Author: Becky

It was naptime. Well, pseudo-naptime.

I still call it “naptime” even though these days Carissa is usually the only one actually sleeping.

I had taken the girls potty, gotten them into bed, put on their CD, turned out the light and walked down to the boys room to repeat the process.

As I opened the door, I saw both boys on their hands and knees with play tools. Micah was wearing safety glasses and using a saw on his train tracks.

David was next to him, using the drill. He looked up and held up his drill to show me.

“We’re building a dam!” Micah beamed, lifting his safety glasses. It warms my heart, seeing them play together so well when David is only 13 months. They are such good buddies!

I changed David’s diaper and sat down in the glider to nurse him. I told Micah to get in bed and pull the covers over him–sometimes he just wants to “rest” on top of his quilt, instead of actually snuggling in to sleep.

“I’m going to slither down into my chrysalis,” he narrated, giggling. And he did. The quilt shivered on top of him as he slithered. And then, for about 5 seconds, all was quiet as I rocked David.

Suddenly the quilt began to shake and Micah re-appeared on his pillow. He stood on his bed, doing what looked like the chicken dance with his arms.

“NOW!” he exclaimed. “I’m a lah-low butterfly!”

His butterfly impression was priceless. He had me laughing so hard, which got David laughing. He loves to laugh so we all three were laughing. And I just thought, In the midst of all the crazy memories, I hope I remember naptime this way!

My three older children went outside and discovered a flower pot full of rain water. In an instant I heard giggling and splashing and saw all three running to our back steps, making their own handprints. I watched as each of them left their mark on the concrete, and those wet handprints disappeared almost as soon as they turned to run back for more water.

How symbolic of this stage of splashes and hand-washing and giggles and piles of dirty laundry!

I’m taking pictures of the handprints so I will remember.

Well, it was pouring rain outside. And inside my little Mara was so sick she hardly got off the couch all day.

Since I had made a ham over the weekend, I decided to make it a cooking day. . . I made Ham and Potato Soup for lunch (and another dinner meal later in the week).

For dinner I made a pasta salad with chopped ham, tomatoes, cucumbers, grated carrots and ranch dressing. Unfortunately, I had to cook the pasta twice–since the first time I was changing a diaper while the timer rang and I overcooked the pasta to the point that it was mush! I will eat (almost) anything. But that pasta was nasty. People that know will be proud of me: I threw it away and started over. And yes, for me, that IS an accomplishment.

In the crockpot I made a ham/lentil soup for weekday lunches for the kids and me. I also chopped ham for Garlic Potatoes & Ham later in the week. (At the end of the week when the rain lets up, we’ll also have Honey Mustard Chicken on the grill. I love summer! and I love that Daniel is happy to grill dinner for me any night I ask!)

And finally since I had two cups of grated carrots leftover (thanks to my amazing cuisinart food processor!!!), I decided to make Carrot Muffins with cream cheese frosting. I’d never made this recipe before, but I was looking for something other than a cake, since that sounds soo unhealthy. I’m not sure the muffins were really any healthier though.

The muffins themselves were very good, but they were not too sweet and somehow (Daniel & I agreed) that the super-sweet cream cheese frosting didn’t really complement them. Even Mara said it was too much and asked if I could scape the frosting off hers! I think I would make them next time without the frosting. 🙂

At the end of the day I went to let the dogs out–in the rain–and discovered a praying mantis on the inside of our screen door! Praying mantises are among the most intricate, complicated insects. They are another reflection to me of God’s [transcendent] creative genius. I caught the little guy in a vase and rubber-banded a lightweight cloth over the top.

I can’t wait to show the kids in the morning! I love learning! and watching the children learn! I can hardly keep myself from going to Micah’s room and waking him up so he can see it! . . .

I recently came across this article on “10 Ways to Make Your Homeschool Day Run Smoothly.”

I was tempted to re-post the entire article! It is definitely worth reading. Some of the thoughts may seem obvious, but as I look over this list, I’m thinking that homeschool frustrations (for me) may frequently link back to one of these areas, whether that’s my failure to have school planned adequately (or activities for littles planned!), or spending time on the computer or the phone during school time, or something so simple as my attitude: not smiling!

I’m posting this primarily as a reminder to myself. And maybe it will be helpful to other homeschool moms too! I hope you will take a moment to click on the link and read some tips from a seasoned homeschool mom!