Weekly Wind Down {Beautiful Messes} Feb 20-26

The last week of February flew by in a flurry of sunshine and snow showers!

We started Sunday in a couple of different directions.  I rode with my folks and Andrea to my cousin Angela's wedding and enjoyed getting to see and catch up with family.  I didn't take a single picture all day until I got home and snapped one of the backyard sunset.

The kids had played outside a lot after church and were ready for showers and a game together before bed.

Evalynn loves books and story time right now.  This is such a fun, magical stage.  All the children seem to have a favorite book right around this age, and her's is Now That's a Hat.  

She can "read" it and is quite charismatic.

I have been trying to be intentional about teaching Evalynn fingerplays and nursery rhymes.  We worked on Itsy Bitsy Spider for a couple of weeks and now are trying out Where is Thumbkin.  She eats them up!

Monday was a beautiful day.  First breakfast.  These food picks are really helping Evalynn stay in her chair and eat her food.  

I don't mind children needing a snack, but I do mind not eating your meal and wanting to walk around munching all day, and for some reason Ev's wiggly little body is wired this way.  We're working on eating most of the meal and asking for less snacks.  She is getting fuller and not wanting to munch as much!

We hustled through the bare minimum of book work and then out the door we went.  The children logged over 6 hours of outdoor time on Monday.

Before I went outside I mixed up a batch of sourdough rolls to go with supper.  My starter is established enough to actually raise breads and dough!

My sourdough starter.  Look at those healthy bubbles!

The rolls, unlike the biscuits I made last week, did have a more distinct sourdough taste, but were not overpowering.  They were dense but soft and everyone really enjoyed them.

Roll pics from supper....because I was proud that they turned out well!

Monday afternoon and early evening ended up with Evalynn and I in the ER.  She was fine and we were grateful, if only a little annoyed.  Ha.  

It's a good thing she's a cute faker.  She did limp on into Tuesday but whatever was twisted up seemed to work itself out.

We were supposed to have mom's group on Tuesday but got freezing rain instead so didn't get out.  Natalee did have early morning therapy, but once I picked her up we were in for the day.

Play doh kits kept these three entertained for a lot of the day.

We finished reading By the Banks of Plum Creek and moved on to By the Shores of Silver Lake.  Everyone is loving the books so much that we have a hard time stopping once we get going.  

{Xavier doodled a water fall while I read.}

I had the big kids lend a hand getting taco Tuesday supper in order.  I made enchiladas for Mike while they made beef tacos.  Xavier is mixing up taco seasoning but multiplying the recipe by 4.  

Clean up crew!

Holding this beauty through an episode of Little House to end a cold night. 

Ameliya had gymnastics Wednesday morning.  It was a chilly morning so I put jeans on Ev since I thought they'd be warmer.  She wore them about 5 minutes and then asked if she could take them off because they didn't bend.  Ha.  She ended up in fleece lined leggings.

Natalee had an afternoon zoom appointment but otherwise we were in on Wednesday.  That was kind of the theme of the week and it was nice.

Thursday morning school with my first grader.

Natalee had hippotherapy so we bundled up in hoodies and sweats to get out.  

Representing Emma's new college!

Everyone came along so we could stop at the thrift store to look for sports cleats - baseball for Xavier and soccer for Ameliya (Zayden has an old pair of Xavier's for baseball).

A storm was brewing so we didn't loiter.  We got home just before it hit hard and were in for the rest of the day.  Instead of nap, Evalynn and I had a chair snuggle while the big kids watched a couple episodes of Little House.  How much longer will I get to hold her for a naptime?

We got several inches of snow that continued to pile up through the evening.

Thursday night funnies with Evalynn...

I taught the kids to play Kings in the Corner while we were in Dauphin Island last fall, but we found the game board to go with it when we were at the thrift store, so that prompted a game night while Dad read with Evalynn.

Friday the kids and I cleaned our bedrooms hard.  We moved furniture, vacuumed under beds, filled boxes for donation, and tried to eradicate all dust (where does it come from!?).  I have no pictures to show for it except my bed all made up with fresh linens and the sun shining in on it.  Back when we lived in our house in Missouri I sometimes selfishly prayed that one day Mike and I would have a "real" bedroom (we slept in a loft attic split into 2 rooms, so the kids walked through our "room" to theirs and we didn't have a door or windows).  We're two+ years into our move, and our bedroom is still something I appreciate so greatly.  There's still a lot I want to do in our room...a headboard, matching night stands....but for now I'm content and thankful.

The kids alternated taking turns doing some spring painting tutorials throughout the day for our art frames.  Their work is beautiful.

Ameliya's spring kites.

Natalee's country church.

Zayden's spring bouquet in a vase.

Evalynn's handprint flowers.  I cut the sun and clouds out of a piece of paper she painted and added them above the flowers.  

Xavier's reflection rainbow.

Evalynn caught on that the kids were going downstairs to paint and asked me if she could.  I was cleaning so I offhandedly said "after nap you can."  As soon as she woke up she said, "can I paint now!?"  I love her voice and her chatter at this age and took an 8 minute video for myself, just trying to bottle it up.  She was so happy to do a painting and be included.  We did her handprints first, then she painted two papers and chattered the entire time.

Friday night Natalee had swim and Mike took the others along to run in the gym while she swam. 

Saturday I was up bright and early flipping sourdough pancakes and frying sausage to get a good start on our basketball day.  Zayden had a big cheering crew - Maggie and Ed, Granny and Papa Beeler, and our pastor, Zach, were there, along with Aunt Penny and Uncle Denny.  Zayden and cousin, Rogan, played each other for the 9:00 game.  And I took zero pictures.

Granny and Papa treated us+Zach to lunch and we took over the back of the local Mexican restaurant.

Thank you, Granny & Papa!

After lunch it was back for Xavier's basketball game.  The boys played a great game and came out with a win.  Xavier got some points up on the board!

{Evalynn was quite impressed with the new sweat suit I ordered her.  "It's soft and has a pocket!"}

Posing while we were waiting for Xavier's game to begin.

We visited with Granny and Papa after Xavier's game for a bit, then they headed out and Mike headed to the church to worship practice.  He took Xavier and Ameliya along and I shamelessly gave Natalee and Zayden some screen time while Evalynn napped and I just....sat.

This week seemed both a blink and a thousand days long.  Many pieces of it were lovely and restful and many pieces were just plain hard and stress filled.  There is nothing - a book nor advice nor knowledge that truly prepares you for the daily "hard" of giving up yourself to be a mother.  It's beautiful, sure, but sometimes beauty is heavy.  I am praying continually that God can redeem my messes for His good.

Sighs and Eye Rolls {An Afternoon in the ER with Evalynn}

Monday was such a beautiful day.  Before lunch we headed outside and we stayed out there for hours and hours.  I served lunch outdoors and the children were a proper muddy mess - a perfect false spring day.  Right before her naptime, Ev was jumping the last of her energy out on the trampoline.  A sibling crawled up to wait their turn (no one's allowed to jump with her) and bounced the mat as she jumped near and her little leg buckled.  She fell onto the mat and cried and cried and cried.  

Ev can be a whiner but when it comes to being hurt she's not usually a dweller, especially if it means missing out on fun.  Something about the way she cried, how she immediately sat and wanted me to hold her, made me suspicious.  I took her inside and cleaned her up and had her try to walk around inside on the even floor.  She was limping hard when she would walk and cried and told me to just carry her.  {insert sigh}

I called the pediatrician's office to try to get an appointment for her to be seen.  They gave me an appointment for one hour from my call time which seemed perfect, and then asked what she needed to be seen for.  I explained.  The receptionist hesitated, then put me on hold.  She came back and said she'd talked to the nurse and they thought if I thought she was seriously hurt we should just go to the ER.  {insert eye roll} 

The thing was, I didn't think she was "seriously" hurt.  She was limping, fussing, but not screaming in pain.  I could move and manipulate the leg that had buckled without terrible grimacing.  To me, ER visits are for big deals.  This would make the third time we would use the ER since moving here for something that we just needed help with, but that was not a big deal in my mind (Ev's burns were a big deal that warranted a visit).  I was frustrated and defended my position but she took back her appointment and told me that she'd probably need an x-ray so just go to the ER (docs can't order x-rays?).  {insert sigh}

So....

I put her down for a nap.  Ha.  I know that sounds terrible but it was a two-fold decision... I wasn't walking into the ER for an hours long visit with a baby who'd been wild and free outdoors for hours and hadn't had a nap.  I also thought perhaps she'd wake up from nap and be fine.  

She slept okay.  She was tender of the leg and laid very still, but she did sleep.  After naptime she was still limping.  Darn.  I called Mike home.  He had her walk, manipulated her leg, and we talked about what it could be.  If anything, it was a hairline or buckle fracture.  But this baby goes full bore all day long so even if it was minor we probably needed to be aware to keep her down.  

Reluctantly I loaded her up and away we went.  Evalynn started our check-in intake by putting her toy phone in the recycling bin which was locked and required a call to maintenance to retrieve.  Thanks, Ev.  After we were checked in we waited.  And waited.  I tried to keep a cheerful countenance.  It's hard.  Hospitals give me germ anxiety.  They didn't have any rooms for us, but we were the only ones in the waiting room, so they came out and assessed her in the waiting room and went ahead and ordered an x-ray.  I did appreciate that - that we didn't wait for a room, then wait for x-ray, then wait for results.  We got to wait for a room and x-ray at the same time.  I do want to say that everyone was very kind.  Every single person.  That helps to boost the spirits of a second guessing worn out mom.  X-ray came and got us and then took us back to the waiting room.  

We washed up and she had a snack while we sat.  It was post nap, pre supper.  Also her hair elastic broke.  The epitome of hot mess.

A room opened up and they took us back, which I was grateful for because two other people, both with support persons had come into the waiting area (it's a small area).  The first x-rays came back clear, and the doctor came in and assessed some more.  She agreed that it was very convincing that she could be hurt based on how she walked.  And so, she asked if we could x-ray the upper leg.  I actually hesitated and said I really don't know if that's necessary.  She pointedly but kindly said, "well if she's still limping in the morning and you're questioning yourself you'll wish you'd done it."  Ooookayyy, then.  Point taken.  

We waited some more and then back to x-ray.  (The x-ray tech did cover her properly with a shield - both pics were taken while she was still adjusting her.)

After this set of x-rays we waited and waited again.  Eventually those x-rays came back and they were also clear.  By this point my face was probably a mess of flame and fluster.  It's not that I wanted her to be hurt, but I feel foolish when my "mom gut" that I'm supposed to have is of no merit.  

We loaded up and went home with the diagnosis of a knee sprain.

Later I posted on my Facebook "You know that mother's intuition everyone talks about? I'm convinced I just don't really have any." People were quick and kind to defend me and I appreciate it, but let me explain.  I know when to change babies, rock them, read to them....I know when to have a heart to heart with a big kid or give them space.  But man alive, I'm 13 years into this gig and I have no idea when to seek emergency medical services for my kids.  One time I didn't and I let one of our baby's kidneys go nearly septic....twice in the last month we've been to the ER with different children and the visits have borne no real fruit except "follow up with the pediatrician if you need to."  I tried to start there.  Part of this is the system.  Part of it is me - just no real mom gut when it comes to medical stuff except lots of second guessing and circling anxiety.  It's exhausting.

We are thankful Evalynn was not really hurt.  Even if she is the world's best faker.

Week in the Life {Co-op!, Valentine's, Sourdough Adventures, Little House Days, & ISU Gear Hunt!} Feb 13-19

What a busy week we had, especially the first four days of it.  These kinds of weeks are exhausting but fulfilling.

We started the week with worship.  Mike played guitar and while he was practicing he had a guest singer...an ornery one!

I feel really grateful for our church family.  For older teen girls that are Godly influences to our daughters.  For teachers and people who choose to love on us.

Chelsea asked Xavier if he wanted to try to run the computer during worship songs.  He did great and was so pleased to be asked.  This mom appreciates when someone gives our children a chance to serve and we're grateful Chelsea saw that ability in him.

After worship we flew down to Missouri.  Nannie wasn't feeling well, but we did get to see the rest of our people from my side of the family.  That's a love bucket filling day.  The kids scored some valentines, too.

Comparing these two in size.  Artie is solid but Ev's still got quite a bit of height on him!  Also, she was trying to get him to stand still and said, "hims too wiggling!'

Artie got to have his first sucker.  Huge fan!

We were joking because Artie sneezed at lunch and Colby about lost his lunch.  He missed messy sucker hour but we're sure he would have loved it.

Evie thought maybe she would go home with Lauren.  Nothing makes your baby look more like a huge toddler than see her in an infant seat.

We left Missouri and made it back for the last 3 quarters of the Super Bowl game.  The kids love when Mom loosens her standards and does "fun" food for Super Bowl.  This year we went with "frozen delicacies" (AKA the things they always ask for and rarely get).  The mini corn dogs were big winners, with the chicken fries a close second.  The pizza rolls didn't get the love they deserved.  For the record I set out fruits and veggies, too....as long as they are on the table I get the mom points.

We had the kids eat during the half time show, as you just never know if it's going to be appropriate, but Mike enjoyed the throwback from his childhood of Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent.

Only Xavier stayed up for the end of the game.  We sent everyone else to bed because Monday was coming in busy!

Monday was Valentine's Day and Co-op!  During the night Evalynn started coughing so Mike had to take off/work from home to keep her home.  We are grateful he did that and we didn't have to miss.

Some small Valentines to start the day with love.  And Valentine table settings, courtesy of our friend, Kathy.

Scented pens/markers for our sweeties.

After a quick breakfast of homemade chocolate chip banana bread, we headed out for our hour drive to co-op.  I struggled on the way.  I felt guilty Mike had to stay home.  I felt sad for Evalynn.  I was worried because that tight cough came on so fast.  I really had to focus and pray to get my mind straight.  I had to remind myself to be so glad the rest of the children could go, that we had this opportunity at all, and that Mike was able to arrange his day and keep Ev home.

We dispersed for classes when we arrived and I headed out to teach K-2 art.  I taught about Edgar Degas, who had a special interest in painting dancers.  We started class by drawing ballerinas using the I Can Draw People book from Usborne.  We turned those drawings into Valentines.

Then we switched mediums and made ballerinas from popsicle sticks, cupcake liners, pipe cleaners, and sharpies.  These were a big hit with the kids.

The little guys go on to PE after art, and I caught a couple of pictures of them working hard.  Mia is on top of the parachute in the first picture and Zayden is under it in the second.

We were doing a carry in soup/sandwich lunch for a Valentine's treat, so I stirred my soup and checked things over in the kitchen before heading back downstairs.  Our friend, Sara, had a sick kiddo at home, so I subbed for her literature class.  We started the class by doing our Magic Painting Famous Artists book that we hadn't gotten done in art, because there was a Degas page that the kids wanted to do.  Then we read some poems, sang a bit, and switched gears to some independent reading and STEM play.  Shonya had thrown the STEM activities (not toys - wink) in her bag on the way out and they were a big hit.

The kids delivered their valentines in our last few minutes of class.

After class it was lunch time!!  There was so much good food!

Someone snagged this photo of the "moms"....we couldn't find Crystal and Sara S. was gone.  What a privilege to be tucked among the friendships of these ladies.

Chow time!

We ate and ate and ate.  

Then we quick cleaned up and switched to Valentine party activities.  Each of the 3 groups did Minute to Win It games, Bingo, and a craft/activity of some sort.  All the moms took a role and it went seamlessly!

Natalee at Minute to Win It...

My Bingo station with Xavier's group...

Natalee's group made valentines for one of the local care facilities....

Mia and Zayden at Minute to Win It....

Xavier at Minute to Win It....

The time flew by in a flurry.  The next hour was used for book club discussions that had been missed last time we gathered.  While those were being led, a few of us cleaned up.

After we left co-op, we went and picked some flowers out for Aunt Annette and asked her to be our valentine (wink).  There were lots of big opinions on what type of flowers to get, and I couldn't make a cohesive arrangement with the individual types that everyone wanted (roses, daisies, lilies - lol) so we went with a dozen classic red roses.

I think she sensed us coming, even though I'd forgotten to text and tell her we were, because she had the sweetest Valentine spot set at the table for each of the kids.

Missing the littlest biscuit, but Annette was even dressed for the occasion!  She listened to the kids' excited chatter about our big day and they all had their snacks before we loaded up and headed back to home.  On the way home the kids chatted about how Aunt Annette is so fun and festive and always has things decorated just right.  They're right. 

She sent me this picture later in the week of her flowers thriving.

Monday was a full day of love and everyone felt filled up when we got home.  

We unloaded and unpacked and Daddy had supper ready for us.

Evalynn was excited to see us and loved looking through her valentines.  We had saved back some we'd gotten in the mail and from friends so the other children had some to open yet, too.  Ev doesn't understand money in cards, but it excites the others, so it's excites her, too.  Thanks, Kathy!

Tuesday Natalee took the day off from OT/PT.  We went to mom's group for a little bit while Mike kept Evalynn back, and Natalee stayed home with them, too.  The others participated in the valentine exchange and enjoyed playing while I visited and got to know the other moms a bit better.

Then it was back home for a little bit of school and some games.

Daddy had taken Ev and Natalee for a walk while we were gone and I couldn't understand what she was saying...it ended up being she wanted to go see "Willy P" the WPU mascot but Daddy wouldn't take her in the buildings to find him (and then she broke into song...lol).

Tuesday night the boys both had basketball practice and we were supposed to go to a church meeting.  Mike ended up staying home from the meeting since Ev wasn't quite 100% yet.  I took the boys to practice, meaning they had to sit through each others' practices.  Xavier got asked to help with the little boys, which was a lot of fun for him.

Zayden and Rogan passing the time while their brothers practiced.

Back home Mike held down the fort with the girls.  When we got back, Xavier finished up his Valentine party craft.

Wednesdays are already busy, but we made this Wednesday busier by moving hippotherapy up from Thursday to Wednesday because we were supposed to get bad weather Thursday.

Aunt Penny took Mia to gymnastics for us - God bless her.

Then while I headed to hippotherapy, Mike had Mia at OT.  We did a grocery pick up on our way back into town.  Then Natalee had a zoom appointment and swim that night.  I took zero pictures that day except of the sourdough crust pizza I made for supper.  But we survived it and it meant our calendar was cleared out for both Thursday and Friday.

These were a perfect thin crust pizza and everyone loved them.  Very very easy, too.

Having nothing on the calendar for Thursday was a glorious feeling.

I bought these food picks for Evie - she's having trouble being interested in meals and wants to snack all day.  They do help her stay engaged in her meal and get more food down her.

We read a lot of our Little House book on Thursday (we're on By the Banks of Plum Creak).  Mia, Xavier, and Zayden are loving the story, and Natalee has been listening in, too, which I love.  We also snuggled up and watched a few episodes of the Little House show (after lots of talking about how it doesn't much follow the book after the first few episodes).

These three played a lot of "little house" in their free time.  The table is their wagon, I believe.  Photos courtesy of Xavier.

Mia plays Laura and Ma.  Zayden plays the roles of Pa and Mary.  Evalynn is Carrie.  They are adorable and I'm glad we're in this phase of life once again.  I hope someone will play little house with Ev when we reach this phase one more time.

*****

School work has been going along as one would expect by this time of year.  We've switched Natalee's math to have her do a specific amount of time of math each day and then stop, instead of working until the lesson is complete.  This is helping with burn out and frustration.  Xavier is almost finished with level 6 of Teaching Textbooks math, and Mia is working her way through multiplication in level 3.  Zayden and I are learning temperature, graphing, measurements, and all things important in his level 2 Masterbooks math.  Mia and Zayden are both working on Level 1 Rod & Staff reading.  She's a few lessons ahead of him, because I stopped his a few weeks ago in order to have him finish his Sing Spell Read and Write well.  They both have an independent assigned book to read one chapter a day in.  Zayden is reading Janette Oke's Animal Friends series and Ameliya is reading the Nancy S. Levene Alex series.  Both are Christian fiction with good moral/character lessons and I scored both sets at thrift stores.  Natalee and Xavier are continuing the YWAM Heroes of History US History series and loving them.  They took two weeks to read the Harriet Tubman book and finished it this week.  Together we continue our study of the United States, covering two states a week.  We finished the Rocky Mountain states this week and only have around 9 states left to go!  It's been a great year having everyone learning together.  I've enjoyed it so much.  Natalee and Xavier get their science through co-op and Mia and Zayden (and I) are still working through the human body unit.  Everyone enjoys writing some creative writing passages that are prompted from our geography 1-2 times a week - on the other days the big kids do cursive handwriting and the younger two do their Draw Write Now journaling.  We keep busy, even if I don't blog specifically about what we are studying.

*****

Sourdough pancakes for Thursday supper (with sausage, egg, potato, bacon, & cheese breakfast burritos and bacon.  I'm making myself use my sourdough starter every day or every other for a couple of weeks to get comfortable with it.  

Late night math lessons with Daddy.

Friday ended up being another day at home.  The older children could have had piano, but the two days with nothing on the calendar was good for our minds and bodies, so we stuck to it.

This dolly, ready for second breakfast, announced "the sun is shining so it's time for a snack now!"

The children finished up their book work in pretty good time, and went to playing by after lunch.  

When Evalynn got up from her nap, we went to a store on the hunt for ISU gear.  My niece, Emma, signed on to be a Cyclone this coming fall and we wanted some gear for ourselves as well as some for a project Nannie was working on.  Emma will be just an hour and a half to our north and I am  determined to make those miles feel like "not a big deal" just like I do when I want to run 'home' to Missouri.

(straight up stole this picture from Andrea)...

We definitely understood the assignment.  (And also a bag of books....#homeschoolnerds.)

I dropped the kids round to Mike and ran to one last store on my own to finish the ISU gear hunt.

I made sourdough whole wheat biscuits to go with supper and they were a hit with everyone!  Mike and I were having home date night, so I just had one biscuit to try them and to hold myself over while the kids finished supper, showers, and got into bed.

And then, somehow, it was Saturday again.  It was Zayden's turn to bring team snack and Ev was here for that...

Zayden got called out several times for stealing the ball from the other team during a dribble.  The rule hadn't been enforced to this point, but I guess they are only supposed to steal during a pass at this age.  

Taking a break....I love his baby cheeks....

Once he understood the rule, he was respectful of it and waited for his moment.  He got complimented for being an aggressive player and staying on top of his game when he was in.  

I almost deleted this video but loved that the boys redeemed themselves.  Probably not the wisest pass initially for Zayden, but they made it right as a team.

Xavier's team played a great game and were much more equal in score by the end of it.  They've had a tough season but I see their steady improvements and appreciate how hard they work.  I struggle to get not blurry pictures of him - they just move faster I guess.

Mike worked on hanging some TVs and sound equipment in the house Saturday afternoon which meant a trip to Wal-Mart.  I was hoping for a couple of take and bake pizzas so I didn't have to make supper, but they were out.  Alas.  The day went on without a supper plan until I finally rallied myself and went and made another round of sourdough crust pizzas.  A few minor adjustments and these were even better than the ones earlier in the week.

We finished the night with a couple of episodes of State Plate to go along with our geography unit, while the girls played dolls.

The full moon week went by in slow rhythms and fast flurries all at the same time.  We are thankful to be healthy to get to do all the things and that little Ev recovered from her cold with just a couple of nebulizer treatments, lots of fluids, rest, and fresh air.