The tadpole arrives!

We've been waiting!  The tadpole arrived today for our aquatic habitat.  His name is Davey (named by Anna after David Archuleta).  We are super excited and can't wait to watch metamorphosis!  I will update weekly so you can watch his change with us.  If you want your own tadpole check out www.growafrog.com

Davey

The Little Things...

~Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.  Author Unknown~

What a blessing it is to see my daughters together.  They love, they fight, they laugh, they cry.  All within 5 minutes.  And in this picture I caught them trying to listen in to a conversation they weren't supposed to be hearing.  So they conspire together too.  But seriously, I am in awe of their relationship.  It is a beautiful thing!  

~Resolutions~

It's that time of year again.  Time for resolutions.  Here are mine for the year:

1.  Be thankful.  Always.  For everything!  

2.  Learn more about photography and my new camera.  I just bought a field guide specifically about my camera, so I have a good start!

3.  Go on more dates with my sweetie.  We only went on one date in all of 2008, and that was for our 10th anniversary.  We will spend more time together--just the two of us.  

4.  Enjoy more nature study with the girls.  I will be honest, I am not a big time nature girl.  I would rather curl up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.  But they love nature, and I am thankful for the beautiful world God has given us.  So we will explore it more. 

5.  Read good books!  I read a lot anyway, but this year I am going to read only good books.  If I read a few chapters, and hate it, I will not feel guilty about putting it aside and picking up something else.  I am also going to read some of the classics that I skipped in high school. 

Wow!  That should keep me busy.  

Any my word for 2009 is ENJOY!  I will enjoy my husband, my children, my home, my life.  I will always take the time to smile, laugh, and have fun!  I will embrace one of my favorite quotes from Emily Dickinson:  To live is so starling it leaves little time for anything else.  

Irrational

I am a pretty rational and brave person, I think.  I love to fly on airplanes, have never turned down a roller coaster, and blood doesn't even make me flinch.  I have 3 children, for goodness sake.  But there is one thing that will put fear into my heart faster than a dog comes running when you open a pack of bologna.  As soon as I see the brightly colored top, or smell the distinct smell, I am done for.  I don't care that it can be shaped into anything, or that it can entertain a child for hours.  I don't care that it is cheap and has been around for years.  I wished the person who had invented it...well, hadn't.  

I HATE PLAYDOH!!!!   I admit it.  I would rather my children had an expresso or an entire craft store of acrylic paint.  And guess what?  Some nice grandmother-type-person gave them little tubs of play-doh on Halloween.  Why, oh why, didn't they just get another dum-dum or hershey's bar?  At least I could eat those.  But no, I now have play-doh all over my house.  I swear that stuff multiplies.  Who knew a little half ounce tub of colored clay could conjure up such emotion.   I am waiting for them to go to bed so it can mysteriously disappear.   BBBWWWAAAAA!!! 

Rainforest!

We are having a blast with My Father's World curriculum this year.  Emma is using the kindergarten level, and Anna is doing Exploring Countries and Cultures (ECC).  These past 3 weeks we have studied Brazil and the rainforest.  We decided to do a rainforest box.  Here is a picture of the box.  As we looked at National Geographic magazines for pics to cut out, Anna's only requirement was "no naked people".  HaHa!!

All About Spelling

Finally!!!  A spelling program that really works!  It is possible.  

At the end of last year, I knew we needed a better spelling program.  Even before the standardized test at the end of the year, I knew Anna was weak in spelling.  She is an excellent reader and very creative, but was still misspelling words like "girl".  I have never had trouble spelling, but a lot of people in my family, and some of my very close friends, really struggle with spelling.  I do not want that for my girls.   So I asked some of the gals over at FIAR (www.fiveinarow.com) and The Well Trained Mind, and I was bombarded with recommendations for All About Spelling.  I looked at it and, to tell you the truth, I was put off by the price a little.  But I bit the bullet and ordered it.  Oh man, am I glad I did!!  It has been a blessing.  Anna has progressed by leaps and bounds already in 6 short weeks of school.  It is not just teaching her a list of words, but it really teaches how to spell.  And it doesn't matter what kind of learner your child is.  All About Spelling teaches using a fabulous multi-sensory approach.  With built in review and a pick-up-and-go teacher's manual, it is all I could have wished for.  Best of all, my daughter looks forward to spelling!!   Click here for more information.  

THE ONE

This is going to be really honest and really hard to write.  But I need to get it out there.  I have the worst feeling that I am disappointing God.  I don't talk to Him enough, read His word enough, or give Him enough glory.  I wonder how I would feel if I really want to talk to one of my children and be with them, and they kept ignoring me.  Or just calling me for a minute and then saying, "Oh, I gotta go.  Someone else is calling me."  I can't imagine the heartbreak.  And I know God loves me more than I love my daughters.  

Of course, I have all the best excuses:  I don't have time, I'm too tired, I just need to make this one phone call, I just have to email so-and-so.  Well starting today, those excuses are not good enough.  

I am making a commitment to spend time with THE ONE who gives me time.  THE ONE who blessed me with the children that make me too busy and too tired.  THE ONE who loves me so much that He sent His precious son to die an ugly, painful, beautiful death so that I can have eternal life.  THE ONE who promises me "Through His mercy, I will not be consumed, His compassion will not fail and is new every morning.  And that His faithfulness is great." (Lamentations 3:22-23)  THE ONE who is my rock and my strength.  THE ONE who always has time for me.