Thankfulness!

Well, Thanksgiving is here and it would be terribly un-American of me to not post something about being thankful. But it strikes me that as a larger group we are really an ungrateful bunch. We are rarely satisfied with what we have and are always wanting bigger or better. And we want it now. I am no better than anyone else and I would venture to say that I am not as good at thankfulness as many people I know. But in this week where we celebrate Thanksgiving, I can be thankful with the best of 'em.

So what am I thankful for...well, this month someone on facebook challenged people to do 30 days thanksgiving and to put as your status something you are thankful for every day. And I took up the challenge. It was surprising to me that early in the morning, I often couldn't think of anything to be thankful for....seriously, nothing. Before I had time to get the day going, my mind was blank...here sitting in my warm home, with my 3 healthy children playing around me, with breakfast baking or already filling my belly, and my husband safe at a job that provides well for my family, I was drawing blanks. It is ridiculous. Of course, as the fog of early morning cleared from my brain, these things became more evident and I always had something to put as my status.

But thankfulness isn't a mood...it shouldn't be effected by time of day, amount of sleep, or other mundane petty things. Thankfulness is knowing that God has provided all that you NEED (even if not all that you want) and will continue to do so for as long as you live. It is being thankful that although sometimes things aren't exactly as you wish them to be, that you are never alone.

So what AM I thankful for...

1. my God, my Savior who loves me no matter what...loves me better than anyone else ever could
2. my husband - although neither of us are perfect, we are perfect for each other and make a good "team"
3. my children - even on days when I think I would sell them to the circus (or pay the circus to take them), I am thankful for the laughs they provide and the lessons they teach. I am thankful that *I* get to raise them
4. freedom to raise our family as we see fit - Not everyone has the freedom to worship as they choose, to stay home and not send the kids to daycare, home school or many of the other choices we take for granted.
5. I am thankful to live where I live - although there were times in my life that living in this little town was enough to make me want to run for cover, and there are times now that everyone is just a little to "close", I love knowing that my kids are safe from many influences of the "big city." It makes me feel safe.


And there are so many other things to be thankful for...but those are a few that come to mind this morning.

Oh, and I am thankful for coffee...that clears the haze of morning that makes me wonder what to be thankful for!! :)

A (Great) Day in the Life!

The weather has changed. It is finally acting like November. Cold nights and cool days. It has been cloudy and although there is a chance for rain it is still dry. It's time for sweatshirts, hoods, and hot cocoa.

And as the weather changed, life inside my house has changed as well. I don't know why but since it is a change for the better, I'll take it. Since we got back from vacation, we have struggled with getting school work done (without weeping and gnashing of teeth), getting along, keeping the house liveable, really everything has been a battle. I was ready to pull my hair out, throw in the towel, throw them all on the big yellow bus that goes by our house-even the ones that aren't big enough for the ride yet. We were sick and tired and sick and tired of each other it seemed.

Then I woke up with this idea on a Saturday morning. I was on steroids for a cough and I think that may have induced the idea AND the fact that it was completed before 7 that morning. We rearranged their rooms. (yes, before 7 am). We moved their dressers into one room and all their beds into the other. It must be noted that their rooms are small. There is no room for anything else in the "sleeping room" but they like it. They are all sleeping better. Plus now they have a "play room" that is not part of the public area of the house. Sure, there are still PLENTY of toys in the "library" but the ones that really annoy me (like Legos, and the hot wheels track) are in the play room where I can close the door. It also give the bigger boys a place to play during Griffin's nap that they are out of my hair. Very good thing!

At the time change, I decided to change one of my habits. Not really change, exactly, but start a new, good one. I started reading my Bible every week day morning as I woke up. I have been trying to read the whole thing for almost 2 years now - I've finally made it to Psalms - I had time to check facebook and email and putter around really doing nothing. I could fit this in. So I did and I still am. Another very good thing!

Then school changed, last week we had three good days in a row. On Thursday, they spent the day with friends at a Veteran's Day program and I was told it went well. Friday was not a good day but four out of five were great. And yesterday went well! It was actually a great day! School was done well and without whining. They were a joy to be around. The worst thing that happened all day is that as I was finishing brushing my teeth I realized I was not using my toothbrush. That is gross but if it is the worst a Monday can throw at me then I am doing alright!! Another good thing!

So I am hoping that we are on the upswing and that we are going to have a few good weeks (dare I say months?) With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, I can see potential for it to go either way!! I have faith that even with the disruptions, we can continue on this run of great days! And that is all I ask for for Christmas! Another good thing!

:)

Try NOT to laugh!

This is a short story....really just a one liner. But it is just too good not to share.

On the way to Awana, Maverick said,

"Aiden, did you know you can stick boogers back in your nose?"


........Well, did anyone know that?

Back in the GROOVE!

I am risking a jinx today but it is just too exciting not to go ahead and share....

We seem to be getting back in our groove. After our vacation at the beginning of October and then a few weeks of illness, we have STRUGGLED to get any school work done. Sure, we've done it but it came with much weeping and gnashing of teeth. From the kids and from me. We have really just had a hard time of it.

Now, we have 2 weeks left in our first term (we do three 12 week terms instead of 2 longer semesters) and we've had two, count them TWO, good school days in a row. No crying, no weeping, no whining, no gnashing of teeth. Aiden even did extra phonics today to catch up from some of the sick days, with NO CRYING!!! And Aiden and Maverick took turns reading from the beginner section of their Science text. It was harder reading than they are used to and although I had to help, it went really well. Aiden got all his math problems right. Maverick is doing great with his math. And their handwriting has improved so much (especially Aiden!).

Last week, if asked, I think I would have said that I was failing. I wasn't sure they were really learning anything. And I felt like I we did was fight about getting school (or anything else) done. And I wasn't sure I was winning those battles often enough. I expect those days to come and go and I don't expect great days all the time...but, man, having two in a row is like coming up for fresh air. On days like today (and yesterday), I am glad to homeschool three busy boys. I am glad to be home. I am glad to get to see the light come on when they do something they haven't done before.

Now I had planned to take December to do some extra Christmas related studies instead of our normal school load but after finally finding a groove that seems to be working...I am not willing to risk losing it again. Grooves can be hard to find and also seem easy to lose. We will just add projects and baking to our existing school load. It is different enough that I expect they will enjoy it anyway...and we keep our groove! (I hope!)

Now since, we have extra time that wasn't wasted crying or by other means of driving me crazy...and the weather is beautiful, we are going outside. Gotta take advantage of that Vitamin D while we've got it. Of course, thanks to good ole Daylight "savings" time, it will be dark at 5:30.

It is a happy happy day!!!

Griffin turns THREE!

It is hard to believe that my baby boy is three. Yesterday was his birthday and although we didn't do a lot to mark the day, we did have cake (which was all he asked for) and ice cream. And he got a few more presents, of course.

When we decided to have one more, I was not too secretly hoping for a girl. I considered this my last chance at leveling out some of the testosterone in this house. It was my last chance...but all it did was add more testosterone into our little home. But, although I cried a little cry over not getting to buy pink and those cute little elastic headbands with the bows on them, I can't imagine life without Griffin. He is a wonderful little boy...although he is every bit a BOY!

It is clear that the third child intends to "keep up." He does not want to be left behind in anything nor does he want to be the baby anymore. He wants to do everything his big brothers get to do. He even wants to do school, just like they do (I wonder how long that will last). He is fun and funny and sweet. I so enjoy having him in the house. Now, just like all of us, he has his moments. There are days I want to pull my hair out because of the shenanigans he and his brothers create but when I look at them with a fresh mind (or a glass of wine) I enjoy all the craziness in our house.

He has promised that when he "drowed up and turned three" he would stop pooping in his pants. He already does very well peeing in the potty. He loves "resting it right on the rim" and peeing standing up just like his brothers. But I'm not sure three was the magic number he had thought it would be as far as pooping goes. But I know he'll get it before he goes off to college. I thought the same thing with Aiden and Maverick.

It is clear God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave us Griffin. A little girl may not have survived in this household....she certainly would have had to "tom-boy up" pretty quickly. Griffin is good for a smile, a hug or a "too tight" and a "kiss on da nose." He is and always will be my sweet little baby, except when he smells like poop.

And, as it turns out, I like to wear pink...although I'm not sure they make those headbands with the bows big enough to fit my head.

Happy Birthday to my Big (baby) boy!!!

Blah!!

We have been fighting illness forever it seems. Shane was on medicine last week for his cough. And now it is Aiden and I. I am so OVER this being sick. We haven't gone anywhere but the dr since the weekend and I am tired. Shane slept on the cough last week and I'm out here now...sitting up to sleep isn't great unless you can't breathe when you lay down. I hate being on lock down...even though we may not have plans to go anywhere, I hate knowing we can't.

And getting the medicine we've needed has been a nightmore. Shane waited 2 hours at the pharmacy last week. And yesterday they told me it would be a half hour. I had 3 kids, one sleeping already and another sick in the van. I asked if dad could bring it home and they said sure. So I hunted dad down and gave him money. He went to the pharmacy 1 1/2 hours later and it was not done. All in all, it took 2 1/2 hours to get those meds. And they are to help my 7 year old be able to BREATH- pretty important if you ask me. From the time the meds were ordered by my doctor till we got them, it was 5 1/2 hours. I'm glad his breathing wasn't any worse than it is.

So today I whine. I feel like crap. I don't want to do anything. But I have no choice...the kids need fed, laundry needs done, we need to have school, and I am determined to get the house cleaned up for the weekend. But even if I know what needs to be done...doesn't mean I am happy about it. :(

Halloween Weekend!

It was eventful weekend and fun! Trick or Treat was Friday night and after meeting some friends for pizza to kick the night off right, we stopped at a few houses. The boys got to pick out what they wanted to be this year. Aiden was Iron Man , Maverick wanted to be a wizard., and Griffin picked a "dhost). I think he regretted this as the night went on and he couldn't see where he was going...but he was, by far, the cutest (in my opinion). :)

The boys with their friends Bella and James (Spiderman and "bad" spiderman-who I'm sure has a name that I don't know)

Here they are at their last stop of the night...Nanny and Pappy's house

Then on Saturday night, Shane and I participated in a Murder Mystery Dinner hosted by our great friends. It involved costumes and unscripted but directed interaction. We were at the will-reading of a millionaire who had recently died suspiciously. The maid was killed during the night and we had to figure it all out. I played the eldest daughter of the deceased. And Shane was the Detective put on the case. We had SUCH a fabulous time! Although neither of us figured out who the real killer was...good thing the whole thing came with the answer. :) It was like clue only WAY MORE FUN!!!

Everyone who was part of the murder mystery. Such a great group of people who really made it FUN!

Me as Allison Rochester (red carpet style), eldest of the deceased and hoping "Daddy" left me a bundle.

Shane posed as Officer Welsh. He got a few votes for best dressed but didn't win it thanks to the BEST geeky lawyer you have EVER seen. And a seriously obnoxious "best friend" of the deceased.

Can't wait to have another....maybe for Valentine's Day!