Ponderings

How can it be November? It is hard to believe we are almost through 2009!

We are preparing for our trip to see the Camaratas for Nate and then to Florida for a couple of days. We can't wait, although I am deep in the making-multiple-list modes. We are very excited to meet with the Camaratas again and get information from them on how to help Nate communicate more and more and how to help him learn. They are amazing people who have such a heart for kids, especially late talkers (guess it helps that they have seven kids and Dr. C was a late talker too, as was one of their sons). Anyhow, we'll have the van loaded to the gills and will be putting lots of miles on in a few days. We can't wait to bake a little in the Florida sun, and Nate and Ellie have been talking about Mickey Mouse for weeks.

I've learned one thing about blogging. I would love to put together long posts with lots of neat pictures. In reality, I end up starting a post, having it auto-save, and finishing it off in a couple of weeks (or months). I've decided I need to just post when I can, sometimes only a quick picture or note.

So, this will be a quick post as I really should be focusing on my big stack of need-to-do-before-we-go lists.

I finished up an online class on using copywork and dictation for language arts. It was a month long class, and I learned so much. The class really helped me feel comfortable using copywork and dictation as the main source of all our language arts needs. I would much rather use passages from the wonderful books we read to work on grammar, vocabulary, spelling, etc. than a dull, boring workbook. The class had many great ideas which I tried out on the kids. I really enjoyed the class.

We had a very special visitor to our home. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do much in the way of preparation as we didn't know the visitor would be coming.

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Thankfully, he was able to help himself to something to drink----

Yes, folks, that is a skunk drinking out of the water bowl our cats use. Yikes! Bill spotted Stinky and called all the kids over to watch (and snapped the picture). Nate and Ellie were running around the house yelling "Stinky". The next night, we had a raccoon peeking through a window watching us.

Stinky decided to check out what we were offering the cats another night. Bill and the older three kids were at karate, and when they got home, Jack ran up to the door. It was dark outside and for some reason, our yard light wasn't on. Jack got closer to the door and realized that the black creature he saw wasn't our cat Estherme, but STINKY! Jack ran back to the car, and Stinky left a little bit of himself behind. Oh yes, he sprayed the deck! The unique odor quickly penetrated our house (these 100+ year old farmhouses aren't sealed incredibly tight). Bill got the job of cleaning up the "skunk oil". It was only a spot about the size of two quarters, but boy, did it give off an aroma. Even the bedrooms upstairs had a nice skunk smell when we all tucked ourselves in that night.

We closed the restaurant as soon as the sun started to set, and we haven't seen (or smelled) Stinky since!

Parts and Pieces of Our Fall of 2009

We went on a "night walk" at Grandma and Papa's farm. The kids love doing this! We didn't see any wildlife (hmmm, wonder why---maybe the noise level:)), but we sure had fun! The kids can't wait to go in the snow.

Then we had a campfire and enjoyed the night!

The older kids decided to sleep out on the trampoline one night. They are all on there (some under covers).

Joe created a great fort for Nate and Ellie---

Shucking some corn---

And enjoying the work----

On another walk at Grandma and Papa's----

A find from a nature walk (woodpeckers had filled the wood with holes which slugs had filled---Nate and Ellie were very interested).

Nate busy at work on his nature walk.

A picture Joe took for his "Fun Workbox" assignment of taking pictures of five things in nature.

And finally, Ellie having a conversation with Aslan:)

Kids are like sponges

Last night, Bill took Joe and Jenny to activities and brought Ellie along. After they dropped off Jenny and Joe, they went to get a haircut for Bill and then to Target to pick out some new pretties for Ellie.

Bill said that Ellie saw some she liked and picked them up, saying, "I like these ones! They're gluten free!!"

How gluten free living can affect all areas of your life:)

A Memorable First Nature Walk of the 2009-10 School Year

Two weeks ago, Joe, Nate, Ellie and I went out on a nature walk. I'm using a book called The Handbook of Nature Study for Joe's nature walks this year. We went out with the idea of finding two things to research. We were all picking up acorns from under our oak when Joe exclaimed, "Mom, there's a bald eagle!!" He flew about 12 feet over our heads! Joe and I were so excited and started running after him.

The eagle flew in the direction of the barn and then circled over the woodshed about four times. I was able to snap a couple of pictures.

What a wonderful first nature walk of the year! Joe was in heaven and came in and called Bill, then sat down and drew an eagle. The next time we went to the library, he checked out all kinds of books on eagles. We saw the eagle again the next morning but haven't seen him since.

An Answer To Prayer

We've had a great summer (with frost warning in the northern part of the state tonight, I guess summer is ending soon!). I will post more on what we've done but wanted to share something that happened last weekend that was very memorable.

Joe, Jack and I were at a friend's helping with a garage sale. Bill took Jenny to the wildlife rehab that she volunteers at. One of the girls wasn't able to come, so Bill decided to stay and help (he had Nate and Ellie with him). They helped clean up the paths and some owl and eagle cages. The owner took the eagle out of the cage and walked the eagle to a temporary spot while they cleaned the cage out. Bill said the eagle was awesome---huge and very majestic. The owner also has two poodles, one which was out with the kids.

Saturday night Bill and I went up with Nate and Ellie for bed. We asked Nate if he would like to say prayers. In the past, if he would pray, he would sing a prayer we sing. Nate said, "Dear God" paused a little, then said "Thank You eagle, thank You dog, Amen". Both Bill and I were moved to tears! It was so touching to hear him verbalize what he was thankful for from his day!

God answered a prayer in giving Nate the ability to praise Him!

Celebrating 50 years!

We spent the weekend celebrating 50 years of marriage for Bill's parents! Saturday we spent the day at Jim and Paula's visiting with relatives we haven't seen in years, and Sunday we had a delicious meal at a restaurant on a local lake.

Bill's parents raised five terrific kids and are blessed with nine grandchildren. We all had fun spending time together. The love Dick and Rita have for each other and for their family was so evident throughout the weekend. How blessed we are to have such wonderful parents and grandparents!!

Don't they look incredibly happy?!

And here is our troop all dressed up:)

Quick Post (by Joe)

Hi people! Remember me?
Did you ever know I have a SPIDER!

Yep, Harriet.

My favorite football team is the Bengals. Take a look!

Bye!

How a 3 year old defines equal

The other day Ellie decided to scoop some ice cream. She was going to get a treat for Nate as well. Being the independent little gal she is, she got out the ice cream, the scooper, two bowls, and two spoons and proceeded to scoop.

This is the result of her effort---Nate's bowl is the small one with the two small scoops in it, Ellie's is the larger one with all the ice cream that remained in the container in it.

Funny how things are equal to a three year old!

Spring is Here!!

We've had lots of days of sunshine, some rainy days, temps ranging from the 70s to still having frost warnings at night---spring is here!

Lots of kids climbing trees---



Lots of green grass to be mowed-----


And a couple of birthdays----

And we also had a fashion show! Ellie is very interested in trying on numerous outfits each day.

A note every mother likes to receive

In 2003, I received the above note from Jack who would have been 6 at the time. I have it in my room on a "keepsake board" with special things from the kids.

I have so many things that I love about being a mother. I feel incredibly blessed to have five special people that call me Mom. So much of what I know about mothering I have learned from my mom, who is the most giving person I know. I have an wonderful role model in Mom, and she is definitely my mentor. Mom has lived out her love for Christ through her actions. Looking back on my childhood, I felt appreciated for who I was as an individual (sometimes hard to do when you have five siblings). I have learned from watching Mom what true patience is, how important showing interest in your kids' lives is (whether it is taking a break from chores to snuggle and read or always making them feel like you have open ears and are interested in what they are saying), and that having fun is important too! Mom had quite the variety of personalities with all of us and gave me some great advice about appreciating each child. She said she always felt it was so important to love each child for who they were and to gently guide them in both their strengths and "weaknesses" (maybe characteristics we would consider bothersome but great for an adult---being strong-willed, etc) One other thing that I have learned through "seeing" with Mom is to always have gratitude, in every situation--to always find things to thank God for. Many days I will remind myself of Mom's ability to not complain but to give thanks. What a blessing she is!

As I looked at our five children today, I appreciate the gift God has given me and pray that I am able to raise and nurture each one of them to love Him deeply and to please Him throughout their lives. I look forward to the day in Heaven when I can meet the little one we never got to hold here on earth.

I am so thankful today that I am a mom and that I have Mom in my life! And I am thankful for the sweet notes my kids give me:)

Overheard

Today I was enjoying a tuna sandwich. I made a batch of gluten free bread yesterday, and the bread was so soft and fresh. I have always loved good bread and since going gluten free, find having good bread such a treat! And the bread was good today!

Ellie sat down by me and started eating her cheese sandwich. She asked me what I was eating and I told her a tuna sandwich. She asked for some, and I handed her the sandwich so she could try it. Her response:
"Ew, that really stinks. Could you put it away?"

My kid who will eat anything wouldn't touch a tuna sandwich:)

What's new around our house

We are so happy that it is May and the flowers are starting to bloom, the grass is getting green, and the trees are starting to bud. So, what have we been doing since my last post---

Jenny started off the winter with a special ride with Jessi---
We had our first snowman


And some sledding on a little hill


and much bigger hill.




We got cabin fever and made a huge pile of blankets and stuffed animals.



Here it is after it collapsed


Many, many hours were spent in "the best seat in the house". Lots of books were read and many different people claiming the "spot", even Mom and Dad.



We celebrated some birthdays---




Got dressed up (Ellie makes a great Spiderman)~


Fell asleep in some wonderful spots---Nate on the couch and notice Ellie tucked into her Tigger couch--
We tried out some new professions:

Air Traffic Controller


Beautician



We played a LOT in and with water---

We took a trip to the zoo with our cousins on a warm (for March) day---

And we spent time playing with our farm animals.

As I look back over the winter, I am so thankful for the many wonderful memories we have made. The kids have all had new experiences. Jenny is volunteering with an animal rehab center and was able to help feed an eagle, falcons, owls, a hawk and a fox. She helped at a science fair and held the falcon and fed a flying squirrel. She is loving getting to know more about animals and how to keep them in the wild.

Jack continues to shadow technicians at a local Apple dealer. Wednesday afternoons are his favorite time of the week! He has his own computer lab and is the one we go to with any computer issues. He also got his Timothy Award for AWANA this spring which is quite an honor. To get the Timothy award, one memorizes over 400 verses!

Joe taught himself how to play the recorder. Joe has an incredible gift with little ones---whenever he is with kids younger than him, they all want to be with him all the time. Now we can call him the Pied Piper---he plays his recorder, and the kids all follow behind! I think Joe has grown four inches over the winter as evidenced by the change in the length of his pants. Joe can create all kinds of neat things---lots of art projects, creations out of this-and-that found around the house, and paper creations.

Nate had his adenoids removed last month. He has struggled with congestion for years and has had trouble sleeping this winter. He seems to be recovering well, and we are praying that with the better sleep and overall change in congestion, he will continue to communicate more and more. He loves to jump on the trampoline and helps us all get our daily exercise. He also loves the zoo and all the animals there and now that it is getting warmer, we'll be able to visit more often.

Ellie is our 3 year old going on 13. She has such an independent spirit and is capable of so much! It amazes me how different all five of our kiddos are! God truly created each one with such different strengths and sweetness---how blessed we are to know these five people! Back to Ellie, she keeps us on our toes and fills our hearts with joy! She loves to be the one praying at dinner and never forgets anyone. She is quite the conversationalist and has been known at times to embellish her stories (for example, telling a friend that she broke her leg---now where did that come from?).

This month we'll be finishing up on school for the year, working on some projects around the house (including hopefully finishing a lot of the barn painting), and just enjoying the beauty of creation. Just this morning Bill and I were enjoying coffee on the deck. It was wonderful to soak in the sunshine and listen to all the birds sing! Spring is so refreshing!