Photo Shoot

I was trying to get "the" perfect shot of John.  I never did find exactly what I was looking for, but daddy, Libby and I all had fun trying, and, well, he's pretty darn cute in ALL of these pictures.  :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gracie Quotes

I have loved watching Grace come home from preschool every day for the past two weeks minus the temper tantrums from being tired.  I knew that sending her would be good for her little personality and that has proved to be true.  It is fun to see the differences between her and Libby because they are both REALLY different little girls.

I ask Grace every day if she knows any of her friends' names yet and every day she answers, "My teacher's name is Mister Nicole!  She's a girl and she's going to have a baby."  Libby knew everyone in her class room after the first day.

I ask Grace what she did at school and her answer is usually, "I don't know...had fun."  Libby would list each of her activities in order from favorite to least favorite.

That being said, Grace has been worrying more and more about how she looks and that leads to some of the funniest things being said.  Yesterday she came out in a skirt and she asked, "Mom, do this look cute or do this look yucky on me?"

Then, today, on the way to school with daddy she said, "I shoulda brought my brush.  My hair is all crazied up!"

I am absolutely adoring this little personality that is peeking out!

I would be a GREAT mom...

IF I DIDN'T HAVE KIDS!  Those were the words Chris heard as I was wiping away my tears.  Honestly, it wasn't the kids fault even.  They were fine.  I just broke down.  Sometimes the pressures of motherhood just pile up and I feel completely overwhelmed...like I am going to ruin these kids because I am me.

I don't have a schedule to make sure I get all of these things done, I missed a subject (or two or three) in school today, I only put John on the potty twice today (AGAIN!), the supper dishes aren't cleared away, the kids are in front of a movie (AGAIN!), the toys are scattered all over, and all I really want to do is veg in front of the computer screen!

You can't tell me I am alone in these feelings!  I know I am not!  That's just it, though, they are feelings.  Feelings don't equal truth.  God's Word does!  Why does it always seem that the clarity of that comes after the storm?  

Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  So, why do I feel too guilty to come to Him?  Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  Once again?  Why?  Why do I think I have to, or even CAN, fix myself before I come to Christ?  

Leaning on Christ is thing we do out of humility.  Amazing how pride gets in our way EVEN when we are His children!  James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."  That is what I need to be doing.  On the days that I can...and the days that I can't!  God doesn't want us to wallow in self-pity and insecurity, but He can't help us until we let Him.

So, today I have pulled up my boot straps and I am back to the parenting game...with God's help!  And, on that note, here is another blog post to make you think on days like I had yesterday.

Not-Back to School Bash

Our homeschool co-op is fairly new, so this past year we have been trying to slowly, but surely organize it a bit more.  One of the things we decided to do was throw a Not-Back to School Bash.  A group of homeschoolers got together at a local park yesterday and we had some good fellowship and some good food.  :)  It turned out well for our first event and it makes me look forward to co-op this year.

 

This is Libby and her friend.  Libby asked me profusely to delete this picture (to which I said NO WAY!)  I wonder why she didn't want this picture.  ;)

 

This fella was crazy good at blowing up the teeny tiny water balloons.  I blew most of them up, but a few I just set aside because I just couldn't get them to blow up.  He picked them up and blew them up like they were nothing.  Crazy!

 

Three of four fellow homeschooling sisters.  :)  They were so adorable and I was glad that Libby got to know them a little better.

 

I just missed the good picture (although this is still a pretty good pose).  He had been doing push ups just before I snapped the picture. 

 

More balloon blowing fun!

 

Last, but not least, John enjoyed the piggy back rides!

Over all, a good time was had by all and I can't wait for this co-op year to begin.  :)

Pure Art

 

Guess What We've Been Up To Again!?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How dull the world would be without art!

Race Car Spider

I love how little kids' minds work!  Well, at least most of the time.  Ya know! 

Anyway, this is our new uninvited pet.  We have learned that SHE (complete with a nice egg sac which we are undecided what to do with) is an Argiope aurentia, more commonly known as a black and yellow garden spider, a writing spider or a corn spider.  Thankfully, she is not harmful to humans...thus the reason she is still living on our front porch. 

Another name by which she goes (although it is not listed on wikipedia for some reason) is the race car spider.  This is what John has affectionately dubbed her.  Although he doesn't want to get close to this very special race car spider, he enjoys going out on the porch to admire her beauty.

That being said, I was quite surprised when I read up on her because for the most part it seems that males get all the pretty markings in the animal kingdom, yet the male was a boring brown that gets eaten up (some of the time) by the female when they are finished mating.  I just might have put a smile on my face to see that every once in awhile it is the female that gets to be pretty.  :)

 

Lost and Found

I have lost myself amongst my labels.
I am mom of three, wife of one and a teacher.
I am loving, creative and friendly.
I am a frustrated perfectionist who lives with a perfectionist.
I am scatter brained, overwhelmed and off task often.
I am a daughter, a friend and a lover.
I am a sinner.
I am saved by grace.
I need to learn to live in that grace.
I am found in Him.

One Week Down!

Technically, we started school two weeks ago.  That being said, with camp (which I did not blog about this week...bad mommy!) we decided to take things slowly.  Therefore, we are through our first week of school.  Woo hoo!

For some reason it was hard for me to gear up for this school year, so I am thrilled to be started and have one really good week under our belt.  I am looking forward to having fun with the Greek (culture, not language) part of our studies and I am very pleased with her progress in math.  I am amazed at this sweet, little girl for the mere fact that she is so much more proficient in advanced math than she is in simple math.  It makes me giggle!
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Here's to a great school year!

Big Truck!

Art is a favorite subject around this household.  Libby loves it, Grace loves it, so it is only natural that John loves it, too.  One of his favorite things to do, for awhile now, has been to ask the person nearest him to draw a tractor, a train, or a truck on a piece of paper, the doodle pad, or a napkin.  You get the picture...any vehicle on any surface. 

I was pleasantly surprised today when John looked up from the doodle pad (or as he calls it, doo-doo pad) and proudly exclaimed, "Big truck!"  And, by golly, he had drawn a beautiful big truck!

 

My little artist!