One Thousand Gifts... a practice in Gratitude-5

151. for new beginnings
152. for tax refunds
153. for finding a swim suit that makes my daughter smile and feel good about herself
154. for younger brothers who still have TONS of energy
155. for coming home after vacationing
156. for routine
157. for doctors who see things and Gods hand on the situation
158. for flex spending accounts for health insurance
159. for resale shops
160. for small things making a big difference
161. for a pedi, mani with my big girl!
162. for shopping for flip flops!
163. for people seeing that you matter
164. for new shaving cream brands that ROCK.
165. for the fact that I get to teach my eldest to shave..... reminding myself that I AM thankful.
166. for Kleenex
167. for new glasses for hubbie
168. for sickness taking a break at this house!
169. for scrambled eggs and toast
170. for dinner you don't have to make
171. for extra large capacity washer and dryer
172. for shorts for the eldest that fit, are long enough and inexpensive enough!!! 
173. epiphany's
174. for a day off from going anywhere
175. for Advil!
176. for moments where we "see" our self
177. for sharing a bible story with the kids and seeing AWE.
178. for CARMAN-- love his music!
179. for rice makers. 
180. for a son to take out the trash
181. for instant play on Netflix

One thousand gifts... a practice in gratitude 4

118. for welcome to womanhood gifts from family members to my eldest
119. for finding my children's passions and being able to expand on them
120. for a quiet street in a busy place
121. for chore charts
122. for the flexibility of home schooling
123. for haircuts from TISHA!
124. for a new family favorite side dish... that everyone likes!
125. for fresh starts every morning... for both me and the kids
126. for being able to be consistant and reap the reward of that
127. for a childhood youth pastor and his wife still being willing and able to pastor me
128. for snoring husbands... he is breathing, he is here, he is with us I will take the snoring.
129. for friends who step up and help out when needed
130.  for the nearness of so many musuems and learning experiences that it is hard to choose
131. for half and half tea at restarunts- sweet is too sweet!
132. for a special treat at Panera the other morning and  a few minutes with ma ma
133. a gymnasitc coach that sees my child and is willing to work with her
134. for enchilada casserole and my daugher who put the whole meal together!
135. for a friend to talk to for an hour and  a half on Tuesdays!
136. for a quiet night, watching a show and sharing ice cream with hubbie
137. for quick kisses on the cheeks from little girls
138. for trips to the library and days to read books all snuggled in our beds!
139. for a day with the family... learning and just being.
140. for a working environment that is a little flexible so my husband can be sick or be with family when needed
141. for a time of remembering with family
142. for noodles and cheese... yum
143. for a 10 year old son who still cuddles...
144. for possible freedom for Egypt... we will see
145. for a wonderful opportunity to vacation with my family
146. for antibiotic shots- hit it hard and fast
147. for indoor waterparks in the "winter"
148. for threading instead of waxing... my eyebrows thank India
149. for my childs artistic ability
150. for heart changes that you can see

Weekly Wrap Up-- Week 27

Monday--

We started out by doing our errands and I had a hair appointment at 9:30, I had the kids work on some school work at the appointment so it wasn't a total loss of time!  We met mom at Panera for a little snack.

I went by house and picked up library books and Book IT coupons. Left and got Dave lunch, dropped that off at his office, picked up the kids BOOK IT pizza, went into Walgreen's to pick up more envelopes to mail rodeo stuff, ran by the library and then HOME.

AND I WAS DRAINED. So I rested while the kids did chores.  We accomplished little but since I have been at home since last Tuesday night... there were things to be done!  :)


TUESDAY...

Bible- the story of Samuel and Eli and Saul becomes king

--- Matt said that (talking about the Ammorite king who was going to gouge out the right eyes of all the Israelites on the East side of the Jordan river) that it would be freaky to walk into a whole town of one eyed guys!  I agree!


We choose our LOVE CHALLENGE...

Math- check

Language-

FLL-- 3 lessons

FLL3---3 lessons

Writing with Ease--- one weeks worth.. It was Caddie Woodlawn, both Kate and Matt want to read it now so I need to go dig it out!  I couldn't find my copy but got two at the library!

IEW- Kate finished lesson 4 and just needs to proof and rewrite

Matt's writing- This week he was kind of boring.. one of his sentences was " I built him."  I asked him if we could jazz that up abit... so I said,  "I built him to fight the evil forces..."  and Matt said, getting excited, "the skeleton army!" 

Perfect! Skeleton army it is... fight on!


LLATL-  Emily made long vowel (Y) wheels, she had fun doing it... so I will print some out for the other vowels too.


History- the kids read Phoebe the spy. 

Science- We are almost finished with chapter 10. FINALLY.  I felt like this was a LOT of information!  I will tell you however when I went to the neurologist., I could look at the posters and read some information with knowledge of what they were talking about which is pretty cool!


Wednesday...

I had my neurologist appointment and Dave got so sick at work that a co worker drove him home.  We stopped at the library on the way home and got in just before the weather got really cold.  We basically had the kids sit around reading library books all day!  The did accomplish math, handwriting, ETC- Emily, and played a game together!  But it was a lost day!

The kids did pick their LOVE CHALLENGE- Emily got

Write a secret note to your sister/ brother and leave it for them.

She was SOOOO excited! In fact she wrote one for both of them



Thursday...

Well Hubbie got up and got going~

I was shocked, but glad that he was feeling better!

We got started on Bible- Samuel and Saul

Instead of using the bible curriculum that just glazes over some stories we are reading right from the Bible right now... it is so interesting to my kids, you know with all the slaughtering going on!  :)

Math- check
handwriting- check
ETC- check

Science-- finished chap 10!!!  I feel like I have ran the gamut with those two chapters for some reason!

History- the kids watched three episodes of Liberty Kids- I am not overly happy with some of their "historical facts" but it gives the kids a sense so that's cool.  We shall watch with trepidation! 

Emily read amazingly today!!!!!!!  YEAH.... Really, I feel like I should shout from the top of a mountaintop!  I am so excited and so very glad because I have been so weary in this department, for so long.

Kate and Matt started Caddie Woodlawn and are enjoying it so far.

all three kids did their LOVE CHALLENGE without prompting today! Emily had a kind word to say to her brother and sister and Kaitlin was a peacemaker at lunch by taking a piece that was more over cooked.  I really am loving this so far!


Friday...

The kids did math, handwriting and that was about all.  We had a family funeral, so learning today was put on hold.  We will get back to it next week.  Thanks Vickie for watching the kids....

This was in a lot of ways a hard week, but we have a weekend to be with family and to just relax and gather our strength to face next week...

 

One thousand gifts a practice in gratitude... 3

103. for God's peace
104. for friends who pray with you
105. for a family that lived close
106. for doctors and medicine that have a place in this world
107. for verses that remind me
108. for a quiet Sunday with no responsibilities
109. for understanding
110. for my husband and each and every moment I have with him
111. for sweet kisses from my daughter
112. for reminders that my eldest is growing up quickly
113. for moments that stop time and a feeling of peace
114. for prayer warriors who spend time on their knees
115. for reminders to not take life for granted...
116. for people who donate their bodies so that others can live
117. for this blog to record my thoughts and days

one thousand gifts...a practice in gratitde (1)

started at A HOLY EXPERIENCE

I have seen this a lot on blogs but have never participated before but since I am talking about my need for accountability..I need it in this area too! I need to remind myself of the blessings that I have. Too often lately I am focusing on the dont's, cant's, wont's and even the have to's


SO I am choosing to be purposeful in saying THANKS.


1.  for my family.
2.  for the closeness of my husband's job.
3.  for lots of windows in my house.
4. that my children are growing and each day becomes a day where they learn something new.
5. for turkey and apple sausage, that it is nitrate free and that my son loves it.
6. for little cute plastic puppy plates, that my 7 year old said was too old for yesterday, but today asked for happily.
7. freshly laundered sheets.
8. not being allergic to gluten
9. a science curriculum that sings God's praises on every page.
10. a husband who KIND OF understands my need to craft.
11. left over chili for husbands lunch- which truly makes him happy.
12.  Enough Frito's to go with the leftover chili-- which truly makes husband happier.
13.  apples and turkey for lunch, with a side of gold fish.
14. indoor plumbing- when I think about outhouses... wow am I thankful.
15. no car payments.  Just need to keep reminding myself of this.
16. pencil sharpeners that work well.
17. a friend who invited me to Beth Moore's bible study.
18. friends who will pray with you
19.  art classes, that are close and affordable for Kaitlin
20. vanilla scent on just about anything
21. woman who inspire me on blogs and in real life
22.  a husband who usually gets off at 5:30 sharp- it didn't use to be this way.
23.  a mom who will help me empty my cabinets to go Gluten free for a trial.
24. stitch- witchery, a product for all the non sewers out there
25.  email, really. 
26.  a large capacity washer machine
27.  a quiet street to live on
28. births of babies that happen safely
29.  framed pictures of my kids
30. Discovery Green park on a Sunday afternoon
31. marsh mellows in hot chocolate
32.  donut holes on Monday mornings while doing errands
33.  a gymnastics academy extremely close by... we wont say anything about affordable
34. no headache today
35. a daughter old enough to load the dishwasher and a son old enough to unload it.  :)
36.  that my husband truly does love me in just polo's and jeans. 
37. for vacations
38.  for pictures from vacations
39. for experiences from vacations
40. for vacationing and paying for everything in cash, upfront.
41. for Lego's- what would my son have done without them all these years!
42. for very creative children
43. for trash pickup, I mean really what if we had to take it somewhere all the time!
44. for high speed Internet.  never look back at dial up
45. for roads that are not icy
46. for scales that don't lie-- I have to hear the truth!
47. for "enough" room in our home
48. for a noisy washer that says, "STUFF IS GETTING DONE"
49. for goldfish- Whole grain ones!
50. for people willing to say the truth, no matter what the cost.
51. my husband... sometimes I struggle but I know that he loves me, anyway.
52. blue birds in the backyard, and my son coming in to share them with me.
53. scrambled eggs and tortillas, with a little bit of cheese.
54. have a camera- I am not always happy with it's preformance but perfect picture or NOT it is my reminder, my memory... forever captured.
55.  A Whole Foods being built 5 minutes from my house... sigh!
56.  my children.
57.  that HIS mercies are New every morning.
58.  prayer.
59.  a quiet still reminder to pray.
60.  a quiet morning at home, school work, breakfast, peace
61. Snapfish, Shutterfly and printed photo books
62. mug of hot coffee.. with creamer. warming my hands while I am on the front porch swinging.

Emily's Gymnastics Meet...

Emily had her first gymnastics meet last Sunday, she had a lot of fun and did really well for her first time!

She won three red ribbons and one blue.

Judging wise that means:

definition: apparatus is the area they presented in: floor, beam, vault and bars

skill is the actual thing they did on each apparatus (i.e. straddle, flat back, partial handstand, mounting, dismounting etc)



white ribbon=participation
red ribbon= did all three skill and at least one of them well
blue ribbon= did all three skills correctly
Purple ribbon=did all three skills exceptionally well

stretching before meet



dismount off beam




receiving her medal



This is a video of her vaulting.  She usually does her straddle perfectly not sure what happened there but she corrected herself.    On the next skill, a handstand into a flatback, she has never done it UP on the mat and she misjudged her distance and was actually falling off.  But my favorite part of the video is the end... you know how I feel about the "STICK IT"!

all the Discover Stars Team

Sooo for her first meet, her coach feels she did well, they know what skills she needs to work on as well so that is great!  Her next meet is Dec 12  but they will require a few different skills... we will see how it goes!

Emily @ Gymnastics

And that is my girl!

She was excited to go on the high beam today for the first time!

 She also got to go on the springboard and flip over landing flat on her back. Doesn't sound like much but as she flew over the pad and landed I held my breath.  I will try to get pics of that next time!

Swim lessons, Gymnastics and Volleyball OH MY

So for being such a "NON" sporty family we sure are in the thick of it right now! 

Matt is doing swimming lessons, Kaitlin started her volleyball practice this evening and Emily is doing gymnastics and ballet!

We are just all getting out and doing stuff.  The bonus- besides the kids being active, is that it means I "have" to be at the YMCA which means I work out!  I even get to work out twice some days.
 

I am watching THE BIGGEST LOSER, via Hulu right now.  Not sure why I never watched it before, beside I wasn't ready and sitting and watching THE BIGGEST LOSER while I am fat and not doing anything about it is not real appealing!  So now that I am doing something about it, I am watching it with interest!  I do not like ANY of the drama and they stretch the weigh In's so much it drives me nuts but the core of the show is great and very encouraging.  I know there weight loss is astronomical and unattainable for me, but I still like the premise.  I told Dave I might buy the work out video to do at home with the kids too.  There is a Wii game also which looks neat.  They had product placement and branding down to a SCIENCE!

So sports are expensive... and I am not even talking about extreme baseball leagues or private ice skating lessons.  Just doing three classes at the YMCA and gymnastics, once you "get" everything you need, adds up!  We need practice balls, swimming goggles, leotards, knee pads, gas to drive to practice three different nights a week, plus the swimming 2 weeks, eating out if I cannot manage to eat at home- which I have actually done better than my menu plan with that, then there is snacks weekly for the games, ballet shoes, snacks at gymnastics (cuz where there are snack machines we must spend our coin), the list goes on....this is why we don't do "this" every year. We have so far spread activities out which I think backfired on us because we have "inactive" kids.  But we will try to find the balance over the next couple of months.  Also having three kids is obviously different than having one, just the logistics is 3x the amount of time spent doing "X" things.  Anyway, I am not complaining I am actually quite happy with our current choices but just want to give fair warning for any who decide to jump into activities!