I Am Blessed

It is in my nature to complain and look at what is difficult and what I do not have. I have to make a conscience effort to look at the bright side of things. I like to sleep in the mornings and LOVE my bed with the perfect feather pillows and the last hour of blissful sleep. When I am disciplined enough to get up and get a move on the day I am rewarded with this: God does amazing handiwork and there is nothing like a sunrise to brighten your crisp fall morning. I confess I did not take this photo. Sean took it while I was still cozy and warm in bed. But, when I do get up I love the calm, quiet, before the storm.

This may not look like much but I tell you it is like gold. I was feeling Yucky this week and Syndi sent over this inconspicuous jar of THE BEST TEA IN THE WORLD. Jess introduced us to the drink called London Fog (Savannah refers to it as Lynden Fog) made of Creme de la Earle Grey Tea, vanilla syrup, water and Cream. It is Delicious and I am addicted! I even opted for this the other morning instead of Coffee (gasp!). Unfortunately the tea itself is worth it's weight in gold! That is why I am carefully coveting and hoarding these precious tea bags! Thank you so much for bringing some royalty into my day in a week that feels like I am a commoner.
I was focusing on the fact that Sean is gone many long hours for work every day and he is often not home until late because of other activities. I decided that was the wrong attitude and was not honoring to God. When I put it in perspective I am thankful that my husband has a good job, he is able and willing to take Aaron to cub scouts, and it is his hearts desire to study the Word of God with other Godly men, in addition to fulfilling some of his desires and making himself a better man. Isn't that a better way of looking at it?

I was grumbling that I had to tuck the children in after a long day (with a headache to boot!)Then I realized that I was grateful that my children still want me to tuck them in and anticipate the time we have together to discuss the day and pray together. They are not tired of listening to me or being with me. I have so much to be thankful for.

Jess, her children and her good friend Jamie came over for lunch today. I love having friends over to share a meal and especially enjoy the relaxed and comfortable way we can visit, encourage each other and laugh when we are together. Even in the midst of parenting 10 children at home, 4 under the age of 3.
I often wish that Taylor had another girl her age that lived closer so they could play together. Then I realize how much I like having Taylor around and how willingly and joyfully she helps me. I know that would be lost if we had negative influence around or if she was always gone with someone else. I am happy we have the time we do and I need to continue to trust God that His ways are the best and that He has a plan.

It is such a bummer when you are licking the spoon and it pokes you in the eye!

Jess walked in the kitchen to find Justice happily helping himself to the sour cream spoon that was left on the counter with Honor pleading for a lick as well. She immediately went to clean it up when I said, "wait! I need a picture." To which she replied,"Oh Yeah, you need to blog it right?"

I guess we all know what is blog-worthy.

Look at this beautiful young woman who tremendously blessed my family by giving my handsome young men great hair cuts! Erik cried that he did not want to get his hair cut and that only Papa could cut his hair right (we all know I am not qualified). He complained that even the barber does a bad job. After a conversation with me he decided it was in his best interest to let Jamie cut his hair, and when she was done he said that he liked it! That is high praise and a compliment to be cherished coming from Erik.

Ian just keeps asking when Ms Jamie can come back! He really likes having her around. Really who wouldn't? She has such a great smile and sees what needs to be done and does it! She is a wonderful role model for my girls and talented too! I have to say Thank you to Jess for sharing her with us!

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway

This is my first giveaway! I have been wanting to have a giveaway for quite some time.
My daughter and I made these cute pumpkins at our Keepers At Home Meeting. We have a regular pumpkin patch from all the pumpkins she has made since then.
To be entered in this giveaway simply leave me a comment about how long you have been a reader, if you have ever commented before, and what you like best about my blog. I will randomly choose a winner on November 1 and then you will receive your prize! There are many more blogs that are participating in the carnival giveaway. Simply click on the widget below and Have Fun and Happy Harvest!

What I Am Listening To Today

We have had a fairly unstructured day today due to the fact that Ruby and I are not feeling up to the weather. Ruby with her baby in her tummy

Listening to my children play:
Ruby,"I am a Patriot"
Aaron, "You are not a Patriot, I am a Patriot, I am Thomas Paine"
Ruby,"I am Sacajawea"
Ian, "I am your husband, I am Charbonneau."
Ruby, "OK, Then Libby is our baby, she is Pomp."
Erik, "You guys can't be Patriots, you helped Lewis and Clark. You were at the wrong time. I am a Patriot I am Sam Adams."
Currently Taylor is laying Ruby down for a nap and reading her a story. Ian wanted to listen to the story so Taylor promised to read it to him after she read it to Ruby. Ian, not wanting to miss out on a story turned on the baby monitor and declared, "I get to hear the story twice!"
He is listening and will listen again when Taylor comes out. Smart Child, I mean children.

Apple Orchard

We love to go to the apple orchard every year. This year looked like it was not going to happen. We have been so busy and the weather simply would not cooperate! We finished all of our school for the day and Libby had a great nap, I had already laid Ruby down for her nap when we decided it was a perfect afternoon for the apple farm! I talked Syndi out of doing her afternoon school (I didn't have to work too hard at it), and I woke Ruby up from her nap. We have been the past few years and last year we paid for a great tour but decided we could do the self guided tour this year. They are currently packing Honey Crisp Apples, my ABSOLUTE favorite! Don't they look delicious? I have a few to myself that I am hoarding.

We began by tasting 8 of the 16 varieties they grow on the farm. Amazingly, the children's favorite apple was the Jonagold. Even Liberty had a taste and seemed to really enjoy them. They also make a delicious chocolate peanut butter stick, we reserved that just for the moms.

We toured the sorting, packing, cider making, dehydrated apples, apple pie making and finally the orchard!

Ben is such a good friend to all of my children. Ian was trying to trick us that he was Ben and Ben was Ian, because they traded hats. I don't know you have to look pretty close to tell who is who? Ian with the blond hair and green eyes, and Ben with dark hair and dark eyes.

The best part of the whole thing is taking the golf carts out into the orchard! We drove around and around and around and found this handsome fellow out for a tour as well. This is the only kind of man I want putting his arm around Taylor until she is married.

Best sisters, best friends

Ruby was thrilled that they provided blankets to snuggle in during the tour. Erik sat up front by me and I let him work the 'gas' pedal. He was so excited and had it floored the whole time. We went through an area of the orchard that Aaron nicknamed 'Mole Road'. Erik was whooping and hollering for me to decimate every mole hole that was there. I think we almost succeeded! I had a blast just having fun with the children. The orchard (because of liability) does not want children to drive the carts. I did however, let Aaron and Taylor take turns steering and working the pedals. I was behind the wheel and they were reaching across me!

At one point Aaron was trying to get us to go faster than Syndi's cart and was pushing us along Fred Flinstone style. One of my other boys thought that was a grand idea and decided to try as well. He fell out of the cart! Good thing the carts don't go too fast and the ground is soft!

It was the perfect way to spend a perfect fall afternoon.

Beach, Beach & More Beach

Just so you know I am not complaining. However, I do not like to be cold. It is getting cold. It is getting very cold. I am thankful it is not raining~yet. I do love the Pacific Northwest but the long grey days get, well they get, LONG. We did a little experiment at Syndi's on light refraction, then made weighted balloons to try out our hypotheses on light refraction. Making the weighted balls was very fun for the boys, they used PVC pipe and poured a lot of rocks into the balloons, which caused the balloons to be full of holes. We finally settled on marbles and Ben wore his dad's waders so he could retrieve the marbles. Aaron also wore his dad's boots, unbeknownst to me.

Aaron and Ben were totally into the experiment and loved throwing Ben's knife at the balloon. We could not figure out why some of the balloons filled with fresh water and marbles floated??

Erik hoarded his balloon and carried it with him the entire time, until it sprung a leak!

The children had to go see what they could find! They act like they have never been here before and it is all new and exciting! Which it is.

They found the biggest moon jelly yet. We learned that it is a male moon jelly. You can tell because the gonads are orange ~ Who knew? I love watching them pulse and move along it is really graceful.

Next week is project week and we will choose one thing to learn a bit more about. I love nature study. I don't like writing. It is painful for me. We are still working on it.

Second Annual Historical Harvest Party

Saturday night brought us to our Second Annual Harvest Party. This year was a huge success. Last year was a super fun group but more is always merrier! We had 28 children! Theodore Roosevelt was brought to you by Ben. He had the most elaborate costume, complete with a 'real' mustache (made with real hair).

The children all studied about a specific historical figure. Some made displays, others made props, and others planned the perfect costume.

We do not like to celebrate Halloween (more on that in the future) so this is the Perfect alternative, we still get to dress up, eat delicious food, be with friends and even practice our public speaking.

Everett was Noah with Isobelle (in the back) as Annie Oakley. Noah even brought a proportional ark and Noah for visual effect. I never knew the ark was so well constructed using Popsicle sticks cardboard and glue!

Abraham Lincoln aka Erik dawned his top hat complete with important documents inside, and a log cabin depicting the home he was born in in Kentucky. Again, did you know the log cabin was made of glue and Popsicle sticks?

In light of all of our studies about marine biology (and we already had the costume) Aaron informed us of the life of Jacques Ives Cousteau. Cousteau was a colorful man but made SCUBA what it is today. I was surprised at how reluctant Aaron was to get up and speak. Fortunately I had already prepared the children that they might be a bit nervous, especially with the amount of people, but that this was part of our education and talking in front of people is an important skill. He was one of the last to give his presentation and I was very proud of him for being brave and going outside of his comfort zone.

Liberty went as Pomp, Sacajawea's baby. and Ruby was Sacajawea. However we did not let Ruby carry Liberty on her back the way Sacajawea did.

Ruby surprised me that she really did want to get up and talk. She wanted to be Sacajawea and expressed specific instructions to that effect. I only had her practice a little bit and did not do much research. What she had to say she said clearly and knew what she was talking about.
I had originally talked about being Jane Goodall because we had a monkey costume that one of the children could wear. I changed my mind and decided to go as Rosie the Riveter because it was the easiest costume. When Sean got home I asked him if he was going to dress up and who he was going to go as. Ian piped up, "I know! Papa can go as Mama's Monkey!"

It made me laugh.

We were so happy to have Mikaela there! She enjoyed seeing the stuff that the children were working on and hearing their presentations! I cherish the time that we do get to see her, the time passed much too quickly... in so many ways.

Jubilee as Queen Elizabeth, Ruby as Sacajawea, Savannah as Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Taylor as Molly Pitcher.

I am so proud of Taylor for being such a great example to the younger girls and that the girls from all different ages can play together so nicely and enjoy each other.

The girls were right there at the end helping to clean up and put things away while the boys cleared the chairs and RAN the vacuum!

It was such a wonderful evening that would not have been complete without all the families that were there. Jess' family, Bakers Dozen, Simply Made, Syndiluhu, and Making a Home were all there.

Once again I can't express how perfectly God has answered all my prayers with such a great group of friends and fellow homeschoolers, and encouragers. I do not think my journey to become a better wife, mother, follower of Christ and friend would be complete without every one of them. I thank you all for your role in my life and the life of my family.

Blond Moment

I have been wanting to color my hair for awhile and finally took the plunge. I normally do a box and leave some strands out so I don't have the all over even color.

At the store yesterday I bought a box labeled Pecan. It looked like a nice nut color with some highlights. Perfect! Not so much. Sean even pulled my hair through the cap (really quite funny). I put the 'color' on and waited for 25 minutes, my head was a bit warm and it smelled more than normal but it was a different product, so it really should be OK.

I called Tami and told her I was blond.

She replied, "That's alright we all do it and what can we do to fix it?"

I said, "No, I really am blond!"

She called her friend and professional hairdresser Steph. Steph said I would be OK to color over it if my hair bounced back when it was wet. My hair did not bounce back but kept right on stretching, OOPS.

I guess I am blond~for now.