my husband wouldn't mind in the least bit if he never had to mow the lawn another day in his life and another reason is because we want more yeld in our space we've been in our house or almost two years and we are really liking the freedom of turning our house into a home and this includes adding chicken coops and gardens and I'm currently thinking about bees but that wont be for another year or two. You see the kids are learning about bees in their homeschool co-op and I'm just fasinated with them. I still have so much to learn about them I'm not even sure if this would be a good place for them but give it a few years I'm sure I could find somewhere to keep them.
So anyways we're thinking about taking advantage of the front yard and the morning sun that it gets by planting a row of raspberries bushes..My husband wanted to plant corn in the front yard but I want to make sure that I can grow it first before we start tearing up the font yard...I'm sure we'll make some enemies in our neighborhood by tearing up the front yard..lol I don't understand why people are so worried about grass and the way their house looks I find it kinda silly to water grass in the dry months of the year (or even any months at all for that matter) it seems like such a waist of such a valuable resource... so anyways that's what got us to the idea of using our front yard for more planting grounds so I will keep you updated on how that goes as well... Until then enjoy the day..and plant something:-)

Chicken coop day

2011-05-02T22:33:00.000-04:00

So today we started our chicken coop we got alot of the framing done today, we were very grateful that it didn't rain like it's been everyother day!! While Ricky worked on the coop I tilled in some fresh horse poop compost in our new corn plot I'm hoping to plant our corn this week if the rain stops enought to let me. After lunch we headed over to a good friends and helped them with their chicken coop well actually my husband helped with the chicken coop I mostly sat a watched and watched the kids get the dirtiest they've ever been. You see our friends have six kids and when our three come over it's just maham..lol It was a great day today but we were all ready for bedtime!!

Our chicken coop so far..

This moment //Co-sleeping with Daddy

2011-04-22T13:40:00.005-04:00

{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.

Chickie updates

2011-04-20T23:04:00.005-04:00

Well after only a week I have the, eating from the palm of my hand..lol I can't believe it's already been a week with these little guys! We are having so much fun with our newest additions and we love them as an extension of our family...I know that must sound so coo-coo but we do love them so! So on with the very sad news that we did loose one of our sweethearts last week...Daisy was weak right from the start and I thought she might not make it I never lost hope right up until the end I was telling a friend how much she was a fighter. So the kids held alittle funeral in the back yard and we buried her out back...Caila said a few kind words..."Well I guess God was done with her mommy"...I'm big on talking to the kids about death (my kids are fascinated by death) and telling them that God has a purpose for all of us and when that purpose is served then our time here on earth is over. So that was our sad chick news for the week...
Oh I also wanted to show you a picture of the (baby) roost that I made for them. I really didn't think they were ready or even big enough for this yet but they really seem to like it so need to make another one for them because they are always fighting over it especially because only three fit on this one.

Still looking at coops and tring to decide what features I want for the coop as well as pricing, but for now we got up most of the stockade fencing between our neighbors and us, and we should be finishing tomorrow.

My new babies

2011-04-13T18:05:00.005-04:00

Leave it to 6 little cute chicks to get back into the blogging world. Today I spontaneously went to the local feed store and just bought six little chickies. I had planned on just trying to hatch our own chicks (which I still am in the process of doing) but over the last week we've been having some trouble with regulating the temp in the homemade egg incubator so I decided to buy some as well just to make sure that IF my little eggs don't hatch that the kids will have these little cuties too and wont be heart broken. I only planned on having 3-4 chicks but it looks like we might be bumping that up to 6 chicks instead...SO here are our new additions...

2 Brahma's that look about 2-3 weeks old and their names are mama Rosa (make sure you roll your tongue when you say her name) and then their is mama Holly.
And the other 4 are Rhone Island reds and their names are Kalie, Sassy, Fluffernutter,and Daisy and they look about 1 week old.
I can't tell you how quickly you fall in love with their sweet little faces.
I'm really hoping that at least one of my green eggs hatches though because that was the whole reason I wanted chickens so we could have green eggs!!...I've never heard of such a thing till I went on a homeschooling field trip to a farm three years ago, from that day on I knew I wanted chickens that laied green eggs!!
Here is our homemade egg oven with 11 eggs in it.. We started with 12 but I heard that you could crack one open carefully and watch it grow...BUT I didn't think to cover it so it dried up and died but the kids were able to see the veins starting and we could also see the heartbeat...what an amazing science experiment. So we started a main lesson book about chicks and have been having fun drawing pictures of the progress happening in the egg as well as a few drawings of chick stories that we've red such as "The wonderful shinny egg" from the book of Among the farmyard people
I will keep you updated on their growth as well as the egg hatching, and chicken coop building...We have alot to do in the next few weeks so wish me luck I think I'm going to need it!

Jameson's check up

2010-12-16T15:49:00.003-05:00

So today Jameson had to go in for his nine month well visit. Which was just so annoying ohh how I try to avoid the doctors as much as possible. When can your child be just your child...I feel like the doctors really take that saying to heart...you know the one that says it takes a village to raise a child. I just don't like that they make you feel like you are some horrible parent because you aren't following their rules or raising your child by the book. Or that your not a normal mother because your baby isn't eating as much solid food as he should be and that at a year Jameson really should be switching to whole milk instead of breastmilk...well last I checked my boobs don't have an expiration date stamped on them, and yes I don't use those dull colored baby food jars I actually make my own. And don't get me started about that stupid chart that they have... they want your baby needs to be this tall fat baby do they see Americanan's and how we are the worse country for obesity... I remember my doctors telling me that my daughter Caila was to little and I needed to feed her butter and bacon....What happened to the time time when you would go to the white witch on the mountain only when you were sick and she would fix you up just the recipe you would need from her magical garden, and in exchange you would give her eggs or bread or something....
I know half my family thinks I'm coo coo because of some of the things I do to my kids when they are sick but they really do work granted half the time my kids smell like garlic but it saves us a trip to the doctors and shoving all this crap down their throat.
So I'm sorry about my little rant I just needed to get that all out!!!

Celebrating Advent

2010-12-04T10:24:00.008-05:00

This year will be our first year celebrating Advent in a non commercialized way. I'm really trying to get away from the "S" word you know that word....Santa. It broke my heart when I asked Caila was Christmas was ll about and her response was "It's when you go to bed and hope Santa comes and gives you presents" So I decided that we were going to spend this year learning about St.Nicholas and advent and the nativity story and St. Lucia. I want to focus on the winter Solstice, and preparing for Christmas. This year will be our first year that we will be making every one's gifts which I will post about soon!!
So we started advent with a spiral that I made this year...I got the idea from rythemofahome blog except I just added a wooden tree slice base to our advent and I needle felted a pregnant Mary to circle the advent. And I will put a needle felted baby in her arms on Christmas day

The kids really love moving Mary everyday....and everyday we say our advent verse for that week which I found over at exhale,return to center another beautiful blog that I love to peak at..
In the first week of Advent shines,
The light of crystals in the mine
The rocks, the jewels and the stones
The seashells and our bones.
Now the stones are on the earth
Waiting for the Christ child’s birth.

In the second week of Advent shines
The green grass and the lovely trees
And all the flowers that we see.
Now the plants are on the earth
Waiting for the Christ child’s birth.

In the third week of Advent shines
The wondrous beast of every kind
Beasts who tread upon the earth
And gave their stable for the birth.
Now the beasts are on the earth
Waiting for the Christ child’s birth.

In the fourth week of Advent shines
Our open hearths, our hearts with love
And shining light from heaven above.
Now we are on the earth
Waiting for the Christ Child’s birth.

And on Sunday's we light our yule log which we drilled holes in and filled with walnut tea lights.
And on Sunday we say this verse...Advent,Advent a candle burns,First one, then two, then three, then four, Then comes the Christ child to the door.

We also have our winter nature table up too. We went out and picked some pine clippings and pine cones and I also made some polar bears and a cave for the nature table too...( This is also our first winter nature table)

Happy Birthday Ricky

2010-11-15T21:55:00.004-05:00

The crescent moon, so meek and mild
prefers to hide his face,
But when he waxes right and full,
he shines with strength and grace.
O may I too develop strength
to shine with all my might—
That like the lovely silver moon
I fill the dark with light.

Happy Birthyday to my first baby... you've changed my world in so many ways you are the joy in my world. Today you turn seven and with every minute you grow even older...I wish you would just STOP it already!!
~It was just yesterday that you were taken out of my belly and put into my arms. I treasured that moment and then I blink...
~You are now 6 months old and I'm rocking you to sleep at 4am because you are sick with an ear infection. I humm you a lullaby and you are asleep in my arms. You look so perfect and I treasure this moment despite my lack of sleep and then I blink....
~You are turning a year old and you are all smiles in your dump truck shirt. You love all the bright balloons. It's present time and you get your gifts your are so over joyed with excitement you play all day and crash hard when it's bed time and momma and daddy tuck you to bed we watch you and listen to you as you suck away on your passy...we look at each other and smile this moment is bliss and then I blink...
~Your now toddling around at the library story time. We play the ittsy bittsy spider and you are so cute with your little chubby hands as you try to do the motions with your stuffed tigger in your arms. I laugh and know that this moment is special because I'm laughing with my baby and at this moment that's all that matters but then I blink...
~It's a big day for you today your going to see Thomas the train at the train station it's 4am in the morning and as I watch you sleep I'm so sad that I won't be able to shar this day with you because mommy is going to be going to the hospital to bring a sister home for you. you come visit me in the hospital and climb on the bed to snuggle with me...and as I hold your sister in one hand I hold you in the other for a picture and I smile with excitement because my life is just so beautiful...I have these blessings in my arms and I know just how lucky I am...but then I blink...
~It's now summertime and we are camping. I sit in front of the fire as I watch you run from here to there your little legs can barely catch up to your eager body as you collect rocks for your dump truck. You race around with your loaded truck but then you trip over a root and you begin to cry daddy scoops you up and rescues the day. Your daddy is your hero and I watch you both together and again remind myself at how luck I am for my family and then I blink...
~ Your now preschool age and I'm not just ready to let you go....We've had so much fun together why do I have to let you go. So we decide to keep you home and together we learn our letters and numbers...we have fun going to museums and parks and I know that this is where you belong because again we are all together enjoying life and exploring everything around us...but then I blinked....
~Your know playing with your best friend...your baby sister who's no longer a baby and together your building a great big block tower and I watch as my belly grows larger with another baby who grows stronger in my belly. I smile and I wonder if you will be close with your new sibling like you are with your little sister. I smile with pride at you because you are such a wonderful big brother...and then I blink...
~It's now your seventh Birthday and you are building your lego tanker truck....I watch in amazement at how you build your newest lego creation with ease and I think back at all your amazing milestones you've already done in your seven years of life. Ricky you are such a wonderful boy I treasure our moments together and wish they could last forever. Happy birthday to my first born you will always be my baby!!!

Caila's Birthday celebration

2010-11-12T08:28:00.017-05:00

SO we had a wonderful day for Caila's Birthday. I gave Caila a Cupcake Birthday dress that she just couldn't stop twirling in.

Then we headed over to pick up Nana's because we were going to a playscape (that I thought they would like)but first we stopped for a visit with Grandma (who just had hip surgery and can't get out yet) so we wanted to visit poor Grandma. We then went to the playscape which at firts was very intimidating for the kids because it's just so big but they eventually eased into it and had fun with the help of Nana.

It was nice too because the place was right next to the river and a dam so we spent some time there having rock throwing contests and just taking in the last glimpse of fall I think the kids had more fun here than at the playscape lol (I should have known)

We then headed back to Grandma's for a home cooked Birthday spaghetti dinner (Caila's request) and presents shortly followed...
Here is my first waldorf doll thatI made for Caila's Birthday and a dress made with the same fabric to match Caila's dress.

She also got The Barefoot Book of Fairy Tales
and we also got her My magical pony tales collection
and her brother got her Fabulous Doodles which she loves especially because she loves to wind down from the day and doodle in her bed before she falls asleep so this ws a perfect gift!!
Then we later read her a book that I origionally wanted to buy from three sisters toys but they were out of stock so I watercolored my own using thebearthinstitute site... whicj is a classic waldorf Birthday story...

Once upon a time there was a little child named Caila who was still with the angles in heaven and she was very happy there. She looked at the beautiful colors and listened to the lovely music of the heavens, and that was where she belonged.

But one day the clouds parted in heavens and Caila saw the beautiful green earth below with all the people happily playing and working and she suddenly longed to go there and see what it was like. She saw all the rainbow colors of the earth, She saw butterflies visiting flowers and birds flying in the air. They seemed to be beckoning her. She saw fish swimming in the sea and all the different plants that covered the earth. She saw children climbing trees running and jumping in the meadows and walking through sand and leaves. It was all so beautiful!

So she said to her angel, Please, may I go down to earth now? But her angel looked at her and said, No, it is too soon. You must wait a little while yet. So the child went and was happy and soon forgot about the earth.

Then one day again she saw a glimpse of the earth through the clouds again. She saw mothers and fathers doing their work. She saw bakers and engineers and writers and farmers. She saw mothers and fathers loving their children.

Then she saw a beautiful mother with love and longing in her heart for another child and she asked her angel now, May I go to her?

The angel said, You must go through the land of dreams first.
The next night the little child had a dream. She dreamed that she met and man and a woman and they stretched out their arms to her and asked her to come be their child.
The child told her angel the dream. The angel said, It is now time for you to go.
So the child asked, So may I go now?
You may go and share your joy and purpose with all the world’ and the Angel said ‘Give me your wings and I will hold them for you until you return”.

That night the child went to sleep into dreamland and while ten moons waxed and waned she rocked in a little boat.

And at the end of that time a beautiful rainbow bridge stretched from heaven to earth

and on it came the child as a tiny baby and slid into her mother and fathers waiting arms. They looked in awe at this new life and said “We shall call her Caila.”

Happy 5th Birthday to my little fairy princess!

My baby's Birthday

2010-11-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

My Fairy Child
by Jarmara Black

She dances in the autumn sun light
her flaxen hair all a glow
her eyes wide and innocent
full of wonder and delight
no sound but laughter passes her lips
no sorrow will you see in her face
no tears but those of joy will flow
her skin is clear like pale moon light
and as soft as an evening breeze
a kiss from her is gentle as the early morning mist
an embrace from her feels like warm sun upon the skin
her silvery laughter is like a sweet chattering stream
clean and clear and pure
Today is a good day for no blight has come her way

She huddles in the corner hiding in the dark
her flaxen hair all wild and pulled across her face
her eyes wide with fright confusion and fear
no sound but shrieks and cries will passes her lips
no joy will you see in her face
no tears but those of rage will flow
her skin is blotched and hot like a raging inferno
a kiss from her is like a bite from an injured fox
an embrace from her feels like a vice like gripe of terror
her manic laughter is like white water rapids
fast, furious and wild
Today is a bad day for blight has come her way

Our world confuses my fairy child
our rules she cannot comprehend
one day she will walk back through the veil
back to were she belongs
where she can weave her magic
safe in her fairy world
until then by my side she will stay
and with the power of a mothers love
I will try with all my might
To shield her from her plight.

Today is my baby girls birthday and today it the day she turns 5. As I think back now I remember the moment I found out I was pregnant with my little baby girl..words could not describe how excited I was. I wanted another baby so bad...I wanted my children to be close in age so we tried for three months until we were finally blessed...(I remember thinking something was wrong with me because it took 3 months...my family laughed at me:-)) I knew I was having a girl before she knew she was a girl lol and I knew that she was going to be my little fairy child. My Caila has such an imagination and the fairy realm is very real to her. I love telling her a story and seeing her eyes light up with wonder. She my compassionate child who really care about your feelings and everything she does is from the heart. I'm so blessed with three beautiful children and I treasure the magic of life with them everyday. OH how I love my children they are my everything!!

Taste the rainbow

2010-11-03T12:06:00.004-04:00

Well as you can see Jameson is a healthy happy growing baby. He really enjoys nursing as do I but a couple of monthes ago I thought i would introduce solid food and just like his siblings he would adjust easily and learn to love food....that just didn't happen Jameson just didn't understand how to eat he would stick his tounge out and try to get the food off the spoon it was very funny to watch almost like a cat drinking water. But after a couple of days it got old and I didn't want to push it so we took a break and went back to exclusivly breastfeeding. We have just receantly try food again and Jameson is much more willing to try new foods and he's alot better at it he now seems to understand that his job is to just open his mouth and the food will come to him:-) I know see that he enjoys eating and loves to sit in his high chair which was his father when he was a baby. I have now started to make his baby food which is a very fun thing for me to do. I love seeing a freezer full of freshly made baby food, it's so colorful and the colors are so viberant compared to jared store bought baby food. Although I doo sometime check out store bought baby food to take note of different combinations. I really like the Top 100 baby purees it's full of great recipes and tip she also has another recipe books called The Healthy Baby Meal Planner: Mom-Tested, Child-Approved Recipes for Your Baby and Toddler which I found at the salvation army a few monthes back and love alot of recipes in this book too!!
Here is our rainbow from the other day...

The tooth fairy visits

2010-11-02T10:10:00.007-04:00

So last month I was on a waldorf yahoo group and found this beautiful poem about the tooth fairy and it really called to me. The post was talking about how normally the tooth fairy leaves money...but really what good is that to a child the doesn't really understand the value of money. Yes the know that a dime is 10 cents and a quarter is 25cents but they don't understand that is takes this many quarters to buy this one thing. So they were talking about changing and how special it would be that instead the tooth fairy took the tooth and turned it into something special and magical....(stone gem marble) And I just LOVED that idea....here is the beautiful story of the tooth fairies busy night...
This night is a special night

As fairies dance upon the roof.

All the fairies must alight,

For __________ has lost a tooth!

The Fairy Queen gives her commands-

Twelve bright fairies must join hands

Then together in a circle stand

To guard __________ while she/he sleeps.

The Tooth Fairy into the circle leaps,

The hidden tooth she takes

Ah, but she has far to go

Before _________ awakes.

Three times around the world she flies

Over valleys deep and mountains high;

Skirts the storm clouds thick with thunder,

Wings over waves all wild with wonder.

Deep within their earthly home

Finally she finds the gnomes,

Who upon the tooth must work,

Never once their duty shirk.

Some are hammering, hammering, hammering,

Some the bellows blow

Others sweat at the sweltering forge

And cry out, “Heigh-ho!”

The tooth has been turned to a shining stone,

A glimmering, glowing gem.

The Tooth Fairy takes the gnomes' good gift,

And bows (curtsies) to all of them.

Before the sun's first rays are shown,

She returns to ________'s bed,

Puts the gift beneath her/his head,

And then --- away she's flown!

and I wanted to make it even more special by water coloring the paper that I wrote it on and drawing little pictures from the story9or attempting to watercolor and draw :)....he LOVED it after all what child wouldn't love such a magical story...here are some pictures!!!

Halloween memories

2010-11-01T11:27:00.010-04:00

We really had such a wonderful Halloween day. We spent all morning outside and the kids helped daddy do leaves...because we have about 6 huge oak trees that love to share their acorns and big beautiful leaves with us!!! Then we went over to grandma's house for a warm home cooked chicken stew meal....but the kids fell asleep before they we got there here they are resting up for the big night...

after a nice meal and a little nap they were all so excited and ready to go...
but wait mom still has to get a group shot...and one with your cousin Gavin too....

Here is Jameson all ready for the door to door fun!!!

...and when we got back they sorted out their candy traded with each other...Jameson just snuggled his new pumpkin from Grandma...

They then picked their 10 candy's that they wanted to keep and the rest was going to be left out for the sugar plum fairy. What's that you say you don't know the sugar plum fairy??
Well here is the story that the fairy told me in my dream so I could tell my children and ask for their help...
You see there lives a sugar plum fairy that has a never ending sweet tooth I mean after all she is the sugar plum fairy. SO in the spring she flies from flower to flower with her bumblebee friends to collects nectar from the springtime flowers to ease the sweet cravings that she has, and when spring turn into summer she is just overjoyed with happiness at the abundance of sweet nectar in all the blooming flowers. She spends her summer days flying with her little bee friends to all the brightly colored flowers. But when the summer days started to get shorter and and nights started to get chillier she started to notice that the trees were changing colors and some of her favorite fields of flowers were starting to die off. She become very sad and started to cry. As she sat weeping in the field Mr.squirrel was passing by and heard the little fairy crying. "excuse me my friend but why are you crying?" the little fairy looked up and replied because all of my favorite flower fields are starting to disappear and I have to fly far to find blooming flowers...and I don't know what I'm going to do for winter, you see the sweetness from the nectar will keep me warm in the winter months but I don't know where I will find blooming flowers in the winter?" Mr.squirrel thought for a moment and replied " Maybe you can do what our family does and store up for the winter...you see we gather up all the acorns that fall from the oaks trees and bury them for the winter months then you will have enough to last through the cold months ahead." "That's it said the sugar plum fairy that's what I'll do I save all the sweetness"..then the sugar plum fairy paused " wait I don't know how I"m going to save up when I'm having a hard time just trying to find blooming flowers now...what should I do Mr. squirrel?" I don't know I only collect acorns I don't know where to fild fields of blooming flowers...but I do have a friend that has a garden maybe you could ask her....her name is Bella..Bella the cat and she lives in that house right over there.
SO the sugar plum fairy flew to the house with the cat named Bella. "Hello...Hello...I'm looking for Bella" Hello replied a black cat with a white dipped tail my name is Bella how can I help you? OH that goodness I hope you can help me replied the fairy...You see I'm looking for your garden so I may collect sweet nectar and store up for the winter months and I am having a hard time finding blooming flowers" OHHH said Bella the cat well yo will have no luck here either because our garden in also preparing for winter and starting to go into a deep sleep, so you will find no blooming flowers here. The little fairy started to cry again..."what will I do for the winter I need sweetness to keep me warm for the winter. Wait don't cry I have an idea...You see I live in this house with three little children and their getting ready for this upcoming holiday called Halloween...it's where they go from door to door and say trick or treat and the neighbor gives them a treat...by the end of the night they have a whole bag full of sweetness, maybe you could ask them to help you! So that night the sugar plum fairy visited their mama in a dream and the mom agreed to ask the children if they wanted to help the fairy and the fairy promised to leave something special for the children for sharing their sweetness.
The story is aittle raw I know...to tell you the truth it was my first story I ever made up for the kids, but they were all hears and had eyes filled with wonder. They were very happy to share with the sugar plum fairy!!
Here were the gifts they received from the fairy...( a fairy house for Caila and a felted fire ball I used a tennis ball and sewed fun fire looking fabric on it for the flames.

We also had a visit from the tooth fairy but that's going to be anotherost that I will save time for later tonight.

preparing for Christmas

2010-10-22T09:34:00.000-04:00

I know it's really early to be thinking about Christmas but our goal this year is to make everyones Christmas gifts so we really have to be thinking early. Every year we make alittle bit but end up buying most so this year we are really sticking to it and we are having so much fun preparing. It make the upcomming holidays so much more exciting. Plus I think it will give the kids the right "vibe" about the holidays...that it's not just about buying things just to buy something...you really have to put thought into what that person might really enjoy and appreciate. So hee are some of the gifts that we've been slowly creating, and I will add more as we make more...Although that may not be for another week or so since I've been busy preparing for the kids Halloween party and sewing their costumes.
But here are the kids making homemade bird suet with Christmas cookie cutters Thanks to THE MAGIC ONIONS which is a great blog filled with fantastic craft ideas...

Here is the recipe
1 oz Gelatine
Birdseed
Boiling Water
Molds
Yarn or string (for hanging loops)

MIx boiling water with gelatine until disolved than add enough birdseed to get it wet looking. Pat down in your cookie cutter or mold then press in your yarn and wait till it hardens. We waited about an hour before we took them out and they we great!!

Our next creation is canned food goods Everything from cookie recipes in a jar...

To apple pie filling and apple pie filling jam as well as homemade salsa from homegrown goodness:-)

I"ve also made a few felted balls with bells inside for Jameson. And a fabric three little pigs book.

Wanting a Waldorf way of life

2010-10-17T19:19:00.005-04:00

So my life seems to be very crazy lately and I have so much "stuff" building up that I've been trying to just slow down and take a deep breath sort of smell the roses or should I say in this time of the year smell the crisp air :-)...I was just talking to my mama about my life not to long ago about how thankful and happy I really am at this point in my life. We have three beautiful children and live in our dream house as little as it may be it's our "little house on the prairie" Well I've been trying to learn as much as I can about the Waldorf education. I've been reading so many beautiful blogs that are just so creatively inspiring, and I would love to add that element of rhythm to our daily lives as well as adding more singing dancing and just living more simply. In this quest for a Waldorf home I started with the kids play toys. I have always been a firm believer in buying toys that use their minds and imagination, such as lego's, Lincoln logs, tinker toys, kitchen sets, wooden train sets, I've even built them fairy houses. But that's not to say that we haven't bought our fair share of plastic crap toys because...well I don't know great marketing I guess. In my newest quest for a Waldorf home my husband and I pledged to make as many toys as we can for the kids for the up coming holidays as well as Birthdays which I thought would be a great opportunity to start to switch out some of their toys as well as focusing on quality rather than quantity.
My next step is to learn a few verses and blessings and weave them into our daily lives. I do believe that my children will enjoy this because I know that they love it when we sing together... so I am excited to incorporate this. I'm still learning about Waldorf and although I love the thought I the schooling aspect of it I'm not sure I can let go our school books so for now I"m just starting small by adding a Waldorf math (the four process math) to our current math. I've also started introducing letters to Caila in a Waldorf way through stories and drawings. I will keep up dating with any new finds and any added thoughts on our newest quest as a family to living more simply....even thought they don't seem like big changes they are big for us especially me because I'm a consumer...not in the sense of buying from the stores so much as buying second hand and fixing it up or stopping at side of the road specials to dig through left over tag sale stuff. I"m not saying that I'm going to stop getting side of the road specials but I am going to limit our intake of these "deals"...Caila doesn't need 10 outfits from the salvation army.
Here are a few inspiring blogs that have really helped me to understand that Waldorf is not just a way of teaching...it's a way of life.
Happy blog hopping...
The magic onions
Bending birtches
Ancient Hearth
The Parent Passageway
Our Little Nest

Learning about St George a Michaelmas story

2010-09-30T09:36:00.006-04:00

So yesterday day was Michaelmas and I told two stories to the kids about St George and how he was the only knight in the whole land to fight off the fire breathing dragon and rescue the princess. We had fun telling it in a Waldorf way with an good morning song and lighting a candle (it really set the mood and the kids were all ears...
Good Morning, dear Earth
(touch the earth with both hands)
Good Morning, dear Sun
(gesture upwards, both palms open to the bright orb)
Good Morning, dear Stones
(touch the earth, hands in a fist shape)
and Flowers, every one
(and open the fists into flower shapes in front of you)
Good Morning, dear Animals
(fingers above your head, like little antlers)
and Birds in the trees
(two thumbs intertwined, making flapping wings with the fingers, travelling across the sky)
Good Morning, to you
(hands open, outstretched, palms face up, towards children in group)
and Good Morning, to me
(hands facing me, crossing over almost like a 'hug')

it's also on youtube...this one it alittle different but also really beautiful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7b7tdyVGnU
as well as mamamoontime
Then I read the story from Our Little Nature Nest about St George and the dragon. We also read the story from The festival of stones which was also a beautiful story although my son liked the first one alittle more my daughter liked The Most beautiful dragon story more.
We then made the story out on our Geo blocks and then I had sewn a red dragon for their nature table so they play with that for a while. We really enjoyed learning about St. George and look forward to adding this tradition to our yearly celebrations!
The princess tied to the trees by the water...

The sun and the dragon and the knight with the bird landing on his shoulder...

Here is a picture of Rick playing at our newly built nature table and the dragon that I made...

Space unit finished

2010-09-29T23:26:00.005-04:00

So we finished our two week space unit and really had a blast with it!! I got alot of ideas and printouts from homeschool share and currclick.com. But we ended up making a mini lapbook and gluing two together for additional storage. We also learning about constilations and made a poster of them with glow in the dark start stickers.

All in all it was a fun unit and we learned alot too!!!
Here are a few pictures of our work...

A beautiful family filled fall day

2010-09-26T23:19:00.005-04:00

Today was such a beautiful day we started it off by going to church and then stopping by my in-laws and having lunch with my "grandma". The kids really love going over to visit plus I was abe to go out back and sneak some free corn stocks for our mailbox. I really get so mad at how much people have to spend just to buy a dead plant. Well after that we drove about a half an hour through a hill town to get to our favorite apple farm. What a beautiful drive especially with all the trees changing and I always love to see people outside. So we went and picked two heaping1/2 bushel bags oh and I also bought three dried out birdhouse gourds except one is tiny so I'm going to decorate it and add some dried beans inside for a music maker for Jameson. I also bought a fresh gourd so the kids can watch the natural drying out process...should be fun but gross.

Then on the way back we stopped at the gorge...it's an apple picking tradition.The kids had a blast, we even saw some wildlife and we collected some acorns and rocks for our nature table.

Notice the "wild" brown bear we also encountered:-)lol I also have been collecting some river rocks every time we go to this gorge... So today I got 6 rocks to add to my natural rock garden border. Hope you enjoy the pictures:-)
Happy fall everyone!!!

Our workbox setup

2010-09-15T20:01:00.003-04:00

So this year I came upon the workboxing system and WOW do I really love it. It has really made school exciting for the kids. If you don't know what the system I'll give you a crash course because truthfully you really don't NEED the book, there are so many other bloggers that use this system and are so kind so share their workbox system. So first off your going to need a few things here is a list of what we needed for the basic set-up of the system....
~12 clear boxes per child (I got ours at walmart for 97 cents each)
~scotch Laminator which was $34 at walmart
~Velcro sticky back dots I would get the biggest pack possible...you will use them. I never really thought to use these but I find myself using them ALOT.
~and of course a printer so you can print off all the labels and box numbers.
~Your also going to need a cabinet of some sort to store all these workboxes, we lucked out and my husband found two big cabinets at his work that were unused...but Sue Patrick uses a metal cart like THIS one
So lets get started first you Your going to need to number your boxes and add your sticky dots to them....One dot for the numbers and another dot to label the box so your child knows what he'll be working on...

Then you may want to print out the days of the week with another copy of the numbered boxes and any other extra things you want to do like calender,snack time,clean-up, play outside,etc. My daughter likes doing this my son really could care less he gets more excited about moving on to the next box because I put more of the fun stuff toward the end. But here is his Monday card to give you an idea of what I mean...Oh and I hang them next to the workboxes on a scotch hanger which is also a great investment they ROCK!!

that's the basic set up I added magnetic storage boxes from the dollar store so as Caila works through the day she peels off the Number on her Monday card and she peels off the subject picture on the workbox and she stores them in here...

If the box doesn't say mom's help then it is an independent box and they must work on those boxes by themselves....which is 2/3 of the boxes. I really only have to help them with our read out loud books,Bible,our history, and Rick's geography, and Caila's explode the code just to make sure she understands what to do but for the most part she even does this by herself. If they need help they have three chances a day to redeem their help tags...I try to make a big deal about them and double check that they really need and want help "Are you sure you need my help Caila....are you sure you want to use a help tag Rick??" And if he/she says yes then I help with whatever she's stuck on. This has helped mommy alot...I'm now able to get things done for the next day of school, I even get to do a load of laundry done, and it's not a fight for mom's help...

So here is our basic workbox system set up...the top shelf is just storage for future lessons and a bin for work to be fixed.

Then when they've finished a box the make a pile next to our workbox cabinet...it's supposed to be visually motivating for the child so he/she can see what has already been done and what's to be done.Then they put their finished work in these bins...

and that's what I will correct or comment on before the next day I usually add stickers or smiley faces...I love playing teacher:-)
Here is a peek into some of Caila workboxes from last week
The one with the green box covers is a fun game where caila had a bean bag and she had to throw it on a box top...she then had to say the letters name and sound. (this was just a dollar store poster cut up) I usually try to buy two posters to use for fun games like this.
Also notice in the workboxes that everything needed it right there for Caila...there is no more running around during school for markers,crayons, etc.

And here are some of Rick's workboxes...

Here are my filler games and manipulatives collections. I call them fillers because Rick and Caila's core subjects don't fill up all 12 boxes so I add file folder games, take it to your seat games, games in a bag for Caila, puzzles, you know games that are educational but still fun for the kids.

And here is my school book addition I know it's alittle much and yet I still can't get enough books I'm always looking for more at the salvation army, savors, even tag sales.

As you may also notice I'm not the most orginized person and I think that's why I love this workbox system so much because it makes our school day go by so smoothly and it's still someting even I can do. Not to mention it adds an extra hour onto our school day but at the same time the kids don't complain anymore..."Are we almost done with school yet mommy?" I really can't rave about this system enough...it realy has changed our homeschooling family in such a positive way!! Thanks Sue Patrick!
Here are a few of my favorite blogs with free workbox printout to help you get started...
1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com
homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com
www.heartofwisdom.blogspot.com
walkingbytheway.blogspot.com

Update

2010-09-15T19:33:00.005-04:00

OK I know it's been awhile since I've blogged and believe me I did miss it and do feel very guilty that I missed a few months in blogging world but I did keep up with reading most of the blogs I follow. This summer has been going by so quickly.. I swear I just blinked and it's already nearing the end. Don't get me wrong I do LOVE the fall it's my favorite season...the smells, the fairs, the family time together (apple and pumpkin picking) our annual Halloween party.So I don't see things slowing down anytime soon but I will try to post on my blog more often...especially since I have this one in particular friend that constantly reminds me about my lacking blog.
Well here a couple of updated pictres of Jameson too...

Jameson's Christening

2010-09-12T21:58:00.001-04:00

Jameson Sean
May God guide you,
and light the way,
as you join with Him,
On this special day

My sleeping Babies

2010-06-11T07:35:00.003-04:00

While You Were Sleeping
by Tara Simms

While you were sleeping,
I sat by your bed.
I watched you
as you smiled through your dreams.

I traced your perfect shell ear,
Touched every curl
On your little head.

I tried to sleep
But the sound of your breathing
Drew me back to your room.

I couldn't resist
The magic which tugged
At my heartstrings
And brought me to your side.

I settled on the floor
Once again.
Back against the wall,
Holding your tiny hand in mine.

While you were sleeping
I fell in love with you all over again.

Jameson's first vacation...

2010-06-01T22:27:00.001-04:00

Well we just came back from a wonderful vacation with my parents,my in-laws, my brother-in-law and his wife and my nephew, as well as my uncle, his daughter and his girlfriend and her two boys. We were all lined up at the camp ground. We had such a wonderful time plus it was in New Hampture so we were able to set off some beautiful fireworks that my uncle spent a small fortune on....unfortunatly the campground wouldn't let us set them off there so my papa and uncle decided to go across the lake at 11:00 at night in the canoe to the public beach to set them off...and WOW it was so worth it!! We really had a wonderful vacation...I just wish it was longer.
Here are a few pictures...

Chubby Cherubs Cloth Diaper NatChubby Cherubs Cloth Diaper Naturalsurals

2010-06-01T07:24:00.002-04:00

Chubby Cherubs Cloth Diaper Naturals is having a (425 value) giveaway...
Win a Dream Deluxe Diaper Package! ($425 Value) By: Chubby Cherubs LLC
Package Includes:
10 Chubby Cheeks Diapers (Available in Neutral, Boy or Girl print/color combos.)
12 One-Size Soakers
3 Doublers (3 Pack)- 9 Doublers Total
2 Cloth Wipes (8 Pack)- 16 Cloth Wipes Total
1 Cloth Wipes Solution (NH Milk & Honey Bun Drops or NH Green Tea & Honey Bun Drops)
Here is how to WIN: Post the Chubby Cherubs Cloth Diaper Naturals FB Page link for people to "Like" on any social network page, blog, or profile.
*You may post an entry as many times as you want!

**Here is the FB Page Link: (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chubby-Cherubs-Cloth-Diaper-Naturals/336981221948?v=app_2373072738#!/pages/Chubby-Cherubs-Cloth-Diaper-Naturals/336981221948)

Did you make to much milk mama?

2010-05-22T21:04:00.005-04:00

Today we had a very busy morning...actually every Saturday morning is busy because I need to get three kids fed (including nursed),dressed, and out the door by 9:45 for t-ball. Although now that I read that last sentence I have to laugh because I have no idea what would do if my kids attended public schools...we would be late everyday:-) Anyway I was on time and just finishing nursing Jameson when he decided to become a Mr.Smiles and not want to nurse on the other side...if you know what I mean and I had no time wait around so we set off to t-ball. I like to get there early so the kids can play at the playground and they did for about a half an hour, while Mr.Smiles (Jameson)was off in dream land. Then t-ball started and still no hungry baby??? Well as you can imagine the pressure was building up... until the game was almost over when all of a sudden... I hear my mom say your leaking. WHAT???!!! I looked down in complete SHOCK!! My left boob had a giant circle right around it... I thought that only happened in the movies..."Mom what the heck do I do, should I splash more water on myself so it's not so noticeable?" well she was no help she was literally ROTFLHBO (rolling on the floor laughing her butt off) and that just got Caila geared up and on board to laugh at mama too. Then she announced it so loud that anyone in a mile radius must have heard that "Mama you need to feed Jameson cause your milk is making a mess" "did you make to much milk mama?"...Only things like this happen to me, but I have to admit it was funny and embarrassing at the same time!! So I hope you we also able to laugh at my expense:-)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-19T06:30:00.001-04:00

You know your a mama of a newborn plus two others when

2010-05-18T21:21:00.006-04:00

You Know your a mom of two plus a newborn when...

*you don't care if you have to nurse in a public place(like the mall)...I mean if people don't like it then they should put a sheet over their head right??

*You do the sniff test to see if that shirt on the ground has been puked on already

*You've learned how to type and nurse as the same time

*You been puked on while having a conversation with the neighbor...but instead of running in to change, you finish your chit chat...that's when you know your starving for adult conversations..lol

*You give your kids deli ham rolled up with goldfish and an apple for lunch because it's just to hard to actually make a ham sandwich while burping a baby

* You have story time with your boob out so you can nurse the youngest clan member at the same time

*Bedtime is usually around 10:00 unlike before with one child I could stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning

*You bring your newborn to the movie theatre so your other kids wont miss out on the new Oceans movie

*You buy most of the newest member clothes second hand

*you walk around all afternoon with a burp rag in you bra because you forgot to take it out last feeding so you wouldn't leak all over the place.

*Doing laundry is a perfectly acceptable form of exercise...especially since you have to go up and down the stairs to get to the washer

*You pray for a sunny day so that you can kid the older kids outside just so you can clean the house in peace

*You need to upgrade from your SUV because it's just not big enough anymore

*hey if the baby fell asleep in the swing why wake him up to put him in his crib for the night right??

T-Ball

2010-05-15T13:59:00.001-04:00

So Rick started t-ball today and had a blast. He really has a fun time playing ball and making new friends... He puts on this little man attitude and goes up to the other kids with his man voice and say "hi I'm Rick what's yours?" and durring his team picture he was just to cool for that...and you can tell that's what he's thinking in the group shot.lol

And then there is my little hippie child in the meadow picking wild flowers...

Rick's snake lapbook

2010-05-14T20:00:00.001-04:00

So this week we had a unit study about snakes...accually it ended up being a two week study about snakes...Rick loved it so much we decided to extend the study!! We had alot of fun watching you-tube video's and making our lapbook. Here are some pictures...

Making compost

2010-04-29T20:38:00.005-04:00

I always knew that when we moved into our house I wanted to compost bin for my garden. I never really knew about composting before I started to garden then I went to an earth day event and they talked about composting...I guess I never thought about what happened to my banana peel after I threw it in the trash. My parents never really "reused" our kitchen scraps either we usually just feed them to the squirrels and birds. After that Earth day event I was sold and I really wanted my kids to learn and actively take part in the composting process.
I really went back and forth on the kind of compost bin I wanted. There are a tremendous number of options for storing compost....you could go binless by building a compost pile in a sunny spot in the yard, or one might build bins from their materials such as recycled shipping pallets, or two-by-fours and plywood but it's not recommended to use pressure treated wood as the chemicals will get into your compost...and then there are the tumblers. After lots of research and learning about composing I finally decided on a tumbling bin...I like the benefits that the drum compost tumbler has to offer including quick turn around from start to finish (about 3-4 weeks in great conditions) Plus I like that it will cut way back on flys, where the compost pile you may have a pest problem because everything is so open.
So I looked at the tumbler compost bins to buy and they could get very pricey, then one day while visiting my husband at work I noticed that he had some big barrels near the dumpster, I asked him about them and he said that they used to use them as weights for the tents that they rented out but they just stake them in the ground and have no use for them anymore. So I had him bring one home for my tumbler project. First he dug two holes in the ground about two-three feet deep then he poured in concrete in the holes and sank in two pieces of wood, after that was cured he drilled rows of holes in the barrel ( this is to aerate the compost) then he drilled another hole in the center of the barrel for the medal pipe and he then mounted it onto the two pieces of wood. Here is the finished product... ( the kids love spinning it and trowing in their food...I think they eat apple now just so they can throw in the core.lol
go from this...

to this...(all in a day)

Accualy it's not fully done yet, I want the kids to paint flowers and a garden scene on it too...I started by spray painting it..bacause that blue was just so "WOW". We're also going to use another one of these barrels for a water barrel I'm going to cut the cover and add screening to it so it will just collect water, and I going to use another one for a potato barrel....I love other peoples trash ;-)

You will always be my baby

2010-04-28T09:48:00.001-04:00

As I Watch You Sleep-
© Wanda L. Gossett

I watched a little face sleeping,
Eyelashes fluttering so,
I wondered of the dream you were having,
and if Angles were playing there.

I watched a little face sleeping,
Your little mouth was smiling so,
I hope that you are as happy as me,
holding you in my arms.

I watched a little face sleeping,
making sure of the breath you take,
to watch you breathe and keep you safe,
is all that matters to me.

I watched a little face sleeping,
holding your small hand in mine,
five little fingers on each hand,
as one hangs onto mine.

I watched a little face sleeping,
and as I prayed to myself,
I thank God for letting me
watch a little face sleeping.

My son is already changing and it makes me so sad, they really aren't babies for long. It's funny because everyone wants to rush his life by..."I can't wait till he can sit up/crawl/walk/talk...but my husband and I just want to put on the brakes and have Jameson stay at this stage for a while. I not going to lie I still call Rick and Caila my babies to and they always will be but they all do grow up so quickly. As a child my parent would say how time goes by so quickly and never really understood that expression...I used to think time was time how could it be quicker when you were older?...I understand now. The scary thought is how fast time will be in five/ten/fifteen years...every year it just goes by that much more faster than the last.
"yesterday it history
tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift that is why they call it the present."

Time to plant your seeds

2010-04-21T23:49:00.002-04:00

I got my yearly e-mail about the sunflower project today... I hope you are able to join in on the fun too!!

Happy Earth Day!

I want to remind you to get your Lemon Queen sunflowers in the ground! In most places, night temperatures are staying above 55 degrees so, it is planting time! ou can get seed at your local nursery or purchase them through us here. I’ve also heard reports that you can find them for less than a dollar at places like Target and Wal-Mart. We prefer that everyone use the same variety, Lemon Queen, because other varieties have different amounts of nectar and some even have been bred to have no pollen. You can imagine that bee is not very happy to find a sunflower with no pollen. Pollen is the sole source of protein for bees.

I am so excited to share some really interesting results from last year’s data. As you know, one of the things that the Sunflower Project is trying to understand is whether urban gardens do not get enough bees coming in to pollinate their plants. To my great surprise, in looking at the data, we find pretty similar rates of bee visits in rural, suburban and urban gardens.

You can see this on the graph. The gardens with the highest rates of visits were rural, second came urban and last came suburban. Remember that shorter bars are better! This is good news for urban gardeners. I haven’t looked to see whether there is something about the urban gardens, such as the gardens happening to be on average larger than the rural and suburban gardens that might be confounding these results. We have lots to do!

Let's get those sunflowers in the ground so, we can learn even more about what is happening in our bee habitats!

Splish, splash-- baby’s first bath!

2010-04-01T20:36:00.004-04:00

Tonight baby Jameson had his first bath and if he could speak I think this is what he would say about his first bath...
Wrapped up in a blanket
Cozy, safe and sound
You pick me up and smile
Then you strip me down.
You put me in water
And expect me not to scream
Well, I'll just tell you frankly,
Only in your dreams.
Don't wash behind my ears
And leave my toes alone
Just because I'm crying,
Try not to use that tone.
Please give me back my blanket.
Wrap me up so tight.
With lots of hugs and kisses,
I'll forgive you...I just might.
~Dana Roberts Clark

I don't think he knew what to think of his tubby...it was mixed emotions as you can see...

My husband; My everything

2010-03-30T13:40:00.007-04:00

Still adjusting to life at home especially this week because hubby went back to work so it's just me and the kiddo's. I do feel much better than I did last week and I'm not "cocooning" anymore I'm ok with seeing people now although I really enjoyed our family week together last week it was so great to ignore the phone and e-mails and outside life and to just be together as a family...I wish life could always be so simple. I really think this birth brought my husband and I much closer as well.(although before Jameson was born I would have never believed that we could become any closer than we were)
I didn't mention this in the last post but Jameson had to stay in the hospital for 6 days because when he was born he had fluid in his lungs which developed into phenomena so they had to put him on antibiotics for 7 days but he was able to just get away with six days because he was doing so well. He was transferred to a different hospital when he was 1 day old. We decided that I would leave early from the hospital that we birthed at so I could room-in at the other hospital. That was a very hard week for both my husband and me because we only saw each other for a total of maybe two hours. He had to stay home with the kids because they weren't allowed to go to the hospital due to flu season regulations that were still in effect so no kids were allowed. You know that saying absence makes the heart grow fonder well we put that to the test and I fully agree you don't know how much you miss your spouse until he's gone...and it's the little things you miss the most like sleeping together at night or the talks we have at the end of the day, or the kisses given at random times of the day, or snuggling by the fire after the kids have gone to bed. I would cry every time after he left the hospital... I think that's why I really cherished our time together last week because it was really hard for me emotionally to be without my husband he really is my everything and without him I felt so alone at the hospital. I was very grateful that I was able to stay with Jameson it was so very important to me because I wanted to establish that great breastfeeding bond that starts right away, and I truly believe that babies know when you are with them, and we had lots of bonding time together. I got to know all the nurses and it was great because they let me do everything...(I also learned which nurses I DIDN'T like....mostly the young ones....I felt like they were on a power trip and I got the vibe that they felt I was stepping on their toes...especially this one nurse!! I told her I was going to my room to get some sleep before Jameson's next feeding and I would set my phone alarm for three hours to come back to feed Jameson and if he was hungry before then to please call my cell number I would come to feed him I was only right around the corner...well when I returned she told me to come back in an hour or so because she had given him a bottle of my breast milk about a half hour before I arrived because he was getting hungry...I was shocked that she completely disregarded my instructions...I ended up staying with Jameson for the rest of the night until her shift was over. But for the most part the nurses were very helpful plus I'm sure they liked it too because they didn't have to do anything except give Jameson his antibiotics every 12 hours. I was so happy when our day come to bring Jameson home..we all were so happy. My six year old son even got emotional and started to get teary eyed when we told him Jameson coming home. He said "Mommy I'm so happy I have water in my eyes...I can't wait to see him."
My little lovebugs snuggling together..

Daddy and Jameson bonding at the hospital...

Daddy and Jameson bonding at home...

I gave this poem to my husband for his first father's day and it touched him so much that he had a beautiful tattoo made up on this arm...God really must have added a little something special when he made my husband a father because he is everything to our children as well...
What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

~~Author Unknown.~~

My VBA2C...I CAN and I DID!!!

2010-03-25T12:17:00.004-04:00

I guess my story starts six years ago with the birth of my son. My pregnancy went very smooth as a matter a fact I LOVED being pregnant. I loved that special bond that started inside the womb with a mother and it's child. I always knew I wanted to be a mama so this was one of my dreams coming true.. even if I was 19. I tried to prepare for the birth of my first child as much as I knew how to ..I took my birthing classes at the hospital, I took my breast feeding classes, and I read the obvious books such as what to expect when expecting (and of course I skipped over the c-section part of the book...that would never happen to me I am a young healthy women right?) So the BIG day came and I was overcome with emotions...I was scarred and excited at the same time. While waiting for my mama to come home and bring me to the hospital I got ready..I took a bath(only to make sure my legs were shaved of course) and I got my bags ready...We left for the hospital at 4:00 only to find that I was a whopping 1cm. They wanted to send me home but after close monitoring they decided to admit me due to irregular heart rate in the baby, I remember being so thankful that I was going to be able to stay at the hospital...I labored for 23hours and got to 10cm with the help of pitocin,sleeping pills, and an epidural... It was around midnight when I started pushing... and I pushed, and I pushed, and I pushed...but still no baby. I pushed for two hours and they told me he wasn't coming out...I remember the pressure I felt to try to push harder when they mentioned a c-section, but they finally told me to call it quits when another doctor came in and told me that it just wasn't happening...and I quote "maybe it would have happened back in the day when women were men but I just don't see it happening today".. how dare he judge me and my abilities to birth a baby...I felt like I didn't get a fair chance I wasn't offered to try different pushing positions..I was given no other options, and I just listened to the doctor as any uneducated 19 girl would have. I started crying out of fear of what was about to happen and continued to cry in the O.R. while I waited for my husband. I remember a nurse asking me why I was crying she said I was in safe hands and I would be holding my baby very soon...but I guess her soon and my soon were very different I wasn't able to hold or nurse my baby until an hour after I delivered... It killed me that I wasn't the first to hold or see my baby...All I could see was this blue tarp that shielded my stomach and all I could hear what the cry of my baby...was he ok did he have all his fingers and toes. Although only a few feet away from my new baby the distance between us seemed like worlds away.
Our son Richard Daniel was 21in long and 8lbs 10oz
I always knew I wanted to have more than one child especially after being an only child I always wanted a big family...I always loved visiting my mother's side of the family...I loved the chaos of the big family atmosphere, and I knew I always wanted that. So after a few months of hounding my husband to have at least one more child we started to try for our second blessing when my son turned one. It took three months of trying but finally we were blessed by the grace of God again and we were just full of joy! I was determined to try again for a vaginal birth so I switched doctors and found a midwife and a beautiful birthing center..which I was sure would get me my VBAC that I wanted. So again the day came but of course it wasn't the ideal time, I started contractions at about two in the morning. I remember being a little bummed at the timing because we were planning on bringing our son to see Thomas the train at a train yard...and our daughter wasn't due for another week... OH well this was our BIG day and so I let my husband sleep while I watched a movie (Tommy Boy) and tried to focus on my contractions. I finally woke my hubby up to tell him it was time at about 6:00am and off to the birthing center we went. I was found to be 3cm and and was welcomed to a beautiful birthing room...I felt so at ease in this atmosphere so much better that the hospital...I was able to walk around and try to find my groove. Then the OB came in ....just my luck my midwife wasn't on call so that's when things went down hill. I labored until about noon time when the doctor came in and said lets try to get things moving a little quicker can I break your waters and at the same time we can also start pitocin to stimulate stronger contractions....and boy was he right the contractions were very strong and shortly after I was offered an epidural. I labored like this until about 3:00 that afternoon when the OB came in to check me and I was 6 cm, an hour later I was checked again and was still 6cm...that OB must have had a big night planned because after he checked me he declared that I was a failure to progress patient, and his reasoning was because my daughter was in a posterior position and my pelvic bone couldn't fit her through which was why she wasn't descending. So off to my second c-section again.
Caila Eleanor was 7lbs 6oz and 21in long
After my daughter was born my husband "thought" he was done having children despite his knowledge that I wanted more children. So after two years of begging I finally came to terms that we must be done having children because My hubby wasn't budging so as therapy I had a HUGE baby tag sale thinking that would help me come to terms that we were complete as a family of four. Then when our daughter turned three (only four months after my huge tag sale) My husband declared that he not only wanted to try again for another baby but he wanted to more close together like our first two. So we tryed for almost a year and to add to the stress we were also looking to buy a house. It's funny how the Lord works because when it was our time it all happened at the same time. We found our dream home and a week after signing the Purchase and sales agreement we learned that we were finally pregnant as well. So I again started my quest for a VBAC friendly OB/midwife at this point I would take anyone who would help me. I called around and found one we met with her and she told me risks but also didn't say I couldn't do it so I thought I was all set. Until our first ultrasound found that I had Placenta previa and at that point she said that it was the writing on the wall that I wasn't meant to have a VBAC and I should schedule a c-section because I couldn't go past 38 weeks. My placenta privia did end up moving and I was out of danger but I was still unsure of my VBAC decision it seemed like the odds were so against me and I really didn't feel like I had the support I would need. I talked to my OB and asked if I could just start labor on my own I wanted the baby to come when he was ready, and she agreed. It was always something that was in the back of my mind though.. Until I was eight and a half months pregnant I finally brought it to my husbands attention that I still wanted a VBA2C, and right away he was my support system. I found a doula I absolutely fell in love with she was so sweet and you could tell she was passionate about her work because she was already helping me before we even decided to work with her. She also referred me to another practice that was all midwives. So I got an appointment with them right away...that was really funny too because they would ask me how far along I was and then they would ask again just to make sure they were hearing me correctly. That week I also had my last ultrasound to see "how big" the baby was. when we saw the Ob we had planned to tell her that we were hoping for a VBA2C...we did this purely for entertainment for ourselves we had already made up our mind that we were moving over to the midwives. What was her reaction you ask....entertaining to say the least she got very uptight and tense and when I mentioned that we had a doula her tone changed again it was funny...it gave hubby and I a good laugh. So the following week we met with one of the midwives and I fell in love with her right away...she really talked to me.. she didn't probe me. My appointment was an hour long...a big difference from 15 min in and out appointments like at the other practice...you know the appointments when you go in pee in a cup get weighted they listen to the babies heartbeat and check you to see how far dilated you are and out you go....I sort of felt like a fast food joint where they want you in and out, so they can move onto the next customer. Later that week we signed on with our Doula and it just so happened that she was also running a natural childbirth class that was two Sundays long and starting that Sunday. So we went to those classes and they really empowered us with knowledge... I was also a youtube addict and I was reading every birthing book I could get my hands on especially anything my Ina May her books and work were so inspiring to me. I also gained a lot of confidence from Ricky Lakes movie "The business of being born" I would watch it over and over again on Netflix. So those two weeks went by and we finished our last Sunday class feeling very confident that we were making the right choices....well we were put to the test the following Sunday when I started contractions. They started around 10:00pm right as I was getting ready for bed, so I tried not to get excited and I just laid down and tried to sleep. I dozed in and out until about 2:00am when I felt like I didn't want to lay down anymore so I got up and made something to eat I didn't want to be hungry during active labor.. I then laid down on the couch to try to get some more rest and last lasted until about 6:00am and then I woke up hubby. He started setting the mood in the house with candles and a fire in the fireplace we called our doula around 7:00 just to update her....and then called her around 9:00 for some extra company. We stayed at home until my contractions were about 3 min apart I decided to go in because I didn't want the car ride to be unbearable. When we got there I had to have an iv hep lock put in because I was a VBAC patient and I also had to have the fetal monitors on which I was also aware of. I was so happy to find out that my midwife was the same one that I had met the week before...I was then checked and I was 4 cm. I really felt in control of my contractions...until I was about 7cm my midwife mentioned that I could go in the birthing tub to try to ease the feeling of the contractions....Big mistake for me...It always looked so glamorous and calming on the youtube videos but for me it was a tourer tub... I felt out of control like I couldn't get a handle on anything and it didn't help that this tub was made for a KING KONG and not for a five foot one inch women. SO I stayed in there for an hour or so and that did nothing for me but slow down my contractions although I was found to be 8 cm... I decided to head back to the room and that's when I fell apart...you know that "wall" that everyone talks about well it's real and boy did I hit it hard between 8 and 9 cm. I started mentioning drugs and wanted to quit.. I was done...why didn't anyone understand that... I was talking but nobody listened. Finally the doctor came in..."yes he will give me drugs" SO I asked him and he just flat out said NO...can you believe it he basically said no and that if I got drugs that would mean I was giving up and I wanted a c-section right then and there...and that was the end of that conversation. So I was checked again despite my protesting efforts (I didn't want to be disappointed) and I found to be between 9 and 10 cm with only alittle lip in the way...so my midwife mentioned that she was going to assist me in getting this lip out of the way...I started to push and she would try to move the lip, this finally felt good.. uncomfortable but it really felt good to push. I pushed for about an hour and had to breath through a couple of contractions to give the baby a rest because his heart rate was high. We welcome our baby Jameson Sean into the world at 9:36pm on March 15th 2010. He was 7lbs 4oz and 20 in long....just 2 oz less than Caila, oh and he was also a posterior baby (sunny side up)
We are all home now and just enjoying life together as a family of 5...I'd say we're enjoying it a little to much my doula called it cocooning because I don't care to talk to anyone...I just want to enjoy our special time together as a family without pesty visitors. (people in today's world just don't understand that)
Well that is my VBA2C story and I hope it can empower another women out there to believe in their body...because it is such a rush... the feeling of giving birth is so empowering. I heard this saying once and was running it through my head when I was in labor...
"A women in labor really doesn't need to be rescued. It's not the place for the knight in shinning armor. It's the place for her to face her darkest moments. So she can lay claim to her victory after she has given birth."
Jameson's first picture...

Here are a couple of pictures of Jameson...and the first picture is one of our Doula holding our son...she's such a beautiful person...she was my guardian of safety and a witness to my birthing process....

Baby looks good

2010-02-24T18:01:00.004-05:00

So baby looks great he's not breeched anymore yeah and he's about 6lbs 3oz, and I'm 1cm dilated. I have lots more info to update about my doctor's appt but it's dinnertime. I just wanted to post this cute picture of our baby's super chubby cheeks:-)

All about Spelling

2010-02-20T15:04:00.006-05:00

Well I've been on a mission trying to get together Rick's first grade curriculum before the baby comes. Although I have to admit I did buy alot of his first grade stuff last year. You see we use the Sonlight program and I had bought it all e-bay( I try to by used stuff..save a tree:-)) so alot of the program was listed together so I ended up piecing together the first grade as well as the Kindergarten program..but anyway what I wanted to post about was the spelling program that I just ordered Rick...(spelling isn't included in the Sonlight program) It's the All About Spelling Level 1 program and it looks fantastic. I just looked at a preview workbook page that was on the website and I learned a spelling rule (which isn't saying much because I horrible speller) But what really made me choose this program was a favorite blog that I follow...The homeschool creations and she's giving away the reader 1 that can be added to this program..they are beautiful readers and I just fell in love with them instantly here is an example of a page in the book..

Although I haven't tryed this program yet there are factors about it that I already like such as the fact that these readers are realistic phrases but they still easy readers...not like the readers that we are currently using, and I also like the the reader book is hard cover a bonus in this house, especially since it will be used by multiple children.
And as far as the all about spelling program I've only heard good things about it...but so far I like the 100% satisfaction guaranteed for up to a year or a complete refund. I also like that it's an at your own pace program, so I won't feel rushed trying to cram all these new spelling rules into Rick's head. I also like the hands on magnet tiles along with flash cards that reinforce already learned material.
I just ordered this program today so I'm hoping that we will be able to start it by the end of next week. I will post at a later time if it is a program that we like or dislike.
Also please check out the homeschool creations blog for the beehive reader 1 giveaway if you haven't been over there yet, she also lists her pro's and con's on these readers.

As promised....

2010-02-18T20:36:00.007-05:00

I know I know I was supposed to list this lapbook like two weeks ago...I've just been so busy with crafting for Valentines day and this week we've been busy doing a Fairy tales unit which I will talk more about in another post...( I will try to do so in a timely fashion)
Here is Ricky's lapbook.. he is so proud of it and we both had a blast learning about ancient Egypt...
(please disregard the giant belly that you may find at the bottom of some of the pictures)
Here is the cover of his book..

Here is the first page...we ended up having to put two file folders together because we went over so much information that we just didn't have enough room for everything...

Here is the second page to the lapbook...

And this is just a little something Rick did for fun.. on one of the flaps we added a sand paper art thing I had him draw a Sphinx in crayon so it looked like a drawing that you might find on the inside wall of a pyramid.

Birthday Blues

2010-02-18T10:28:00.003-05:00

Well today is supposed to be some big day for me but it just feels like any other day...it's my 26Th birthday and I'm not as excited about it?? Maybe it's the hormones but I kinda don't want it to be my birthday...I know that sounds really weird especially for me cause I usually love to be treated like a queen but for some reason I just want to day to rush by. Maybe because I've been so busy that I haven't had time to build up excitement...it's like Christmas the anticipation is always greater than the actual day...I think we're going to just hang low today...do our school work, I have to drop off some tax papers....which by the way I'm very excited about "yeah for being a fist time home buyer and getting a tax credit back"... New bathroom tub here we come:-)
So wish me luck today I think I'm going to need it...

Join the movement...

2010-02-15T08:15:00.002-05:00

So here we are again trying to go green along with a great blogger (throughtheeyesofchildren) that started this blogging movement, not only for the benefits of the earth but I find that alot of steps we do in going green just seem to be cheaper, and who doesn't like to save money right??? So starting this week for our challenge we are going to try to use only our handy packs for lunch no more zip lock bags...especially since I've made a couple of re-usable/water-proof snack bags (although I need to make more...maybe that will be my personal challenge for this week:-))
Below is a picture of the handy lunch packs that we use although they do fit a juice box inside them we are going to choose to use our aluminium water bottle because... well for one the kids like water plus it's so good for them plus that's just one less thing that your throwing in the trash ...plus this brings us back to the cheap factor.... water = free = :-)

Please choose to join us in this movement..one small step could help our earth in a BIG way...

Homemade gifts from the whole family...

2010-02-14T20:25:00.006-05:00

So today was a grand day hubby let me sleep in and I woke up to the smell of homemade pancakes (pink homemade pancakes I might add) It was great and the kids ran in with their gifts for me I got a beautiful handmade picture frame from Ricky...

And I got a coat rack from my Caila...

And when I say handmade I mean handmade from scratch Daddy only had to cut the wood and direct them...they sanded,painted, and nailed their things together...aren't I the luckiest mama ever!!
And from my hubby I got this stunning homemade craft box it was modeled after Pa's tool box on the little house on the prairie movie's.

And the for the extra bonus of the day I was able to take an afternnon cat nap:-)

Finishing touches on our V-day gifts...

2010-02-13T16:59:00.007-05:00

ThePixArt.com
So today we finished up our Valentines day gifts for daddy we started with our giant Mrs Fields heart shaped cookie..although our is much better than any old Mrs.Fields cookie because I had two great helping hands plus where else can you find a cookie with alittle extra crunch (due to a broken egg shell that landed in the dough)

Then we finished up our "I love you daddy" treasure trove today... We decorated a wooden box and filled it with lots of I love you messages and hand molded hearts and beautiful pictures...It truly is the worlds best treasure:-)

And I finished my little something for hubby too...It's called a Valentine's day pennie pocket...not the easiest project for a beginner seamstress...let me tell you I got as far as step two and didn't understand the rest...so I did what I do best I wung it and it came out ok... I'm going to fill it with a love letter and some of his favorite candies...
Here is the link where I found the directions I hope you have better luck than I did, she really has step by step directions with pictures and everything...I don't know what's wrong with me...:-)

Well I wish you all a wonderful Valentine's day filled with LOVE of course:-)

V-Day gift # 2

2010-02-12T22:57:00.001-05:00

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So I finally finished Ricky's gift for Valentine's day it's a fabric roll up to store colored pencil and marker and Im going to pair it with a dod you doodle book ...The fabric roll was lots of fun to make although I really need to practice the binding, I've never had to do a binding around a 90 degree angle before, my only experience with binding has been around the bottom of a dress for caila..not so hard to do. I think in the near future I'll be looking for some scrap fabric so I can make some pot holders with a binding for Christmas next year that way I'll be getting two things done at once...I love to multi task, although it makes me think hummm am I doing this out of pure laziness or am I just cleaver in doing two things at once, I think it's alittle of both... but come on I'm nine months pregnant I'm aloud to be alittle lazy once in a while right??
Well I hope you like my craft and please travel over to you go girl for step by step directions she really helps she even shows you how to do the binding... maybe you will have an easier time than I did with the binding...but practice does make perfect and now that I look back I noticed that I didn't follow her first direction which was to eat a dove chocolate bar(I'm not a big fan of chocolate)...so maybe that's why it didn't come out good...for my next try I'm going to eat some gummy worms maybe that will help my performance:-)

Going green one step at a time

2010-02-10T09:23:00.005-05:00

So I found a fun blogger that is doing a going green challenge one green thing a week thing a week. Check out her blog over at throughtheeyesofchildren and check out her week challenge...
Our family challange is going to be to only buy second hand books....it's so horrible how frivilious it is to go run to Borders book store and buy new books...I usually try to do this anyway but sometimes those teacher resourse guides by Evan-Moor just call to me. So I will be visiting alot more of these websites to make this challenge possible...
www.paperbackswap.com/
www.half.ebay.com/
www.amazon.com/
www.craigslist.com/
http://www.currclick.com/

Well I hope you are able to join us cause we all know that one little step could last a lifetime on our mother earth..

Another Valentine's day gift done...

2010-02-09T12:28:00.006-05:00

So today we recycled our old crayons and made beautiful flower crayons to give for our co-op friends at our Valentine's day party for this thursday... The kids had a blast adding glitter and peeling off all the wrappers...although I have to admit I was not a fan of the peeling process, Mommy cheated and used a knife. And a word to the wise Don't use the fat crayons they won't save you time..they take forever to melt.
Directions for melting crayons...
peel the paper off and break them into little pieces...
Spray your muffin tin (below is a mini muffin tin) with vegetable spray and pour some crayons into each spot. The more or less you put depends on what size you want for each chunky crayon. You can also group the crayons into colors that are fun together, red and blue for purple, pink tones or blue tones.

Place the muffin tin full of crayons into a preheated oven of 275 degrees F. Watch them carefully, they do melt fast. Bake them for about 7-10 minutes. When they looked melted enough, carefully and slowly remove them from the oven. You can stir them with a toothpick for a swirly look, or leave them as is. Let them cool completely (can be placed in the freezer to speed up process once the tin is not so hot.) We also added glitter for a little extra...
We used this pampered chef muffin pan to make the rose crayons..

One gift done two more to do

2010-02-09T09:18:00.005-05:00

So I've been busy making Valentine's day gifts everyone and I finished Caila's gift... It's a fabric purse dollhouse.. I got the directions here I didn't follow the direction completely just because I didn't understand it so I do what I do best I wong it:-) I was alot of fun to make and to let you imagination run wild. I can't say that this gift is completely done because I'm going to Felt some wee folk to live in this enchanted home pit for one special princess...

paperback swap...swap a dvd

2010-02-08T23:16:00.003-05:00

If you haven't heard of these web sites you much check them out especially if you are a movie/book lover like me...
They help avid readers/movie watcher's Swap, Trade & Exchange Books for Free.
•It's easy: List books/movie's you'd like to swap with other club members.
•Once a book is requested, mail it to the club member.
•In return, you may choose from 4,309,839 available books!
- Books you request are mailed to you for free.
- No late fees. No hidden charges.
-plus you get one free credit for your first 10 item's listed
Check it them out....swap a book, save a tree :-)
www.swapadvd.com
www.paperbackswap.com

love dare day 6

2010-02-08T08:39:00.000-05:00

The Love Dare: Day 6 – Not Irritable

Day 6: Love is not irritable
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

TODAY’S DARE

Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list below of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

This might be alittle hard for me to say the least...especially since I'm 9 months pregnant and irritability comes and goes depending on how tired I am...but I will try very hard...These dares really make you look at all your actions and at your self ....they make you think before you react.... I will udate how our day went...

Were you this BIG for your other two?

2010-02-07T23:28:00.001-05:00

So I had a doctor's appointment last week and everything seems to be going good, although I did get caught by the doc in my sugar test....She could tell I had something "sweet" for breakfast... I told her I did have a glass of orange juice although I failed to mention that that glass of oj was accompanied by a heaping bowl of apple jacks:-)
I have a feeling that either my new date is wrong or this baby is just going to be HUGE...I think my doctor also feels the same way. Why do I think that...oh well it's a dead give away when your doctor asks how big my other babies were at birth immediately after measuring your stomach. Or the fact that she just came right out and asked if I was this "BIG" when I carried my other two kids... What do you say to that... isn't every pregnancy supposed to be different, carrying Caila and Ricky are like night and day.. With Caila I carried "gained weight" all over my body and with Ricky is was all in my stomach... and that's how this baby is too...all in my stomach.
Well maybe I'll get lucky and they just miscalculated my due date and I will have this little bundle of joy earlier than planned. I do know that this one is a little spitfire, he hurts me not to mention the river dance number that he does on my bladder...not fun!!

Day 5 of the Love Dare

2010-02-07T20:35:00.001-05:00

The Love Dare: Day 5 – Not Rude

Day 5: Love is not rude
He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14

TODAY’S DARE

Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.

I'm alittle nervious to hear what hubby has to say about me... We will see...and I'll update later...

Day 4 of THe Love Dare...

2010-02-06T13:30:00.000-05:00

The Love Dare: Day 4 - Thoughtfulness

Day 4: Love is Thoughtful
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand…Psalm 139:17-18

TODAY’S DARE

Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

Hubby didn't know what to expect I think he thought I was being weird but I could tell he enjoyed the phone call it was nice to just chat with him durring the day..

day 3 of love dare

2010-02-05T12:22:00.000-05:00

The Love Dare: Day 3 – Not Selfish

Day 3: Love is Not Selfish
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. Romans 12:10

TODAY’S DARE

Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. It’s hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, “I was thinking of you today.”

Hubby liked today's dare even though he doesen't know about the dare he enjoyed all his things...I made him a chocolate amish bread and I bought him one of those nice water bottles...it sounds corny but he's wanted one for a while. Plus I made pizza for just us to enjoy after the kids went to bed...so we had a wonderful kid free dinner together....I have to say I also enjoyed today's dare It always feels good to do kind guestures for a loved one.

The Love Dare: Day 2 - Kindness

2010-02-04T09:52:00.005-05:00

The Love Dare: Day 2 - Kindness

Day 2: Love is kind

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

TODAY’S DARE

In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

The Love Dare is a 40-day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. Follow the love dare challenge over at confessions of a homeschooler
I will update later about my day and how it went and how he reacted...

Oak Tree Vibrations....

Happy Valentine's day

Caila's big show

Natural Remedies

Weekly art fun

{this moment}

Stash Bash

Happy little hearts are baking

Yarn Along

The water cycle unit study

Water CycleBy Lori-Ann Phelan

Giveaway

Weekly art with the kids

Cookie making day

Stash Bash

Yarn along

Stash Bash

(This moment)

Stash Bash/ keep calm craft on

Daddy's Birthday

Poetry break day today

Method

What winter days are made of

Yarn Along

{this moment}

My son's talent's are shinning through

My new custom made spice rack

Yarn Along

Newest baby blessing...

My 2012 list

{this moment}

Simplifying

Project time tuesday

Handmade Holidays 2011

Baby on board

So behind on my blogging....

More to scratch off the done list

I think I'm going to paint a car today hun...

Greetings from the workshop...

Preparing for Birthday's

Saint George and the Dragon

Our Daily thanks..

Camping in September...

(This Moment) Farmer Jameson

Getting back to our roots..starting a healthful journey.

Blossoms everywhere

Chicken coop day

This moment //Co-sleeping with Daddy

Chickie updates

My new babies

Jameson's check up

Celebrating Advent

Happy Birthday Ricky

Caila's Birthday celebration

My baby's Birthday

Taste the rainbow

The tooth fairy visits

Halloween memories

preparing for Christmas

Wanting a Waldorf way of life

Learning about St George a Michaelmas story

Space unit finished

A beautiful family filled fall day

Our workbox setup

Update

Jameson's Christening

My sleeping Babies

Jameson's first vacation...

Chubby Cherubs Cloth Diaper NatChubby Cherubs Cloth Diaper Naturalsurals

Did you make to much milk mama?

Wordless Wednesday

You know your a mama of a newborn plus two others when

T-Ball

Rick's snake lapbook

Making compost

You will always be my baby

Time to plant your seeds

Splish, splash-- baby’s first bath!

My husband; My everything

My VBA2C...I CAN and I DID!!!

Water Cycle
By Lori-Ann Phelan