Our Family Circus

We moved the weekend Clay was born. There was no planning the perfect nursery, just praying for an address because the hospital will not let homeless folks leave with babies. Lydia, baby #2, arrived while God stirred our hearts to move...no nursery here either. When expecting baby #3, we had more kids then bedrooms= no nursery decorating. The big kids were moved in together to allow baby napping time without robbing another child of their space as well. This is Miss Blake's little room. The walls are primed and ready for paint for the permanent boarder. (My girlfriend stripped the world's most trying boarder and primed the walls for me as a baby gift isn't that fabulous!!) Welcome permanent boarder! Clay and dad picked out the colors with recommendations from mom. My Dear calls the colors North vs. the South (navy and grey)....how interesting since Clay's new interest in the presidents...Abe Lincoln, here we come! Although, George Washington is his favorite because he h...

Yesterday, I took the kids to Wal Mart. Several toys were clearanced as they make room for the new designs for Christmas. Our Lydia has mentioned wanting a new car for her dollhouse. She has one but it is poorly designed. One was on clearance so I thought maybe I would get it. Lydia saw it and asked if it was for her. I told her it was a gift and I wondered if our cousin Allie had one. I had looked in Lydia's room and decided that she would not get it. The dollhouse and all of its pieces were all over the floor along with other toys. She just had too much to take care of. Miss Lydia asked later if she could see the car in my closet,she had already found it. She pleaded her case of why she wanted it. I told her my observation and that I was afraid she just had too much. She replied, that she had forgotten something and left the room. She then called for me to see that she had not only cleaned up the dollhouse but her entire room-that she shares with her brother. She...

Harry Wong wrote the book, The First Day of School. It was a required reading for one school district I worked which means, they bought each of us a copy of the book. We are beginning our 3rd year homeschooling but this year, we add a new student! Our middle button starts Kindergarten! When Clay started school, I had plans written out just like in the good ole days of teaching public school. It was as close to Harry Wong as I could get with mom as teacher, one student, and his little sister in the classroom. Our school books arrived yesterday and Miss Lydia was super excited! Today we started Kindergarten! With big brother, daddy built a room in the basement to call our classroom. It was Harry Wong! Miss Lydia started her school career on my unmade bed! Not exactly Harry Wong. Lydia has been sitting in that classroom right along side of her brother, she knows how this works. Baby girl wanted a piece of the action too and set up shop at the end of the bed with a marker and notepad for (...

Yesterday , we had a bridal shower for my brother's, soon to be wife, Katie. Those in attendance gave the Bride to be Advice. Here is how our 5-year-old completed the following sentences: Never go to bed without "brushing your teeth." Always remember to "potty before bed." The most important job a wife has is to "take care of the kids." Try not to get angry when your husband "says No!" At least once a week, try to "brush your hair." If your husband has a bad day, "take him to Chuck E. Cheeses."

1. Put your signature on your work. 2. ENJOY~ squeeze the bag with a smile to get the most of your decorating experience. Layers of icing are GOOD! 3. Pile on the sugar in all of your favorite colors! It helps to let Momma's friend help you instead of Momma. Miss Jenny encourages creativity and has the coolest decorations. 4. Add edible pearls, sprinkles, white chocolate hearts and the letters of your name made of different colored chocolates. Adore your cake and talk about it for days. Put 5 candles on it and show it off to your adoring fans, (the pride of one precious little girl!) When mom is not looking pitch icing off the piles. She probably won't mind anyway cause a girl only turns 5 once!

Last week, we had a nice heavy rain. Mark had taken the big kids to PE class with him giving me time at home alone with a napping baby. When the gang returned home, the fellas came in but not our Little Miss Sunshine. You see the large amount of rain had flooded our driveway with probably 100 worms. Miss Lydia was out on the driveway, picking up one worm at a time and returning them to the soil. Sometimes there seems so much that needs to be taken care of. It can be overwhelming! Lydia did not look at what she could not accomplish, but looked at what she COULD accomplish-one little worm at a time.

Our little lady loves to bake. She recently made cake and cupcakes. We proceeded on with our day to find that Miss Lydia had prepared a plate for each of us to have dessert. What a woman she will be! Clay's pants got a little chocolate too!