You Don't See That Every Day

15. Hard to believe this boy is now 15 years old. Before we know it he'll be out of the house. Yikes. Slow down! And no, he doesn't even have the book to study to take the test for his permit.

The Princess can see! She got her glasses earlier this week, and the first thing she said, "I can see!" And then she went on to point out all the words and objects she could see that had looked like big blobs of color before. A whole new world opened up to her. We've been spending a lot of time on the farm. At least it feels like it. My son has taken to cutting the sleeves of his (old) shirts to wear to the farm. He gets on the bike and takes off down the dirt road. The one time I did NOT have my camera, he was wearing the same outfit, but with tall black rubber boots. Perhaps we're making a farm boy out of him after all. The girls like to go out and shoot their guns there, but I've been getting some resistance to weeding lately. I smile inwardly and force the minions onward. School is winding down. The girls are trudging on to the end here. We'll have most everything wrapped up this week, with just a couple of loose ends (certain subjects like math!) to...

 Fourteen years ago today I was pregnant with our first child. The day is still pretty vivid in my memory when I go back and recall it. It was Monday, the first day back to work after the weekend at my in-laws for Thanksgiving. I woke up feeling .. off. And then started to have a lot of pain in my lower back. As the workday progressed, the pain spread to my front. I had no idea what was going on. Baby wasn't due until Dec. 21st. But I decided to drive home early - it was a 45 minute drive that lasted forever. I am sure God had his hand on the car as I drove, because those contractions (which I still didn't know that they were!) were pretty intense by then.  look at that little cherub I called my husband when I got home, wanting him home! And his boss assured him it was probably false labor. heehee After my water broke we both realized it was time!  Not since before we were married has my husband driven that fast on the freeway! Baby boy came into the wor...

Basketball season is over for our household. Although March madness brackets will be on the table soon! And we got to sleep in on Saturday. That was the only downtime for the weekend. Even without basketball consuming our lives, we were on the move with meetings, church, teaching, kid's commitments and the everyday moments of life. Here are some of the highlights throughout the day. Little K. loves oranges! Her tastes continue to surprise me. These oranges came from my brother's backyard (as I was told) and they are SO good! Thank you guys! Big brother is now ... shaving. Yikes. I thought boys were suppose to be OLD when they started shaving. How is it my 13 year old has had to shave at least 3 times now? I finally got it documented on camera. Dad helps out: All clean: This is what my oldest girl spent her time with on Saturday. She helped G in the upstairs all day long. Just one more thing girls need to know how to do before they leave home,...

When I tuck my kids in to sleep at night, I often tell them, "Go to sleep. Big day tomorrow!" Well today was actually a 'big' day and I wasn't aware of it. I got a phone call from our Boy tonight. G. had just picked him up from basketball practice and they were getting something to eat before they had to head back to the gym. My son sounded pretty upset, like he was crying. And like any normal(?) mother, I started to get choked up also. Especially when he told me that they made the cuts for the basketball team today. My mind raced ahead, along with his emotional state, and I was trying to figure out how to encourage him, how to keep my own sadness out of my voice, and what do I say now? running through my brain. So I tried to find out a little bit more about what happened. And then he started laughing, and said, Mom I made the team! My brain screeched to a halt. I couldn't even think! I just hung up on him. Because he was such a skunk! Getting me all up...

For the past few weeks my son and I have been 'training' together. We signed up for a 5k race, just so we would be (more) motivated to go out and run. Well today was the showdown. The Day of The Race. We had to get up early in order to get our fan club together and moving in time for a 9 am race start. Thankfully all the girls, and my husband, were ready to go in time. The weather teased us the whole drive to the race site, with sprinkles of rain. And then we saw the sunbeams shining through the clouds. (I always hear an "Alleluia" being sung in my head when I see sunbeams breaking through the clouds.) My husband calls this Jacob;s Ladder. I had not heard it called that until today! But I like it! We got there in plenty of time, and checked in and warmed up. I tried not to 'coach' the boy too much, but just a few last minute tidbits of advice. Adoring fans along the route I thought we would race together for maybe the first mile, but my son had d...

Game #2. And I remembered the camera this time! Our boy is #24, white jersey this week. Intense concentration down the court. The game was fast and frantic it seemed. The boys are still learning how to run the plays, how to play offense and defense. This league is very much a teaching/ learning experience kind of league S. at point. He had a great fake out move tonight. Our team did not win again this week, but our son had a super game. He has come a long way since he started playing. The fans around here enjoyed watching! G, his mom, and Baby K take in the game.

Upward Basketball season has begun! The first game(s) played tonight. The boy had a great game too. Although their team lost (30-18) the top scorer lives in our house! And the steals he got! Time after time he got an "interception" (yeah I am still in football mode). It all made for a very exciting time when he was on the court. And did I bring a camera to share photos? Oh, no. My purse had snacks and a comb and stuffed animals, and a clean diaper, to take of care of the girls' side of things. But no camera. I know, what kind of blogging mom am I? And in that vein, we took a field trip on Thursday along with another homeschooling family. We went to an Arctic museum. It was cold inside, but actually it was about the Arctic peoples. And did I bring the camera? Oh, no. Thankfully my friend did. I'm waiting for her to email the pictures and then I can share them with you all. Until then you can just imagine my boy with his head stuck inside a bear's mouth.

Our son turned 12 yesterday. (what?!how?! yikes!) and we had a great time finding him a gift. He is at the age where 'toys' are more sophisticated, sometimes. He did receive a slingshot and a harmonica from his grandparents - which are not high tech items. But he is at the age where his toys can be enjoyed by his parents too. So, I was quite excited when i saw a local store had remote control vehicles on sale for a fraction - a serious fraction - of the regular price. My husband took on the task of purchasing the item and we presented it to S. at his 'birthday' dinner right before he had to go to youth group. So he didn't get to play with until 9:30 last night. And no, G did not play with it before his son got to. We were good and didn't touch it at all. But we all enjoyed figuring it out last night.