Another Anniversary..

That's right another anniversary!

That makes 8 years of wedded bliss...and maybe a few blahs.
We have been through so much together...still together and still in love!

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love that man!! He is strong and wise... He is loving and steady,,. He is faithful and loving... He is a provider and protector... He is so amazing!

This was our first time out-of-town away from the kids... I missed them a little, but...
We had so much fun!!!

The State Fair!!!

We love going to the Fair every year!! It is a chance for my city kids to get a little country in their lives! We also just love spending time as a family!!! As a mom and a teacher I like to make it educational so I go online and look up all of the ASL vocabulary I think I will need...we learn them together or learn the signs during the activity.  We also watch Science videos of things we might see..
So when we told the girls that we were going to the Fair, you bet they were in the car and ready to go!!

We rode a few rides...

Then we headed over to the Livestock! My big girl LOVES cows!

Then we went to look at the goats!!! This is us looking at the goats!

This is my children BEING goats! LOL! Don't worry, I washed their hand very well!

Then someone needed a time-out! Yes, I can find a good time-out spot anywhere~ even the Fair!

Then it was right back to our horseplay!

The older girls enjoyed a show! I just love that sisterly bond...

There was so much to do, see, and buttons to push!

We even had the privilege of supporting our troops...

We had such a great time!!! We can't wait to go to the State Fair next year!

A Journey Into Homeschooling!

So after a LOT of prayer, talks, and sleepless nights we have decided to homeschool our children.
We had always planned to homeschool, or if we moved I would get a job at one of the local Christian Schools and put our kids there...it was a nice plan.

Well, life had other plans~ adoption plans!

That was when I began to doubt our big, beautiful plan... I had a child that was ESL (English as a Second Language) that also had some other issues that made learning difficult. This made for some big questions~
Did I have the patience? I love her more than my own life~ but she can drive me nuts!!!!! Just being honest here.. Seriously; considering we have no biology~ we are SO MUCH ALIKE!!!! So yeah, we get on each others nerves!!! I fear the teen years are going to kill us all!

I also have another child attending a program for the Deaf. She couldn't be home with us...was it fair? Would it hurt her feelings? The answer: NOPE! She loves going to school... She will have Bible, Art, and PE with us at home as well so there is plenty of time with us! :)

My youngest has some challenges, but was aging out of therapy which meant it was up to me to help her now...which kinda meant more stress! So it hit me at like 2:00 AM~ what better way to help her than to teach her! I could "plan" time out of our day to work on her home-therapy.

So there I was~ out of excuses! I finally asked my husband; the amazing, wise leader of our family, what did he think for the final time. I mean we had milled over it, and over, and over, but one this day I just simply asked with desperation in my voice in and his reply was this "I don't want to put more stress on you, but, yes, I feel that you have a lot to offer our kids. If they were home with you they could learn stuff that isn't taught in school; they could learn how to be like you (trying not to tear up!), and that would help them for the rest of their lives."
To be honest I have never felt more honored in my life! In that moment I felt like the woman that was spoken of in Proverbs~
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Proverbs 31: 28

So, we applied with a homeschool charter, and ordered some of our curriculum...
~and that is how we became a homeschool family!

More to come...much more!

To: My Not-So Baby Girl

Happy Birthday, my "Chiken-widdle!" I love you so much!! I can't believe you are turning THREE!!! I looked back at your pictures~ my baby bird!!! You have grown so much!!!

You love being the baby of the family and have pretty much everyone in this house at you beck-n-call! You are so sweet and want to adopt every little kid & baby you see!!

You are changing from the baby stage to a little girl!! I love it and hate it at the same time! You LOVE to play!!!  You love to wear your babies the way I carried you... I love listening to you play, you love being the mama to your "Sweeties" which is a term that I use like all of the time and never realized till I heard you!

 You are so smart! I can already sing the ABCs and lots of other songs, count to 10, and know most of your colors! Your favorite color is pink! YOU LEARNED TO USE THE POTTY!!! You love listening to stories, and pre-reading your books~ oh the stories you tell!!!

I love you so much, baby bird!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Yummiest Popcorn Recipe!

...well, according to my girls anyway!
I came across this idea for a special popcorn treat and my girls loved it!!! It is a little different and you may need to adjust the spices...you can also shake it in a bag if you want, but I just hand tossed in a large bowl.
I am thinking of mixing some up ahead of time for our next movie night!

All I did was spray my air-popped popcorn with a little olive oil spray to make the seasoning stick..
sprinkle a pretty even mixture of Chili Powder, Nutritional Yeast Seasoning(tastes like cheese!), and Lime Salt!!!!~~Yummy!!!!

I hope you enjoy!!!!

Orville Redenbacher'S Hot Air Popper By Presto (Google Affiliate Ad)

Happy Birthday, My Big Girl!!!

My big girl, my beauty, today you turn SEVEN! You are growing up way too fast for this mama!! I see you grow a little more everyday... You are slowly letting go of your fears and trusting & hoping, bounding and leaping! I am so proud of you!

You are becoming a happy, fun-loving little girl! I love that!! I know that it is your birthday, but you are truly my greatest gift!! You have taught my so much...about life and about myself, and bring so much joy into my life!

I love how you play, joke, and tell secrets with your little friends!! You laugh and you twirl!!! You are my girly-girl!

You are so smart!!! I love catching you reading.. You want read everything!

I was looking for a song for you...one that held all of the hopes and dreams that I have for you and I remembered the song that I played when you first came home. I have played this song so many times.. I want so many things for you my sweetheart, but most of all that you are loved~ especially by your mama! 

So happy Birthday, sweetheart! I love you so much!!!
Bonnie Jean Birthday Girl Polka-Dot Trapeze Dress - Girls 4-6X (Google Affiliate Ad)

Family Reading

Our group is an active group!! It is a struggle to keep our girls busy all of the time! Nighttime seemed to be the worst and I realized that something just had to be done! I wanted a peaceful time of rest, and enriched family time that is just so precious these days with everyone's busy schedule.

Then it hit me~  Quiet Reading Time!!!

When I taught kindergarten a long time ago QRT was just what I needed to save my sanity! I loved looking over my class with their minds engaged...imaginations running along the pages!!! I wanted that for my girls! I also needed this for my family...

I also know that kids that observe their parents reading for pleasure have a greater chance of learning to love books! I also know that if our girls are not contained...I can't enjoy my book! LOL!

So now our new favorite thing is  quiet reading time before bed. We are doing the Summer Reading Program from the library as well so we always have plenty of good books around to keep it fun! We try to keep it simple... Everyone cozy in their PJs, teeth brushed, and quiet & relaxed. James or I will start thing off by reading one book in ASL(hearing kids understand just fine) and then we all find a book and read quietly together as family.

 I can't tell you what a blessing this has been to our family! It is such a wonderful time and has added so much to our bedtime routine! There are lots of snuggles ~ a few giggles(that are quickly shushed) at the funny picture and maybe even a few smiling glances between mom & dad...

We are so blessed!

I hope you guys like this idea.. Leave a comment of what you do in your home, I would love to read them!!

So curious as to what we are reading right now???
Hubby ~ The Art Of War ~ by: Sun Tzu
Me  ~  It's All Too Much ~ Peter Walsh
Big Girl ~  The Legend Of Yoda ~ by: Catherine Saunders
Bubbles ~  Anything about animals...
Baby  ~  Mostly board books right now...especially one with babies.

The Children's Book of Virtues (Google Affiliate Ad)