Things I would have missed

Here are just a few of the things I would have missed today if I wasn’t home with my kids. I’m thankful for the opportunity to see and be a part of even the littlest things happening in their live every day.

• Troy doing a great (left-handed!) job using a spoon with his yogurt.
• Ella marrying two of her sock monkeys.
• Troy climbing on a stack of boxes (to turn on a light), smiling, and saying “I’m up high!”
• Ella singing to the UmiZoomi theme song and doing the “crazy shake” at the end of the show.
• The kids excitement to spend just a few minutes learning memory verses.
• The kids fighting over the opportunity to do a “special” task (letting Reeses in and out of the house).

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

In some ways, I feel like planning a weekly menu is a joke, because I’ve felt so terrible with my hyperemesis that I haven’t been able to look at much food not to mention actually cook food.  In fact, I’ve hardly been able to look at Pinterest lately because my stomach just can’t handle seeing the pictures of food (and, yes, that makes me feel totally weak, but it is the truth). BUT, here’s to hoping I’ll be able to cook at least a few nights this week.

• Steaks with roasted asparagus and mashed potatoes
• Taco salad
• Baked chicken with squash and cornflake potato casserole
• Pasta with meat sauce and asparagus (there was a good price on asparagus this week, and I’m testing out this storage method I saw on Pinterest)

When I Disappear Off the Blog . . .

. . .I just might be pregnant!

 

I’m not going into hiding because I’m pregnant (although it might seem that way). Rather, it is simply a result of not feeling well at all. I’m not here to complain; in fact, I’m thrilled to be expecting again. Life has just been particularly hard these past few weeks as I’ve been dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of morning sickness). It isn’t anything new to me: I had this condition with both Ella and Troy, but it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with nonetheless. Hyperemesis can make it difficult to get even the simplest things done around the house, and it can be extremely disheartening to not be able to keep up with life passing all around me. Hopefully, though, the worst will be behind me soon and I’ll be back to being able to doing all the things I want and need to do.

Scripture Memory System

Starting this week, I’ll be implementing a new system to help the kids (and me!) memorize Scripture. It is called the Scripture Memory System, and it is part of the Charlotte Mason homeschooling method. Whether we end up homeschooling or not, and whether we’d even use the Charlotte Mason method if we did end up homeschooling, doesn’t matter to me. I want to use this Scripture Memory System to help my children memorize Scripture, and I can foresee us using this system long into the future whether we are homeschooling or not, after all, it is my job as a parent to teach my children whether I also send them to public school or not.

I could explain the Scripture Memory System to you, but I think the video I linked does a great job (much better than I’d do with words!), so I encourage you to watch it. I will leave you with a list of the first verses we’ll be putting in our box: mostly Scriptures that the kids already know on some level, but we’ll be adding to the list as we go. Our verses are taken from the NKJV.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Ella’s Fourth Birthday Interview

Last year I started a new birthday tradition for Ella (and I’ll start it with Troy when he turns 3) with this birthday interview. It is hard to believe that Ella is four, although, her uncooperative spirit during the questioning reminds me of how “old” she really is getting : ). She wanted to answer questions, just not the way we expected her to answer them. 

Here are Ella’s answers (in bold)!

1. What is your favorite color? Blue, I mean purple. Purple and blue.
2. What is your favorite toy? Ball
3. What is your favorite fruit? Peaches
4. What is your favorite TV show? Barney
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chicken nuggets and cheese
6. What is your favorite outfit? Dress
7. What is your favorite game? a game on my ipad (her innotab that she calls an ipad)
8. What is your favorite snack? Goldfish
9. What is your favorite animal? The both monkeys; the two sock monkeys  (she has several sock monkeys, but two current favorites)
10. What is your favorite song? Jesus Loves Me
11. What is your favorite book? Clifford Book
12. Who is your best friend? Karsyn
13. What is your favorite cereal? The one with the smarshmallows
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swing and slide
15. What is your favorite drink? Apple juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Easter
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? The Both monkeys
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Nutrigrain bar
19. What is your favorite thing for dinner? Chicken strips, mac and cheese, and couscous
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Christian
21. What is your favorite movie? The new panda (Kung Fu Panda 2)
22. Who is your favorite Disney princess? Ariel
23. Where is your favorite place to go? the zoo
24. What is your favorite Bible story? Jesus
25. What is your favorite Old Testament story? Moses
26. What is your favorite memory verse? “But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (I still laugh when I think about her when she first learned this verse. She would say “not eaters only” instead of “not hearers only.”) 
27. What is your favorite letter? E

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

• Taco soup
• Chicken spaghetti
• Chicken and dumplings
• Hobo dinners

Thankful Thursday

It has been a while since I’ve written a Thankful Thursday post, but after a crazy January of traveling (or my husband traveling), I’m reminded of two things I’m very thankful for:

1. Sharing the load of parenting with my amazing husband.
2. Smiling, running, and laughing kiddos that fill my house with joy.