::What I am pondering September::

~*~My bedside reading~*~

::Parenting & Lovely::

10 Things that will make you happier at home

What my son's disabilities taught me about having it all.

 The Perfect Home at Simple Mom.
Homeschooling the little kids

::Watching::

We love the Vegan Zombie.  At my 12yo request, we got the ingredients to make Cheeze Sticks.

Finally going to try the Memory Box.

::Healthy::

Some Natural Whooping Cough Remedies

Hot Garlic Ginger Lemonade at Recipes to Nourish

Vitamin C and Whopping Cough at Mothering

The Vitamin C Treatment of Whooping Cough from Vaccination Council.

How to make Thieves Oil from Mountain Rose Herbs.

::Waiting::
Oh my goodness, I cannot wait for the Autumn Edition of Rhythm of the Home. 
 

Baby's First Snow (that she got to play in anyway)

LOMO
Originally uploaded by OakBlossoms

Well, she didn't have to wait long. The snow has hit Washington State in November. She loves the snow. She stood and yelled at the door when the boys went out without her. We bundled her up tight and covered her hands with some thick socks.

Right before this pregnancy...

I felt like things were going smoothly again.  I felt like I came up, we'll okay we, had found a good rhythm.  Getting pregnant and therefore sick made me feel ike a mess. How was I going to handle another child?  Should the children go to school next year?  This book is helping me find my way again.  Reminding me  what is important.  Reminding me that we are adding someone new...again...   

We don't know this someone's personality.  We can't be prepared.

Halloween and Mummy Dogs

I thought I would share the mummy dogs the kids made for Halloween.  We don't usually do anything regular for Halloween.  Depending on where we live, we Trick or Treat.  A few years ago we did a big festival with our church and that was crazy. Smack dab in the middle of our towns Halloween Trick or Treating event.  This year one of the boys and Dad went out for last minute Trick or Treating.  I'm sorry I have no pictures of their makeshift costumes.  But, I told everyone that I'm too pregnant and tired to go out.

We did manage some fun dinner though.  We made some vegetarian and some with meaty dogs.



Threw in some broccoli for good measure.  All the kids like broccoli and it comes in very big bags at Costco.

What is important. What is doable.

I am reading the above book. I will try to keep track of some notes here. There is this quote from page 18, "What seems the most important is usually not; what is most doable is the place to begin. If. you do enough that is doable, you will get to the important, and your motivation will be fueled byyour success."

I think I try to tell this to my children, but I definitely don't do it for myself. I make countless schedules and routines. Yet, I have yet to work on the things that keep our routines from working. I think it would be better if I worked on improving mealtime and bedtimes. Bedtimes used to include candles and lots of books. Now they are usually TV with Dad at a horribly late time while Mom passes out in the bedroom. Dad misses this time, but no one is doing anything about it.

Those inner voices...

Always seem to come when my children are doing somethingthat drove my mom crazy. All of a sudden I hear her and realize it is just me. Apologize and reconnect. Call my mom and tell her I am sorry for driving her so crazy she had to mutter to herself.

I have been feeling better. We are expecting another member in the spring. I have never parented a toddler while being pregnant. I am exhausted. I feel bad, too. I don't feel like I can give my all to the baby. So, there is definitely some mamma guilt to top of that sundae.

Waving Hello to Daddy!

Waving Hello to Daddy!
Originally uploaded by OakBlossoms

Our youngest has been growing like, well, wildflowers. Sweet, pretty, and fast. She is waving, climbing the stairs, eating, and growling. She does have three older brothers. Growling seems like a must.

We have been having a lot of fun. Spring is beautiful in Washington this year. It's just gorgeous out. We have had just enough rain to enjoy it. And, enough sunshine to bring out the much needed sunshine happiness.

Our butterflies have hatched and they have been so much fun to watch. I want to let them go. But, I don't want to let them go. If you want to see what else we have been up to, check out our learning adventures at OakBlossoms Academy.

This winter has been much better then last year. Even when times were tough or too cold, there was a new little person to watch.

New little people remind you that each day is new.
New for everyone,
not just babies.
We all learn something new.
We all can get up in the morning
and watch the sunrise.

Water, Perfect Families, TV

I'm holding a little one in my lap, who just doesn't want to sleep.  I could clean, but I'll save that for the morning.  It's better to clean when all the family can pitch in.  Today our goal was to get to the YMCA.  We got a membership there last month.  It was quite fun.  This was the second time our littlest went to childcare there and she loved it.  She was not stressed at all.  The play with the babies and hold them.  They are the sweetest people.  It gave me a much needed break with the boys.  I actually went swimming with them. I hate the water and they all know it.  The smiled and laughed.  I even raised them all to the other side of the pool and back.  It was fun.  Special fun.

You might notice some changes.  But, maybe not. I'm always full of changes.  We like to try on new things, keep what we like and toss the rest.  I hope and pray our children do well in life.  I hope we aren't hindering them.  I do worry about that at times.  But, I see a lot of people trying to make this perfect family.  They work so hard to keep their homes perfect or spend all their money to make them perfect.  And, yet they don't have what we have.  We have nothing really.  We have no belongings worth much of anything.  Strange collections of stuff here and there.  Vehicles that no one else would want.  A dog with allergies and a strange little cat.  But, those things don't matter.  I have them and they have me.  And, we are so important to each other.  I couldn't trade this family.  Not for anything perfect.

In time, I tell my husband.

My mom told him, too.  Just give her time and a good cry.

I get through, I move on.  I'm always seeking.  Moving towards God. Moving towards simplicity.  Moving towards connection.

The cable is on here.  We don't pay for it.  It's just on.  I spend last year sick and well sometimes depressed.  Not because I was pregnant, but because I wanted to be in the city.  I didn't want to fail at that life.  I wanted that life.  But, it didn't fit everyone in our family.  And, you know what...that's not ok.  It has to fit us all somehow, that is why it's called family. I spent a lot of time watching TV.  And, maybe that was good.  Because today I flipped it on.  I was nursing and on the couch.  I flipped it one.  And, I felt a sick yucky deep down in my stomach yuckiness. I blinked. I watched. I blinked.  I enjoyed it before.  I enjoyed that show about wearing clothes to make you look your best.  And, yes some of them looked better.  I turned it off.  Enough.  My stomach hurt.  I'm glad it's over and off.

Better-Off and A Little Garden Flower....

I have to be careful.  I will take on a stack of books and not finish one single book.  I don't often purchase books though.  I think it's because, in the past I would devour them in two days and feel like I wasted money.  But, with more children and more to do, books often linger on the bedside table, in a kitchen nook, wander past the toilet, in a full laundry basket...you get the picture.  I renew them three times and pay my 30 cents in late fees.  I renew it three times a year.  Honestly....buy a book every once in awhile.  Savour it, enjoy it.

I'm really enjoying this book.  I'm so happy to have purchased it, too. I decided it's required reading for High School.  I actually thought it might be dry.  But, Amanda said she devoured it.  I appreciate his style.  I find myself literally laughing.  I don't mind reading it to my children (and yes sex is mentioned once).


My other purchase was A Little Garden Flower Grade 1.  I bought the E-book because I figured I could print just what I want and not get overwhelmed.  I've been wanting to go towards Waldorf for many years.  I'm a bit sad that I never just did it.  I had excuses for years.  But, maybe I wasn't ready.  Maybe I needed to work on myself first.  I needed to let go of stuff and attachments to things.  I needed to purge.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook

~*~*~*~*~

Outside my window...

the lake is frozen, the air is crisp, but by Golly it is still SUNNY in Washington.

I am thinking...

about planning the rest of our learning year.

I am thankful for...

boys who love being big brothers.

From the learning rooms...

we are listening to Hallelujah Handel,

reading about winter,

talking about seasons,

reading lots of books,

trying to figure out a few crafts to do...I think we are going to work on this recycled star wreath today.  

From the kitchen...

Banana Bread cake with blueberries.

I am wearing...

uggs that I have had for at least 15 years, pants, a long sleeve brown shirt with a teal short sleeve one over the top.  I don't know why, but layering shirts makes me feel young.  Anyone else?

I am creating...

absolutely nothing.  I still want to make a mobile (like this) for the baby. But, she puts everything in her mouth.  I'm not sure how good that would be now...

I am going...

perhaps for a walk.  Did I mention how cold it is?  But, our baby really loves walk and my post-preggo body is craving one.

I am reading...

Calm and Compassionate Children.

I am hoping...

for a calm and simple Christmas.

I am hearing...

boys playing with lincoln logs very loudly over the sound of Handel.

Around the house...

my Papa is working on our shower which decided to leak at some point this summer.

One of my favorite things...

knowing it's only a few steps away to visit with my own Grandma Cookie.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

read a stack of library books (mostly on Winter), make that recycled Christmas Wreath, walk everyday, visit the thrift store.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

(How deep the ice on the pond was yesterday.)

      

I'm not sure what happened with Good Reads. I thought at some point I could just post a review straight from their site. Goodness, I don't have time for all of this.


I've picked this up before. I thought it was time I really read it. It's beside by bed. It's getting a bit of time each night from me. I think my children have a pretty calm and compassionate life. I think I'm the one who needs help to remember to give that life to them. There are definitely some things I disagree with in this book (as a Christian). So, if you are really conservative you might choose to put this book down. Other than that I love the suggestions. I love the stories and personal input.

Big Businesses, Christmas Memories

Looking at this map of the Growth of Walmart brought on some Christmas memories for me. I think because my dh family is really into Black Friday and they all go bonkers and buy a ton of stuff. My dh and I don't see the point. I don't want a present just so I can open something. We did get some really thoughtful presents this year. A nice framed picture of our boys and a framed silhouette of each boy.

But, I realized this Christmas that since becoming a family our favorite Christmases have been the ones where we lived out of state. My favorite was Southern California when I wore shorts and a tank top and we went looking for a place open for Breakfast. Our tree was maybe a foot high and that was all we could fit in our 400 sq ft cabin. But, it was lovely and sweet and meaningful.

We have had very little money these last few months, so we did not get our children presents. But, many other people did. We still ended up opening presents 3 times. My parents did tone it down this year and yet my children were still happy...surprise. The most used gifts so far have been the board games. I went shopping with my mom and we decided to get board games so we could go upstairs and have game and pizza nights. The boys love them!

I like spending time with family (we live with my parents and Grandmother) and my husband's family. It's so nice to have this time with them again, especially my Grandma whom I spent a lot of time with as a young child. But, sometimes I realize how truly different my husband and I can be from our own families. How we have melded together and formed our own little definition of family. I hope I can respect that as my own children grow and join their wives.

Having snow in Washington State was lovely for the boys. My parents have a huge hill for sledding and we got snowed in a few days.

I hope I don't sound cynical about Christmas or Holidays in general. I do love Holidays. I just don't want to be another family celebrating presents and giving. I want to celebrate Christmas and be thankful for the birth of Christ.

Bump, Bump, Bump

Literally, I have a big bump growing on my belly.

We are expecting our 4th child in June!!! I made an announcement on my other blog already, but then I got really sick and haven't been doing anything. Well, I've been vomiting, loosing weight, and sleeping...but that is about it.

I feel so much better this week though. So, I think I'm ready to start enjoying the growth of my baby.

What is a good day?

My husband and I are trying to get on track. We flounder around. We know we need a better routine for our boys. They are so much happier when they know what is expected and I am so much happier when I get a chance for a break during the day.

We took away video games during the week. So, very helpful. They were getting into the habit of only doing work so they could play video games. They get more and more manipulative. I just can't stand that. I want to enjoy our time together and not just rush through it so we can retreat to separate corners of the house.

When should we do chores?

School doesn't really take much time once they get started. I really want to get some more of our chores done in the morning and I'm thinking perhaps I should get them done before I start schooling.

My boys do not do school when left alone. I think they should be able to handle it at this point. It's frustrating and I run out of patience and time every night. I end up fixing too many lunches and getting sidetracked with vacuuming or dog brushing or window washing or toilet scrubbing. I go to help someone wash their hands and realize their toilet is filthy and their laundry basket is full.

Boundaries and Expectations

I think if we can keep being firm with our boundaries and expectations of the boys our life will run a little smoother. I hope then I'll be able to leave them alone and they will actually complete what I give them to do.

Grieving, Mourning...and moving on...

A sad thing happened shortly after my birthday.

Seattle and I have broken up. Sure I'll see her as I arrive by Ferry. Sure I'll get to ride public transit to visit the Zoo.

But, alas I've moved. Whilst cleaning my little City home, I cried till I got a migraine. I will admit to drinking too many beers to get through my cleaning date. I'm sad, really, really sad.

I've moved to my hometown (well my parents live here...so I guess it's my hometown). I don't feel at home. I feel uprooted. I feel naked. Heck I feel like someone chopped my roots off with a cleaver.

It's quiet here. There are more cats, chickens, sheep, a small horse, a pond, ducks, a rabbit and five acres for three little boys and their Border Collie to roam. Apples have been picked and pies and cider made. They all seem happy thus far.

Mancala Math & Lullabies

Posted by shangrilewis on 22 October, 2007

I admit there are times we worry about our youngest. No one can understand him because of his speech “delays”. His last therapist always did this slow talking thing and he adapted that. It makes him sound slow.

But, what if we didn’t see him as a problem or as delayed?

He is loving Mancala. We count as we put stones in each section. He put one in his Mancala and showed me how he had four with his fingers and that if he has one more (he showed me his thumb) he would have a full hand! Yeah…that’s Math.

Tonight I sang him Hush little Baby.

He’s heard this so many times through the years.

But, tonight he told me

it was so beautiful

and then he sang me a song.

His car song he called it.

But, for me it’s heaven…

pure and beautiful heaven.