Rainy days

  Now that it is CHRISTmas vacation, yes even for most home schooling families, there is a little to much free times for the kiddo's. The worst part is is that it's not even cold enough to snow! I heard that we have had 55" of rain this year. That beats out Seattle by like 20" So here on this farm it is so muddy the kids don't even want to play outside for the 5 minutes it isn't raining.kids.Oh we were able to muck out the barn-completely today that was great. I bet the goats are happy. It always feel good to get the heavy duty stuff out of the way. especially on rainy days and there isn't a whole lot else to do :-)
    I can't stand for the T.V. to be on so what to do what to do. Younger kids are so much easier. We have barbies and baby dolls and dress up and cards ect., but the older kids... I have to break the board games I think. Of course that's a chore in itself because then we have to keep the real little ones away, which is not very easy. We are such a digital world it's ridiculous. Most of the time if it were up to them they would sit in front of the T.V. or the computer. What ever happened to imagination. I mean when they hit 10 or 11 does that go away? We live on 42 acres, we have goats and cats and a cow and each other there really shouldn't be a moment of boredom but here I am wondering myself what they could do. Any suggestions?
        As we speak my daughters are working on a fashion show, sounds good to me :-)

A day in the life of little Ol' me

A day in the life of little Ol' ME

7:00A.M. comes far to quickly in my house. Because I'm co-sleeping I try to get out of bed without waking Syhven, or I try to nurse her back to sleep, usually with no luck. The alarm officially goes off at 7:21. I get dressed, go potty and go wake the kiddo's up. I suit up to go feed and milk the goats.

Our goats happen to be being breed right now so the milk I get from them go to our bull calf, who is no longer being bottle fed on a regular basis, however he gets babied for now because goat milk has a yucky taste while the buck is around.

After the animals are taken care of I head in wash up and make sure the kids are all eating breakfast and dressed. I usually get a carnation instant breakfast (I'm not a big breakfast eater). We do our daily Bible study at the table. At about 9:00 A.M. I head to Curves! Other then my Midwifery training and ministry this is the first time in thirteen years I get to do anything for just me. I got a membership in October.

If its nice out me and the kids go to the track to either walk, jog or roller skate :-) Then we head home for school.

We decided years ago that Home schooling was the route we wanted to go with our children. Have we doubted that decision, have we been tempted to send them back to public school is it hard? You bet it is and we sure have! But we know that it is what God has called us to do so with His grace we keep at it. We wanted to raise our children our way though and not have the "system" raise them. Because if our children went to school then attended after school activities, sports and what not, had friends and then had to do homework when would we get real quality time to spend with them. Now I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea, I am not against schools and I do feel that alot of families make it work for them and thats great. But I know our family, personally, when our kids were in school and had soccer and football and cheerleading and swimming and basketball and homework and church, well it was just to much. we spent more time in the car than really together together, plus we wanted them to have a Christian based education. But again I am not against schools, I miss school myself and I think that it of course is needed and I pray for the teachers because they are absolutely amazing people! Something I could never do. Our six year old is actually in school right now because I did not think the curriculum we had for her was strong enough and right now we don't have the money to shop around, also I know and love her teacher, we attend church together so that makes it easy. But we will be bringing her home next year for sure.
    At some point while they are working I get my break to "play" on the computer, usually while nursing my napping seven month old

Then its lunchtime where we enjoy left overs from the night before or almond or cashew butter wraps (we rarely eat bread) some annie crackers and a clif bar. Then its nap time for the toddler and laundry time for mom.

I then usually help out with school or sit down to nurse the baby again. Then Hadassah wakes up and if i don't have Syhven in my arms and sometimes even when I do Hadassah jumps into my arms for her mommy time.

We do get some play time in between things such as sweeping and mopping and snack time, running errands and such.

Come 4:00 P.M. it's chore time for the kids and I like to over see that, or keep them on track. When we first started having the kids do chores I felt guilty about not doing it myself, however I have since then realized I was looking at it all wrong. Not only are we to raise our children to become well rounded adults and capable of making it on their own. If they never have to do chores or learn how to do laundry, or wipe down walls or do the dishes or set the table or even clean the toilet then I feel like I would have failed because they would either not know how to do those things or find it very hard to get into a routine of doing such things. Also I'm not going to lie it does help me out. We have seven children and if I am to spend time with all of them and keep up then it is nice to have a little bit of help. I often will do their chore for them and yes it will go unnoticed, but thats ok because I only did it to help out not for affermation. My phone is set will all kinds of timers/alarms to keep me on track and 5 is start dinner, which is usually always done with Syhven in arms.

         (and no I have never let her get splashed on or burnt or anything of the such) After dinner it is a mixture of showering, teeth brushing (some days back to church) cleaning up bedrooms and family time in general. 9:00P.M.and it is bedtime. However there are several nights other than family fun night that they don't exactly make it to bed at that time.

Some days are so busy some of the kids konk out right on the couch and dad has to carry them to bed. We take them to bed hug and kiss them and tell them we love them. Gala usually ends up in Havens bed soon there after, and Hadassah in Blixon's. I'm guessing this comes from the fact that we co-sleep and this carries over into toddlerhood and more. They don't seem to mind so we don't push the issue. then it's mommy and daddy time. We wil either get done any unfinished businnes done or sit down for a t.v.show or something while I nurse Syhven to sleep. We usually head to bed around 11:00P.M. or so.
   All of that being said I do not know how working mothers get all the things done they need to get done, but I also that stay at home moms are just as busy, only doing different things. Kudos to all of you working mothers. I do however feel very blessed that I am able to stay at home with my children. I hope you enjoyed the honest look into my life.

My House is Loud

 My house is loud! We are busy. We play, we sing we yell & we occasionally cry. We all are emotional people in my family. That does not mean that my kids can't be a little backwards when they are around new people. Just let them get to know you, they'll open right up.
  There are some people (family) included that do not like when my kids are loud, but it's just who they are. I mean when they have so many to compete with, one learns to talk loud. There are times when I wish things were quieter. However my children know if mom says turn it down that means now! They are not complete wild and out of control children, but they are children. I want them to play and yell and sing and have fun now. I think to many adults have forgotten how to do this.
  Some day my kids will be grown. They will be well mannered civilized ;-) polite people, but for now, when its appropriate, right place right time kind of thing they are allowed to let loose. I want them to look back and remember how crazy we all were playing games together and how we would all yell in excitement over a great thing together, how we would turn up the radio and dance until we fell down laughing. I want those to be the things they look back on, when they are all grown up & boring old adults.
   I have seven children and yes I do have quiet moments in my house but for the most part is is more like an organized chaotic loud fun house. And I would not have it any other way!

CHRISTmas

 I wonder how many people are just about ready for CHRISTmas to be over already? I know some people who start before Thanksgiving! Getting decorations up, sending out cards shopping (normally my favorite part) all before December rolls around.I'll admit I love seeing houses all lite up and cards are nice, at least we are thought of right. Shopping, oh don't get me started on shopping. I love to shop, it doesn't have to be for me or for my kids, I love to shop for other people I even love to shop for groceries! This should be my favorite time of year. Well this year it's pretty hard so shopping is not exactly top priority. I think that was a blessing in disguise.
   CHRISTmas has been turned into an "economical" event rather than a celebration of the virgin birth. Which I used to be one of those moms who went way over board and bought  to many things for the kids because it was fun. It was fun to buy and it was fun to give. Sure I told the kids after Jakob was in Kindergarten Santa was not still around. Afterall there once was a man named Saint Nicholis who first gave bread to the poor, then years after gave small gifts. It was still fun. Sure our kids still watch the Grinch and the Santa Claus movies, but I don't want that to be their focus. Several years ago while I was in my midwifery training another midwife told me her daughter only gave her children three gifts, as baby Jesus got three gifts. I loved this idea. This year I am finally accomplishing my goal of sticking with only three gifts.
   Three years ago Blixon wanted to watch The Nativity Story on CHRISTmas  eve. I loved that idea. So every year we watch The Nativity Story on CHRISTmas eve. Usually after they all fall asleep I put their gifts under the tree, we chose and cut down ourselves and get all gitty with excitement for what the next morning will bring.
   We had usually bought prepackaged donuts earlier in the week as a big treat for a quick breakfast. We then gather around the tree and I read the nativity story from the Bible before we touch a single gift. We pass one at a time and watch one another as the gifts are opened. The kids soon disappear with their new found fun and if we are lucky we get to stay at home, nice and cozy watching CHRISTmas movies.
  Every year I do hope we can hold strong to some of the traditions Jamie and I are starting, such as the movie, the bible reading and the time spent with one another. The most important...to remember that CHRISTmas is not about, shopping, Santa Clause, gifts and cards or even lights and trees. CHRISTmas is about LOVE, the love of our Holy Father God, who blessed us so when He so lovingly placed Jesus in Mary's womb, the birth of the Son of God the Son of man, our Redeemer, our Saviour Jesus Christ! That's what I want our family to be excited for, to be celebrating that birth. Happy Birthday Jesus we the Elkins Family love you.