Out My Window:
Cold. Supposedly it is 22 degrees but feels like 11. In any case, it is enough to keep me from trying to work-out in the garage and from going anywhere. Today I am VERY VERY happy to homeschool.
Clothing Myself In:
Ummm. . . still in pjs (sweats). I was indecisive about grabbing a shower this morning or not as I could not decide if I was going to try and work-out because I would have to do so inside (rather than in my "home gym" in the garage) and I have not been feeling the best so I was thinking of skipping it, but then the kids got up and suddenly they want breakfast and oh look my day started without me ready! (my life is so complicated, I know)
Around the House:
I was going to start "school" again yesterday (after the "Christmas holidays") but somehow I ended up buying a used wii (it was actually an excellent deal for all the games and equipment it came with) and then I spent most of the morning rearranging the tv room so there would be room to hook it up and play it properly (a lot more complicated than it sounds - I had to move the train table and a bookshelf and a relocated a bunch of toys. Then I convinced the hubby to move the bigger tv in there (as one cannot play wii on a little 22 inch screen or course) but there was no place to set it, so he had to mount it and. . . well, it was quite the endeavor. And it is not complete yet, either. This morning I realized the cables from the DVD player will not reach the far end of the new tv from their location on the bookshelf, so I guess I will need to find/buy some longer ones, but now I'm not sure I can plug them in at the same time as the wii (must consult the manual. . . or the hubby later) so maybe I need to consider a different video cable in order to not have to unplug on re-plug the other every time I want to switch from one device to another. Yes, first world problems - my life is so complicated!
I also moved a bookshelf from the study downstairs to the laundry/storage/utility room which is slowly becoming an "office" as that is also the location of my new amazing printer. The bookshelf is home to most of my homeschooling resources and books not being used this year, so it is handy to have them near the printer (as usually I make copies, etc). Plus now there is a bit more room in the study so I made the table in there a little bigger as we have many new little legos and block sets that need some table space! I find it entertaining that we do not really do our "school work" in the study (as I had originally thought) but having another area to play/study/create with a table is turning out to be a tremendous asset. The big kids generally do their school work at the kitchen table or at the little desks I picked up (think of the one-piece chairs with desks attached that you probably sat in for high school) on a swap meet and keep in the front room. Those have been one of my most brilliant purchases this far.
The Baby:
She has a new word "baaa beee." She has been "saying things" for a long time. Things that generally sound almost like the real words for the things the represent. And she has inflection figured out. She will sound like she is having conversations all the time. But now she has definitely mastered the word "baby" (said nice and slow) and when you say it she goes to find one, or take care of hers. She is such a sweetheart. This age from about a year to two years is just so adorable in my opinion. Babies doing (or trying to do) the things the big kids do is basically the cutest thing ever I think.
The Kids:
I'm trying to get them to buckle-down and head back into their school work. . . it is a little tough, but we are slowly moving in the right direction. It helps that they like reading - we have been doing a lot of that to get going again. Back to a full load today I think. It will help that we have a wii now for them to enjoy when they finish - nothing like a little bribery :)
I recently implemented rewards charts and they are working brilliantly. I just made up little charts on excel and have the kids put stars on them as they complete a tasks, etc. I did not exactly spell out each one's chores (as the minute I do that, the chores change, etc) but they know that they can earn stars. Basically the rule I have is that we have to agree what will be done for the star BEFORE they do it (so they are not picking up a toy and then demanding a star every five minutes).
Paul gets a star for pooping in the potty (which he does regularly - no accidents - but he had a regression when we went to Grandma's to Christmas so I figure a little more encouragement is ok and it is helpful as earning stars is kinda difficult for him). In order for Paul to earn a star for a chore, it has to be a fairly specific (for example, pick up all of the big legos and put them in the container) - so if the conditions are not just right, as in there are a few of a lot of different toys to be picked up, or he does not really know where they go, or is not able to reach that spot or what-not, he cannot really be much help). In any case, we are making it work.
Rebekah and Samuel are earning stars regularly for cleaning off the table (everyone is supposed to take their own dishes to the kitchen, but they bring over Miriam's dishes and the food platters, etc), wiping off the table with the rag, and sweeping and mopping the floor. They are also most helpful in picking up toys (as they generally know where most everything goes, or can at least get all the toys off the floor). I am fairly free with my stars right now, but my plan is to get them used to doing their "chores" and then they will (hopefully) just "be helpful" all the time and instead of "earning" their rewards (which is basically time on the kindle fire - or now the wii) they will just be allotted a set amount of time for this and we can revert back to the earning system if they need to be reminded.
Crafting:
I have been dreaming about knitting again. . . I finally found my needles and project (I had left them at our church's coffee shop like I thought). Rebekah has been knitting again (I got her started a long time ago) and so I think this might be something we sit and do together. I just need to make the time to do it.
Reading:
On the recommendation of some friends I am now reading Mountains of Spices as I finished the first book (which I have read several times now), Hinds Feet on High Places. Although, in all honesty, I rarely get more read in my day than a few minutes in my bible and catechism, but it does help to have a book on hand that I'm interested in.
Bringing Me Joy:
-Homeschooling! I just love having the kids here with me all day. I love being the one to help them with their work and play and enjoy them. I love being able to snuggle up on cold days and sleep in some days and eat meals together and just do what we want when we want!
-Sneaking in quiet time. As much as I love my children, I DO need a minute or two away from them now and again. Fortunately our house is large enough and my kids are getting old enough that I can say "I'm going to take a few minutes to myself - play quietly" or "do your work" or whatever "until I come back upstairs. Then I leave the oldest in charge and generally things work out ok. I'm blessed with some pretty great kids :)
-My hubby and his ability to fix things!! He recently replaced the "guts" in both of our toilets and they both work WONDERFULLY now!!! He also mounted our tv and is building anything and everything it seems.
Bible Verse:
He took the blind man by the hand and let him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Can you see anything?" (Mark 8:23)
Comment: I like this verse because it shows Jesus bending over backward FOR US. He could have healed the man by looking at him and saying "you are healed" but instead he takes the time to lead him away from the people and comes up with this somewhat complicated method that really is all for the man being healed. It was what that man needed (or more likely "thought" he needed). Notice Jesus does not sigh and grudgingly drag him off or complain about how much work it is and how messy he gets as he fixes him. He just does it.
Catechism:
"Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation." (CCC #1272 - emphasis mine)
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