Pretty, Pretty Princess and Lessons With Grandma

We went to dinner at my grandma's and grandpa's the other night.  It was great spending time with them and nice to not have to make dinner!  We ate and then began our usual game playing.  My grandma taught me how to play so many games growing up.  When I would stay for the summer or Christmas break we played games or did crafts about 80% of the time. 

 

She always got right down on the ground and played like she still does with my daughter.  It melts my heart to see it.  She had a wonderful grandmother growing up, who played on the floor with her and devoted hours to game playing.  My grandma told me that she was her inspiration to be a great mother and grandma.  She definitely is the best and I will always treasure her and our memories spent playing games. 

 

I have 3 grandmas and although they all have special, unique qualities, this grandma is the only one who has ever gotten down on my level and poured herself into just spending time with me.  It is a lesson that I try to embrace always.  To be in the moment and to through yourself into your loves.

 

 

What on earth is the fascination with bunny ears??
I just don't get it.



All Pretty, Pretty Princessed up!!  She was the winner!

Children's Museum

Last weekend we went to the Fort Worth Science and History Museum.  Bank of America offers card holders free admission to museums on the first Saturday of the month.  You should check it out if you have a card.  So Mike and I got in free, which meant we saved $30 and that we actually got to go!

 

It is a great museum with lots of fun, interactive exhibits!

 

 

Laying on a bed of nails!!  Literally!  The bed of nails rose up.  It had a warning sign not to move once the nails started rising!

 

Postcrossing!

My sister, Rachel, got us started on something super cool called Postcrossing!  It is a website where you send and receive postcards from around the world!  How cool!  You set up a profile and send your first card.  After you send a card and it has been received, then you will be in the system and start receiving cards.  It's super simple.  After each card of yours is received you will be put back into the system to receive again.  You can send 1 at a time or 100 at a time. 

 

We buy our postcards at Walmart for about 22 cents a piece (I think) and the stamp is $1.05.  So for less than $1.30 you can receive a postcard from around the world!  We just started and Kassidy has sent one to Finland, Germany, Japan, Algeria, Belarus and the Netherlands.  She has received ones from Poland and Japan so far.  The one from Poland was from an 8 year old also, which was really fun!

 

You can request certain themes for postcards and some people have very interesting requests like maps, city views, landscapes, animals, etc.  We try to meet some of their requests, but it's not always possible.  My sister suggested that we write that we do not want any profanity, obscenities or nu*ity so we did in our profile.  We write about basic stuff that tells about our culture and way of life.  If we send a map we tell a little better about where we are on the map, etc.   

 

At first, I was a little weary about doing it.  I'm not super crazy about sharing our address, but we did not do the US exchange.  We only opted for international.  You never send postcards to the person you receive one from, unless you contact them back and ask.  I have thought about doing that with the 8 year old so the girls could be penpals.  We will see. 

 

You should definitely check it out.  I think it is helping Kassidy learn more about other cultures and her geography skills (and mine) will benefit for sure!  She has also requested that we look up the addresses of the ones we send on google maps, which has been pretty fun and interesting!

 

Happy Postcrossing!!

(how almost everyone ends their postcards)

 

Have you ever heard of Postcrossing?  Do your children have penpals?  If so, I would love to learn more about that!

The Amazing Parts of Having One Child

The other day I wrote about some difficulties having only one child.  Now I will write about the joys or positives, because there are so many... so many more than what I can write here.  :)

1) We can pick up and go pretty quickly.  Of course, we have our days when even us 3 cannot make it out the door, but multiply that by a 3 or 4 or 5 and oh my goodness!
2) We get to connect so much more often with eachother because there is only one child. 
3) Our grocery bill is soo much less than the families with multiple children.
4) Because our daughter is 8.5, we are done with the newborn sleepless nights, the terrible twos, the potty training, etc.  We have been able to experience those days and now we get to experience great interaction on a higher level.
5) We get to devote all of our energies to her and in turn she gets all of our attention.  Most of the time.

Our daughter is amazing and wonderful and beautiful and full of life, joy and love. 

Only One Child Seems So Unnatural

I've written before about our struggles to have more children and then our most recent heartbreak a couple months ago when my pregnancy ended at 17 weeks and we lost our little Paisley girl.

Recently throughout our daily life, I notice things... behaviors, attitudes, disappointments... that come only because our daughter is an only child. 

I think there is something major to say about birth order.  I am an oldest child and so is my husband.  I have read personality characteristics for only children and for other children (middle-child, youngest) and they are all pretty spot on.  One I have never read though is about only children.  I never really knew many growing up so I never really cared to read those.

They seem to be a thing of their own.  It is seriously so completely unnatural to me for children to be only children.  Of course, God allows only children and there is nothing wrong with having only one child, but there are so many issues with it.  (at least from what I've observed in our family and in other families that I now notice)

Here are some of the quarks:
1) Our daughter seems to not always get the difference between us being parents and her being the child.  Not that she doesn't obey (of course we have our times) but you can tell that life seems a little less fair when there are 2 of us (bosses/parents) and 1 of her (child with not much authority).  When you have more than one child, it's not just the single child being directed it is all of the children who are directed by parents.  Right now, she is the only one to go to bed early, she is the only one who can't watch certain movies or shows, she is the only one who has to do this or that. 

2) Our daughter is mostly around adults.  There are kids in our family and she has some friends, but when we are at home, just our immediate family, she is the only child.  Of course, we accomodate that but it's not the same.  We cannot play 24-7. 

3) She sees other families with multiple kids and when you are around siblings you see the bond even if the kids seem to hate eachother.  When we are with my sisters you can feel the bond we have and I know that K is missing that.  There is nothing like the bond between siblings. 

That is not counting any of the biologically and historically unnatural things about only children. 

I know there are issues with having 1, 2, 3, or 10 kids.  I just think people don't realize that having only 1 child has its issues also.  I think only-child adults have often missed out on many life skills such as changing diapers, holding babies, teaching someone younger and learning that they are not always the center of attention.

To each their own and if you have decided that only one child is perfect for your family, great!  If you are not able to have more children, I am sorry and I pray for women who long for more children.  If you have a large family, be thankful.  We have given the number of children we will have over to God.  He is in charge.  I pray that we will be blessed soon with a little baby.  If not, I continue to tell Him that I am trusting Him to heal my daughter and mend her broken heart because she hasn't had any siblings.  :) 

Were you an only child?  If so, how has that shaped who you are as an adult?  Did you want siblings?  Do you have only one child?  If so, is that by choice?

Something {emabarassing} that I will miss

Something I will miss dearly when my little girl grows up...

Her beautiful little voice singing away while she is in the bathroom.  As I am typing she just started with a version of Beethoven.  It melts my heart and makes me smile.  It just seems like a moment of pure joy.... while she happens to be going to the bathroom.  She is my happy little child.  Always has been and I hope she always will be.  She does this in public restrooms also.  All of the time.  I can always tell where she is and how long she is going to be by the way she is singing.  How hilarious is that? 

 

She would be mortified if she knew that I was writing this.  But she doesn't so it's ok.  I will really miss and always will remember my little bird {in the bathroom}.

 

Oh, it's obvious why no pictures come with this post.  :)

Horses and Fractions

About a month ago, we went to visit Mike's uncle and his family in Houston.  As soon as we got there, Kassidy and Grandpa Tarr started talking about horseback riding.  He said, "I used to ride a quarter horse."  Kassidy replied, "I ride full horses."  HAHA!  Really, it makes me laugh every time I think about it!  She was so confused as to how he rode a quarter of a horse and my homeschooling mom pride came from the fact that she heard quarter of something and thought of a fraction!!

A Love Note with 2x4s

We bought these 2x4s last year to make some gardening beds, but didn't end up using them because they were pressure treated and I didn't want the chemicals leaking into our food. 

So Kassidy has taken a HUGE liking to them and uses them for everything.  Currently, they are being used as jumping bars for the dogs.  She has them at different levels being held up by some spare bricks.  She is sooo creative.

The "I LOVE YOU!" was written last week by her and it melted my heart.  It was actually on a day that was not so great.  I had just finished crying because I was just in a mood where nothing about my house and life seemed in order.  She brought me outside and showed me this, of course asking why I had been crying.  It definitely made my day so much brighter! 

Taking pictures of it was really hard, because it is huge and she had to rearrange them because they were too far apart to begin with. 

I just love that girl more than I can explain!

3 or 2 babies, please?

This is the request written by 8 year old daughter on her whiteboard above her bed.  The "or 2" part was added a few days later.  We kept telling her the very, very, very slim possibilities of me having 3 babies (and also 2) during this one pregnancy.  But... we will see in about 11 more days!!

1st Week of Fostering

It has been a week since Melissa first moved in with us.  A super quick week actually and quite a busy one.  My sisters were here for 5 days of it and I am really, really, really sad that they are gone, but I loved having them here.  I loved that they got to meet Melissa.  I love that fall is right around the corner... yes, totally random I know, but I'm just getting sooo excited for it!!

Melissa and Kassidy have been getting along very well.  Of course, we have had our bumps and expect even more to come, but in general they are awesome together.  Melissa herself is a great girl.  She is smart and loving.  A little too loving.  She has no stranger danger at all, which is an issue of its own.  Melissa just fits our family.  She just joined right in and is here.  Part of that is her personality and part of that just is.  I am the one who is struggling. 

I am struggling because my heart and brain are not agreeing on some issues.  We have been told that Melissa is going back to her family.  Definitely.  When?- we do not know.  We are super affectionate and constantly telling Kassidy how much we love her.  It has been us 3 forever.  I struggle because I don't want Melissa to get too attached to us.  My heart thinks that her heart will break when she leaves.  My heart also thinks that she will be happy to be going anywhere that will be permanent.  My head thinks that she shouldn't get attached to one more person in her life.  She already gives herself too much to others only to be taken away or hurt by them.  My head thinks that it would be better for her to feel the strong love from someone at least once in her life.  My head also thinks that I would not want someone I didn't know to just be pouring out their love on me when I really don't know them. 

So I struggle.  In the past week, I have shown very little affection to Kassidy and besides at bedtime, when I tell them both that I love them, I have not told Kassidy that I love her except for when we are alone.  This is not how I mother and this is not who I am.  The fear and confusion does not come from me not wanting to get hurt.  I am prepared for that... I think.  Some moments with Melissa feel like she is meant to be in our family and like she has been here for so long already.  Other moments I still care deeply for her but feel good about her going home. 

This foster thing is crazy.  I never thought it wouldn't be.  Melissa is a breeze... an angel placement.  And just a little 6 year old who wants a mommy and daddy to love her forever no matter what. 

Tomorrow is the first day of school.  Melissa will be going into 1st grade at our local public school and Kassidy will be going into 2nd grade at home with me.  I think that will help me.  The schedule is crazy and not a help but I think the quality time with K will help, because I also struggle because I feel like I do not have enough alone time with K anymore.  I mean we were always alone before.  I guess this is the feeling all parents of more than one child have.  The feeling like there is not enough of you to go around.  It is ok, though, and I know God gives and will continue to give us what we can handle.  The relationship between the girls is like nothing else.  Having a sister is an amazing gift and a little less individual mommy time is the cost, but I think it's a good trade.  :)

Homeschool Plan for 2011-2012

This is our second year homeschooling and I am super excited to be done with the first!!  I know a little better about what works, what we all like and what's important. 

Kassidy is going into 2nd grade.  She is our only child, at the moment, but we are waiting to get a call to foster to adopt.  That will change things up, of course, but I think that our main curriculum will stay the same.  We cannot homeschool any foster children and starting at 3 they are supposed to be in a Headstart program. 

Sooooo... I have been working on curriculums and a plan for a while now.  Here is what I found when I first started... loves, likes, dislikes and very strong dislikes :)


Handwriting and Spelling: A Reason For---love these lessons!!  I had so little to do to prepare for them.  The Handwriting book works on a Bible verse for the week and at the end of the week you get to write the verse on a cute border sheet that the child can also color.  They have suggestions for what to do with those sheets, including sending them to prisoners, the elderly, family, making them into placemats, etc.   The Spelling book has some fun and creative games and ideas.  These books have wayyyy more packed in them than any other curric I've seen. 

Bible: Positive Action's Finding God's Promises.  I am also very excited about this curric!  The pictures and stories (that tie in with the Bible lessons) are super colorful and fun!

Writing and Grammar: I am just pulling from a few resources, which include a Little Critter Writing book, a Bible Activities workbook, and Everything for Math and Reading workbook.  We are also part of a small group at church that is doing Shurley English.

Health, Safety and Manners: One day a week we will be doing the work from the A Beka book.  This will only last us for the first semester of school.

Social Studies: We are switching this, Social Studies Made Simple workbook, with the Health for our 2nd semester. 

Science:  We are using BJU and it was one that I was disappointed with.  I had to work soooo hard to make a plan still that would go a little more in depth, because, in my opinion, it does not ever go below surface level on any topic.  Using this curric and adding in my own further in depth info we will only get 2-3 days/week for only 20 weeks out of this book.  I think we are going to order A Reason For (the same as Handwriting & Spelling above) for the rest of the year. 

Math:  Another subject where I am just going to pull from the resources I have.  I have lots of workbooks including the Everything for Math and Reading workbook and Bible Activities workbook.  I get these workbooks from Mardel, which is an awesommmee store that you hopefully know about!  The prices are amazing... like $3.50-$8 a book.  Monday & Wednesday will be worksheet days, Tuesday will be flash cards and Thursdays will be word problems, which I think are important enough to have their own day... that knowledge and those skills might actually be used one day!!

Artists/Hymns/Composers:  This did not work so well for us last year.  For some reason it just seemed like I really had to drag it out to last longer than 5 minutes, so we are doing much less of it "formally" this year.  We are just going to listen to one composer/quarter during our quiet/car/etc times.  Hyms (I include other important songs) will be mostly patriotic in the 1st semester since that is what we will be studying in History at that time.  Our first artist will be Renoir followed by Monet. 

History: A Beka's Our America, which was another disappointment.  3/wk will only get us through 20 weeks so we will just be reading some great books for the majority of the 2nd semester. 

Geography and Map Skills: We are really just focusing on memorizing (and hopefully learning) the states, capitals and oceans.  In the dollar section, Target has some great easy workbooks on the states and on some other topics.

Typing:  We are using http://www.freetypinggame.net/.  I really wanted a free program and I think I have found a good one.  A tip on typing: when I was in school our typing teacher would have us fold a paper in half and stick on edge in the top above the numbers with the rest sitting on our hands so that we couldn't see the keys.  We all learned to type very well and very fast. 

Then of course we have reading time, misc lessons and piano lessons.  It sounds like alot, especially when I type it out like this, but we are really only doing school for about 3-4 hours a day 4 days a week, plus 2 hours of co-op school time 2 days a week.

On Fridays I hope to do more volunteering, field trips, adventures, etc. 

I am very excited for school to start and again I feel completely blessed that I am able to homeschool our daughter!

So Hard To Say Goodbye

It is so hard to say goodbye.  Mike's mom and nephew came to visit for a week and we all parted ways today, which means....

everyone is sad.

Kassidy cried... and cried... and cried... and cried. 

Mike said how much he missed his mom. 

I miss her also.

I also am reminded that my heart will break in a few weeks after my sisters come to visit and then also have to leave.  There will be many more tears then.

Our hearts break because we are not all together.  I think we have holes in our hearts that our loved ones are supposed to be filling.  Of course, we remain close and we treasure our relationships but when you can't get up and see them whenever you want the hole never can be totally filled. 

Maybe one day we can all live close to eachother.  Texas would be the smartest place since it's right in the middle of everyone else!!!  ;)

Galveston Trip #1

Kassidy and I went with my dad, stepmom and little sister to Galveston to meet my grandparents at their time share.  We had a blast and to help keep some memories and share our adventures I will post some pics.  There are quite a few so there will be several posts on our trip!!

The many faces of Kassidy. 

Do you think she buried herself with that little shovel??

Sand, Sand, Sand

Let's Plllayyy Bbballll!!!!!

We went to the baseball game a couple weeks ago thanks to some of our awesome friends, who couldn't go.  These were the best seats we have ever had.  It was awesome!  And the tickets came with free parking which just sweetened the deal!

K was not in the mood for pics unlike her daddy, who was more than willing :)

My Texas Rangers!!!

We are baseball lovers and our players are incredible.  Many are such strong, faith-full, encouraging, positive examples and many are very quick to give God the glory for all of their accomplishments.




PS.  I do not know if you have seen the news lately, but Josh Hamilton, who is an amazing player and an even more amazing Christian man, threw a foul ball to a fan the other night at the game and the fan fell trying to catch it.  He later died at the hospital.  He was a 39 year old fire fighter who was at the game with his 6 year old son.  His name was Shannon.  If you would keep both Josh, his family and Shannon's family in your prayers that would be great. 

Home Study: Check!

YAYYY!!

I have not blogged or done much (besides take a little beach trip) for the last couple weeks.  I have been doing things to get ready for our home study. 

For me, that meant organizing my whole entire house, which I have never done in my life.  Really.  I haven't.  Not because I have never wanted to, but because I am no organizer organizing my house does not come naturally to me. So now my house is about 95% organized and clean, which is amazing!  Absolutely amazing! 

The way I organize is to take everything out.  Right?  Is there another way to do it besides having everything out in the middle of the house and in piles until you find somewhere to put those piles?  Let me know if you know another way! 

Our home study was Tues at 2pm.  Needless to say, I was up all night Monday and did get a couple hour nap in Tuesday morning because I was up working on things all night. 

And my piles: A couple of them ended up in big black garbage bags in the attic :(  So sad.  Soon I will have to finish up my last 5% of organization! 

The home study:  I was praying that this would happen- she literally took a maybe 4 minute tour of my house and I was the one encouraging her to look around.  Yes, my house is small, but still.  I was really hoping that I would be way more prepared than I needed to be.  And I totally was. 

Here's what I was expecting or rather having a nightmare about:  (opening of a kitchen drawer) "Why would you put this in here with this?"  "What was your thinking behind arranging things like this?"  Yes, you may laugh, but to me this was serious stuff.

Why so serious?  Because this home study was the biggest judgement on me and my family that I have ever had.  Someone was going to walk into my house and "study" us and tell us, basically, if we were considered "fit" to parent children.  Well, I am not sure if it would have felt so judgemental if we did not already have children.  Since we do, it felt like someone would also be agreeing that we are doing an acceptable job parenting or that we were unnacceptable parents, who were bringing our baggage on our daughter and damaging her.  Yes, again, I was probably thinking this and taking it too far, but for me the judgement was huge.

But....

It's over!  All done!!  Our caseworker was awesome and hopefully I won't have to see her at my house again until we have some kiddos that she is checking in on!

And now life can go on!!  In a clean and almost completely organized house!

Summer is definitely here :( and I am going to cherish my time with my daughter for the next few weeks.  It's hit me that in a couple months I will probably never have only 1 child again.  For us all this is pretty darn exciting, but I want to enjoy my alone time with my girl until then!

What are you summer plans this week? 

My Girl and Her Loves

Kassidy and Olivia attempting to make some sort of tent.

Gotta love sheets!

Olivia has become quite the retriever... hahaha... yes, I think that is hilarious since she is part golden retriever!

You can see my not-so-good and not-at-all-keeping-the-puppy-out fence for my garden.

After a hard throw!

More retrieving!

Buddy, who is not a retriever, has probably never retrieved successfully- ever.  He just wants some love!

This is what Sara does every single time she hears or sees K reading or doing school work. 

Every.  Single.  Time.

Crooked smile K