Little Brothers are Super Clever

I open my front door to see this....

 

What are you doing?

 

"Dad said we can't be outside with the IPad."

 

By all accounts, they are sitting in the doorway!!!

I gave them five more minutes and shut the door.

 

The creative problem solving in this house exceeds my creativity and expectations.  5 years ago, I might have been 3 steps ahead.  Not anymore, I am about 3 steps behind. 

 

Gotta love these boys.

When homeschooling gets to the youngest child....

The answers you get to questions are quite humorous. They have so many more varied experiences the older siblings didn't have, just because they get dragged around following the older siblings. :)
For instance the following questions in his Explode the Code workbooks:
Can a stitch be made in a dish? yes.  Really?  "But Mom it is plausible!" "If you want to use a dish when you knit you can stitch in a dish."   What really killed me, is he used plausible in a sentence and used it correctly!!  Probably from watching all those Myth Buster episodes!

Will you get rich if you sell trash?  yes.  Really?  Well if the trash has gold in it, you can....  He has been to way too many garage sales.  He, also, has a grandpa that likes to junk and strip items down to elements to be taken to the recycling center where he is paid by the weight.  If you are a kid, any money in the pocket amounts to being rich! 

Counting my birthday blessings

A little late, i have had to snag seconds here and there to compose this post. 

Getting older doesn't bother me, though the fact I can't remember my age half the time may be the reason. I do have children who are more than willing to remind me at any given memory lapse. They are so lovingly helpful.
To mark this milestone, I wanted to list 40 blessings.
1. My husband and children
2. A birthday card from my parents, with my Mom's signature..Mom isn't able to really talk anymore with me, and the last time I saw her attempt to write it was scribbles. So to see her signature on a card....well I did the ugly cry.
3. Late night chats with the kids.
4. Homeschooling, I love the random memories I have with my kids because they are with me all day... In spite of all the times, I think I am losing my mind or send them outside to run. :)
5. Slowly and steadily getting my brain back and being involved with my kids
6. Autumn colors and country drives, time to marvel at God's creation and chat with Him.
7. The ability to learn and explore new passions with my children as we discover the paths He has for each one.
8. Comfy and CUTE shoes. My feet hurt a lot, finding comfy shoes that are cute...BoNuS!
9. Facebook...in this season of busy children and being their Mom, I can still connect and get sneak peeks into the lives of the people I care about on a regular basis.
10. Texting!! It allows me to disconnect mentally and take mini brain vacations during the day and still be available. It also keeps this crazy family connected across the miles in noisy gyms, arenas and when we are out in the middle of no where!
11. Fresh garden tomatoes, still getting a few!
12. Friends near and far.
13. Unexpected times when God allows "Mom moments" for this Mom... Those random conversations in unexpected places, a laugh, smile.
14. Kitty snuggles
15. My dog herding and tripping me cause he can't get close enough to me as I try and enter the door, all because he missed me.
16. Late afternoons in the yard playing ball with the kids.
17. Trips to the lake just to look at the stars.
18. Swim meets, hockey and soccer games, volleyball matches, scouts and camping
19. Random conversations that reveal information about an interest a child has, answer to prayer. Conversation isn't so random as it is God orchestrated.
20. Pictures! They capture memories, otherwise easily forgotten, especially now with post-concussion syndrome.
21. Life lessons, in all that we experience. The good and bad. Embrace the lessons and grow, learning to not protect my children from them, but teaching them to embrace all of them, even the hard ones.
22. Sunday comics!!
23. Libraries and all the many many many books, I don't have to acquire bookshelves for in my home.
24. Quirky grandmothers and the memories they leave behind
25. Essential oils and the healing they can bring about in our lives, physically and emotionally. 

 26. Hope I have, all because of Jesus and being adopted by my Heavenly Father
27. "Hugs" from God, those moments He provides just as you discover the need.
28. Garage sales--they are just so much fun!!
29. Kiddos that love vegetables and fruit! Their favorite section in the grocery store: the produce department!
30. Chocolate!!!
31. Four seasons...I love them all for what each has to offer.
32. Rewards cards and coupons and Dillons fundraiser cards!! Creativity it takes to make the dollars work for our family!
33. Childhood memories to share with the nest generation!
34. My MeSSy home...it drives me nuts, but I wouldn't trade the messiness, my life would be so empty without the ones who make the messes.
35. Church-- a place to learn, grow and serve. And hopefully a place of acceptance, accountability and encouragement.
36. Children willing to serve and pitch in
37.  Yummy smells from the kitchen as 4 of 5 kids are now able to cook something. 

38.  Piano practice.  I love the sound!

39.  Church and the ability to worship wih so many other believers. 

40. Hugs, they are amazing! 

And one to grow on:

41.  Having a ten year spread between my children.  As one prepares to soar into adulthood and a couple in the teen years, snapping apron strings left and right, I still have a couple of younger ones that help keep me young doing things with them.