Things I'm Learning From My Daughters

• Take time to sit and look out the window. There's really a lot to see out there, and I might miss the rainbow if I'm buried under a pile of laundry.
• A bouquet of fall leaves can be very exciting.
• Squeal with joy in a pumpkin patch
• Most of the bad things about today will be forgotten when the sun rises tomorrow, and if they aren't, chances are they will heal quickly or get washed in a load of laundry.
• Sit and read a book occasionally (while kids are awake, not asleep). Not only is it entertaining, but it provides a moment of quiet.
• Change your perspective.  Life looks really different lying on your back.
• Sing random songs at the top of your lungs throughout the day. Why can't life be a musical?
• Dandelion poofs were made to be picked and blown.
• Ceiling fans can be hypnotic.
• Don't cry over spilled popcorn.
• Remember to use your imagination.
• Laugh more. Some of my favorite moments in the day involve giggles.
• The housework will always be here and there will always be something to clean, but they can wait. I blink and my girls are growing up, so I need to take time for what's important. If my house is less than perfect, that's ok. My children will most likely not remember that there was a dust bunny or two floating around, but they will remember the time that I take to be involved with them. I'm a type-A, OCD personality, so this one is a challenge for me.
• Confronting my areas of weakness and asking God to help me overcome them is vital. I do not want my children falling victim to my same insecurities.
• Each day is new and should be greeted with joy.
• It is never too early in the morning to smile or laugh.

There's a lot more that could go on that list, but those are my thoughts over the last couple weeks.

~H2

There's A Me!

Yesterday I was sitting in the living room when I heard H4 call me from the bathroom.  She asked me to come in, and I figured she needed help.  When I walked in, she said, very excitedly, "Mommy, there's a me!"  I was confused at first, so I asked her to repeat herself.  She said the exact same thing, and pointed to the shower curtain.  My shower curtain has different Bible verses on it, and I realized that she must be pointing to a letter. "Oh, are you saying you found an 'e'?", I asked her.  "No, Mommy, it's a me!" She then pointed to a specific word on the curtain. Sure enough, it was "me".  I've taught her a few sight words, but that wasn't one of them!  I was certainly caught off guard, but very proud of my little girl. She was certainly proud of herself! (Picture lots of enthusiasm.)

Joshua 24:15 "....But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

There's a "me"!

~H2

Growing Pains

In life, some periods are more stagnant and some require stretching and growing pains.  A couple years ago, following our two miscarriages, was a period of some of my greatest emotional pain.  At the same time, it was also one of those times in my life where I learned what desperation really is.  I was desperate for God and desperate for His healing.  I was in so much pain and couldn't see my way through to even put one foot in front of the other for simple things, and I knew that my only chance of recovery was hiding in Christ.

The last couple weeks have begun another period of painful stretching.  Some of it is the practical kind, like learning the logistics of two children.  I can't lie. I frequently feel lost when it comes to being a mother.  I love my girls and try hard to do what's best for them, but some days I just don't know.  It's a continual need to seek God's guidance in how I am to raise them.  H1 is a bundle of challenging energy, and add in her adorable and busy little sister, it's turned into a real juggling act. The two of them really know how to play off of each other!  Their energy has kept me in a pretty much constant state of exhaustion, which brings me to the rest of that painful stretching.

A few weeks ago I began attending a Breaking Free Bible study at my church.  Somehow or the other, I managed to get this far in life without working my way through a Beth Moore Bible study (and considering I have not only grown up in the church but also attended Liberty, which uses her curriculum in a lot of things, that's pretty impressive).  It would figure that God would decide that one of the most physically exhausting times of my life is the time He would choose to deal with one of my greatest areas of weakness.  There's no getting around it. I have a temper, and it's a bad one.  Anyone who has known me long has most likely seen at least a glimpse of it.  My dad would tell you that I have an "intense" personality anyways, and the temper on top of it makes it interesting.  I fly off the handle easily.  I've struggled with this for as long as I can remember. I don't remember a time where it hasn't been an issue for me.  Now, I feel like God is telling me that this has to be dealt with.  So step by step, day by day, moment by moment, that ball has begun to roll. It hurts. I'm having to confront issues that are really uncomfortable, but I know I have to continue.  Working through this is something that my family needs me to do, and God has made that very clear.

Growing pains.  It's a part of maturing, right?  Deep breath.  Here we go.

~H2

State Fair and Leaf Painting

Our family does not visit the state fair every year, but once every couple years we do make an effort to attend and see what they have to offer. This year was a bit smaller than years past, but we still had a wonderful time. A fabulous petting "zoo" welcomed us at the gate.  There were baby goats, piglets, yaks, lambs, alpacas, and even a water buffalo. H3 was so excited and went from pen to pen, wanting to feed and pet everything!

Auntie Amber came with us too.

Pony ride!

H3 slid down this huge slide with Daddy and Auntie Amber while I hung out with H4.

We stayed at the fair for most of the day. I bought enough tickets to ride the Ferris wheel once with my family, but H1 and H3 got wrist bands and rode lots of rides together, along with Amber. I'm so glad we all went. It was a wonderful day!

I saw a leaf painting project on Pinterest and decided to check it out with H3.  I thought this blog had some great ideas, so we joined in their craft ideas.  H3 really enjoyed them for the most part. She's not too keen on getting her fingers dirty, but the project held her attention long enough to finish!

In the past week our school progress has been a bit slower.  Between the allergies and colds running through our house and H4 still waking up a couple times per night....you get the idea.  H3 has still been doing very well and she really enjoys our school activities.  She has been taking more interest in learning to write her letters, which has been exciting for me. I'm so glad that we're moving forward in this area!  

~H2

A Visual Lesson on Transpiration

It's not original, I know, but I loved doing this as a kid!

~H2

Chugging Along!

We have been chugging along pleasantly over these last two weeks, keeping a steady routine of the subjects I'd been planning to work on with H3. The timing for our school days has been a bit crazy though. I'd had plans to keep a particular schedule and have pretty much given up on that for the time being.  H4 is resisting a schedule with every ounce of her being, so right now we're working around her naps and feeding times.  

One of our little experiments last week was with "Dancing Popcorn", using water, baking soda, vinegar, and popcorn kernels.  H3 really got a kick out of watching all the little bubbles and the kernels moving up and down in the solution.  

As the weather has been cooler, we've spent some time outside for little H4 to explore the grass.  

H3 has never been keen on coloring, so the fact that she has any interest in picking up a crayon at all is a really big deal right now! 

I made a mold-able dough out of flour and oil, and H3 spent part of an afternoon playing in it.  She is so funny.  She hates getting dirty, so every few minutes she wanted to clean her hands.

Last Wednesday, we met a college friend of mine at the zoo in Norfolk. It was a nice, breezy day and H3 seemed to have a wonderful time! (H4 was cranky for most of the day, except for the first few minutes)

One big smile!

The ever-attentive big sister

She loved the tiger!

The giraffe came over to say hello

All I can think of is the story my dad told me about a dinner they had at his workplace one time and the centerpiece meat was an ostrich leg....

We've been taking it a bit easier this week since H1 and H3 both have colds.  Though I've still been introducing some new things, we've been taking time to review things she already knows, like the states, various signs, shapes, etc.  I'm excited by how much she's already learned and how much she's enjoying everything.  She asks me every morning if we can have more school!

~H2

H3 Turns 4!

Yesterday my sweet little H3 turned 4 years old!  After a special breakfast time with H1 and I, she worked on some school work for a bit before coming with me to a Beth Moore Bible study that I'm attending. We followed that up with lunch at McDonalds and a trip to a park.

In the evening we had pizza for dinner and cake.  Now, I have yet in invest in a good cake decorator kit. Mine is an old cheap one from I don't remember where, and it decided to break on me in the middle of this project, so the white icing had to be done via ziploc baggie.  And at that point it was getting so late, I decided not to finish the whole thing with the white icing because it's just getting eaten anyways! So please excuse my slightly failed attempt at my daughter's requested castle cake. This was my first try at anything like this, so I'm just happy that it was edible.

Fortunately, H3 was delighted and didn't notice anything amiss!

It was just H1, H3, H4, and I, and my parents via Skype.  Pop-pop Skyped with us before cake and presents because he had a school board meeting.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful daughter! Four years ago I had no idea what kind of ride we would be in for.  You bring so much laughter and joy to our home and I'm so thankful that God has given me the privilege of raising you.  I look forward to our new adventures this next year.  I'm so proud of you sweetie and couldn't be happier to be your mom!

~H2