Saturday, December 26, 2009

December

When I was younger I remember people saying that the older you get the faster time passes. It was true this year. We always at least think about making 'nuts and bolts' (a snack of seasoned cereal and pretzels) during the Christmas season; not this year. The first time I even thought about it was last night, Christmas night.

On the 13th Dad and Eunice took Olivia and I to see The Nutcracker ballet. Olivia brings it up frequently and always lets me know when she hears any of the music. It was lovely and delightful.

The 21st was Olivia's 6th birthday. Greg at least got the camera out when he got home. The night before we had dinner with Dad and Eunice which they made into a celebration for Olivia. They gave her the sweet outfit she is wearing. I will have to write about Christmas later.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Trying to get with it.

So much has happened since I posted last. I haven't been taking any pictures, rarely even thinking about it. The leaves have all changed and fallen, and I will post a picture from mid October. This was taken through our dining room window.



One of the biggest challenges to blogging has been illness. We have had one thing after another for months, seriously in August Henry had a cough that began our rough journey. It must have been last month when we caught the dreaded swine flu, though we didn't go in for a diagnosis the symptoms made it quite clear. I began to wonder what I was doing wrong. How could I make our diet better, keep our house cleaner, etc. Then God reminded me that we have not really been ill for 5 years. We might get a cold or virus of some sort once or twice a year, but nothing like what we have just experienced. We are sure that a lot of the reasons were timing, being exposed to new germs when our immune systems were still trying to recover from the last bug. Also, our exposure is greatly magnified. Two of the children we care for are in public school or have siblings in public school. The adventure has caused me to be more active in strengthening our immune systems and prevention of infection. For example, we have some elderberries in our tea at least once a day. I have super tonic in the cupboard and when it is ready we will have some at the absolute first indication of any illness and maybe just everyday through the winter. We have also begun taking vitamin D3 and cutting back on our sugar intake. I thought it was so great that I had begun to regularly make cookies and yummy treats for snacks. They were made with freshly ground whole wheat flour and less processed sugars, but sugar of any sort in larger doses still makes the immune system work harder. I am going to be cleaning with Enjo products which are much more effective and will get all chemicals out of our house. Anyway, we are all feeling good now and I will enjoy it as long as it lasts, and I feel hopeful that it will last awhile.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

End of Summer

Usually we just continue with school all summer, maybe lightening the load, but not too much. This summer the children had almost as much of a vacation as kids in a 'normal' school situation. We have never lived in a place with so many kids playing right outside our front door in such a beautiful courtyard and so many parents enjoying the atmosphere. It has been like living at a resort.

I had been looking for some child care work to do in our home for a little extra income and I found it. Sophia is eight and came over each day during the week for the summer. Also, Aven, who is now 19 months, began coming Monday through Thursday. They both live in our complex. Now that school has started we don't see Sophia as much, but we now have Lincoln before and after school. She also lives here and it has been a new experience to take a child to the bus and pick her up afterwards. One more addition is Tyler (15 months) who does not live here, but we have known his parents for years and they are living in the area and were looking for a M - Th just like Aven. It makes for busy days, but God seems to do that with me because without the outside commitments I get lazy. I am forced to adhere more closely to a schedule or we could never accomplish the many things we must. The children have been thrilled with having little ones in the home again. I don't know if I could manage without their help so I'm glad they enjoy the sweet children. I did grumble a little that we always have boys and can't seem to get any girls in the home for long. (Lincoln is a girl and Sophia, but they are older and Olivia would so love a baby girl to watch over.) However, when seeing the older boys playing with the younger I know that it is the best situation. At least our neighbors had a baby girl last month and she is a real treat for us.

The kids were tracing their shadows and then drawing in the person. Here is Olivia's, you can see how the sun has moved since it was traced. Also, Molly and her scooter.


A few of the girls living here: Sarah, Cherish, Olivia, Lily and Mattie.

Solomon traced Otto's shadow and then colored in a great face, not intended to be a representation of Otto.

More friends here: Jacqueline, Cherish peeping over Sophia, Olivia and Josephine.

Tyler, Solomon, Aven and Otto.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Video of Hike in July

We have had quite a summer. I'm not going to elaborate right now, but here is a video Greg put together of a hike we took in the Columbia River Gorge back in July.



Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Olivia in Ballet

So, it has been over a week since we took these pictures at Olivia's last ballet class of the season. She took a pre-ballet class at the Cedar Hills Recreation Center just down the road from us. We walked to every class and had so much fun. Impressively the teacher taught Olivia and the other girls many French words/terms used in ballet and I am hoping to be able to get her into another class after the summer. She usually wore her ballet clothes all day, often complimenting them with other dress up clothes, and practiced all her dancing through the house. It is amusing and delightful to have a girl in the home. God has given us a great blessing in Olivia.



Monday, May 11, 2009

Yeah! Beaverton Farmer's Market has Begun!!


Our months of waiting have ended with the opening day of the Beaverton Farmer's Market.  And a beautiful sunny day it was, too. 

I don't think a month went by without Greg asking when the Farmer's Market opens. It has been wonderful for me that he enjoys it so much. Usually he doesn't like places that are so crowded, but he loves the Farmer's Market as much, maybe more, than I do. We look forward to many trips this year.

The selection of produce was limited as it is still so early in the season.  The flowers were abundant. We did find some yummy asparagus, lettuce, radishes and of course we stopped by the Fressen Bakery booth where we bought bread. We also found some raw cheddar cheese which I am anxious to try.
I will also mention that Greg and the children gave me an excellent Mother's Day. We sat around, we went out to dinner, we took a nap(!), I even watched some of Pride and Prejudice and so much more. I don't know how so much got done in a day that felt so relaxing. I even got all my computer work done for this next week (school printouts and milk records). I am so blessed with the family God has given me!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Birthdays and Easter


We had a busy weekend with two birthdays and Easter. Friday, Otto turned 11 years old. We do not even attempt to have birthday parties (its always a party at our house!). Instead, the birthday child gets to choose the day's menu and also has free range on the days activities. No school on birthdays and wearing sleepers all day is also acceptable. I did, in the past, have to draw the line at too many meals that include a lot of preparation, but they are considerate about that now. For example, Otto chose cinnamon rolls/cheese and fruit/meatloaf and spetzla and apple pie rather than cake. Breakfast and dinner were more involved, but I had planned on making cinnamon bread (another acceptable option) the day before and didn't find the time. 
Solomon, whose birthday was Monday (he turned 9), wanted Frosted Mini Wheats/tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches/pasta with white sauce and cheese and sugar cookies. They both spent the day playing on the computer or watching movies which are usually only allowed for limited times on the weekends. They seemed to enjoy their days and, of course, the other boys all enjoyed the same benefits with the exception of only getting to watch the computer. 
Louis had a birthday last month (3/22) and became our second teenager. It is nice to be through with birthdays until the Fall.

Another great experience with Cedar Hills Manor (our complex). One of the moms organized an Easter Egg Hunt for Sunday morning.
They hid 240 eggs around the courtyard and invited all the children to search. Otto, Solomon and Olivia had a great time. Jennifer, the manager, gave cups of hot chocolate after the hunt.
I had a great time visiting with the other parents. I have never gotten to know our neighbors as well as I am getting to know the people here. It is enjoyable and exciting for me, though our dinners are sometimes a bit later than I would like because of my increased social life. I will have to be careful about that. Greg's family came over for Easter dinner. Amanda and Olivia were so adorable in their beautiful dresses. 
Again, I am hoping for some days which include a little less activity, but I'm not going to plan on it.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Another Chapter Closed/Begins


We had talked about it in the past, but hadn't taken the steps and stopped thinking about it. Then we did our state taxes and found out that Greg's employer had not taken out enough state withholdings and we have to pay state taxes. The children and I drove out to Jim and Charissa's, cleaned out and cleaned up the trailer, took some pictures, and posted them on Craigslist that evening. It is the right time of year. We got an unexpectedly huge response. The children and I went back out two days later, met a couple who looked at the trailer and paid us cash. Two days, the same amount of time our house in Scappoose was on the market before we had a full price offer. It was tough to let the trailer go, we lived in that trailer for several months and have many good memories, but those months were stressful in many ways and I am not sorry we sold it. Owning less is better, a more simple way to live. The trailer has been a frequent thought in the back of my mind, of responsibility we could not afford. We have not used it for a year and a half. The money from selling has not only enabled us to pay our taxes, but to buy the school books we were needing, a printer which we have not had for years, much needed bike repairs, brakes for the van, etc. I am glad we sold it. We have a big tent which we have hardly used. I've never been much of a camper, but I'm looking forward to spending some weekends in that tent. And Jim and Charissa must be happy to have that trailer off their property, I'm happy to have it off their property, though I know they were willing to let us leave it there for eternity.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Trusting

Earlier this month I enjoyed the Above Rubies retreat in Olympia Washington. Above Rubies is a ministry to encourage wives and mothers. This was a women's retreat (they have family retreats, also) and my second in this location. Nancy Campbell shares her wisdom with us and there is amazing fellowship with many like-minded women. My dear friends from Girl's Group all try to go. We missed Annette this year, but Jennifer came from Idaho and that was a huge treat. We were up until the wee hours of the morning discussing intense subjects. We talked a lot about judging others in many areas of life, including church and even adoption issues (both Jennifer and Charissa are in the adoption process). It was so rewarding, thoughtful and convicting. God has spoken to me many times through our discussions in Girl's Group and this was no exception.

As we were pulling into camp, Jennifer called home to make sure all was well. Just before she called, her family (Leon with their 6 children), had gotten home from skiing and found a neighbor dog mauling their cat to death. It was so traumatic, especially for their oldest girl (I think she is 12). She had answered the phone and was crying out to Jennifer about the situation and what should or was being done. And Jennifer said (that was the side we were all hearing), "Havilah, I trust Papa... you can trust Papa, too." I wish you could have heard her say it, the tone in her voice, the gentle and confident direction to help her daughter trust in her father's ability to handle the situation. It brought us all to tears. It is what God says to us every moment, whispering to us, pleading in his gentle confidence, "You can trust me." It also exemplifies what our Girl's Group is about, encouraging each other to guide in gentle confidence our children and ourselves in trusting our husbands as God's leader of our homes.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Branches and Books

Here is a flower about to bloom outside our front door! Could spring be coming?Either this is an exceptionally windy year or this hill is a windy area.  Otto and Solomon wanted to take out some garbage bags to fly in the wind.  I try to say yes to these kinds of requests because they offer experience with the sciences.  Solomon tied some twine onto his bag. I think Otto originally had a stick on his, but took it off. I was watching from the house when Otto lost hold of his 'kite' and it flew into the tree. I thought, "Bummer, now everyone will have to look at that big white garbage bag in the beautiful branches."  But, then it blew out! Great! Otto thought it was great too and was confident it would always blow out. Unfortunately it didn't as you can see from the pictures.The sun shining on to top branches is a frequent view we all enjoy.  As you see, although a few days later, the bag is still there. I apologized to our manager, but she said there were 2 or 3 in the trees behind their house that their girls and friends lost. This seems to be a wonderfully understanding community. It helps that there are many other families here with young children, mostly girls. Our next door neighbor has a 3 year old boy and said there were all girls playing outside last summer. Olivia will certainly like that! She has already made friends with some of them.
One more inside picture of our living room bookshelves and Otto reading. We are indescribably thankful that all of our children love to read and this picture is one we see daily. You can interchange any of the children into this pose in numerous places around the house and outside when it is pleasant  weather. These are our nice bookshelves where we are working on placing our most loved and nicest books. We have five more bookshelves upstairs with very little room left on them. Does that slow us down in our book buying? Ha! Never! Actually, there are more than five, but I guess we don't need to count.
 

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

John Adams by David McCullough

Sometimes I'm not sure which blog is best suited for an entry I want to make.  This one could go on all because it will likely ramble, effects our home and our homeschool.  I finished my first book written by David McCullough.  I say my first because I am already started on my second and I told Greg I will likely be always reading a David McCullough book until I have read them all.  I cannot possible express all the reasons why I enjoy his writing and having only one book read so I can't say positively that I will feel the same about them all, but it is my expectation.  

The book I finished was John Adams and it was more than wonderful.  It was easy to read, but not simple.  It was full of quotes from actual letters and newspapers of the time, but it read like fiction.  While reading, I was transported to the days when John Adams lived, an invisible presence in his life and the happenings of his time.  I feel as if I know him and I cried when he died.  I feel strengthened by his integrity, his honesty, his uprightness.  I feel hopeful at his success in the struggle of this life.  I feel peaceful that politics then, at the beginning of politics for this country, was not so different from what it is now.  We are not sovereign, but there is One who is and He will not be swayed or negligent and we can trust in His direction for everything that effects our lives.  We must do all we can, but with confidence that doing all we can is all that is demanded and all that is needed and will be rewarded.  

This is a book that will be read by all of our children as they grow.  It has taught me more about this era of history than I can relate.  It has taught me with a joy in the learning that I know will be shared by our children.  Joy in the learning is a thing much sought after and not found as often as I would like.  The next book of David McCullough's that I have decided to read is The Path Between The Seas about the building of the Panama Canal.  We also have 1776, and Truman, but I wanted to read something completely different, not a president and  not the same time period.  We are getting the books on hardback because they are worth it, but we are getting them used at Powell's so they are less expensive.  

Make the next book you read a book written by David McCullough.  I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed.  

Monday, January 26, 2009

Workout Plan

I have a great workout routine going and I want to share it with you.  Start out by biking to the store, in fact, bike everywhere you can.  Then begin going to the library every week (by bike) until you and the children can't stand not to go.  Then sign the children up for classes during the week like swimming and gymnastics.  Also, begin drinking real milk and be sure to ride to pick it up.  All these things I was doing and it was not that big a deal.  The milk was the most difficult, the ride being 7 miles one way.  Then, once you are accustomed to this way of life, nay, dependent upon it, and with no vehicle but a bike when all these things must be done, move to the top of a hill.  It is amazing the workout I'm getting.  I used to be able to wear street clothes to the store and library at least, but now when I get home I am sweaty and gross even in the 30 degree weather.  I am also swimming with the children during the Family Swim after swimming lessons on Tuesday and swimming laps on Thursday during the lessons. I almost never ride up the hill without pulling Olivia on the Trail-a-Bike or a load of groceries.  So, assuming I can keep this up, I should be in the best shape of my life soon.  I'll let you know.