7 Quick Takes Friday - Volume 10

We have our first edible fruit!  That's always so exciting to me!  There are lots more on their way, too!  It's been a rough summer - lots of high, high heat and little rain.  Some days we've had to water the plants twice a day!  But it looks as if the work is paying off!

And, we have a baby watermelon!!

A few weeks ago we went swimming at a lake.  When I grew up, I lived in New Hampshire, where no one had a pool - if we wanted to go swimming, we either hiked through the woods to find a swimming hole, or swam at a few nearby lakes or quarries.  It was so much fun, and most of my fondest teenage memories center around those times.  Where we live now, though, most swimming is done in concrete pits with chlorine! So it was nice to leave suburbia with the kids and take them swimming in something natural!

Despite the concrete chlorine pits, I actually love where I live.  We're in an older subdivision, so we have a decent-sized yard, and we're on a cul-de-sac, so it's nice and quiet.  However, everything I need is soooo close.  Dentist?  3 minutes.  Pediatrician? 2 minutes.  Any and all types of shopping?  Within 15 minutes or so.  And, we recently found out that there's a proposal to put a small grocery store on the main road at the top of our subdivision.  We're going and voting YES! to that - I think it's awesome!  I could actually *walk* to the store!  How quaint! ;-)

I know lots of people dream of country life, and while I do believe in it's benefits, I think I love being a suburbanite!

I mentioned in my scheduling post that Michael is the one in charge of going over the big kids' work in the evenings.  He uses those nifty assignment sheets I posted about a while ago (they're working out great, by the way).  One night, after he had finished with the boys, I went to tidy up, and this is what I came across:

Click to see the writing around the border a little better!

Is there more proof needed that he's smitten?  It reminded me of a love-struck kid!  I love how much he loves her.

In order to try to carve out more time for eachother in our busy lives, Michael and I have agreed to have three nights a week with NO technology on once the kids go to bed.  No computer, no iPhone, no movies...  It has been

WONDERFUL!!!!

I am seriously loving it.  We're able to catch up with eachother, spend some time in the Word and in prayer, play a game or two, and connect in... other ways...  all things that are really beneficial to our relationship.  They're like having mini-date nights right at home!  It is one of the best things we've done for our relationship, and I am so glad we agreed to give it a try.

Judah continues to be my music-lover.  One day I was putting him into his carseat, and he said "I love this song!  It's my favorite!".  I hadn't turned on the car yet, so I was confused about what he was talking about.  I asked him "What song?" and he said "The bird's song!"

It melted my heart!

This upcoming week is a bittersweet one for us, as we say goodbye to some of our closest friends.  God is taking them on a journey of which they can't see the outcome, but their faith through it all has been such an inspiration and a blessing!  We're excited to see where He's leading them, but a little sad for ourselves, too, because we'll miss them so much!  Good friends are such a gift!

Nathan and their girls

Wordless Wednesday - Just Because



She just melts my heart!



Fitting It All In

As promised in my previous post about our curriculum plans for 2011-2012, I'm going to share the routine we've had for a few months and that we'll keep as long as it keeps working!  Flexibility is really the key, afterall!

I've tried and tried in the past to do a "by the clock" schedule, but that only makes for a stressed out mommy, which makes for stressed out and sad kids.  So instead, we just have "hard stops" - specific things that happen at a specific time... the rest just flows in between those stops!

Our day starts at 7:30, which is when all the kids get up (actually, my day starts around 5:15 - I use those extra two hours to exercise, shower, and get into the Word).  Everyone does their basic before-breakfast duties (beds made, teeth brushed, dogs taken care of, etc.) and we sit down for breakfast.  We do our Memory Verse practice, prayer time, and Bible work during breakfast, which gets our day off on a good start!

After breakfast there are some chores to be done, and then we settle into "school".  Depending on how breakfast went, it might be anywhere from 8:15 or even almost 9 by this time... like I said, we're flexible!  To start school time, I always begin with my littles and their preschool work.  While I'm sitting and reading stories to those guys, Isaac will begin the subjects he does on the computer, and Ezra starts his independent work.

After we've read some stories together, I get a few minutes of one-on-one time with each of my younger set.  Joel will get his computer time, while Nate and I work on his Explode the Code book.  Judah wanders between watching Joel on the computer and hanging out at the table with us, or playing with toys in the living room during this time.  Then Nate gets computer time, while Joel and I do handwriting, math and a reading lesson together.  The bigger boys are still working on their independent work while this is going on.  And Judah is still wandering and playing, or starting to create chaos and havoc, depending on the kind of day he's having... (if I can see that it's a chaos and havoc kind of day, I do some tomato staking before things get out of control, and he becomes my sidekick until his brothers are free to play.)

Once I've finished up with the littles, the bigger boys have usually finished their independent work, so it's their turn for one-on-one work with me.  I start with Isaac, while Ezra gets his turn at computer work.  I do spelling and writing with Isaac, and then he is free for the rest of the morning until lunch time!  Then Ezra does spelling, writing, and handwriting with me, and he is free, as well!  By this time, it is usually somewhere between 10:30-11:30ish. 

Of course, while all of the above was all happening, I also took a 15 minute (or so) break at some time to put Rachel down for a nap... she's not on a set schedule, so it just happens whenever she's needing it.  The kids are all used to it by now, so it doesn't disrupt things too badly.  She usually needs 2-3 naps a day and nurses every 2-3 hours, so I just fit those things in when they're needed and life continues on. 

Lunch happens at 12:30, and then Nathan and Judah take a nap from 1-3.  During this nap time is when the 3 oldest boys and I get down to more intense work - I'll use this time for History, Science, and Read-Alouds.  I used to try to do these things when the little ones were awake, but it was just too difficult and I always felt like I was rushing through to just GET IT DONE!  But now there's less stress, fidgeting, and interruption, and we're enjoying it much, much more.  These three subjects can take anywhere from an hour to the full two hours, depending on how much conversation we have, or if there are any science experiments to be done.

3:15 is afternoon snack time, and 3:30 is when afternoon chores start.  Usually during afternoon chores, I'll take 15 or so minutes to go over all the independent work the big boys did that morning, and correct it. 

(My sweet husband has saved my sanity and blessed me with a lot more needed time by offering to be the one that goes over all their work with them, in the evenings after the little ones have gone to bed.  Can I just share my relief at what a wonderful lifesaver this has been for me?!  I love that man!  He really enjoys being in touch with what they're learning, seeing their successes, and coaching them through their struggles - he just hates actually correcting the work.  So I do that part, leaving careful notes about anything I think needs to be brought up.)

Once afternoon chores are done, they are free once again.  Dinner is at 7, followed by family devotions, then bedtime for littles and Daddy time for the big kids.  By 9 or 9:30, the big kids head off to bed, and Michael and I get an hour or two to ourselves... and then to bed I go!  My goal is to get into bed by 10 or 10:30 every night.  I hit that maybe once or twice a week!  More realistically, it is 11 or later by the time my light goes out.

That's our day in a snapshot!


The biggest thing I've learned in the past 5 years of homeschooling is that I just have to be flexible.  I know I've said that word a lot!  But, it's true.  And if anyone reading this knows me, you understand that flexibility does NOT come naturally to me.  I'm a typical type-A, controlling person who likes structure and predictability!  Almost to OCD proportions!  But the Lord has really done a work on me and I've learned that I cannot possibly control a home with 7 other people in it.  Manage it with wisdom, yes.  Control, no!  So if things don't go as "planned"... I just take a deep breath, and move on to the next thing. The world has not ended yet when things haven't gone as planned, so... I'm learning that it is OK! 

Plus, (most importantly, I think), flexibility gives me the room to deal with the actual important things in life, such as comforting and encouraging a frustrated child, teaching brothers to love eachother, spending time enjoying a little one's artwork or a big one's silly antics, and disciplining with patience and consistency rather than frazzled frustration.  And of course, snuggling and nursing my sweet baby girl! 

The routine I just outlined above is probably the best one we've had in almost all of our homeschooling.  I think the combination of the routine, having older children, using the curriculum we're using, plus just having a few years of homeschooling under my belt - all of these things have really melded together well to make our homeschooling days flow into "real life" and not a burden, but a joy!  Not every day is picture-perfect, of course... but I find that, overall, the days flow with a reasonable smoothness that we all appreciate.

Not-Back-to-School Blog Hop - 2011-2012 Curriculum Plans!

I'm joining in with Heart of the Matter Online's "Not-Back to School Blog Hop"!  Week 1 is Curriculum Week, so here's a look at what our plans are for the 2011-2012 school year!

We've officially completed our 180 days of school, as required by our state.  Since we prefer to school year-round, we're jumping right into another "year", starting next week.  We still have odds and ends of our 2010-2011 curriculum to finish up, here are our plans for the upcoming year for each of the boys!

I've mentioned this a ton of times, but our main source for Bible, History, and Read-Alouds will be Sonlight's Core E.  We also do Science as a family, and once we've finished up Apologia's Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology, we'll be switching gears and studying electricity, inventions, magnetism and magnification with Sonlight's Science E.  This will be our first year away from Apologia and trying something new, so I'm excited to see how it goes! 

Isaac is 10, and technically be starting 5th grade!  (That's so weird to me, because I have very vivid memories of my 5th grade year, how is it possible that I have a child there now?  Is this how old people feel all the time?)

Here are the subjects he'll be studying in addition to the above:

• Math - Math-U-See's Epsilon, as well as ALEKS for supplementation, and drills using MathRider or Math Facts Now (his choice)
• English - Rod & Staff's English 4 - I have found Rod & Staff's English to be rigorous enough that even though it's technically "behind" his grade, it's quite sufficient.
• Writing - Writing Tales (finishing up Level 1, moving on to Level 2)
• Spelling - All About Spelling, Level 2 and beyond - so far, he's been able to breeze through a couple lessons a week, but I'm sure as we progress, it will slow down some, so I'm just following his lead for now!
• Bible - Core E includes an independent Bible Study, which he'll be using. If need be, we will supplement or switch out with studies from Quiet Times for Kids.
• Spanish - Rosetta Stone, Level 1
• Computer Programming - I purchased KidCoder from the Homeschool Buyer's Co-op for a great price, and Isaac is so excited to get started!

I won't be having him do any more formal handwriting, as his subjects include enough written work now that he gets plenty of practice through that.

Ezra will soon be 9 and is considered a 4th grader now!

He's actually doing almost all of the same things as Isaac, except the levels are different, of course!  Here are the adjustments... everything else is exactly the same:

• Math - Math-U-See Delta, along with ALEKS and drills with Math Facts Now
• English - Rod & Staff English 3
• Reading - along with Core E Readers, he'll also be doing Rod & Staff Reading 3.  This is the last year of formal reading instruction with Rod & Staff for him
• Handwriting - Handwriting Without Tears Cursive - this is doing wonders for him! He would previously struggle through handwriting in tears... this curriculum definitely lives up to it's name!  He loves it and his handwriting is much improved!

Joel is 6.5 and is now officially on our Attendance Form!

I consider him going into 1st grade, so he's got a little bit more "real" schoolwork, but not much.  As I've mentioned before, I prefer to keep things light in the younger years, so they have plenty of time for imaginative play and exploration.  Here's what's on his plate this year:

• Reading and Phonics - he's going to start Rod & Staff's Grade 1 Reading!  He's also chugging along with Reading Kingdom online.  He doesn't particularly care for it anymore, mostly because it is a challenge for him... which I consider a good thing!  Our subscription for that is up in February, and I'm not sure if we'll do anymore online programs after that.
• Math - Math-U-See Alpha
• Handwriting - A Reason for Writing, Book A
• We might venture into All About Spelling, Level 1... depending on time and need
• He'll also be joining in with Nathan's Kindergarten plans (listed below!)

Nathan is 4.5 and sort of Pre-K-ish, I guess?

He spent last year sitting in on Joel's K activities, which has put him a little ahead of the game.  While I don't push a lot of academic stuff at this age, I do love getting into their world through lots of reading aloud and fun activities.  I have to admit, Preschool and Kindergarten are my favorite years to "teach"! Here's what my (very flexible) plans are for Nathan:

• Sonlight P 3/4 - we did this at the beginning of last year with Joel and Nathan, but it's so good it's worth repeating!  We all enjoyed it very much!
• My Father's World Kindergarten - I won't be using the phonics portion, but the Bible and Science activities are lots of fun, and nice, light learning.  Both Joel and Nathan will be joining together for this!
• He'll be starting Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons!  He's almost finished with the Get Ready, Get Set, Go! for the Code books, so he'll be ready very soon.   He's also been doing Click N' Read Phonics (another great buy from the Homeschool Buyer's Co-op) online, and I am very pleased with this program for beginning readers.  He's having a lot of success with it!

The great thing about homeschooling several children is that I didn't have to buy anything except the Code workbooks for Nathan, and his subscription to Click N' Read (which is a lifetime subscription, so it will be used for all following children!).  If I were trying to afford everything I just listed above in one purchase, it would easily be close to my entire year's homeschool budget!  But I've picked all of them up as we've gone along over the years, and he, being child number 4, is reaping the benefits (as is our bank account!)

Judah is 2,

and will be working on potty training!  Honestly, I think potty training is my least favorite parental duty. But, once it's done, it's always good.  So I have to bite the bullet and get it done!  He's definitely ready now!  He's also at the age where he's into everything (did I say everything?  I mean everything!!),  so we'll be spending our days keeping his little hands and mind busy.  Lots of stories, drawing, music, blocks, outside time and attention!

Rachel will just be doing her thing - growing, learning, eating, sleeping, and getting lots and lots of love!

We're so excited about the upcoming year!

If you are curious to see how this all falls into place during a typical day, be sure to check out my post, "Fitting It All In" - where I explain!  If you're interested in seeing how I organize everyone's assignments, I've got a post on my homemade homeschool assignment sheets, too!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great 2011-2012 homeschool year!

7 Quick Takes Friday - Volume 9

I thought I'd start off with a little exercise update.  It's been exactly a month this week since I started exercising regularly again. I've been alternating strength training days with running days, 5-6 times a week.  It's going well - making the commitment and sticking with it has been really good for me for more than just the physical fitness aspect.  I have not lost any weight, but I can definitely tell that my body shape is changing!  That's really encouraging!  And I am feeling *so* much healthier in general.  It's incredible the difference a little activity can make!

The Lord has been working on me a lot lately. Which is always good, but can get a bit... uncomfortable, too! The big theme for me recently is my habit of being a "people-pleaser".  I have realized a few things about being a people-pleaser - first, that the title is way too "nice" sounding.  Really, what people-pleasing is all about are two things - pride, and the fear of man.  Ouch!  Both of those things are talked about pretty strongly in God's Word, and not in "nice" ways.  Also, the habit of people-pleasing has caused me to chase after the wrong things, and even allow those closest to me to be put in situations that were not the best for them, all because I've wanted to "fit in" or not "rock the boat" at times.  What the Lord has shown me has been very, very humbling - but in a good way.  I want to be true to Him, and not worried about trying to jump through hoops to win other's approval, or worried what others will think of me.  I've allowed those fears to control my life for far, far too long.  My faith and worship must be in God alone, not my own ego!  I'm so thankful for His faithfulness!

I thought I might mention a program I ran across  - The Daily Home Planner from Organized Mom.  I actually don't have any kind of Household Managment Binder or Homsechool Planner that I've found works for me... but this one just might be what I've been missing!  For one, it is digital, rather than physical - not taking up space somewhere other than the computer's hard drive, or internet land somewhere.  Second, I am in love with the meal planning feature.  Really - that alone is enough to make me want to try it, even if I never use any other aspect of it.  Long ago I asked my husband if there were some way to create an automated menu/grocery list system, and he said "Of course!" but neither of us actually knew how.  Thankfully, others have thought of the same thing and are generous to offer that service to others!  Of course, the other aspects are useful, to.  And as opposed to print planners and management systems, I wouldn't feel as if I were wasting something if I didn't use it.  Does that make sense?  I hate staring at blank pages and not knowing what to do with them!  Or having sections of a binder that are empty!  I'm just weird like that!  Anywho, I'm considering looking more into this Planner.  Has anyone reading this tried it?  I'd love to hear others' thoughts, whether you've tried it or not!

We have a miracle plant growing!  Others who know more about gardening might not be so impressed by this, but we all are very excited about our special plant. (I am excited about the fact that anything grows under my care to begin with - that alone is a practical miracle!) A few weeks back, there was a storm that came through with some really strong wind.  One of the branches of one of our tomato plants got partially snapped during that storm.  I kept an eye on it, and it looked like the stalk was just going to scar over and be OK.  But the weight of the branch was just too much, and it soon showed signs that the branch was dying.  However, when I looked closely at the branch, I noticed these little nubs appearing along it:

The rest of the tomato plant didn't have these nubs, only the broken branch.  Then it sort of crossed my mind that those nubs looked like little baby roots trying to grow!  It was as if the dying branch was trying to get it's own water, since it was effectively separated from the main stalk and root source.  So I had an idea - I figured, why not just cut the branch off, and replant it in a different pot?  It's going to die anyway, but maybe, just maybe... it will grow it's own roots and live!?  So I took the plunge and cut the branch and replanted it in a different pot.  The first week and a half the poor branch was definitely looking dead.  It's leaves were wilted and withered, and it just looked really pathetic.  But then... one day I noticed that it didn't look so wilted anymore!  After a few more days, I was certain - the branch was going to live!

And the best, most exciting part?  Not only is it alive.. but...

It's growing fruit!!!  Does that make you think of anything?  It's such a cool little example of what God does for us - takes us, when we are dead in our sins, gives us new life... and then bears fruit in that newly restored life!  So awesome!

The boys are doing  fun new Bible Study, from Quiet Times for Kids.  It's a 6-week study on the Armor of God, and - get this - it incorporates Legos!  How cool is that?  Each week they are to make a diorama using legos (and other props) to depict a verse they liked from that week's study.  And, there's a contest, too!  The boys are so excited about it!  And let me just say, the Bible Study is not a "fill-in-the-blank" simple little study.  It's a very in-depth study, and it asks great questions for the kids to be thinking about how to apply the verses they're reading to their own lives.  I've been impressed by how thought-provoking the questions are, and the discussions the study has generated!

I am needing some opinions - care to share yours with me?  Here's the deal - the kids range in age from 10.5 on down to 5 months.  We have three different sized blocks in the house - Mega Blocks, Duplo Blocks, and (of course) Legos.  The littler ones of my crew spend most of the time with the Duplos, and the rest of the crew loves their Legos.  When I only had littles, the Mega Blocks were all the rage!  But as we've transitioned to Legos... the Mega Blocks have fallen to the wayside. So I'm wondering if I should just find a new home for the massive amount of Mega Blocks we have.  Or, should I hold on to them, just in case?  Can babies play with Duplo blocks as easily as Mega Blocks?  Does the Mega Blocks size matter in, like, child development and hand coordination or anything?  I guess what I'm asking is - is there any good reason to keep the Mega Blocks around for Rachel and any other possible littles we might be blessed with?  Thoughts anyone? 

Earlier this week, I had a slight dilemma. I had to nurse Rachel and I knew she was needing a nap.  Unfortunately, my three oldest children, who usually help keep law and order while I'm nursing Rachel to sleep in her room, were outside playing.  Only the two youngest were in the house.  The two youngest also happen to be the two loudest and two neediest of the bunch (it comes with the "youngest" title).  I told them before going into her room "Guys, I'm going to put Rachel to bed, I need you to be good and quiet while I'm in there!" but had little hopes of that actually coming to pass.  However, as the minutes went by and Rachel successfully fell asleep... there was peace and quiet.  Which made me nervous!  However, when I came out of her room, this is what I came upon, and just had to capture it!

To add to the miracle, there were no pencil marks outside of the paper! ;-D  I love when I catch my boys being so "brotherly"!

I don't know if this week's Quick Takes actually qualify as being "quick" - apparently I had more to say than I first expected!  Thanks for taking the time to come by and stay a while! Have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

Wordfilled Wednesday

One of the things I love most about the Bible is how alive it is!  I can read a verse any number of times and it sort of just goes in one ear and out the other... and then, suddenly, I read it again a new day, and it is as if it is a brand new verse.  This happened to me yesterday, as I was reading in Ephesians.  I was in Chapter 2, which starts out with some very sad and humbling proclamations:

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest." (Ephesians 2:1-3)

I stopped and gave a lot of thought to this, how my life used to be, how I used to think and act and believe... and I couldn't deny the truth in these verses!  It was very sobering to sit and ponder over.  But then!  The book isn't over yet...!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together in Christ (!!!) (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7, exclamation points mine!)

To me, these verses are a crescendo of excitement!  The suspense begins with the "But God..." and the anticipation builds, culminating in amazement, awe, humility and thankfulness as His mercies and grace are revealed!  What a glorious, wonderful God He is, what a gift He has given us through His son Jesus! 

To be dead - dead! Lost in sin, sons of wrath!  And for God to love us... even when we were dead!!!, to bring us to life again, through the very death and resurrection of His own son!  It is nothing but amazing.  Nothing but worship-inspiring.  Nothing but everything that is ever important to all of existence.

5 Months!

On Saturday, Rachel celebrated being 5 months old!

Don't you love her "R" shirt?  Courtesy of our sweet friend, Callie!

Rachel wins the award for being, by far, the easiest baby on the planet.  OK, perhaps not on the planet, but definitely of the Robinson household.  She is very easy going and content, and a great sleeper!  She's a bit on the independent side and loves to spend her time on the floor while her brothers play next to her.  She's quite healthy - close to 16 pounds and covered with rolls.  Here's proof!

Those are definitely some cankles!  Good thing they're cute on babies!

She's learned very quickly how to roll in whatever direction to get what she wants (which, of course, goes straight into her mouth!), and is starting to learn how to sit up.  She's got the strength to, it's the balance she's got to perfect - I know it will happen soon! She loves to blow raspberries and laughs like crazy when tickled. Her brothers and daddy dote on her (OK, I admit, I do, too!  How could I not?!) and she is certainly not lacking in love.  What a blessing!

One thing I love to do as each child grows is to figure out if they look like any of their siblings at the same age... and here's what I came across:

Miss Rachel

Nate the Great!

Uncanny, isn't it?  I'm really excited to see what she'll look like as she grows!  But all this growing really is happening way too fast for me.  I think partially because she's such an easy baby, and partially because I have 5 others clamoring for my attention, her babyhood is really going by in a flash! It's a little bittersweet.  With each child I become increasingly aware of how fast they grow and how truly short my time is with each of them.  I am so thankful for each of these wonderful blessings God has entrusted me with!

Treasures of June

From Books and Bairns:

• Dear Sister
• A Great Many Things

Learn to Love the Child you Don't Like at The Homeschool Post

The Pitfall of Perfectionism at The Gospel Coalition

Summer Activity Jars and Grab Bags {Free Printables} at The Crafting Chicks

From Raising Homemakers:

• The Thing We Cannot Give and What We Can 
• Striving for Excellence

Moms, Do You Take Your Own Advice? at Bring Birth Home

What You Don't Know About Your Cervix can Ruin Your Birth at Birthologie

I Can't Do This Homeschooling Life at Preschoolers and Peace

Not So Quiet Time for Moms at Confessions of a Homeschooler

Words of Wisdom (?) Whether Running or Breastfeeding at Dr. Jen 4 Kids

From Heart of the Matter Online:

• How I Got Over Myself
• The Mistakes I Have Made

Raising Sons: Shaping Their Masculine Identity at The Male Domain

From At the Well:

• Be Patient
• Am I a Working Mother?
• Give Them What They Really Need

From Raising Arrows:

• Weekends in the Word - Submit & Worship
• Weekends in the Word - Enlightenment

6 Points I Would Have to Believe Before Resuming Vaccinations at Life on the Franco Farm

Why My Husband Deserves Father's Day at Amber Dusick

Dear Mr. Atheist, Please Know That All Christian Homeschoolers aren't Alike at thatmom.com

Wifey Wednesday - In Need of Conversation at ...to Love, Honor, and Vacuum

Motherhood as a Mission Field at Desiring God

The Word, Godly Counsel and Personal Discernment at Making Home

Make Your Own Wrap Carrier at Barefoot Buttercup

Perfect Mothers vs. Balanced Mothers at Inspired to Action (I believe this made it to Treasures when it was originally posted, but it's worth repeating!)

From The Feminist Breeder:

• Is Having Multiple Children "Greedy"?
• When it Comes to Breastfeeding, We Can't Handle the Truth

From God Made... Home Grown:

• Are You a Runaway? 
• Are You Forgetting Someone?

How to Spiritually Survive Morning Sickness in Pregnancy at The Modest Mom

Tips to Planning Your Homeschool Day at The Happy Housewife

Life with Littles at Life in a Shoe

But the Part About You and Me is Still Beautiful at Pursuing Titus 2

7 Quick Takes Friday - Volume 8

We've had a fun visitor to the avocado plant we've got growing on our deck... it's been there for the whole week, just hanging out!  Can you see it?  Look closely!

 Here's a close-up!

Judah has a new skill that he recently mastered, and loves to show off whenever prompted.  It is the funniest thing to watch him try to figure out how to coordinate his little fingers!

When teeth start getting this crazy, you know they're ready to pop out!

Sure enough, the very next day...

When we were picking out which seeds to plant in our container garden this year, Ezra picked Cantaloupe, which I figured was benign enough. Apparently, I was a bit mistaken... let me tell you, I am learning a few things about Cantaloupe!

First thing being, it's not the best pick for container gardening:

Second, they attract these horrendous bugs, called Tile Horned Prionus Beetles.  I'll spare you the pictures in case you are squeamish, but if you're really interested, just click the link.  I've warned you!  They're anywhere from 1-4 inches long, and basically resemble giant cockroaches with approximately mile-long antenna coming out of their heads.  In fact, it's hard to tell whether they're antennae, feathers, or huge pinchers, which adds a whole new dimension of freakishness to them. They were swarming our porch every night! Oh, and did I mention they FLY?!  Thankfully, they don't live long in their adult life stage, so they disappeared reasonably fast.  But, oooh, I get the heebie-geebies just writing about them!  (Note to all future Cantaloupe farmers - don't plant them anywhere near where people might possibly want to be, due to this strange bug attraction).

Anyway, we are at least seeing some exciting progression!

This is the biggest one, and there are a few more starting to develop!  It will be so fun to eat some homegrown Cantaloupe!  Unless I  have more surprises to come before we get to harvest time...

Two words:  Pure Heaven

Here's a little comic relief from Isaac:

Lovely, Isaac.  Thank you for that.

These pictures, to me, perfectly capture the joy and blessing of babies!  There's nothing better than cuddling up with a sleeping little one.  Not even peanut butter mixed with chocolate ice cream!

I hope your weekend is as blessed as our week has been!