Our School Room

This is a really random post b/c it's November, but I always love seeing other peoples school space so I decided to share ours. And it took me till early October to get everything sorted and weeded out!

Here's where we do school. The kitchen table! Our kitchen is absolutely perfect for homeschooling! I have plenty of wall space for all of our circle time things. We do calendar, weather, counting by one's, two's, five's and ten's, states and capitals, sign language, fruits of the spirit, character traits, Bible and seasonal things. I also have a small filing cabinet w/ school things in it and all of our daily books on top.
At first I thought it would drive me crazy having our school stuff right in the middle of where I am most of the day, but I've come to grips that this is a big part of our life and it's just a season. Some day I will have pictures and plates hanging on my kitchen walls and long for these days of broken glue sticks and chewed pencil erasers!
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The other thing about this kitchen that makes it so perfect for home school is these big shelves on either side of our kitchen window (oh, and the big window seat that I keep stuff in too!). My handy husband covered the bottom shelves w/ doors so that I could stash all our school things in there and I love it! On this side of the room I keep the kids memory verse sticker charts and Molly Beth's colors and numbers.

Here's what's inside:
Work books, reading books, work sheets, a craft basket, a marker and glue caddy, flash cards, a file folder w/ seasonal worksheets, each kid's pencil box, a tape player and tapes and much much more!

Here's the other side. I keep mostly Jack's stuff and supplemental activity stuff in it.

Puzzles, coloring books, blocks, legos, lacing cards, base ten blocks, wedgits, beading kits, Jack's bins, etc...oh, and I can't forget my educational place mats! Love those!

The best thing about having the school space in the kitchen is that in between the times that they need me I can be working. I think it's just perfect for us!

I know everyone is ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas break. I know I am. But I wanted to give a little update. Suz is doing much better w/ her work. It must have been a phase? I still haven't been able to get circle time done in awhile, but at least she's getting her major subjects done b/f bedtime! :) I'm sure that we'll get circle time back in the schedule b/f long! We all miss it!

PS- Amanda, thanks for your sweet offer! I know how much you love Suz! :)
Marie, I miss you! Send me your e-mail!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...it's foggy, but not dark. I'm so enjoying the light mornings!
I am thinking...about how blessed I am.
I am thankful for...happy faces w/ sleep still in their eyes.
From the learning room...we are just really struggling. I've had to stop doing our circle time, which I love and hope to share more about later, just to get the main subjects done. For some reason Suzannah is really resisting me and very unmotivated! I know she wants to do all the fun crafty stuff that Molly Beth is doing and gets upset that she doesn't get much art time. I'm really racking my brain to come up w/ some way to get her motivated to get her work done...B/F bedtime!!!!
From the kitchen...ug, it's been a big baking week and I'm burnt out. I've been trying out a bunch of new recipes for dinner though and that has been fun.
I am wearing...jeans, long sleeved tee shirt, sweater and fuzzy socks.
I am creating...hmmmm, I've just been too busy to make anything. I barely have time to work on Billy's blanket! I'm hoping to make some shirts for the kids to wear for Thanksgiving, but we'll see!
I am reading...again, not must time lately. A chapter here and there of The Strong Willed Child lately when I get a chance.
I am hoping...to go to bed feeling like I've made the most of my day in all the important areas.
I am hearing...the hum of the heater, Molly Beth's giggles and singing to herself as she works some puzzles, and Dragon Tails.
I am praying...to really be aware of joy. To feel it and to SHOW it. I think I get so focused on doing things around the house and getting school done and this and that and the other, that I forget to be joyful and share my joy w/ the kids.
Around my house...Things are so nice. Yesterday while I was at ELO my Mom came over to the house and picked up and did laundry and dishes! Am I blessed or what! It was so wonderful to walk into a clean house. Ahhhhh, I can make it through the rest of my week! :)
One of my favorite things...When we tell Jack "I love you" he always used to say, "Yes!" So Mom started working w/ him b/c she wanted him to say "I love you too." Well, she did a great job and he has started saying "I love you too." My favorite thing about it, though, is that that's not just how he responds. Out of the blue he'll come up to me and say, "I love you too, Momma!" in his sweet sing-songy voice. I just love it!
A few plans for the rest of the week...I'm going to call and see if I can get a hair appointment for this weekend. I'm wanting something different w/ my hair. Maybe bangs? Scary. Then, this weekend Billy and I get to go on a date! Yay. Saturday morning Billy will be helping move their stuff into the new shop. It is SO nice! He's so excited! They should be all moved in and operating from there a week from Monday!
A picture thought to share w/ you...
This is a picture I took of Charley Kate forever ago for a cloth diapering calendar. It's been a long time since I've cloth diapered. We went into survival mode and extra laundry just was more than I could handle (sad). Anyway, I need to bleach everything and since we have an aerobic system I can't do it here. I'll have to take them all to my Mom's and do it there. Then, maybe, I'll be able to have my act together enough to get back into it!
Hope everyone is having a great week. The weather here has been just beautiful!!!!!!!

4 Months

Charlotte Kate is 4 months old today. I can't believe it!!! It really seems like she should be older! And yet, it seems like just yesterday that she was born!?

She is still super sweet! She will melt your heart! No, really. If you are blessed to lock eyes w/ her....she will melt your heart!

She's a giggle box. If she's in the swing or on the floor and some one walks by she will turn inside out just smiling away....even if they just walk past her! She loves to interact w/ people. She is super alert.

She is super mobile! If I put her down on the blanket and leave the room when I come back she will be clear on the other side of the room! She's a big time roller!

If I put a toy on the blanket she will inch her way to it, grab it and put it in her mouth! Amazing! I have to be careful when I'm "kangarooing" her in my sling while I cook now b/c she grabs at everything.

She's a big time thumb sucker. Yeah, I lost the battle...actually, I decided not to fight it. Once she turns 2 it will be a whole other story! She is also a toe sucker. Her toes are her favorite toys!

"Look Mom, no hands!"

We just love her to pieces! She's such a blessing! The kids still aren't tired of her and smother her w/ sugar every chance they get! Every day is so exciting to see what she'll do next! I love getting to know her!

She's super! Oh, and her hair is still red! I think it's for keeps! ;)

The Walk...FINALLY!

I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to post about the walk. I have made several attempts, but kept having trouble loading the pictures. I just decided to keep it simple and post a few.

Steven, Amanda and Parker Spiess. My Dad, our family and my Mom. Laura and Ethan Hill. Matt (Jessi's) Hill. Bethany, Caden, Deacon, and Braden Hoelzle. Jessi and Grayson Hill. And Steve (Laura's) and Isaac Hill.

The Walk to Cure 2009 was a huge success! Not only did we raise over $4,000 dollars, but we had a wonderful time doing it. A huge thank you to everyone that donated! It means the world to us. Here's a picture of our team. Suzannah said it felt so good to have so many people there for her. She felt special. THANK YOU!


Here she is on stage w/ some of the other kids w/ Type 1.

A grumpy and hungry Jack trying to put on a happy face.

Last year it was so neat b/c the walk was through down town. This year it was on a walking trail. It was great b/c it was pretty shady but we missed the sights. Suz walked the whole way and Molly Beth did pretty good. It helped to have so many little boys on our team.

Here's a family picture. My parents have been super supportive since the day Suzannah was diagnosed. They dropped everything and drove from San Antonio. They got there at bed time and stayed to help out. That was such a trying time and them being there encouraging, helping and learning right alongside us is how we didn't lose our minds! They know the toll that Diabetes takes on us daily...it's always nice to know there's someone that really understands.



And we made it. Last year we only did half but this year we walked the full 3.5 miles. I was pooped. I carried Charley Kate the whole way and really, since I've been pregnant or nursing for 5 1/2 years, I'm not in the best shape of my life! ;) Man, I was sore the next day! So sad. But we made it!
After the walk the gave out lunch and we were able to hang out. Suz wasn't pooped from the walk!
Here's sweet Jessi w/ sweet Charlotte.

Here's the shirt that Billy designed. I think he did a great job. At the bottom it says, "We walk for the SWEETEST girl we know." And then on the back in really small letters across the shoulders it says, "If you can read this you must be REALLY slow." Suz was proud.
It was a beautiful day. We are blessed w/ wonderful friends and family that love our sweet Suzy-Q so much. I just want to thank everyone so much for all your support. There really is a cure coming!!! I just read an article recently that said they are curing Type 1 in mice!!! So exciting! Thank you for helping fund research that will change so many lives!

How do 3 silly kiddos entertain themselves in a hotel room? They cram themselves into the TV cabinet of course!

That evening we went out to dinner w/ Billy's cousin and their 4 children. Can you just picture the guys face when we told him, "4 adults and 8 children"? Needless to say he sent us to the back room! We had such a great time visiting and letting the kids get to know each other!
I can't believe I didn't take any pictures!!! Arg. Next time. :)

And here are some pictures of Cakes back when I first attempted to publish this post.

Scrabble Tiles: October

This is a post that was supposed to be published last month.

Every morning I wake up w/ a fresh vision and rewritten order of priorities. I'm convinced to "keep the main thing the main thing" and to "not sweat the small stuff." But by lunch my priorities have gotten totally rearranged and by bed time I've deemed myself a failure. It's not really that sad every night, but I certainly have those days. Awhile back I saw something on the Internet that I adapted to fit what I needed. It was a scrabble letter holder and a message. The message can say anything (obviously) but I use mine to hold a message that I want to meditate on throughout the month. I keep in on the shelf above my sink and change it out as I need. This month as I put out the fall decorations it seemed very appropriate to put the tiles on that spelled out: A SEASON
I tend to get so wrapped up and bogged down in the current challenges. I so easily lose sight of the big picture. I forget that this is a season. These current struggles will only last for awhile (then we'll move on to something else! :). For example, bed time struggles. Is is a fearful child? A child that won't go to sleep at bedtime? A bed wetter? A child that seems will never sleep through the night? A baby waking for hourly feedings? And the list goes on. You get so tired which makes everything feel bigger and worse. But how encouraging to remember that this is only a season. It will pass. There is a silver lining. A time when faith will triumph over fear. Bedtime will no longer be a problem. Dry sheets. Sleeping all night. Spring, summer, winter and fall all bring big changes. Some we look forward to, some we dread. But we know that it will pass. It's why we can endure the horrible east Texas heat and humidity. We know that soon fall will come bringing w/ it crisp mornings. It's why we can endure the bitter cold of winter because spring is just around the corner w/ it's warm sun and green buds. Each season has it's pros and it's cons.
Having these tiles above my sink helps me to remember that so many of the things I'm overwhelmed w/ today will be a distant memory in a few months. Nothing lasts forever...even the good things. So while the tiles remind me that the trials of the day will pass they also remind me to soak in the beautiful things about this season because they too will change.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Eccl. 3:1

My Husband Rocks Friday

My husband rocks b/c I still get lost in those eyes. How can it be that after 10 years of marriage I am more in love w/ him than the day we married? I'll tell you what I think it is. The "falling" part of love doesn't last. It's a circumstantial feeling that, given the right circumstances you can experience w/ just about anyone. Look at shows like the Bachelor. The circumstances couldn't be any more perfect. A beautiful person that is super into you. The romantic locations and the music and the candles and not a care in the world. Sheesh, who couldn't fall in love in a situation like that?! For some reason we have been deceived into thinking that having that "falling in love" feeling is the determining factor in telling you if you are IN love anymore or not. I would disagree. You can be in love w/ someone that doesn't even know you. It's a choice you make. We also let ourselves be deceived into thinking that the other person has to do certain things to make us feel in love. Yes, when the other person puts forth effort to show us love it makes it much easier, but how do you explain people that are still in love w/ someone from a broken relationship? That person is obviously no longer doing anything to keep you IN love. It's a choice. You choose to love and stay in it, or not to love and be out of it. Being IN love and staying in love takes work. I believe that the secret to staying IN it is to daily make choices, steps, that move you closer to the other person....and therefore further from yourself. Loving someone is action. Billy is so good at this. I catch him denying his desires for mine often. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to be married to someone that didn't reciprocate my love. I'm so thankful that he's committed to taking steps to keep us in love. He totally ROCKS!

I wanted to leave you w/ this post. It's such great advice. I've heard these things before, but never in this way. I thought it was great. I hope it helps deepen your relationship! Have a great weekend!:)

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...it's still dark. We are supposed to have some really bad storms today. I love the rain and storms...but hope we don't loose power.
I am thinking...about what needs to get done today.
I am thankful for...quiet mornings after hectic nights.
From the learning room...today in history we are making stone tablets for Suzannah to carve hieroglyphics into. She's been looking forward to it all week.
From the kitchen...we've got fruit flies. Ug. I had great intentions of making banana bread last weekend w/ some overripe bananas, but got busy and didn't get to it. The result, fruit flies all over the kitchen. The worst part is that I went to the grocery store Tuesday and now they are attacking my fresh fruit! How do I get rid of them?
I am wearing...flannel pants, a tee shirt, and my fuzzy blue robe w/ rainbows and clouds on it.
I am creating...still working on Billy's blanket and coming up w/ a menu for the whole month of November.
I am reading...The Backyard Homestead. It's such an exciting read for me! We are learning about all sorts of cool things. We are going to take baby steps, but are excited to try out a bunch of new things! It teaches not only how to grow organic fruits and vegetables but how to keep bees, raise chickens, goats or even a cow. And the how to harvest and preserve your harvest. And that's just the beginning! Drying herbs, making cheese, tapping a maple tree and so much more! I'm weird, I know. :)
I am hoping...that today will be a wonderful day. Full of fun, learning and loving.
I am hearing...peace and quite.
I am praying...constantly. Having four kids and homeschooling....I just can't do it. I'm very aware of my dependence on Him. I am constantly asking for guidance and strength and patience and self control and gentleness and wisdom and thanks.
Around the house...I'm noticing little spiderwebs. I need to call and get the house sprayed.
One of my favorite things...eating breakfast as a family. We have been doing this for a few weeks now and I love it.
A few plans for the rest of the week...we don't really have anything set. It's Canton weekend and I'd love to go to that. I need to do some shopping too. I didn't do a good job of getting out of season clothes and now I'm having to play catch up. Jack and Suz need winter clothes and Charley Kate does too (all my baby winter stuff starts at 6 months!). And all the kids need shoes.
A picture thought to share with you...
Here goes nothin! We were planning on getting chickens next spring, but our friends chickens had some chicks and they were so kind to give them to us. They are doing great and the kids are enjoying taking care of them. We decided to go ahead and order our other chicks now instead of waiting. We've been preparing the yard and will have our coop in soon to get it set up. The chicks stay in their bin for quite awhile so we have time. Billy and the kids are really having fun w/ this. Having fresh eggs will be so neat. Raise your hand if you think we're nuts. Yeah, I know. But if you live near us you'll be able to get fresh eggs for next to nothing! :)