eat sleep and farm

My sweet boy, you are 5 months old today! We're quickly approaching that 6 month mark and at least for me, 6-12 months goes by in the blink of an eye. I love you so much, Miles. I love singing to you while you nurse watching you as you lay in my arms asleep hearing your sweet voice as you talk to your toys any chance I catch your sweet smile.... and I love that God gave me the privilege of being your Mama. You're getting so big and yet staying so cuddly and small at the same time. We still rock you to sleep and enjoy those quiet, still moments when your siblings have gone to bed and Daddy and I can just enjoy you for an hour or so. Its bliss. You weigh 14 1/2 pounds and are 26 inches long. Your head still hits the charts at the 95th percentile ;-) You have a very sweet personality. Its easy to make you smile and its easy to make you cry. I don't mean that in a weird way... you just have a very tender personality and if you hear someone else cry, you get choked ...

I'm going to do my best not to complain about the lingering summer weather. I don't 'hate' it, but I'm very over it and ready for Fall to begin. Not something I thought I'd complain about here in Washington, but alas. Its been too long since we've had any rain and it makes me sad to see things dying off and looking so thirsty and quenched. That's all. I promise.  The other day after school, Rachel told me her brain hurt.  She said she felt like the lake would help her brain recover and  as soon as she said it I thought, "yes, this is a good plan. I could use  a trip to the lake today." So we went.   the girls are eating oranges here.  Kara kept saying "this is the life" every few minutes :)   Baby brother napped.   the ducks got a bit too friendly when they saw our popcorn.   he likes to sit up and thinks he's cooler than air.      he's quite fascin...

School has begun, which means I'm blogging less. Not really a big deal. I have to say, I'm having just as much fun with school this year as the kids are. I feel a bit like a nerd, but I really enjoy looking through the teacher manuals when I've got free time. I like to see different things they're going to be learning and different techniques on how I should be teaching them. Jason's parents gifted us with some awesome school books this year and so far the reading program has won me over! Its part of the Bob Jones curriculum, and while I know BJ stuff is either widely hated or overly loved, I absolutely love their reading books/activity books. I have no idea if I'll be a 'fan' of any of their other subjects, but I'm finding the beauty in home schooling is, you can pick and choose and not have to lock yourself into one thing. I'm just happy that the kids are really enjoying school and happy to see that every year seems to get better and flow b...

We will never forget .  This was one of my favorite songs that was written post 9.11 Today, 11 years later, we remember those who were so brave and gave of their own lives to save so many others. We remember the families who lost loved ones and the fact that even though we've moved on, they never really will. I don't like to get into the political side of things and 9/11 certainly didn't make me appreciate our Government more - but it made me thankful for the grace, strength and integrity God has given to my fellow man. I well up with patriotic pride when I see men and women fighting for their safety and freedoms and seeing evil for what it really is. Its so weird to teach my kids about history I remember so well and yet they've never lived through. Kind of makes me feel old ;-) Here are the lyrics to Alan Jackson's song... Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?  Were you in the yard with your wife and children  or worki...

*The post below is from a couple weeks ago. Not sure why it was never posted. I re-read it and had to laugh out loud. Its so interesting to me how different my days/weeks can look. This happened to be a peaceful, good day. This past week hasn't had many of those. I have two kids who aren't sleeping well at night. When Miles isn't up eating, Kara is up screaming about a dream she had and doesn't want to go back to sleep. And I don't know about you, but when sleep is non-existant... I don't do well at all. So when you read this post, or as you read my blog in general, please don't think its all roses and sunshine. Its SO not. I am blessed, for sure. I often feel 'beyond blessed', which is a good feeling. God is always good and is always teaching me new things. Last night I got to bed late, due to needing to take a couple phone calls that were important {trust me, they were}. When I finally went to sleep it was 2am and at 3:15 Kara came to my bedsi...

On Labor Day we had a nice, quite family day together.  It was bliss.  We went to the Lake about 8 minutes away from our house and the kids dug in the sand, looked for shells and  made friends with the kids there. Jason kept commenting on what a happy and  peaceful time it was, and I told him that's why I do this with the kids during the summer months.  Hardest part of beach day is loading and unloading the car ;-)      she pouts sometimes.     These 6 ducks made me think of our family.     The one off in the distance would be Kara ;-)     someone tell me when my chubby little firstborn daughter got to be so big (!!)  I told her this morning I hope she always gives random kisses and  'I love you's' to us. I'll miss them when she's grown up and out of the house.  She's the child that tells us she's never moving away.  I think I said the same th...

School started at our house today! It came a lot faster than I thought it would. It always makes me laugh because really, life is one big continuing school lesson. Feels weird to say "today we start school", but you know what I mean :) New books have been arriving in the mail all summer long. Rachel gets so excited every time a new one comes, even if its not for her :) Ethan is worried that the work is actually getting harder {it is} and understands its going to take more effort and time, which has him less excited than I'd like. With him I struggle with the attitude of, "if it takes too much effort, I'd rather pass." So we're going to work on diligence, hard work and a cheerful attitude through it all. I'm not keeping a ridged schedule. I'm kind of against those, for personal reasons. We're going to be doing a ton of reading and hands on learning/ field trips and less 'text book' learning. I'm excited about getting...

I think Kara totally looks like me. I can see it.  I cannot see the huge resemblance between Rachel and me though. Do you?  I see so much of Jason in her, it amazes me sometimes.  But I don't usually see me. Other than the hair color and eyebrows ;-)