3 weeks in less than 200 words!

Whew!  These last few weeks have been crazy!  So I'm going to just sum it up!

Thursday:  Easter Egg hunt and picnic with homeschool group.

  
Saturday:  Sold Suburban 3 days before leaving to go to Oklahoma for a week.  Bryan took three oldest girls to a Father/Daughter picnic.

Sunday:  Mad scramble looking online for a van hoping we can go to a dealership on Monday and buy one before leaving on Tuesday.

Monday:  No luck with vans.  Thankful a friend let us borrow his vehicle to travel in so we didn't have to rent a van for a week.

Tuesday:  Leave at 5 in the morning, drive for 12 hours and make it to parent's house.  Girls are excellent travellers.

Wednesday:  Start meeting at church.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday:  Food and Family.  We had lunch and dinner every day with different members of the congregation.  We were so thankful for their hospitality.  And so very full!  Also saw 3 siblings and their spouses and child.  Spending time with family makes my heart happy.

Sunday:  Finish meeting, Easter egg hunt, too much candy, family leaves.  Find vans at dealership in Texas for a much better price than what we would pay at home.

Monday:  Stop at dealership on the way to brother's farm.  Make a deal, buy a van, drive two vehicles to farm, get in worst storm we've ever driven in, make it to farm safely.

Tuesday:  Head home in two vehicles.  Get home at 4:30, leave by 5:15 to drive to New Orleans to visit friend in hospital.  Home at 10.

Wednesday:  Decide that we are all too exhausted to even contemplate school, go to a late breakfast, get some groceries back in the house and unpack.

Thursday:  Friend didn't get to go home from hospital so we went to see them again.  Took up most of the day.  Dropped in at a used homeschool curriculum fair.  Didn't find anything.

Friday:  Start of homeschool convention.  So thankful I was able to go.  Hubby took girls to co-op.  Came home with several curriculums I wanted to research.

New History curriculum for next year.  Super excited about it!

Saturday:  Another day at the convention.  Awesome speakers.  Didn't necessarily learn a lot of new stuff, but was definitely encouraged.  And I got some awesome info on homeschooling in highschool.  Looking forward to those years!

Monday:  Finally started school back up.  Looked over remaining school work and decided we were on track to finish a week earlier than planned as long as we did school every day for the next 3 weeks.

Tuesday:  Decide at the last minute to join some friends at the zoo and skip book work.  Because I'm learning to be more flexible and realizing that my girls will remember impromptu trips to the zoo more than the worksheets I make them do.

Wednesday:  Laundry and catching up with everything else that needs to get done.  Enjoying nice weather and being with my girls.  And we'll still finish school a week early!

***You didn't really think it would be less than 200 words, did you?

Weekly Wrap-Up: A Better Week and a Little Reality

So this week was better by far.  I'm still ready for a break, but we all made it through without tears.  And as it turns out, next week we are going to a homeschool camp up in  Oklahoma.  I'm trying to have a good attitude about the camp.  We were really excited about it at first, but a couple of things have happened that have made Hubby and I wonder if we're going to enjoy ourselves as much as we thought.  But as I was complaining about it yesterday Hubby told me that he was trying to have a better attitude about it since he was taking a week's worth of vacation to go.  He said that he felt like he needed to at least give it a try before deciding it was going to be bad.  Which of course made me realize that I needed to change my attitude as well.  Did y'all notice how he did that?  Told me that he was needing to change his attitude which also gently pointed out to me that I needed to change my attitude as well without coming right out and saying it.  He's one smart cookie, that husband of mine.  Of course, I knew exactly what he was doing because I am also a smart cookie, but since he did it correctly I was able to listen and follow his example instead of becoming hard headed and getting in an even more foul mood. 

This week was mostly school as usual for us.  #1 and #2 did write letters to our state senator and representative as part of their homework for TeenPact.  They were very impressed with the fact that they could so easily contact their representatives and to learn that their representatives are supposed to listen to them about different issues that come up.  Which is exactly what we want them to learn through these classes.  How government works and how they can make an impact in our government.  Hubby is actually going with them for their class.  Government is his passion and I think he'll enjoy the day as much as the girls.  Once we get back home they also are going to write a bill that is going to be presented to the class.  I passed that work off to Hubby right away.  I don't want/
need any extra work to do with the girls!

I'm learning something with #3.  With her math, I teach her a new concept on Monday and then the rest of the week she works on the worksheets that review the new concept as well as review previous concepts.  With #1 and #2, when they were in 1st grade I was still able to sit next to them as they did each worksheet and make sure they were doing every problem correct.  I'm not able to do that with #3.  When she is working on her math I'm working with one of the others girls on something else.  Usually I don't even pay much attention to whether or not she is using the blocks to help her.  She knows that she is allowed to answer the problems without using blocks if she understands how to do it.  The thing is, she is getting everything right.  I know when I'm teaching the new concept when she has gotten it.  Once she has I can literally let her go and work on her own and she can do it by herself.  She still occasionally asks for help, usually on word problems, but for the most part, she figures them out on her own.  This year with #1 and #2 it was a big deal to put so much independent work on their own shoulders.  But I'm learning that even as young as 1st grade they can be left alone to do independent work.  That's a nice revelation.  It makes a difference in the way I look at school work.  That I don't have to sit next to them for every little thing making sure everything is perfect as they go along.  I can give them some independence, when it's feasible, and trust them to get it right.  Or at least trust myself to know when they are getting something and when they need my help.  It's a nice thought when I look forward a couple of years to schooling 4 kids.

But I don't have to worry about that right now!  School is done for the week so I just have to focus on getting packed, spending some time with family and spending a week with a bunch of other weird homeschoolers!  Looking forward to the break!

P.S.  Remember my post a couple of weeks ago about being real with each other?  This was my kitchen one night last week.  It took three loads in the dishwasher to get it all cleared away.  And no, I did not wash anything by hand to get it done quicker and no, I did not help the girls with their chores of loading and unloading the dishwasher.  I left everything there until someone else took care of it.  And I am not ashamed!  :)

Fun with family

 The many faces of children who were woken up at 3:30 to start traveling.

While we were going up to Oklahoma for Hubby to speak at a youth camp last week, we also got to spend time with some of my family.  The original plan was for all the girls to stay with my parents while Hubby and I attended the camp.  Unfortunately, some health problems I've been having off and on for the last couple of years popped up again so I decided not to attempt camp.  It was a good decision, even though I was really bummed to miss out on going.  However, next year #1 will be old enough to attend as a camper so we're making plans to go back next year. 

So while Hubby was at camp the girls and I spent time with my parents, grandpa, and uncle on Friday.  I made one of my better batches of salsa.  It's been a while since I made any so I was pleasantly surprised!  I played 42 with my Dad, Grandpa and Uncle Rick that night.  I'm happy to say I can now play with my Grandpa without feeling completely intimidated the entire time.  I'm not the best player, but I'm not horrible either!

Friday night my sister and bro-in-law came in.  I think they were originally coming to attend a party my brother and his wife were having Saturday night, but Sis wasn't feeling well and they ended up not going.  We stayed up late Friday night talking.  I love watching my sister with her husband.  I have three brothers who are married and I love all my sister-in-laws, but there is something different about my sister being married.  I am so happy that she found someone who loves her the way he does.  It helps that he fits in so well with our family! 

Saturday morning we headed to the zoo.  And we spent most of the day there.  It was an awesome zoo and we enjoy every time we go.  It was nice getting to spend time together.

Who doesn't love a baby elephant!

Love my Dad!

That's a baby chimp hanging there.  

Sunday we were able to worship with a congregation we hadn't been at for several years.  Hubby spoke there both services and we enjoyed getting to see several people who hold a special place in our hearts.  My youngest brother was also able to be there with his daughter and I was thankful to get to spend some time with them as well.  I'm attempting to teach all my nieces "Aunt Nita's cool!"  I got K, who is 6 months younger than #4, to say it for a while.  Then she turned ornery just like her Daddy and now the stinker won't say it.  I attempted to teach it to the other niece on Sunday.  She just looked at me.  She too takes after her father.  The awesome thing is that because I had kids so much earlier than my siblings I will be able to spoil their children and they can't do a single thing about it--my kids will be too old for them to retaliate with them.  I will be the cool aunt!

Monday we had lunch with my Grandpa and visited with him for a little while before getting on the road.  We stayed the night on The Farm and headed home on Tuesday.  We are glad to be back.  Until next week when we are going camping.  Can't wait!

Many activities crammed in a few days

Hubby and I have always liked going to the movies.  We've passed that on to the girls as well.  They all love to go just as much as we do.  We don't go all that often because it's stinking expensive for 6 people, but we do occasionally splurge and go see a movie with all of us.  If it is a movie the older girls have begged to go to but that we weren't really planning on taking them we'll give them the option of using some of their spending money to help pay for their tickets.  They haven't said no yet.  I like being able to give them that option.  It helps offset the cost that Hubby and I are paying so that we get to do it more often, and it also helps the girls see the value of saving up their spending money so they have it available for spur of the moment fun things to do.  Win-win!

So that is what we did on Friday.  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is actually funnier than the first one.  At least that is what our family thinks!  We all had fun watching it.  After the movie we made it home just in time for our other date-night family to bring their girls over for us to watch.  I try to keep all 7 girls occupied with something like a movie or food while they're all together, but there is always a little bit of time when they just get loud and giggly.  When that happens I always miss our game room we had in Houston.  The one with doors that shut to block most of the noise.  Oh well, at least we always know they are having a good time. 



<---Dessert for our date night guests.  Caramel Rice Krispies!  So good!
Saturday we were invited to a birthday party for some new friends we met through our homeschool group.  That was also a lot of fun.  I was thinking about it, and I really love the fact that the majority of times, when a homeschool family has something for one of their children that they don't invite just kids that are the age of the one they are celebrating.  Usually, entire families are invited.  Now, I know this isn't always the case, and I also know that families whose children attend public school probably do this also.  However, I can't think of a single time only one of my children have received an invitation to something that the rest of the family wasn't invited as well.  I really love that when a homeschool kids knows another homeschool kid they know each other's families as well. 

Many kids, many ages!

After the party we went and dropped our girls off for Hubby and I to have our date night.  We went out for dinner and then ran some errands.  Exciting stuff, I know.  I started to feel guilty that we weren't doing anything else on our one date night a month, but then I realized that we don't always need spectular dates.  Are special, romantic dates nice?  Sure!  But sometimes just being together without four little voices demanding our attention is enough. 

And on Monday the girls and I met some friends at a corn maze.  This particular corn maze has two homeschool days, one in October and one in November.  Next year we'll be going in November.  It was still really hot when we went.  We still had a good time, but I don't want to have to think about sun screen when we go to a corn maze.  Live and learn!

Hot, tired, and DIRTY!

So that was our full weekend.  We got up well before the sun on Tuesday to start our trip up to Oklahoma, but that's a fun story for another time!

Weekly Wrap-Up, Week 6ish

We actually only did school work for 2 days this week, but it was still week 6 so here we go!

We enjoyed the rest of our weekend with Hubby's brother.  We love the people at the congregation we were at and so that was also fun seeing all of them again.  And Arkansas is beautiful so we enjoyed being in the "country" and seeing the beauty of God's creation.

Sunday afternoon after a lunch and early afternoon service we got packed up and headed to my brother's which we will call The Farm from now on.  I have too many brothers to try to explain which one they are every time I mention them.  The brother and sis-in-law on The Farm are the ones with a daughter that is 6 months younger than #4.  Anyway, my brother raised and butchered a pig that we helped pay for some of the costs so we had a bunch of pork waiting for us there.  I thought it would take us longer to get to their place so we arrived in enough time to go to their evening services.  We weren't planning on attending church again so we were all in our travel clothes, but I think God knew our hearts.  We enjoyed seeing our family, even if it was only for a few hours.  I continue to be thankful that we are close enough to my brother and his family that we are comfortable crashing at their place any time.

Monday morning we headed home.  Once we were home and got the car unpacked we immediately piled back in the car to go shopping for a new washer.  I had done the research and knew which one I wanted, but I wanted to look at it first and make sure.  It was everything I thought it would be so we went ahead and bought it.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, but I wasn't prepared for it to take several days for the washer to come in.  Regardless, it didn't come in until Thursday.  Hubby got it all hooked up and I started washing clothes immediately.  Two weeks without doing laundry meant we were all getting low on the pants we had left to wear!  Ha!

Out with the old

In with the new

Tuesday was a cloudy, rainy day and I did not want to do school at all!  But I pushed through and we got everything done.  Since I knew that we were only doing school work for two days I didn't attempt IEW and just did language arts with the older two again.  We started in the middle of the IEW book with #2 this year so I think I'm going to start back up with #1 on her IEW book next week even though that makes about 4 weeks between papers for #2.  She has less to get through than #1.  I continue to be impressed with #1 and #2 and how they are getting their independent work done.  They are still getting done by Wednesday with everything usually.  #2 is more apt to stop working about an hour before lunch, but she sits down in the afternoon to finish what she needs to get done.  And now that we're 6 weeks in, they have taken several tests and proven that they are retaining the knowledge of what they are working on by themselves.  Very proud of them!  #3 seems to having a problem grasping the concept of reading to herself.  She is so used to reading to me that when I mention reading on her own she looks like she doesn't understand what I'm asking!  We're starting the Book-It program next month though and I'm hoping that will prompt her to read on her own since I won't be letting her count the books that she reads to me.  Mainly so that she'll have to read on her own!

Random sculpture outside of Stennis Space Center

Thursday we went on a field trip--our first one since May.  We had a lot of fun.  So much so that I'll have an entire post just about the trip!  And #3 lost another tooth.  I don't know how many she's lost.  Hubby tried to convince her that she only got 50 cents for her tooth since she's lost so many, but she was having none of that.  $1 it is!

Today was spent shopping and cleaning.  We're having about 35 people from church over here tomorrow for a Mystery Dinner.  More about that next time.  I don't want to give anything away!  Right now we're getting ready for family movie night.  Dessert is this--caramel covered chex.  It is really good!

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Weekly Wrap-up: Week 5

So this is going to be a little shorter since I'm at my brother-in-law's house with no laptop. Hubby's tablet is better than my phone, but it still takes way too long to type anything!

This week was a short school week since we left yesterday to come up to Arkansas.   So what does a short week look like for us? Not much different than a normal week really. I did language arts with both the older girls and didn't do any IEW since I knew three days wasn't going to be enough time to get an entire lesson done. I don't plan out our school year on more than a weekly basis so I can change stuff up like that without having to go back and change our entire schedule.  Since we don't ever know what our travel plans are when I plan our school year, not planning specific lessons to be done on certain weeks means we can be flexible in our schedule.  So when I plan our start and stop dates I just plan for the amount of time I know we'll probably take off and go from there. Much more freeing!

See, we do work!

As for life outside of school, on Monday I did my monthly, "there are a deals at 5 different stores that I want to get to, therefore we are going to hit all 5 stores in a single afternoon because having to go out for errands more than once a week is unacceptable" bit, and so we were out all afternoon on Monday. The girls all do really well on these trips, for which I'm thankful! And I'm teaching my girls how to shop smart--just another bonus!

The big event of the week was on Tuesday when our washer finally bit the dust. We've been having issues with it for a couple  of months that have just steadily gotten worse. It finally quit completely. Unfortunately, it had a full load of laundry and a tub full of water that wouldn't drain. So I ended up wringing out the clothes by hand to put them in the dryer. Since I couldn't get them very dry I had to do three loads in the dryer so I wouldn't burn out the dryer as well. Hubby took care of the water left in the washer and checked it out to see if there was something obviously wrong to be fixed. There wasn't. We decided that since it was 14 years old that we would be better off getting a new one than trying to get this one fixed. So I spent several hours online researching washers. I have to say, it really kills me to buy something this big without it being on sale! We looked at a couple of dent and ding places, but didn't find any that I wanted. So when we get home we're heading to Sears to get a new washer. Thankfully, a man at church has a truck and is willing to help Hubby get it home so we won't have to pay to get it delivered. And praise the Lord, for the first time in several years we have money in savings that we can use for this purchase!  I have to give a shout out again for Dave Ramsey's envelope system--it works!

We were early, so obviously we stopped for ice cream!

Now we're in Arkansas and Hubby starts a meeting tonight. The trip yesterday was actually a nice drive and we're enjoying spending time with Hubby's brother.  And Hubby is excited about eating at Hardees/Carl's Jr. for lunch! After the meeting we're going by my brother's place and picking up our half of the pig he raised and butchered. I'm looking forward to finding lots of new recipes for pork!

Still in CA

Sadly, Wednesday morning we had to get packed up and head back to Tulare.  We did a little bit of shopping and because I took too long to shop we just had to eat at a diner famous for its clam chowder.  It's a shame I don't like clam chowder, but everyone else does so we were all happy.  After that Hubby took the kids back to the beach for a few minutes to allow them to collect some shells.  #2 was really upset that we left the beach so soon the day before because she had spent all her time in the water and then didn't get to look for shells because we left early.  So Hubby, being the good Daddy that he is, took them all down there and let her gather some shells.  Mom and I went to a couple more stores trying to find t-shirts for all of us and some salt-water taffy.  We all met back up, grabbed some amazing cinnamon rolls to go, and hit the road.  We made it back in enough time to take a shower before going to church.

All our family at the coast

Once again, it was great to spend time with all our church family there.  We said good bye to D and Auntie M and their kids and Papa and Gran-Jan who were all leaving the next day to go on vacation and then went back to P and Aunt K's house.

At this point we had worn every article of clothing I had packed for the trip.  This was how I planned, but still, getting all that laundry sorted from the last week and a half was a bit daunting.  Remember this picture?

Now think of it all being dirty!  So Thursday was laundry day.  Instead of taking all day trying to do laundry at the house I just took everything to a laundry mat.  12 washes later and how ever many cycles in however many dryers to dry it all, it was done.  I threw it all semi-folded into a couple of suitcases until I could get back to the house and sort it all for our trip home.

See, I was in a bit of a rush because we had to make it to a certain bakery in Porterville to eat a torta for lunch.  Hubby and I both worked in Porterville for a while when we lived there, and Hubby and his family had known about this little hole in the wall Mexican bakery for a while, and they make the most amazing mexican food.  We really wanted to sample everything, but settled for a torta.  So good!

The rest of the day was spent re-packing all of our things for the trip home and trying to cram 2 years worth of talking into just a few short hours.  You guessed it--we stayed up way too late again, but it was worth it.  We miss seeing our CA family!

Hubby wrangles children while I pack

And so began our trip home.  Pretty much the same thing as the trip out, only in reverse!  A lot of endless miles that have all blurred together.  One thing that did stand out because it was so funny was that when we started this whole trip I was perfectly happy being in the car with everyone and would talk and engage with everyone, especially Hubby, and it was just another adventure we were on.  When I got in the car to start the trip home I just remember looking over at Hubby and thinking, "Ooo, I already don't like you!"  He hadn't done a single thing, but I didn't want to have anything to do with him!  I don't think I talked much that day.  Again, it's a good thing my Mom was along!

We got to Canyon Saturday evening and got to spend some more time with my Sis and BIL and our friends who live there.  We decided to stay in Canyon on Sunday to give us some time to recover and to enjoy a little extra time with our family there.  It was just what we needed!  We went to see a movie and just enjoyed being together.  My BIL fits into our family quite nicely!

Aunt S let them do her hair!

Monday morning we traveled back to The Farm (my brother D and Aunt A's place), stayed the night and then headed home on Tuesday.  We were very thankful to only have a 5 hour drive on Tuesday.  We weren't complete zombies when we rolled in to town!

And so ends the saga of our trip to California.  While the drive to and from was not the most fun I've ever had, the time we got to spend with friends and family while we were there made it worth it.  However, the next time we go I'm going to make sure I find flights for cheaper than we would pay in gas to get out there!  

Now that we're in California

School starts tomorrow--I've got to finish all the posts about our summer or I'll never stay caught up to date!

We finally made it to California, after what seemed like a week in the car traveling.  Our wonderful sis-in-law, Auntie M,  got up and made a huge breakfast for us that was super good, and then we all got ourselves ready for a photo shoot!  Auntie M does photography on the side and I asked her if she would take some family pictures for us.  It wasn't necessarily a good time for either of our families.  They were getting ready to go on vacation for two weeks and we only had a few hours before we needed to leave to get to where Hubby was holding the meeting, but she was sweet enough to fit us in.  And she did a fantastic job!  A lot of photographers aren't very good dealing with kids, being able to be clear and precise with what they say so that all ages of kids can understand, but Auntie M was fantastic.  We got a lot of great shots of all of us, just the girls, and Hubby and I by ourselves.  I don't have any of the pictures yet, but when I get them I'm sure I'll be posting them for everyone to see!  Thank you again Auntie M for working us in and getting such awesome shots!

After a quick dinner prepared by Auntie M (yeah, I'm pretty sure I sat around like a slug that day.  My apologies M!) we headed down to Bakersfield to start the meeting.  And that is where we spent the rest of the weekend.  We had dinner and evening services each night and activities during the day.  We got to see friends and family we haven't seen since the last time we were in CA,

One of our nieces

new family members we had never met,

#4 and a second cousin

held a few snakes,

We all held the snake, even #4

and basically had a good time with everyone.

Swim time at the end of the meeting!

I love the meetings we do in CA because we know and love everyone there so it is a time of great fellowship, even if we don't get much sleep!

Sunday night we headed back to Tulare for one night and then got up bright and early Monday morning to head to the coast with Hubby's parents and brother P and his wife and 3 girls. We were looking forward to a time to relax, unwind, stick our toes in the sand, and just spend time together.

We had a bit of a snag when we got to the campgrounds we were staying at because the trailer our family was borrowing from a friend of Hubby's brother wasn't there because another trailer was parked in the spot we were supposed to have.  We got it worked out pretty quickly, but as we were finishing up getting everything set up inside and went back outside we noticed smoke in the air.  A lot of it. Turns out there was a brush fire less than a mile from where we were.  We decided to get out of dodge so we left everything but a few chairs and headed to the beach a few miles away.  Luckily the fire never got any closer to where we were so all the trailers were fine!

Cool classic truck painted the same color as the trailer it pulled

And even though I lived in CA for two years and went to the beach often during that time I had forgotten how easy it is to get burned at the beach.  We were only there for about an hour at 5 in the afternoon so I didn't bother to put sunscreen on any of us and I got burned enough to be miserable the rest of the night.  Luckily no one else burned much so they were OK.  I still love going to the beach, even though it is a ton of work to lug all the equipment to and from the cars!

Everyone put their toes in the water

Tuesday we were joined by brother D, Auntie M, and their kids and we attempted to go to the beach again.  It barely lasted two hours.  I really wanted to spend all day at the beach, but it was 60 degrees outside and the wind would not stop blowing.  We were all pretty miserable.   However, the sun was still shining and having learned my lesson from the day before I made sure we were all covered in sun screen.  Except that this still happened! 

I got sunscreen on almost all of my leg, except that large red spot.  And if you look closely you'll see that there are two large white spots where I apparently put my fingers that had sunscreen on them.  Y'all, those marks have not gone away!  So ridiculous!  Hubby and his brothers and most of the children did get out in the water, but after they got out they didn't want to get back in.  So we packed it up and headed back to the camp.

Then we felt bad that none of the kids had really gotten a chance to be in the water much so we got the bright idea to take them swimming in the pool at the campground.  A pool that was not heated.  And it was still only 70 degrees outside.  It was miserably cold.  The kids of course were having a blast.  Even #4 couldn't be persuaded to get out if everyone else was in the water.  So we stayed long enough to turn everyone's lips blue and then headed back to the trailers to get cleaned up.

This is our Suburban with twelve people riding in it after being in the pool!  The heat of sitting so close actually felt pretty good! 

We went out for dinner that night, we had to have some real fish and chips, and then Hubby's brother D just had to get some chocolate covered bugs for us to eat.  I think the pictures speak for themselves. 

Ants

Nope, she's not a ham

More ants

Worms

Cricket

Whatever was in the box

As long as you don't think about what you're eating...

"I'll eat one if you eat one!"

"It's just chocolate, it's just chocolate..."

I ate one, and like I said, as long as you don't think about what you're eating, it's not too bad.  But when I watch my 2 year old niece eat a cricket and she has a leg hanging out of her mouth, it is kind of hard to forget! 

She loved them

The girls all ate every kind of bug and my Mom ended up eating quite a few as well.  Hubby ate a boxful without even thinking about it.  I ate one cricket.  Go me!

So even though the actual beach was pretty much a bust, Uncle D made sure that the girls will never forget that trip!  It was a very relaxing couple of days with our family that we don't get to spend nearly enough time with!