Mom of 7

Here I am!!!!

5:10 PM, Feb. 19, 2008 .. 4 comments .. Link

I am not even going to tell you all that I am back because you can see for yourself how that works for me.....Anyway thought I would try to write a little something and surprise a few people who tell me they keep looking to see if I have posted again. I really need to update the profile and picture. I don't have my glasses anymore and my kids are much older. I'm not much older mind you but somehow they are. Still plugging away at school and trying to figure out what God has for me each new day. My schedule is chaotic and many days my house even more chaotic but that seems to be working so why bother trying to change things now. Teaching one to read, trying to get one to read more fluently, graduating one this year and everything in between. i do love this crazy life. Well, can't write much because we are getting ready to go to a B-day party for my nephew. Maybe I will try to remember how to post pictures tomorrow. We had an awesome vacation last summer and a million things that have happened since. So until then....Someone better leave me a comment!!!!!

Snow Today!

2:40 PM, Feb. 13, 2007 .. 2 comments .. Link

Its been awhile since I have posted. Last week was crazy. Had sick kids AGAIN! Greg was also in the hospital overnight with some chest pain. Everything turned out to be OK but it was a real scare! We are getting our first big snow and I had a lot of trouble keeping the kids attention today. Because of my crazy week last week and the snow this week I have not been out walking with Carla and I really am missing it. I hope we can get back at it soon before I gain 20 lbs sitting around here eating and watching the snow!

The day the tooth came out...

12:34 PM, Feb. 5, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

Well, today Abijah had his tooth pulled. Thought I would take a minute and post some before and afters.

Before the Dentist...

After the dentist...

Now he looks just like his big brother!

Overall the procedure went well and they did not have to put hime to sleep. We were very thankful for that. Not only do I hate the idea of him being put to sleep, but it also would cost $300 more. Unbelievable for a few minutes in the dentist chair.

Girls Weekend in the Mts.

10:02 AM, Jan. 31, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

Don't have much time to post, can you believe on Monday Catey was sick and today Abijah is sick again. I am going crazy!! Anyway, just wanted to post a few pics of a wonderful girl's weekend in the Mts. We have done this for the last 3 years and it is great.

After dinner one eveneing Kim and Wendy had the funny idea of a contest to see who could create the most "creative" outfit out of only newspaper and a roll of tape. Dawn's gown was awesome. Of course being the homeschooling moms that we are, Carla and I made Lisa an indian, maybe Sacagawea.

The table beautifully decorated for Valentines!

This was Fondu night. My sister-in-law Steph outdid herself with this. She is so creative. I can't begin to tell you everything we had to eat.

Well, thats all for now. Back to reality and sick kids!

Having one of those days...

1:35 PM, Jan. 22, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

I am having one of those Mondays. My day started at 6:00 am, which is not unusual except for the fact that Carla and I walked yesterday and today was going to be a warm, peaceful, quiet morning. Well, Abijah was up at 6:05. I had to take him to the dentist today. He fell a few months ago and hurt his front tooth. It has now become "dead" and the dentist told me I had to take him to an oral surgeon and have it removed. He will be put to sleep. This worries me a bit. The funny thing is the same thing happened to Colton about a year ago and he has no front tooth. The dentist was able to remove his without putting him to sleep because he was older. After the appointment we went to replace our dead hamster. They did not have any chinese dwarf hamsters so I was talked into a regular size hamster. She has affectionately been named "Big Mama". The kids love her. She was very nervous in her new surroundings and of course she bit me. Well after that excitement and getting lunch barely any school has been done, the house is trashed, and I am tired. So as you can see it is just one of those days!

This is Big Mama!

She is much larger in person. The picture really does not do her justice!

This is some furniture Cayla decided to make out of twigs. She is so creative, the problem is I can't seem to get her to do her other work. After the bed she started working on a table and chairs. I will post pictures when she finishes them.

Camp Day!

3:42 PM, Jan. 19, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

Well Cayla and Amber are almost ready to leave for camp. As I mentioned before this is Cayla's first time at camp and I am having such a hard time. I am realizing how fast time goes by. It makes very sad. I miss Alicia a lot right now and it just seems like everyday someone around here reaches another mile stone that is taking them further away from me and closer to the call God has for them. I am sure I should feel good about this but somehow I do not. I love my kids to be here with me. I love being in control. That I know is a real big prblem and something I need to work on. Anyway I know I will have that empty funny feeling this weekend and I don't like it. Abijah is still sick and I am also feeling some anxiety over that. The Dr. said today that it is just viral and could last up to two weeks. Two weeks! Is he kidding me? I hope I can get through another week without sleep. Well enough of this pity party I am having. I know I need to just look at all the blessings and focus on that. Why is that so hard?

Sickness....

8:52 AM, Jan. 18, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

Well we are knee deep in it like we are every winter. Abijah has been sick for a week now and Cayla woke up sick this morning. It really puts a twist in my already busy day. I am trying to think of it as a break from the regular routine (if that makes any sense at all). I guess I am grasping for straws here trying to see the positive amidst all this crazy sickness. Anyway not sure what today will look like, but I am just thankful Cayla got sick today and not tomorrow at camp. She goes to snow camp for the first time tomorrow and I was already a bit worried at least now I hope she will be over this sickness and able to enjoy herself.

What school should look like.....

11:41 AM, Jan. 17, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

What school usually looks like at our house.....

11:38 AM, Jan. 17, 2007 .. 3 comments .. Link

Catey and Colton doing....Ok I really don't know what they are doing, but it looks dangerous!

Amber taking a history test on the counter! Why not?

The funeral director!

3:40 PM, Jan. 16, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link

This is Chris! He's the one who had to bury the hamster!

The day the hamster died...

12:05 PM, Jan. 16, 2007 .. 2 comments .. Link

Well, today our hamster died. Cayla was very upset when she found it. I don't know if the other hampster killed it or if it died and then the other hamster attacked it, but either way it was not a pretty sight. It was Catey's hampster, but as I said before Cayla was devastated. She felt like it was her fault because her hampster attacked it. I was a bit upset myself as my daughter sobbed in my arms. I went out to remove the hamster and could not bring myself to do it. This is where Chris (my 15 year old) came in. He went to the cage and removed the hampster. Poor Amber, who was totally grossed out by the way, had to hold the bag. I had to go to tell Catey. She then sobbed in my arms and I again began to cry. We then all proceeded to go outside while Chris dug a hole. I was going to go do it myself and he said I'll go help mom. After he dug the hole and we put Buddy in his grave we went inside. Chris stayed outside and took much care to make sure nothing would dig it up. He then made a memorial and put a bottle in the ground to hold flowers. It is wintertime and of course there are no flowers but when he came in he told me he found something, some sort of weed, that had some little yellow things on it that somewhat resembled a flower. Why do I tell you this long story you might ask. Well, my heart today overflowed with love for those kids. A daughter who is so sensitive that she wants to replace the hampster and do anything she can to ease her sisters pain. Another little girl who loved a hampster and was so sad. A 16 year old daughter who though she was really disgusted helped out. And a son who loved his sister so much he took so much care in burying her hampster. I stood at the window when we came in and watched him. My eyes again filled with tears. He looked so big and so strong and I wondered what happened to that little boy I held in my arms just yesterday. I as usual didn't take a picture but wished I would have because I fear my memory will fail me. I desperately want to keep this reminder as to why I homeschool. All the doubts I have were just washed away with a flood of emotions helping me to remember why I started this journey anyway. I do wish I had a picture. I do fear my memory will fade or maybe someday fail me. As I write this with tear stained cheeksI pray I will be able to hold this memory near and dear to my heart. I pray that when things aren't going the way I want that God would bring this memory to mind. That it would be vivid and the feelings I am feeling right now would wash over me again. Our time here is so short and we get so caught up in the negative things. Thank God for today-the day the hamster died. For the reminder of how short my time is, how blessed I am to be able to homeschool, and for the grace to get through each new day.

I must be crazy!

9:44 AM, Jan. 14, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link

OK! I know I said many months ago I was going to try this again and I didn't. I don't know why I can't seem to get into blogging. I love to read others and I know I would love to share my crazy days! I think the everyday busyness gets in the way and it is the first thing that I give up. I have been really struggling this year with a lot of negative feelings when it comes to my homeschool days. Many are crazy and I am certain my children would be better educated if they were in school. Well anyway last weekend I went on a retreat and I just wanted an answer if this homeschool thing was what I was supposed to be doing. I came home and had a terrible day on Monday. I wondered if that was my answer. I called my husband sobbing like I usually do and he told me he wanted me to homeschool but if I felt like I couldn't he understood. So I left the conversation feeling more confused until I walked with my dear friend Carla. She said if I don't know the answer and if Greg wants me to do it then thats my answer. Thanks Carla! She was so right. I spend so much time dwelling on the negatives that I totally lose sight of what I set out to do. Anyway I have been feeling much more positive this week. Are my children getting the best education in the world? NO! But I know they are getting a lot of love and I know that even though there are really bad days they could be worse. I also know I am being called to do this. It is confirmed all the time through friends and my husband. I am praying that I stop questioning things even on the bad days and I learn to press on toward the goal. By the way its Sunday morning and I am at home with a sick kid, but I am not going to allow this to get me down. I think its going to be a good week!

Trying Again!

8:00 AM, Aug. 31, 2006 .. 1 comments .. Link

I have struggled to get into this blogging thing. I love to read others but struggle with posting my own. Now that school is back in session I am going to try to post once a week. Things are crazy around here as usual. Any suggestions on what to do with a very active and spoiled 2 year old? Being the youngest of 7 he is terribly spoiled and I am paying for it big time now that school started. Well I need to go get started. Hopefully I will write more later.

First Blog

7:55 PM, Feb. 10, 2006 .. 2 comments .. Link

Hello~ My name is Denise. Married to Greg for almost 15 years! We have 7 children and obviously we homeschool, with our first graduating this year. We have 4 girls(the oldest two adopted) and 3 boys. I enjoy reading and occasionaly scrapbooking. Most the time my days are too busy homeschooling and desperately trying to take care of the housework. Greg sells insurance and his job is flexible, so that is nice. I always enjoy learning new tips on how to make homescooling run a little smoother at our house.

Hello! My name is Denise and I am blessed wife of Greg and blessed mom of 7 - Alicia(18-currently serving with YWAM in Zambia), Amber(16), Chris(15), Cayla(12), Catey(6), Colton(4), and Abijah(2)! I am a Christian homeschool mom and this is my daily ramblings of our crazy days!