Family Rules

OUR FAMILY RULES

1. Always be kind. “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” Philippians 4:5

2. Obey immediately. “Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1

3. Be happy. “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.” Proverbs 15:3

4. Never lie. “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22

5. Treat others the way you want to be treated. “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:12

6. Do not whine or complain. “Do all things without murmurings and disputing.” Philippians 2:14

7. Show respect to adults. “Yes, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility.” 1 Peter 5:5

8. Do not tease mommy or daddy. “Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

9. Share your toys. “There is one who scatters, yet increases more . . . “ Proverbs 11:24

10. Always to your best. “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings.” Proverbs 22:29

We will be learning and memorizing these throughout the year. Me too . . .

School Begins

We started Monday but ended up doing Meals on Wheels both Monday and Tuesday. It was such a great route that we were home by 10:45. In time for EG's nap and some math sheets. Oh boy, the kids were excited (sarcastic button.)

I know how hard it is to transition from vacation to education so I figured we would just take it slow. I have to admit, this time around I wasn't as excited to start back. I really was enjoying just kind of hanging out. Things were getting done around the house and we enjoyed going to the Jr. Museum and to lunch with friends and having play dates and making cookies. . . well you get the idea.

We are starting a new semester which means a bunch of new books to read. So, I thought today I would just list them. Nature Girl is at the point where she can read a lot of her own history, literature and science books. BUT, I can't bare not to read them too. So, I am not sure how that is going to work. Anyway, the following are their books from our curriculum Ambleside on Line.

Nature Girl's Books

For Bible:

Bible

How the Bible Came to Us

Polished Corner Stones for Girls

For Manners:

Polite Moments

For History:

An Island Story

This Country of Ours

Trial and Triumph

DaVinci

For Geography:

Marco Polo

For Natural History:

The Handbook of Nature Study

Secrets of the Woods

For Science:

Science Lab in a Supermarket

The Story of Inventions

Exploring Creation With Zoology 1

For Poetry:

William Blake

For Literature:

Parables from Nature

American Tall Tales

Tales from Shakespeare

The Heros

The Princess and the Goblin

Little Mama's Books

For Bible:

Bible

Polished Cornerstones for Girls

For History:

Trial and Triumph

An Island Story

Fifty Famous Stories Retold

Viking Tales

For American History:

George Washington

For Geography:

Paddle to the Sea

For Natural History/Science:

Handbook of Nature Study

James Herriot's Treasury for Children

The Burgess Bird Book

For Poetry:

Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young

For Literature:

The Aesop for Children

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

The Blue Fairy Book

Just So Stories

Parables from Nature

The following are just a few of the "free read" books that the websites suggests for nighttime reading: Peter Pan, St. George and the Dragon, Charlotte's Web, Little House in the Big Woods, Men of Iron, The Water Babies, Through the Looking Glass, Swallows and Amazons, The Saturdays and King of the Wind.

Books, books, books!!! I LOVE school . . .

What to Do, What to Do?

Yes, I am a proud mama. I think that both Nature Girl and Little Mama have different gifts and strengths. NG is so graceful. Little Mama is very flexible. Both girls opted out of ballet this year and I was OK with that. They didn't enjoy it as much as tumbling and honestly the real reason they had to choose was that every afternoon I didn't want to drive around town bringing them to various after school activities.

That worked for a semester. But, then we went to the Nutcracker and both girls really enjoyed it. It started me thinking about Nature Girl's gracefulness. I thought it needed to be explored. So, I contacted the ballet company about auditions. They recommended a class for girls interested in auditioning. I signed NG up (against her will I might add.) The thought process was, we'll give it a try, a real try. If she doesn't like it, if I don't like it, if she doesn't cut it, then we let it go by the wayside. But, I felt, feel, it is important to at least explore the avenue.

A little while after that (or maybe even before that) Little Mama's tumbling coach approached me about her potential for the competitive gymnastics team. Wow, so very cool!! It seems LM is a little bit of a natural gymnast. Weeks went by and no one from the gym mentioned any more about it. So, I made plans accordingly. Signed both girls up for tumbling (horrible times I might add) and signed NG up for ballet class. It was going to be a busy semester but we would get through it. I figured by the end of this up coming semester we would know if NG had what it takes to be in the Nutcracker.

Yesterday I get a call from the gym. LM has been offered a spot on their Level 2 competitive team. Yea!!! Sooo exciting!! This is the deal: she will train the spring and summer and compete in the fall, she will be at the gym Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-6:30, no breaks like they do for the recreational side of tumbling, in the fall she will compete approximately every other weekend mostly in the area although she said there might be overnight trips and some Sundays. Of course, being a mama, I am thrilled for LM. Nobody deserve recognition more for a great "can do" attitude and willingness to try.

Now, what to do, what to do? As it stand right now we will be at the gym Monday through Thursday and NG will have ballet on Thurs. Absolutely, totally not what I wanted to get into. (We will be able to eat dinner together every night.) But what is a mother to do? I think both girls should have an opportunity to explore their gifts. But, I don't want those things to be a priority over family.

Daddy and I chatted about it last night. He says whatever I want to do is fine with him. He will help when he can but I know that isn't something I can count on because things come up. I will pray about it and in the meantime we will do what we have to do for now. I will cross the bridges of gymnastic competitions and the performance of The Nutcracker when (and if) I have to.

Right now, I think, I want to give the girls' their shot. We will see how it works out. If it gets to be too much we will reassess over the summer (or before if we need to :). But, for now, I am excited about the girls opportunities to grow . . .

It Is What It Is

Yesterday, like most Sundays, I have the distinct pleasure (sarcastic button) of getting four children plus myself ready for church by 9:15. It has taken me a number of years but if I do say so myself we do pretty well, for the most part. I have a plan and we do a little prep work the night before. But the day of, it is always a little chaotic.

We arrived at church yesterday a few minutes late (we are working on that also ;) Anyway, as I was dropping Boop off in his Sunday School classroom, the teacher (a mother of a large family) commented on how nicely he was dressed. Of course I said thank you and just mentioned that his black shoes, which matched his black pants, were two sizes too big in hopes they would fit next year. She nodded and said she had been there. Then I went on to draw attention to the fact that his socks were navy and not black. I explained I just couldn't find the black ones. Her response to me was "Some times you just have to let those things go. My son doesn't even have matching socks on this morning."

It was nice to hear that from someone who has so much experience in raising a Godly family!

I know it is important to look nice. If for no other reason it shows respect for your host or, in this case, respect for God. My children are always clean (well except for the toothpaste I saw on Boop's chin as I dropped him off) and their clothes are clean. Not always matching, but clean ;)

Sometimes it comes down to the choice of going how we are or getting nervous and upset about the way the kids are dressed or whatever. And I honestly don't think I am suppose to flip out over such things. If anything, maybe I just need to be a little more prepared. It is a work in progress. I have never had 4 kids before :)

Anyway, I feel, no matter how they look what is really important is what is in their heart. That is a work in progress too . . .

Silent Sunday

Oh, To Be Needed

Yesterday I had a plan. I always have a plan. Yesterday's plan was to do NOTHING! Yesterday I turned 42. Old. So NOTHING (except watch football) is what I wanted to do.

After sitting on the couch for a few minutes watching football, I started to feel a little strange. I am not used to doing NOTHING. A few minutes after that Little Mama needed tape. It wasn't in the tape drawer. Where was the extra tape? As I got up from the couch daddy said "Sit down. I'll get it." Ahhh how sweet :) Then I said "Do you know where it it?" "No" came daddy's reply. "It's OK, I know where it is. I'll get it." I think I needed a reason to get up and DO something ;)

A little later I decided it was time for a shower. As I got in to take a quick shower it dawned on me "It is my birthday. I am going to take a nice, long, hot shower." Not two minutes into my nice, long, hot shower, EG came in followed by Little Mama. EG fell over the stepping stool and started to cry. Little Mama tried to help her.

My first thought was "Geez, I just wanted to take a nice, long, hot shower. On my birthday." Then this grin came over me. I AM NEEDED. ALL THE TIME. THEY NEED ME. At that very moment, for some strange reason that thought was sooo cool to me. I kind of giggled and hurried up with my shower.

Don't get me wrong, they can survive with out me and there are a lot of days when I sometimes think "If I hear, 'Mommy' one more time . . . " But, it dawned on me, I am kind of the glue of this family unit. The cohesiveness. The one constant thing, all day, every day. I am it. 24/7.

This is my job. This is who I am. This is right where God wants me. Right now. It is kind of cool to be needed . . .

Happy 2010

I hope that every one has a JOYFUL New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone . . .