Another week in review...

We've been busy! Last week was filled with orientations and odd feelings in the gut while watching our friends start Kindergarten....like I had some serious questioning inside my head...am I doing the right thing, is she gonna miss out, will any of us have regrets, what if I fail myself or most importantly, what if I fail my kids. But then....we had swim lessons on a Wed morning...and I was reminded of the beauty of flexibility. And we visited a homeschool fine arts co op...they had an orientation and it was great...kids are able to take art, music and other enrichment classes every Friday. I was into the idea more for my own support system with other moms...but there are a lot of rules...like you are only allowed 2 unexecused absences....isn't flexibility one of the reasons many homeschool? I know it's one of my top reasons...We enjoy taking off on a Thursday afternoon or Friday morning to go visit family or take field trips....we would not be able to do those things. A support system is not supposed to make u feel stressed or obligated. So....Maguill is going to take piano lessons instead with a local woman, for 30 min a week and she only charges $10 every visit! And luckily, we both have so many friends who have not forgotten about us since public school has started. Apparently, people like us! 

Foo started preschool last week...2 yr old class with 4 other little girls...she LOVES it but always tells me when I pick her up "I missed u momma"! She's been doing really good with potty training...although we still have some work to do with morning and naptime poops. 

Whippersnapper had her orientation last week for Mon, Wed, Fri preschool...she was beyond words excited to see her BFF...we were not able to get together with her all summer...so the two of them lit up and hugged and started right where they left off back in May when school ended...playing dinosaurs under the table. Her BFF is a cancer survivor...crazy to think that a teeny 4 yr old has already been thru something to beyond my comprehension...she has a tiny scar on her chest and beautiful spirit and smile to go along with it! 

Wednesday morning swim class...I'm in the pool with Foo and Maguill takes her class at the same time...meanwhile Whipper colors at the window and watches us...when we are done, Whipper goes in for her class...so we did some school for 30 min until Whipper was done....Foo colored...

My friend brought over this crazy caterpillar last week....

We had no idea what it was...so Maguill and I spent a whole school day researching it....once we determined it was a Bagworm...I told her to come up with some questions she wanted answers too...she wanted to know if it was a boy or girl, does it bite, what does it eat/drink, how does it make it's cocoon, what are some different cocoons, what will it turn into...so I helped her research all these questions and we printed out pictures and we put it all into a book...Maguills first research project!

How could I forget...we all got our teeth cleaned one afternoon...Lynn is the most patient hygentist ever....

AND....Maguill is joining the 4H club...specifically the Little Rascals...which means we are getting a rabbit....

A week and half in review...

...with pictures and a few words...

My girls love art...especially when I don't give any rules....

Maguill working in her "Get Ready for the Code" workbook....great program that reinforces handwriting and letter recognition....

Whipper likes to give me a hard time abt school but I always find her looking at the books when I'm doing something else and whenever I'm "quizzing" or reviewing with Maguill...she will randomly answer one of questions and she's always right!

Foo enjoying playdough...

Foo picking out big girl undies!!!

We recently finished the book "My Fathers Dragon"...story of a little boy who travels to a far away land called "Wild Island" to rescue a dragon....we drew Wild Island on the driveway one day and traced the little boys steps as we read...it was cool....

And Maguill drew everything the boy in the story packed into his backpack...I can't remember everything now but I think we had 24 lollipops, pair of boots, gum, hair ribbons, comb and brush, toothbrush and paste, knife, clothes,rubber bands...and as he used each item she would cross it off...it was fun! 

Spa day....at home...

Easton Farmers Mkt...

Fun at Grandmas preschool....

Lovin on Auntie Lex before she left for college...

Weathervane....Maguill and I made...she has enjoyed taking it outside everyday to see which direction the wind is blowing....

S'mores cupcakes....

The End.

Coffee and Switchfoot...can't go wrong!

We found it! Our home! Home church, that is!! And I love the name...Hopesprings Community of Faith...and I do feel like Faith Alive was a stepping stone...almost like God saying "please become friends with Emily...she will help to guide you and you both will become good friends...but this is where you ultimately belong..." And because I was open and so was hubs to truly finding our home...I was checking out our local free newsletter called "The Belt and Beyond"...I particularly love the column "The Crunchy Mom"...this week it was about essential oils...something I've become very interested in lately with making my own organic cleaners...but that's a different story. In the back of the newsletter are 2 pages of local churches, so I was looking at all the non-denominational ones and checking out all their websites...and this one struck me...immediately! Told hubs...I think this is the one. We both felt instantly sad for Pastor Matt at Faith Alive...but it's about what is best for our family and what fits us...right? 

So, we pull up and they have a small parking lot with a sign "visiting? Good, we saved you a spot" how awesome? We walk in and they are playing Switchfoot....I LOVE Switchfoot!! And they have a coffee bar...hubs Loves coffee! We get the little ones situated on the nursery and take Maguill with us into the sanctuary...several people approached us and introduced themselves...all very laid back and just sincere friendship and welcoming...including the Pastor, Jonathan...who introduced himself as Jonathon. The "altar" was covered with local art (which related to the sermon)...They had some announcements...and then kids K-5th grade (HopeKids) were sent downstairs...Maguill was cool with it...she went. And then the small worship band started and they were just fantastic...acoustic and young and everything I love! Hubs even said he enjoyed their music! Pastor Jonathon comes across as very humble...very relatable...someone we could hang out with around a fire and not feel like we needed to be on our best behavior...someone we could be ourselves with. Young, married with 2 kids...dressed down and comfortable. And he started the whole thing off with "this is how I interpret it..." Creation, that is....because it's so true...the Bible is so open to interpretation...but it's rarely admitted...and he got into it...

Creation...God created day and night and that was it...day 1...he said "I'm good" even tho he had so much more to do...we all feel like we have so much to do...being pulled in different directions...artists feeling like no that painting isn't done yet...rich saying I can't right now Maguill, I have to send this email...yet god just created day and night and said "yep I'm good...that's enough for today"...he proceeds to create land, water air...and ends each day with "I'm good"...except when he comes to man...he says man cannot be alone...and it's true...even when we are in our darkest hour and want to push everyone away....we always come back to someone...we can't be alone...it all comes back to God. 

After the service...everyone was hanging out...still drinking coffee and chatting...just an awesome community driven vibe...all goodness. They are currently doing a backpack drive for kids in need of school supplies...they are involved in a local food pantry, the run a coffee shop in the basement where all profits go to helping the local community. The previous pastor and his family moved to Sioux City, IA, where they are from, and actually started a 2nd Hopesprings church...apparently, it's a really dark area of the country and this local church travels to Sioux City a lot to help. 

I've never, in my life, been excited to go back to church....this is where God has been leading me....us...our family...this is a bookmark they gave us today...I hope you can read it....

Aargh! Potty training and homeschool!

I love this kid but she is not making potty training easy....she prefers to just hold it for hours and give me massive anxiety. I think I'd rather her have accidents. Seriously, she held it for over 4 hours today....

 

Science class today was spent on the front porch for 45 min waiting for this preying mantis to eat the daddy long legger...it was pretty cool when it did happen...Maguill was intrigued with the long leggers detached legs that were still moving on the ground...

We then headed off to the 4H county fair...4H stands for Head, Heart, Hands, Health...you can become a member at the age of 5. Maguill and her BFF are all about it! You can join different types of clubs...one having to do with farm animals...for example, if Maguill wanted to...she could raise a calf and "lease" space on a farm. Or she could work with pigs, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, alpacas (my personal fave), horses or dogs. Or she could get involved with gardening, sewing, arts and crafts, or even archery, when she gets older. She's excited...and I think it's so up her alley...so much more than something like Girl Scouts. The kids who had animals involved in competitions were so nice and confident and caring...all good signs.

I never mentioned that while I was visiting my parents the other week, I joined my mom and her friends at the soup kitchen...it was a deep experience. I never shared with anyone that I got choked up immediately as the people we were abt to serve started walking in....I instantly felt gratefull and sad...especially when I saw children and veterans. But I left feeling good...so I made some calls today and found some food pantries...gonna try to help out. Only problem is that they all tend to be during the week...kids.

Forgiveness....slow and steady...but my new motto is 

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse....

....It Didn't!!!  Foo Young pooped on the potty!  So, we went out for ice cream even though only Maguill ate her dinner....

But, yes - it was a tough day...the eb and flow of being a mom, I guess.  But the coolest thing we did today...most of our school day was spent writing and illustrating books to 2 of my sisters, Abby & Kerri.  Whipper was in charge of a book to Aunt Kerri - titled "What I Love" - it was so cute...everyone needs to pray that this package makes it to Argentina.  I sent it off today...it needs to get there because of this book....same goes for the book Maguill wrote and illustrated to Aunt Abby - titled "The Adventures of Aunt Abby" - hilarious on so many levels...but the coolest was when she said "I want to draw the Golden Gate Bridge" - YESSSSS!!!  I'm educating!!!!  It's working!!!!  And then I suggested she draw some cars on the bridge and she said "I'm just gonna make them look like dots" - perfection.  I hate to spoil the surprise for the Aunties...but I have to share some of these pictures....and yes, that's a picture of Mitch the dog on the one page!

Girls got haircuts today - figured most kids get "back to school" cuts, so why not go with the flow! Since we spent the majority of our day making the books - we did about an hour of school from the curriculum after "rest time".  I had energy and motivation - i was moving about vs. just sitting in the chair beside them and I felt like it held Maguill and Whipper's attention - they were like "what the hell is she doing...is she on crack?"  I held up about 12 of the sight word flash cards - Maguill got almost all of them - actually saying "easy" after several.  So, then I busted out one of the BOB Books called "Dot and Mitt" - she read the whole thing with just a couple stumbles...it was awesome.  That alone made school great today. 

Now on to my own personal growth...how does one forgive??  When you feel you have been betrayed someone you love so much...someone you had such high expectations for...someone you felt always had your back, no matter what.  I've dropped the expectations part...so I can no longer be hurt...but I'm still struggling to just forgive, move on and forget....everything else in my life is really in line on so many levels.  But, just this one little cloud....forgiveness.....say a prayer for me after you read this...Thank you! xoxox

This guy sure loves his ice cream....and I love him....

I'm so sorry!

I took a little break...but I'm back!! 

I feel like school is really good!  Maguillacutty is an awesome student for the most part.  I feel like we are in a groove.  Funny thing is that we finished our lower level a few months ago and the plan was for it to be the "homeschool room" - and we really prefer being at the kitchen table or outside.  So, I guess I'll move all their toys downstairs now and just make it a playroom. 

I'd like to just recap the fun we've had over the last few days....

We had ice cream at Petey's Eaty's Saturday evening - summertime surprise ice cream after dinner is always fun for a kid...especially when there is a tractor to climb on....

On our way home, we saw a hot air balloon that looked like it was going to land near our house so we started to follow it...ended up finding half a dozen balloons all landing just down the street from our house.  We got to watch one land - unfortunately, it landed on the farmers crops and we witnessed the farmer go off on the people in the follow car...because the balloon was pretty deep into the field and there was definitely going to be damage just to get a car out there.  We didn't stay for that show....

Sunday, we hit up the new little church we are "investigating" - Faith Alive CC...girls loved it again.  And everyone is really, really nice - but hubs and I weren't totally into the sermon this week...just didn't get much out of it at all.  But, we are both still up for going back next weekend.  The Pastor's wife, Mary, was with Maguill in Childrens Church - and Maguill told her she was homeschooled.  Mary approached me after church and seemed intrigued with this - we didn't get to talk to much because of the normal distractions and interruptions from the girls. But I would like to talk to her...I need to reach out to the Pastor and ask about meeting up one evening.  Maguill was instructed to memorize a bible verse and if she can say it on Sunday, she gets a Kit Kat...both Maguill & Whipper have it memorized already.  Whipper didn't even have to do it - so I told her I would get her a Kit Kat myself, since she's technically too young for Children's Church.  But another weird thing happened...Pastor Matt talked of when Moses took a group to check out Canaan and what the land had to offer and the group of spies reported back that it was fruitful, but surrounded by enemies "they are giants...we want to go back to Egypt"...well, that night I was in bed reading my book "The Blessings of a Skinned Knee" - a parenting book based on Jewish traditions and I read the following passage....coincidence or sign from God....

The rest of our Sunday was spent just enjoying the day as a family and having Daddy home...

Maguill loves the magnets in our science experiment kit....seriously - she likes to take breaks from school and play with the magnets....

I found some ways to make learning sight words fun on Pinterest...we tried one today and the girls loved it! It was a little game where I wrote the words on the driveway with chalk and Maguill had to throw a rock down onto a word, say the word and then move up closer to WINNER spot...once she got there, I let her pick a little prize out of this basket of junk I have been saving for a rainy day...I need to hit up the Dollar Store to get some more junk because this really worked...practicing her sight words is really the only thing she gives me a hard time working on...but it was fun today...

Our most favorite place is definitely this state park called Jacobsburg - great hiking trail and a beautiful clean creek that runs through it - we met up with friends today and played for hours....cool but scary thing today we encountered 2 baby racoons - they basically had us trapped on the trail because every time we moved to one side of the trail to walk by, they followed us...I finally yelled at them "NO!"  "STOP!" "GO AWAY!" and they took off into the woods.  But they were soooo cute....

I'm honestly feeling as though I'm in a really good spot mentally and physically - I haven't felt this way in a really long time...I just feel like all the stars are aligning and I have more energy and motivation and just love for each day.  And I've been finding prayer to come more easily and regularly....and naturally.  Maguill & Whipper were awake the other morning...hubs and I were still in bed - we heard Whipper say to Maguill "it's not all about you...it's all about Jesus" - priceless!