The flower girl and ring bearer

Natalie and Adam

We headed to Indianapolis a couple of weekends ago to celebrate the union of marriage with Kim and Michael. They had a beautiful wedding and Natalie and Adam were in the wedding! They did a great job.

Yeah, I know she looks way older than 7! Its just that quirky personality of hers that shines through! Well she’s also absolutely beautiful, If I do say so myself!

Kim and Natalie

We had a great evening of dancing, food, and fellowship!

Siblings all fancied up!

The Cake

Natalie, Adam and Travis!                          

 

 

 

  Giving Kim away!

 

Father & Daughter Dance                                              My Michael and Kim

 

                                                                               

Travis found a lint roller to play baseball with!

Our beautiful family….

Our Advent Celebration

We are starting a new tradition this Christmas Season! I have searched for an Advent Activity that is simple, low maintenance, and fun. I am glad to say I have found one that I can use to fit our family. I found the  Names Of Jesus Advent Chain, on the blog, www.SpellOutLoud.com.

This is a free download and you are able to print it off from you own computer. On the blog she says to use Purple and Silver cardstock, well I didn’t have those colors so I used Blue and White and hung it in our dining room on a shelf.

We are excited to learn about all the different names of Jesus throughout the bible!

What are you and your family using for Advent?

HMJ-October 28, 2011

In my life this week:

Fast paced days and a trip to the ER with the 2 year old.

In our homeschool this week:

We have done well to get our core subjects completed. Natalie and Adam are chugging right along in their math and phonics. Natalie is also doing well with her reading and spelling. Adam is finally writing all of his letters and knows their sounds, so we are going to start adding in a few high frequency words next week.

What’s working/not working for us:

Having a toddler with 2 staples in the back of his head is not really working for us. He has no idea how to stay calm and not wrestle with everyone. I just have to keep reminding him of this! But then again , I can’t expect to much…he’s a boy and he is 2!

Questions/thoughts I have;

I prayed over my son as the doctor was putting the staples in his head. I prayed and prayed aloud, which is something I wouldn’t normally do (I pray, but not out loud and in front of other people, normally). This is just to show how powerful the God I serve is. He brought me to a place of complete awkwardness and made me shine. I felt powerful!

My favorite thing this week:

Praying with a child that is not my own and feeling peace for the both of us. I also moved him to tears and myself after a hard situation and praying.  This child is heavy on my heart and I hurt for him. I know he knows Jesus, but I want more for him. I want him to have a relationship with Him.

Something to share:

Here is my baby with 2 staples in the back of his head. He was playing outside in the wagon and the person pulling the wagon didn’t realize he was trying to get out while it was moving and Travis fell backwards onto the gravel in the driveway and landed on a rock. He had a 5 mm laceration, needed 2 staples and is doing well.

Funny Little Boy!

 

Our family was at church Wednesday evening and we were just talking and visiting with a few people. I was standing up and the kids had been playing and eating their candy from their fall festival.

I was talking and then heard….I see your underwear!!…I proceeded to look down and saw Adam laying on the floor looking up. He had crawled in between my feet and was looking up my skirt. I hadn’t even noticed, he was very sly and quick.

I was embarrassed and then laughed and then had to correct my child.

I asked Adam if he thought it was appropriate to look up a persons skirt and yell that he could see their underwear? He replied, No, Mommy I was inappropriate. 

Wow I can’t believe he did that. Definitely one of the most embarrassing things he has done!

Has this every happened to you? Do you have any funny little boy stories?

Staples

Today we had beautiful weather outside and the kids were running in and out all afternoon. They were thrilled to be able to play outside with out jackets! I even had the dining room windows open so the children could be heard from outside if they needed anything! All was well and I went into the kitchen, where I could still hear all of the children and then it happened…I heard a cry….we as parents know this cry. It’s the one where you become sick to your stomach, you get a lump in your throat and run to the crying child….I hear Adam yell…he’s bleeding, he’s bleeding as Travis is standing in the driveway by the gravel and wagon.

He was standing up with blood dripping from the back of his head. I swooped him up, got him inside by the kitchen sink as I was yelling Miiiicccchhhhaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllll!!! Michael came upstairs and asked what happened? I explained what happened to him as he grabbed a washcloth. I got the washcloth wet and started to wash away the blood on Travis’ head. It looked okay to me, but was still bleeding. Mike on the other hand was laying on the couch in the dining room with his feet up. (Oh yeah, he doesn’t do blood. He gets queasy and light headed). He informed me that Travis needed to go to the EMERGENCY ROOM….I didn’t argue, I just gathered my things and put the baby in the car and drove to the ER.

As we were driving to the ER, I explained to Travis that we were going to the doctor and we needed to have his boo boo checked out and make sure it was all okay. We walk in and explain to the lady at the front desk what happened, we are then taken into have Travis weighed, check his temperature and blood pressure and give a quick history of his health. All the while I am having to talk over a screaming child and ask the nurse to repeat her questions at least three times before I am able to answer. Sorry. My baby is screaming that he wants to go bye bye and no night night. The nurse takes us to ER Room #5.

Its not long before admitting comes in and gives Travis his anklet! Travis is still screaming and crying. He was scared and thinking that he was going to have to go night night on the bed in the ER. I told him he wouldn’t have to and that we would go bye bye after the Dr. looked at his boo boo. He was not taking that for a final answer. He wanted to leave and leave now. He cried and cried and I just held him and tried to console him. He did calm down, and then the Dr. had to come in. We then had to get on that night night bed, which made him more mad and upset. The Dr. looked at his boo boo and said there was about a 5mm cut. Dr. didn’t think he needed stitches, but would need staples….I’m sorry, what did you say. You are going to put STAPLES into my babies head? Dr. says, Yes I am and they can come out in 10 days. Then I am told that Travis is not going to have any numbing medication before the staples go in. (No numbing meds because they don’t work on the head). Okay.

The Dr. left the room to go and get his supplies and Travis was all worked up. I got him calmed down again and relaxed and then the Dr. began to clean the area really well and prep it for the staples.  Dr. says, here we go Mom. I became scared for my child. Scared of the pain he was going to endure. I wanted it to be me, because I could “handle” it better. I began praying over Travis. Praying out loud and for him to have comfort. I sang Jesus Loves Me and it was all over. He had done it. Two staples in the back of my babies head. We waited for paperwork to be finished and we were free to go. Free to go home, and see Daddy.

Travis walked half way out of the ER. It was like a surreal moment. I felt like I was in a movie. Travis had a bloodstained shirt, matted hair, with a red, puffy face. He had a smile though. He was happy to be leaving and going home to show Daddy his boo boo and his ankle bracelet.

We drove home and Travis was awake and very alert. He walked in very proud and showed his Daddy what he got. He pointed to his head and said boo boo then lifted his pant leg to show Daddy his ankle bracelet. Travis is so brave, so strong, so full of life.

HMJ-October 14, 2011

In my life this week:

I have to say, I have had a great week. Nothing to great or to bad happened. Fairly quiet, content, routine week. I love weeks like these!

In our homeschool this week:

We added Science in our studies this week. Natalie loved it. Adam on the other hand wasn’t feeling well the day we did our science so he missed out. Natalie keeps asking  everyday if we are going to do more science. I say, we are only going to do it once a week at this point. If they want more, maybe we can add it in as we have time?

What’s working/not working for us:

I hate to say this and feel like an awful mother at times, but then on the other hand I don’t feel bad because I don’t see a problem with it at times….our kids watch television and play on the computer a lot of times during “school hours”. I don’t know if this is a bad thing or not, its not as if they sit in front of one or the other from the time they rise till bed time. I have tried to limit time with television, I have tried no television during the school week and then I just give in and let them watch it because they then drive me crazy in a sense! So I am wondering on how I find a happy medium for our family?

Questions/thoughts I have;

Do you allow your children to have free range of computer time and/or television during the school day?

My favorite thing this week:

I have to say it was Moms Night Out with our homeschool group of moms. We always have a great time and have great food!

Something to share:

These are the treats we got at the Apple Orchard last weekend. Apple cider slushy, apple cider in an apple, and an apple doughnut were a few things we sampled while we were there.

Funny Friday

Big brother, Adam decided that it would be a great idea to take all of the books off of the book shelves upstairs and add them to the pack-n-play that little brother Travis was climbing in and out of. The kids enjoyed this for a while and said that they were going to read every single book. Adam even brought out his pillows and blankets. Travis looks so pathetic because I wouldn’t let him hold onto the camera.

Just got to love those guys!

Apple Orchard

This was the first time we had been to the apple orchard! It was a great time, although we should have gone in September. I say that because the apples are all ready to be picked in September, so we didn’t get to pick any apples. The kids didn’t seem to mind, since they had other fun things to do.

Here are the snacks we got from the Country Store at the Orchard.

That is an apple cider slushy in the white cup, apple cider in the apple, and an apple doughnut.

The kids playing on the playground.

 

 

 

The apple sling shot and arm paintings.

 

 

 

 

 

We had beautiful weather for going to the apple orchard, and we had a great family time!

TheHomeSchoolMothersJournal..20

In my life this week:

Do you ever feel like life has got ahead of you? Well that is how I have felt this week. I had the feeling that I had my home had spiraled out of control into a disaster, I had no control over anything, and couldn’t get motivated to do much of anything. Although, come Thursday and Friday, God had given me grace and I am, again on the top of the mountain. I have taken control of the laundry, dishes, and our normal day to day cleaning. There is a lot to do daily and sometimes I get overwhelmed on where to begin. My husband works outside of the home, and I work inside of the home with my daycare.  My God is the only one who can help me overcome, rise me up, and lead me in the direction He wants me to go. So I lean and ask Him to take me! He is so faithful!

In our homeschool this week:

This week has been lead by an un-schooling approach. My kids have not done much “book” work, but have taken interest in learning what they want to learn and when they want to do it. Its actually been a lot of fun. They have learned a lot. We have had sporadic talks about Heaven, Hell, and Satan. We have drawn dinosaurs. Built with Legos. Played outside, made cakes with rocks and grass in the yard! Pulled weeds and picked our pumpkins that grew in our yard. Its has been a great week for us! I am so in love with how they love to learn and pick up on things so easily when just given the gift of time and the presence of someone who cares!

What’s working/not working for us…

I have enjoyed getting up a lot earlier than normal. My husband goes to work about 6:20 am. I have been getting up about the time he leaves and getting myself ready for the day before the kids get up. It works so much better, that way I don’t have to worry about breaking up anything between the children  while in the shower! HAHA!

Questions/thoughts I have…

Nothing this week.

My favorite thing this week:

Learning right along side my kids!

Something to share:

Isn’t this so true!

Product Review

For the past few weeks we have been working with a PE program. Family Time Fitness is a very exciting program in our homeschool. We are able to work inside and out with the exercises given to us.  Family Time Fitness has programs for Kindergarten through Fifth grade. It is reasonably priced for a lifetime of fitness at $99 for the entire program from kindergarten through fifth grade, and its all online.  If you have multiple students in a certain age range, you are able to print off as many copies as you would need. So no paperwork or workbooks to keep track of.

Since we have began this program the kids have learned new exercises, vocabulary and definitions of fitness terms, health and nutrition. They also had a lot of fun. We used the K-1st grade workbooks. I thought that would be best, so that we could focus a little more on my kindergartener and my not so athletic 2nd grader.

We didn’t do a lot of the writing or extra worksheets. We mainly worked on the exercises and formation. We did talk a lot about vocabulary and spelling the fitness words. I believe the kids favorites were the crab walk and the superman pose.

 

Natalie doing Jumping Jacks.                Natalie in the superman pose.

 

If you are interested in Family Time Fitness you can get more information at www.familytimefitness.com.

 

Jaclynn Creek is a homeschooling mom to three wonderful blessings at Soaring Creek Academy. Her days are spent learning side by side with a 2nd grader, kindergartener, and 2 year old, reading lots of books, cooking and spending time with her wonderful family. Her favorite thing about homeschooling is learning new things through her children. You can find her on her blog at www.thecreekfam.blogspot.com.

Happy 2nd Birthday Travis

Travis was born September 23, 2009 at 10:37 AM. He weighed 7lbs 9oz and was 19 inches long! He was a little guy with big, puffy cheeks! I loved him the minute I knew he was coming! He is a blessing in our lives and is a very active little boy!

We celebrated Travis’ 2nd Birthday with a baseball theme! If you know him, you know a baseball party was an excellent selection! He lives, breaths, and eats baseball, football and any other sport with a ball!

My friend made our cake!

We then had presents….

We also had great fellowship with friends and family.

Here are a few of the people, others were in the kitchen and basement.

 

I am so thankful for all the people that came to Travis’ birthday party! It means a lot to us to know we have so many people that love us! We are blessed.

No More Poo…

I have finished my 2 week trial with the no poo. I am happy to say that I believe I have perfected the system for myself and my hair. I will continue to keep using 2 tbsp of baking soda and 1.5 cups of water as my hair wash along with 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water as my conditioner. I am using so much baking soda because I have very thick hair and its past my shoulders.  I am also washing my hair every other day.

My scalp feels so much better, my hair looks healthier, and its easy.

Be poo free!!

Jackie

TheHomeSchoolMothersJournal..19

In my life this week:

Its been a pretty good week around here!

In our homeschool this week:

We have taken a few breaks with our schooling. We had 3 official school days this week. I needed to get something's done around the house and we skipped school!! We were due for a break anyways right!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing:

We had our normal Monday Co-Op. Church on Wednesday night. We are going to a bon fire tonight to have s’mores, hotdogs, and great fellowship with friends!

My favorite thing this week:

MOMS NIGHT OUT! I had such a great time with a group of homeschool moms.

Something to share:

I am amazed at the depth of my daughters (7) mind and understanding. We talked about the events of September 11, 2001. She amazes me! Here is a picture of what she drew after she took in all of the information. Natalie truly expresses herself in her drawings. It’s a way I can fully grasp what is going on in her mind.

Natalie 7 Years Old

9/11/11