Hey, it's July!

Wow, it's July and my last blog post was June, oops. This will probably be a totally random blog post as I'll just type as I think.


First, Molly is walking! There's nothing cuter than a baby walking with their hands up in the air for balance, a big smile on their face and a staggering step. She loves this new freedom. She thinks she's quite the big girl! I do have a video of her first steps and maybe I'll get that posted later.

Graedon is such a good boy. Just yesterday I gave him a pop tart (I know but they were on sale) and I reached back in the package to give Ellie one. I turned to hand it to Ellie when I noticed that Grae had split his in half and gave one half to Ellie. So sweet. Molly has a runny nose right now and I was looking for a "snot" rag. Grae piped up, "I have one." He got it out and wiped Molly's nose for me!

He is sure to tell us if a boy hits one of his sisters, he will protect them and hit the boy and tell him to leave his sister alone. That's my boy! However he does embellish the story sometimes and tells me that he will have a flaming pirate sword and will run after the bad boy.

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On a completely unrelated note, what's up with this? I admit that I think sposies are gross now but this is one of the most disgusting things I have seen. You change the pad at the back but leave the diaper on. Pampers claims that the moisture is pulled to the back leaving the front stay dry. How? Magic? There has to be some urine soaked in the front. I'm going to buy some stock in Desitin as this is sure to give babies/toddlers even more diaper rash. Do you know that ever since Molly has been in cloth, she has not had one diaper rash? I'm sure it's because her skin can breathe in the cotton or bamboo and we change her right after she wets.

Anyway, they are trying to promote this as a quick thing to do. Hey you don't even have to look or interact with your child to change their diapers. Wohoo! I don't know about you and your baby but Molly and I have fun at diaper changes. I sing to her, play short games and give her lots of kisses. Okay, done with that rant. ;)

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We've been having fun in school lately. I really enjoy teaching the girls. (we do school year round so no summer break). Our science curriculum is really good. It's Apologia and the Exploring Creation series. Very comprehensive but understandable. I love doing the experiments with the girls. The best thing is that it acknowledges God as creator. Very important to us as we do not seek to seperate God from our studies. That would be impossible as God made 2+2=4, as well as ordered history, made all things, created language, laws of science, etc.

I'm going to be adding an art series to our school program but I need to find a time to squeeze it in. The following may not seem like a lot but it takes all morning to get through. We don't do these all on the same day.

Right now we're doing (with links):
Saxon math 65 (Maddie and Ava)
Saxon 76 (Lauren)
Student Writing Intensive Group B (Lauren, Maddie, Ava)
Exploring Astronomy (Maddie & Ava)
Apologia General Science (Lauren)
Proverbs study (Lauren, Maddie, Ava)
Catechisms (all kids)
Veritas Press History: Ancient Greece and Rome
Will be adding back Shurley Grammar 7
Beginning reading/writing (Ellie)
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (Lauren, Maddie, Ava)

We just finished a world geography course and will be adding in a poetry course. There is so much more that I want to do but it's so hard with Grae, Ellie and Molly awake and roaming the house, lol.

Okay so this post was totally random and I've had to get up 4 times to tell the girls to be quiet so Grae can sleep. Off to make Bri and I some dinner or at least to dish up the low carb cheesecake ;)

Happy Birthday Molly!

Yes, Molly is one. We made it and we both survived the first year. I'll let you in on a little secret. I don't really enjoy the first 6 mths after having a baby. Don't get me wrong, I love my children dearly from the first moment I lay eyes on them (even before), and woe to anyone that comes between me and my chillin's, but if they could come out already sitting and smiling and not crying so much in the evenings, I would be set. (was that the longest run on sentence ever?)

Anyway, Molly had a few strikes against her from the get go. First, I didn't even want to be pregnant (oops) and second I wanted another boy. It's a great thing she was a great baby and being cute doesn't hurt.

So what's Molly doing now? Well she's not walking yet. I'm not sure why. All of my kids have walked by 11 months (10 months for Ellie) and certainly by their first birthday. She takes steps and she walks holding on to our hand but chooses to sit down and crawl.

She is finally wanting to eat table food but still loves to nurse. She'll say "nigh, nigh, na" when she wants to nurse. Translation: nigh-night nurse. As in what she does at nap/bedtime or anytime really. I'm loathe to wean her as it helps me lose weight. But the day will come in the next few months. I'll milk it for all it's worth (pun intended).

Here's her favorite spring pastime, having Ellie pick her peas, open them up and feed them to her.






Notice how tiny they are! The kids can't wait until they are big and plump.


Grae wanted me to take his picture. He's a knight wearing a pirate shirt.


Molly ate her birthday banana We have to call everthing that they eat on their birthday the "birthday" this and that.


And birthday tearing the couch apart playing (which they do every.single.day).


Ava made her a banana bread cake which was promptly devoured by the kids. I think Molly got a piece. We didn't get Molly anything for her birthday (bad parents). Well we did make a rather large payment to the van to help get it payed off. She rides in comfort and in semi-style so there you go.

I'm really looking forward to this year with Molly. I can't imagine life here without her. She's really fun and really, really fun to kiss and cuddle. Happy Birthday Miss Molly Kate.

A thing I never thought I would say...

To Grae:

"Don't stick bagels in between your toes."

and then even worse...

"Don't eat bagels with your feet."

What things have you said that you never thought you would have too?

Back from vacation!

We spent all last week at the beach (Garibaldi) for our church's annual Family Camp. Just picture: sleeping in nice cabins, two bathrooms (we have one bathroom here so it was a luxury, lol), all meals provided for (fresh bread at every meal), nothing to do all day except pretty much what we wanted. They did have scheduled activities for the kids. This was Grae and Molly's first family camp and they did very well.

Can you believe I didn't get any pictures? I take that back, I did get some pics in the cabin while we were waiting for the breakfast bell to ring. Want to see them?

A regular sight.


So was this. "Can I have a juice box, pleeeeease."


Molly trying to get into my lap as I was backing up trying to take her picture. Yes that is Grae's pirate sword next to her. We wouldn't dare leave it at home.


Ava following her.


Grae wanting to eat pirate cereal (Captain Crunch.)


And my big accomplishment. I cloth diapered the whole time we were there! Wohoo!




It was a very fun trip but we were so tired when we got home. We actually skipped church on Sunday and slept on and off all day. I'm caught up on the laundry so that's nice. Oh and I lost a pound while I was there. I really watched the carbs and tried to drink plenty of water. Plus we had to walk everywhere. So now to start saving $$ for next year!

Oh my...

So my last post was about how we just got over head colds and then we were hit with the stomach flu. Monday night Brian complained of his stomach hurting and within a few hours Maddie and Lauren were throwing up. The next day was Ellie's turn followed by Graedon, Molly and Ava. I was feeling pretty proud that I didn't get it when Thursday came along and I got it.

The funny (or not so funny) thing is about 20 families in our church got the same thing at the same time. Thankfully the bug is short lived and we're all feeling much better. I lost 2.5 pounds in 1 day! Not a great way to lose weight and I'm sure it will come back when I feel up to eating.

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On another note, in an effort to remember the cute things my children say, here's one by Graedon.

We were watching the Pirates of Penzance again and the song was "how pitiful his tale, how rare his beauty...." in reference to a particularly handsome pirate with a sad story. This is repeated several times.

Graedon turned to me and said "Mommy?".

"Yes."

"Pirates don't have tails."

I had to stop and think for a moment and then agreed with him. I'm sure he didn't understand what I found so funny.

My family...

Feeling better. Last week we dealt with: viral bronchitis (Molly & Graedon), high fevers, headaches, massive head congestion, coughing and some vomiting. Should this happen in late May? I don't think so. I was certain we had left the cold/flu season behind.

Saturday was a nice day so we all went outside. None of us had much energy but Brian felt strongly that we had to get our tomatoes/zuchinni and eggplants in the ground. He wanted to divide the garden boxes by making some new boxes. And who better to help than Ellie.





She did like any self respecting carpenter would do and hit her finger.


She decided to go join Molly in the dirt.


Earlier in the week Grae was climbing in the playhouse and fell. He banged his eye pretty well but didn't seem to torn up about it. A few days after that event, the whole bottom of his eye turned black and blue. I just now got a picture of it and you can barely see it. His first black eye!


Lauren was doing what she always does.


I'm not sure what Maddie and Ava were doing. I think Ava was sleeping on the couch as she had a bad headache.

Here's Molly. Boy that kid loves being outside. I broke out my 50mm lens for these shots (I love that lens).

Bamboo velour diaper pinning tutorial

Starring the ever lovable and cute Molly.