First Day of School

Today was O-fficially our first day of school.  I was super excited about starting the new school year and have been for a couple of months now.  Well, ever since I got Kristen's first grade curriculum.  I have my lessons all planned out, binders made up and a list of books we need to check out each week from the library.  I am a lot more prepared this year than I was last year.  I didn't really know what I needed to do, so I just flew by the seat of my pants.  This year I knew I was going to go into it better prepared. 

Everyone around the table eating a snack and listening to our bible lesson for the day. 

Kristen has looked forward to starting 1st grade for some time now.  She is excited about the extra subjects she is doing and I am a little concerned about the additional work load.  The thought of juggling everything is a bit overwhelming. Today things went pretty smoothly and by lunch we were done with all subjects, except science.  I know every day will be different, but I am going to go with the flow and not stress. 

Kristen is doing reading, writing, language arts, spelling, science, history and bible. It sounds like a lot, but some subjects aren't done every day.  Lauren is just doing reading, math and bible.  She has no interest in learning, so I really hope that changes.  We are still working on letter sounds and I hope to start reading by the end of the year.  I am planning on starting math in about a month.  She still has some numbers to learn first, but she is making progress and that is all that matters. 

She is actually a lefty, but was using her right today

Dallas decided he was going to do a little teaching today and decided to hop in my chair when I got up to start lunch.  He had the papers in hand and was jabbering like he knew what he was talking about. 

Hope you guys had a good Monday. I am looking forward to the rest of the week!

Summer Wrap-Up

 

I purposely didn't blog over the summer because I wanted to enjoy time with my kids instead of always trying to capture blog worthy moments for a post.  I will admit, my blogging has pretty much taken the back burner in my life, but once again I am going to try to be a better blogger...solely for the memories it leaves me with.  Nothing makes me want to blog more than going back and reading past posts. 

Our summer has been pretty relaxing....something we all needed.  There were a few bumps here and there, but it mostly went by quickly and smoothly. We started our summer with VBS and if I am honest...it was a rough week for us.  We didn't necessarily have to be up earlier than usual, well for me and Dallas it wasn't early, but for the girls it was. It was the getting up and getting moving that was the hard part.  No cuddling in the recliner until 8:00 for Dallas and I.  No getting up and watching cartoons until 8:30 breakfast time for the girls.  Nope...we all had to get up, get dressed and eat breakfast before 8:00.  Even though I was completely exhausted by the time VBS ended and took several naps that week, it was a very rewarding week.  You forget how fun it is and how much the kids enjoy it and look forward to it.  Kristen loved it! Lauren finally started to like it once it was ending. And Dallas....well, it wasn't his favorite week, but I would like to think he enjoyed it a little bit.  Kristen is already looking forward to next year.

We had our annual firework show at the Harris House.  This is becoming a tradition that we have enjoyed.  We buy our fireworks and Paul sets them off in the front yard. I think the girls enjoy this more than going somewhere.  Once the fireworks are done...into the bath and in the bed the kids go.

The girls with sparklers

 Memaw, Kristen, Lauren and Dallas

 Grandpa Fred and Dallas just a rockin

We also took a trip to visit my grandmother.  She turned 95 this year.  That's something to celebrate.  We enjoy our time in the mountains visiting with her.  Kristen and Lauren love it.  Mountain life is a lot different and it's nice to see family you don't get to see but once a year. 

 

 

We celebrated Lauren's fifth birthday with a monkey party. She wanted a monkey cake and I decided to make the monkey out of fondant.  It turned out pretty good.  The hardest part was getting lime green icing.  It is a lot trickier than one would think.

Our last hoorah before our school starts was our trip to the beach.  My parents and sister (and her husband) rented a house in Salvo North Carolina and invited us down. We were all excited.  It was the kids first trip staying at the beach.  Kristen loved the sand, Lauren loved the water and Dallas hated it all.  He cried and screamed and just wanted to be held.  He hated the water and the sand on his feet.  He finally walked around with his shoes on, but was happier being away from the beach.  The house was so nice and we all had a wonderful time.  I am so thankful for my family and all they do for us. 

Kristen and Aunt Kelly's sand castle. 

Kristen LOVED the sand.

Lauren and her sand castle her and Meme made.

One of the very few times Dallas actually played in the sand. 

The girls in the Jacuzzi.  There were LOTS of bubbles...and they kept multiplying.

 

 

It is hard to believe the summer is over.  It does seem like it just begun.  Kristen did finish up with all of her math workbooks and reading over the summer.  She finally got over the reading hump and is doing so good.  School starts for us in two days.  I am excited.  Here are some more pictures from our summer. 

 

 

Dallas spent the summer getting into things he wasn't supposed to...

 

 

 

Kristen spent the summer trying to keep Dallas out of her room. 

 

No brothers allowed!

 

 

She also spent her summer being creative. 

This is supposed to be the bunny from the story Knuffle Bunny

 

 

Some of our summer was spent being silly...

 

 

 

 

There were some firsts.....

 

 

Dallas' first at home hair cut...that was way too short.

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Lauren's first time painting her fingernails....all by herself.

 

 

We prepared for rain....

 











Ate Popsicle's....

 

 And had a picnic....

 

 

What a great summer!

 



Happy Birthday Lauren

My Dear Sweet Lauren,

Happy birthday to you!  Your are 5 years old today.....WOW!  Where has time gone?  So much has happened over the past five years of your life.  The good years have now surpassed the bad and I get to do something I prayed for so long ago.  I get to sit back and watch you grow.  I remember sitting in the NICU, watching you in your Isolette and thinking...if only I could fast forward five years.  I didn't know what life would be like in five years, and if I am honest...I didn't even know if you would be here with us, but I did know that things five years down the road had to be a lot easier than they were then.  I was so heartbroken and the only thing I could do was pray for you....and that's what I did.  So did so many other people.  There were prayers going up all over the place for you.  Prayers from people we didn't even know. 

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have given me relief when I was in distress.

Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

-Psalm 4:1

 

God heard our prayers and he answered them beyond what we could imagine.  He showed us that, no matter what statistics say or MRI's show, you were going to walk and talk and be able to see and hear. You are a child of God and have been "fearfully and wonderfully made"  by Him. God chose you sweet girl! You are His miracle.  God has big plans for you! 

 

I look forward to watching you grow, just don't grow up too fast.  I love you more than I could ever express and thank God everyday that He chose me to be your Momma.  

Lots of hugs and kisses just for you on your birthday!

Love,
Momma

Random Thoughts and Pictures

I have not been in much of the blogging mood these past two weeks, but I am back now (at least for a little while).  Lots of things have happened, including the addition of our little chicks.

This past Friday one of them died.  Pooh was the littlest and just wasn't growing.  It was very sad and Kristen took it the hardest.  Lauren cried, but mostly because Kristen was so upset. Lauren hasn't mentioned the chick, but Kristen has asked about Pooh everyday and prays for him/her every night.  Today we got another little chick from some friends at church, so we are back up to fifteen.  We have enjoyed watching them grow, but I am ready for them to be outside.  It will be a couple more weeks though.  Some nights when Paul is snoring breathing heavy in his sleep I usually crash on the couch.  Now I have to choose between Paul's snoring or birds chirping in the bathroom.

School is going good.  Kristen completed book 1 of her math curriculum....all 160 pages!  We are going to take a couple weeks off to review before moving on.  I have added some new things to our school day.  Kristen is really into drawing, so I checked out a drawing book from the library.  She has really enjoyed learning how to draw things and I have been enjoying it myself.  I am going to use the Draw Write Now curriculum next year.  It mixes drawing and writing together to help with both.  I think she will enjoy it.  I also checked out a book, Backyard Science and we have been going on nature walks and studying leaves.  Kristen has enjoyed it, but Lauren is very much like me.  She doesn't really enjoy being outside and she is terrified of any bug.  On Tuesday both her and Kristen (not knowing) stood on a giant ant hill with giant black ants that started crawling up their legs, so our nature walk was short this past week. They both wanted to go back inside pronto.  Lauren is not only learning her letters, she is also learning her numbers.  She is doing much better at staying in the lines and can write some letters if I ask her (I don't even have to show her). 

I have made the decision to homeschool year round, at least for right now.  I don't think it would benefit Kristen or Lauren if we took off for three months, and there really is no reason to.  I like the flexibility of being able to take off a day here and there (or a week or half a week).  We only do math and a spelling test on Fridays and take the rest of the day off.  We don't have any vacations planned this summer, so it just made sense. I am sure Kristen will finish her math before September when the school year "officially" starts, but we will go ahead and start the 1st grade curriculum when she finishes the K.  We might take a few days off then.  I don't think she will finish her reading.  If we continue on the path we are going she won't and that is okay.  We will start the 1st grade reading curriculum when she is ready. I will wait to start our science, social studies, spelling and other curriculum's until September.  Lauren will start her reading and math once she learns her numbers and letter sounds.  Kristen has to take a standardized test at the end of 1st grade, so I am little nervous about her testing ability, which is why I am starting to give her some spelling tests to get her prepared. Anyways, here are some pictures of my silly girls from these past few weeks.

The girls helping me clean.

Lauren dressed herself.  Glad we didn't have anywhere to go.  Look at those long skinny legs!

 

Funny suckers. How they fit in their mouth I have no idea.  They were HUGE!

 

Kristen had created a space ship. She has such an imagination.

 

 

My favorite picture! (Before the GIANT ants)

 

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.

Psalm 91:4a

 

That was our verse this week.  This was Kristen's bird craft made out of her hand.  She did a fabulous job.  Lauren wasn't feeling too crafty on this day.

 

Much to Paul's dismay I am about to post some pictures from Kristen's tea party this weekend.  She was so excited to be having a tea party.  She planned the menu: cake, cupcakes, brownies, strawberries, chips and dip.  We finally decided to just do cupcakes, strawberries, chips and dip and to let everyone bring something if they wanted to.  There was dancing, nail painting and fashion shows.  It really was a very fun time. 

 

Yes, Dallas had on a dress and girl shoes, BUT he also had on a camo hat, so that trumps the dress...right?

 

 

The tea party table scape.

 DIVA!

 They definitely get their coolness from their Aunt Kelly.

My mom had the most interesting hat, even if she couldn't turn her head...haha.

All the pretty ladies.

 

 

And I leave you with the video of Dallas walking, although he has been walking for a month now.