Year 4, March 25th-28th, 2019: Glorious Sunshine!

It's spring! It's 50 degrees, the birds are singing and the kids want to....sit inside all day and stare at their walls.  Say what?!  Yes! I've had to beg them to go outside.  I know I'm not that active, but still, we have all the equipment you need to be outside, just go ride your bike!  Thankfully their bikes still fit and are in good condition.  I stored them at the front of the garage for easy access, too.  Abishai went outside with me while I continued the garden project.  My whole body is sore for one hour worth of work, but whatever.  It just means I need to do more with it.  School is going ok for the week, too.  I've got to spend some time inside though catching up with the blog and cleaning off my phone for WitnerJam videos on Friday.  Woot! Woot!  And I am SO dragging Jared with me this time, regardless of his "meh" attitude.  I used to be all like "he doesn't like it, so I won't make him go" but recently I've been "brave" enough to just make him do it anyway because I want to EXPERIENCE life with him.  Now, maybe someday I'll drag him to the home education conference again, too.  I didn't push it this year because I truly just wanted to be myself to think and sit still.  I didn't volunteer to do anything either.  It was my time, my retreat.  No spa days for me.  I got to homeschool conferences to get away, lol.

Anyway, I'm excited for the weekend, and I hope we don't get rained on as we wait in line for the first come first serve seating.  Lots of stuff coming up in April and into May, and then we can finally breathe again.  I don't think I'll be doing many home projects until June.  Family will be coming into town to hear Gary preach at Indian Creek for the next 4 weeks, his last sermon being on Easter weekend.  Sigh.  If only I could go to bed before 1 am and have the energy to actually enjoy these next couple of months! But I'm trying to!  Rooted is going pretty well, and I shared my story this week.  I think it went as well as it could have because I rehearsed it.  Jared shared some things during discussion as well that I was kind of aware of but never heard him really talk about.  So that was interesting.  I haven't taken as many photos and videos just because I am busy, but also because I would then have to process them, which I don't have time for.  It already took me hours to sync the iCloud and back it up properly through Tuesday.  Now I have to go back in and clean it off.  Sigh.

Abishai made his own police station complete with stairs and a place for his weapons.

Someone needs some lovin', isn't that right Dogo (the kids say that nickname all the time).

More lovin'

He wasn't sleeping but could have been.  Abishai was super clingy after I was gone for a couple of days.  He would not leave my side, and sat down next to me or climbed on the countertop while I did things in the kitchen.  He just wanted to be close to me.  How sweet!  But also, a bit of a pain when you have things to do.

Baby toes.

Look, Mom, I found a comfortable place to take a nap!

I told the kids that I'd paid $.01 per stick (longer than their hand) that they picked up.  Keturah earned $.75 and Abishai earned $.25 towards a toy he wants.  Aw! And yes, those are my pink crocs he's wearing.

Sunshine and warmth are on their way!

Cheers! with popsicles.

Mom, my legs are hurting sooooo muuccchhhhhhh.  Well, her chain did get tightened, but she's also been lying around for the last month or two (after basketball season ended) so I know her legs are weak.  All the more reason to get out there and exercise!  She went around the block once!

Justin had a hard time going around the block, too, however, his tires were low on air.  So he filled them up, including looking at the PSI all by himself.  I had no idea he knew how!

I had already done my 1 hr of outside work and was exhausted, so I sat in the van to watch Abishai.  He decided to join me for a little nap!

Working hard learning to pedal.  He looks so big on that tiny trike!

Taking a nap in the warm sunshine!  Maybe this year I'll get a full three person swing with awning like the one we had in Beech grove.  I miss that swing!

Abishai decided it his bus needed to be pumped up, too.

Dinner on the go to eat with Daddy. And, simple is best.  No seasonings in this dish, including no salt for the rice or veggies, just the way I like it!

Hanging out with Daddy in his office before Rooted.  We go a little early so we can do just that.

Having fun popping bubbles.

Peek a boo! You can't see me behind Dad's door!  But I can by looking through the window!

Aw, such a beautiful face!

 Abishai behind door

I'm waiting to hear the whole story, but this is part of what Benaiah is doing to officially ask Ava to prom.  He's going to cut these up and then paste them up in her locker during lunch.  He has permission from one of his teachers to be near the lockers in the hallway upstairs because he's helping her as well.  He's been hinting at it via digital notes for days and sounded giddy when he said he had even more plans.  He's a pretty decent romantic, although, inexpensive and simple, like his Dad.  Jared wrote, "Uh....will you...marry me?" on a piece of paper and slipped it under my bedroom door at his parents house.  And then when I opened the door, he had the ring dangling on a thread in the doorway and he was on one knee I think.  Yeah, super romantic, pfft.  Anyway, yeah, my boy will actually have a real date for prom this year, how exciting!  That means he has to buy a corsage! And pay for her dinner! And, I think we'll still have to drive them because new drivers can't have friends in the car for another 3 months after getting their license.  AND, we'll have fun prom pics under trees in our front yard(s).  Crazy!

Wednesday was the same as the other days: I had to BEG for kids to go outside.  What is with them?!  I worked more on the front garden, too.  I have the kids making shadowboxes for history, a room in a castle, and man oh man, this is why I don't assign projects like this!  I know what I would do if I was assigned and I've made suggestions and showed the kids what they could use.  But they just don't want to do it because it's tedious work! So now I'm trying to enlist Jared in on being the parent.  The teacher (me) assigned it, now the parent can help.  Is it a big deal if we don't do it.  No, but I can't let these kids leave without doing some kind of hands on project just because it's tedious! Same thing goes with coloring.  They don't know how to color! I thought I was doing us a favor by not doing arts and crafts when they were young but boy was I wrong.  Eek! I might be adding that to next year's rotation (again) but I'll have to drop something else.  We'll see.  It's just frustrating because I remember making all kinds of things and my mom never got involved.  I think it's all about problem solving and the kids' generation really lack the experience with that.  If it doesn't come in a pretty box with just the right amount of glue and stickers, it can't be done.  Anyway, we'll see how it goes.  But for now, I've got tons of other things to think about.

Silly thing that the student ministries' IG account put up.  I didn't fill it all the way out because CFA will always win in my book, lol.

"Before" of the garden.  The whole thing is covered with dead grass that had not been taken care of last year.  Justin didn't trim the edges, so the grass went to seed and blew into the garden.  There were tons of roots that I had to break up by hand by loosening the dirt around them with a 3 prong hand tool.  Tedious.  And I know there was probably a better method/tool but I was tired of waiting on myself to figure it out.  I just went out and did (see the after photos below).

Dog! What?! In daylight?! You know you aren't supposed to be up there! But he looks so comfy!

I was scratching his "armpit" and he was so relaxed. Oi!

Hi, doggie!

Ssshhhh,.....it was so quiet! And this was why! Abishai fell asleep in the middle of the afternoon and slept for 90 minutes!

I guess Keturah saw him and added her blankie and narwhale/unicorn plush.  Aw....

Boy was playing the piano and Daddy was actually petting the dog (he's allergic to the dog, so it doesn't happen often.  My big men of the house bringing in all the $$.

Flippies!

Abishai's hair wants to stick up but his hood is in the way.  Abishai loves to be outside, and begs for the others to join him, but they often won't.  Sigh.  A trampoline is the best purchase ever!

Found this in the bush near the door of the house.  I have no idea what kind of plant it was, but I love how the seed pods opened up and scattered all over the bush with white fluff.  Cool!

That's right! This is THE pile of stuff I took out of the garden.  Three wheel barrows full!  I couldn't shake all the dirt out of the grass clumps, so there's some in there, too.  Oh well.

I hope these stains come out of my favorite pair of pants I wear every day!  I should have treated them first.  Whoops!

??????  What are you doing? Oh, talking to your girl, eh?  Cheering her up, eh? Goof!  Actually, the boy had a rough day with making some poor choices.  He needed some alone time to figure himself out.  Glad he got outside, though.

Abishai wanted to help with dinner, and without being asked, he got out an orange for everyone, just like Daddy does!

Looking gorgeous!  Can't wait for dirt and mulch!

Yes, there ARE bricks around the flower beds!

Ta da!

It still doesn't look "clean" but believe me, it will once the mulch is on.

Bricks!

"After."  You can compare this one to the first picture in the series.

Our Flower Garden Tour

Thursday - oh my goodness. It's done!  I finished the front garden!  Now all we need is dirt and mulch!  I hurt SO MUCH but I DID it, proving, if I really wanted to actually exercise and endure the soreness, I most certainly can.  No more excuses! Especially since my summer pants and shorts don't fit. Grrr....anyway, the front garden is done and I'm so PROUD of myself, ok? I don't care if it wasn't the best method or done perfectly or whatever, it just looks BETTER.  Here's to hoping I didn't kill the good flowers when I sprayed both weed and grass killer.  I tried to keep it away from the edges of the plants I want to keep knowing that the roots will soak that up, too.  Crossing my fingers  didn't kill everything.  We'll see! And I got it done because we stayed home this week.  And they kids managed to get most of the their work done on time or by 3/4 pm.  And I spent 1 hr a day on it.  I know that people work in their gardens all the time, but for a person with fibromyalgia, this is a HUGE HUGE HUGE accomplishment.  But you know me, I birthed our fourth child at home unprepared, SO, I CAN do things when I WANT to do them.  Sigh.  Sounds like I need to lecture myself more often instead of just the kids, right?   Concert tomorrow, and to be honest, I can sit down for at least some of it.  And then a prayer thing on Saturday, so I know I can sit most of the day then, too.  I did rest my back several times and stretched.  Anyway, yup, I did it!


So, here's to another somewhat quiet week before a busy weekend!