Nine Years...

Today is our nine year anniversary...

I am pretty sure I don't know what I am doing

I am doing my best to follow the rules, I just don't have much experience.  So, I am trying to do a "meme" (is that what it is called??).  Oh, do help me blogger friends!! =)

Number one, here is the link to my friend who tagged me!!  Go see her blog and give her some love!=)

Sarah

Number two, post the rules.  (is that what I am doing right now?  Still not quite sure.)

Number three, here are six random things about me:

1.  I am addicted to books.  I really love them.  Children's books, adult books, classics, just about anything.  Unfortunately, they cost money.  

2.  I am not really into anything much of the science fiction or fantasy world of things.  I like some.  But not most.

3.  One of my most favorite books of all time is "Hind's Feet on High Places."  (I don't know why I can't underline on my blog??)

4.  This weekend I went to a homeschooling moms conference (which I hope to post more on later!).  The things I took away from the conference: an affirmation of the great depth of God's love for me, and despite my sin and wickedness, my great love for Him who has redeemed me; 

and, I need to RELAX.  My children learn much more from my attitude in our everyday life then they ever do sitting at our table doing "schoolwork".

5.  I really love food.  I enjoy cooking, baking, trying new things.  Food tickles my heart.  

6.  Ooh!!  My husband and I will celebrate our 9 year anniversary this week.  Well, by celebrate, I mean that he will work the night shift and I will enjoy the some of the "fruit" of our marriage (that means the kids!) =)

Okay, there you go!  6 random things about me.  Now, I am to tag six people.  I don't exactly know how to link everyone, but I will try:

Kelly

Christine

Rebecca

Gina

Heidi

Lisa S. 

Becky, this is for you!!

I thought I would do a post about the books we had chosen because 1) it was a little long for a comment, and 2) that way other people can comment with good books or biographies that their kids enjoy.

So, I started with authors that I knew of.  Ingri d'Aulaire was one, and she had a biographical book on Washington and one on Lincoln, but I was only able to get the Abraham Lincoln book from the library... the other was checked out or something.  Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire have biographies of Lincoln, Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Buffalo Bill, Columbus, Leif the Lucky and Pochahontas.  The Lincoln biography was winner of the 1939 Caldecott Medal.  It's about 55 pages or so, with quite a bit of text on the pages, but great pictures as well.  (Becky, I am sure the girls could read it on their own, but their curiosity for information would surely be satisfied!!)

The activity books are called "Abraham Lincoln for kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities."  The Washington book is called the same, but with a different author.  These are great books, (although I haven't read all of the text, mostly just skimmed the activities at these point.  The activities are geared more towards the girls' age, but Jonah and Naiah would be right on board, I am sure!! )

I got a "rookie biography" on Abraham Lincoln by Carol Greene which is about 45 pages.  Reading wise, it might be too easy for the girls, but information wise, it would be just right.  There is a lot of information!!

And finally, I got a "Jr. Graphic Biography" on George Washington by Dan Abnett, which I think Jonah might be interested in... It's written almost like a comic book (which I do not understand why boys enjoy them so, but hey, I'm all for it!)  So, the text was in short bursts of important information with comic-like pictures. Example: "On March 5, 1770, a group of Americans rioted.  The British troops fired on the crowd.  They killed five people and hurt six more.  This became known as the Boston Massacre."

Anyway, hope this helps.  And I would be glad to hear any info. on what books or biographies anyone else wants to recommend. =)

First Sewing Lesson...

So, in honor of President's Day, I checked out a bunch of books to read to the kids about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (and of course, we are studying "Love" this month!)  Anyway, there was a book for each president which included activities that relate to the time periods.  (So, we will be making stove pipe hats, and "log cabins").  One of the activities in the George Washington book was to make a "Lady's Cap".  So, Emma has been so excited, she finally got to help mamma with the sewing machine:

Fancy footwork....

WAY too much fun!! =)

The finished project

Santa Barbara Zoo

We had a fun family trip to the Santa Barbara Zoo.  I really enjoyed the zoom on my camera, and I brought my old camera for the kids to take pictures with, which Emma especially enjoyed.  I haven't had a chance to download the pictures that the kids took, but here are some of mine:

And the kid's favorite, which sends us all into hysterical laughter:

Seriously?

So, I went in to get my four year old son up from "Quiet Rest" time.  (Now in fairness, he is four and a half)  He had taken his book, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe with him to rest with. When I came in the room he was holding up his book, "reading" and looking at the pictures (so I thought.)  He told me, "Well, I've been reading a lot of this book, but I'm only going to read two chapters."  Now, I now that he can read quite well, but this shocks me.  So I look, and he's at about page 21 or so, which is in the middle of the second chapter.  I ask him, "Did you read all this?"

"Yeah."  So, he proceeds to read me a few more lines, and as Emma bounces into the room, Caleb declares, "I can read this book."

Seriously?  

Indulgence of the Month...

Okay, so most of us don't have much extra money just laying around.  This month, however, I indulged in a purchase from Costco which has been of great benefit to our family.  The cost is not a HUGE difference, so to me it has been worth it:

Organic Instant Oatmeal.  

The Costco box comes with Berry, Maple Syrup, Oats and Flax, Apples and Cinnamon, and Regular.  

2/3 cup water, and 60 seconds in the microwave.

Now, trust me, I know that regular oatmeal does not even take that much longer to make.  I normally don't like "flavored" oatmeal because it has extra sugars.  But let me just say, that when you are operating on very little sleep (or worse, a migraine!), it benefits us all when I can walk out and set out the three bowls and get them all their oatmeal in less than five minutes.  And, to my surprise, this organic oatmeal does not contain a ton of sugar, even in the flavored varieties.  So, this is our indulgence of the month!!!

3 Months Old

Okay, I have long since forgotten how many weeks old Ezra is, but I do know that today he is three months old!  I have some other blogging to catch up on, but I need to go to bed, so I just wanted to get at least one picture up in honor of his three month milestone!

I might have found it...

Well, after being a bit under the weather, my new Netflix DVD arrived.  It was another workout video that I was excited to try.  But of course, rather than waiting until I felt better, I just HAD to give it a go!!  Whether or not that was a big mistake, we have yet to find out, but all in all, I think this might be the video I am looking for right now.  One of things that I am picky about is any type of kickboxing workout that has flimsy punches, or has you punching so fast that it isn't even a punch anymore.  This one was not that way.  So, I sweat, I enjoyed, and I hopefully have found one workout video that I can use at home.  Now, I would like to find two more, one being a Pilates/Stretch video... Suggestions are welcome. =)

Oh, duh.  The video is Step Boxing with Kelly Coffey-Meyer.  

For all the moms out there...

Whether you are at home or work, have one or ten, sometimes being a momma can leave you feeling a little discouraged.  Today I was listening to a CD, and this song came on, and it was so encouraging that I thought I would share the lyrics:

One Heartbeat At a Time by Steven Curtis Chapman

You're up all night with a screaming baby

You run all day at the speed of life

And every day you feel a little bit less

Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall in bed when you run out of hours

And you wonder if anything worth doing got done

Well maybe you just don't know

Or maybe you've forgotten

That you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

Making history with every touch and every smile

Oh you, you may not see it now

But I believe that time will tell

How you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

With every "I know you can do it"

And every tear that you kiss away

So many little things that seem to go unnoticed

They're just like the drops of rain

Over time, they become a river

You're beautiful, so beautiful

How you're changing the world...

One little heartbeat at a time

Nature Walk...

We had a fun time this morning... as Caleb said, "We're going to explore the world!" Well, maybe not quite the world, more like the bike path and the field near our house. But it was still great fun. Amazing, that it can be, like 80 degrees (or more) in January.



Investigating their treasures...

It's Fun to Homeschool

In their stockings for Christmas, Emma had Little House in the Big Woods, and Caleb had The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.  (Why can't I underline on here??)  We have been reading Emma's book and just finished it a couple of nights ago.  Caleb has been champing at the bit to start his book, which we did last night.  Today he told me, "I wish we could read the whole thing!!"

Well, we didn't read the WHOLE book, but we had blankets, pillows, popcorn, string cheese, peanut butter sandwiches, water bottles, and a good book.  Now that is an awesome day.

P.S. Courtney, you were right about the bees in Little House in the Big Woods!!! =)

Favorite Pictures

These are some of my favorite pictures in the last few days or so:

 Ready for action!

 Did someone teach her how to pose for the camera????

 Ready for a new diaper.

 Ready for church

 What an exciting life!!

 Ready for a nap??

Katie, Please don't shoot me...

We were at Grandpa Ron and Grandma Connie's house last Friday night, and I was playing with my new camera.  I could not resist posting this most beautiful picture of Auntie Katie.

One of My Favorites...

I have a lot of favorite songs, and this is currently towards the top of my list.  Thought I would share the lyrics, since I have been thinking about them a lot: (P.S. Mom, this is the song I was going to sing Sunday before we all got sick. =)

Thy Mercy, My God

Thy mercy, my God is the theme of my song,

The joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue;

Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,

Hath won my affections and bound my soul fast.

Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here

Sin would reduce me to utter despair;

But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive,

And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,

Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;

Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground,

And weep for the praise of the mercy I've found.

Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own,

In the covenant love of Thy crucified Son;

All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine

Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.

Tae-Bo Funk

Most moms can relate to waking up with the feeling. Your newborn baby is not quite so newborn anymore, you are not looking super good in anything you own to wear, and although you aren't sleeping a ton, you are resolved to start losing some weight. I had the urge a couple of weeks ago, and then we got sick, so it was put on hold. But, I had told Ben that I really wanted to get a new workout video so that I could do something different at home. Now, I do understand that I am amazingly picky when it comes to workout videos. In my defense, I worked at a gym for 6 years, and was a certified personal trainer and aerobics instructor. And I had a special certification to teach kickboxing, which was one of my favorites. So, instead of wasting money on a video that I wouldn't like (and there are a lot that I don't care for), I decided to rent Tae-Bo Funk on Netflix, to see if I liked it. Then, if I did, I could buy it for myself. Now I know I am picky, but this one was just too funny for words. I should have known right off the bat that I wouldn't like anything with "funk" in the title. But, by the end of the "workout", Billy Blanks is ripping his shirt off, and I can't even watch anymore because I am laughing so hard. All in all, I did sweat a bit, did my ab work on the ball, and opted to keep looking. =)

My little Knight...

Auntie Katie found this onesie for Ezra Lucas Knight. I am so sad because it is getting quite tight on him... I wonder if I could find it in all the other sizes??? =)
In case you can't read it, it says, "Knight in Shining Armor"

I'm having so much fun with the new camera =)

Emma and me going to Starbucks to bring home drinks for Family Bible reading.
(I already posted my favorite pictures of Noah in the last post about his haircut, so that's why he doesn't have a picture in this post.)

The Haircut

Poor kid, Noah's been swiping his hair away from his eyes because it had gotten so long. So, Daddy decided to do a haircut. Neither of us were super thrilled, so mommy tried to fix it a bit. Anyway, it isn't in his eyes anymore, and he still has quite a bit of hair.
Before the cut...
While being bribed with a lollipop...
His new look...

Painting Fun

The other day we decided to paint. Here are some pictures:


Here are the finished products (I'd have you guess who did which one, but I think it's a bit obvious in this case.) =)

My First Video!!!

We once had a video camera. There is some minor dispute about what actually happened to it, but I haven't seen it since we had been living with my parents and at that time it was in Ben's 4-Runner. If I knew how, this is where I would put a link to the blog about when Ben's 4-Runner caught on fire. Anyway, the video camera is lost, along with all the video we had... including Caleb's first steps, Emma being born and Caleb being born... I'll stop trying to remember what videos are lost to us, because it might make me sad!

Back to the point.... our camera could take video, but didn't have any sound. Also, our camera started doing some funny things, so it would kind of "rainbow"-ize the pictures. (Don't you love my technical knowledge here?) Anyway, Ben had wanted to get me a new camera, one that took video. After so much research that my brain started hurting, I finally got my new camera. So, without further adieu, here is my first video posting.

P.S. It took me so long to post this, seriously, that I probably won't be doing it too often! But, enjoy, nonetheless!

The gap widens...

We have been sick for a few days, so that is yet another of my excuses for not blogging.  But here is a picture of Emma, she lost another tooth, and a big one is coming in...

Pictures for Grammie:

As promised, here is Ezra in his "new digs" and the kids in their crocs.  We exchanged the big kids' for the kind with the fuzzy lining so they would fit their feet a little better.  Thank you Grammie!

Catch Up

It seems like I blog in spurts.  I go for a while without having the time to get on here, and then all at once, I realize I have piled up information and/or pictures.  So, here's my catching up:

The gingerbread house we made at Ben's dad and stepmom's house on Christmas Day:

Everyone bundled up for an excursion: