"pon" song

Tucking in Preston last night, he curled up with his two bears and milk and asked me to "sing pon song mommy". We went round and round that I had no idea what song he was talking about. I thought he was saying farm, so I sang Old McDonald had a Farm... He stopped me in the middle of of "here a quack, there a quack" emphatically saying, "NO, PON SONG!", finally after much discussion I said "upon?" "Turn your eyes UPON Jesus?" (this is not usually in the rotation)

"YES!"

As I sang, he closed his eyes, hugged his bears and said "goodnight mommy".

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in his wonderful face

And the things of this earth

will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

AMEN!

Thank you, Preston, for the reminder

The Donald

Caroline and I spent the better part of the morning playing Monopoly.

That's kind of like Math, right? I got my clock cleaned and was taken to the bank. Real estate moguls Aunt Amanda and Uncle Daniel would be so proud. As she pumped her fist in the air, laughing viciously each time I landed on her "Boardwalk" with 2 houses, my vision of her being a kind, compassionate nurse went up in flames.

There's always Lucy...hmmm... maybe?

Walking well in the clothes I already own

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and , if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3: 12-14

Working through my Covenant Study this morning I came across these verses. Because I am in covenant with God, He has put his robe, His identity, on me. As I learned, in the Old Testament, Prince Jonathan put his robe on David as a sign of their covenant, that came with all the benefits and responsibilities of royalty.

I am to "put off the old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of it's creator" col 3:9-10. I am a new creation, I am to "walk as a child of light", being "renewed in the spirit of my mind, and to put on the new self" eph 5:8, 4:23

I was convicted today, reflecting the disaster that was our camping trip this weekend. There was so much crying, wet beds, arguing (kids with kids, Andy with kids, me with Andy), kids falling out of beds, no one sleeping...

I was the opposite of all the things listed above as my patience wore thin, I got angry easily and had no intention to forgive Andy until he apologized as I wanted him too. Finally, after 1.5 days, missed 50 yard line seats at the Longhorn game, and missed church we are all reconciled and back on track. Wow, thank you Lord for your perfect forgiveness and mercies that are new every morning!

On the other hand, Preston did catch his first fish, the smallest fish I have ever seen on a hook. Regardless, he won't be invited camping for a few years :)

Lord, help me to walk well in the clothes you have given me.

Team Tri

Kathryn and Andy and Elizabeth (my sisters and b.i.l) did the Austin triathlon yesterday. They were awesome and really trained hard. Kathryn and Andy are still married despite the training :)

They raised $ for alzheimer's research, a disease that has hurt Andy's family. I am SO proud of them. I was supposed to train for it too, but I'm a loser, and didn't. We had a great time running around searching and cheering for them though.

(my) Andy and Caroline were on their bikes like little pages riding all over the place together trying to catch the three of them at all their events.

Still smiling :) It was about 120 degrees, or something.

What Elizabeth lacked in speed, she made up for in spirit and panache!! Loving the gloves :)

Inspired.

Great Job Team!!!

never say never

I used to make fun of people who homeschooled. This is now my study.

(to be fair, we go to a University Model school, Veritas. They give me EVERYTHING I need and tell me what to do)

1st grade is knocking at our door and I've got my ancient history posters already on the wall. I've never been known as a perfectionist, but this room is about as close as I come. (minus the sadly under used treadmill.)
Pledge of Allegiance, 100s counting chart, math manipulatives basket, magnetic jumbo letters, homeschool english and math books, "bouquets of sharpened pencils" (name that movie?).

what more could any homeschool mom dream of?

This may be my favorite project of all time. I scanned in our favorite book covers or pictures and mounted them on burlap, spray painted some frames navy or white. viola!

My favorite children's book picture of all time from Blueberries for Sal.

Andy took all three kids to his parents for a fun weekend of swimming and cousins. I got to clean out the entire house, organize and prepare for the new year. This is my one shot all year. It will now be an annual August tradition!! right, andy?
I got the most amazing set of CDs at Costco, songs from Musicals. I had it blaring all weekend.

I'll sew a denim jumper for whoever can name the Musical :)

"I like to be in America

Okay by me in America

Everything free in America"

Our latest endeavor

Andy has always had a vision of us living on the lake. He amazes me that when he sets his sights on something, he makes it happen. He definitely had some visionary help from a friend:)

So, now we have a lot on the lake that we'll build on next year. He and I are so different, it makes me laugh, and I am so blessed to have him. Growing up here in Austin has made me a bit partial to the water as well. It is dreamy on the water in the mornings.

Some may be a little concerned about us turning into lake rats...

All week we've been going down in the mornings. The big bass, turtles, grey heron, and mallards are already our friends. Uncle Daniel gave Caroline a fancy fishing pole named the "Lady Fish" which she baits with worms and take off the fish herself. It is quite a sight!

They are all looking and pointing at the bass at the end of the dock.

There are 4 pecan trees in a perfect kickball diamond. Lucy needs some work.

We've had many family kickball games already.

We were able to have a little birthday party for Caroline there.

Preston trying to kill the rainbow pinata

Sweet friend Samantha celebrating with Caroline

My sister Kathryn and brother Daniel with Preston and cousin Campbell.

That is a treehouse in the background.

I am looking forward to many, many big family gatherings, parties, relaxing with friends, and raising 4 kids romping around here. Thank you Andy for making this happen!!

Honey for a Child's Heart

Books.

I love reading books to the kids. I love talking to you about what books you are reading to your children, or loved from your childhood.

It is frustrating though, if you don't know where to start, and you walk into B&N or the library.

We read old books, classic books, books with silver circles on them. I don't really mess with anything new.

I had two great conversations this weekend with other parents about what books they read to their kids. Mine are just a bit older than theirs, so they were asking for suggestions. I thought I would make a list of our favorites. We mostly read before naps and before bed. I also have baskets of books around the house.

These are mostly for children ages 2-7, as that is what I do right now.

Beatrix Potter- our favorites are Jemima Puddleduck, Benjamin Bunny, Mrs. Tittlemouse, Peter Rabbit, the Flopsy Bunnies, and, well, all the rest. Lucy, especially, adopted the English phrases and went around incorporating "straight-away" and "presently" into her very limited vocabulary as a 3 year old.

Madeline (all of them)-Ludwig Bemelmans

Robert McCloskey:

One Morning in Maine

Blueberries for Sal

A Time of Wonder

Make Way for Ducklings

Curious George -H.A.Rey

Where the Wild Things Are -Maurice Sendak

Amelia Bedelia -Peggy Parrish

Miss Nelson is Missing -Harry Allard

The Little Engine that Could -Watty Piper

Corduroy -Freeman

What I am really loving now is reading chapter books to the girls. I started when Caroline was about 3, our first big book was Little House in the Big Woods. Lucy on the other hand, started with Pipi Longstocking :) at about the same age. They LOVE listening every nap and night. Here are our favorites:

E.B.White:

Stuart Little

Charlotte's Web (I bet we've read them both 3 times. They are beautiful!)

Laura Ingalls Wilder:

Little House Series We've read all but Farmer Boy and The Long Winter

I could write a book on all I've learned from Ma. She's amazing!!

The Secret Garden -Frances Hodgson Burnett

Mr. Popper's Penguins -Atwater

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -Roald Dahl

Pippi Longstocking, Pippi and the South Seas, Pippi Goes on Board -Astrid Lindgren

The Chronicles of Narnia -CS Lewis

We are working our way through them this summer. We've read the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, we are now in The Horse and His Boy. I have been suprised by how much the girls LOVE them!

An amazing resource is the book Honey for a Child's Heart. It has amazing book lists for different developmental ages. You have to have it!

Happy Reading!!

Love this post on The Importance of Reading to Your Child
What are your favorites?