Behind Door #3...

School: Part 2...Organizing

Anyone who knows me in real life or has ever been to my house is laughing hysterically right now.

Yes, I can hear you...

I really want to be more organized, but somehow I just never get there.

When it come to school though, I tend to actually lean towards organization...sort of.

It starts with school supplies which you can read about here.

If you have kids in a local public school system...you know there is a ridiculous amount of paperwork.

From the district down to the actual teacher they all have forms and information that need to be read...filled out...and a copy kept for each child.

And it continues all year long.

I have found that keeping each child's info separate is very helpful and since I have given my kids all a different life long color, this is how I organize their school papers.

I wish I got as much of a workout as my 3 hole punch during the school year, but seriously I love my 3 ring binders.

From classroom phone numbers to field trip info and permission slips to award certificates they may earn throughout the year...

this is what works for me.

For more fun tips head over to WFMW at We are THAT Family.

A Time to Pray

Please take a moment and pray for this sweet family. Their little 8 month old son, Stellan, has been in the hospital for 3 days now with a failing heart. Take a moment to go over to her blog and read and pray. You can find it here, or by clicking on the Prayers for Stellan button on my sidebar. Thank you!

Lego Golf

This is a new game my kids invented...
Well, maybe they didn't invent it...

I mean there may be other kids out there who hit Duplo Legos instead of golf balls. I don't know.

What I do know is that when they were told to stop hitting golf balls (after denting the water heater "hut" in the back yard) they didn't give up on a fun game...

They just revised it to fit within the rules.

They start from various corners of the yard...

Each taking a turn in order from oldest to youngest...

The person who makes it to the water meter cover(little raised metal thingie in the middle of the kids in the picture above) in the least number of strokes...

Wins!

This is the gallery. So cute. Not so quiet though.

School: Part 1...School Supplies

I can't believe we only have a month till school starts...

I have mixed emotions this time of year...

Ever year...

First, it makes me realise just how fast time is going...I don't like that at all.

Second, I really enjoy having my kids home. We have a lot of fun...but we get very little done and so...

Third, I look forward to getting back into the routine of school days.

I told you my emotions were mixed.

But whether I like it or not Aug. 19 is racing toward me like a locomotive and that means...

School supplies...UHG!!!

So the week after the 4th of July I pull out the school supply list and take inventory.

Once I mark off what we already have in stock...

The list goes in my purse and with me everywhere so I can pick up as I go.

Then the boxes come out and grow from week to week...

So far we have 2 boxes and still have a good bit to get.

So this is how I overcome the stress of going back to school...at least the supply part.

Seasons

There are seasons in life. First we are young children - a learning season. Then we are grown, and think we know everything - a proud season. Then the Lord allows some of us to have children...and we realise that we know nothing - a season of humility. {a whole other blog post altogether} But within those seasons are so many little sections of time. It is hard to see that seasons of life are temporary. Our youth is fleeting. And the years our children are home and need us are few. Even though in the middle of laundry and ear infections it is hard to see that it will ever end.

Our youngest doesn't like the nursery at church. I cannot blame her entirely for this as I didn't try to leave her in it until she was over a year old. And I could complain that I will never hear another sermon...or at least that it feels like it. But I've been in church all my life...almost 40 years. If the Lord should give me another 40 years in church then I would say around 60 years of my life I will have been able to serve others and worship corporately with the Body.

All too soon this season will pass. My baby is nearly walking. Soon she will run to her fun Sunday School teachers and not give me a second thought. So I wish this time, this season, to last. I want to be purposeful during these times of my life. I want to see what God has for me in the church lobby or up in the nursery wing...who can I minister to, or encourage while holding my baby on my hip? Because I know I will miss this season when it's gone.

TeamBabetese

Every family has a language. Words they use to replace the traditional English language either b/c their children made words up, couldn't pronounce words or something was said once and stuck!

Here are a few of the words from the English/Babetese dictionary:

Schrooch: means to cuddle up in bed together.
"Mom, will you watch Clifford and schrooch with me?"

Swaiver: means windshield wiper
"Mom, you need to turn on the swaiver!"

Swaive: means to clear water, snow, ice, pollen, leaves off the windshield.
"Mom will you swaive the back window please?"

Sick germs: means a virus of any kind.
"Don't drink out of your your brothers cup, he has sick germs"

Modesty: means birthday suit.
"Don't open the door!!! I'm in my modesty and you can't see!!"

Nakedness: means a shirtless man.
"Mom...look, he's mowing in his nakedness!"

Very manly: means any act of chivalry done by the boys or their dad.
"Thank you for holding that door open Son, that was very manly."

Big church: the sanctuary
"Everyone must use the bathroom before we go into big church."

Sleepover: sleeping in the same bed

"Mom can we have a sleepover"

And my personal favorite...

Peacheegah: The only expletive allowed in our house.
"Ohhh...peacheegah!!!"
My daughter made that word up one day when she was about 3. She was so angry at her brother all that would come out was "peacheegah". Now it just makes us laugh and takes care of whatever we were mad about.

So there you have it. Just a few Babetese words....

From our family to yours.

Family Photo 2009

I wanted to give my husband a new picture of the kids for Fathers Day. Below are just a few of my many attempts at getting 5 kids to look at me...smile...be still...stay...move to the left a little...no the other left...OK, stay...

We had several days of trying and this was one of my favorite days...however it seems someone got their little hands on my camera and smudged up the lens...so they all have a nice hazy film on them.

Who made that poor little baby sit pinned in her brother and sisters legs...

This is a cute one other than the fact that my oldest looks like he's afraid...not smiling. He may very well have been afraid at that point.

About 4 years ago I put all the kids in my husbands favorite jerseys and had their picture made for Fathers Day. It's actually a cute picture of the kids...I just wasn't happy with the way it looked.

I like this one too, except it looks like my poor boy has a string tied around his head and someone is pulling on it. And the black curtain pulled away and you can see the entrainment center.

Also really cute except for the poor baby who's sweezed to death...

Clearly running low on patients...

This is the one I choose. I love the bare feet...and the smiles...and the hint of blue. It was a hit! Not too bad for a very non professional photographer.

Heal Their Land

On this day of backyard barbecues and fireworks I am deeply thankful for the freedoms that have been given me. Given...

A gift.

Bought with a price.

And while I am deeply grateful to those who have paid that price...

I wonder, if the Lord should allow my children to get to be my age...

Will these same freedoms still exist for them...

And I can't seem to get the following out of my mind...

2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.