Doggy on the Trampoline

Nate brings Doggy everywhere.... but this was a first:)

A game of chase with Anna:)

And now they are both ready for a nap!

Nate's favorite part of Doggy are the tags!! 
And that's the reason Nate carries him upside down soo much:)

More Wordless Wednesday at
NapTime MomTog,

5 Minutes for Mom,
Go Graham Go,
To Be Thode,
Mama to 4 Blessings, 
and any other linkys I find !!!

Trying to "just" Keep up

Some have asked "how I've been"... you sweet friends!... you've noticed I've been a little absent on the blog:)

We've been great..... I just feel like I"m always trying to just Keep UP with everything that needs to be done... around the house, for the kids, with their school work, with our church/community, trying to keep up with Brian (whose pastoring, working 20+ hrs a week at a local community college & teaching 2 online courses!!!), etc! Added to that is lack of sleep and my body's efforts to keep up with Nate's "milk demand"....

and you've got one tired Momma who can't quite get the thoughts into sentences at the end of the day!

This homeschooling year has been soo much busier that I expected!!! Keeping three kids intellectually simulated, at their own levels, for hours each morning has been very challenging!!

(kids painting- learning about monks artwork in caves in India.... no I didn't pull out the plaster of Paris.... maybe next time)

(Lydia working on her "ad" family words!!)

In fact, I share some of the doubts as Erica that I'm "not doing enough".... but I praise God that He made their minds like little sponges at this age and they are soaking in all in, regardless of my teaching and failures!

In the craziness of the day, I am soo thankful for the helpers I have:)

(Anna helping Lydia with reading)
(Lydia putting on Nate's shoe and Chris teaching Nate about sticks...
Nate's really taking it all in)

And I am going through the challenging process of taking out the things of my day and week that "can wait" because....

I sure DON'T want to be too busy or sleepy to miss these moments:






One of my new goals (which I am totally BREAKING to get this post up) is to go to bed earlier!! Getting just an extra half hour or so of sleep at night has done wonders to my attitude and sleepiness during the day. I appreciated this post by Momopoly about her need to sleep to be a better mom!!

So maybe sneaking to bed at 10 might help me not "just" keep up, but join them on the trampoline while dinner is in the crock-pot and couch is free from "needs to be folded" laundry...

but I'm totally willing to leave the laundry and have breakfast for dinner, too!! LOL!!

Minor "house keeping"... someone asked what curriculum I was using this year with the kiddies... I posted about what we use HERE!! The only changes have been that I have found some "writing"prompt books targeted for pre-k and K that I have added to Chris and Lydia's weekly work. And after Christmas I hope to start all of us memorizing number families.... HOPE is the KEY word there!!

Trampoline Video, Tricks and Small Town Quirks:)

I wanted to post the trampoline video from Sunday....

While we have had a couple of neighborhood friends vsiitng us for years.... the trampoline has brought them to us more and more. I was mentioning to a church friend that I needed to give it an official title... "Trampoline Ministry"...

But really I love the opportunity to spend time with some of our neighbors.... they are the sweetest kids and I'm been so blessed to watch them grow up. Let me also mention this... these kids are GREAT with mine.... my kids are smaller and a little goofy, but most the older kids just look at them and shrug (my response too when they are just too silly)!

In the video, notice Christopher's newest flip (and meet his inspirations) and listen to one of the funniest quirks of our small town!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Yes, the "bell" int he first video. It's actually a horn-like thing. It is used daily at noon (or 12:30pm on the weekends) AND to alert our volunteer fire/rescue squad for major emergencies and needing extra help. I live 4 blocks from the horn... The kids are used to it, but I still thought Lydia was too funny covering her ears:)

Everyone Likes Trampolines:)

On Friday night we had Travis and Andrea with their little ones over!! Everyone has soo much fun on the trampoline!!! And had a blast with each other!!

Andrea, being the good mother, photographer and blogger that she is.... posted all sorts of fun pictures, video and comments about our evening together.... So here's the link to see the fun!

Who do you think could BOUNCE the highest Pastor Travis or Pastor Brian??? Find out on Andrea's Uniquely Placed post!

Getting Some AIR!!

It's fun how HIGH the kids have learned how to jump. Seriously, EVERY warm day we have had the kids have been standing at the kitchen door ready to go jump on the trampoline!! They LOVE it and they have soo much fun together on it:)

This morning we went outside before lunch and played for over an hour! Finally I talked them into having lunch :) We had lunch with Brian, watched the end of Curious George (while I cleaned up the kitchen ) and read 3 or 4 books!!

Then they CRASHED!! I didn't hear a peek out of them during naptime. Usually Christopher or Lydia will play for 30 minutes or so. Or Anna will come walking out when Lydia falls right asleep wanting me to let her nap on the couch:)

NOT today!! They CRASHED... it's amazing how much fresh air and physical activity outside effects the kids!! They were ready for their naps:)

Who LIVES at YOUR house????

Do you have Shaving Cream Man ?????








Does COUSIN IT jump on your trampoline???


Or does ELMO ride a bike up and down your driveaway???

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

HE he heee... My kids are too cute!

Chris LOVES covering himself in shaving cream when he plays in the bath tub. Anna was jumping soo high in the trampoline... but her hair was EVERY WHERE! And Lydia is learning to peddle the tricycle... it's such a cute stage and I think it looks like the scenes of Elmo peddling... their little legs moving around and around just following the tricycle's lead:)

From the Couch to the 15-footer

Since has been walking and tearing off couch cushions, my kiddies have jumped on the couch minus cushions:) They often run into the living room right to the couch, tear off all the cushions and then jump and jump:) They LOVE it.

And the couch survived fine, until the kids started getting bigger and bigger... and we noticed a sprung spring.... oops...

Grandma and Grandaddy approached us about a trampoline in the summer and we thought it would be a great Christmas gift for the kids. So this gift had been in the works for a while.... and the kids knew it was coming eventually.... LOL

Brian and his crew spent time setting up our 15ft HUGE trampoline, Friday and Saturday after Christmas and the kids have LOVED it since. I think we've only missed one day!!

IMG_8317
Originally uploaded by finadrea

I've wanted to post about it but was wanting for some fun video and some pictures... and now I have both.... due to some videos I had been collecting and Andrea trying out her new camera this morning as the kids played on the trampoline:)

So here is Andrea's post with all the trampoline pictures from this morning!

And here's the video from yesterday and today:

Capture your bouncing kiddies at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And here is her flickr account with MORE pictures:)

The kids have had soo much fun with the trampoline and it is a great workout. Maybe when spring comes my neighbors will catch me out there in the mornings or during naptime burning off some carbs:)