• Apr. 25, 2007
TV Free Week

This week is TV-Turnoff Week (http://www.tvturnoff.org/).  We participated for the first time last year, and it was really good for us.  Having a week away from the box allowed us to see how much time the children sit in front of it!  We have been fairly conservative about the content of the shows the children watch.  For the most part, they watch PBS or movies that we own.  It is not so much the quality that has concerned us, it is the quantity.  When the week was finished last year, we were able to set reasonable guidelines for how much time the children could watch.  We were able stay fairly balanced for several months afterwards.  The amount of TV time has crept back up over the past few months.  I think the “backsliding” started when our second PBS station (PBS Sprout) came on the air.  It plays children’s programming around the clock.  The children discovered they can turn the TV on at anytime and see their favorite shows.  Isaac, especially, had started turning on the television often throughout the day. 

We have made it through four days so far.  We “cheated” and counted Saturday and Sunday as two of our days, even though we were out at camp part of both days!  It has not been as bad as expected.  The children have played outside a lot more than normal.  They have pretty much stopped asking about the TV. 

Watching television is not a big hobby for me.  I am much more tempted to spend too much time surfing the Internet and reading home school forums.  I decided to take a week away from the forums and surfing.

I am really hoping that this week will help us get back to where our “screens” have their proper place in our lives!

PS  Isaac asked what I was doing.  I told him that I was writing about TV Free Week.  He said, “Did you write that it is REALLY BORING  ????”

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 22, 2007
A Great Weekend!

Our much anticipated family retreat at Camp Smiling Acres was a hit with the whole family!  Isaac and Bailey had been asking about it since we left the family retreat in April last year.  Olivia had talked about it all week (she called it Camp Bouncing Acres and Camp Jumping Acres), even though she had no idea what it was all about!

We arrived around lunch time on Saturday, and spent the day eating (some evil person left the chips and brownies out all day!!!) and playing with our friends.    Some highlights of the day included:  Olivia playing in the giant dirt pile, a sack race and egg toss (Connie and I were not too bad!), Totally Eighties Trivial Pursuit (apparently I missed much of the 80’s because I did not know many of the answers!), an incredibly long baseball game, Frisbee golf and a game of basketball for Mark, Isaac finding deer teeth and bones, and many other festivities.  We indulged in chili cheese fries and hotdogs for dinner, with Smores for desert.  Mark doesn’t get good cooking like that at home!  The children ran around all day, playing with the other children.  Anna Grace puttered around with everyone else.  Isaac and Bailey were able to stay awake until 10:00, and then they crashed!  We were blessed to stay in beds in a room over the kitchen.  The more rugged families stayed in tents. 

Anna Grace woke me up bright and early at 5:45 this morning (she wanted to make sure the coffee got made!).  We had breakfast and a devotional and then the clean up began.  Mark took Isaac and Bailey on a nature walk before we headed out.  Everyone was totally exhausted, but it was well worth it.  Becky, Melissa and Rebecca did a wonderful job planning it!

What was your favorite part(s) of our family retreat?

Isaac -- “Every part except the leaving!”

Bailey – “Playing with friends.”

Olivia – “Going to sleep (whatever???) and waking up, supper and friends.”

Kim – “I really enjoyed getting to visit with our church family.  I am usually so busy taking care of my children at church, that I can only have snippets of conversations.  I am thankful for the opportunities I had this weekend to linger a little longer with people that I love dearly!”

Mark – “Visiting with people, the basketball game, looking at constellations with Isaac and the drive there and back.”

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 18, 2007
I heard it said...

Here are a couple of quotes from around our house from the past week!

"There is the coffee store." -- Olivia (These were words spoken as we passed a Mobil gas station.  I think that her mommy might buy a bit too much gas station cappuccino!)

"Would you read the story back to me?  I was too busy reading it to listen to what I was saying." -- Isaac (as he read one of the lessons in his reading book)

"Whose hair do you have?" -- Bailey (Her reaction to my hair after the beautician used a blow drier and iron to make it straight)

"I just want to sit hear and watch the washing machine!" --Isaac (He spent the first twenty minutes at the laundry mat staring at the clothes turning round and round through the window in the washing machine.  He was mesmerized!)

"I think a laundry mat is a waiting place." --Isaac

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 16, 2007
Our Weekend

I wanted to post a brief summary of our weekend.  On Friday, we dropped the three older children off at the church for babysitting (to benefit the youth group's mission trip to Honduras), and Mark, Anna Grace and I headed to P. F. Changs for dinner.  It was very yummy!  Then I dropped Mark and Anna Grace off at home, while I headed off to a Southern Living at Home party in my neighborhood.  I was not interested in many of the products, but it was nice to meet a few of my new neighbors.

Isaac had an 8:00 game on Saturday morning.  His team was a bit outmatched, but they had a good time anyway.  It was good for him to get his first game under his belt, because he had been a bit nervous about it.  Afterwards, we headed off to Toys R Us.  The children had been saving their money (they were helped quite a bit by the recent grandparent and uncle visit!) and they were anxious to spend it.  Bailey picked out a mermaid Barbie, Isaac chose a Lego crane set, and Olivia picked out a fluffy pink chair.  I had shown Olivia quite a few toys, but she had her heart set on the chair.  You never know what she will say or do next!  We picked up Taco Bell on the way home.  Mark spent the rest of the day working in the yard, while the rest of us relaxed.

We had church on Sunday, and it was our Life Group's turn to cook for the college students.  Mark was a trooper and took care of the children so that I could help cook the meal.  All in all, it was a good weekend!

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 16, 2007
What a Day!

Today was quite a challenging day!  I was rushing around, getting ready to take Bailey and Olivia to school.  I heard a strange noise upstairs, and I ran upstairs to check it out.  I saw water gushing out of my washing machine.  There was already about an inch of water on the floor.  I rushed to turn the washer and the water off and then ran to call Mark.  I got the children out of the van and then rushed around trying to get the water dried up.  There was already water coming through the air conditioner vent onto the kitchen floor.  I was freaking out!  The children were very helpful (except Anna Grace, who thought it was a hoot to play in the water -- I put her into her bed fairly quickly!)  I used every towel in the house to dry up the water.  Mark came home and was incredibly calm.  I was so thankful to see him!  He started vacuuming up the water using our handheld spot remover.

I took Bailey and Olivia on to school.  After I dropped them off, I realized that the radio and interior lights were not working on the van.  I called Honda and described the problem.  We had a problem with the lights not turning off several weeks ago, and we thought that it might be a related problem.  They told me the earliest appointment would be Wednesday.  Thankfully, after talking to Mark, they worked us in today.  I dropped Isaac off at Tanya's house and then picked up Mark at the Honda dealership.  We drove the Saturn to pick up his computer from work and then headed home again. 

A man who specializes in water damage came and checked out the damage.  He said everything was drying well, and no further action was needed.  He also did not charge us anything for the visit!  Praise the Lord!!!  A little while later, Honda called and said they had found the problem.  The fuse from the radio had blown.  They replaced it and then it happened again.  When they took the radio out, they discovered that someone had put a nickel and a penny in the radio, and it was causing the fuses to blow.  It explained our previous problem also.  We were thankful they were able to find the problem.  We were afraid the electrical system was dying!  We were also thankful that it only cost us $53. 

I spent a couple of hours at "J.D. Duz Laundry" this afternoon, doing all of the laundry that we accumulated today.  It was my first time at a laundry mat, so it was quite an adventure!  There were a couple of people who were very helpful.  It was pretty obvious that I was a laundry mat novice!  I was very impressed with the size of the washers and dryers.  I could have taken a nap quite comfortably inside a dryer (I was ready for a nap by this time!).  I was able to fit my mountain of laundry into three washers and then two dryers.  I enjoyed chatting with a couple of people while I waited on the laundry to finish.  I talked to one man from New Orleans.  He and his wife had lived in the same house for twenty-eight years, and had their own washer and dryer.  They had lost their house during Katrina, and are now living in an apartment in Baton Rouge.  He had a great attitude!  I also talked to a single mom with four kids, who comes every week to do her laundry.  She watches her neighbor’s children during the day, while her neighbor works.  Then she works at night, while her neighbor watchers her children.  My bad day was very quickly put into perspective!

The children are in bed and Mark is out shopping for a new washer.  I am enjoying a few moments of peace and quiet, after this very hectic day.  All things considered, we were very blessed today! 

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 13, 2007
Spoiled???

Every once in a while I begin to wonder if my children are becoming a “bit” spoiled.  I had one of those moments yesterday.  We spent a few minutes after breakfast cleaning the downstairs.  Then we headed out on an outing.  We went to a home school kindergarten story time at the library.  The children really enjoyed it!  Then, as a treat, we headed to McDonald’s for lunch and some playtime.  On the way home, I was looking forward to some well deserved relaxation (taking four small children to McDonald’s is not easy), while my children entertained themselves. One of my little angels, who shall remain nameless, said, “Mommy, can we do something fun when we get home?”   I resisted the urge to launch into a “when I was your age, a trip to McDonald’s was enough fun to last for a year” speech.  I smiled and said, “No,” and left it at that.  We will have to work on gratefulness in the near future.  I wondered a bit later if God doesn’t wonder if I am spoiled sometimes too?!?  

(1 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 13, 2007
Isaac at age 6

Favorite color:  blue

Favorite drink:  Diet Coke

Favorite food:   shrimp and fish

Favorite song:     “Joy to the World”

Future Career Plans:  mowing grass (It changes often.  In the last year he has wanted to work at Walmart, make chemicals, fish for lobsters, be a “recycling man” and numerous other things.)

Favorite animal:   Great White Shark

Favorite toys:     remote control cars, Transformers, Legos, Star Wars Toys

Favorite Bible Character:   Jesus

Favorite Books:   Magic School Bus Books

Favorite candy:   Nerds

Favorite holiday:  Christmas

     Isaac is our big boy!  I am amazed at how fast he is growing up!  He is our deep thinker, and he sometimes worries about things that are beyond his years.  As the oldest child, he tries to keep everyone else in line.  Sometimes I feel like I have a third parent in the house!  He is a great helper, and he always tries his best to do what is right.

     Isaac and Mark are two peas in a pod.  Mark reads his home school science and history to him at night, and they really bond during those times.  They are reading about astronomy right now, and they have been enjoying going out and looking at the stars.  They also enjoy playing checkers together and talking about Star Wars figures.  Mark has given Isaac some of his toys from when he was a little boy, and Isaac loves them.

     It has been a joy to teach Isaac this year.  He especially enjoys the Bible and science readings.  He is also really beginning to learn to read.  He does not like to try things that he can not do perfectly, so learning to read has been a stretch for him.  He does not realize how well he is doing with it.  After he gains some confidence I think that he will love reading!

     I am very proud of Isaac and I love being his mom!  He is a blessing from the Lord!

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 12, 2007
Bailey at age four!

Favorite colors: pink and purple

Favorite foods: French fries & chicken nuggets

Favorite drink:  lemon-aide

Favorite desert:  candy

Favorite song:     “Go Tell it on the Mountain”

Favorite past times: playing with friends, writing her letters and drawing,

Future career plans: “I don’t know yet.  I will have to think about it.”

Favorite TV show:  Berenstain Bears

Favorite animal:  dolphin

Favorite Holiday:  Christmas

Favorite toy:  “All girl toys” (including princess barbies, her dollhouse, tea set)

Favorite Bible Character:  Jesus

     Bailey is our little princess (Although she will tell you that she is NOT a princess because she does NOT want to go to the ball!  That would mean that she would have to leave home, which she does NOT want to do!).  She has been a very girly-girl from the beginning.  She received a baby doll from her Mamaw on her first birthday, and she has loved “girl toys” ever since.  She loves princess dress-up clothes, princess barbies, purses, pretend make-up, and most other pink toys.  Up until a few weeks ago, she would only wear pink and purple.  She is starting to branch out just a little and wear other colors.

     Bailey is in a pre-school near our house this year, and she loves it.  She has learned to write all of her letters, and now she writes them all the time.  She knows how to write all of our names and a few other words, and she fills up notebooks with her writings.  I am looking forward to beginning to do home school Kindergarten with her in the fall.  I think that she will love it.

       Bailey tends to be a bit shy, and it takes her a little while to warm up.  New situations are a little scary for her.  After she has had time to warm up, she really shines.  She loves to play with her friends at church, at school and in our neighborhood.

     Bailey has a sweet smile and a sweet personality to go with it.  She is constantly drawing pictures for Mark and me.  I treasure her hugs and kisses.  I am so thankful that I get to be her Mommy!

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 12, 2007
Olivia at 35 months

Favorite Food:   ice cream with sprinkles

Favorite Breakfast: “yogurt in my blueberries, cereal in my milk, toast bread on my butter and juice”

Favorite Drinks:    lemon-aide and juice

Favorite Possessions: her blankets and her thumb

Favorite Song:    “Jesus Loves Me”

Favorite Animal:    pig

Favorite Toy:    baby dolls, whatever Bailey has

Favorite Candy:    bubble gum

Favorite Past Times:  eating, playing with her brother and sisters, listening to books, asking questions, playing ballerina, laughing and singing

Recent Accomplishment:  potty training (Woo-Hoo!!!)

     Olivia is our outgoing bundle of energy.  She has never met a stranger, and she loves to make new friends.  She has the ability to size up a situation and come up with a way to be cute!  She has a song in her heart and lives life to the fullest.

     Olivia is two in every sense of the word.  She can throw a fit to the best of her ability and then, two minutes later, smile and give me a kiss.  She is also very persistent.  She will ask for something over and over, even after I tell her no each time.  I suppose she has the “I can wear mommy down” mindset. 

     Olivia is currently in Mother’s Day Out two days a week.  She loves her teachers, Ms. Sarah and Ms. Lisa, and the boys and girls.  Ms. Sarah told me that Olivia has been “all about school” from the very first day.  She also called her a “silly, happy, funny girl”.  Olivia also really enjoys Bible Class on Sunday mornings. 

     Olivia loves her blankets.  She has four of them, and one is her very favorite.  When she goes to sleep, she lays three of them on her pillow and puts her favorite on her tummy.  Whenever she is sad or tired, she grabs her blanket in one hand and puts her thumb in her mouth.  I have a hard time getting her “blankies” away long enough to wash.

     Olivia keeps us laughing.  She has a great sense of humor.  She knows when she is being funny, and it brings her great joy.  I am so thankful for our Olivia!

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)

• Apr. 9, 2007
Anna Grace

Anna Grace at 14 months

Favorite foods: bananas, yogurt, apple juice, popsicles, green beans, gold fish, and anything that anyone else is eating

Favorite toys: baby dolls, balls, books

Words: mama, dada, ball, baby, stinky, stop, book, bye-bye

Favorite past times: climbing, swinging, running out the door whenever it is open, “reading” books, getting into EVERYTHING, eating & drinking, chasing her brother and sisters around, playing peek-a-boo, sneaking up the stairs, playing with toilet paper

     Anna Grace is quickly making the transition from baby to toddler.  Her major accomplishment this week was learning to climb.  We have entered a new phase of baby proofing--things on the dining room table are no longer safe because she can climb up to get them!  She is a very busy girl.  She seems to run more than she walks, and seldom sits down. 

     Anna Grace’s vocabulary is expanding- she has started imitating things we say.  One day this week, Bailey was upset about something and was crying.  Anna Grace pointed at her and said, “stop”.  One of her favorite words is “bye-bye”, when she hears it she runs to the door.  She loves to be read to, at least once a day she brings me a book and makes it clear that she wants me to read it.

     She is my early bird.  She usually goes to bed around 7:30 and is up by 6:00.  She is beginning to give up her morning nap and take one nap in the afternoon.  Thankfully, I can put her in her bed and she puts herself to sleep.  We have starting to read a book to her and pray with her at bedtime. 

     Anna Grace loves Isaac, Bailey and Olivia, and they love her!  They take good care of her (she can not get away with anything!).  She loves to be right in the middle of them (and their stuff), and she does a good job of keeping up with them.  She does get a little jealous sometimes, she wants to be the one sitting in my lap – she has been known to push Olivia over to get a spot.

     Our little Anna is a happy critter.  She smiles and laughs freely, and putters around on her own most of the time.  She has been a great addition to our family.  I am so thankful for our little Anna Grace!

(0 Comments) (Post A Comment!) (Permanent Link)