Tristan's English assignment

So I meant to post this months ago when we started school... I posted it to my facebook page instead. But since I am wanting to start updating this blog again, I thought I would repost it here. This was written Sept. 3rd.

We are on day 3 of school for this year. Today in English Tristan was supposed to write a short story/paragraph on a lesson he has learned and share about it. This is the first time he has written a paragraph completely on his own without any sentence prompts. It took him awhile to write it. He was writing it while the girls were playing by him. (We do school all in one room this year so I can keep an eye on everything and only let one section of my house get torn up at one time! Now I don't think this has to be a permanent arrangement, it's just what I am wanting to do right now to iron out kinks in discipline, etc...)

So... this is what he came up with...I just had to share!

It's not easy to do school with two little sisters. They scream and argue. They play with toys that are loud and crazy. They dance and sing a lot. The baby crys for Mommy to hold her and it's hard to hear. So, how do I do it??? I can concentrate on my work. I don't pay attention to them when they are crazy! Being able to get my work done makes my mom happy. And I get extra time to play.
Tristan Shelton - 10.

Apologia Elementary Science Giveaway!

I don't know if I have ever mentioned curriculums on here before. But my favorite Science to use is the Apolgia Elementary Series. It is just fabulous and biblical and wonferful to use with all ages. My 4yo sits and listens while we read our lessons. I love the way it is based on the Charlotte Mason method of learning and Tristan has learned and retained sooo much in doing them!

Apologia is now producing notebooking journals that accompany each of the elementary science books. Both Botany and Astronomy are now available.
These journals are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal.
Each of the notebooking journals include:
A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
Review Questions
Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice
Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.
See the sample pages here:
Botany
https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=128
and
Astronomy
https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=127

This journal is going to be such a blessing and a huge help for me while teaching Science!!! I am so excited for these!

Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on her site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: www.jeanniesjournal.com

Past due updates: Disney Vacation

Okay, so I was just informed that I can link all the photos that I put up on facebook, here for those who don't have a facebook account can see. YAY! It is so much easier to post photos on facebook.

So, Disney was fabulous. It was a tight fit in our hotel room but made the family togetherness all that much better. The kids were great, there was hardly a meltdown except for when we were stuck in a thunderstorm on the way to dinner at epcot. Already an hour late from the bus not showing up. Poor Abby is dressed beautifully in a princess dress with a flower in her hair and she is soaked like a drowned rat. We have the girls in the double stroller covered with tarps (sorry no picture of that!) And Tristan shuffling behind us in a big poncho. Abby and the baby were screaming and crying the whole walk there. Fun memories! :)
Our meals were great, there were NO lines at all because everyone was in school (oh the joys of homeschooling) It was a great time had by all. How odd to say that our first family vacation at Disney World (Craziest place on earth) was for the most part calm and relaxing!

So... here are the pictures I posted on facebook.
The Magic Kingdom
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2005363&l=fd6eb&id=1403816905

Animal Kingdom and Epcot
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2005367&l=9e3f9&id=1403816905

The hotel and Downtown Disney
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2005366&l=18f34&id=1403816905Advertise

Facebook has stolen me!

I have to apologize for my lack of posting and admit that I got addicted to facebook. Thus the lack of posts on my part. Please forgive me. I love this blog and have some major updating to do. If my teething, crazy walking, getting into everything baby will let me, I will post more... one day! Hugs!

I am still alive!

Today was the second week of school. Yes, it's Labor day and we did school. My poor kids having to do school when other schools are out. But other kids don't get to take a week off of school and go to Disney World the third week of school either!!! :)
We are excited to take our first big family vacation next week.Got a ridiculously amazing deal since everyone is back to school and it's the slow season. All our meals are FREE!!!! Even at the nice fancy restaurants! And the fabulous economic stimulus check footed the whole bill! ;)
So... second week of school. The first week was crazy. We managed to get everything done and meet all our goals, all except the goals of me keeping my house clean. Uggghhh... I am finding a very hard time finding a balance in everything. This year is very difficult because I am teaching 4th grade and my 3yo is too smart for her own good and is really wanting to learn so much. So what started out as singing some songs, and reading some books and very casual fun learning has turned into her wanting me to sit and really teach her with workbooks and all! So it looks like I am going to end up needing to do a pre-k curriculum with her. I was going to save that for next year. Then there is the very mobile baby who should be walking any day now. She loves to destroy everything we are working on. So in the midst of teaching is also lots of training time too. So the kids are having a blast, I am glad to be back on a schedule, but I can't seem to keep up with the rest of the stuff. My sweet husband keeps reminding me "It's only been a week". So if devotions are being done, school is getting completed, the kids are behaving, beds are made, toys are picked up, diapers are washed and I am stuffing healthy food into their mouths, then so what if I have piles of laundry hiding in my bedroom and my bathrooms haven't been cleaned in XXX ?!?!? ;)
So I am sure things will even out this week and I will start to find the balance then we will leave for a crazy week and come back to start all over again!!! :) Life is good.

My Vintage Loveseat :)

I have been dying to share this Vintage loveseat with you! It was my $50 craigslist find. It's from an estate in Savannah, GA. I can picture it in an old parlour in those big plantation homes with women sipping tea in beautiful, yet uncomfortable dresses. The woodwork is amazing. It had a lot of scuffs on it, but the wood wasn't damaged. So I just used some of my homemade natural woodcleaner and rubbed it a few times and all the scuffs were gone!!! And it has such a nice sheen to it. It was in excellent condition except for the cushions. They were all pilly and the fabric was falling apart. So I went to Costplus/World Market to find an alternative for couch cushions. That is where I found these aqua colored silk floor cushions. You should have seen me in the store right before closing with no children by my side. Sitting on the floor of the store, with a measuring tape, various cushions, my old fabric cushion cover draped over other pillows trying to pair colors together! I probably looked like I was doing a challenge for Design Star! :) I measured them and they fit perfectly on the couch! I was very happy about the find. So what if the pillows cost more than the couch?!?! ;) We have a huge bedroom and this is on a wall in our room next to a bookshelf with a light hanging down by it. It's very pretty at night with just that light on. This is our reading and discussion couch! :) It also serves as a make shift bed for needy toddlers in the middle of the night!

I love being able to stay at home and make my home a warm, loving place that our family wants to be in.

30 Things about me at 30

1. I just turned 30 and have 3 kids. Still a young mom! :)
2. Going to the grocery store is ALWAYS an adventure.
3. I love to organize
4. But am not that fond of cleaning.
5. I actually enjoy cloth diapering.
6. I love green juice!
7. I hate pulling weeds.
8. Don't like unloading the dishwasher either
9. Haven't scrapbooked in almost a year
10. enjoying making things with my hands
11. Can't remember the last time I sat down and watched a movie
12. Love coffee
13 and going out for mexican food
14. And grateful that there is actually one decent cheap mexican restraunt here in the "south"
15. I really like red wine.
16. Finally got hip and got a facebook account
17. I am notorious for waiting for my gas tank to hit empty before I fill up.
18. I am the coupon queen! And can save a bundle at the grocery store.
19. I have a stockpile of food that I got for next to nothing.
20. I love when the kids are asleep and I can talk uninterrupted with my husband.
21. I love God
22. I have a bunch of random magazine subscriptions that I got for free for taking some surveys and haven't even looked at half of them!
23. I think I am the only person in Jacksonville that makes homemade salsa! And people line up for it! :)
24. Can't remember the last time I printed pictures or did anything with them.
25. I homeschool!
26. I love, love, love to cook and rarely follow a recipe.
27. Baking stresses me out!
28. I am the wife of a hot paramedic!
29. I just got my hair highlighted for the first time in 7 months.
30. I am very simple, and sometimes being simple can actually be complicated! ;) Especially in this day and age!

Another cute kid quote

Okay, I've been inspired by my fellow blogger friends who write down the cute things their kids say so they don't forget. So here's another one.

I was in the kitchen making lunch and Tristan and Abby were playing in the living room. The baby started crying and Abby says : "MOM! My sister is crying go get her!"
Me: "She's fine, let me finish lunch, then I will get her and we can all eat together."
Abby: "Tristan, you go get her. She needs milk. You can nurse her for Mommy so she can make lunch."
Tristan: "Abby, boys can't nurse babies. Only girls can nurse babies. Girls make milk, but only when you are a Mommy."
Abby: "Oh! And COWS! Cows make milk too!"

Moooooo.....

An Abbyism

Heard while driving home from the store today. In the sunshine state where one afternoon it actually was sunny and not raining!

Abby: " I am going to close my eyes so the sun doesn't see me."
Me: "What do you mean so the sun doesn't see you?"
Abby: "If I close my eyes then I can't see the sun and it will stop looking at me. When it looks at me it hurts my eyes. It needs to stop staring at me, it's way too bright!"
:)

The crafting bug

I will update more photos later, but right now allow me to share what I am suddenly excited about...
cute little hair clippies handmade tutus

this was a trial run, I still need to perfect my knots and give it a cleaner look... matching tutu barrettes
baby tutu
I changed my knots on this and the waist looks much cleaner

A few more fun practice tutus for the girls and i will be getting ready to sell these!!! YIPPEEE!!!

July Fourth

Brandon didn't have to work on the 4th so we spent the whole day and night next door with our neighbors. Swimming in the pool and shooting off fireworks. They aren't illegal here like they are in AZ so it makes for a lot of fun had for all!


Abigail was so afraid of the "pop pops" last year, but not this year! Though she did not like how loud they were!

Still catching up...

Once Brandon was done with school we knew we needed to do more fun simple things as a family. There was a Christian bookstore that had a grand opening and Bob the Tomato from Veggie Tales was there. So we went to Taco Bell (gotta love their new value menu!) and went to see Bob.
So cute! So sweet and innocent. He still loves Veggie Tales. He is the closet veggie tale fan! :)
She wasn't quite sure, but kept saying "WOW!" when looking at him!

And on June 29, my sweet baby boy turned NINE. NINE?!?! I feel so old...
He is so precious. He wanted an all boys party. It was so fun. We borrowed a water slide from my mother in law's school, and they had a blast playing on it all afternoon.

Two months in review...part 1

WOW! I can't believe it's been so long... I miss blogging. My computer has been falling apart and wouldn't upload photos and I was just frustrated with it in general. then there were the potty issues with Abby.... sigh. But thank God they were resolved with some serious consistency on my part and keeping her by my side every second she was awake. It has been exhausting and rewarding at the same time. Anyhow... So much to discuss... let's start with a few photos. June 3rd my sweetie turned 30.

Oh and I made a cake. Those of you that know me know I HATE baking. I love to cook because I rarely follow a recipe, but with baking it just stresses me out. I am always afraid i will forget a key ingredient. One time I forgot sugar in banana bread. Yes, instead of banana bread it was banana brick. Anyways, I made him a super chocolate cake. And it was GREAT! I was quite proud of myself. He thought I bought it!!! :)

And on June 17th Brandon graduated from paramedic school. No real graduation, he just finished school. Got top of his class! So proud of him. He is so smart!!! Now we are just waiting for his paperwork to come back so he can schedule his state exam and get tested.

Okay, I will update more later...

:)

Homeschool Freebies

Yeah, I know, long time no see... and no photos to post either. Been crazy busy trying to finish up the school year and Brandon will be done with school on June 17th! Praise GOD!!!! We also have Brandon's 30th birthday next week, then Father's Day and then he graduates. And Tristan's birthday is the end of June. then Elizabeth in July!!!! AAAAHHHH!!! Talk about needing to go shopping!!! I can't believe he has been in school for a year and a half now. I can't wait to catch up and I have so many things to share and things to post about.

Here's a quick freebie for you homeschoolers or mommy's of preschool children. Lots of great ideas that you can use with your little ones. And you can't beat free!!! :)
http://homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

Will try and catch up soon.
HUGS!

My Green Baby!

Since Earth Day has come and gone I forgot to mention that I decided to get all tree hugger with Elizabeth! :) So with my third baby I finally got up the nerve to switch to cloth diapers. I am so amazed at how simple they are. Cloth sure has come a long way from scrubbing and swishing in the toilet and hanging to dry on the line in the yard! When I told my mom I switched she said "Ewww... gross" It's not gross at all! Of course I went the more expensive and convenient way by buying the adorable pocket diapers instead of prefolds, pins, covers, etc... These are as simple as disposable and super cute and soft. I love how cushie her bottom feels when I hold her and knowing that she doesn't have any chemicals that come from the diaper filling touching her bottom. I still use disposables for when we are out and at church or at night, but even with doing that I only go through one pack a month. That's one jumbo pack of Luvs at 7.99 a package! So I spend $8 a month on diapers. Not bad on the budget huh?
And if God gives us another baby (GASP!!) then these can just be passed on and I will really get my money's worth! ;)
So here are some photos of the cutie modeling her eco friendly fashion! :)
These were taken when she was 6 months, she is now 9 months. But still cute! :)

Photo blog anyone?

Well it's easier to post photos than it is to ramble on about life. Especially right now, when I have too many priorities and the least of them is getting on the computer. I can see this turning into a photo only blog! :)
So here's some pictures from Easter. We had a wonderful time at church. We meet at a private school right now and they have wonderful grounds full of mature oak trees and the setting is so beautiful. When church was over we had a big picnic lunch with communion and acoustic music outside. The weather couldn't have been better. It was beautiful out, not too hot, not too cold and shaded beautifully by the trees. What a nice day to spend with our family.

These are my pretty baby blue babes. Those colors just made their dark blue eyes pop! And MY GOSH was it hard to get a photo of the three of them LOOKING at the camera. Had some cute ones of Elizabeth smiling but the others weren't looking or vice versa.
My goofy boy. He can't stand still for a minute! Always having to pose. Not sure what this was all about... ;)
Abby can't stand still either! hee hee Brandon got this one of her I think it is beautiful, like she is reaching up to Heaven.
My sweetie. She was exhausted. This was taken at 1:30, she had been up since 7 with no nap. I was able to sneak this photo right before she stuck her thumb back in her mouth!

Happy Easter, Happy Spring! :)

Sweet

A friend from church was snapping photos after church one day. She is so talented! These photos really blessed me. In the midst of stressful days, sleepless nights, teething and overall crabbiness, these sweet little moments make it all worthwhile. Now to find the time to scrapbook these!!!

And did I ever mention how much I love my hotsling? :)http://www.hotslings.com/

Homemade Birthday Goodness

Sorry! I forgot to post photos from Abby's THIRD birthday! She is 3 going on 13! So smart and wonderful! :) My mother in law made this fabulous cake for her Strawberry Shortcake party. Homemade pound cake with about a pound of everything in it! Soooo good for you ;) Homemade icing and lots of strawberries (Abby's favorite) We collected the Strawberry Shortcake characters from McDonalds for weeks so she would have extra for her cake. Can't get any cuter storebought!

Brandon didn't actually "make" the kitchen. it was cheaper to buy one, but he did handcraft it together with his own hands! Three hours later, a nice wooden kitchen! :) My mom sewed her a Strawberry Shortcake apron, bandana and potholder. She has to wear all of them while she cooks for us!
Lots going on right now... will try to post more later...

Homeschool Valentine's Party!

This is our big diningroom/greatroom. Love the window, but it is very bright in the morning. I don't want to ruin it with blinds though... I got these hearts for 50 cents at Hobby Lobby. They are felt, I love felt! Used ribbon I already had in my stash and WHALA! A festive garland for less than a buck!
Kids praying, only a few peekers! :) Too Cute! SO thankful to have such a big great room. At first I wanted a formal dining room, but so glad God gave us this house. It is so roomy and perfect for huge gatherings. You can't see the rest in this picture, but there is room for one or two more tables if needed!

My cuteness! Love this seat by the way. Great investment. You can take it everywhere. My sweet valentines. They are all so great together!

And that's it for now. Been really busy with the kids. I committed to spending less time on the computer and more time with them. Especially with Daddy being gone so often, they really need me. And I've been feeling guilty letting them play alone. I have seen such a huge difference in their attitudes and behavior since I have essentially been by their side or within ear shot for the last week. Been able to nip little fights and whining in the bud before it happens which has been great.
Abby's third birthday was on Sunday. When did she grow up? I have pictures from that too, but will need to post on another day or during another nap.

Later...

Happy Heart Day!

More photos of the kids and our big homeschool party later!
Love you!