TheHolidays ~
Happy Everything
I'mPublished!, Somethin', TheHolidays »
(the picture was pulled from a post that i drafted just over a year ago on one of the rare occasions that i went overboard and filled my cabinet. many emotions attached to this little picture.)
On this day of thanks I’m finally able to write about it. The full story of what we went through last fall. I shared some it along the way when I could no longer contain my emotions at the time, but as we were brought out from where we were this time last year the memories of it faded away. Until the other day. With a simple prayer it all came back. And then while reading to my children about the pilgrims about how that first winter they lost half of those who had come over from England. How they had starved. How the next spring things began to change. The sun came out and God’s blessings began to flow in abundance. And I began crying over these people from so long ago. I could somehow, kind of, relate. And I realized how thankful I am. How much He has given us. And how at this second Thanksgiving in this home the food and blessings are in absolute abundance. He heard my cry. He answered my prayer.
Please come read my heart that I’ve finally been able to expose.
AccidentalDesign, Lapbooking, TheHolidays, UnitStudies »
Welcome to the holidays around the Parker house! It has begun!
I’m baking this year. At least I’m trying to bake this year. So far, I’ve tried my hand at cinnamon raisin bread:
pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, apple butter muffins, oh, and I might’ve had this shade of burnt at least a couple times too:
But we’re not talkin’ ’bout that.
I’m workin’ on gifts for my kiddos.
I’m workin’ on gifts for some of y’all’s kiddos!
We’re makin’ “Countdown to Christmas” chains.
We’re still fittin’ in Stars Wars lapbooks (yes, Maury, I have plans already to share as soon as I get it together!) unit studies on Thanksgiving, pre-school alphabet lapbooks, and all the normal excitement that comes with this time of year.
I’m also learning how to homestead. Yes, I am! My compost bin needs to be stirred around. We’ve dried pumpkin seeds and appleseeds. I have beans in the crockpot almost constantly.
I’m trying to start a shop.
We’ve had a bonfire with those boxes, a camp out in the front yard that ended with us sleeping inside (it’s cold out there, people!)
So, I tell you this to say, I may not be here as much as I’d like. But don’t be discouraged. I’ve finally figured out how to offer you a bold subscription to my site. I still don’t really know how it all works (y’all just think I’m smart at this technology stuff) - but I do know if you click on the little picture of me at the very top of the site - the one that talks about “learnin’ young’ns” or the rotating pictures of everybody over there on the sidebar it will offer you a thingy (or, heck, that link right up there!) that will let you know when I post. I think. Those of you who know more than me please leave me a comment explainin’ this a little better. And those of you who don’t have a clue what I’m talkin’ about just keep doin’ what your doin’ and disreguard this whole paragraph. Mom and Nana, just call me - I’ll talk y’all through it - I think you would love it!
And I’m cleaning my house one day at a time, shining my sink, and learning to FLY. While you’re waiting on me to post (you know, because you have nothing better to do, right?!) you should try it too. Flylady’s so cool!
I hope your holidays are as fun and filled as ours are!
TheHolidays »
Yes, my Middlest it was!
After dropping by Nana’s and Papa’s house we stopped off for burgers and chicken nuggets. Then off to Chickadee’s church for “trunk or treat.” Not only did we score a bunch of candy, but I can officially tell you that yes, she does have a husband. (I’d never met him yet, due to differing hours and had begun to doubt his actual existence.) I saw the sweetest mermaids, an adorable shark, and a pregnant octopus. Oh. My. Word. Then off to a fall festival. I simultaneously love and hate these things. They make me crazy but the kiddos love them. Then into the van for more candy eating and much giggling and a little crying. And they carried in their treasures from the evening. Things like red tennis shoes and a foil-covered laundry detergent box. And now they sleep peacefully, still candy coated, stuffed to the gills and happy as clams.
There’s no place like home.
TheHolidays »
My oldest said this morning, “It’s Halloween!
So Happy Today, Mama!”
Y’all were so right with the Wizard of Oz theme!
Now let’s play a little game today…
Can you match the correct costume with the correct kid?
Craft, TheHolidays, WeekendWishes »
This weekend was the first one in weeks that we didn’t have anywhere to be. Soccer’s final fun for the season was last week. And, although, we had several invites for Saturday we declined them all to just stay home, be together, and relax. We declared it Halloween party day! We did crafts and made a gingerbread haunted house:
The house was a kit bought from the store, the spiders were sweet gumballs collected on a recent hike, spray painted, with pipe cleaners and googly eyes glued on.
Carved our pumpkin:
And a few other fruits!
The mostly failed attempt at a carved banana!
The semi-successful carved apple
I also started on costumes for the big night. I’m so proud of me, I’m ahead of the game this year. Last year I didn’t start on their costumes until the day of. oh.my.goodness. So to be this prepared at this stage feels so good!
Here’s a sneak peak:
Can you guess what we’re gonna be?!
And tell me what you’re gonna be?
TheHolidays »
a’ camping we will go, hi ho the derry o’, a’ camping we will go!
and that we did - our first ever family vacation!
awesome! as with most things - that which is the most rewarding is the most work. indeed.
we left just after noon on friday. we drove. we met up with friends. we drove some more. we shopped. we drove some more. we set up camp. we built a fire. we roasted marshmallows and forgot graham crackers. we listened to guitar while sitting in the dark. we had less sleep than we’ve had since giving birth to the last child. we got up with the sun and made coffee and conversation. we made bacon and eggs while the kids ran and played. we looked over the top of the mountain. we were in awe and absolutely stressed about active children and steep cliffs. we saw the top of an amazing waterfall. and forgot to take the camera. we visited a bee farm and learned about the processing of honey. we tasted honey fudge and bought honey salsa. we promised to come back. we played at a playground in the rain. we suffered in the tent with 4 small bored active children while the storm made it’s presence known. we debated coming home. we stuck it out. we slept in cold wet blankets in the strongest wind i’ve ever experienced. we woke up colder than we expected. we packed quickly. we drank more coffee. we tried to take only pictures and leave only footprints. we drove down the mountain reading the wizard of oz and enjoying the warmth of the van. we sorted out leftovers, equipment and good feelings mixed with exhaustion at our friend’s house. we all agreed it was more fun than we ever thought it would be and made plans for the next trip.
TheHolidays »
(if you know that reference you get 10 bonus points)
the perfect day - fitting in a school lesson disguised as fun (studying and making flags and talking about why we celebrate the fourth), playing in the pool with friends all day, eating hot dogs, learning that, no, you can’t grill a frozen pizza, and then topping the day off with lots of fireworks. too good. i hope your 4th was just as great!
