One Thousand Gifts

Today I am thankful for:

#6: only one potty accident (for Grant, not me)

#7: a house that covers our heads during a storm

#8: Hannah's and Grant's prayer to keep Grandaddy safe as he travels home

#9: time outside laughing with my kids

#10: clothes that have been passed along to me for our kids that I can now pass along to others

Homeschool Diaries: E is for Elephant

The good: Hannah read her first word this week...bed. I was so excited to see her do this! I love watching kids learn how to read and it's so exciting when it's your own child! Also, she has come leaps and bounds in her coloring. We did a color by number page. Her fine motor skills are sharpening. It's fun to watch her growth in this area as well!

The bad: We didn't get through all of the activities. Life got a little crazy after this week and since then we haven't gotten back on the school wagon. I'm hoping to get my act together this week so we can structured "school time" next week as we move into the letter f.

The funny: Yes, we are endorsing Minute Maid in these pictures. Buy some. Okay, not really. For letter D week it was learning in swimsuits...well, for Hanna that is. For E week, it's learning in our pjs...for all of us! Grant is sporting his passion for professional football. You know us, die hard professional football fans!

Unreasonable?

We need your opinion on something. Yeah, Hannah and I. It seems Mommy and Daddy are pretty hard on us at suppertime. It's seems they think we are being unreasonable. Is it unreasonable to chew a piece of meat (or even a small green bean) for oh, thirty minutes (and this is no exaggeration here)? We're just trying to break it down. We need it to safely arrive in our stomachs. And when they tell us we need to eat another bite, our kind pointing gesture to our mouth as a reminder of the current piece of food still being broken down does not sit well with them. They become more stern and tell us to swallow it. We reply, "but I can't!" at different times of course. Often this statement is followed by a waterfall of tear, usually by us. Is it unreasonable to chew our food for this long? Is it unreasonable that we have a difficult time swallowing? Okay, sure, we don't have this problem when a hot dog, hamburger, chicken nugget, pb and j, mac and cheese, fruit snacks, or a variety of other foods are involved, but have some compassion here. So you tell us, are we being unreasonable?

A Thousand Gifts

Two of my good friends, Mary and Laura Beth, have shared on their blogs what they are thankful for. Inspired by the above blog, they create lists of things they can thank God for in their every day lives. Today I visited that blog and was so encouraged that I have decided to do the same. If you are interested, you can click on the button above to learn more about it.

This season of life is full of change for us. Change for me can often be frightening as we move from the familiar into the unfamiliar. John is starting a new business. Yesterday we said goodbye to dear friends who have been with us since we first got married. Our children have never known life without each other. I have never known life in this neighborhood without Kim. To some this may seem insignificant, but to me, it isn't. So as I sit at a sort of crossroads, I am reminded to "give thanks in all circumstances." It is truth. I am called by the Lord to always give thanks. And what better time to do that than now?

(In no particular order)
#1: I am thankful for the Lord's provision. I am thankful that He "will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19)." The Lord has provided for us in the greatest sense, through His Son, so will He not provide in the smaller senses in terms of physical needs? I know He will. He has. And I am thankful for this reminder in His Word.

#2: John. I am thankful for a husband who works hard and works in such a way that honors the Lord. And I am specifically thankful for him right at this very moment as he has taken two of our children with him to run errands. I am thankful for some down time to reflect and enjoy the quiet as Kate naps.

#3: On a less serious note, Coke. Ha! Yes, I am thankful for it. I know it most likely, okay undoubtedly, contains ingredients harmful to my body but let's face it, it's soooo good. It's refreshing. And I'm thankful for it simply because it's a little treat that honestly, in a small way, brightens my day.

#4: Friends who encourage me. I am thankful for all my sweet friends the Lord has placed in my life. They sharpen me and remind me of the Lord's goodness. It's just a small taste of Him.

#5: Family. I am so thankful for my family. I am thankful that those closest to me know and love the Lord. I am thankful that my children are surrounded by believers and I pray the Lord would use each of them and us to point them to Him. I have a family that is loyal and caring and always there (okay that means loyal).

That's just a starting point...as the days, weeks, months, years go on I look forward to adding more to the list just to remind myself of the Lord's goodness and that even in uncertain times I can and should always give thanks.

Potty Training Tips

Take it from me, potty training is tough work. And it seems that we toddlers (if I can still be labeled as a toddler since I am quickly creeping up on three) have no go-to guy of our own. Sure, our "well informed" parents seem to know it all when it comes to this. But, let's face it...they were potty trained YEARS ago. What do they know? So I, Grant, have come up with some tips for those of you out there who will soon be forced into potty training. Use these tips to help make your experience worth it.

1) Milk the treats. Most parents like to give treats at first for going on the potty. Score. Use this to your fullest advantage. Even if you just went successfully, wait a few minutes and express your need to go again (especially if the treat is super good). Squeeze out a few drops. Chances are your parent is so worried you'll digress without it that they will give in and yes, reward you with ANOTHER treat. I've had more M and M's and mints over the past two weeks than I've had in MY LIFE. Unfortunately Mommy finally caught on.

2) Have a few accidents. Why? Sure, you don't get more candy BUT you DO get to try on another of your favorite new under-roos! So, if you're bored with Lightening McQueen, pee in them. Chances are you'll get to wear your favorite Thomas pair!

3)Seek forgiveness. When those accidents do occur, put on your best "I'm really sorry Mommy face" and back it up with "Mommy, I won't do that to-morrow." Chances are this will spare you from any stern warnings and instead, provide you with a nice warm hug. Again, warning here that this too will wear out its welcome after used for the course of a week.

4)Play helpless. For those of you starved for attention thanks to multiple siblings this ensures some one on one time with mommy. Sure you may be able to pull your pants down on your own or aim successfully into the potty but where's the love? Don't let on to ANYONE you know how to do these things or the cat's out of the bag. I made this mistake and now, Mommy is playing some hardball.

Four helpful tips. It's nothing any potty training video will tell you I can gurantee that. And, let's be honest, a potty dance? Really? You think THAT'S gonna make it work? Stick to my plan and you'll be cruising through potty training with a big smile.

Tummy Time

Tummy Time...I finally figured out what it is. It seems that being the third child I get short changed on some things, like tummy time for example. I heard Mommy express she hadn't even put me on my tummy. So one day, she did. I look like a pro don't I? You'd never know I'd only done this a couple of other times. I'm strong as an ox. I've got neck muscles like you wouldn't believe. And my abs, well, a six pack is surely in the works. I'm known for my desire to sit up. Don't lean me back. I'll just use that developing six pack to thrust myself forward. I've got no time to sit back, not when Hannah and Grant are always on the go. Watch out world, I'm comin' for you...one developing muscle at a time!

Oh the Joy

No, this is not my idea of a comfortable spot no matter what my big sister Hannah says. But what can a girl do but just go with it? My hero Mommy will be here soon to step in. I hope. Mommy?

I Believe the Children are Our Future

When I, Grant, look at these pictures, a little ditty comes to mind:

"I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride, to make it easier. Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be. I decided long ago never to walk in anyone's shadow. . .no matter what they take from me, they can't take away my dignity."

Powerful words Whitney.

We are the future. So insightful Whitney. Thanks to the Leapster and the age old game of wisdom, tic tac toe (which is missing a few pieces by the way), we are being taught well so that we can lead the way. And because of Hannah's awesome photography skills she's showing all the beauty we possess inside, wait, more like all the beauty we possess on the outside. Scratch that. And we won't be walking in anyone's shadow simply due to the fact that we'll be hardpressed to find any duck shaped or princess superhero shaped shadows out there. Finally, let's face it, no one will be taking our dignity away because that's the job of this blog.

So preach it Whitney. Sing it loug. Sing it proud.

WE ARE THE FUTURE.

Quack. Quack.

Blue Eyed Girl

"...you're my BLUE-EYED girl. Do you remember when, we used to sing, sha la la la la la la la la la la ti da, just like that, sha la la la la la la la la la-la ti da...la ti da..." Actually I don't remember when we used to sing that. In fact, who are you? I know I'm the blue-eyed girl.

Homeschool Diaries: D is for Dinosaur

A couple of weeks ago we learned about the letter D.

The good: Hannah continues to improve in writing her name. Our next step is to actually utilize the lines and make the letters touch top to bottom. We marched around the room to "We are the Dinosaurs," now coined as "Grant's favorite song." We had fun pasting pasta (because we have a plethora thanks to the food co-op we're in) dinosaur bones. We did lots of counting. I think this is Hannah's favorite activity. We actually finished this letter in a week. A first for us I think.

The bad: thanfully this week I can't remember any bads (it was two weeks ago and my lack of memory conveniently helps in this area). Woo Hoo.

The funny: Yes, Hannah is wearing a swimsuit. Yes, it is winter. Yes, it is during school time. Worth arguing over, not in this house.

Next Up...

Today (well a few weeks ago actually), I'm sporting a grey polka dot ensemble accessorized by a matching headband. A cotton piece, this outfit is not only stylish but comfortable. I give this outfit two thumbs up (or one finger in the mouth). Thank you Aunt Bethany for making sure I'm looking good no matter where I'm at.