I mentioned in my last post that I'm considering homeschooling. If I do, I really want to make it as "natural" as possible. Yes, I will use a base curriculum and make sure he can read and do appropriate math, etc. However, I don't want "schooling" to be all about doing bookwork, instead I want it to be about life and the way we naturally learn about things (i.e. as we're curious about them, or as they are happening in front of us).
After pondering the forementioned thoughts I had my first opportunity. Justus was helping me make tortillas yesterday and one of the steps is to dissolve salt in warm milk. Not knowing what that meant, Justus asked, "What is dissolve?" (Aha-opportunity!)
I explained it and then grabbed a glass of warm water so we could watch it happen(the recipe used milk, so that wasn't visible). Then I grabbed some sugar to dissolve on our tongues and added that to the water as well. Catching on quickly, he saw the next available "compound", baking powder, and gave that a try. It was great to see his curious mind work. After about 3-4 heaping spoonfuls of baking powder (he like that one), we grabbed the pepper and gave that a try. Ahhh, not everything dissolves. "Hmmm, Why?" He asked.
He loved it. I loved it...and we were learning! Such fun!
Bounding, bumping, & laughing through life!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Random thoughts...inspired by Lindsey
Why do I let myself get overwhellmed so often? Am I going to raise my children right? I'm really deeply considering homeschooling... will it turn out good or bad?.....I absolutely love that Gabriel always had "bed-head", I even wet it down and styled it today before going out (new thing for me) and on our way home he fell asleep in the car, took a nap and woke up with it again!!!....How on earth did my little Benjamin get sooo sweet, he loves all my buttons to pieces....should I finish the cloth diapers I started sewing, ummmm, about 3yrs ago, with changed fabrics and designs? Or just buy some and be done with it?...I really enjoy hanging out with my friend Stephanie and little Augustine, she has been such a blessing to me since we've been in Astoria. I'm also sad to be moving away from her : ( ....How did I get such a fantastic husband???Honestly, he was not a Christian, had a very different background than me, odd hair and pretty easy-going (quite the contrast to my "tornado" personality). He's perfect!!!...Justus is such a great brother and all-around kid. He is soo smart (yes, everyone says that) and has been such a cuddler lately. He usually wakes up from his nap first and comes and sits with me on the couch or my bed. It's great!....We are moving in 1month and I really want to get rid of half of our belongings, but I can't quite think of what...when I look through stuff I think, "hmmm, we need everything in here", Yikes!!! ...what should I get/do for Father's day?...maybe I should go to bed...I really hope we find our camera so I can take pictures for the blog so I don't have to talk soo much....
Blessings,
Blessings,
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Closet Clean-Up
Things are moving along...Kiely is getting laid off on the 25th of June, and his summer class starts that very same evening. We are giving our notice on our house and will be living with his parents for 2 1/2 months until school starts in the fall. As things would have it (or rather God), Kiely's company is still going to need him after they lay him off and so they are going to re-hire him as an independent contractor part time and be paying him almost 3x's what he make now!!! It really couldn't work out any more perfectly. Now, he'll have time for school, but still be making money...and for less time. Hip-hip hooray!!!
In the mean time I'm trying to totally downsize our "stuff" in as many ways as possible....and as much as I've tried to keep it that way, we have a LOT of stuff. And for some reason, when I get slightly overwhellmed, instead of cleaning the dining room (usually where my projects or odds-n-ends accumulate) or something else obviously disastrous, I will find myself deep in a closet reorganizing and cleaning that out instead! Truly, this has happened more than once or twice. Just last week I sorted through our whole upstairs closet that has baby clothes and such equipment in it. I boxed up more than half of it to pass on to my sister-in-law and made phone calls to arrange new homes for a few other items...all this while, not ten feet away from me sat a huge pile of the boys laundry that was 3 days overdue to be folded and put away. I sure felt better when I was done though and every so often when I'm walking by I open the closet door and sigh a VERY contented "sigh"!!!
There is just something about knowing the deep, unseen things are in order, even when the surface may not be : )
p.s. thanks to everyone for the info on switching my background...isn't it cute??
In the mean time I'm trying to totally downsize our "stuff" in as many ways as possible....and as much as I've tried to keep it that way, we have a LOT of stuff. And for some reason, when I get slightly overwhellmed, instead of cleaning the dining room (usually where my projects or odds-n-ends accumulate) or something else obviously disastrous, I will find myself deep in a closet reorganizing and cleaning that out instead! Truly, this has happened more than once or twice. Just last week I sorted through our whole upstairs closet that has baby clothes and such equipment in it. I boxed up more than half of it to pass on to my sister-in-law and made phone calls to arrange new homes for a few other items...all this while, not ten feet away from me sat a huge pile of the boys laundry that was 3 days overdue to be folded and put away. I sure felt better when I was done though and every so often when I'm walking by I open the closet door and sigh a VERY contented "sigh"!!!
There is just something about knowing the deep, unseen things are in order, even when the surface may not be : )
p.s. thanks to everyone for the info on switching my background...isn't it cute??
Sunday, April 26, 2009
change!
So I've been noticing many of your blogs have customized backgrounds. I am looking for a change and was wondering if you might share the tips on how to spruce up my page...
As far as our life is going, Kiely's last day at work is going to be in May. Wow! It's really coming up fast. Kiely is enrolled at Portland State, he's starting his first class in June, we're contemplating moving in with is parents to save money, are really looking forward to a more flexible summer, will be moving to Portland in the fall when Kiely will start classes full-time!
I think we're ready for the adventure! So off we go!
As far as our life is going, Kiely's last day at work is going to be in May. Wow! It's really coming up fast. Kiely is enrolled at Portland State, he's starting his first class in June, we're contemplating moving in with is parents to save money, are really looking forward to a more flexible summer, will be moving to Portland in the fall when Kiely will start classes full-time!
I think we're ready for the adventure! So off we go!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
My Little Men...Glorious!
Here are my little men in action...as if that was hard to come by : )
I just don't usually have the camera on hand.
Benjamin
Happy and lovin' life...even if his brother just took away his ball.Justus
Trying to be silly for the camera-such a poser!Gabriel
Captain Gabriel! Not a day goes by without a valiant effort to defeat the "bad guys"!My mighty warrior!!!
(To what he says, "No! I'm Gabriel")
He-he-he!
p.s. no more coffee for me. It's almost 2am and I'm typing away on the computer...THAT is not natural!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Crazy-Perhaps! Excited-Definitely!!!
So, it seems like things are falling into place. It's so different from what I originally had in mind that it's hard for me to get a firm grasp on it's reality...but I'm pretty sure it's for real!!!
My amazing, talented and brilliant husband is going back to school!!!
Yup! Our sole provider for the last 4years is going to be a full-time student for the next 1 1/2 to 2yrs to get his master's degree in Electrical Engineering. And we're excited! When Kiely and I did our pre-marital counseling nearly 6 years ago, one thing he said was the most important to him, was having a wife that supported him. I wholehearted believe that that is one of the reasons God created women in the first place.
I've always remembered that and am learning bit by bit what that fully entails and how it plays out for us. I'm finding that the more I support his dreams and take them as my own, the more joy I find, and in turn, the more I want to help him fulfill those ambitions. It's a win-win cycle and we're getting ready to dive headlong into the heart of it!
Not that I'm not nervous. We are going to be making some rather large financial adjustments and from what I hear, we may not see Kiely as often as is desireable. So, it will be a great test to see how well my heart "really" lays hold of this concept...but all-in-all, I'm ready for the Adventure!!!
My amazing, talented and brilliant husband is going back to school!!!
Yup! Our sole provider for the last 4years is going to be a full-time student for the next 1 1/2 to 2yrs to get his master's degree in Electrical Engineering. And we're excited! When Kiely and I did our pre-marital counseling nearly 6 years ago, one thing he said was the most important to him, was having a wife that supported him. I wholehearted believe that that is one of the reasons God created women in the first place.
" The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18
I've always remembered that and am learning bit by bit what that fully entails and how it plays out for us. I'm finding that the more I support his dreams and take them as my own, the more joy I find, and in turn, the more I want to help him fulfill those ambitions. It's a win-win cycle and we're getting ready to dive headlong into the heart of it!
Not that I'm not nervous. We are going to be making some rather large financial adjustments and from what I hear, we may not see Kiely as often as is desireable. So, it will be a great test to see how well my heart "really" lays hold of this concept...but all-in-all, I'm ready for the Adventure!!!
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