Today:

• I woke to my favorite breakfast in bed - bacon, egg & cheese on an everything bagel
• my children did their chores and helped each other
• I watched them draw pictures, build Lego creations, play games together
• there was a harvest of cucumbers and tomatoes
• Abi mended a hole in Daddy's shirt on the sewing machine
• the girls picked up and worked on their knitting projects of their own accord
• the nappers sat attentively while I read some stories and are now quietly sleeping
• time has already been spent in the swimming pool, and more swimming is anticipated
• more school prep has been accomplished - and the laminator has been used!
• there has been bickering and consoling, conspiring and playing

This is not the end of our day, but it's so nice to periodically lift my head, look at what God has done and continues to do in our family, and say thanks. He truly has been good to me.

So, in the getting ready for baby Caleb to arrive, I noticed that some of the burp cloths/muslins we already have are beginning to look a little...well...ratty. Holes, frayed edges, stains. You know, used by five other children before.

It just so happened that I have a scrap basket that's kind of overflowing, and a Pinterest board with lots of cute ideas, so I introduced the two:

 I basically sketched a rough hourglass shape, cut out a top material, a backing material and something somewhat absorbent for in the middle (quilt batting or t-shirt material) and used my serger to put all the layers together. It was pretty easy, but I did learn that my serger doesn't cope well with deep curves - it would often miss sewing the narrow curve because I tried to turn it too sharply. It worked much better when I made the curve more gentle and long.
You know what I mean, right? Sure, clear as mud...

Anyway, the babe now has a collection of at least a half dozen of these stylish burp cloths, and he'll probably get some more as I go through my scrap basket (or if he goes through the cloths faster than I can wash them...). It's also great for my pregnancy brain and limited time to have such a simple and quickly-completable project to pick up at time allows. Suits where I'm at so very well.

Link Love

• Best. Birthday Idea. Ever.
• Every kitchen is a battle ground.
• Parenting the HIV+ child - things everyone needs to know.
• Parenting the anxious child
• The thing about grace...

Picture Books of Legacy

Sometimes our trips to the library or bookstore can be exercises in frustration. It can often seem that anyone that can  hold a pen can get a children's book published, or it's all about cartoon franchising. There are, however, still children's books out there that are lovely - beautiful or interesting artwork, with a worthwhile and thoughtfully told story. We've recently hit upon a few that were particularly pleasant because they told stories of older generations in a way that was charming, humble and totally without disrespect or making adults seem stupid. Here are some of our favorites:
A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor - "What was it like when Mummy was me?" This is more of a book of the rhythms of the year than of particular holidays, and makes me wish I lived back then. The artwork of Tasha Tudor is delightful, making you content to study each page long enough that your child will get impatient with you.

My Mother's Pearls by Catherine Fruisen - A chance grab from the library, this sweet story follows the connection that an heirloom string of pearls brings to seven generations of women. I so remember looking at my mom's jewelry and wondering who else wore it and the story behind it!

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith - Just the idea that a rich life, well-lived but poorly remembered, as the years wear on, can still be celebrated by a young boy is so touching. The fact that it's done through a common love of gardening is even better.

Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel by Leslie Connor - Following the life of a typical young woman as she sets off on her own is interesting enough, but to see the part that an insignificant choice played - the choice of a shovel over a figurine or candlesticks - gives a wonderful platform on which to see how life was once lived.

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco - One more "heirloom" book - it seems having a thing that ties us to the past can also tell a good story. This time, it's a quilt, one that tells the story of a family over the generations and how they adapted to make a home in a new country.

What are some other "legacy" picture books you've stumbled across?

Getting to know my boy

On Saturday, Toby took Noah to a soccer game - not just any game, mind you, but Toby's team, Liverpool! They were playing another English club - Tottenham Hot Spurs - in Baltimore, and Toby thought it would be a great chance to spend some quality time with his oldest boy. And it would have been, except...
As they climbed the stairs to their seats, Toby became aware of three things:

1. It was hot. Really hot. And there was absolutely no shade, anywhere. But much worse...
2. They were high up. Really high.
3. Noah was no longer at his side. No, he was about 20 ft behind him, white knuckling the stairs' handrail. It would seem that Noah is afraid of heights.

We didn't realize any of these little facts before the boys set off on their adventure.
Being hot is uncomfortable, but like most people, Gayners can endure a little discomfort if the payoff is worth it. They had their baseball hats on, so their heads were protected, but Toby got red on his knees and neck, and the sweat ring on the Liverpool cap Noah was wearing has made the hat permanently his own.
The big problem was the height. Toby has no particular problem with heights, and it never occurred to any of us that Noah was any different. I'm the one with height issues - the kids (Noah included) look over a banister and I walk away; we step into a glass elevator and I'm looking real hard at those numbers; I even went bungee-jumping in the hope that it would help me get over my fears (it didn't). As it turns out, I am not alone. Almost as soon as they sat down, Noah was asking to leave. Toby said he was hanging onto the chair arms for grim death, and never really properly relaxed enough to enjoy the game. In the end, they left at half time, much to Noah's relief.
I felt so sorry for them. Toby had been so looking forward to sharing something he loves with his boy, and Noah totally hero-worships his daddy and would have followed him anywhere. I can totally understand Noah's fear, since it's so much like my own. Plus, who likes sitting in the baking hot sun, sweating like crazy? And yet, there is so much good to see in the situation. Noah endured the whole first half, doing his best to control himself, when some adults might have been wigging out in similar circumstances. I credit it mostly to his love for his father - Noah's desire to be with Dad and please him enabled him to put up with more than he would normally have done. And Toby's love for his son enabled him to put the financial investment (which was significant) and his own desire to see the match aside and put his boy's pleasure and comfort first.
And now we've learned something new about Noah. It was such a reminder that though we think we know these kids, there are still things to learn about them. They are their own people, with their own idiosyncrasies and foibles, and we need to see them that way and love them that way. And by God's grace, we get to spend the rest of our lives getting to know these amazing people, humbled that we've been allowed the privilege of doing life with them. That should be a helpful reminder the next time one of them covers the bathroom in shampoo...

Getting It Together - In Progress

Looking around, I realize that while I have gotten quite a bit done in terms of getting things organized, most of my projects are still incomplete, to one degree or another. So here are a few of the organizing projects that are still in progress:

• I've been clearing out and re-ordering my sewing room. That's a mammoth task that can only be taken on a little at a time, much like eating the proverbial whale. I'd like to hang something(s) to pretty up the bare walls, but I haven't seen anything that has really grabbed me yet. I suspect I'll be turning to etsy, soon.
• I've commissioned my very talented husband to build me a command center/mini office in a small corner of the dining room. I'm thinking something like this or this or maybe this. We'll see what he comes up with. I have no doubt that it will be excellent.
• I'm sorting out how best to keep the kids' craft supplies. I've moved a lockable cupboard into the school room, and all the games are in the open top-half. The bottom half is lockable, which I'm thinking will be a help in keeping little Dan-hands out of mischief, but I'm not sure if it will all fit. I'm also considering making some space in my sewing room closet for some stuff...Very much a "we'll see" project.
• I'm almost finished getting the boys' room organized to make room for the newbie. I bought 3 new boxes from IKEA initially intended to house the baby clothes under the changing table. Right now, they are keeping all the diapers neat and in order. I might buy more or fancy up some cardboard boxes.

So, that's it. Hopefully you've been inspired and assisted in your own organizing adventure, but if there's some idea you were hoping for that I didn't mention, please ask. I may not know the answer - I'm no organizing guru, you know - but I can sure give it a try!

Getting It Together - The Planner

 In organizing the school materials, I realized that I was going to need new school planner. In previous years I've used the Well Planned Day, and been very happy. It's pretty, easy to use and allows for planning up to four students at a time. This year, though, I wanted to try something different. I didn't think I'd have enough room to record each day's assignments in the space provided without a complex code system that I would most likely not remember. I'm also the sort of person who simply needs to change things up once in a while. I spent some time checking out different ideas online, fully expecting to have to design something myself, until I stumbled upon the Life as Mom blog. She very helpfully has designed an ebook planner that is right up my alley, complete with a vision-casting and homeschooling section. She also has a post about a great way to bind and organize your planner. So, so good - I had to give it a try.

After buying the ebook and printing out the necessary pages, I followed her advice and had some of the pages I would use a lot laminated, bought some wet erase labels (like the Expo Vis-a-Vis markers), and had it all spiral bound within a pretty pocket folder. So happy!

I laminated pages like the daily to-do list, the meal planning, and the weekly lesson plans. My view for the school section is to have each student's weekly plans made a month or two in advance for record keeping purposes, give them to each child for the week they need so they know what they're supposed to be doing, and use the master copy to fill in my week's plans. That way I can keep my personal records up to date without over-filling my planner with paper. Clear as mud? I thought so.
I'm still working on getting it ready and usable for the coming academic year. I work on it a little at a time, because at the moment I still have time for that. We'll see how long my timing holds...
Anyone else have an excellent planning method for homeschool and/or life beyond? Please share!

Getting It Together - The School Supplies

Many homeschoolers are spending some time (or a lot of time) this summer getting their school room/supplies set in order for the new academic year. Expecting a new baby right at the beginning of the school year, with the added bonus of schooling for three and pre-K for two has meant that this subject is of particular interest to me.

In previous years, we have homeschooled in our dining room, with most of the kids doing their seat work at the dining table and the reading work in the living room. We kept their school books on a couple of IKEA Billy Bookcases tucked into the corners of the dining room.

Earlier this summer, however, I decided to try out moving our school room out of the dining room and into the guest room/study. Formerly the master bedroom, it's one of the biggest rooms in the house, with plenty of lighting and it's own bathroom. It also has some bookshelves, a pull out couch and our family computer. Now that I've moved the school stuff down there, this is what it's looking like:

(Apologies for the blurry photos - Abi had a go at being photographer with my camera phone!)

On the back of the bathroom door hangs a shoe caddy that I've filled with all the little bits and pieces that formerly cluttered up some valuable bookshelf space. Flashcards, coloring pencils, scissors, tape, etc - everything can be clearly seen and easily returned to its place, with the added benefit of being able to put non-toddler items up and out of reach, while still being available to the children who actually need them.

Next to that door is one of the Billy bookcases I moved downstairs. It contains all of the kids' books for next year, plus what we are currently doing for summer school. In previous years, we've organized the shelves by student: all Abi's stuff on one shelf, all Anna's on another, etc. This year, since the girls are sharing a number of items, I've decided to organize by subject, so history is on the bottom shelf, math on another, etc. I'm not sure how well this will work - the kids tend to look for reasons to fight, and getting in each other's way to get their school books is a prime bicker opportunity - but I've noticed when they keep their books in their desks, things get damaged, either by sheer messiness or a certain little destruct-o child. Papers also tended to get lost or damaged when I made boxes for each of them - I thought, one year, that if all their stuff were in their own box, they could pull out their box and get to work. Eh, not so much. Evidently, it was just too much effort to take that pesky lid off the box to put their stuff away...

Our family has been very blessed to live in a house that is quite a bit bigger than we need, and I realize that many families do not have the luxury of a separate school room. Back in the day, when this room had other purposes, we were doing our work in the dining room. Sometimes the investment of a small bookshelf is needed, complete with nice-looking baskets so that the school-look doesn't overwhelm the dining decor. Maybe keeping each kid's supplies in their own under bed box is required if there's no room in the dining/kitchen area, especially if the box is secured against toddler hands. The important thing to remember is that it doesn't have to be perfect, as long as it works for "right now". Sometimes we might need to try a thing for a few weeks and then make some needed changes, and that's okay. It doesn't need to be first time perfect, and it doesn't need to look like everyone else's system - it needs to work for you and your family.

Since I'm still in the process with this one, I'd love to hear some other ideas that have worked for other homeschool families - what do you do with all those books and papers and supplies??

Getting It Together - the Linen Closet

Up until very recently, we've never had a linen closet. All the bed linens lived on the closet shelves in the various bedrooms, which worked...sort of. Everything had a home, but it was messy and hard to reach and I'm the only one who could put things away or get them out.
We had this closet downstairs that had once been used as a games closet, but once the games moved to another location, the closet was suffering from a distinct lack of purpose...until I saw this:

I was inspired. I love the way ordered, contained stuff looks, especially when I've never seen the stuff in question (in this case, sheets) look ordered and contained.
While mine is not yet labelled or color-coded or stored in matching baskets (though I will do that someday!), what I've got works for us:

On the top shelf are extra pillows (it seems that I could do with replacing some of those...), followed by duvet covers in the pink basket, pillow cases in the brown box, and a couple of extra blankets on the next shelf. Below them are the flat sheets, boys' on the left and girls' on the right, and the fitted sheets are on the bottom shelf. All the sheets are currently stored in underbed boxes, since that's what I had on hand. In fact, everything in there is what I happened to have. I'd love to go and get some nice-looking, color-coordinated containers, but at the moment, frugality and the desire to shop without my children wins out over looks. The whole point of this exercise, for me, is to be able to find my stuff and keep it tidy, and this meets that need for now.
Who else has some top tips on how to keep their linen closet neat and tidy? Inquiring minds want to know!

Getting It Together - The Car

I mentioned last week the desire to share some of the organizing I've been doing - partly due to nesting and partly because I'm sick of the lack of homes for our stuff. Give the homeless stuff a home and maybe then it's got a better chance of being returned to its home. So goes the thinking...
You may have noticed that we got a new van. If you hadn't noticed, here it is:

As a 12-seater, it's pretty big, and because of its size, there will be some temptation to just dump stuff anywhere and kick things under seats. Because of the bench seats, there are no pockets on backs of seats, like in a mini van. Every vehicle has its own limitations, no matter how big, and this one is no exception.
So, this is what I did: First, I bought one of those shoe organizers that you can on the back of a door and cut the bottom 2 rows of pouches off. I then used my sewing machine to finish the raw edge so that it didn't unravel and made 2 button holes about half an inch from the top. Finally, I threaded some ribbon through, tied it in a loop and hung it behind the last bench seat so that it's accessible from the trunk.

It's currently holding our bug spray and sun screen, diapers and wipes, trash bags, a general cleanup cloth, hairbrush, sanitizer, and handy little plastic cups (like what the individual serving applesauce come in) for whatever.  As the needs change, so will the contents.
Likewise, I filled a small lidded box with clothing changes for each of the 5 kids. Each clothing change has a t-shirt, undies, pair of shorts and long-sleeved shirt - things that they don't wear often so it won't be missed, but something they don't hate so that we don't have a fashion breakdown in public. Each outfit is inside it's own gallon plastic bag, to minimize the need to root around, and, once again, as the seasons change, so will the contents of the bags. I used one of the bags just yesterday to change some wet shorts, and was so thankful I had them! The whole box slides very neatly under the back bench row.
Since we have a distinct lack of places for each kid to put the junk they want to take with them on various journeys, I've basically put a small plastic basket, about the size of a large shoebox, in each row. For now, I figure that should do them for a couple of toys, a drink each and maybe a snack or a book or two. When we start looking at longer car trips, I may have to reevaluate the need and make some adjustments, but for now, this will do.
The only other change I made was to add covers for the seats. We noticed on the old van that a child in a car seat would occasionally drop something that would sit and languish in between the car seat and the main seat = stains. To try to avoid that a little, I rummaged around in my sewing room, pulled out some old fabric and tucked it in across the bottom of the seat. I didn't stretch it across the back, since that doesn't seem to be such a muck-magnet and would have been harder to secure. As it is, it's simply a little barrier to protect against mucky feet and purple lollipops. My standards just aren't that high.
There you have it - my van, organized (for the moment). Any questions or suggestions? I'd love to hear 'em!