Peakmore Academy - Homeschool Blogger

Halloween 2009 Recap

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 14:45:00 -0600

Our older daughter dressed up all day, in one form or another--

She just wanted to wear the arm warmers. LOL
She only wore this around the house.

We dabbled with a costume idea for baby sister:

Thinking she could go as a "toy"...

At first she thought it was funny:

But that soon wore off and we knew that wasn't going to get it!

So instead I took a few more photos

Note the attempt at decorating her pumpkin w/ her feet!LOL

The weather this Halloween was no where near as nice as it was last year! Brrrr. I heard lots of passersby commenting on the fact, too. Everyone was cold. Except for baby Girl... she was toasty enclosed in her stroller seat! Though no one could see her all covered up in the stroller parts-- she made a cute pumpkin!

Sporting a LL Bean fleece bunting under a piece
of bright orange soft fabric I had in my stash... I just
sort of wrapped it around her to keep warm!

DD12 went Trick-or-Treating as a Vampire Beauty Queen this year. (Her idea.) The costume was pretty easy to make as she already had a formal red dress (one my mother had bought YEARS ago that i'd taken in for her to play dress-ups. Well it actually FITS now! GASP!), and had gotten shoes from a lady here locally that gave her whole wedding ensemble away (including the tiara she wore.)

note the pantyhose--- she improvised (tore them) so they'd allow her big toe into the shoes. LOL

I sewed the sash from some white cotton fabric I had in my stash and she painted the lettering.

it says "MISS TRANSYLVANIA 1863"

Makeup base was from a vampire kit and the eye makeup and blush was from my own makeup bag. Teeth were from the mall and a big spot of laughter for us the whole afternoon!LOL

After two hours were were tired and her feet were hurting:

Blisters were starting to form on her little toes! Ouch!

None the worse for the wear, baby Girl was still content in her stroller, playing with her toys when we arrived back home!

Hope EVERYONE had a safe & FUN Halloween!

16 WEEKS

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:49:00 -0500

Time sure is flying!

hanging out on activity mat next to Mommy's computer desk

Shes' rolling to her sides nowadays, but not quite rolling over. LOL
Congrats to her friend, though, who rolled over this week!

Sissy Schooling

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:33:00 -0500

Usually I manage to get a shower in the early morning hours BEFORE baby girl wakes up. However, sometimes that just doesn't happen. October 6, 2009, was such a morning.

But daily showering is vital to sanity. Plain and simple. Thus, DD12 relocated for a bit to my bed and watched baby girl while I showered.

She finished up her grammar assignment then read aloud from her Zoology book while holding a toy up for baby girl to entertain herself with. (Note additional toys on the side at the ready.)

DD12 actually commented that schooling like that was fun. LOL

We ran errands after that.

Joy in Motion

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:26:00 -0500

Baby Girl got a new toy recently and she just loves it...

The Oball. We lucked out in getting a pink one as "colors may vary" when ordering. It is super easy to hold, makes just a GENTLE rattle noise, can hook on to things with those link type things, is soft and lightweight. I highly recommend this toy for all little ones & toddlers. There are larger sizes as well, but this little one is perfect for little hands.This would be an excellent gift for the holidays.

See.
This is what I have to work with.
Snapping print-worthy photos for my scrapbooking is NOT an easy task.
But yes, I consider even this blur of joy print-worthy!

Baby Quilt DONE!!

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:12:00 -0500

It has been done for a few days but I'm just getting time to post it.

Completed quilt:

Quilt Back:

Standard folded up shots:

I'm so happy to have this done! It is the biggest quilted project I've made so far! I've only made 2.5 table runners previously. (I've yet to finish my Easter one.) Baby girl and I used the quilt yesterday for napping together on the living room floor. It fits nicely over my arms and around her little body.

I learned a lot while making this quilt. I learned for small projects like this I can sandwich & baste (spray or pins) on the wall. That I should plan out the desired quilting method BEFORE I actually start quilting. That I should take into account what the quilting will look like on the back. That having contrasting thread on the back isn't horrible after all. That I need to try a different method of binding- I'm not all that pleased with the final pass of stitching.

All in all, however, I love it! From the front it looks really nice, I must say. The back would be just as nice if only I'd done a different method of tacking the binding on. No biggie though. The quilt is utilitarian for sure; it wasn't made for storing away as an heirloom.

Rainy Day Outing

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:46:00 -0500

Hubby had Friday off so we took a day off of schooling to enjoy a day together. The fact that it was raining like crazy (and continued to all day long) didn't stop us. We were a family on a mission. LOL

First stop was to return some books to a library, then the post office for me to mail out some fat quarters(a swap) for a quilting list I'm on and DD12 got some library books from the library in that small town (closer to us than the other library.) By this time we were all getting hungry so thought to go get some lunch somewhere.

Well-- anyone who lives in my area KNOWS that every Friday is graduation day at the Navy Base (bootcamp) thus making lunch out on Friday a huge headache-- way too many sailors AND their families out and about, long lines, long waits, etc. This was definitely not something we wanted to deal with.

We had thought we'd go to Sweet Tomato (a favorite) but,yep-- lines. Chili's next door, same thing. So I mentioned trying a Chinese restaurant instead just down the way. So we pulled into there ... lot not too full- good sign! But before going in I had to nurse the baby (4 months old next week!) so she's be happy & content. And by the time that was done... well the parking lot was FULL!!! Definitely not wanting to deal with that crowd!

Off we went again. By this time we were all rather famished (except the baby, of course!) and really would have eaten anywhere. But unbeknownst to me hubby had a grand plan and surprised us by driving to the next town over and taking us to a Japanese steakhouse. I'd known he had been wanting to go- but didn't think it was "lunchtime material" ... I was wrong.

They offered a simple menu (various entrees in hibachi or teriyaki flavor), not too pricey, and we enjoyed ourselves a lot! It was the first time any of us had experienced such a thing and we can't wait to go back! (Mom, I told you we'll have to go there next time you come to visit!)

This was our chef.
(A group of senior citizens were just being seated around the grill behind him.)

DD12 ordered Chicken Teriyaki, I ordered Sirloin Teriyaki, and hubby had a bit of both in a combo plate. Our meals were accompanied by a small salad for each of us. Baby girl just watched with interest...

Notice the smoking onion in the center. Our chef made "train noises" as
he pushed it around the grill-- assuming it was to entertain the baby. LOL

DD12 waiting patiently for the food to be done cooking.

Hubby chatting with us while we watch the culinary spectacle.

Notice the little dishes at the bottom of the photo.
We each had our own dipping sauces to try out:
Ginger, Yum-Yum, Teriyaki (and hubby had a spicy one as well.)

Ignore the mountain of hair at the back/top of my head and the fact that my bangs are
all askew, AND that I have no makeup on.... like I said, it was a rainy day.
I had thought I would ONLY be popping into post office that day, not
ending up someplace in sitting public getting my photo taken.
Note the sling behind me on my chair-- taken inside just
in case baby girl got restless in her seat. Suffice it to say
the culinary show kept her entertained for the most part, sling was not used.

This was DD12's plate of Chicken Teriyaki

My Sirloin Teriyaki.

No photo for hubby's plate- I was too busy eating my own to remember
to take a photo of his!LOL

Lunch was super tasty! The total check WITH tip was what we would have paid had we gone to Chili's for lunch and just a few dollars more than had we eaten at Sweet Tomato. We all commented that the fare wasn't heavy and didn't leave us overly full. In fact, hubby and I both said we'd have liked MORE vegetables- and will inquire about adding more veggies to our meal next time we go.

Local folks, the restaurant was:

Hanakana Japanese Steakhouse

I Never Knew

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:59:00 -0500

For as long as I can remember my mom has sung me this song. And all these years I never knew exactly what the song was nor who originally performed it. (So I ask, "Mom... why didn't you tell me????)

I don't know who put this photo montage up on Youtube but I don't care-- I have the song. Each and EVERY time I hear it it brings tears to my eyes. Even when my mom sings it to me now as an adult. (Yes, I'm a ~~sap~~ dork.) I'll have to make a point of playing the song for my 12DD.

I Love you, MOM!!!!

Here are the lyrics:

Turn Around
Where are you going my little one, little one,
Where are you going my baby my own?

Turn around and you're two,
turn around and you're four,
Turn around and you're a young girl
going out of the door.

Where are you going,
my little one, little one?
Dirndls and petticoats,
where have you gone?

Turn around and you're tiny,
turn around and you're grown,
Turn around and you're a young wife,
with babes of your own.

Turn around (turn around) turn around,
and you're a young wife
with babes of your own.

Where are you going,
my little one, little one?
Where are you going my baby my own?

Turn around and you're two,
turn around and you're four,
Turn around and you're a young girl,
going out of the door.

Where are you going
my little one, little one?
Dirndls and petticoats,
where have you gone?

Turn around and you're tiny,
turn around and you're grown,
Turn around and you're a young wife,
with babes of your own.

Turn around (turn around) turn around,
and you're a young wife,
with babes of your own.

Laboring Playlist

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:29:00 -0500

It was a topic on the parenting forums I frequent, which I replied to, so I thought I'd share here...

The "mysterious tracks'" titles:
"DRAW ME CLOSE" - sung my Michael W. Smith
"DID YOU FEEL (the Mountains Tremble)" - performed by Delirious
"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY"

(I don't have artists for the last song and just can't quite be certain by listening to it.)

I personally found I didn't need/want music in the beginning of labor. I chit chatted w/ hubby and even had the laptop set up with yahoo messenger for voice & webcam (my mother and sister were webcaming w/ me from Indiana and Virginia during my labor.) It was only when I finally asked for a pain IV drip to take the edge off-- and was denied because I was too far along-- that I then relied on my iPod and set to focusing on managing my own pain.

Here's a picture hubby took in fact:

As for music with words or just instrumental... for*me* (YMMV), I NEEDED songs with words. I was singing my lungs out during contractions for as long as I could handle it.... then when THAT got to be too much, I "vocalized" (aka: deep, guttural, moaning noises) through the contractions and relaxed or fiddled around w/ the iPod between contractions. LOL I originally had some classical music on it too, but shortly before my due date I removed it and was so happy I did! (Hard to SING and focus to it, LOL)

Anyway, my playlist for labor was short. It actually could have been shorter. I definitely would REMOVE Kenny Roger's "Lady" & "She Believes in Me" -- those were total duds in that state of mind.... though Inormally love those songs. LOL

The songs I listened to THE MOST (hit repeat continually) were Creed's "ARMS WIDE OPEN", "Psalm23" (MY MOST PLAYED SONG... I love her home video of her home-birthing and singing this song through labor!!!!). "I Can Only Imagine" (I thought of my sweet friend Melissa with each playing of her song. Man I sure do miss her), & "Cinderella". And at the very end of my labor, right before the pushing started i was ONLY listening to "Psalm23" and "I Alone".

So there ya have it.

This Morning

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:04:00 -0500

DD12 is deep into her lessons for today, including making some corrections in her math book. She's hoping to have a friend spend the night tonight so her room will need a once-over, too. Here she is with her cheerful morning smile, wearing a hip poncho type thing her friend gave her...

Baby "G" slept longer than usual last night (from 10pm-7am) so this nursing mama was very happy to have her nursling wake up and be eager to nurse. Of course, she fell right back asleep! She awoke again about 9:30... we nursed changed diapers, talked/cuddled, had floor time, nursed, and it was naptime already! (She's usually only awake for an hour or so the first time)... this is where she ended up:

(Notice the method, Kay... LOL)

I'm typing up this blog entry and she's still tucked away sound asleep, snoring actually. It took her all of 3 minutes to fall asleep once I had her snug in the wrap. Previous attempts this morning were in my arms rocking in our LazyBoy rocker-recliner and in the baby swing. For whatever reason, this is where she settled in this morning.

For more babywearing pictures... click on over. At that blog entry I point to one printable wrap instructions, here is a different one.

My latest fascination with baby carriers is in the Mei Tai department. I made me a trial one, just to try it out-- knowing full well I wasn't using the correct fabric, etc for it but wanted to try it out. I really liked it for free-hand "popability." I'll probably try my hand at making an actual usable one some time but in the meantime I have my eye on a few for sale, one of which is custom-made with fabric you send it. That sounds right up my alley.

Sneaking in a photo

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:04:00 -0500

DD12 really didn't want her picture taken the other day... but I "had to prove" that we're still homeschooling here, despite the fact that I rarely blog about it anymore!

Seeeeee... proof positive... math is getting done! (Among other things!)