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The Gose Family Homeschool
Jul. 21, 2009
New house, new land, new trails!
So.... I'm a blog slacker. Sigh.
We have moved into my dream home on about two acres, with a good patch of woods in the back. The kids and I have enjoyed making trails into and out of them and just went and purchased some little concrete statues to "decorate" the trails - a little lion sitting under a tree, a fire hydrant by a favorite bush, and hat that looks like it'll blow away, and even a penguin, keeping watch over our clearing area.
We're looking forward to a cub scout camp out, and hope to stage a scavenger hunt to see who can find all seven statues the fastest. Lots of fun!
I'd like to work at posting more often, about life in general, as well as our journey into the kids becoming bilingual as well!
Hasta pronto (see you soon!)
Sra. Gose
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Oct. 21, 2008
Piano lessons
We finally got Grandma's piano moved into our home! We've been practicing on a full-size keyboard, but it just wasn't the same. So Mitch, age 6 1/2, and Annagail, almost 4, have been playing up a storm!
Things aren't as scheduled as I would like, but I do see the children progressing every day, in every way. Mitch, in first grade, has the heaviest load - Math is the lightest load right now, and I suppose I need to focus on that a bit more. He's also just become a cub scout, so that adds a lot of interest to our daily lessons.
Enjoying life!
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Aug. 5, 2008
Things are settling down....
So, after each baby, I've learned (from my mother-in-law) that there's about 6 weeks until things sort of settle down into a flow again. This has been true with new jobs, new moves, all that - she has told me time and again about that 6 week curve to encourage me - it will not always be this way!
And my own mother always keeps me remembering her "favorite verse:" "And it came to pass...." right, you think it's just setting the stage for the next biblical story, but we like to think of it as "Whatever this is, it just CAME, so it could PASS!" So, in those raw moments, I think on both of those things and it gets me through.... that and naps,... and chocolate.
Enjoy our latest pic of sleepy Momma and sleepy Libby. She's doing well, our wonderful Grandpa, Brad's stepdad, has begun taking each of the eldest children on "Grandpa day" - one on one time with him. Today was Mitch's day, and we are just so thrilled to have that involvement of Grandpa in the children's education. What a blessed life we all live!
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Jul. 18, 2008
All our children
All the children were gracious enough to pose with me (still pretty swollen from the surgery, but I managed to squeeze in there without a pry bar.) So as of this picture, our brood includes:
Mitch 6 1/2, Jake almost 5 (next month), Annagail 3 1/2, Audie 19 months, and Liesel 1 week.
All blessings from the Lord!
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Jul. 13, 2008
Liesel and her come-home outfit
This picture is a couple of days old - I took it before I put on her coming home outfit, a newborn size onesie. Isn't it funny how big it is - or how small she is! This is from July 11.
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Jul. 13, 2008
Nonny and Poppa and Kate visit
My Parents and Kate visited pretty much all day on Saturday. It was SO nice. We got to talk and visit while all the big cousins swam and played in the pool and with all sorts of toys. Annagail always loves to see Kate (as do the boys, but you know - she needs girl time!) and Nonny was so sweet to get almost all the laundry done for us, so I actually had clothes to put on this morning! We just sat and relaxed mostly, and a good time was had by all. Liesel thrilled them both with how much she reminded them of my own size as a baby. She's now 5 lbs 5 oz, and I was 5 lbs 4 ozs when I was born, so it's really neat. We also see lots of Kelly in her coloring and of course her sweet little cleft chin. The General (a nice elderly gentleman neighbor) came by, as did our dear friends Kimberly and Mary Sparks. Just a lovely day all the way through.I can't get over how blessed and loved we all are.
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Jul. 13, 2008
Liesel smiles and sleeps
| This baby is the easiest of the five so far. She sleeps and poops a LOT, but eat and smiles in her sleep! Her waking time is increasing during the day, which thrills Annagail. We love to coo Libby Libby Libby to her - what a blessing!!
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Jul. 9, 2008
Announcing Liesel Elizabeth Gose
Liesel "Libby" Elizabeth Gose arrived at 1:57 pm on Tuesday July 8. She weighed in at 5 lbs. 11 oz, and 18 3/4 inches long (so teeny!.) Big brothers and sister Mitch Jake Annagail and Audie are all thrilled as are we! The family is complete! How blessed we are!
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Jul. 4, 2008
Final Baby Names
So... We finally agree.
Liesel Elizabeth Gose for a girl (Liesel for the German heritage in the Gose family, Elizabeth in honor of my paternal Grandmother)......
Coleman Staples Gose for a boy (Coleman is the town where Brad was born, and he was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Staples is my maiden name).....
I FINALLY feel good about both names. Yay! Only 3 days left (I don't count the birthday!)
Going to mop and do windows today, and then it's off to see the fireworks tonight at Texas World Speedway! Yee ha!
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Jul. 2, 2008
New Birthday!
Yay! The baby's birthday is now July 8! Just in the nick of time too (we moved it up 6 days!), because I have quickly entered the not being able to take a full breath stage. Nothing unusual for pregnancy, but not fun. Oh, and none of maternity tops cover the bottom of my belly any more. Little hands are constantly rubbing, touching, tickling, my belly from underneath where I can't see them - surprises me everytime!
The kids (and Brad and I) just can't wait! We're so excited to find out who this last memeber of our family is. No wonder I don't sleep! Check back on July 10 or so, and I'll update with name and stats and maybe even a pic of the new one! Woo hoo!
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Jun. 29, 2008
Fort Worth Trip
We had a great time on our little family vacation a few days back (okay, it's been a whole week now!) The main goal was to see the penguins - we studied them for three weeks, and the crowning event was seeing them at the Fort Worth Zoo. When we got there, they still were passing out old maps and it said "Penguins: Coming Soon" - my heart just about stopped. But happily, the website was right - they'd arrived in April, praise the Lord! Both Mitch and Jake thoroughly enjoyed the entirety of the Zoo as well as the Ripley's Believe it or not museum. Enjoy the pics! Oh- on a side note - Perhaps we'll get to move the baby c-section date up a bit - we'll see what the doctor says at tomorrow's appointment. 
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Jun. 23, 2008
In Memory of Frank McAnear
My dear old friend, Frank McAnear passed away recently - I just heard of the news today. Frank was a father, missionary, lawyer and English language teacher. I met him and Libby at Baylor when I studied there. My intent was to become a missionary, and began teaching ESL classes with Frank and Libby (they became missionaries to Korea after Frank retired from practicing law and work at the FBI with fingerprint identification) and attending tons of international students events, and even organizing bunches of activities and trips alongside Libby. After Brad, she was probably the person I saw most often while at Baylor, and therefore one of my very closest friends, never mind that there were 50 years separating us. She often was younger at heart than myself! I never walked by the BSU without sticking my head in, and learned a lot in her cooking classes. Frank was always busy with his ESL tutoring sessions, and even helped Internationals get their driver's licenses as well as took care of Visa issues and more. He NEVER tired of helping, and always had a great way to connect people. If you were standing in a social situation, Frank could seek out SOMEone in the room that you had SOMEthing in common with. He would start the conversation, and leave you to enjoy your new friend. What a great guy. Frank would've been 85 years old on June 7. (We enjoyed sharing our birthday celebrations when I did summer school at Baylor as well.) He and Libby were married for almost 63 years. After they moved to NC, I always expected I would see them again. I can't believe I missed my chance, and my children didn't get to meet him. Libby is still doing okay, I think. Her letter to me was in the most beautiful handwriting as always, and she always was optimistic, and still sounds that way. Pray for her today. My heart is just shocked, and I can't imagine how it must be to be left - Libby is a few years Frank's senior, but she's always had longevity run in her family, so I hope to see her again one day very soon. Just have to get this baby here first! Pray for the family and friends of Frank - they are numerous!
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Jun. 23, 2008
Back from Fort Worth!
So, we just got back late last night. We had a BLAST. I'll post pics later today. The bad news is I was so happy to get home "slip into" my "FAT" maternity shorts (very ratty and worn out, so I only wear them around th house, maybe the grocery store), and instead, they're TOO TIGHT! Augh! I have them on anyway - nothing else to wear, and I'm sure not buying new clothes for a three week stretch. So now I get to be hot and uncomfortable. Fun. Enough griping. I'll post our awesome penguin pictures soon. We had just so much fun. It was really really relaxing and a great time for Mitch and Jake too. Just what Brad and I needed. Gertie and Audie seemed to be thrilled about their own vacation at Grandma's house. What a blessing she is to us!
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Jun. 17, 2008
3 1/2 weeks left
So - We had another baby appointment yesterday - the heartrate was 132, last time it was 160! So now I'm thinking it's a boy instead of a girl! We'll wait and see... The names have fluctuated considerably this time - now I truly understand why my dad (number 6 in his family) doesn't have a middle name! For girls, we have Liesel Elizabeth - Gertie prays for Libby (that's what I'll call her!) just about every night. For a boy, we have Harrison Staples, or Reagan Staples... I'm partial to Reagan, but he has to look like it. So I'm a little on edge about the boy name. Either way, I'm pretty darn miserable, but I can make it! Only a few weeks left. We've got Fort Worth this weekend, and then three easy weeks. If I can just not sweat so much, then I can make it. Hot hot hot!
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Jun. 12, 2008
Momma's Birthday cake
 Brad and the kids (mostly Brad) made me a Kit-Kat birthday cake for my 32nd birthday on Tuesday. SO yummy - it was Brad's first attempt at a cake, ever - and it came out flawlessly! SO yummy.
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Jun. 12, 2008
The Go Cart GOES!
Well, after less than a month of gathering parts, Brad was voted best dad in the world as he and the boys completed their first major project together. Jake and Mitch both sandblasted the frame, watched as it was painted, cheered when each part was received, and learned how to build wheels, put on sprockets, attach seats, and more!
Each kid got a ride with Daddy (even Audie, I thought I was going to die!) up and down the street at what looked to me like break-neck speed. Jake said it was way faster than my car, and Mitch said he needed a helmet. On the way to get in at one point, Jake fell and cracked his head on the driveway - just a real good bruise, and a little scrape, so I guess I shouldn't be upset about go-carts - my kids can't walk without injuring themselves! Mitch did at one point "forget to use the brake" and hopped a curb in the old Albertson's parking lot, and bashed his forehead on the steering wheel. He got back in and drove some more though - and admittedly, Jake's tripping injury is much worse than Mitch's "crash" injury... I still want to wrap them up in bubble wrap, though.
Tomorrow I'll try and post all of our Birthday photos - our nephew Jackson had the party to end all parties this past weekend -what a BLAST! - and Brad and I have been enjoying our own special cakes and little gifts from the kids.
Oh, ONLY 4 weeks left of pregnancy for me. I am HOT HOT HOT! I can NOT WAIT to get this baby here. Sweatiness just doesn't put me in a good mood!
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Jun. 8, 2008
Audie's Disappointment
Jun. 8, 2008
Audie expresses himself
Well, even though Audie doesn't speak much at all (which we don't mind too much), we've noticed a new facial expression he makes to show his disappointment. I've been trying for almost two weeks to catch it on film, and I got it in Circuit City of all places, when I told him he couldn't get out of the cart. He sort of has this disgusted "awww." grunt/sound, and then the face. Cracks us up. What a great kid.
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Jun. 4, 2008
"Playing Possum"
Jun. 4, 2008
Gertie and Possum
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