Transitioning

Our transition has gone pretty well.  I was amazed the first night after I tucked Brayden in his new bed.  He and his new roommate, Kalen, just stayed quiet as mice and went right to sleep.I was expecting more drama.  The next morning at 6:55 am, they tip toed into our room with grins on their faces.  

Since then, Brayden has realized his new found freedom.  Last night was difficult for him as he was trying to settle down and sleep.  He wanted to get up and play.  Of course, it didn't help that Kalen was talking to him all the while.  Kalen fell asleep first and I think that made Brayden realize that this was for real.  I heard them this morning at 6:45 am in their room.  I went in there and tried to shush them.  Remember, I am not a morning person.  I ended up just surrendering to the moment and escorted them downstairs so the rest of the family could continue sleeping. 

Julian seems to be enjoying his own room.  He was able to get a new comforter with dinosaurs on it.  He has his own bookshelf full of books, CD player and such.  We made the clothes swap yesterday.  This was quite an effort, but it is done.  We have a lot more organizing and personalizing to do within both of the boy's rooms.  I am happy that we were able to get some free mattresses at the perfect time and start all this.  

Might I add what an amazing gift it has been this week to have Scott home more.  He has been so helpful.  This is his first week of not teaching summer session classes at UNC.  He will start back on August 19th with his course work and being a teaching assistant.  Until then, he has a book review and several other things he can be working on.  The great thing is, nothing is pressing on him and he can spend more time at home within the next few weeks.   He cracks me up, he has always got to be doing something.  He is ultra productive.  Yesterday, he took most of our paperback chapter books and put book binding tape on the side.  He spent the entire morning doing this.  He is such a worker and I am so thankful for him.

25 Random Things

This was inspired by my friend Torie's blog post.  I am listing 25 random things about me that you may not know.  This will be a challenge, but I am up for it.

1.  I love cereal.  I could eat it morning, noon and night. 

2.  My favorite word is sunshine.

3.  I don't like olives.  

4.  When I was in kindergarten, my class took a field trip.  For some reason, I rode with another classmate with our teacher.  My teacher closed my finger in the car door.  

5.  My first car was a used red Sunbird.

6.  One of my favorite TV shows is the Andy Griffith Show. 

7.  I hold my right armpit with my left hand while I brush my teeth with my right hand every single time! 

8.  I don't finish things off, such as a cup of coffee, the last bit of something in the fridge, the last few pretzels in a bag.  I open a new one or just leave the last sip of drink in my cup.  Scott really loves this about me.  :)

9.  I was a cheerleader in junior high and high school.

10.  My full maiden name is Anna Laurel Kirby.

11.  I attended Appalachian State University and got a degree in Birth through Kindergarten.

12.  My freshman college roommate was unexpectedly pregnant and we found out together.  

13.  A nurse delivered my daughter, Madelyn.  Labor had progressed so quickly and the doctor just couldn't get there quickly enough.  

14.  I waited tables in a little cafe in Blowing Rock in college.

15.  When I was younger, I would spend the night with my maternal grandmother.  We would watch Nick at Nite and crack up at I Love Lucy for what seemed like hours.  

16.  I was afraid of the dark as a child.

17.  I like a good country song.  

18.  It was love at first sight with Scott.  I knew it when I simply looked at him.  Do you believe in that?  I do.  We have a one of a kind of love.

19.  I am not a morning person, not at all!

20.  I would love to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Durham.

21.  I have learned to love reading.

22.  I am very thankful to be vegan and really can't stand the thought of what happens to animals on factory farms.  

23.  I became a vegetarian in 1997.

24.  I would love to learn to ballroom dance.

25.  I sleep on the left side of the bed.  

Warning: Turbulence Ahead

Scott went and picked up a six month old box spring and mattress today, another freecycle success.  We knew in the near future, we would need to purchase these for Julian.  The plan has been to have Julian move to his own room (Brady's current room) when Brayden was ready to transition out of his crib.  Brayden's bed actually converts into a full size bed.  Ready or not, here we go.  We have the mattresses and the time is now.  

Tonight, Scott and I moved the box spring and mattress up into the hallway.  It would be no fun to have these things in this spot for any long length of time, so we are going for the transition tomorrow.  Ahh . . . . breathe deep Morrison family!!!

I talked to each of the boys tonight about what tomorrow would be like.  Brayden said, "Okay!" about twenty times.  Kalen and Julian both got wide eyes and tried to let it sink in.  I went around like a little reporter taking photos.  This is a night to remember.  Tonight is the last night Kalen and Julian will be roomies.  Tomorrow, Kalen will move into the big brother position in his room.  Lord only knows how Brayden will deal with it all.  He will not be confined by the bars of his crib.  Freedom baby!  He will have total access to this, that and the other.  Transitions like these are seldom easy.  We'll keep you posted.

Home Life & Creativity

Our home has been very rich with creativity recently, especially with Julian, Madelyn and Kalen.  Maybe it is due to these hot summer days or maybe just a development within our children.  I have enjoyed getting quite creative in the kitchen, as well.  It's fun to whip up a meal that is a delight to look at, as well as delightful to eat.  

The kids have been very creative with Legos and K'NEX.  As a proud mom would, I wanted to share a few of the creations that lasted until I was able to get a picture of them.  

Boat made by Julian with K'NEX

Madelyn with Lego house.  This was her first attempt at making a roof.  :)

This is Julian's Lego house with dog house underneath.  

This is a Red Lentil Pasta dish from one of Sarah Kramer's cookbook.

This is a Veggie Pot Pie.  I can't express to you how elated I was at accomplishing this.  I had never attempted a dish like this before.  It turned out so great!  The top crust was wonderful and super manageable.  Another super Sarah recipe.

Had to throw this in.  This is one of Kalen's toad friends.  We, I say we but really mean they, have found several lately in and around our yard.  This thrills Kalen to no end.  We keep them for a day or so, feed them crickets, observe them and send them on their merry way.  

In one of my recent posts, I mentioned Julian's new Swiss Family Robinson Comprehension Guide.  This is an activity from that.  He and I used two Silk soymilk containers and a couple of other materials to make this ship.  

This is Maddie with her bird.  She created this today, with a little help from Kalen.  

The Numbers Are In

It was a small voting turn out, but it looks like crunchy peanut butter wins.  Scott and I have been having this debate for years.  I am the creamy peanut butter eater, he is into the crunchy kind.  I was just curious to see how you all like it.  Thanks for those of you that participated. 

He's So Big

Brayden is growing up before our very eyes.  He is talking more with each day.  I am sharing two pictures.  One is of me holding him after we tried on a pair of shoes that were Julian's.  We couldn't believe they fit.  His old tennis shoes were way too small and he has not worn them in months.  I was shocked when his big boy foot fit into a whole size and a half bigger shoe.  Then, there he is buttering bread.  Don't worry that's a butter knife.  He is such a helper.  

Growth and Harvest

Here are several pictures of the current state of our ever growing garden.  We are very pleased with the progress.  I didn't take photos of everything, but you'll get a good glimpse.  

Lately, I have been snacking on our cucumbers dipped in rice vinegar.  

Shopping for Our School

We went to the homeschool consignment store in Raleigh.  I had prepared a list of items that we needed for the coming year.  Needless to say, from the pictures, we were very successful.  For two hours, we went through stacks of books and resources.  We were in good company.  There were several other families there searching for materials as well.

Almost as soon as we got in the door, the kids headed for the dining room table.  They wanted to start their new books or use some new learning tools.  They were so cute!  Scott and I just beamed as we witnessed our children's true love of learning being displayed so sweetly.  Their eagerness is what I would love to be able to stimulate and encourage each and every day.  

I am very hopeful and excited about our homeschool.  We have some really cool things going on.  I will write more on this later.

Here is Kalen with his Kindergarten book.  He is beginning to work on his numbers more.

We found a great resource for our reader.  Julian fell in love with comprehension guide for Swiss Family Robinson.  Basically, he reads the book and all along the way he answers questions and does activities with the content.  

Madelyn is pictured here with her telling time dry erase cards.  

Enjoying the Simple

I snatched this idea from Kristen.  She posted about this Simple Woman's Daybook that she drew from to create a great post for today.  As sited on the blog, "Now you can share with others a little look into your day plans andthoughts while you are focusing on the simplicity of the everyday moments around you. That is my vision for this idea! Slow down, take time and enjoy the moment...the day."

I enjoyed her post so much, I will try something similar.  All my blogging friends, please join in with me as I try to take in the simple thoughts, hopes and things of this day.

Outside my window . . . I can see our Mimosa tree gently swaying back and forth.  I am amazed that there is a small breeze on this hot, 100 degree day.  The tree's beautiful silky smooth pink flowers are now wilting away.  This unique tree is also called the silk tree, because of the stunning flowers.  It is also referred to as the Hummingbird's favorite tree. 

I'm thinking . . . how good it is to be home.  Home life is just the best.  Thoughts of prepping a new meal excites me.  Thoughts of our homeschool and the priveledge I have to teach and nurture these chilren we have is overwhelming. 

I am thankful for . . .  our garden that is green from growth.  We harvest cucumbers, zucchini, okra and tomatoes almost daily.  I love incorporating these veggies into our meals.  

From the kitchen . . . there are dirty dishes from a simple lunch of baked potatoes.  I am hopeful about prepping a new meal we will have tonight, Veggie Pot Pie.

I am wearing  . . . my favorite yellow cotton tank top, shorts, bare feet, fair trade earrings from Ten Thousand Villages that Maddie gave me, and hair all swooped up in a ponytail.  

I am creating . . .  a brown blanket that I am crocheting.  This will be for Scott and I to snuggle under in the fall as we melt into the couch after a long day and watch our favorite shows or read a book.

I am dreaming of . . . adopting.  Plain and simple, I would love to adopt a kid.  I think about it morning, noon and night.  I look at little orphaned faces on my computer screen every month.  Scott and I have talked about adopting for years.  We would love to welcome another little one into our family. I will continue to hope and dream of adopting, domestic or international.  God knows the desires of our hearts.  

I am going . . .  to take the kids to the UNC Morehead Planetarium and Science Center tomorrow morning.  This is something that they have been wanting to do for weeks.  I surprised them this morning with the news.  They are so excited.  We have a membership to the planetarium.  They do great stuff for kids there.

I am reading . . . The Simple Path by Mother Teresa.  My friend, Mandy, asked me to read this along with her.  Of course, I was super excited to pick up anything that has to do with Mother Teresa.  This book is all that I wanted it to be.  The book is full of testimonies, guiding principles of charity, descriptions of her work and lifestyle.  Mother Teresa is one of my heroes.  She loved the Lord and people so much.  It is so refreshing and inspirational.  

I am hoping . . . for a peaceful evening within our home.  An evening free of any major mishaps, injuries, bad attitudes, spills and such.  Scott has no class and we will all share a meal and family time together.  This is such a treat to start the week with. 

I am hearing . . .  the small murmur of each child playing alone during their individual rest time.  I hear Playmobil, dropping from Julian's hands.  I hear Kalen as he whispers, "Mommy, look at this," as he shows me his crazy K'NEX creation.  I hear Madelyn's book on CD and the Legos that she carefully is being creative with.  This is a time of day that we all enjoy.  We get to be alone and separated for an hour.  This is a time of refreshment and quiet.

Around the house . . . there are plenty of little messes.  This is the evidence of life, right?  Yes, we LIVE in this house.  Library books spilled from the basket from morning reading, Playmobil helmets and swords decorate the floor near the Playmobil table, cherry tomatoes that are almost rolling off the counter from this morning's harvesting, stacks of folded laundry waiting to be whisked off to their designated homes . . . I could go on and on.

One of my favorite things . . . hanging our laundry outside on the line.  I get to hear the birds make their little calls, watch the squirrels climb the pines behind our home, breathe deeply, feel the warmth of the summer sun and catch glimpses of our garden growing and our busy little children's legs as they jump on the trampoline.  

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . homeschool these eager learners each day and look through the many resources we have for teaching them for the upcoming year.  I want to be playful, enjoying what is left our summer.  I will cook with creativity and delight as I prepare the meals I have planned.  We will meet some friends at the museum, meet some friends at the park, attend a dress up birthday party, attend our church picnic, clean our home, read lots of books, laugh, cry and just take this life in.  

A picture I am sharing . . .

This was a photo taken last Monday.  Scott and I scooted up to Boone for a day by ourselves.  We had just taken the kids a couple of days before.  My mom and Annette said they would take care of the kids and go hiking at Hanging Rock State Park.  

Scott and I totally delighted in each other's company that day.  It was so wonderful revitalizing just to take in that mountain air and share memories.  

Getting Creative with Pot(s)

Ha.  Got you with the title didn't I?  I like a good pot.  My grandma gave me some of these clay pots that she wasn't using.  By the way, I absolutely love getting stuff from my grandma.  It thrills me to no end.  Anyways, Scott and I had a little quality time last night as we painted these pots.  We used some paint we already had.  I need to transplant some of my ever growing house plants.  I thought this would be a neat way to reuse something of my grandma's, give my plants a little more room to grow and beautify our home.  

I must say that I have been resisting the urge to spend some money at my local Ten Thousand Villages store.  This is a fair trade store that doesn't over price and sells really neat stuff.  The items are from over 30 different countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.  They sell beautiful pots.  But, it is better to use what is available, without cost and already used, than spend money on something bigger and better.  I will continue to visit my favorite store.  It is where I buy almost all my Christmas and birthday gifts for family and friends.  For now, I am trying to spend less and reuse more.  

Plant Success

Just wanted to share these great photos of our plants growing on our back deck.  Just like myself, they love the summer sun.  It delights me so much to look out my back door to see these beauties.  Mom and Grandma, you'd be proud.  

I have been using my herbs almost daily.  It is such a treat to walk outside and snip what I need as I cook.  This morning, Scott made a wonderful tofu scramble and used fresh basil and oregano.  It was so yummy!

Parsley, Basil, and Oregano

Petunias and Zinnias

Lantana, Zinnias, and Petunias

Pictures from King

Here are some photos from our visit in King.  We enjoyed being at my Mom's house.  I was able to see Mom, Annette, Grandma, Uncle Bob, my brother, Ryan, Stephanie, Grayson and Anna Kristin.  

Later on, I went over to my friend Elizabeth's house.  She and her husband, Clay, live in King as well.  Elizabeth and I were almost inseparable in high school.  Elizabeth had a baby in May.  Her little girl's name is Emery Anne.  I held her the entire time I was there.  Of course, you can imagine the effect it had on me.  Emery is such a little doll.