Sew Loved

Homeschool 2011-2012

2011-07-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Hey friends and family!
We have been getting LOTS of questions about what we are doing for school, so I thought I would put it all in one place. I am so excited for this year, we are already into about 2 weeks. We decided to start back in July and take more breaks in the Spring when it is actually nice enough to play outside.
So onto what we are doing...

Luke will be doing mostly Kindergarten, but some PreK stuff as well. He is doing school everyday with Rebekah and LOVING it!!

Rebekah is doing 2nd grade work in most everything but math, she is finishing up what would be considered 1st grade level this summer and hope to be caught up by September.

Here is our curriculum:

Bible Study Guide for All Ages for both kids.
Bible Study Guide For All Ages
I got the teachers manual and the student worksheets, Beginner for Luke and Intermediate for Rebekah. I also got the timeline, map, and CD. The CD is AWESOME!
So far, I love it because I can teach both kids and the same time and then challenge them at their level. They both are learning tons of details and enjoying it!!

We will also be starting Road Trip USA with both kids from Confessions of a Homeschooler.
Road Trip USA
Still gathering all I need for this, but plan to start it soon.

For Luke:

1. Phonics/Reading Readiness:Get Ready for the Code
Get Ready for the Code

2. Letter of the Week from COAH
Letter of the Week

3.Math : Horizons
href="http://www.aophomeschooling.com/product/jks021/">Horizons

4. Once we finish Letter of the Week, hopefully in September, we will start COAH K4 program.
K4 curriculum

For Rebekah:

1. Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting
A Reason for Handwriting

2. Spelling: All About Spelling
All About Spelling

3. Math: Horizons Kindergaten/1st grade
Horizons

4. Science: Apologia Exploring Creation, Human Anatomy and Physiology
Apologia Science

5. History: Veritas Press, Old Testament and Ancient Egypt
Veritas Press History

6. Reading: We are reading some American Girl books just to continue to practice and stretch her reading abilities.

So that is our curriculum so far. I am still considering writing, art, and foreign language, but haven't decided on that yet.

These last two weeks have been great and I see that having only a short time off of school was VERY good for us. They both seem excited about school and have their favorite subjects. It takes about 3.5 hours to finish school and although that seems short, they seem to be learning and retaining so much!

All the things I have been meaning to blog about...

2009-11-13T05:41:00.000-08:00

I have been asked a bunch about a couple of new things we are doing around here, and my response is always that I will blog about it soon...well it takes the baby waking at 6am before I feel like it is quiet enough and I can think straight...at 6am? I know maybe not, but here is my attempt.

G Diapers/ Cloth diapers

We are using cloth diapers for Natalie. My reasons to start are just a few.
1. It save money...and that is always a good thing.
2. It is good for her.
3. It is good for the environment.

After lots of research, I really felt like this was a good choice for us. When Luke was still in diapers, I was hauling out two big bags of diapers every week. It was gross! Once Luke was potty trained, I made the switch. I decided on gdiapers mostly b/c they were cheaper to begin with, but I really like the system now.
With Gdiapers you can use a disposable insert or a cloth one, and I chose to do all cloth. It has been really easy, if you do laundry as much as I do, it does not add to my day too much at all. My mom even made some cloth wipes for me to use and I just run them under cold water before I use them and then throw them in with the dirty cloth diaper. I am not a full time cloth diaperer, I don't want to deal with hauling my cloth dipes everywhere when we are out of town or even running errands, so I have a pack of pampers for that. Also, my little darling is a very heavy wetter at night, so I am trying to find something that works for her in the pm, b/c the gdiapers don't work for her then.
So that is our little system. I feel good about my baby being healthier, saving money, and being good for the environment.

Here is a good article if you are on the fence even a bit. If you don't want to be convinced...don't read it. =)
cloth diaper article

Homeschool

We have prayfully decided on this for lots of reasons. Just so everyone knows, we did not choose this b/c I used to be a teacher. That really had no play in this choice, it is soooooo different. Even though I had that experience and training, I am having to unlearn everything I was taught, it just doesn't help me when I am teaching my own child one on one.
First, we wanted our children to be focused on God before all else. With homeschool, I can pray with my girl when she is struggling in school, make sure learning the Bible is on the top of her to do list and not have to focus on any teaching to a test!
Bekah is doing great!!! We are using the workbox system, so she has 9 boxes right now and each box is a subject or reinforcement. Once she finishes a box, she takes the number off the box and hangs it on the chart. It gives her a sense of when she will be done, and how much she has already accomplished. It also helps her be more independent on school work. There is a lot that I have to stay nearby for, or sit down with her with, but if it is something she can do by herself, she does without any problems.
A few of you have asked what curriculum we are using so here is that:

The Bible - all by itself...good stuff!

Phonics - Hooked on Phonics - she has been reading for awhile now and this just keeps the momentum going.

Math - Hooked on Math and some online help. Bekah is already doing simple subtraction and doing great!!

Handwriting - Right now, she copies her memory verses, but I want to start her on Penmanship to Praise pretty soon.

Language - Spanish. She has already finished the Hooked on Spanish and is now working through some computer programs for this. I could use some advice on some good curriculum in this area.

Five in a Row - This is a program that uses a different book each week and has different lessons to go with it, like science, geography, social studies. So far this has been good, but I am not sure I am going to keep this. I have come across some really great science curriculum and such, so I may switch this up.

I guess that is it for now. I know I need to update on how everyone is doing, but this has been a draft for way too long. =)

My only gems

2009-10-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

“She came tonight as I sat alone, the girl I used to be…
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye and questioned reproachfully;

Have you forgotten the many plans and hopes that I had for you?
The career, the splendid fame, and all the wonderful things to do?
Where is the mansion of stately height with all of its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you and the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad for I wanted her please with me…
This slender girl from the shadowy past the girl that I used to be
So gently rising, I took her hand, and guided her up the stair
Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems, and precious they are to me;
That silken robe is my motherhood of costly simplicity.
And my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls for the dear ones who come and go.

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest, she smiled through her tears at me.
And I saw that the woman that I am now, pleased the girl I used to be.

- Author Unknown
Quoted in Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski

Sidenote: I know that I have A LOT of updating to do, but this is been on my heart a lot lately so I thought I would share. I am hoping to get new pics and updates done this week!!

Gdiaper Giveaway!

2009-09-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

From the blog that is giving these away:

If you're new to the idea of something other than typical disposables or want to use something more environmentally friendly and baby friendly on your little one's tush, this is the way to go. Or if you use other cloth diapers - try this out, too! You can use cloth inserts in them; we do! Or if you know of someone that might be interested or is a user already, and you need a great gift for them... OR if you just love gdiapers and can't get enough... OR you have just started out and want to grow your stash - for free!.......you get the point. Enter this giveaway!

This is what we are trying to get started using. I am buying them a little bit at a time and this would be a great start!!

God is bigger than yoooouuu!!!

2009-09-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

Funny conversation:

We begin with Bekah asking to wash dishes. SURE!
Luke has asked if he can too, I tell him no.
He goes and gets a stool anyway and starts getting into the water.
He is told to get down and he may not go near the water.
He asks several times more if he can wash dishes. NO, NO, NO.

He comes over a bit later and:

Luke:I asked God if I can wash dishes, and Him say yes.
Me: He did?
Luke: Yes Him did and Him is bigger than yoooouuuu!!!

Haha, but I still said no!

2009-08-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

My son did not tell me he was going to shoot me with BROWN POWER from his bottom, while I was changing his diaper. Not my son, that would just be gross!

My daughter did not loudly announce that she was doing her business while in the public restroom, but business was slow and so was the ladies next to her. I am sure that lady would have been embarrassed if she had said that.

My wonderful son did not tell me last night that he wanted me to go to work and for daddy to stay home. Nope, he loves me, and loves that I stay home with him.

All of this is said with a smile. Love them!!

Deal!!

2009-07-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

I was at Target tonight and was looking through their major toy clearance, I am trying to stock up for birthdays and Christmas, when I decided to look over in the baby section. I was looking for clearance sippy cups, when what do my wandering eyes do find? These sippy cups with a hanging price tag of...wait...

$1.87

If you shop for sippy cups, then you know that this cannot be right. These cups are brand new (a new line for Playtex), and its a 2 pack. So I took the sippy cups (not before I grabbed all 3 they had left) and went to the scan it yourself and it rang up $7.45. BOO!
I decided to ask an employee how all this worked, it was mismarked on two different hanging tags with the right barcode. Turns out, I asked the right man. It was a district manager. He agreed that the cups were mismarked, but that was their fault not mine. So I got to get my cups for the $1.87. I bought the 3 packs of them they had left and wanted to skip out of the store!
Yeah for good deals!!

Conversations with kids

2009-07-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

I keep a little notebook and write down all the funny, sweet, or interesting things my kids say. I just started this a while back, some I wrote down from a while back and just from memory, others like one from today, I kept saying over and over in my head to make sure I could make it to my notebook to write it down. I know there is so much I wanted to remember when Bekah was first talking or telling stories, and I just didn't write them down, so now this is my attempt to catch more of it.
Here are a few of my favorites and a couple recent ones:

June 2009:

SETTING: Driving in the car, back from the gym.
CHARACTERS PRESENT: Me, Luke, Natalie

Luke - that a fowest (forest)?

Me - No, that is just trees, but what lives in the forest?
*we begin playing the what animal lives in where game and about halfway through*

Me- Does a Tiger live in the forest?

Luke - Nooooo! Him live in a cawj (cage)!

*Note to self: got to get more books...less time at the zoo?*

7-26-09

SETTING: Driving home from our old house, to the new one
CHARACTERS PRESENT: Me, Luke, Natalie (Bekah is riding with Curtis in his car)

Luke - Oh no! The bad guys are here!! What we gonna do??

Me - I don't know! What should we do?

Luke - We need our daddy!

Me - What can Daddy do?

Luke - He can shoot him wif his shooting thing

Me - What about Mommy? What can I do? Can I stop them?

Luke - Yup, you can bump into them, yeah, wif your minivan!

*haha*

Me - What about Bekah? Can she stop the bad guys?

Luke - Yep, wif Daddy's car, she can bump into, oh..no...she can't!! She not have a dwivers license! She can shoot them with Daddy's shooting thing too.

Me - What about Luke? Can you stop them?

(arriving home)

Luke - Yep, I can kick them!! Hurry, lets put em in the car and shut the doors. Now they not get out!

This is my sweetest, story yet. Most of you have heard this, but I had to share it with those of you I never told about this conversation.

October 2008

SETTINGS: Driving around running errands
CHARACTERS PRESENT: Me, Rebekah, and Luke
BACKGROUND: My sister in law had just had my niece by C-section the week before. We also had a family close to us, lose a baby. I was also pregnant with Natalie, but we didn't know what were having yet.

R- Why did Aunt Kelly have a C-section?

Me- B/c the medicine that they gave Aunt Kelly was making Abby sick, so they had to get her out quickly. (the baby's heart rate was dropping)

R- Why did she have medicine?

Me - To help with the pain

R - Does it hurt to have a baby?

Me - Yes

R - Why?

Me - Remember Adam and Eve? Part of Eve's discipline for eating the apple, was for it to hurt when woman have babies.

R - But why? That's not FAIR!! I (dramatic and elongated) didn't eat the apple! Like if Luke does something bad, I don't get disciplined! That's not fair!!

Me- I know, it stinks, but that's the way it is.

R - Does God discipline you Mommy?

Me- Yes, but it's different than how Mommy and Daddy discipline you.

R- how?

Me - He can take away blessings or not let us be a part of what He is doing, maybe we don't hear Him as well, stuff like that.

***Silence fills the car for a few minutes..this is very unusual!*****

R - Mommy, will God take away our baby?

M - *tearing up* Oh, I hope not honey, but He can, but I pray He doesn't
Why would you think that?

R - Because you always say babies are a blessing.

Me - yes, yes, they are...

* I had to keep reminding myself that I was having this conversation with a then 3.5 year old.

Sorry this was such a long post. I want to post little conversations like this in the future, I will just do one or two here and there next time.

Paint!!!

2009-06-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

For you crafters out there or anyone who wants to test out a paint color for your home, Glidden is giving away a FREE quart of interior paint. Just go and pick out your favorite color and they mail it to you in 3 to 4 weeks.

The website is www.gliddenpaint.com
Click on the green paint can on the bottom of the page and it will lead you through it.

I went ahead and got a paint color that I think I will use on furniture for Natalie's room, Bubblegum pink. =)

Happenings

2009-06-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

I have had such a hard time posting. We have been a bit busy. Here are some pictures from what we have been up to lately.

Swimming

After more swimming

Natalie is 3 months old!

Natalie remains to be my easiest baby by far!! She is so content and happy. She does have a temper when it comes to food. She can hardly wait a half hour past when she is supposed to eat, but as soon as I feed her, she is happy again. She is holding her head up great now and smiling and even laughing some. She loves to play on her playmat and grab at the animals. She falls asleep there all the time, despite the chaos around her. She loves to "talk" to Rebekah, but almost cringes when Luke comes near. He loves to love on her, but is a bit rough still. She is just a sweet, sweet baby!

A little bit of this:

While she does a little bit of that:

We had another baby blessing for Natalie at our church on Father's Day.

A little more summer fun:
Picnic lunch and bird watching. These birds have made a nest right outside our front door. It has been fun to watch them building the nest, but a little freaky when they go flying out when they are scared.

And last but not least, we are MOVING!! We bought a great new house here in town and are so excited!! We have been working on it, just basic things and can't wait to move in.

As a parting note, a glimpse into my house while packing with 3 kiddos under the age of 4!

Oh yes, this was fun too...

A little too familar

2009-06-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

Subject: A 3-year-old tells all from his mother's restroom stall.
By Shannon Popkin

My little guy, Cade, is quite a talker. He loves to
communicate and does it quite well. He talks to people
constantly, whether we are in the library, the grocery
store or at a drive-thru window. People often comment on
how clearly he speaks for a just-turned-3-year-old. And you
never have to ask him to turn up the volume. It's always
fully cranked. There have been several embarrassing times
that I've wished the meaning of his words would have
been masked by a not-so-audible voice, but never have I wished this more
than last week at Costco.

Halfway, through our shopping trip, nature called, so I took Cade
with me into the restroom. If you'd been one of the
ladies in the restroom that evening, this is what you would
have heard coming from the second to the last stall:>

''Mommy, are you gonna go potty?
Oh! Why are you putting toiwet paper on the potty, Mommy?
Oh! You gonna sit down on da toiwet paper now?
Mommy, what are you doing?
Mommy, are you gonna go stinkies on the potty?''

At this point I started mentally counting how many women had been
in the bathroom w hen I walked in. Several stalls were
full ... 4? 5? Maybe we could wait until they all left
before I had to make my debut out of this stall and reveal my identity.

Cade continued: ''Mommy, you ARE going stinkies
aren't you? Oh, dats a good girl, Mommy!
Are you gonna get some candy for going stinkies on the potty?>
Let me see doze stinkies, Mommy! Oh ... Mommy!
I'm trying to see In dere. Oh! I see dem.

Dat is a very good girl, Mommy.You are gonna get some candy!''
I heard a few faint chuckles coming from the stalls on either side of me.

Where is a screaming new born when you need her? Good
grief. This was really getting embarrassing. I was
definitely waiting a long time before exiting. Trying to
divert him, I said, ''Why don't you look in
Mommy's purse and see if you can find some candy.
We'll both have some!''

''No, I'm trying to see doze stinkies"
"Oh! Mommy!'' He started to gag at this point..>
''Uh - oh, Mommy. I fink I'm gonna frow up.
Mommy, doze stinkies are making me frow up!!

Dat is so gross!!''
As the gags became louder, so did the chuckles outside my stall.. I
quickly flushed the toilet in hopes of changing the subject.
I began to reason with myself: OK. There are four other toilets.. If I count
four flushes, I can be reasonably assured that those who
overheard this embarrassing monologue will be long gone.

''Mommy! Would you get off the potty, now? I want you to be done going
stinkies! Get up! Get up!''
He grunted as he tried to pull me off Now I could hear
full-blown laughter. I bent down to count the feet outside my door.

''Oh, are you wooking under dere, Mommy?
You wooking under da door? What were you wooking at?
Mommy? You wooking at the wady's feet?''
More laughter.. I stood inside the locked door and tried to
assess the situation.
''Mommy, it's time to wash our hands, now. We have to go out now, Mommy.''
He started pounding on the door. ''Mommy, don't you
want to wash your hands? I want to go out!!''

I saw that my wait 'em out' plan was unraveling. I sheepishly
opened the door, and found standing outside my stall, twenty
to thirty ladies crowded around the stall, all smiling and
starting to applaud. My first thought was complete
embarrassment, then I thought, where's the fine print on
the 'motherhood contract' where I signed away
every bit of my dignity and privacy? But as my little boy
gave me a big, cheeky grin while he rubbed bubbly soap
between his chubby little hands, I thought, I'd sign
it all away again, just to be known as Mommy to this
little fellow.

(Shannon Popkin is a freelance writer and mother of three She lives with her
family in Grand Rapids , Michigan , where she no longer uses public restrooms)

Isn't it great to be a
parent!!!

Natalie is 2 months old

2009-05-18T17:51:00.001-07:00

It's going by way too fast....
It's hard to believe that 2 months have already passed. Even harder when I hear of other babies crawling and such and knowing that is only about 4 months away...craziness!!
Natalie is such a sweet, sweet baby. By far, the most laid back of my kids.

Some updates on her:

She has been a great sleeper. She now sleeps for at least 6 hours straight at night (which could be considered all night by some), even treating me to a few nights of 8 hours. Early on, she only woke up once during the night, which is sooo manageable!!

She can roll over from her stomach to her back. She likes being on her tummy, but when she tires of it, she just rolls herself over.

She is smiling, as you can see from her pictures. She usually smiles at the sound of her name or her nickname, Natters (for the record Curtis thinks its a dumb nickname, but it just came out one day and has stuck)

She doesn't full out cry unless she is hungry, other than that she just kinda whines. Crazy enough, in our loud house, I still hear her.

She has started cooing and talking, but mostly to her fish on her swing or the bugs on her bouncer. I guess she thinks they are more interesting to talk to than us. =)

She has more hair growing in and it looks dark brown, so I may actually have a baby that favors me...but I am not getting my hopes up.

I take her to the doc tmw, but from what I can tell, she weighs around 11lbs. So growing big and strong!!!

She is a precious addition to our family and we can't wait to see how she grows and what her little personality will be (although I can wait longer if it keeps her little longer).

I guess that is it for tonight. I will update on the other two soon!

1 month update

2009-04-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that had Natalie been born on her due date she would only be a week old. She is 5 weeks now! She has been such a great baby. I prayed and prayed for an easy baby and God has heard me. She is still a normal baby, who cries when she is hungry, dirty, or tired, but she sleeps great and doesn't seem (yet) to require a lot of holding or attention. As I type that, it sounds so bad, but imagine a house with two other little ones and you understand how I can't hold a baby all the time.
Natalie has just started getting more aware and alert and even grinning a bit. It is fun to see her little expressions. I can't wait to see her personality.
Last week, she weighed 9lbs, 2oz. She is growing so great!! No worries with her being an early baby. I am so thankful!!!

So life with three? Well, it is a challenge some days. It is not the baby that makes it harder, just more to carry, more to think about, etc. I still have not perfected the art of grocery shopping with 3 little ones, and am going to brave a shower during waking hours just today. Bekah and Luke are fantastic with Natalie, I have to tell them to stop kissing her and stop bringing her pacifiers. We haven't had any jealousy issues, it has been great.

So I have made it by, my house is not perfectly clean, but it looks pretty good. I have been blessed by good friends too, who watch my other two just to let me shop or go to apts or whatever. I can't imagine doing this motherhood thing alone.

So that is our update, I am going to go attempt that shower now....

Wanting to blog...

2009-04-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

So I started to blog, but Luke got out of his room from naptime and proceeded to try to dump his dirty diaper in the toilet. Imagine the mess...

Then I started to blog again, but Natalie spit up so much that I had to bathe her.

So let's try again, but Luke found bug spray and sprayed the table and himself until my whole house smells like geranium oil (at least it is safe for kids)

Then I sit down just to type this out, and Luke then pulls the eggs off of my easter wreath, one by one.

Believe or not, I am not leaving him unattended that long...he is just fast!

Okay, so I am going to go before anything else happens, with the promise to blog soon.

How our early bird arrived.

2009-03-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here is the story I know many of you have been waiting on, the story of Natalie's birth.

Wednesday, March 11th - I feel fluid leaking and call my midwife. I am certain it is nothing, but just need to make sure. Luckily my sister in law, Kelly came in town last night, so she can watch the kids while I jet out to find out what is going on. I pick up Curtis on my way and we head to the midwife. She checks and it is amnotic fluid, which just scares me! She calls the doctor that is the backup just in case something does go wrong. He wants to me go home and rest, if it is that my water broke, then I should go into labor soon.
I head home, tearfully calling friends and family for prayers. I am worried that with her being so early, 4 weeks, that she is not ready, what is something goes wrong, what if she is in NICU for weeks on end? The questions will not stop!
I go home and start making lists, what needs to be washed, packed, etc. Unfortunatly, I don't have ANY of it done! I am such a planner, and this makes me a nervous wreck! I don't sleep well, I am having contractions about every 20 minutes, just enough to wake me up and worry me.

Thursday, March 12th - We are heading back to the midwife. Because the leaking has not stopped, she phones the doctor again. After not getting ahold of him right away, she tells us what she thinks will happen. She thinks that we will have the baby in the next couple of days, and that we will have to have her at the hospital and will probably be induced and put on antibotics and steroids for the baby's lungs. All this medication...none of it was what I had wanted!!!
We head home and wait for the midwife to call back. When she does, we are told to go to the hospital, they want to induce, b/c they don't want to risk infection.
I kiss my kids goodbye, leave LOTS of information for Kelly (that I should have had typed out), and head to the hospital. On the way I talk to my sister in law, Melinda and she tells me to be sure to eat before I get there, or else I won't get to eat until after the baby is born. I decide to eat, even though I am not hungry. We arrive at the hospital around 8pm. I am hooked up to pitocin, heart monitors and all kinds of other junk! Fortunatly, the doctor sees no need for the steroid or antibotics (YEAH!!!) My mom comes up late to see us and stays the night, she sleeps in the waiting room. The doctor also stayed up at the hospital all night. He is sure that I will have the baby quickly with her being small/early and with my water being broken. We sleep terribly that night. Lots of contractions, nothing terrible, but they are annoying.

Friday, March 13th - Happy 5th Anniversary Curtis!!! I bet you are so excited to be hanging around a hospital! =) My mom heads back to work after sleeping the whole night up here. The doctor is perplexed that I have not gone into labor, but assures me he will be back at lunch time to see how things are going. Up the pitocin, lets get this baby coming! After the WHOLE day of contractions, I am only dialted to a 3. I am STARVING and very grumpy. They decide to take me off the Pit and let me eat and rest for the night. My sweet father in law and husband bring me some dinner. I love you guys!!! We sleep well that night.

Saturday, March 14th - Still no baby. We begin the pitocin again at 6 am. The nurses feel so bad for me. They keep saying things like " in 17 years of nursing, I have never seen anything like this" Thanks, I feel like a freak now... Why won't this baby come out??? The doctor is out of ideas, lets just wait and see is his approach. Humph...don't like that. After another full day of contractions, some pretty hard, I manage to dialate to a 4. They take me off of the pit and let me eat and rest for a bit and then up the pitocin again! At about 8:30, the doctor comes in. He is really confused. The baby is fine, mama is fine, there is just nothing happening. He tells us that he doesn't think a C-section is the best and he doesn't want to do it. Because we are both doing fine, he suggests that we get another hospital room and just wait it out. WHAT??? I don't think so!!!! I have been laboring too long to just sit and wait it out! PLUS, I can't have this undetermined amount of time that I will be in the hospital...what about Rebekah and Luke at home?? As you can tell, I am MAD! The doctor leaves the room to let us talk and I start having really hard contractions. Once he returns, we ask for more time to see if I can progress with these hard contractions. After about an hour, the nurse comes in and I am sure I am in labor. She checks me and I am at a 6. The kind of contractions I am having remind me of the kind that I had with Luke right before he was born. They are TERRIBLE, I know I can't handle much more of that. I am usually really calm and have a high pain tollerance, but that went out the window when they gave me that Pitocin. I am given Phengren and it knocks me out. (Curtis has some funny stories about that). I wake up around 12:30 and am really in pain. The nurse finally checks me. I am at a 9.

Sunday, March 15th - The nurse casually starts getting things out and calling the doctor. Hello??? This is happening fast. I tell her I need to push and she says, "okay, just wait a minute, lets fix the bed....." and on and on she goes. Don't you know lady, I am serious!!! Finally the doctor comes in and I am telling them for the millionth time, I need to push!! He says okay, push! So I do, 3 or 4 pushes later, Natalie makes her arrival.

She is born at 1:21 am. She is 6lbs, 7.9oz and is 18 1/2 inches long.

So that is the story. She came out healthy and beautiful!!! She is a little peanut compared to my other two (Rebekah, 8lbs, 6 oz and Luke, 9lbs, 4 oz). We are so thankful that she had no other issues. We were able to come home on Monday.

For those of you who are reading this on my blog and not on facebook, here is a link to all the other pics on facebook:
facebook pics

She's here!!!!

2009-03-16T07:41:00.001-07:00

For those of you who don't know, Natalie FINALLY made her appearance Sunday morning at 1:21am. She weighed 6lbs, 8oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. She is tiny compared to Bekah and Luke when they were born, but just beautiful!!!
I will post a birth story probably next week when we get settled. I just wanted to update everyone.
Thank you so much for your prayers, calls, and help with the kiddos!!

I will post pictures soon too!

Baby Natalie is on her way...

2009-03-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post a quick note letting everyone know that we are in the hospital. My water broke yesterday and Natalie is on her way about 4 weeks early. They are inducing tonight and we should meet her soon. Natalie seems to be doing fine and I feel fine too (except for these dreadful contractions). Please keep us in your prayers and we will try to post when she comes along.

Baby and potty training...

2009-02-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest belly shot. This was me at 30 weeks. I am now 32 weeks and counting down!!! The baby moves a lot! Feels like more than the other two, but my memory is fuzzy on all of that. If I lay down you can grab ahold of her head and her bottom at the same time, she is just right out there!! It's fun! I am hoping she is smaller than the other two, but it doesn't seem to be working that way so far. We will see in 8 weeks!

Yes, we have begun potty training...and yes, I still hate it!
This was a sweet picture of Rebekah sitting in the bathroom with Luke. She is rewarded if she encourages him to go potty. He looks up to her so much, that sometimes she can convince him to go potty more than I can. So Bekah is sitting in there with him, reading (memorized) to him. I thought it was sweet.

What to wear...

2009-02-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

I was wondering what I should wear for my baby shower in a few weeks. After seeing this on the grammy's, I was thinking I may try to copy it. I don't know, it might make my bottom look kinda big. What do you think? ;)

What do you do all day?

2009-02-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

I saw this article and it really got me thinking, and kinda defensive. What DO I do all day?

So I wrote out our schedule:

7:00am - wake up
7:30am - pull the kids off of my lap to go get a cup of coffee
8:00am - breakfast - "I want pancakes" "I want cereal" "no, I want yogurt" (it is hard to make up their little minds first thing in the morning.)
8:30am - clean up breakfast, start laundry, get out whatever for dinner that night.
9:00am - check email and make phone calls
9:30am - shower (sometimes), get dressed.
10:00am - get kids dressed, "no you may not wear shorts, it is 30 degrees outside, yes I know that daddy does it, but you are not daddy!" I don't know how many times I have said that!
10:30am - out the door to run errands
10:45am - Finally pull out of the driveway
12:00pm - return home to make lunch
12:15pm - finally get the kids to make up their minds about what they want to eat.
12:45pm - eat lunch myself
1:00pm - clean up lunch, run dishwasher, and switch over laundry.
1:30pm - nap time/computer time for mom
2:00pm - clean all those things that are impossible to do around the kids
2:30pm - School time for Bekah
3:30pm - Luke wakes up, snack time
4:00pm - play and read with kiddos
5:00pm - finish up chores
5:30pm - start dinner
6:00pm - eat dinner
6:45pm - clean up dinner
7:00pm - kids bath time
7:45pm - kids ready for bed
8:00pm - get kids in bed
8:30pm - sit on the couch and breathe...
10:00pm - (or sooner) my bedtime.

When I type all of that out, we are pretty busy. Plus add in the teaching, correcting, loving, kissing, hugging, and enjoying my babies, I see what I do all day. =)
Here is the article that prompted all of this. Check it out.

washington post article

Mama Power

2009-01-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

I have to begin this post with telling you we have had a rough day. From grumpy, napless children, to an overflowing toilet. It has not been fun! BUT...I have figured out something. When mama ain't happy, everybody better clean! =)
I don't know where this all started, maybe when I was young and if I was in trouble, I had to go to my room while my parents decided my punishment. It was a REALLY good idea to clean your room up, so you didn't get in trouble for that too. So now that I am grown, everytime I get upset, my first instinct is to clean. I guess scrubbing helps me get my frustration out and I can calm down. My husband picked up on this a while back and knows when I get really grumpy or stressed, the easiest way to make it all better is to help me clean. I don't have to ask, it just happens.
Today, I witnessed it for the first time with my children. I was upset after cleaning up floating poop off the floor and the kids were bickering. Instead of getting onto them, I started cleaning and this amazing thing happened. They started cleaning too! They are usually bears about picking up ANYTHING. But today, they just started on their own. They became these sweet, loving brother and sister, and worked together and asked if there was anything they could do...it was GREAT!!!
I don't want to abuse my power....but it is kinda nice to know I have it! =)
It all made me smile in the midst of my stinky day.

Christmas

2009-01-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

I am so sorry it has been so long since I have written anything on this blog of mine. I never have my pictures handy and so I put it off. So here goes a little recap of our Christmas.

We drove out to Lubbock and did Christmas Eve with the bro and sis in law and nephew. The way we did it was just like Curtis and his brother had done when they were young. We all went out to dinner, but before we left, my sis-in-law and I ran in to "go to the bathroom" and put out "Santa." So, when we returned from dinner, the kids found that Santa had visited them.

Then on Christmas day, we had a low key morning and then spent the day with all of the Thornburg side of the family. It was a little crazy, but went really smooth, especially considering there are 6 grandkids all 4 and under.

We had a great time seeing everyone and meeting our new little niece for the first time!

Then we had Christmas here with my parents on New Years Day. We had our traditional lasagna for dinner and had a great time visiting and playing with the kids.

The pictures below are a little recap of all of our Christmases.

p.s. Because I don't really know what I am doing, the pictures are chronologically backwards. So they begin with New Years day and go back to Christmas Eve. I will figure it out one of these days!

Product Review

2008-11-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, I know this is not my typical entry, but I was asked to try out a product(that has been tested) and give me opionin. After I tried it, I am sold! I love it!
It is called Sinupret

It is an all natural and it worked SO well on my kiddos. They both had runny noses and coughs and then after a day and a half of using it, all the symptoms were gone!

Here are some more facts:

Supports the upper respiratory system.*
Promotes healthy nasal passages.*
Strengthens the immune system.*
Sinupret has been the subject of multiple randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials for efficacy and safety on more than 3,000 patients and recommended for children ages 2 & up.
Does not contain stimulants, caffeine, ephedra or pseudoephedrine.
Sinupret has no history of dangerous side effects
Sinupret is cited as safe and effective in several medical journals such as the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Plant Medica, the Pharmacists's Letter for Efficacy and Safety and the American Council Guide to Herbs.

If you want to read more about it, check out the website:

http://bionoricausa.com/product-details/sinupret-for-kids

I have been told that you can find it at Super Walmart, if you are interested. I guess that is all. With cold season in full force, I thought it was good info to pass along. If you try it, let me know how it works for you!

Our Baby Girl

2008-11-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

Announcing Miss Natalie Jean!

Halloween

2008-11-02T05:26:00.000-08:00

We had a great time on Halloween!!
First we started off at an outdoor mall, walking around to the different stores with some friends of ours. The kids liked getting candy, but mostly liked looking at everyone elses costumes.
After that we came home and went up and down our street to trick or treat at our neighbors houses.
Then Curtis and I headed out to celebrate a birthday with a close friend. It was a fun and BUSY night!
Here are some pictures:

Birthday and Baby

2008-10-27T12:21:00.001-07:00

First off, Happy 2nd Birthday to Luke. I can't believe he is already 2 years old. He is such a sweet boy, loves to cuddle, but is boy through and through!!
His birthday was last week, and we spent the Saturday before with Grandparents at the zoo and then birthday cake and presents.
Then on his actual birthday, we went to a pumpkin patch with some friends and got to pet lots of animals and go and a hayride, which was Luke's favorite.
It seems so odd to me to have two KIDS...no more babies for a few more months!!
Happy Birthday Luke, we love you so much!!

Baby News:
I am currently 16 weeks along and everything is going great. I haven't gained much weight, although my tummy is sticking out quite well now. We had an apt today and Rebekah got to hear the baby's heartbeat, so that was fun. The midwife agrees with Rebekah in thinking that this baby is a girl. We have a little bit longer before we find out, I can't wait!! I have been feeling the baby move a lot and I can't remember feeling the other two this early, but is has been a nice little reminder that "oh yeah, I am pregnant" sometimes I forget in the hussle and bussle of taking care of the other two. I guess that is all the news I have for now. I will try to keep things posted as I know that a lot family reads this and wants to be kept in the loop.

~ Trina

Go Fish - Mom Song

2008-10-16T05:08:00.000-07:00

I heard these guys at convention. They were terrific. They mostly do kid songs, but this one is more for moms. They also have one titled "It's hard to feel cool in a minivan," oh so true!
This is the mom song and I hope you enjoy it!!

True Story...unfortunately

2008-10-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

So imagine in your head, a trip to Wally World. I have in tow, my 3 year old and my almost 2 year old. I have A LOT to buy!!! So my darling Luke (2 yr old) does not want to sit in the shopping cart. After much screaming, he calms down after seeing the new toothbrush he is getting. (go figure!) Then we have an emergency potty run, where everyone has to get out of the cart, and file into a much to small bathroom where I get to cover the sensor on the automatic flusher, Bekah is scared of it. So then, I get to re battle about getting into the shopping cart. So as a compromise, I let Luke sit in the back. That works for all of 2 minutes, then he is screaming he wants out. He is standing up and refusing to sit down. I spank his bottom, and his response is to lay down in the cart and scream more. ( I hope you all are shaking your head that you have been there before....I hope). I choose to ignore him and go about my shopping. This is what happens. I am not kidding...

This elderly man approaches me.

Man: Why is he screaming like that?

Me: Because he is being naughty.

Man: You should discipline him.

Me: I did, that is part of why he is screaming.

Man: Really, you should not let him scream like that, it is very bothersome to those shopping around you.

Me: I am so sorry.

Man: You do realize that his poor behavior is a reflection of you, I would think about that before you let your child act like that. Think about it. (he frowns and walks off....I imagine him shaking his finger and saying shame on you)

There were other witnesses that took pity on me,but really??? Am I that terrible? I almost started to cry. I try hard to have well behaved kids, but it doesn't always work out that way. I know I am hormonal, but I felt just awful. Then I started imagining all the things I would say to that man if I ran into him again....yeah right. So I will blog about it instead and take comfort that I am not the only mommy that has had meltdowns in the store (mommy or kids =) )

New Hair

2008-09-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

This was kinda fun, but it also kinda shows my new hair. I chopped it off in Vegas. It hits my shoulders and I usually wear it flipped out or curly. Do you think this looks like me?? I don't know, but it was fun. If you want to do it, you can go here:http://www.faceyourmanga.com/

Vacation and General Update.

2008-09-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Over labor day weekend, my wonderful husband met up with me in Vegas. Yes, we met up. I drove the kids to Lubbock to stay with the in laws and flew out from there, and Curtis flew out from Dallas. When I told my grandmother about our plans, she asked if it was like a secret rendezvous....I liked that, so that is what I called it. We had a great time! We saw a bunch of shows and ate lots of great food!!! I only got sick once while we were there, so I was pleased that is wasn't the whole time. I also survived without taking a nap everyday, so that was fun. We also met up with some old friends there, and had a great time. On Monday, I spent the day at the spa, which was supposed to be soooo wonderful, but there is a lot I couldn't do b/c of the pregnancy...boo! But most of it was great. I felt recharged when we got back. It was wonderful!!!
Now onto the update for real life. Things are getting busy around here. I am now 10 weeks pregnant, and look like I am about 5 months pregnant! Thank you third baby!!! We are currently interviewing midwives and hopefully will have our first apt sometime next week. We are going to have the baby in a birthing center, which is new to us, but I think will be really great. MOPS has started back up and I am the Creative Activities Coord, so that is keeping me busy. I am also still watching kids, which keeps us all busy.
Kid update: Rebekah is getting so big!!! She loves to draw and write notes to us. She is great at coloring and drawing very realistic things...it impresses me. She is also getting so much more mature...I know it is supposed to happen that way, but we are getting less fits, more rational thinking, it's great.
Luke is almost 2! CRAZY!!! He is talking a ton more than before and understands so much. He is also testing his limits , he chooses to ignore me sometimes and it results in discipline, but he is almost 2, so I guess it is expected. I am shocked at how big he is all the time. He is still very laid back and funny. He is our little Curtis as far as his personality...never met a stranger.
My kids have such different personalities, and I can't wait to see what the next one is like!
I guess that is all for now. I will try to post new pics soon.

Minivan Mom

2008-08-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

So it's offical. We are the proud owners of a minivan. It's a Ford Windstar Limited. It is super nice!! I never thought I would like a minivan, but with two small kiddos and one on the way, this seems like a dream!! Ours has automatic doors, and with Bekah able to get in and buckle herself, that makes it super easy. It also has a TV, so for long trips the kids can watch movies.
It is funny how in a matter of 4 short years, my mind could be so changed.
So watch out out, there is a new minivan mom on the road!!

Baby # 3

2008-08-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that God is blessing us with another baby come April. We are thrilled!!! Rebekah is really excited also, she has been talking in her sleep about the baby and doesn't want to sit on my lap or for me to hold her b/c she might hurt the baby. It is so cute to watch her this time. Last time she was 10 months old, so totally different experience for her!!
When we asked Luke if he wanted a baby brother or sister, his response was "NO!" lol, he doesn't have much of a choice does he??
Baby # 3 brings many changes, but we are excited.

School week 2

2008-08-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Lesson Plan 8-11-08
Letter B

Monday:
Rebekah:
Introduction letter B sound + practice writing letter B and b (writing + phonics)
http://www.kidzone.ws/prek_wrksht/learning-letters/b.htm
Luke:
Box of things that begin with letter B and playing with blocks

Tuesday:

Rebekah:
Letter B – filled in with beans
http://www.dltk-teach.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/image/b-bb.gif
What begins with B? (phonics)
http://www.beginningreading.com/Alphabet_4Bb.gif
Luke:
Bubbles (buh, buh, bubbles)
Brown bear, brown bear, turn around (movement)
Book: Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
Rebekah and Luke - Brown bear game (board game)

Wednesday:
Wheels on the BUS
Rebekah: practice writing b words such as “bus” (writing)
Luke and Bekah: Bus craft + song and actions
http://www.dltk-kids.com/school/egg_carton_school_bus.htm

Thursday:
Rebekah: Ask me book – Bugs, bugs, bugs (science)
Rebekah, Luke, and B:
Bringing home a baby bumblebee song and color sheet
Handprint bumblebee craft
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/mhandprintbee.htm

Friday:
Rebekah and Luke:
B is for Bible – why we have it, what it is for, read favorite stories
Bake banana bread (science)

I will post pics of last weeks lesson some time this week. It went well and I am encouraged to keep going!

My Secret Projects

2008-08-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Photo quilt for my brother and sister in law's 15th wedding anniversary. It is wall hanging size.
Activity Attache

Diaper holder thing...

School...

2008-08-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

I know that this is supposed to be a blog about crafting, so I will post my recent "secret" projects sometime soon. ( I need to unpack the camera first).
On to what has been on my heart for awhile now. I am a teacher by trade. I actually have a master's degree in deaf ed. As a stay at home mom, I don't feel I use too much of my training and I feel with small kids, I am wasting it!!! So I have decided to start doing lesson plans. I have already been doing "school time" with Bekah, but it is not very thought out. So this is my first attempt at lesson planning for my kiddos.

So we start at the very beginning....

Lesson Plan – August 4, 2008

Letter A

Monday:
Rebekah – Practice writing A's (WRITING)
http://www.dltk-teach.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltkteach.com/alphabuddies/image/ctracea.gif
Luke – Letter A box – box filled with things that begin with A

Tuesday:
Rebekah – counting apple seeds/adding (MATH)
Luke – apple sorting : matching different colored apples into the same colored bags

Wednesday:
Rebekah – Letter A collage -cutting and gluing pictures of things that begin with A sound (CRAFT/PHONICS)
Luke and B (kid I babysit) – Apple stamping on letter A

Thursday:
Rebekah – picture matching with A's (LANGUAGE/PHONICS)
http://www.kidzone.ws/kindergarten/vowels/a-begins1.htm
Luke – apple tree play – draw a tree and hang on the wall with Velcro apples to pick.

Friday :
Rebekah and Luke –
Bible story - Adam and Eve (BIBLE)
http://sunday-school-fun-zone.com/freelessons/color17hiding.html
cook apple muffins (SCIENCE)

extras:
http://www.kidzone.ws/prek_wrksht/learning-letters/a.htm

I will also post some of the folder games I have been making too. Great for naptime!!!

Wish me luck!!!

Trip to the moon

2008-07-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

A box is the BEST toy in the world (or in our case the moon)!!!

2008-07-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

LOVED THIS!! I think I am going to print it out and hang it on the fridge! What a great reminder of what really matters!

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I've learned, to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

-Author Unknown

Garden Harvest

2008-07-18T15:37:00.002-07:00

We started a garden this spring and it was time to harvest our herbs. Apparently you are supposed to harvest them more often, but I didn't know that, so this is our first (maybe last), harvest. We grew basil, oregano, tarragon, sweet herb, peppermint, and cilantro (which we didn't harvest in time, but we got coriander seeds from)

Don't you like my drying method? I didn't have anywhere else to hang them to dry, so they went on my decoration by my front door. It smells really good when you walk in! =)

We are also growing lots of squash, zucchini, peppers of all sorts, watermelon, beans (pictured in the photo with the herbs), and tomatoes.

We also planted our front flower garden, it has some vegetables, but flowers too.

Here is Bekah with some gladiolas and some yellow flowers that grow on a plant right next to my front door. It was here when we moved here and it is VERY low maintenance!

I love bringing fresh flowers in the house!!

If anyone has any good recipes for my new fresh/dried herbs or for squash and zucchini (we have lots!), let me know. I would love to try them out. Thanks!

Sitter Rate??

2008-07-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

I just came across this on the net. http://www.sittercity.com/rate_calculator.html
You can go in and put your zipcode and how many kids you have and it calculates how much you should pay them.
Mine came up $11.75 an hour!!! WHAT???
We feel we pay well, our babysitters feel we pay well. What is the point in going out if you have to pay $11.75 an hour?
I am curious to see if everyone else's is that high too.

FYI: you know, I made $2.00 an hour when I was in middle school/high school watching my cousins?? geez...I guess that was 15 years ago...

Madness to my Method

2008-07-14T14:03:00.001-07:00

I have this funny aversion to sewing patterns. I think it is because I HATE cutting out patterns! It always takes me forever to get it all laid out right, and then...trying to get it back into that little envelope! HA! Yeah right! I can't do it...so I have come up with ways around my problems.

1. I don't use sewing patterns often...I like to come up with my own using just measurements.

2. I cut everything out on the floor. I know my mom is shaking her head about me killing my back, but really how in the world am I supposed to do it on a table?

3. I don't even TRY to get that flimsy pattern back into the envelope, I just put it in a gallon size Ziploc....cheating I know, but easy!

This is the way I organize what I have cut...not too crazy right?

Here is my project bag. This is all the parts to the dust ruffle I am working on. All the parts of the pattern yet to be cut, along with the above pieces.This is my Ziploc method of storing patterns.

What you see pictured is the baby bedding for my sister in law. I will post finished pictures as I get done. It is turning out soooo cute!!

My list of projects:

1. Sis-in-law's baby girl bedding

2. Luke's memory quilt

3. Nursing wrap and diaper change set out of this fabric - http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/MMF/Popup1_Swatch.cfm?Popup=7&&Kwds=disco

4. Finish kitchen curtains

5. gifts that cannot be posted

6. PJ's for Bekah.

Most of it needs to be done by mid-August so wish me luck!

Joke

2008-07-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as we were shopping, Bekah asked me how her finger hurt. My reply was flippant, and I said something along the lines of it just does. Not good enough!!

Bekah: Tell me HOW it hurts
Me: God just made it so you can tell when it hurts
Bekah: No, mommy, tell me how!
Me: *sigh* You have nerves in your finger and when it gets hurt, the nerve sends a signal to your brain and your brain says "ouch that hurts"
Bekah: How does it get to your brain?
Me: It just travels up your body

Best part:

Bekah: *laughing* Does your nerves take a suitcase with them?

At that point, I was cracking up. Where does she get this stuff?
Just thought I would share a bit of humor today!

Pushing through...

2008-07-10T06:33:00.001-07:00

Why did they invent sewing machines with this small opening on one side. Don't they realize that pushing 3 feet of fabric through the machine is hard to do?? My machine has a close left side stitch, which I like, b/c it looks really finished. BUT, projects like this are very difficult to keep straight! Anyone else have this problem or have a solution??

4th of July

2008-07-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

We had a great 4th of July this year!!
We started our weekend by watching the Wylie fireworks from our driveway. We just set up chairs and sat back and enjoyed. It was super nice not to fight the traffic leaving and all that.
Then on Friday morning, we met up with friends for the Sachse parade. It was small and cute. They had games and such at the park afterwards (that is what the pictures are of). Then we went and did a little shopping, had lunch, long naps, ate again, and then headed out to shoot off our own fireworks.
We can't shoot them off in town, so we drove out to a spot where we could shoot them off, but it was too full, so we drove around until we found some people shooting them off in a cul-de-sac, so we asked if we could join them. They had lots of kids, so everyone was watching out for the little ones and being safe. Bekah was mostly concerned with everyone's safety..."stay away, will it burn me??" Luke just kept saying "wow" in a hushed awe like sound. Too cute! It was lots of fun! Hope everyone else had a good weekend!

Here I am!!

2008-07-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

I finally decided to join the ranks of all my lovely girlfriends out there and start a blog. I want to use this blog to keep everyone up to date on my kiddos and family, but also to share in my adventures in sewing.
Sew, I will be posting again soon!!