Our Busy Little World
Jan. 20, 2008 - Long Time No Blog . . .
Hello all! So sorry for my looooooong absence. It's funny how life just kind of catches up with me sometimes, and my time for any extraneous activity becomes nil. Actually, I do have the excuse that my hard drive decided to die what I consider a very premature death. And my warranty company decided to make sure to take over a month to resolve this. Ah well, it's been God's way of showing me that life goes on just fine without computers. That aside we've also been struck with a bug of some sort. One of those bugs that the kids pick up one at a time, so it feels like an eternity before everyone is well. This one came with those nasty coughing episodes - the kinds that keep mommy and daddy up all night tending to little sickies. Thus I've been a walking zombie for the last two weeks - to the point that I actually started taking my breakfast dishes to the laundry hamper instead of the sink! Thankfully they didn't end up in the wash -wouldn't that have been something to blog about? Anyway, I doubt I have anything all that interesting to say, but I'm sure I will soon . . . maybe . . . perhaps if I get some sleep!
Lately I've been pondering books and curriculum for the fall. I'm hoping to do a first grade-ish year with both Isabelle and Hannah - they're so similar in how they learn and Hannah's catching up pretty quickly. Thankfully, Naomi and Juliette (who now calls herself Jooey) are very similar in how they are developing and learning, so I think between the four big girls I'll only have two "grades" to teach. I found this neat little Charlotte Mason catalog buried in my files called Queen Homeschool Supplies and I'm hoping to try some of their copywork and living books about nature next year. I really enjoyed looking through their catalog! I've been feeling Charlotte Mason-y in general - perhaps just because reading aloud is my favorite part of any school day. I started reading A Charlotte Mason Companion, and then from Kendra's blog I found the link to this book that looks great as well. Ah, so many books . . . so little time!
This week we have two of the girls' wonderful Grandmas visiting, which is such a delight at any time, but especially after being cooped up and sick. Today I was resting in bed (I was one of the last to get the bug) and enjoying listening to my mom read aloud to the girls. I chuckled to myself when I heard that Hannah had picked "The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly". It's a totally goofy, yet sort of dreadful little book that we happened to pick up one time and just never got around to weeding out. The lady goes onto swallow all sorts of things like a bird, cat, spider, dog, cow, etc, to catch the previous animal she swallowed. I guess it's good for some laughs, but our rather gruesome copy ends "There was an old lady who swallowed a horse . . .she's dead, of course". I've at least heard parts of that poem before so it wasn't totally shocking, but my poor mom apparently never has. She was so great while listening to Isabelle read the story to her, but we all had a good laugh in the evening about her rather surpised expressions of "What?" (after Isabelle read "perhaps she'll die") and then "Oh my!" (after "She's dead, of course"), and the nervous laughter sprinkled throughout. I'll never forget how much the girls giggled - fun memories!
Meanwhile, I had finally gotten Alyssa sleeping through the night when she got sick. And of course (to me anyway) sick little baby means nursing as often as possible so she doesn't get dehydrated from fevers. Sooooo, we're back to lots of nursings at night. That girl pops her little head up, wails in congested misery, and after she has drunk of her heavenly milk she flashes this whole-head smile, as if to say "I must have my milk; I shall always have my milk; don't you know mom, I must have my milk whenever I desire it!" Once she's well . . . perhaps sleep will come.
Well, I'm off for the night, but I do have a few links, as well as a few funny stories I must try to write down this week. And do check back as I've decided to have my first ever blog contest quite soon (at least I think it'll be the first one, but I don't have the greatest memory!) Have a great night, everyone!
Comments
Jan. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I used to love that story when I was a girl. I think we had a record of it and I used to play it all the time. I actually have a copy of the book, but the girls didn't seem to care for it like I did. Oh well, it is a strange story.
Susan
Jan. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 4sweetums
"There was an old woman who swallowed a fly" is a rather crazy and bit horrid story. However, I was trapped in the ER last week for nearly 6 hours with two little ones and found myself running out of stories. (I am going through the rabies vacciation after being bitten by a dog). The brain gets numb the longer you sit there and the farther past everyone's bed time it gets. Anyway, I ended up singing that song to the kiddos. They loved it and I'm afraid she swallowed every animal known to mankind before we were done with the song. However, no one died.
Blessings,
4sweetums
Jan. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by happycamper
Sorry to hear you've been having a time of late. I pray that things are all better soon and you are able to sleep again.
Jenn
Jan. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Rebeca
Hope all are feeling well again, and sleeping well too! We've all had a run of sickness too, first the flu, and now Alethea has had a stomach bug. It's tiring!
Blessings to you!
Rebeca
Jan. 28, 2008 - I am a fan too!
Posted by teena6
We like CM here too. Matter of fact my friend has that catalog and I keep wanting them to send me one but haven't received it yet. Such good stuff and articles. Thanks for sharing....
I love the picture of your girls and we have an Alyssa too~ :)
