Homeschooling summer blahs

I don't know about you but I am SO not ready to enter into school planning, thinking and doing.

Going to the home school convention back in June was enriching and very useful and helpful to set the tone.  But the reality is that I bought 70% of my curriculum at that convention and I am still at a loss for some very important items.  I am not interested in buying them either anytime soon!!!

Folks, summer is still in high swing at our home!!!!  It is still hot and humid and oh so very very summer-like.

It's only August 14th (which, BTW, don't forget a holy day tomorrow!!!! so go to Mass!) and the pool is still open for us.   We JUST joined only a short time ago and we are trying to utilize it the max!  It's great b/c there is hardly anyone there b/c they are probably just so sick of it! haaaa!  Good for us! :)

Of course my kidos could use some structure in their day.  But, isn't it a wonderful way of learning what to do with boredom?  SO healthy if you ask me.  I remember tons of times growing up moping about wondering what to do with my time....all the while being careful not to let my mom see or she'd be quick to set me to work! Those were my most imaginative and creative times. 

I have seen pics and read of this out pour of homeschooling families beginning school already.  Of course it's their choice and they have that freedom to do so.   I have a friend who starts early and end ends in early May.  Good idea!  But not me.  At least not this year.  I did try to start about 2 weeks ago but my heart was not in it.  I couldn't ask my kids to be on top of things and excited if I was too much in the lazy summer mode.  So, we packed the boxes right back up.  We were all so happy about that.  But, I have to admit that seeing and reading of those families gives me a bit of nervousness and anxiety.  Again, I guess I am not there yet. 

Well, hope you are enjoying your last few weeks of summer bliss and giving thanks to God for all the gifts in your life!!!
God bless, Mary @ Cheerios

Quick Takes-August 2012

Just noticed that the previous post was my 1000th post! wow, how'd that happen?!  Do I really have that much to say? haaaa

We had a bit of tick explosion in our backyard in May and June.  Needless to say, we opted for the children not to go back into the woods anytime soon.  Yes, it was that gross.  Nasty.  A friend of mine told me to freeze the little stinkers in a baggie and write the name/date/location of the tick found so that if there were any reactions, they could test the stinker and find out if Lyme's disease or whatever.  All those ticks on my kids and then finding out a dear friend was stricken with a terrible case of Lyme's along with some bacterial infection due to a tick made me shy away from kids outside.  Finally, as in just a few days ago, I have let loose with them in hopes of a good outcome with no ticks and thanks be to God, we have been tick free so far.  We sure had some time in our house these past few months.

Which leads me to the POOL!  Yahoo!  We have joined our pool, finally.  I do have some reservations about it and the modesty there.   Or rather the lack there of.  Even my kids comment on it.  I am not just talking about the girls/women.  It is also the lifeguards.  Since when is it appropriate for them to wear bikini's?!?!! I mean, c'mon!  I do not think those things would be staying on if someone was to drown.  Life is way more important to save rather than a bikini top or bottom.  Gee wilikers, lifeguards!  We try to go off hours, like when it JUST opens up.  And so far, so good.  But, its too bad that a pool has to be that way.  Bummer.

 My girls are all about dolls.  Still.   And I absolutely love it.  They are learning the best possible home ec class ever hovering over dolls and baby dolls all day.  My heart is very pleased.

Talking about babies...I am 3 and 1/2 months now!  All looks and SOUNDS good!!!  Praise be to God.  What a gift.  Truly a gift.

Also, about babies....remember my dear friend I asked you to pray about?  Sam?  Well, her sweet baby Steven Thomas went to be with Jesus.  See HERE and HERE.

Wasn't that the most sweetest and yet heart wrenching story.  She is a strong woman upheld by Her God, her strength.

We went on vacation a few weeks ago.  It was amazing and exhausting all at the same time.  We were blessed with such great spiritual direction preparing us for what is to come.

Must go now....my children need their Momma!

God bless you,
Mary

Cravings

I've had my fair share of interesting pregnancy cravings....haven't you?

I've had my ice cream pregnancy craving, a greasy pizza one, a cantaloupe preg. craving, and even a specifically Dunkin donut blueberry muffin craving.  Those are not that odd! 

But this pregnancy, I am seriously craving veggies.  Not a bad choice of craving, huh?!?!

I crave just about any veggie but the best fulfillment of my craving goes to this... a whole onion, a whole pepper sauteed with fresh garlic in a ton of olive oil.  After sauteing and placing it on my plate, I add fresh cut up tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.  YUMMY!

Just talking about it, makes me want some right now! ha :)

So, tell me....what are some of your odd cravings or any cravings?

God bless,
Mary

Cabin Fever in the Summer?

I always thought that cabin fever happened in the dreary, cold months of Jan-Feb-March. 

And it did. 

But it's also happening now.  Yikes!  In the summer?  How could that be???

You'd think it is summer and you'd think pool...but imagine no pool access (yet, maybe...we're waiting for the 1/2 off deal and possibly join, maybe...still praying on it.) and it being very HHH---Hazy Hot Humid...and no pool.

So, what to do when there is no pool in the summer with 7 young kids and being a pregnant Momma, besides going totally nuts and pulling your hair out????

Let's see....

• Lots of things break in the house.  Let's face it.  We are just that family that breaks things.   It's just who we are!  When a new toy comes in our presence, we wonder how long it will last.  In that essence, that is why we try really hard to buy things that are really well made and will (gasp! hopefully!) last some time around here!!!
• Lots of kids get hurt and have bandaids all over their boo-boo's.  Why?  B/c its too hot to play and run around outside for more than 20mins... so where is the next best place?  Of course---Inside the house!  Sure!  Just the place where there is plenty of opportunity to offer up boo-boo's. haaa haaa!!!
• Lots of creative and imaginative play goes on here.  Lots.  Stuff I could NEVER imagine up!!!  Love children's way of thinking-it's awesome!  I have had to let them just get the house messy to play and I've seen the fruits of letting 'kids be kids'.  Of course, there is always clean up that ALWAYS takes 2x longer!!!
• Lots of swinging on the hose hanging from our deck that is up 20 feet from the ground.  Yeah.  Imagine Tarzan.  That's right.  Tarzan. 
• Lots of time filling and re-filling our tiny little kiddie pool that the children play in daily.  Just think of 7 kids in one tiny pool.  Kinda hilarious but my kids are such good sports. 
• Lots of matchbox cars deep in dug out dirt ditches in front of our house.
• There's a bit more time for movies and even some youtube clips.  Like this one!

Lastly, there's a lot more of Momma laying on the couch feeling yucko and that equals a messier house, which also means lots of little extra hands are needed to help keep this boat afloat!  That is not very pleasant for them or me nagging them to do it.  We are all trying to hold off of the grudingly help and focus more on the generous help we are called to as we imitate our Lord Jesus and seek to serve Him in one another. :)  Not an easy task but anything that is hard is usually most worthwhile, right???

PREGNANCY UPDATE:  I am 11 1/2 weeks pregnant and feeling just like a pregnant Momma should feel!!! We are ever so grateful and so happy for this GIFT OF LIFE!!!  Thank you for praying for us-Thank you so much!!!

God bless,
Mary@Cheerios

Keep praying for Sam and Steven Thomas!!!

Update from the previous post...

HERE is the recent post from Sam.

HERE is another post too.

Thank you so much for praying for Sam and her baby Steven Thomas. 

Keep up the praying.  They need every bit of prayer and as you can see from one of her posts, she sure has a network of prayer warriors FAR AND WIDE!!!


THANK YOU!!!
God bless,
Mary @ Cheerios

Pleeeeease pray!!!

Can I beg of you to pray for my dear friend SAM???

Go and read her blog entry here. 

Then go on your knees and beg God for a miracle...ok?

OK.
Thanks. God bless,
Mary @Cheerios

Huh? What did you say?

I really think that sometimes they make these things specifically for Mommas with lots of very rowdy kids. 



Enough said.

God bless,
Mary