Spike Hat

You might remember Spike's special hat from Miss Carrie from this post.

It's cold enough that we need to start wearing hats again, so I thought I would try it just to see if it still fit.

It's kinda tight and small, but man, is he cute it in or what?!  

Random pictures: People I love, homeschooling, and wedding planning!

There have been so many times since Fletcher was born where I was so sad that my Grandma isn't here to love on him like she did Hunter and Graysen.  When I pulled out the winter clothes, I was sad again...Fletcher wouldn't have a home made winter hat to wear from GG.  God turns all of our sadness into happiness, and we were blessed with a neighbor who loves to make gifts for my kids (croqued hats, tie-dyed items, etc).  My kids love her, and spend countless hours reading books or playing spades with her under the tree.  

Pikie with his hat made by Susan

 I love this girl.

and this boy.

and this boy!

Is he not hilarious in that hat?!  I love it!

Sleepy kids in matching PJs.  I so adore this!

One aspect of homeschooling that we have come to love is that we have time to teach our kids to cook!  I got them their own recipe box filled with "kids meals".  They usually pick one breakfast, lunch, and dinner each week and we make it together.  They are learning about different foods, how to read a recipe, measuring, cutting, the stove and oven, etc.  Life skills people!  Here is one of their creations!

While we're talking about the positives of homeschooling...can I say that homeschooling boys is so wonderful?!  Boys were not created to sit behind a desk all day!!  We love going outside and exploring.  They find something, we research and learn about it!  I also feel like our learning isn't on a time schedule.  One evening we went to our family's lake and they played in the mud around the edge of the lake and found all kinds of wonderful things!  

Silas with a clam shell

Hunter with one of the 30 tiny frogs they found.  

 Fletcher update:  He is sitting up really well.  Learning to play by himself (some - I don't know that he's ever going to have to actually play by himself with 4 older siblings!).

poor sicky boy.  Double ear infection.  He had red eyes and cheeks, runny eyes, nose, and mouth.  Pitiful!

Pikie "eating" an apple.  He really liked this net thing!

 The big wedding is coming along!  It's been so fun to walk this road so closely with Kara.  Here we are trying cupcakes (that we froze and then thawed) as an alternative to wedding cake.  A BIG THANK YOU to Kelley for whipping them up for us.....they were fabulous!

Baby Wearing: What else to talk about?

I will say that since getting my iPhone Instagram has kind of taken the place of my blog.  I love posting pictures through our day!  I wonder if there is place where I can print my Instagram in book form like you can your blog?  Anyone know?  

I can't speak highly enough of baby wearing.  I know some people are against it, and that's okay, but for our family it is such a blessing!  Women around the world have worn their babies for centuries, and I am happy to carry on the tradition!  

 My babies are always soothed when I am wearing them, and especially after doing so much research and reading on the way that babies brains are developed (due to adoption stuff), I am even more of a believer in responding to your babies needs and making them feel as secure as possible at all times.

Yup, my most hippie picture yet.  Baby on my back, chai tea in my hand, tie-dye shirt (gift from our neighbor), and my hair in a braid (so that Fletch doesn't pull on it!).  But..we're happy!!

 I have worn lots of different carriers, but my favorites are my Moby (for when my babies are little), and now this Baby Hawk that I was gifted by a very sweet girl!  I wear Pike on my back, and he and I both love it! Now that he's in the stage where he's interested in everything and wanting to grab everything, a front carrier isn't very realistic around the house.  On my back he is happy, secure, and able to see everything that is going on, but is out of reach of everything (except my hair)!

He has fallen asleep in it several times....obviously he's comfortable and secure!

I was hoping that by bringing my blog up to speed from my 3 month blog sabbatical  I would be inspired to write more, be able to sort through the things of my heart and share them through my writing like I used to.  Unfortunately, as I sit and try to come up with something to write a post about I draw a blank.  I would love for those of you who (for some reason) still read my blog to ask me questions.  What would you like to know?  What would you like for me to share about?  What has been happening in your life?!

MIA- September Update

- September started with the annual Fantasy Football Draft on Labor Day.  Ugh.  That's about all I can say.  I do try to be supportive, and I honestly am glad that Lincoln has something he enjoys doing outside of the family, but it feels like the computer is always open and I just don't understand how something that has zero eternal impact can be so important!

- Lincoln also started playing in a Disc Golf League on Tuesday nights with Nick.  It's a 6 week league leading up to their annual Disc Golf Road Trip.  

- The annual Grape and Fall Festival was the first weekend in September.  Thanks to our two mothers the kids got to go ride the rides again this year.  They always look forward to this day and are completely worn out for the two days following it!

The kids ready for the parade to begin

 

-  The boys started soccer again.  They moved up to the 3rd and 4th grade league this fall.  They are practicing on Sundays for an hour and a half, and their games are on Monday evenings.  They are playing a full field this year, which is probably the biggest change!  We are very proud of the teamwork that they have developed and their passing skills are getting better by the week!

Fletcher and Sissy at one of their games.  It's really hard to get pictures of them now that they are on a full field!

-  We took the kids to our first homeschool event this month.  We attended the homeschool skating time at the local skating rink.  It was lots of fun, and we can't wait to attend every month!  School is going really well.  We are constantly changing up our approach...not sure if we'll ever find one way that works really well for us...we think it might be a constant change as the kids change, as the subjects change, etc.  We're okay with that, and are trying really hard to have a more student led learning enviornment than we've had in the past.  We're working on teaching the kids time management (by giving them all of their work first thing in the morning and letting them know we expect it by the end of the day), while still doing some teacher led activities. 





free journaling

Fletcher and Henry.  Just a few weeks apart playing at the skating rink. 

- Graysen also started dance in September.  She is taking ballet, tap, and tumbling again this year.  She has mastered her cartwheel and her one handed cartwheel.  She has a great bridge, and now she's working on her backbend so she can move on to her walkover! 

She is in class with Madi, Lily, and Kate.  I'm not sure how Megan survives each Thursday night!

Graysen showing me here bridge. 

-  Bart and Erin got married on the 22nd in Springfield.  It was a beautiful wedding, perfect for them!  It was wonderful to see so many members of my family in one place, and we really enjoyed the afternoon out. 


-  Fletcher is really learning to go with the flow.  With four older siblings, he pretty much gets drug around!  He is sitting up on his own - he still tumbles once in awhile, but it's rare.  He's rolling all over the living room.  We started giving him just little bits of food here and there, a squished piece off our banana, a jar of baby peaches.  Not much, but he seems to be handling it pretty well!  He had a double ear infection again this month.  High fever, cough, no sleep, it was soooooo sad.  I took both he and Graysen in to Dr. After Hours this past Sunday and he had a double ear infection, and she has one ear infection and the start of pneumonia!  So glad I took them! 

Graysen put her sparkly eye lashes on him!

Always so happy!  The only two times I can ever say he's been really unhappy are when he's had his two ear infections. 

 

-  The biggest news this month is that Kara and Chad got engaged!!  We are so excited for Chad to officially be joining the family!  They are planning a beach wedding for next summer. 

 

The picture announcement!

 

-  We had made new friends.  This is a precious couple who very recently moved to town.  They have been over for a dinner a few times, and then joined our bible study on Wednesday nights!  We're feeling so blessed to be creating a friendship with them!

 

 

-  We celebrated Ethiopian New Year on the 11th of this month with Doro Wat.  I didn't even get to eat any...guess that means it was good!  I really need to make an effort to cook Ethiopian food more often...it's not that hard, just out of my comfort zone.  

 



The boys with one of their favorite babysitters.  Hilarious, let me tell you!

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MIA - August Update

- Hunter turned 8 on August 5th.  Eight.  I say it every year, but I'm still in shock.  I did his birthday interview, but alas, he's that age where he made it very clear he did not want it posted on my blog OR facebook.  My first priority is that he knows I am trustworthy, and that I respect his wishes, so unforuntately, I will not post it here this year.  He had a birthday party at the Bowling Ally this year.  It was really fun!

His birthday and party were on the same day, so he didn't get to spread it out at all! 
We did practice the night before with a little cake!

Lunch at Pizza Inn after church before the party!

Picking out this cake was hilarious.  When we went he thought he wanted a fishing cake...not quite what we ended up with, but he loved this one!

Hunter's good friend from his 1st grade class was able to come.  He really enjoyed having B there!

- August 6th Ally got baptized.  It was such a precious evening with family and close friends celebrating her decision to follow Christ.

Love these two.  Can't wait to see how they change the world for Christ together!

- I started back to work full time the beginning of August as well.  This year, in an effort to work a more regular summer schedule, I am taking off on Mondays.  I can't express how grateful I am to work for an employer who values family and understands that I need to be home with my children on Mondays.  I'm so thankful that they are supportive of our decision to home school and have offered to support us in any way that they can.  It was a rough to get back into the routine of working, but I think things are smoothing out and I feel good about our routine.

- Kara and I took the 3 big boys to Six Flags on August 12th.  I'm always proud of them when they earn their tickets each year, and going has become a much anticipated tradition each summer.  

-  On August 15th I stayed up until 11:00 to register for my 3rd Annual Created For Care Retreat (you can read about my first year here, and my second year here).  I ended up registering two of my friends as well because 100 slots were gone in the first 15 minutes!  I'm so grateful that all 6 of our group got in this year...and as always...if you want to come next year PLEASE let me know!!


-  Fletcher had his first ear infection.  Poor baby.  He handled it fairly well...just wasn't sleeping (as if he could get any worse!).  He got big enough for an exersaucer.  The Smiths were kind enough to let us borrow theirs, and Pikie can't get enough of the pink teapot that it attached to a string.  He chews on it constantly!  We also moved him in with Graysen in her room.  She doesn't sleep in there because he still wakes up in the night, but he started doing better out of our room for sure.

Thank you to Jessica for letting us borrow her crib!

-  We soaked up the last few pool days available!

- We have lots of August Birthdays.  Obviously Hunter's is the 5th, then Mom's is the 19th, Charlie's is the 24th, and mine is the 26th.  We love August and all the celebrating we get to do (and all the cake we get to eat!)

Mom's birthday

Papa's birthday, down at the new firepit at their house

My birthday breakfast in bed from my wonderful husband.  After this surprise he sent me off shopping for the day with my mom, and then to the movies with my sister and Chad!

-  Graysen started back to pre-school.  I can't believe this is her last year at Solid Rock.  We just adore them.  She is loving being back there with her friends.

First day of pre-school 2012