Simple womans daybook

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For Today…September 30, 2008 yes, one day late

Outside my Window…acorns and oak trees

I am thinking…how I would love my mama and sister to come for Thanksgiving...hint, hint

From the learning rooms…Layla writing about bears, Ian reading about Greeks

I am thankful for…date night last night! What a wonderful time I had with my husband.

From the kitchen…freshly baked bagels and left over carrot cake

I am wearing…skirt and shirt

I am reading…the Bible, Little House in the Big Woods with the munchkins...we started the Prairie Primer!

I am hoping…to take the kids to a farm today with a hay ride and hay maze. Not the Avila Barn, our favorite place, but it will have to do.

I am creating…a corn cob doll with Layla

I am hearing…the fan in the bedroom to help Ruth sleep. Hannah chit chatting in another room.

Around the house…School, naps, peace

One of my favorite things…reading and drinking coffee.

I am praying for... Calli (always!), my beautiful sister

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…go to the library, enjoy the fall weather before it gets too cold!

I accomplished since last week…the twins turned one!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I greatly enjoy my coffee! I love how I use so much creamer, it looks white. Someone once said, "Did someone make cake," when they were standing by my coffee. Mmmm, delicious!

Twins turn one!

Today was the twins birthday. We had such a lovely day and a nice little party at home. There's not much to write about, but there are lots of pictures to show you!

Mama baked all morning, and then we went to the park for some swinging and sliding. The girls love to swing!


There is a huge teeter totter type thing at the park with two seats per side, so we were all able to ride at once. Grandma took pictures. The babies just loved it!
Smiles with mama and big brother!

I made them butterfly carrot cakes. I used my mama's secret recipe that she finally gave me. It makes the most delicious carrot cake ever. Don't ask though, I am not allowed to give it out. Both girls got their own butterfly cake, and then there was one more.
They both loved it!
Ruth loved the rocking horse that they got.

Hannah enjoyed the blocks.
It was a really lovely day. Very tiring. Very lovely. I still cannot believe that they are one.

Memories

As it is my favorite season, I was going to do a post about some lovely Autumn memories. I was searching for pictures to go along, but I was unable to find any. Apparently I don't have any on this computer, I think my mama has most of my favorites! Anyway, as I was searching though, I did find this adorable picture of Layla and Josiah.



Aren't they just precious? It seems like so long ago...

Today Layla is an amazing six year old. She loves to read, write, draw, help mama with housework, play, take care of her sisters. She is learning to bake and cook. Whenever I am at the stove, she is right there watching me, asking every step. She has recently taken up the chore of sweeping. Every night she would ask me if she could sweep. She wanted to do it. Tonight when I thanked her, she informed me that she loved sweeping, it is one of her favorite things.

Here is a story she wrote in one of her many notebooks.

Josiah is the sweetest four year old boy. He has the most wonderful heart. He loves to snuggle and tell me he loves me. He enjoys reading as well, he did hooked-on-phonics when he was three. He loves to draw. The other day he sat on my lap and studied my face for a few minutes, then asked, "Mama, how do you draw a nose?" He loves to play with Layla. He thinks Ian is the best big brother ever. He adores the twins. He just told me, "It's a lot more fun now that we have the twins."



They are growing into two amazing children. Along with Ian, the twins, and my sweetheart James, I have such a beautiful family. God has truly blessed me.

When siblings love each other

Isn't it wonderful to have siblings who love and enjoy each other?

Mama: What do you want to be when you grow up, Josiah?

Josiah: Whatever Ian is.

Mama: Why do you want to be what Ian is?

Josiah: Because I love him and he's nice.

Simple Woman's Daybook

To join in, link yourself at the Simple Woman. It's fun, you get to answer questions and stuff. We all know I like to answer questions!

For Today…September 22, 2008

Outside my Window…cool breeze, cloudy morning. It looks like a morning on the coast of California, but no, I'm in Washington now.

I am thinking…how excited I am that it is now officially fall. It is such a beautiful season, and being in a new place I will get to experience different aspects of the season than I am used to. Leaves actually fall off trees? Wow.

From the learning rooms…Many books waiting to be read this week. Layla finishing up her math, Ian reading his science.

I am thankful for…my husband and what an amazing man he is. He loves us so and works so hard for us, even when his back is hurting.

From the kitchen…coffee and oatmeal.

I am wearing…plaid skirt and purple shirt

I am reading…Emma by Jane Austen (still), the Bible, Winnie-the-Pooh to the munchkins.

I am hoping…to think of a way to see my mama and my sister...sometime, somehow

I am creating…a lovely home, little by little, piece by piece. It's a learning process for me to put together a home out of very little, but it's slowly coming together.

I am hearing…the fan in the bedroom to help the babies sleep. Munchkins running.

Around the house…School, babies sleeping.

One of my favorite things…bringing joy to my family.

I am praying for... Calli (always!), my beautiful sister

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…plan twins birthday (it's on Sunday), I just can't believe they are going to be one, make bagels (we just ran out, and our family loves them!)

I accomplished since last week…I got more of my house put together

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Our first cold day, Saturday. I made the munchkins a treasure hunt. They had to find different clues around the house that led to their treat...hot chocolate!

Let's talk about twins

Our trip to CA next week is canceled. James hurt his back and was out of work for a couple of days, so we are not going to be able to go. We are sad not to see our family and friends, but we will just have to make a trip soon.

Anyway, let me tell you some things about twins who are almost one. They are hilarious! Ruth is a little stinker...she takes whatever Hannah is playing with. When Hannah cries, she gives it back. Then, she goes and finds something else, goes back to Hannah, puts the new toy in Hannah's lap, and takes away the toy she wants again. Most of the time, Hannah still cries, but occasionally she will be okay with what Ruth has given her. Hannah is very smart. She puts a little ball into a bowl and leaves it there always. The other day Josiah took the ball out and rolled it away. Hannah didn't notice him do it, but she did see the ball rolling by. She grabbed it, crawl/walked over to the bowl and put it back in. Josiah took it out again and rolled it away. Hannah glared at him, went over to the ball, picked it up, crawl/walked back and put it in the bowl again! I was amazed. Hannah gives kisses, Ruth gives hugs. They are the sweetest girls ever and I can't believe they're going to be one in a week.

Two Months

Three Months

Almost One

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For Today…September 15th, 2008

Outside my Window…cars driving by

I am thinking…How beautiful Layla looks in her new skirt

From the learning rooms…Layla working on her extra math book. Yes, she has an extra math book. She loves school so much that I had to get her extra workbooks to do when school is over. She does them at night, in the morning, on the weekends, and even on vacations.

I am thankful for…what an amazing big brother Ian is. He adores those babies and is the biggest help. I think that without him, I could accomplish nothing.

From the kitchen…the smell of freshly baked pumpkin muffins and cream cheese frosting.

I am wearing…purple one truth shirt that says "Beloved, because you never look more beautiful than in His eyes" and my ugly skirt. Everyone thinks it's ugly, but it's my favorite!

I am reading…Emma by Jane Austen (again), the Bible, Winnie-the-Pooh to the munchkins.

I am hoping…to figure out a way to get our stuff out of storage when we go to California for my cousin's wedding at the end of the month. $1500 for the truck and gas, I have no idea how we will come up with it. I sure am hoping though!

I am creating…our school schedule for the week. Not very exciting, but it must be done.

I am hearing…the fan in the bedroom to help the babies sleep.

Around the house…Josiah napping, Hannah falling asleep, Ruth playing, Ian and Layla playing a board game.

One of my favorite things…the first cup of coffee in the morning. Just mama and the babies awake, daddy's at work, everyone else sleeping. The babies laugh and play, mama can just relax, read, drink that cup of coffee, and be at peace for the day.

I am praying for... Calli (always!), my beautiful sister

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week…get stuff put away that still hasn't been put away because there's nowhere to put it. I'm creative, I can think of something, right?

I accomplished since last week…Josiah got his hair cut.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

a fun, busy week

Apparently my post is going to be bold and underlined because I can't make it stop. Oh, well. This must be very important :), We had a really outstanding week. Here are the super pictures to show you all who care so greatly. Oh, yes, I am warning you now, Josiah did get a hair cut, and daddy, who was never one for the normal cut, made it very interesting. I am trying to get the "interesting" part to be cut off, but so far the two of them will not consent. He is still adorable though, and the sweetest little munchkin ever.

We made bread. It was delicious.
We made (hey, look, the bold, underline stopped. Yay!) applesauce. My potato masher is in storage, so we had to use a spoon. Very interesting. We must get a new potato masher. It was still yummy though.
Yep, there's that haircut.
I also decided I wanted to have picture day. I got a picture of Layla, Josiah and Ian. Ian didn't want his picture taken alone, he had to have a baby with him. I also wanted to get an all girls picture and an all boys picture, but daddy was working, so I didn't get the boys yet. I will post it as soon as I do.

Wrapping it up

Well we are officially ending our first week of school. It was so wonderful to be back in routine and peace. Our daily schedule looks something like this:

Bible reading together ( we read a chapter of Proverbs,
whatever chapter corresponds with the day of the month)
Morning chores
Individual Bible reading. Ian is reading Luke, Layla
and Josiah are reading Genesis with me.
Character training. Ian is reading Boyhood and Beyond
Layla and Josiah are doing Character journals.
Math. Ian is in Saxon 8/7 Layla is doing Singapore 1B.
Science. Ian is using Apologia Exploring Creation
through General Science. Layla is reading sections
of Handbook of Nature Study.
Reading 1. This consists of either a history, literature, or natural history
reading. Ian and Layla have numerous books that
they are working through in these subjects, I will list
them below.

Copywork/dictation/grammar.
Poetry. Ian is reading and memorizing Poems
by Rudyard Kipling. Layla is reading
and memorizing poems by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Josiah is reading Poems and Prayers for the Very Young.
Lunch
Weekly Subject I will list these below
Spanish bi-weekly, Tues and Thurs
Reading 2.
Written Narration for Ian
Productive free time
Ministry time
Tea time (really it's snack, but it's much more fun
to say tea. Ian and I drink chai tea and the
munchkins have hot chocolate or chocolate
milk. We also eat delicious baked goods that we
make once or twice a week in our productive free time.

That's our basic schedule. The babies have adapted to it very well and it is not difficult at all. They nap in the morning and usually wake up right around copywork/grammar time. They nap again at productive free time, as does Josiah, which gives the three of us some nice time together do enjoy some good activities. Ian has used his time to design a bird house which he is going to begin making soon. Layla is getting very good at drawing, and, as usual, writing many songs. We bake once or twice a week.

For our history, literature and natural history readings, the kids have a wide variety of books. Ian is reading Story of the Greeks by H.A. Gueber
Augustus Caesar's World by Genevieve Foster
Age of Fables by Thomas Bulfinch
David Livingstone
School of the Woods
Trial and Triumph
Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald
Genesis: Finding Our Roots by Ruth Beechick
A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare

Layla is reading An Island Story by H.E. Marshal
50 Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin
Parables from Nature
The Burgess Bird Book
Just So Stories
Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling C. Holling
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

Our weekly subjects are:
Monday- geography
Tuesday- Nature study (we are using Anna Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study)
Wednesday- Composer (we are studying Bach)
Thursday- Picture study (we are learning paintings by da Vinci
Friday- music, timelines, and handicrafts

We had a really great first week. Today I am doing a big grocery shopping. I try to do a mega shop once a month, and then just buy little things here and there as we need them throughout the month. Today is mega shop day, and I should really be planning for it. I have staples that I buy that we use often and then I always try and add a few new meals in at least once or twice a week. This month I am going to make pizza pockets, cap'n crunch chicken fingers, a new meatloaf, and a new lasagna. I am going to attempt to make muffins a few nights a week so we have some variations in breakfast and James has something to eat in the morning. We are looking into getting a big freezer so that we can buy more meats at a time and freeze them until we need them. Also, when I make meals, I can make extra and freeze one so we have some quick, easy dinners some nights. That would be awesome! Anyway, that's just a look at our week. Have a great weekend!