Monday, September 30, 2013

36

I am now a 36 year old. Riveting.
My birthday on Friday was a nice, low key kind of day. The kids were moderately disappointed, though not really surprised, to find that Teacher's birthday does not equate to a day off. I never claimed to be the fun parent.
We did establish a cut off time for schoolwork, though, and then headed out for pizza for dinner. A fun little place called BoomBozz, with great pizza and a waiter that will never "turn pro". Afterward, we did some exploring. We headed out to one of the local malls to see what was there. After driving all around the St Matthews Mall to find the main entrance, we settled for entering through Forever 21 (it was either that or Victoria's Secret. ahem). I think Toby held his breath the whole way through the store - we're not exactly department store, and this was not exactly a department store...still. I think it's safe to say that we are no longer "forever 21".
They did have some other good stores - I was excited to see a J.Jill and Godiva chocolate. :) I'm looking forward to going back another time, preferably without children that play in the fountains.
On Saturday Abigail spent some time in the kitchen, baking some delicious key lime cupcakes that made up my birthday cake. She did it all herself, from beginning to end. I was very grateful - she did a great job, I got a birthday cake that I didn't bake myself, and I'm seeing more and more independence in the kitchen, which is really exciting. If only there was as much enthusiasm to clean up after the mess...
36 used to seem terribly old to me. Now, of course, I still feel like a girl playing at being grown up. Never mind that I have 6 children, one of whom is now a "tween" - I'm still feel like a kid. Except when I wake up at 6am. Then I feel like I'm every inch of 36...
One thing that hasn't changed is seeing God's kindness and faithfulness to me over each of my 36 years. It's God's grace that brought me to the Gospel, kindness that enabled me to meet my husband, and faithfulness that has carried me through 2 countries, 4 houses, and 6 children. It's this grace, kindness and faithfulness that will continue to meet the needs of the year ahead and, Lord willing, the next 36, wherever they may take me.

Friday, September 27, 2013

The Schedule

So, I make one (or more) every year. Though I rarely follow it to the letter, it always serves me well, just to see where my time goes, how to fit in all that needs doing, and simply having a plan for the day.
Some explanation:
  • The "5 fingers" refers to our 5 Finger Chores, which you can read about here.
  • IEW happens Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; Logic, Dictation, and Science are Tuesday and Thursday.
  • We have our Music study on Mondays, Latin is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we finish the week with Art on Friday.
 
Mom
Abi
Anna
Noah
Ellie
Dan
Caleb
6 – 6:30
Quiet Time
 
 
 
 
 
 
6:30 – 7
Exercise
 
 
 
 
 
 
7 – 7:30
Get Kids up
5 fingers
5 fingers
5 fingers
5 fingers
5 fingers
 
7:30 - 8
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
8 – 8:30
Chores
AM Chores
AM Chores
AM Chores
AM Chores
Play
Play
8:30 – 9
Work with Girls
IEW/ Logic
IEW/ Dictation
Handwriting
Play
Play
Pack & Play
9 – 9:30
Work with big 3
IEW/ Science
IEW/ Science
Science/Free
Play
Play
Pack & Play
9:30 – 10
Music/Latin/Art
Music/Latin/Art
Music/Latin/Art
Music/Latin/Art
Color
Color
Color
10 – 10:30
Music/Latin/Art
Music/Latin/Art
Music/Latin/Art
Music/Latin/Art
Color
Color
Color
10:30 – 11
Work  with Littles
Literature
Literature
Literature
Kindergarten
PreK
Pack & Play
11 – 11:30
Marking
Literature
Literature
Literature
Project box
Project box
Play
11:30 – 12:15
Math
Math
Math
Math
Play
Play
Play
12:15 - 1
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
1 – 2
Rest
Rest
Rest
Rest
Rest
Nap
Nap
2 – 2:30
Bible
Bible
Bible
Bible
Bible
Nap
Nap
2:30 - 3
Language Arts/ Marking
Language Arts
Language Arts
Language Arts
 
Nap
Nap
3 – 4
History
History
History
History
 
Nap
Nap
4 – 4:30
Read Aloud
Read Aloud
Read Aloud
Read Aloud
Read Aloud
Read Aloud
Read Aloud
4:30 – 5
PM Chores
PM Chores
PM Chores
PM Chores
PM Chores
Play
Play
4:30 – 5
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
 
5 – 6
Dinner Prep
Free
Free
Free
Free
Free
 
6 – 6:30
Dinner & Devos
Dinner & Devos
Dinner & Devos
Dinner & Devos
Dinner & Devos
Dinner & Devos
Dinner & Devos
6:30 – 7
Clean up
Help out
Help
Help out
Help
Help out
 
7 – 7:30
Oversee bathtime
Bath/Free
Bath/Free
Bath/Free
Bath/Free
Bath/Free
Bath/Free
7:30 – 8
 
 
 
 
Bed
Bed
Bed
8 – 8:30
 
Bed
Bed
Bed
 
 
 

 
So, now you know what we're up to when I'm not answering my phone...:)