Simple Woman's Daybook

(From www.simplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com)

FOR TODAY:

Outside my window... it's 100 degrees and muggy- not really cloudy, but not sunny either.
I am thinking... about what to make for dinner today because I am NOT going out in the heat, what laundry needs to be done, and about Princess' not-sleeping-at-night issue is.
I am thankful for... air conditioning and my energy efficient house, for helpful children who help when needed.
From the learning rooms... Genius- is coding something, unity 3-D something, something...he's making 3-d video games from what I can garner, working on multiplying and looking at X and + as two different symbols. Daredevil- sounding out words, counting to 24. Princess- counting in sign language. Doorbuster- playing patty cake.
From the kitchen... I take it this means I should have something cooking. On Tuesday nights I raid on Warcraft, and hubby works late, so dinner is usually simple. I still have no clue on what I'm making for dinner- probably something chicken or beef related, or we may try out the cheese shells hamburger helper. For lunch was chicken nuggets and fries.
I am wearing... A black and white poka dot dress
I am creating... a clean house at the moment. I have some material for Doorbuster that is navy blue with skulls that I want to make something out of, maybe either a changing mat, or a blanket. I just can't decide if the blanket is really a worthwhile thing. Maybe a cape, that could be fun. I also have some material to make a dress or two for Princess.
I am going... to take the kids to Awana's tomorrow, and to a ES meeting and chicafila Thurs. Busy Busy!
I am reading... Just finished Anne of the Island and 61 Hours, now to pick something new.
I am hoping... for some cooler weather, for hubby's raise to come through.
I am hearing... a show on the TV that shows pictures of things and names them.
Around the house... My tomato plant is dying in the heat, we had maggots in the kitchen from leaving the trash can open, in the heat, while we were gone all day. Talk about EWWWWW. The morning was spent learning about maggots, flies, worms, and trash disposal. Again, EWWWWW.
One of my favorite things... When texting my hubby about the maggots, he told me he was "so sorry". How sweet for him to be "so sorry" about it. It wasn't anyone's fault (well, maybe mine for leaving raw meat scraps, fruit seed scraps, and the trashcan lid open). Other favorite thing- a very clean and neat living room and kitchen.
A few plans for the rest of the week: See above in my going section, and add in seeing a play on the weekend. Maybe getting a sitter for doorbuster and going to watch hubby's play with the older three. The oldest two have already gone with Dad to see the play and watch the audio and lighting people do their jobs.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I just love moments like these. She's protecting her brother and he's hanging onto her too.

New Tricks

Doorbuster started clapping. Then things went downhill.

Now he claps and yells YaY!!!! He points, and points at everything, especially at Dad. He now pulls himself up on furniture, any furniture, and cruises everywhere. He can take 2-3 steps between people. He loves it when his brothers hold his hand and walk him around the house. He crawls on his hands and knees and goes from room to room to see what everyone is up too. He makes the C sound whenever he sees something he likes. He likes to eat cantalope and will check to make sure he eats everything off his plate.

It's been one milestone after another. I love to watch him learn new things and turn into a little toddler. At the same time I wonder, where did my baby go!

My Rules of Homeschooling- Rule #3

Onto the third rule of our families homeschool:

Thou must read, and read often. Thou must know how the library works.

I know with the internet you can find most things in a matter of seconds. But being able to read books (both good books and "twaddle") and enjoy reading is important. It helps you learn about new ideas, old ideas, and ideas that are different then yours. It helps you explore different points of view. Libraries are treasure troves of ideas and thoughts. Did I mention they are free? Free is good! Being able to walk into a library and comfortably find what you are looking for is a important skill, even with the internet. I do not, and will not, censor what my children read. I don't limit their library books in any way (aside from not checking out more books then they can carry). They can read whatever they feel like reading. At the ages they are at, I'd rather them enjoy reading, then force it on them.

I honestly don't see how you can force someone to read a book, anyways.

Pictures My Kids Took

My hubby is a photographer/video photographer. My mom, and my grandpa like photography. My kids LOVE to take pictures. The oldest two take good pictures. Princess likes to copy her brothers and take pictures too. I love looking at them. It kind of gives a bit of perspective on how she sees things....

Waking up is hard to do...

I used to be a morning person. In high school, I would wake up at 5:30, to leave for school by 6, so I could get there for 0 period marching band. Yep, I was in marching band for 4 years. I loved it! Waking up early for it was no problem. 

Then I had my first kid. I still was a morning person. After all, I had to get my stepdaughter to school on time, then myself and Genius to college. Maybe that's why he is so smart, he attended a semester of school with
me. Even when school was over, the earlier we got up, the more things we could do.

Then came kids #2, and #3. I had work (or workish things to do), so we were always up and going before 8 in the morning. I liked getting my days started nice and early.

Now, after baby #4, I am not so much a morning person anymore. Don't get me wrong, if we have someplace to go in the morning, and I plan everything out the night before, we can get up and get out of the house. But voluntarily? It doesn't happen so much. I need some time in the morning to wake up and function before everyone makes their demands.

This morning I awoke to Princess bursting into my room. She wanted her belt put on. She wanted to know why my TV wasn't on. Then she had to give me a play by play of everything doorbuster is doing. "Mom!!! He opened his eyes! MOM! He said DADA! MOM, MOM, MOMMY, He laughed! Mom! He's looking at you! He's pushing you! He's touching you! MOM! MOM!"

Did I mention he's right next to me in bed? He just finished nursing and was entertaining himself on my bed. By now I figure we'll go into the living room and I can try to wake up a bit more before I make the waffles I promised everyone today. Princess contiues her shrieking, "There's a bug on the floor! Can I have ice cream?(No) Look at these mom, look, look, look, Can I have one? (No) Can I have one?(No) But I like them! I want one!(No) But I like them!(No) Can I have one of your candy?(No) Can I have a pizza?(No) I want a pizza! (No) Mom, Mom, Mommy, LOOK! LOOK! Doorbuster pushed the car. Can I watch the chocolate movie? Can I watch it one time? (I suppose)" And on, and on, and on.

Where's my caffeine? I don't function very well until I have some caffeine in my system. Then I can find my pep in my step and get our day going. At least I know who inherited my love of mornings. It's only a shame my love of mornings has disappeared.

4 Moms, 35 Kids Open House- Storage

Welcome back to my home! Today I'll be showing you some storage ideas. Maybe.

I have been thinking about this for the past week. Storage! What sort of systems do I have for storage in my house? I really don't have very many. Since we've moved a lot, I have pared down most things to the bare neccessities. I keep everyone's extra sheets and blankets in their own closets. I keep towels in the bathrooms, along with cleaning supplies for that bathroom. I keep the cleaning supplies for the kitchen in the kitchen. Most places we move to have hardly anything for storage. Having a hall closet is like winning the lotto.

Since we have a house, I've been doing the no-no I swore up and down I'd never do. My garage isn't a place to park cars, it's a storage locker. It's where all the odds and ends from moving are currently living. When the weather cools off we are going to have a yard sale and sell the majority of it. If it hasn't made it in the house, it isn't important to keep. Plus, we've been doing without it for the past few months. I'd show you a picture of the garage, but I'd have to find my camera and put down a nursing baby to do that.

I feel bad though, since most of it is toys. We have entirely too many toys! Little People, Wooden Trains, Geotrax, transformers and Legos are pretty much what everyone plays with. Princess likes her baby dolls and her play kitchen stuff. I look at all the stuff they have not been playing with (and not missing), and then I think of Christmas and 2 more birthdays coming up and it makes me want to cry. There isn't anything they need, and what they want will just end up in the same spot in a month.

Where were we? Storage. The toys that are in the house, all pretty much belong in a bucket/tub in the room they are supposed to stay in. The choking hazards stay in their room that can be gated off. In the living room are the bigger toys Doorbuster can play with (trains and little people). It also makes it easy when we have company to be able to keep little ones out of the room with the little stuff, and the little toys are all where we can keep a eye on the littles.

The only other storage/organization idea that I have started is keeping things we take with us often in grocery bag totes. I used to keep jackets in each child's closet, now I keep one reusable grocery bag with one jacket for each of us in the hall closet (easy to grab on the way out). I keep one reusable grocery bag with everyone's swimsuits and some swim diapers in it. I keep one with the small park toys (sand toys, balls, squirt guns). Our Disney store sells some really cute ones for a dollar or two each, so we have more then enough for groceries and holding assorted things.

I'm off to Life in a Shoe, Common Room, Smockity Frocks and Raising Olives to go learn some more storage ideas from moms more experienced then I. Thanks for stopping by!

Camping!

We went camping over labor day weekend. It was my first time camping with 4 kids. The last time I went camping I was 8 months pregnant with Daredevil. It was for my stepdaughter's girl scout troop. You know your a dedicated leader when you sleep in a tent, in 100 degree heat, when your very, very pregnant.

Camping this time was a bit more luxurious. We stayed in my mom's husband's trailer....aka 5th wheel. It had AIR CONDITIONING! It was 110 degrees the first day, and about 90 the 2nd day. We went to Lake Perris, which is a tiny little lake that all our drinking water comes from.

Thank God for filters!

Once upon a time, you could go around the island in the middle of Lake Perris with your boats. Now half the lake is a no-wake zone and the other half you can boat in a circle. It's like a giant skating ring for boats and sea-doos. The water is a bit slimy. It would be fun to take a canoe and paddle around the no-wake park of the lake. I don't know about fishing.

We stayed in the campground, which had full hook ups. The kids enjoyed going in and out and in and out and in and out of the trailer. Everything in the trailer had to be touched, messed with, pushed, and if it opened, opened and closed. I think they drove me crazy opening and closing the door in and out. They had a grand time going in and out, and then climbing on the sea doos while they were parked on the trailer. I was paranoid they would fall off and get hurt.

The kids all loved riding the sea-doos around the lake (well, for princess around the no-wake zone). Poor Doorbuster got to sit on the beach. He'll get a ride next year. I'm sure Daredevil can't wait until he can drive. I bet he will be one good driver. They had fun digging in the sand, playing in the water and finding seashells (lake shells?).

Daredevil kept going way out in the water. I told him he had to stay in water that wasn't deeper then his arm pits. He was wearing a life vest (we make all the kids wear them by the water). He would go way, way out, and we'd yell at him. So he'd stand up- and the water was only up to his waist. He probably could of walked across the lake to the island, it was pretty shallow. Poor guy probably thought we were nuts.

Lake Perris has a LOOOOONG walk from the parking lot, to the beach where you can park the boats and sea-doos. I was so, so glad we only brought the exer-saucer with us. Our exer-saucer folds down and has a handle to carry it around with. We brought that for him so he wouldn't crawl around and eat rocks and stuff from the ground. It was the smartest thing we brought with us. The stupiedist thing we brought was the very heavy double folding chair. It would of been smarter to bring two, lighter folding chairs. Hopefully I will remember that for next time.

It was easier to camp with everyone then I thought it was going to be. Everyone had fun just being someplace new! Next time I'd bring their bikes so they could ride around in the dirt.

When they get older, it will be scary to see the 4 of them cruising around on the sea-doos. Yikes!

My Rules of Homeschooling- Rule #2

Continuing on our journey of our rules of homeschooling....here's rule #2

Rule #2- Thou Must Ask Why

Questioning WHY is important. Why does it work? Why does it change? Why must I eat that? Why must I get enough sleep. Learning to ask why, and learning to answer the why's through research is a very important skill. Why didn't I get that job? Why is my dryer broken? Why should I vote for you? Asking why is very important. Why opens doors into things that can be thought over and studied. Why didn't that work? I always answer my kid's questions about Why something went one way or why we have to go to 10 grocery stores in a day. Usually, if they ask why, they will remember the answer more then reading about a million things they had no interest in.

4 Moms, 35 Kids Open House- Laundry

I know, I know, I am behind, I should have posted this last Thursday. We've been busy with school, and going to the fair, and having a really mobile crawling baby really puts a strain on my sitting at the computer time lately.

Anyhow, welcome to the Laundry edition of the open house. I do not have a spectacular laundry room, my washer and dryer live in the garage. After having 7 years of washing laundry in machines that needed quarters, I thank the Lord every time I put in a load of laundry that I am so lucky to have a washing machine and dryer of my own. You'll never see me sighing over doing laundry! Especially after the days of waiting for others to do their laundry, hauling mine back and forth until they finish....or trying to take all the kids and all the laundry in my car.

I got my washer and dryer off ebay. Who'd of thought it a good place to buy appliances? My husband gave up buying a new drill set (that was really nice) to get the washer and dryer. It still makes me sad, but I'm glad he puts having clean clothes high on his list of priorities.

My corner of the garage...aka "Man Cave".

Yes, that's a stove next to the dryer, and a dishwasher, and a microwave. It's appliance row. They're seeing if they will make it into contestant row.

My method of doing laundry is pretty simple. When the closets start to look like this:

And the hampers start to look like this:

It's time to do laundry! I throw in whatever I have a load for- whites, towels & sheets, and clothing is all I sort for. All clothes are washed on cold with cold water detergent. Whites with hot water, soap, and bleach. Towels and sheets get hot/warm water and soap. I use Free & Clear detergent, just in case you were wondering. Doorbuster was hospitalized in Feb at the same time we switched to try Costco's detergent, and not knowing what caused his breathing problems, we aren't using anything different again.

For putting away- I stack their laundry up, it's their job to put it away. Everything is hung up except for socks and underwear (minus the princess- she couldn't reach her stuff and she has too many clothes for her closet). I do mine, hubby's and Doorbuster's. 

So that's it for laundry around here! Join Life in a Shoe, Common Room, Smockity Frocks and Raising Olives for a peek in their laundry rooms. I'm slightly envious of those who have people who voluntarily come over and help with laundry (especially today, when park day is tomorrow, and I have two grumpy kids, and hubby is working late).

WE WON! WE WON! (well, they won)

The kids entered some exhibits in the LA county fair. This is the first time ever entering into the fair, and we are so pleased. I am a proud, proud mom of how well they did. SO PROUD I TELL YOU!!!!!

Daredevil's Castle Banner. That's me he drew! He's so sweet.

Genius's Banner

Genius's photography- Santa Monica Pier

Genius's Photography, Cajon Pass

Genius's Photography, LA County Fair

Genius's Photography- Pacific Park

Daredevil's Self Portrait

Daredevil's Photography- Cajon Pass

Princess's Crown Decorating

Daredevil's Lego Building- Robot Invasion

Genius's Rockin' Castle- First Place, Best Use, and Sweepstakes!

They can't wait for next year!

Why we started our family...part two

Proud New Parents

Before I go on with our story- let's back up a little.

I always changed my mind about what I wanted to be when I "grew-up" I wanted to be a astronaut, a teacher, a paleontologist, a fire fighter, a EMT, a Lifeguard, anything that involved working for the greater good. I never, ever picked a job that didn't give back in some other way (besides money). My childhood was spent in Girl Scouts, doing community service, and always volunteering in some way shape or form. I get the most satisfaction in doing something that will make a lasting impression in some way.

Raising kids is the ultimate way to make a lasting impression. It makes everything have purpose to me. To work a job and make money so my kids can have food and clothing, makes working worthwhile. To scrub floors or wash dishes to make our house a home is fulfilling to me. I could not get the same fulfillment if I was washing cars at the car wash or flipping burgers at a fast food place. When I worked as an apartment manager, I almost always worked for non-profits, or those who did low-income housing, because I got a lot of person satisfaction out of helping other people.

New Big Sister

When I got pregnant with my son, all I could think about was the possibilities that little baby held. Would he be a doctor? Maybe a research scientist? Maybe a good parent of his own someday? Maybe he will be a leader, or a president? Maybe he will find the cure for cancer? Maybe he will invent something spectacular? I couldn't end all of those possibilities for my convenience.

Anyone who is a parent will tell you, children are not convenient. They will make you run late, they will poop through their clothes and spit up on you. They will take up your time and energy. That's what they do and we love them for it! There is always the cost involved too. Babies could care less if their clothing cost a quarter or a quarter of a million as long as they are warm, happy and fed. They don't notice if they have a hand-me-down crib, or a million dollar custom crib. They just want their mom, and their dad. They want food, love, and attention. All those baby toys, gadgets and gizzmos can never replace loving parents.

So at that point in my life, and my hubby's, saying it wasn't convenient, or we didn't have enough money, was not a reason enough to not start our family then. But with every child you add to the family, you revisit why and what family means to you.

Everyone has their own reasons for starting (or not starting) a family. I'm sure there are as many reasons as there are families. If you care to share your own story, link your blog back in the comments, or leave a commnet.

My Rules of Homeschooling

When we decided to homeschool our kids, I put some thought into some rules that I wanted to follow. Rules or guidelines that really defined how I felt educating our kids should go.

Rule #1: Don't suck the fun out of things and try to make everything a learning experience.

For example- going to the museum is educational in itself. It doesn't need a work sheet, lesson plan, or much of anything to go along with it. It should be fun on it's own to go look at the exhibits. Looking at the exhibits, reading the signs, identifying things, asking questions, should all happen naturally with what they are interested in. I don't want to suck the joy out of learning by handing everyone a clip board full of paper and worksheets to detail everything they saw. Now, digital cameras to document the trip, I'm all for. Making them count and classify fish, no thanks. Enjoying the fish, sparking some questions and observing their behavior, SURE!

Why we started our family.....part one

A friend of mine on facebook posted a request to her wall. She was wondering why those of us with kids decided to start a family, more or less, why we choose to have children. It made me reflect on why my hubby and I choose to have children.

I could give you a standard response like "the Lord says we should be fruitful and multiply so we did". But our story isn't like that. When hubby and I met, he already had a daughter. He did not marry her mother, and from what he says (quick disclaimer here- I was not there, nor present, nor did I even know him at this time in his life, and I am sure he protects me a bit from what may, or may not have gone on at that time in his life. Only he can tell his own story on that) it was an "accident" that she got pregnant. She had health problems, his cancer was in remission, but if you do the mambo without protection, it's bound to happen sooner or later. So he became a parent right before turning 18. He was his daughter's primary caregiver while her mom went in and out of his (and her) life.

I met my hubby when his daughter was 5 1/2. We were good friends, then boyfriend/girlfriend. When you play too much and think too little, reality bites you in the rear, and I got pregnant. I was still in high school (but 18, and a senior). My mom wanted me to get an abortion. There was no way, no way at all, I could abort our baby. If my husband was already caring for one child, what was one more? I already had met his daughter and spent lots of time with both of them. We were both adults, he had a decent job, so did I at the time. So we decided to get married, and raise our child and his together.

Was there really a lot of long term thought put into it? At the time, I don't think so. I think we grew and learned a lot about each other, and will always be learning and growing with each other. We didn't discuss parenting styles, religion, the number of kids we wanted to have, none of that long term stuff we should of. But we aren't perfect. No one is. As long as we keep loving each other, the little details always work themselves out.

Choices, Choices and Internal Debate

Daredevil is having a hard time with Math and a hard time with reading. We held him back a year (not like he really knows thiss), to try and help him. We homeschool through a charter school and he would have to do star testing if he goes to 2nd grade, so we kept him in first. He is not ready, academically or maturity wise, for hours of testing.

Now after having a summer, and starting first grade over again, he is still flipping his letters and having a hard time with ordering letters, numbers or shapes. If he is counting something, he will start off counting good and then part way add numbers in or add more objects in, so he doesn't end up with a rightful number. Most of his letters when he writes are backwards, and he is still mixing up G,J, D,B, Q.

It's so hard to know if its maturity, if it's just he's a very active 7 year old boy, if I need to push him more, or if he has a learning difficulty. On one hand, I could just not be pushing him hard enough. On the other hand, I don't want him to hate schooling and learning because I'm standing over him like a ogre (I have no problem being firm and getting him to do work- none at all. I just don't believe in spending all of our learning time with both of us upset at each other). If he does have a learning difficulty, I'd rather it be addressed now instead of later and loose learning time. I'm not sure if he just needs some extra time to mature. I've heard it debated that kids learn to read better when they learn around 8 or 9 years old, but at the same point, I don't want him to be behind his peers. I don't know if there may be a better curriculum choice we could be doing, or a better method of teaching.

It's hard to trust yourself and the choices you make as a parent. Especially when you are in uncharted territory for yourself and your child. It's also difficult to not be annoyed when people assume that since your child is homeschool that they are a genius, when maybe they are not one in a visible way.

Most importantly, Daredevil is a great kid and a great person. He's super sweet to his brothers and sister. He's kind to his friends. He is very helpful with anything that needs to be done. I think that is more important than being book smart at this point in life. We can adjust his schoolwork more easily then his attitude.

Doorbuster's Latest Trick

Doorbuster is 9 months now. He loves, loves, loves his walker. He zooms around the house in it. He goes from the living room with me, and can go back and forth to watch his siblings play. He can even get in and out of doorways. He gets tired of this after an hour or two, so I put him on the floor to crawl around.

He. Does. Not. Like. That.

He wants you to hold his hands and walk him around the house  to visit all the places he goes in his walker. He wont let go to try and walk on his own, and if you put him up to a couch or table, he wont cruise along. He just wants you to hold his hands, hunch over, and stroll around the house for an hour or two. If you make the whole house tour and try to put him down, he gets mad! He wants to walk!

Daredevil started walking at 9 months. Genius walked around 15 months, the Princess right before her first birthday. I'm betting Doorbuster will start walking right around his first birthday too.

4 Moms, 35 Kids Open House- Bedrooms Part 2

Welcome back to my humble abode, for Part 2 of bedrooms. I'll be showing you my kid's rooms. I pretty much don't venture into their rooms, as I expect them to stay out of mine (for the most part). We have a boy's room and a girl's room. We are tossing around the idea of turning the boy's room into a laundry room & hallway and building two more rooms off of it, but that will be quite a bit down the road.

The Princess' room

I helped her clean...aka put all the clothes back into the closet

Here is the boys room. I only go in there to get laundry out of the basket. It's actually cleaner then it looks, with two futons it's really crowded. They only sleep and get dressed in here. I think we may be getting bunk beds. Maybe. For the most part I just shut this door.

Kid's bathroom/Hall Bath- It's completely tiled too!

Including the ceiling. Neat, huh?

That's it for today, feel free to visit the other Moms in the link-up: Common Room, Life in a shoe, Raising Olives and Smockity Frocks. I'll be looking for more ideas to make my kid's rooms more special.