Merry CHRISTMAS!

New Again

One cold night in a manger a young woman gave birth to a baby boy . . . her first baby boy, our Savior.  Happy Birthday Jesus!

 

Mother - do not cry for me
All of this is exactly how it's supposed to be
I'm right here. Can you hear my voice?
My life, my love, my Lord....my baby boy

As they nail me to this tree
Just know my Father waits for me
God how can this be your will?
To have your son and my son killed?

Whatever happens...whatever you see...
Whatever your eyes tell you has become of me
This is not...
Not the end...
I am making all things new again

I remember when you were born
In that manger where I first held
You in my arms
So many miracles and lives you've changed
And this world repays you how?
With all this pain

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Look what Santa brought from the North Pole to TEXAS!!

We are definitely going to have a WHITE Christmas this year!  The kids & I have been all bundled up trying not to freeze to death in this blizzard enjoying watching the snow fall.  So far we have roughly 7 inches.  Which is A LOT for Texas (I think).  It isn’t just snowing though, it is freezing cold, wind blowing, miserably COLD!!!  Did I mention how cold it is?  My outlaws begged me to let them played outside in the snow & since I’m such a cool mom I let them.  The Mustangs both came in crying about how cold they were, but nothing a little hot chocolate couldn’t fix.  LOL   

Tomorrow it isn’t supposed to be soooo COLD & the wind should die down, so hopefully tomorrow I can talk the mustangs into venture back out into the snow & maybe even build a snowman. 

We were supposed to go to my aunt & uncle’s house this evening but we were all snowed in – the roads were too bad to drive on.  Instead, we baked cookies & attempted to make gingerbread barns . . .

Why don’t they ever look like the picture on the box?

Our cookies turned out a little bit better . . . .

Big Daddy had to work today.  Which had me extremely worried, so to take our minds off of that we opened a couple presents :)

. . . . This year instead of having our kids buy gifts for each of their siblings we decided to just have Taylor & Tyler exchange gifts & Tucker & Trevor exchange gifts.  They used their own money & had a $20 maximum.  This worked out great & they all loved their presents . . .

It has become a tradition for me to give the kids new pj’s every Christmas Eve so they are super cute in their Christmas morning pictures :)  I got the Mustangs the cutest cowboy pj’s from Target & some bigger boy ones at Gymboree for Momma’s boy.  Daddy’s girl is all about “PEACE” (if only she felt that way with her brothers) so I got her some super cute cool pj’s from Justice.

*Please Note:  Getting pictures of 4 OUTLAWS is NOT as easy as it may appear.  Here are the real pictures: 

 

Big Daddy had to work today :(  & it is taking him FOREVER to get home in the snow so we are now snuggling on the couch watching a movie waitin’ on daddy!

Merry Christmas Momma D

I racked my brain for a gift to give or make Momma D . . . Then this weekend when her 3 B’s were hanging out with me & my outlaws it hit me – PiCtUrEs!!!  Momma D is not the obsessive compulsive picture taker that I am.  In fact, I don’t think they have EVAH had a family picture taken!  So, it hit me like a ton of bricks – PiCtUrEs!!!  I threw some overall’s on the B’s & drug head to our lake.  Actually, they were totally on board & VERY cooperative.  I had a blast doing what I love doing & making Momma D a very special Christmas gift which includes the 3 little guys she loves most!  Originally I was going to frame a photo of the boys & give it to her, but then there were soooo many FABULOUS totally cool pictures that I couldn’t choose just one.  Instead I made her a CD with ALL of them :) 

Here is the cover of the CD case:

And here are some of my fav’s:

     

Momma D,

Your friendship has been such a  blessing to me & my family.  I am so thankful for you & your family.  I love how our kids are kids together!  I truly enjoy watching them run around this farm just being little country boys.  You, Poppa C & your 3 B’s have become apart of our family & I am just tickled pink.  With all that we have in common there is no doubt that God brought our families together.  No other woman could tolerate Big Daddy the way you do!  Much less, like his stinky butt.  You listen without judgment, you remind me how important it is to laugh & have fun, & you are a lot of fun – DISNEYLAND!  This Christmas I hope you know how special you are & I pray God blesses you & your family in the New Year! 

We Love Ya’ll!!  Merry Christmas!

WORKING

My heart has been heavy over the past few weeks & I have truly wanted & maybe even needed to blog about about life but have hesitated . . .

Lately, several of the blog I read regularly have expressed a desire for us mommy bloggers to keep it real.  This is something I believe in & strive for, yet my hands are often tied.  For those of you that know me – know that I rarely hesitate to share my thoughts & don’t mind opening myself up.  I’m just real like that!  However, this court stuff with Taylor has made me very cautious.  Not that I’ve done anything wrong or have something to hide, but for some reason being the step-parent has made me the focus of the battle. The other party would love to twist my words around or take a low point in my life, marriage, house, or mothering & exploit it to her benefit.  Sometimes it is easier for people to focus on the speck in another’s eye rather than work on the plank in their own.  Work – you see when we focus on ourselves & allow God to convict us of our short comings it is WORK.  Work that not all of us are willing to punch the clock for, much less put in a little over time.  Therefore, it is much easier to draw attention to someone else & not focus on ourselves.  Which is where I feel like I am right now – jumping through hoops – one after another.  Working my hardest to keep my marriage healthy, working to be a better mom, & working to be perfect.  The reality is that none of us are perfect.  We all fall short.  THANK GOD practicing is always enough.  Trying to be perfect is a lot of pressure.  Trying to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, step-mother, homeschool mother . . . It’s just crazy.  It’s impossible.  Seriously impossible.  Although I cannot share details in this new keeping it real movement in the blogosphere, I will gladly admit I’m not perfect.  I make mistakes every single day, all day.  I’m not perfect, but practice does make perfect.  I’m willing to put the time, sweat, & tears into life:  my marriage, my mothering, my homeschooling . . .  That is where I’ve been = WORKING!  As angry as I get & as often as I’d like to scream & yell & even as tempted as I get to throw the towel in & quit – I find myself looking in the mirror.  Lord, give me your eyes.  Help me to see what you see.  Help me to understand what you are trying to teach me. 

Lately, I’ve been working at life.  It has been hard work, but worth every bit of it! 

MIA

There is no need for a missing person’s report . . .

I’m alive & well.  Just VERY VERY busy!  I’ve been running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off.  I never imagined this week would be so busy, but Christmas is around the corner.  The winter weather is here, but our little farm has babies popping out every where.  You’d think it was spring time.  Along with making bows, clipboards, & quiet books & shopping for my outlaws I’m also farming a little.  The boys have a duck & her 3 ducklings in their room (and I’ve been so busy I haven’t even read “Make Way For Ducklings,”  Can you believe it?).  They also have a hen & her 17 chicks in there room also!  It is so cold outside (yes, I know for you northerners I’m a big baby) that we had to bring them inside to stay warm so they don’t die.  Our cows should be caving any time now & our goats have already begun.  Unfortunately, we have experienced a great deal of death when it comes to our goats on the farm this year.  Coyotes have killed our favorite goat, Bella, her twin boys, another baby, & injured one of our mommas.  :(  VERY SAD!  So, we are fighting a fierce battle with the coyotes.  Did I mention we have 2 kittens running around too?  That’s right – no momma there either.  A couple months ago our cat, Tiger Lilly, had her first litter of kittens – 4.  While the boys & I were in TN Tiger Lilly & one of her kittens (again, our favorite) died.  But 2 of them (*yes, I can add.  We gave 1 away) are having the times of their lives with Shotgun.  So life on the farm has been full of life & death recently.  We’ve rejoiced in the life & mourned the death. 

I will try to update this blog of mine with pictures of our new babies & my slight craftiness soon. 

No Manners Night

Yes, you read that title correctly – NO manners!  I think I have finally fallen of my rocker! 

One of my mom’s friends (a mother to 3 boys) recently introduced me to “No Manners Night”.  What is “No Manners Night” you ask?  It is exactly that . . . A meal prepared where you leave the manners at the door & especially aren’t welcome at the table.  You are rude & crude – burping, farting, laughing, playing – you name it.  Yes, everything you discourage or outlaw at the dinner table on the average night.  You eat with your hands so you know you have to serve something like spaghetti just to make it all the more fun.  :)  I was warned however, that this is not for the weak stomached – it gets disgusting!  So disgusting that by the end of the night your kids are begging for manners!!

What do you think?  Sound like fun?  Do you think “No Manners Night” could actually encourage your outlaws kids to use their manners?  Could this idea actually help your children gain an understanding for the use of manners at the table?  Will your children, scratch that – do you think MY OUTLAWS will really be begging for forks & manners by the end of the night?  Stay tuned, I’ll will be updating next week to let you know how our “No Manners Night” goes this week.  If you are brave enough & can stomach the adventure leave a comment & let me know the fun grossness that your family experiences as well. 

Good Luck! 

A Homeschool Mom’s Christmas List

She’s makin’ their lists, She’s checkin’ ‘em twice . . .

I totally take advantage of this time of the year for stocking our learning centers.  You know, for those things they REALLY want – they just don’t know it yet :)  So, what is on the list you ask?  Where on earth did I find that?  Here are some great HOMESCHOOL Christmas gifts:

• Etsy – Handmade gifts are the best!  So, you don’t have time to make them yourself?  -Take advantage of those that do & visit Etsy!!
• Timberdoodle
• Beyond The Blackboard
• Qwirkle
• Design & Drill
• Made For Trade
• Animal Trivia
• Constructive Playthings
• Leapfrog (*this deserves its own post, but here are our favs!!)
• Letter Factory DVD (**My boys LOVE this movie!!)
• Fridge Phonics
• Fridge Farm
• Leapster
• Click Start
• Montessori & Such
• Montessori Services
• Amazon *you can find almost anything on Amazon!!  Here are my favorite searches:
• TOOB Animals
• Legos
• Melissa & Doug
• Laurie

For PE & other winter studies I am biting the bullet & getting our first electronic gaming system:  The Wii.  I am soooo excited!  I don’t know who will use it more – my outlaws or me?!  I’m super excited about purchasing JUMPSTART games to go with it.   

So who has been naughty or nice at your house?

An Etsy Kind of Christmas

I’m crafty, but I’m not Etsy kind of crafty.  I have found some fabulous Christmas gifts.  Wanna see?

One of my favorites is this “Quiet Book” at Shelly Wallace Designs.  I purchased the kit for this one & I’m really pleased at how easy to follow the patterns & instructions are (okay, those that really know me – STOP laughing!!  I might could make this.  I’m just slightly sewing challenged!  It’s a kit after all & the directions say that you don’t have to use a sewing machine.)  In hopes that this project goes smoothly, I went ahead & order the ABC Quiet Book pattern as well. 

I also got each of my mustangs a reversible chalk placemats from Chicks & Chikadees:

 

 

Since felt is my new obsession I had to order a few things from Fun Felt Stories.  This Give A Mouse A Cookie Set is my FaVoRiTe!!!:

And for their mom’s new felt collection I also purchase a felt board fun on the go pattern *I will NOT be attempting this project though.  I begged & pleaded one of my sewing savvy friends to make one for me :) 

I almost ordered Daddy’s Girl felt play food & a portable tea party, but reality of her growing up has officially sunk in as this is the first year she has not asked for toys.  (sniff, sniff)

We already have a cowboy coloring wallet, but I’m so very tempted to buy the Mustang’s their own camo one’s with their names embroidered on them. 

I love these knob notes – I’m thinking great teenage parent gifts for the times you don’t want to see the eyes roll when they need to clean their room neighbor gifts!!

Who knew, but Etsy also has handmade homeschool & Montessori items?! 

Here are my favorite Etsy shops (so far):

• Made for you gifts 
• Montessori
• Cute Munchkins
• SteffiStuff
• The Best 4 The Smallest
• KB Exquisites
• Chicks & Chickadees
• Softie Cafe
• Fun Felt Stories

WARNING:  If you have not visited Etsy before, please note:  IT IS EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE!!!

What are your favorite Etsy shops?

The Whole World

A couple of years ago Pottery Barn Kids came out with a HUGE world map very much like the this one pictured below from Montessori-N-Such . . .

While doing some online screen shopping I clicked upon this FANTASTIC globe at Appleseed Educational . . .

While I was debating between the two, Appleseed Educational’s website suddenly went “under construction” without any warning.  I was devastated!  Seriously!  I had several items picked out & was waiting until closer to Christmas to make my purchase.  During my grieving, I was inspired by this tutorial to get my stash of felt out & make my own.  Of course, I had to make my own version . . .

First, this file folder reminded me that I had continent die-cuts (size proportioned) to use as a template (the wheels were turning).  While I was at it I decided to turn my stash into a file folder:

*These are designed to replicate how they would appear on a globe.

I went ahead & printed this one out too:

I used my die-cut’s as a template & copied them on my printer increasing their size 135%.  Then I cut them out (of cardstock) & used double-sided tape to temporarily attach them to the felt. 

*I used Montessori color coding for the continents: 

• North America – Orange
• South America – Light Pink
• Europe – Red
• Asia – Yellow
• Australia – Brown
• Africa – Green
• Antarctica – White

Next, I glued them onto 2 pieces of the big sturdy sheets of dark blue felt using fabric glue.  At this point it dawned on me to make it a book since I had 2 separate pieces.  So, I hole punched them in 3 spots & loosely laced ribbon through them. 

The inside of the book:

Now my creativity was flowing!  What in the world was I going to do for a cover?  (I crack myself up!  LOL)  I decided to make pockets to put animals & printouts in.  I just layered sheets of felt (matching the color of each continent) & glued the sides & bottoms on using fabric glue & hot glue.   To label them I used 3-D fabric paint.

I also added a light blue pocket for the oceans & used this as my cover piece for the title:  “The Whole World” – felt letters I found in the scrapbook section at Hobby Lobby.  (I also used fabric glue to keep these on.)

Ta-Da!

At this point, I will just be using the map for basic continent awareness & as an addition to our Animals & Their Worlds study – similar to this or the example in this post at Gray Family Circus.

 

In the next couple of years I plan to use My Father's World: Exploring Countries & Cultures.  At which time I will be transforming my geography center to look a lot like this.  And you know I will be making continent boxes!  Aren’t these cool?  And isn’t this a great idea?  I also love the geography ideas I found at Montessori Journey.  The continent & country kits from Montessori for Everyone are definitely a MUST have! 

I have a small obsession with world maps & continent things so I will have to share what I already have soon.  I’m contemplating making my own HUGE felt map, but I’m really hoping Appleseed Educational get’s their website back into the cyber world – or answers their phone!

Photo Shoot With Brooklyn

My uncle, aunt & their 2 daughters came to my parents to spend Thanksgiving with us.

My cousin, Katherine, has a baby girl that is just a few weeks younger than Truman.

And I got to have a mini photo shoot with her . . .

Isn’t she just ADORABLE?

I think so!

And to prove it I got her the shirt that says so . . .

So without further ado, I present to you:

Mr. Handsome & Miss Adorable

Rock Climbing

Big Daddy is quite the handy man, but he may be meeting his challenge . . .

  

Because we have

a couple of 

    

ROcK cLiMBeRs

  

On our hands

   And it is SOOOOO much FuN!!!