Weekend With Friends

Daniel, Jen, Arianna and Ellen came for a visit this past weekend.  It was glorious as always.  Life is so enjoyable with good friends that you can let your hair down with (oops, sorry honey).  Here are a few photos from our time together.

We went out to Carrboro for some Katie's Pretzels.  Yum!

The kids had a ball.  Here they are all drawing.

In this picture, Jen and I are about to step out for a night out.  Can you tell we were excited?  Coffee, vegan desserts, and lots chatting . . . what could be more divine?

This was after a sweet performance the kids put on for us one morning.

May I say that Daniel is like a grandparent to our kids.  Not that he is older, but he says yes to almost everything they ask him to do.  You know how grandparents are.  Anyways, our kids adore this man!

This was a little veggie dog creation that Jen and I saw in a cookbook at Barnes and Noble while we were out.  The kids liked their little sea creature lunch.

I took a picture as we said our goodbyes. 

 

Maddie and one of her best buds, Arianna.

Little Table Talk

Some Specifics

Currently my two Science students are drawing and labeling what is underneath our skin.  We started a unit on the Human Body last week.  I teach mostly out of The Kingfisher First Human Body Encyclopedia.  They are so cute down there working together.  I just heard Julian say, "do your best!"  

Kalen is in another room working on a 100 piece puzzle of the characters from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  I told him I would give him a prize if he finishes the whole thing.  Needless to say, he is super determined.  The whole mystery of a prize is just overwhelming him.  Do I know what the prize is?  No, guess I better come up with something.  Hmm  . . .  chocolate, time playing Game Boy, a candy cane, a balloon?  

Brayden is currently napping.  If you read an earlier post, you'll know that it may mean he'll be partying with us tonight.  He has been quite verbal these days.  This morning, I was fixing to read to him and Kalen on the couch and I had a book with a robot on the cover up first to read.  He pointed to it and said, "I don't like that robot."  I asked, "Why don't you like that robot?"  "It scary," he said.  "Why is it scary?" I asked.  "Because it bite me," he said.  "Bite you?  Where would it bite you?" I asked. "On the shirt," he said.  "Oh, okay, " I said and continued reading the book about Cecil the, very friendly, robot.  

Scott started back today with classes.  This is his last first day of classes, this being his last semester of course work.  The rest of his time at Carolina will be spent writing, teaching, and researching.  He was well prepared walking out the door today.  I am so proud of him.

We went to the Homeschool Gathering Place this past weekend.  Scott and I really enjoyed picking out more materials to use with our kids within our homeschool.  We talked about what an amazing joy and treat it is to pick out the resources that will best cater to our children's bends and interests.  It truly is such a thrill to teach our own kids.  

My Mom called while we were shopping on Saturday.  She and Annette were in Durham and were going to take us out to dinner if we'd let them.  I was so delighted.  I love surprises.  It meant the world to me.  We went out to P.F. Chang's.  We really dig that restaurant.  After the kids went to bed.  They stayed late and chatted.  It felt so good.  Kindness comes to mind again.

Earlier this morning I caught my two youngest guys hard at work.

Kapla Blocks

Dad and Sally got Kalen (all the kids) a big wooden box full of Kapla Blocks for Christmas.  We had been playing with these really cool blocks at our museum.  Now, every single day, the kids come up with something new to do with the blocks.  The kids love them.  They are all the same size and shape.  It is really neat all the things you can create.

Just yesterday, I asked Julian to create either a cathedral, monastery, or palace out of them.  In history, he has been studying Charlemagne, which means Charles the Great, king of the Franks.  His empire united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Romans.  Anyways, he was responsible for much of the buildings that rose up in that time.  Julian made a really cool cathedral out of the Kapla blocks and our other foam and wooden blocks.  He used his Playmobil guys to look like Charlemagne and his people.  Wish I had a photo to show you.  

Thanks Dad and Sally for this new addition to our homeschool and home.  The kids sure are enjoying them.

Down at the bottom you will find a clip of the tallest ever Morrison tower falling.  

Kindness

I wrote about kindness the other day, right?  Well, it seems that kindness paid a visit this week to our home.  I got an email from a friend of our family at the beginning of the week.  He was thanking me for watching his girls on some Saturdays and Sundays that he has gone to play with Scott on their soccer team.  He and his wife have two adorable girls.  He also told me that he and his wife would love to bring their family over and watch our kids while we went out for the evening.  What a treat!  I was so taken by this family's willingness to show such kindness to us.  I never expected to have kindness returned to me in a sweet way.  What a gift!

They came over last night and Scott and I went out for almost 3 hours!  It was awesome!  We got some dinner and used some movie tickets that we had been given and saw the movie Doubt.  The movie was very good.  The acting was amazing.  Scott and I love food and movies.  We came home smiling ear to ear and the kids had a blast with Beth and Bradley's family.  

 

Scott took the kids to the library this past weekend.  He picked up a book that is all about kindness.  It is entitled The Spiffiest Giant in Town.  George the giant, known for wearing his old patched clothes, finally buys new ones, but then gives them away to some needy animals.  Check out this book for your kids, it will bless your socks off.  

It's All Good~Legos, Highs, Lows, Vaporub and Abnormal

Sitting here with a floor full of Legos and kids at my feet.  If you'd ask me how things have been lately, I'd tell you I wish we could share a cup of tea over it, because it would take awhile.  Life is full and good.  Yesterday, was a rough transitioning day.  We started back with homeschooling and Scott was gone during working hours.  I (we) have treasured our time at home with him during our Christmas break.  It has been so rich.  Now it is back to what we call normal.  Or maybe to some, I should say, it is back to the abnormal.  

Homeschooling is full of ups and downs.  Yesterday was a pretty good taste of the downs, today has been full of ups.  Maybe it is the Jasmine tea I drank this morning, my kids' stable temperaments, a compliment from my hubby this morning, staying in my comfy clothes, or an email from Mom- but today has been full of smiles and deep breaths.  Each day is different.  Thank the Lord, His mercies are new each and every day.

My lively little two year old Brayden has entered into the dreaded transition of giving up his nap.  He still naps and needs to, it just makes him stay up a little or a lot later at night depending on when his nap actually happened.  The other day he went down for a late nap at 2 or so.  Sure enough, he just wasn't tired enough at 8 or 8:30 to sleep.  So, 2 hours later when I thought he was sleeping, I hear this noise coming from the bathroom upstairs.  It is never a good thing if I would ever reach the top of the stairs at 10:15 PM and see Ellie the elephant on the floor outside the bathroom door.  I found our little night owl trying to wash VICKS Vaporub from his hands and face.  It was everywhere.  Then, after I put him to bed and he literally passed out, I walked to my room where I found much evidence of his little playful self.  Yes, he had taken an ink pen and drawn on my Mac computer screen.  Lovely, just lovely.  

So, life is never dull.  I am thankful for the highs and lows.  I am thankful for this house and all that goes on in between these walls.  The love is ever present, as well as the struggle to live as we ought.  

I will share some pictures from the past two days.  You won't find pictures from the Vaporub incident, although that would have been quite entertaining.  You won't find pictures of the moments we struggled through our transitioning day yesterday.  You will see us doing what we do best; enjoying life, learning and loving .  

Aren't these two cute little workers?

Just hangin' out with Dad.

So sweet.  They love their Daddy.

This is last night's supper, Broccoli and Zucchini Toss with Roasted Almonds

Right after chores, Julian read to the other kids on the couch before table work.

I have to have a plan.  These are my homeschool plans for the week.

Kalen's matching game that encourages him to know his letter sounds.

Brayden is pictured here with Maddie.  He is trying out a new (at least he thinks it is new :) ) matching number book.  He is totally part of our homeschool.

Big brother Julian checks to see if Kalen is getting his numbers right.

We studied Casper David Friedrich in Art today.  He was a German Romantic artist from the 1800s.  His paintings usually involved nature and a person's appreciation of it or feelings about it.  It is obvious from Friedrich's work that he wanted to evoke emotion from his art.  Julian drew a picture of a person standing on a bridge looking out onto a beautiful landscape.  Art is just the best.  I love experiencing it with my kids.  

 

An Inspiring Quote

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows."  

~Helen Keller

Legos

Julian and Kalen received new Lego sets for Christmas.  They have been hard at work making new creations.  I wanted to share their creations with you.  

Love as a Way of Life

That is the title of the book I am reading. It is by author Gary Chapman. We have some history with Dr. Chapman. He married us ten years ago. He works with Scott's mom in Winston-Salem. He has written many books, one of which is the bestseller called The Five Love Languages. If you have not read that one-you owe it to yourself.

Within this newer book, put out in 2008, Chapman describes what he believes are the seven characteristics of loving a person:
* Kindness
* Patience
* Forgiveness
* Courtesy
* Humility
* Generosity
* Honesty
He writes, "When put together, the seven key characteristics of love form a loving person. Each trait is critical. If you are missing one in your relationships, you are missing something significant."

Dr. Chapman's books are always so easy for me to read and quite addictive. He tells a lot of stories that one can relate to. I am reading about kindness in Chapter 2.  Chapman had a list of one man's list of kindnesses he observed in one day. One of the steps in learning to express acts of kindness is to notice/observe it, right?  When reading through this very thorough list, I was surprised at the large number of kind acts in his observation of kindness in such a short amount of time.  So, I was challenged to do the same.  Here is a tidbit of the kindness I observed today. 

*When Scott went to change and get ready for basketball at 5:45am this morning, he closed the bathroom door.  (I was of course sound asleep)

*All my children went downstairs quietly this morning and kept themselves busy so as not to wake me.  

*When Scott returned, he let me sleep a little longer.

*Scott made a big pot of oatmeal.  

*My kids said "morning" to me when I saw them.  

*I made a cup of tea for Julian, Maddie and Kalen, Scott had made him and I some.

*I cleaned up every one's breakfast.

*The kids played without squabbles so Scott and I could catch up on emails, reading, and clean-up.

*When Scott was reading I closed the bedroom door as to not disrupt him.

*The kids did all their chores without multiple reminders.

*Kalen gave a toy to Brayden even though he really wanted it.

*Brantley called to tell us when they would be arriving this afternoon for a visit.

*Kalen took Brayden upstairs to find his tool set because Kalen had out his.

*I wiped Maddie's nose without saying anything to her.

*Maddie swept up the floor without being asked.  

*I made coffee and cookies for Katie, Brantley, Scott and I.

*Katie complimented the children's art on the wall.

*Brantley asked about our Christmas holiday travels.

*Brantley invited Scott to go with him to a hockey game with him and his brother.

*I watched Eleanor while Katie returned some things at the mall and had some alone time.

*Madelyn asked Eleanor if she would like to put the last three pieces in the puzzle that Julian, Kalen and Maddie had been working on.

*The kids stayed busy while Katie and I ate a salad in the next room.

*Madelyn quietly called down to me from upstairs.  Tonight, Brady kept getting out of his bed and going to her room.  She never yelled at him, just remained patient with his coming and going.

Now, that was not even all of the kindness that flowed in and out of our home today.  Just imagine what you could jot down after coming and going from work one day or all the kindness you could observe in just one day home with your kids.  

Dr.  Chapman says that kindness is the joy of meeting someone else's needs before your own simply for the sake of the relationship.  This challenges me to be willing to sacrifice.  Chapman writes, "we cannot love authentically if we are not willing to sacrifice."  Kind acts, small or big, reflect a desire to serve others.  I agree as Chapman states, "service is at the heart of any loving person."  

I can not wait to dig further into this book.  I am sure it will enlighten my view of love.  In this new year, my biggest goal is to love others well.  

New Year Wishes . . .

I wish you Health...
So you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family...
And Peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature...
That you may enjoy the work of God.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities...
For those things that really matter in life.

I wish you Generousity so you may share...
All good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy...
And Blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the best of everything...
That you so well deserve.

(author unknown)