I love My Santa

My Santa knew just what I would love for Christmas!  I received my very own iPhone 5.  I can text now! Well sort of.  I am really bad at it, but I message friends, check email, take pictures, and pin things to Pinterest wherever I am.  It is amazing! I also love having a fun camera with me wherever I go.  The first picture with my iPhone was from our church's Christmas dinner. I am not going to win any awards for this one, but it is nice to capture a memory.

Thank you again to my very kind, thoughtful, and generous husband for getting me my favorite, Christmas gift yet.

Abby Strikes Again

What do you do when you can't find yogurt to eat, if you are two years old?  You get some sour cream of course!  And if that sour cream doesn't taste like yogurt?  You paint with it of course!  Invite a friend, of course, to help you clean it up.

Lick your boots!  Lick the floor!  There's plenty more!

Let's slip and slide.

 Quick, Lucy we better hide!

Started Off So Well

Well today was a busy day.  Lots to get done before Daddy got home.  The van was a scary mess, almost as bad as my English teacher's car, but with less papers and more food.  James and Emma tackled that beast of a job without much coercion. 

I love having a clean car before a road trip, especially when I don't have to do the cleaning!

While Emma and James worked themselves to near exhaustion, Jesse and Cate played just as hard.

Where is Jesse?

Speaking of Jesse, he received the first wounds inflicted by Lucy.  He seemed a little stunned that his beloved kitty had scratched him.  I was stunned too.  Lucy has been SO patient in spite of great affliction.  What could Jesse have possible done to make Lucy scratch him?  Apparently, Lucy doesn't like to be put into a bucket.  Go figure!

We had a great day, but it ended on a sad note.  Daddy's flight was canceled so he couldn't be with us tonight.  It was such a letdown after looking forward to it all week long.  I have five very sad kids!  Hopefully we will be able to see Daddy in the morning.

Tomorrow Is Only a Day Away

One more day til Daddy gets home and we are all ready to see him.  Abby has asked, "Where is Daddy?"   many times.  Daddy you have missed 20+ kisses goodnight since you have been gone and Abby singing "Jesus Loves Me" at least 5 times.  You have also missed Abby grabbing your face with her grubby, chubby hands and pulling you close to her face to tell you "I lub you."  I know you haven't missed the meals that we have been having, but know that you are loved and missed.

Accomplishments for Thursday:
Jesse cut out one of preschool pictures, but didn't really want to color it.  Cutting is his favorite!

James finished his science homework.  Big accomplishment!

Cate finished her math, Explode the Code, and read 3 Bob books.  She thinks very carefully as she works her problems.

While Emma, James, and Cate went to play at a friend's house for the afternoon Jesse and I had an impromptu cookie time.  Jesse was quite forlorn he wasn't invited, but milk and cookies helped ease his sorrows.

After our bellies were filled with milk and cookies we snuggled on the couch for some quality cinema.
While I accomplished dinner preparations Jesse attacked me with his nerf gun.  The was the first time this week I made a meal from something other than a box.  Shhh, please don't tell.

Then "Iron Man" came to help me finish getting dinner made.

Abby of course accomplished stinking up the entire kitchen at the most inopportune time and then refused to be sequestered to the changing the pad.

 I received smiles all around this crowd for making mac n' cheese, chicken and not so much the salad.

The Macaroni Thief succeeded in stealing some of Abby's when she wasn't looking.  It was a horrifying experience for Abby to find her plate no longer had any macaroni left.

I wonder who the macaroni thief was?

Madagascar 3 to close my day with my sweeties.

A Wiley Wednesday

What did Daddy miss today?

Abby woke up on the wrong side of my bed this morning after kicking me ALL night long.  She comforted herself this morning with her belly button, fingers, and some cartoons for a little bit.

 Jesse doted on Lucy of course.

They were both very happy.

Daddy missed getting Abby out of the pantry and fridge for the thousandth time.  She was feeling up to foraging after her cartoons.

Daddy also missed the crazy monkeys that have taken over our trees.

I am sorry to say that mouse family is down another family member, but my love for Lucy grows as she leaps and bounds after those rodents.  Good job Lucy!

Best kitty. In. The. World.  Abby roughest kitten wrangler this side of the Southern Carolina's.

Daddy missed another beautiful day with brilliant, maple leaves falling everywhere.

Emma and James played soccer at practice while Cate, Jesse, and Abby ran around with friends and got some energy out.

Daddy definitely missed the best part of the day: pizza and shopping spree!  I saved Daddy so much money.  He will be so surprised! :)

Daddy the white thing isn't a scarf it is my receipt.  I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Everyone is still alive and I didn't scream too many times.  I am so glad today is over though.  Two more days till reinforcements arrive.

Falling for My Children

Two pages on my calender have been turned on my calendar since the last time I have tried to write down my thoughts and show you what we have been doing.  If anyone is still reading out there I am sorry for the long delay.  I wish I could say exciting, cool, amazing things have been happening, but really my life is ALL about the daily monotony of teaching my children, cleaning up after everyone, chauffeuring, making sure everyone is fed with a modest amount of quality food, and trying to find time to write and run has been the first to go.  

My mind is beginning to see through the busyness of what our family has become and enjoy the moments of happiness that grace each day.  While Daddy is away I will try to show him what we have been doing so he doesn't miss as much of our wild ways.  

I honestly struggle to find a balance on school days where I can get fun quality time in with all 5 children without my house and mind falling apart.  Today my expectations were low but I managed to spend some time with Abby, Jesse, Cate, James and Emma.  Not small feat I assure you.

Abby was supposed to be picking up the pompoms with clothespins, but she decided she had enough of my silly teaching time and dumped them all out.  

Her snack remained hostage until every last one was picked up.  They were quickly cleaned up.  Abby will work for food as well.

Jesse did a great job spelling his name today and writing the letters T and I.  Jesse's attention span has grown so much from just this spring.  I have seen a lot of changes in his personality too.  He likes to keep quiet, except when I am trying to pull him away from his Lego game on the computer.

We read all these books to get ready for quiet time.  Once I was done reading all these books I was almost asleep myself.
    

Emma and James worked on their science homework today.  I have to say this was the BEST science activity ever!  They are learning about rocks, minerals, and fossils in their earth science right now.  Today's activity was to show how difficult it can be to mine for gold, copper, and other minerals.  The activity was titled "Chocolate Mining".  Yes, yes you had me at chocolate!
Emma went straight to the kitchen to bake some chocolate chip cookies as required for their "science" activity.  I love having children old enough to make their own food.  :)

Emma was very careful as she "mined" for the chocolate chips around the rest of the cookie.

James' technique was a bit rougher, but he got the job done.

Emma and James just hated this project as you can see.

I love, love teaching these eager students.  My day is so much more fun with them.

Leaf gathering is a novelty here.  We never had enough leaves at our last house to make big enough piles for all the kids to jump in.  At our new home it is a different story.  Maples, oaks, beeches, and walnut trees are throwing their leaves down for my children to enjoy.

If anybody tells my children that this is actually work I will have your head!

The fruit of their labors was to read outside in the beautiful weather atop their leaf mountain.

Lucy was just excited to have some company to play with outside.

Oh, and Cate finally lost the tooth that has been dangerously, dangling for months.

Daddy you missed an awesome day.  Hope your day was as delicious, funny, and lovely as ours.