The Journey Of A Ladybug...

So we ordered a Ladybug habitat so we could study the life cycle of Ladybugs! I can tell you that we learned a lot, stressed a little, and had a lot of fun..
We received these tiny little things in a tube...fresh from the eggs, a few were still Eggs!
                          

They quickly began to grow as we watched, and watered the gel till they were ugly little Larvae!

 They kind of look like spiders, right?!? 

Then it was time for them to enter the Pupal stage

I kind of thought they had died. ;?

They emerged as little white critters that were super hungry!!! They were ready for their raisins? Yep, soaked raisins cut in half..

...and poop, oh dear heavens the poop! 

They changed to pink and continued to darken.. We loved watching them grow, shed their exoskeletons, and grow some more! 

We also studied Delaware...seemed fitting! 

These little ladybugs kept growing, changing, and developing...

Till it was time to let them go...

...it was a Beautiful Journey~ So with a few tears & song we released them to the garden. So they could fly away home.

I Can't Believe You Are Seven?!?

My Bubbly Middle Girl,

    You are looking more like your big sister everyday! I just can't believe it...you are growing up so fast!!! There are so many things that make you special...you are complex and unique. These are just a few... I love your sense humor~

   You are funny; no matter what is going on in my life you can always make me laugh!!! You are silly, bubbly, and full of joy!!! You are friendly and kind! You know how to light up the room with the smile on your face. Your heart always shines through and that is what makes you beautiful!

   You are so beautiful! I love your smile..especially your sneaky smile even if I'll never admit it to your face! Your dad and I tease that you may be a lawyer someday because you know how to get your way! Just be a good one, OK? You have the beauty and the brains...you are smart!

   You are so smart!!! This is your first year homeschooling and I am so impressed with all that you have learned so far!!! You are reading and writing like a champ!!! I know you will have so much to say to the world and books have so many amazing things to teach you about the world! Bubbly girl, teach them about love, teach the world to have a heart!

   I love your heart! You are so kind!!! You love your dog the most...you can't walk past her without giving her a little love. Compassion is your greatest attribute! You also can't stand for anyone to be left out.. You are such a good sister...you girls are also good at pestering each other! :D Your heart is also what gives your the strength to be so strong!

   You are strong! Umm, sweetie, not just on the inside, but you have some muscle!!! You have started gymnastics this year and I'm so impressed with your bar work...the way you can lift yourself off the bar and then flip yourself over it~ Wow!!! You are strong and that helps you to believe in yourself!

   You are becoming self-aware.. It has been hard at times this year as you have come to understand that you are Deaf and that everyone in the world isn't.. You are so confident in your language, culture, and yourself as a person! I smile every time I see that big, prideful smile cross your face when you tell someone that you are Deaf. You love teaching hearing people ASL and jumping up and down giving "high-fives" when you meet a Deaf adult! You know that it will be you one day...you are growing up!

    You are growing up on me... I am trying to treasure every moment and celebrate the person that you are becoming. I am so happy that God gave me such a wonderful daughter! Daddy thinks you hung the moon; well, I pretty much know it! I am so proud of you, and I thank God for you everyday!
I love you.

Love,
Mommy

Spelling Eggs..Easter Eggs!

We had a wonderful Easter, I hope your day was blessed as well..

Now what to do with the million eggs around this house?!? Use them for homeschooling or course!!!

We have done letter matching and numbers in Pre-K and that is super fun!!!

We also loved doing addition on eggs... Honestly it's endless!!!

This fine day we decided to do a little spelling/word making for reading time...

My kids loved this activity!!! We may add sentences soon...just gotta keep the eggs in order, LOL!

When you can make your kid smile while doing sight words...you know it's a good day!

My 'Why I Sign"

You may have seen the hashtag #whyIsign and wondered about it?? It's simply videos of people explaining why they sign in American Sign Language or ASL for short. These are Deaf, hearing CODAs (Children Of Deaf Adults), SODAs(siblings) and others that have had their lives impacted by ASL in a positive way. These videos are showing support of ASL for Deaf babies and children; especially with certain conferences about Deaf education attacking ASL in preference to oral only education for Deaf children.
Here is my why I sign video:

I messed up a few times... I am super critical and self-conscience when it comes to videos of myself! I honestly can't believe I'm even posting it, but I believe in solidarity of cause. Here is a rough  English version:
 I ask "What's wrong? Sick, are you sick?" She sleepily signs back "sick." I smile back and reply "No, you are tired?" She agrees and snuggles ready for sleep... I face the camera and explain "Why do I sign? Because my Deaf daughter is worth it! She needs to be able to communicate with me, and I need to be able to communicate with her.. Why? Family is important; like just like her~" 

Love~

In this life I have been blessed with this amazing man! He is funny, kind, strong and smart! He is so giving with his time, energies, money, and gifts, and you will never hear him brag on himself. I love him more than words can ever say, and even with all of my flaws, he loves me too! 

 These are some sweets we enjoyed~

 These were actually a gift for my birthday~ Macaroons!

When Mommy Ministers in Walmart....

    When mommy ministers in Walmart...

it's quiet, subtle, and for us kids..pretty fun! 

   Mom must love to shop! She goes down the rows trying to keep our little hands on the buggies (shopping carts) as she tries to keep her "cool" whatever that is??  We all talk, and push, and poke, and play! ~We are kids after all!

 Most of the time she says "we are going to run in, and run out!" We never do. 

   This was how our shopping trip was going when in the middle of the store a lady came up, well, almost bumped into us! She started to make small talk...then she asked my mom where she went to church? My mom told her and then she went on and on about church stuff...well, it seemed like it to me! 

    The Lady was talking about how she used to go to church, and how she was hurt by someone in a church..she started crying...mom said we could play quietly a little bit away on the bench so she could see us. I wonder if she didn't want me to hear?? She talked for a long time, my mom nodded, listening, all while watching us. I was watching her too.  We took full advantage! We pretended to be in a car, jumped around, ran around, it was AWESOME! 

Then I saw it~ the look!

   We walked back to the buggie just about in time for my mom to offer to pray with her, quiet prayer, God can hear really well you know? After praying, the lady dried her tears, talking about how she had never told anyone before the things she had told my mom. 

Mom of course asked her to come to church, and reminded her of how much God loved her... How much he wanted her to come home.. The lady smiled and said "I know."

As we were leaving I asked my mom about what had happened. She smiled as she said "God must have sent us to the store for a reason other than toilet paper."

I guess God is at Walmart too. 

PC: Jaye Martin Online 

When Mommy Cries In The Milk Aisle

Yep, sometimes it happens...right in the middle of an amazing life; overwhelm, and the tears it brings..
 It hit me this week right in the grocery store between the milk and the kefir, it was all I could do to stand there willing the tears not to fall, pressing the urge to run out of the store.
I was close to a panic attack and I knew it, I had to get ahead of it~
*Breath*
*Name five things in front of me*
Oh Father how many times have I been here...
*Breath*
Five items are still there...
*Breath*
Anchor of Hope! Hold on...God is right here. Hold on....it's going to be OK.
*Breath*
Coming out of it...
*Breath*
Did anyone notice??
*Wipes tears*
Hubs did, where did he come from since he was in another store??? His hand now on the small of my back... Silent, studying my face.
*Breath*
Smile, shoulders back~ it's time to finish the shopping.
Leading up to this moment was getting everyone ready for church, the stress that can come from having an ADHD kid through a service while sitting in the Deaf section near the front of a large church, the drive (constant bickering from the backseat) back to town, lunch in a restaurant, the multiple meltdowns, the stares from judgmental strangers, and the final straw was the store only having one little cart with my two little ones wanting/fighting for it! Umm, more the inconsolable screaming that resulted.  It doesn't sound like much, but it was one of my special little ones that has some issues we are working through...it was a huge meltdown. I'm sure people watching, simply saw it as a kid being a brat...having no idea. This is special needs parenting.
We finished our shopping, and headed home..one last meltdown in the car from my other special little one, arm pinned behind me trying to give her compression, and now the oldest is mad at me because too much attention is going to the ones melting down.
I cry again.
This time I calmly let the tears fall as gaze out the window, happy to be far from the milk aisle.