7 Quick Takes for Friday

1) I rearranged the kitchen.

A while back I had purchased a tall cabinet for the kitchen because I do not have lots of cabinet space.  Unfortunately the cabinet did not fit well (as poor planning on my part not realizing there was a window and a vent in the way of where it was supposed to go) and even though it had been in the kitchen for several years I recently concluded (with the help of a boldly commenting husband) that it was not such a great piece of furniture to have there.

The most obvious solution would be to remodel the kitchen, which is on the "to do someday" list, but at the moment time and money are short for this project.  Instead I moved in two pieces of "furniture" that Gordie had picked up at one of his work auctions (thankfully his work is always auctioning off stuff to employees as they continue to update and expand).  So now I have a new wooden cabinet (on wheels) and a metal cabinet (not exactly elegant, but SOLID).  They definitely get the job done and I like having the window again.  The kitchen is much more open and inviting this way.

Side Note: I would have SWORN I had a picture of the kitchen like this - at least in the background of something else, but alas, I have looked for a good 15 minutes and come up with nothing, so just trust me, it is better now.

I was waiting to take a picture until it was clean, then it dawned on me that would probably never happen while the kids are home!  So ignore the mess and enjoy the concept of an open window in the kitchen.

The metal cabinet.  Not exactly glamorous, but very sturdy!!  We had the old dishwasher her and I was waiting for Gordie to fix it and apparently Gordie thought I was just keeping it for storage!  Minor miscommunication! - LOL

2) Rebekah made a Lego chess set.

Paul received a Lego Ideas book for his birthday (from his brother, Samuel, actually) and a chess set was one of the ideas.  I think Rebekah did a great job.

3) We recently picked up another bookshelf at a local dorm sale.

This has allowed me to put our "educational" toys in closer reach (out in the front room, rather than tucked away in the study) and the middle shelf has our current school books.  

4) We got rid of another couch.

The TV room couch finally sold and now we have cushions on the floor.  I think they are more comfortable.  They potentially seat more - as we have LOTS of cushions!  They can potentially be moved anywhere, and they make awesome forts!  Winning all the way around in my opinion!

5) Gordie is in the local community theater summer production of Legally Blonde.

6) White boards keep my children happy for hours.

Seriously, the boys played with those things ALL DAY yesterday!  They seem to never get old.

7) School work.

Yep, we still have some school work here to finish up. Rebekah hopes to be done by the end of June.  Samuel could be done in about three days if he hits it hard.  Just a few things to finish up.  But then next week I am planning to start implementing "daily work" for Jacob (a math worksheet, a writing worksheet, and reading one book to Mom) and I have a learning Latin program (with DVD presentations - so no work on Mom's part) that Rebekah wants to try.  Also, we have a chemistry book we were working on last summer and all the kids are eager to get back to that - especially the experiments.

Happy Friday :)

Caught Off Guard

A while back I started making some changes in my home to reflect what I was learning about alignment and restorative exercise.  One of these such changes is our low table.

This is a photo from a couple months ago, but it shows the table well.  It does not reflect our current state (which is sans pillows at meals and with Zipporah not off on her own in the Bumbo), though, as I describe further on.

Now, let me begin by defending it from a non-alignment-nerd perspective.  This table is the largest we have owned thus far in our lives and it is really almost too big for our space.  Although it is PERFECT for our family (as we have plenty of room to all sit and have our food on it as well - bonus!) if we had to put chairs around it, it would clutter up the main part of our house and we would constantly be walking around it (or into it) and I am sure I would feel as though I were constantly butting up against it.  As it is, having it low to the ground makes it much less intimidating to the overall feel of the room - it is much more open.  Likewise, the lack of chairs simplifies things and allows it to be placed quite close to the wall (especially considering it is mostly just the children that sit on the far side by the wall).

I must add here that I did not anticipate these benefits when asking for the table to be prepared and placed as such (with shortened legs).  And only recently have I truly "cleaned up" the space by outlawing pillows at the table during meals.  Let's be honest, the children do not require pillows to sit comfortably on the floor - even on hard wood.  Even I can manage to sit on the hard wood floor for that amount of time with little distress.  So the pillows were really just getting in the way (and getting soiled covers - repeatedly).  Thus, although I still have pillows "floating about" we do not use them for meals (unless I am nursing the baby during - I usually sit on a pillow so I can relax more while nursing).  Now we do (or at least I do) use the pillows at the table during the day for our school work or other activities, but the kids often just forgo them altogether.

I should also note that we did not transition from pillows to no pillows cold-turkey.  I picked up some cheap little foam mats that can easily be wiped clean.  They are a little sparse for adult use, but the kids appear to find them acceptable.  And they stack nicely in a pile (or can be put under the table) when not in use!

So back to the topic at hand (and heading toward what has caught me off guard).  Zipporah has been sitting in her Bumbo chair for meals (as we got her a little tray that attaches and since she is so small she still fits quite well).  Now she sits up well on her own (though she still does not get there on her own - that is a post for another day) so I have started simply setting her on the floor by the table for meals.  I can feed her (for those messy, difficult-to-eat foods) or she can feed herself in this position.

What caught me off guard was the feeling of having her at the table with us.  She is truly part of the family.  Normally "baby" would be near the family during meals, contained in a high chair - often pushed somewhat away from the table, simply because there would be no room.  Now, perhaps because of the table, or perhaps because Zipporah is so special (as she is not crawling all over yet - so she actually sits by us for meals and does not go around being a general nuisance - as I imagine a "typical" one-year-old would do, stealing from his/her siblings plates or running off).

In addition, she has started showing interest in MY breakfast and I have started making more (I usually have scrambled eggs with mushrooms, onions, avocado, tomatoes, and salsa) and simply feeding her from my plate.  It creates a bonding between us that I did not expect.  She sits beside me.  She eats with me.  It is really sweet.  I am so thankful for God having her develop as she has or I would have missed this.  Likewise, I am thankful for these crazy new habits I have been forming that led me to the low table which has been such a blessing for us.

Zipporah munching a "breakfast cookie" while she waits for me to bring the main course to the table and join her.

Journal #27

Out My Window:

Rain and mist and clouds.  A touch chilly, but not too bad.  Hopefully enough moisture to make a difference for the farmers!

Clothing Myself In:

Orange MS Walk t-shirt (I seem to have an endless supply of these - must be from doing MS Walks for about 10 years - hah) and Franciscan University Lady Barons gym shorts, with bare feet. ---This is how I roll :)

Around the House:

I recently had another organizational epiphany.  I moved most of the children's clothes and  my own into the laundry/storage room.  Well, let me back-up a minute.  First, my dear hubby decided that it would be ok to store some of our things in the garage.  Keep in mind this is HUGE as when we first started building this garage he made it abundantly clear that it was NOT for things like additional storage, lawn mowers, or bikes.  (Crazy, right?  What exactly was he going to put in there?!?!)  Anyhow, a couple of years have passed now. . . and he has finally gotten his shop area somewhat sorted out and decided that there would be space for some storage.  However, I have always been against storing things in the garage, especially clothes, as I remember bringing boxes in from our garage when we were kids and everything was dusty and dirty and full of spiders and bugs and just gross.  So it took me a bit to come around, too.  Then finally he concluded he would build me some shelves to store "the few things" I thought would be ok in the garage (namely our outdoor Christmas Nativity).  After pricing the cost of wood for said shelves he concluded buying them might be cheaper.  After pricing the cost of purchasing said shelves he got a little stuck in the mudd as either way it was more than he was expecting.  

Fast forward, now we are about a month ago from today when I got this crazy idea in my head and concluded that plastic storage tubs of clothes, WITH ATTACHED LIDS could not be that bad in the garage.  As long as the lids stayed on, the stuff should be fine.  Some of my lids were a bit sketchy, so I taped those boxes.  And bonus, storage bins STACK!!  (Especially if they are mostly the same kind - which several of ours are since I purchased several on sale at once.)  About a million trips later (or so it felt) I moved our small fortress of storage tubs out to the garage in the space allotted for my storage shelves.  I am still seriously in awe that I managed to fit all those tubs somehow in our basement laundry/storage room.  Anyhow, with them in the garage I moved my dresser and one of the kids' dressers into the laundry room.  I already had shelves in there and Rebekah and Samuel's clothes (and some of Jacob's) are now in open boxes on the shelves.  So far that appears to work well - especially for Rebekah who was never very neat with her dresser drawers.  I sold Rebekah's and Samuel's dressers.  I could not part with Jacob's as I just like it too much, so it houses Miriam's clothes and a few for Samuel and Jacob.  

Pardon the MATCHED sock pile on the floor.  I kept putting off taking this picture, thinking I would eventually get it ALL CLEANED UP.  Then I woke-up and realized that was never going to happen, so I snapped the photo.  This is reality.  The dresser on the left is mine.  The smaller one on the right is for the kiddos - and the shelves.  The hanging clothes are not permanent - that is temporary clothes drying and then they go off to the closets.

I was often getting dressed in the laundry room anyhow since I like to get up early and exercise and do not want to be bumbling around our bedroom waking the Grouch my husband in the morning before he is good and ready to get up and/or I am holding coffee for him.  So having my dresser in the laundry room is making things so much smoother for me.

We are still working at sectioning off little parts for gender-specific changing.  (Not as in anyone is changing their gender, but a "boys" changing area and a "girls" changing area.)  Granted we are still a bit young for this to be a major issue, but we need to start thinking in that direction and it is good for me to have an area to change separate from the boys.  I have a few little spots in mind - now it is just a matter of training everyone to do as they are told.  (Or another option is for said child to take their clothes and change in the bathroom or another open room.)

The only clothes not kept in the laundry room now are the hubby's and Zipporah's.  But no more will fit and since their rooms are on the same level as the laundry I do not mind this set-up.  However, in our next house, whether we buy or build, a large "dressing room" for clothes sorting and storage, in the same room, or next to the laundry room, will definitely be a serious consideration.

The Baby:

THANK GOD SHE IS GROWING A LITTLE FASTER!!  She gained 15 oz in the past four weeks.  Although she is still in the third percentile for her age, her growth curve is now curving again, rather than just flat-lining out.  The doctor said she does not need to see her again until her next regular check-up, which will be in a couple months at her yearly visit.

In the mean time we are pumping her full of food, especially protein.  But the funny thing, she LOVES IT ALL!!  Some of her favorites are my homemade taco meat (lots of beans, some tomatoes, and cream cheese!) and my chili (again, lots of beans, but some serious spice - this girl likes things a little spicy!)  Tonight she had calzones and gave them two fists up.  She also enjoys lasagna and pretty-much anything else we cook up.  I just finished a batch of breakfast cookies, made especially for her (with no honey).  She loves those, too.

One of the reasons the doctor was so concerned about Zipporah's weight is because she is not meeting her physical milestones.  She does not sit up well.  

She often topples over and even hurts herself - her head fell unexpectedly to the ground the other day - she was sitting on the ground in front of me (with her back to my front) and I was jiggling a toy for her to reach - she just got off-balance and her head went straight for the concrete in front of her and I could not get my hands there fast enough - poor kiddo got a bloody nose and a small scrape.  I only felt like the worst mom ever.

She also does not tolerate tummy time - immediately rolls over and does not roll from back to tummy yet.  Obviously she does not crawl or anything like that either.

At our doctors suggestion we did an evaluation with our local Children's Center and she just started some physical therapy last week.  I keep expecting her to just "figure it out" but in case she does not, I am grateful for some support on the matter and suggestions to encourage her along the way!

The Kids:

Even though we homeschool, the kids can sense that the end of the school year is near!  Samuel and Jacob have already finished a few of their school subjects and we are closing in on the rest.  Rebekah is a bit further behind, but we are hopeful that she will not be schooling ALL SUMMER (although she is prepared to go into June - her goal is to be done by her birthday in the beginning of July).  Since this is our first time with this program (the online virtual school) I'm not exactly sure what to expect.  I don't think she has to complete all of her coursework, but a certain percentage that I cannot remember now.  Perhaps she is closer than I realize.

As for the younger children, Paul and Miriam are curious as ever.  I have been doing reading lessons with Paul because he is incredibly ready.  He knows all his letters and all their sounds.  I have been using Jacob's little readers (that Jacob did not start until about 2/3 through the school year) for Paul and Paul is blowing through them. . . as a preschooler.  Paul is enrolled with the virtual school for kindergarten next year.  Either it will be incredibly easy for him or they will bump him up.  I am open to whatever.  If they want to challenge him, fine, but if they want to just let him coast, I'm cool with that, too - no rush.  Plus I will be adapting to four in school, so that might give me a corner to cut while I figure things out!

In the Kitchen:

Tonight we had calzones.  They were delicious.  For lunch we had potato soup and homemade rye bread.  That was a hit, too!

I've made up a bunch of taco meat and keep an open jar in the fridge all the time now since the baby loves it.  I'm planning some more chili tomorrow and calzone left-overs (as I make two breadmakers worth of calzones - four large ones - at a time).

Crafting:

Rebekah has been doing some sewing.  She sewed some clothes for her dolls and some patches on her stuffed rabbit's feet (actually it was my rabbit from when I was little).  I am hoping to sit down and knit some with her soon.  I printed off some directions for a dishcloth and for a bookmark - both good simple projects that I think she might enjoy  - and me, too!  But we have to get that school work figured out first!

If you look closely at the rabbit's feet in this picture you will see the "cast" that Rebekah sewed on her, over the torn feet poor "Boonie" had from a run-in with a cat in her previous life.

Thinking About:

*Our future.  My hubby keeps talking about wanting to move in the country and although I would like to live in the country (I think) I am often fearful of change and I am not sure how to make it work as living in the country is EXPENSIVE!!  The land around our town is expensive and then there is the driving to and from town, etc.  And as much as I like to be out in nature and such, I honestly think I could live in the same house I do now for the rest of my life (and even 15 more kids) and be totally content.

*Family Chores.  I am the QUEEN of making chore charts, but I am so horrible about following through with them! Here check these out:

Are those not the most awesome graphic routine/chore charts ever?!?!  Unfortunately, when push comes to shove I would much rather just have the kids go keep busy in another room so I can get the cleaning done!  Ugh.  But that is not realistic, I know, and doing all the chores is just not possible for one person. (although I certainly give it a valiant effort!!  As I was cleaning up the other morning, Rebekah commented, "Mom, when we are all grown up, your house will be very clean.")  My new resolution is to work at following through with training my children to obey and do their chores.

*Family Meetings.  I think we are in need of beginning family meetings (maybe once a month or every two weeks).  I am still trying to decide how these need to run and who needs to be there (as I think the younger three would just get in the way).  I'll let you know when we figure this out.

Bringing Me Joy:

*Family night!  We have been trying to have a weekly family night.  It has been pushed around and skipped and such all too often, but we had one last night and it was really special.  It was so simple - we just played shoots and ladders  and a made-up dice game, but the kids all loved it.

*Good friends.  God has really blessed me with some wonderful supportive friends and I am so grateful!!  I could probably live without them, but they certainly make life so much more bearable!

Pictures To Share:

Paul, Rebekah, Miriam, and Zipporah

Daddy and Zipporah

7 Quick Takes - progressive

I say "progressive" because I started this last week and am finishing it this week and while that would not normally be a big deal, the pictures might give it away as one has a "regular" table and one. . . well, just look down and see for yourself!  :)

1) I finally got rid of one of my couches!

Check out the new set-up - we find it most enjoyable to have some extra space in the front room.

2) I am beginning to wonder if Zipporah might be left-handed.

She usually sucks her left thumb and when I put a cheerio in her right hand she holds it, but often does not put it in her mouth.  But if I put it in her left hand, she puts it in her mouth.  Time will tell for sure, but it is interesting to see this develop.

3) Gordie has finished building "his office" and the storage space in "the garage of awesome."  

He also installed the sound-system and projector so we have a stellar home theater.  - I guess he is a pretty awesome guy after-all.

4) I think the baby might finally be getting a tooth!

One of her gums is swollen - a tell-tale sign for teeth I would say.  She is nine-months-old and most of our babies got their first teeth around 4 or 6 months, but Zipporah is definitely doing things "at her own pace," and "in her own way."  She is such a great baby and I am enjoying watching her grow and develop.

5) We got a new table!

Yes, we really are nerds, but it works for us.

6) We enjoyed some company over Spring Break.

We had some old friends (well, they are not old, but friends we have had for some time - hah) come visit over Spring Break.  While it was a bit of a challenge to round up food for nine child eaters (10 if you count the baby, but she did not eat the same food, so I really did not consider her so much) and four adults, it was nice to have a good excuse to take it easy.  We did school the first couple days, but then our company came and we all sat back and enjoyed ourselves playing outside, at the park, in the garage, etc., and then sneaking away for some shopping!  I like to think everyone enjoyed themselves and had a much-needed break.

7) I made up a site-word bingo game.

I am most proud of myself over this.  I also printed an alphabet bingo game I got free off of someone's website and laminated them both.  Let's see how long they last.

Here is all the laminated chaos.

Here is the "master" for my site-word bingo.  The cards are to be drawn and placed on this card (there are four big cards for the master list) so it can be used independently as a matching activity, too.

Here is one of the six cards I made for the site-word bingo.

Here is the "master" for the alphabet bingo, which can also be used as a matching activity - assuming we do not lose all the letters in the first week (and let me tell you, that is highly probable :)