Things I Don't Like About Blogging

I have a love/hate relationship with my blog.  Sometimes I really love blogging and interacting with my readers.  It's a great way to record memories for my family; it's an outlet for my thoughts; and it helps me process what I'm reading and thus thinking about.

Other times I find it frustrating.  It seems that when I don't have time to blog, I have many ideas and I compose posts in my head (really great posts) that never actually make it to my blog.  When I do have time, I can't think of anything to write about.  And the little time I have results in posts without editing.  Thus I think blogging has damaged my writing skills.  I don't take time to edit, but rather just BLUNK it out there (yes, that's a technological writing term, it's an onomatopoeia you know).

Sometimes I feel frustrated because I wonder who is reading (is anyone?)?  Why are they reading?  Why won't they talk to me?  I know a lot of bloggers are introverts but I'm not.  I like the "two-way traffic" version of communication.  It turns out blogging isn't really such a great way to build relationships or interact with people.  Sometimes I feel like I'm pouring myself out and not getting much back in return.

Then too, I feel occasionally feel guilty about the time I spend blogging.  Admittedly, I type really fast.  And my brain is always running like crazy so I usually have a post mostly composed in my head before I sit down to quickly type it out.  And I don't take the time to edit (which you've likely observed).  And I blog while the little ones are napping or late at night.  Still, that is time I could be doing something else more productive.  (But I will point out that once I write a post it stays written, unlike cooking, dishes, laundry, sweeping, etc., etc.  This was always one of the things I loved about scrapbooking back in the day--it was something I invested time in that I could look back and see instead of it just needing done all over again).

And the conclusion of the whole matter?  Yet to be determined.

Love in the House

Sunday afternoon I read the quick little book Love in the House by Chris and Wendy Jeub.  I found it quite encouraging and it was an easy read while the kids napped.  (And if you're keeping track of my fall reading challenge and comparing that list to my actual list of books read, you'll note I am easily distracted this fall!)

Mostly the book was just the sharing of some tips the Jeubs have learned in parenting their children (13 at the time of the book, now 16 according to a quick peek online).  One particular tip stood out to me and I hope to apply it: 

Envision your children with a sign around their neck that reads "I don't know that you love me."  This is the truth:  they don't know for sure.  It is very easy for parents to take for granted that their children know their love for them.  We do dishes, fold laundry, tuck them in at night, and work our tails off for them; naturally we assume they know our love for them, but they don't.  My parenting changed for the better when I recognized that I needed to verbally show my love for my children. . .See your kids each with an emotional cup.  If I don't pour my love into the cup, the child will eventually turn away and seek other avenues for the love for which they hope (102).

The rest of the book shared their views on allowing the Lord control of their family size, tips for budgeting, child training, and their experience with a "prodigal child" and what they learned from the experience.  I appreciated their openness and humility and found the entire book worth reading, but the point that stood out most to me was to make sure my children know that I love them.  They naturally long for love and if we parents aren't giving it to them, they will likely seek it out elsewhere with potentially negative consequences.  It made me examine myself--in the daily routine and busyness of life, am I taking time to clearly express my love to my children?

Braids Into a Ponytail

I tried a new hairstyle on Kiana this last week that I think is just adorable.  It's a great protective hairstyle as all her hair is braided and there is nothing in the ends to cause breakage.  I'm hoping it will last at least four weeks and maybe as long as six.

 

I started out by parting her hair into three sections.  The first was across the bottom of the back of her head, about mid-ear down.  Then I made another section all the way around from temple to temple, and then there was the "top" of her head.

In the first section, on the bottom and back of her head, I just did some quick and simple cornrows into long braids.  Then in the second section I separated it into two sections right down the middle of the back and cornrowed three rows on each side, starting by her face and meeting in free-hanging braids in the middle and back of her head.

For the top, I first sectioned off a small part in the front and cornrowed two rows to the side for a bang-effect.

 Then I separated the remaining hair into two sections and cornrowed those sections in slightly diagonal lines toward the crown of her head and captured the braids into a barrette..

 Below you can see each side of her head and also how the braids cascade down the back of her head.  I'm really happy with how it turned out and she likes being able to change her barrettes/bows each day.

 I think she looks darling and she was very happy as well.  The total time required by this hairstyle was about four hours--two sessions of two hours each.  I started with the back two sections and put the front into three quick bantu knots for a couple days before I finished the top.  The interim style was cute too, even though I didn't get a picture!

School's in Full Swing

It's been an incredibly busy week.  I'm not complaining (at least I'm trying not to)--it's been a good busy.  But I'm telling you, when Friday hits each week I am wiped out!  I've even had two Pepsis today!

It always takes a little while to get fully into the swing of school.  First we have to get the schedule down pat, figure out what the day is going to look like with the new age of little ones, and how we're going to maintain the household while juggling school and extracurricular activities.  Then the next stage of the school year involves getting deeper into each subject.  The first couple chapters of a new year always seem to start pretty slowly, reviewing information and laying a solid foundation.  THEN we get into the meat of the subject and that's where we've been the last couple weeks.

Our history has been really fun this week as I'm seeing everything connect in Briana and Destry's minds.  We're studying the age of revolution and I've enjoyed hearing them discuss the effect the reformation had on various countries and their revolutions--from England, to the United States, to France.  We're also thoroughly enjoying our study of The Scarlet Letter  and I can't wait to hear more of their thoughts next week since we finished it this week. 

We've been studying dinosaurs with the younger kids and they're having a blast.  We've read lots of books, pretended to be paleontologists, measured out the length of some dinosaurs, practiced drawing dinosaurs and all kinds of fun stuff.  We should finish this unit up next week so I'll post more then, but I'll share just one teaser photo this week.

Part of what makes things so busy is all the running I'm doing now--and not the tennis shoes and jarred knees kind!  Easton had art class on Monday, Destry had violin lesson and symphony on Tuesday, Briana and Destry taught soccer for the elementary PE class on Wednesday (which Easton loved!), Destry had music theory and a piano lesson Thursday and Briana cleans house for a lady every Friday.  Oh how I wish I could have scheduled all this stuff on one day to get it over with.  Maybe next year. . .

 Easton is really taking off with his "reading, (w)riting, and 'rithmetic".   Reading is coming much easier for him now and he is enjoying it.  He doesn't love to write, but he does fine with it and he *loves* math.  One day this week he asked if he could do six pages in his math workbook.  (shrug) Sure, why not.

Arts and crafts is still his very favorite, however.  We finally got to this super easy craft idea my friend Kat shared several weeks ago and it was a major hit. 

 You start by hot glueing crayons across the top (or side) of a canvas.

 Then you use a hair dryer to melt the crayons so the wax runs down the canvas.

 You have to hold it really close and hold it still for a little bit to get the wax hot enough to melt.

 We put cardboard under the canvas during the project and I'm glad--it was a little messy, but not too bad.

 They were super pleased with their finished projects, even though Easton has started thinking he's too big to smile for pictures.

 Using the kids' artwork to decorate their rooms makes us all happy.

I'm thankful it's Friday even though I'm not sure why.  It's not like I don't have just as much to do on the weekends as I do throughout the week--in fact, we're hoping to get our last 35 chickens butchered tomorrow.  Maybe it's just that Daddy is home on the weekends--it's great to have a partner in this busyness!

Good Clean Fun

I love seeing my kids with their new friends they've been making since our move to Iowa.  I think the friendships they are forming are high on the long list of blessings we've been granted through the experience.  Isn't it just like the Lord to give *better* than what we previously had?

I got an especially big kick out of Destry and his friend Jerrit last week.  They went down a mud road and had typical, teenaged-boy-fun. They were rather sheepish when they got back and Destry said "uh, we kinda went muddin'".  I think they wondered if they would be reprimanded.  They seemed both surprised and relieved when we just laughed.

First of all, how funny they looked on their "tough" vehicles--a moped and a mini bike!

Secondly, why would we get mad?  Clothes wash.  But memories and friendships are priceless.  I'm looking forward to seeing what these two come up with next!

Father and Sons Campout

One of our new homeschooling friends hosted a campout for approximately 25 to 30 fathers and sons this past weekend.  Alan took Destry and Easton and I've heard nothing but rave reviews ever since.  It sounds like it was very well put together and Easton is hoping there will be another one in the spring.

 I wish I had a great picture of the three of them with their gear, but alas, I didn't think about that at the appropriate time.  I actually am not even the one who took these pictures--a friend shared them. They were shot by one of the dads and I am grateful to have them for the memories they will prompt in years to come.

They all arrived around 5 pm Friday to set up their tents and get the campfire going.  Alan said it looked like "a buckskinner's camp."  (whatever that is) 

As an aside, Alan has found a friend who shares his love of a good deal.  When his new friend asked him "Where did you get that tent" and Alan answered "I got it on a sale for five bucks", his friend responded with "Now that's what I like about you!"

Food was a very important part of the experience and they had lots of it.  After eating, one of the dads led a devotional study around the campfire and they all joined in to sing together.  Then the dads sat around the campfire (drinking coffee and reportedly anticipating a cold night of sleeping on the hard ground) while the boys played King of the Mountain and a rousing game of cops and robbers.  Four of the teen boys (Destry included) were the "bad guys" and they had to run and hide in the timber without the use of flashlights.  The younger boys were the "cops" and they used flashlights to find the older boys who were then recruited to track down their partners. (You know the saying, there is no loyalty or honor among thieves! ha!)  Destry described this as one of the funnest nights of his entire life.

Saturday morning they had organized some great educational opportunities.  Alan gave a presentation about one of his favorite hobbies:  trapping.  I've heard all sorts of fun reports from the attendees.  Some boys were extremely impressed about spraying urine around the set to "make the animal comfortable" (they directly quoted Alan) while others were amazed that they were to club the animals they catch in their traps ("I bet that would knock them out," one little boy said to which Alan responded "It would knock them out all right!")

He shared several similar tips and then set some traps and let the boys trip them with sticks.  They were so captivated by the presentation, they started out sitting in nice rows listening and ended up gathered so closely around Alan he could barely move.  After they all left the campsite, two boys compelled their daddy to take them to the farm store to look at traps so they could start getting ready for trapping season.  Alan really enjoyed sharing his interest with the others and is thrilled that the boys' attention was piqued.  I've even heard some possibilities of another weekend trapping event once the season starts (only this time they'll set traps in the afternoon and evening, sleep in a cabin, and check their traps the next morning).

After the trapping presentation, a conservationist presented information about orienteering and they got to complete a scavenger hunt with their compasses.  Then my guys came home, tired but jabbering about all the fun they had.

Quick and Cute Hairstyle

Kiana's hair was rather dry after being in braids for 6-7 weeks, so we tried a new conditioning idea followed by a simple style.  A good friend shared with me that I could deep condition Kiana's hair by leaving conditioner in for a couple hours while covering her hair with plastic and a warm towel.  It worked wonderfully! 

 I washed and conditioned her hair in the kitchen sink one evening, then let her sit and watch a movie.  After the movie was over, I rinsed her hair, detangled it (which was super easy) and quickly put in these fun braids.

 I just made random geometric shapes in her hair, captured each section in a ballie, then braided it.  She chose the big flowers to tie off the braid and the style has looked really cute for a little over a week.  Now it's time to do something different, and her hair is still nicely moisturized.  I'm always grateful for helpful tips.