September Daybook with Mudder Pictures

 I am wearing:  My pajamas and hideous hot pink fleece.

Noticing God's glory: In yellowing leaves, thrift stores and good food.

I am listening to: The sounds of a little boy talking to me when he should still be in bed.

Around the house:I am desperately wanting a home work schedule so I can fit in all that needs to be attended to.  I am thinking about something like a day each week (when all other necessary tasks have been done) for kitchen work, inside house work, outside work and scrapping.
2 weeks ago we started Wednesday mornings as a family cleaning time.  The children all take turns drawing chore sticks for cleaning jobs and they can earn a quarter per job.  I went to this method because I was a failure as giving them weekly allowance, I was always running out of money.  So this way if mom dosen't have any quarters or has a heavy errand day, then we don't do the cleaning.  Plus, things are getting cleaned a lot more frequently than they had been.  I figure, a child's imperfect cleaning is better than no cleaning at all.
Also on my "around the house list" more fall freshening up, painting 2 chairs, painting our dinning fixture, scrubbing cabinet fronts and cleaning carpets.

In the learning loft:  The stress started coming back this week as I began preparing for our fall term.  Geography notebooks, reading lessons, math lessons and history are all awaiting my attention.  Homeschooling our children is a huge and demanding responsibility.  I love it but man it is time consuming and stressful.  I always say can't we just read and play games?  But then the reality of skills that need to be learned sets in and I plan away.  We start back to  lessons October 8th.

In the kitchen:  I have been enjoying India Spice Chi Tea that my Mother-in-law brought on her last visit.  I am looking forward to starting Beach Body's Ultimate Reset next week.  We have been moving more toward a plant based diet and the reset will move us further down that path.  The Reset is a 21 day body cleaning program designed to reset you metabolism with clean eating.

In the gym:  We have been taking it easy this week after Sunday's Tough Mudder.  The Mudder was so much fun and we already look forward to next year's event in July.

The orange is the 11 mile course we ran and the  20 obstacles we completed.  It took us 4 hours to complete.

Me getting my number on my face in case they found me lost in the woods, passed out from exhaustion.  They failed to mention hypothermia was an option as well.

Jay getting his number.  I said no forehead because it was a little to "Beast" like.

Aren't we cute and clean all ready to go?

Never mind that this is a beer sponsor, I just liked the quote.  We had to sign a death waver to participate.

And--our muddy clothes when we got home.  It all washed well and is waiting for the next adventure.

 We should be able to get a few action Mudder shots from their photographers and I'll post them we we get them, so for now this is it.

Due to the Reset things will be light in the gym for the next 3 weeks.  I look forward to the light schedule of walking and stretching.  After the Reset maybe some INSANITY and PUMP.

In the prayer closet:  I am reading a devotion on Joy.  I have mixed feelings about the book but want to keep persevering to learn more.

In the library:  I am reading Bella Tuscany.  It is a slow read but I think that has more to do with me than the book.  It is nice to spend time, when I get it, being transported to Italy with all of its wonderful food, people and gardens.

Plans for the rest of the week:  Working with flowers for this week's wedding and hopefully putting away laundry, washing laundry, yard work and homeschool planning.

Thanks for stopping by!

Slime Glorious Slime!

I remember getting green slime out of a grocery store vending machine when I was about 8 years old.  I played and played with that gross stuff until it was full of lent and debris. So when I say this recipe I knew we had to try it.

Mixing with a bit of trepidation.

"oh, this is weird!"

"Wow, fun!"

Watch it drip!

Add some trucks or trains.

"Look what I can do, Mom!"

Slime is a great playdough alternative, frugal and sensorial fun for all ages!

For more fun kid craft & concotions check out our Pinterest  board

Today is Montessori Monday and I'm linking up.

You Can't Change Them

I learned something the other morning--you can't change your children.  No, I don't mean trade them in for another model, variety or version but really, you can't change them.  I mean, I know all about don't expect your husband to change, he is who he is, and all, that but I never applied it to my children.

Looking at butterflies near Crater Lake

I came to this realization yesterday morning when it was chore time and 2 of my children, the girls, were busily working away to earn their quarter per chore.  My son had disappeared upstairs and was very quiet.  I assumed he was also busily working away on chores, I was wrong.  45 minutes later I called for A and he answered back, "I'm almost done with my card."  What? 45 minutes on a card that I thought you had already finished and left on the table.  What? you have not been working on your chores.  I was angry to say the least.  I have been fed up with this child's "when I get around to it" manner of working.  I have tried everything from taking away computer time, to room time, to more work, setting a timer and even more chores but nothing moves this child any faster.  At the same time all of this was going on, I was preparing us for a much anticipated day at the beach and we need to be out the door in 15 minutes.  So, A's basic chores were not even completed and as he moved to do the extra chores, ignoring the basics, because he want to earn money, he breaks down into tears as I tell him he doesn't have time and must finish the basics.  Well, I was not gracious and may have been yelling at the poor boy and hubs, who had thrown in his 2 cents during my tirade but praise the Lord I could still hear His voice.  That was when it hit me or shall I say God shouted at me.  "He's not going to change."  A is not going to change, he is who he is--slow, relaxed, casual, focused, disinterested, bored, lazy however, I want to put it, he is  God's wonderful creation given to me as a blessing and reward.

A--@ Grandma's house

So in that moment, I realized that I had been parenting for 10 years and had been trying to change my children into the personalities I think they should be.  My real job is to love these dear children not change them.  These children are not my creations or inventions but an expression of God's love to me and the world.

E--camping @ Jackson Meadows

So what am I to do with those irritating and frustrating personality traits that are there but I really wish were not?  God spoke again straight from his word-- bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).  This verse is specifically directed at fathers but I think it is also good advice to us moms.  So I can't change their personalities, that is not my job.  However, I can train and instruct them in the Lord.  So if what they are doing is of no biblical merit them I best learn to shut my mouth.  But, if what they are doing is out of line with God's word by all means I should train and instruct. My instruction should be done gentley as stated in 2 Timothy 2:25 so that they can be lead to repentance and knowledge.  Some things are my job and some things, like deep personality issues are better left to God. My children belong to the Lord and he is not finished with them or me, for that matter, yet.

K--Donner Lake

This may be one of those duh posts for you, but for me it was a big moment leading to a fresh appreciation for the work of God in all of our lives.

B--Camping @ Crater Lake

Donner Creek

Nature Study does not always have to be a formal observation and journal routine.  Sometimes, just getting outside to enjoy and appreciate God's great creation is all the education our children need.

On this day we camped ourselves near a bridge at Donner Creek  to play "pooh sticks," swim and meander up and down the stream. We are so blessed that "our own backyard" has so much to offer.

What does "your backyard" have to offer that you can enjoy before the fall chill sets in?

LEARNING WITH THE LITTLES

Summer is quickly fading into fall at Life Learning Center, which for us means a winding down of summer learning and more time outside enjoying our beautiful mountains.  Here is a brief peek at what K and B have been working on during our summer term.

B needs continual fine motor practice and this crepe puzzle from Lauri is perfect.  This work requires matching of shapes to outlines and a lot of finger use to place the shapes in their matches.

K is doing wonderfully with her reading practice.  Here she is using Mystery Balls from Lakeshore Learning to spell words and match them to objects.

File Folder games are a big hit around here In fact, I am planning to use them consistently  one day a week as our main source of learning and skill review. File Folder Fun is a great site to print out free file folder games. We also use a lot of the Take it to Your Seat Centers.  In this picture K is completing a simple addition game using the addition strip board.  K is amazing in addition, she is clearly ready to move on to subtraction in our fall term.

K has been working on identifying and counting money this summer.  Here she is using a file folder game to match coins and their values.

K's art work inspired by our dear American flag.  I love the days when she is completely self-directed in her work, she shows so much pride and concentration.

These simple 3 part truck cards from the Dollar Tree are a huge hit with B.  I have to help him sort out the cards that go together for each vehicle but he puts them in order.  B gets especially proud of himself when he leaves a card out and makes a "mini truck."

So there you have it, a brief peek into some summertime learning.

Thanks for visiting.  

I'm linking up with Montessori Monday.