Summer science

So what are we going to Do with these great Encyclopedias. Well, I recently purchased Apologia Exploring Creation with Land Animals. And Rachel and Abby are beside themselves waiting to get started! So we plan to learn all about land animals this summer. We bought the accompanying notebooking journals. I am really liking Notebooking. I like that it encourages my children to take notes while we read, and then they work on comprehension and being able to retell me what they have learned. The Apologia notebooks also come with stickers and full color mini books on the different types of animals.

I have given myself permission. Permission to slow down. We are not required to finish an entire book just because. We can take a history book or our language lessons and slow down. Read a book for English on Horses and then spend a week learning all about horses, visiting a neighbor with a horse, etc. Sometimes I set myself on a frantic pace and feel like I have to get it all in, and then in the end I feel we have missed so much. So we are slowing down. I found some great Notebook and Lapbook units on www.homeschoolshare.com. I plan to take time to learn in depth about knights and castles, and Robin Hood, And Queen Elizabeth. I plan to read lots and lots of books with my children. So what if we only get thru half the history book, if we REALLY learn the history.

Camouflage Experiment with MnM's

What Color Will I find the most of? Does it really matter since I am going to eat them all anyway?

Rachel's Water Wheel Experiment. She LOVED IT!

It's one of the reasons we are doing Science in the summer. The girls didn't want to wait until August to start their new books, so why wait? They are interested now. Great!

Encyclopedias

Yes, I bought encyclopedias. Two world history encyclopedias and one animal encyclopedia. Why? You ask. Well, because I love books. And even though technology is awesome, there is something about having it in your hands and looking at it any time. Plus, we try to limit screen time at our house. So tonight all my kiddos flipped thru pages and asked questions and spent time learning instead of watching tv or playing a video game. Now we are off to read the Magician's Nephew. Books are awesome.

Clearing out

You know that moment when you realize someone will be at your house any second and it's a total disaster. Yep. It was that kind of day. My hallway is full of books and toys and everything that is in limbo. Doesn't fit in the bedrooms and is waiting for the addition to be done, so it doesnt really have a home.
So instead of being awesome at school today, I cleaned out my closet. 4 trash bags later. My closet is now organized along with our armoire. Not bad for a closet the size of a coat closet.(yes I do wear a badge of honor for living in a house less than 1000sq ft with 5 kids. I should be humble, but some days a badge makes the craziness worth it.)
My hallway, um, it's still ful of all the limbo items, but my bedroom feels tidy.

David loves pasta. He ate 3 plates of it tonight. With dirt all over his face. That's what being 4 is all about.

The kiddos played hide and seek in the yard today. And they jumped on the tramp. There's a whole lot less quarreling when they can get outside. Bring on summer.

Baby legs and Moms Day

It is mother's day. I love it. I love my mom and my mother in law and my grand mas, and all the wonderful women who have mothered me when I have lived far away from my own mom. I LOVE being a mother. Yep even when my children are naughty or grumpy or I feel overwhelmed and under qualified, Motherhood is the best.

We have a beautiful chubby baby GIRL. Laurel Kenedie McNeill. Yep, we were totally shocked. I even cried a little over not having a boy. (I'm a total planner and post preggo hormones do weird things to a momma!) but, she is the light of our lives. Her  chubby legs cry out to be squeezed and she LOVES to be held. She is now figuring out that she has feet and SHE WANTS TO EAT THEM! She was super colicky at first. We are so glad her tummy feels better. She is such a happy fun little girl.

Abby ran track with Jacob and even placed in a meet for shot put! Jacob is so athletic and growing like a weed. He's up to five foot seven! Rachel is trying her hardest to put up with David. She is playing the piano and loving it. David continues to keep us laughing.

My hubby and my son are building me a house. It's messy, it's dirty and I thought it would never happen! But it is and next weekend is the framing party! It's a good old fashion barn raising! I am anxious for space and room to spread and somewhere to put all our stuff!

Growing So Big So Fast!!!

Countdown

Less than 22 hours until our c-section. It's so funny to actually go all the way to the planned date and time. Winslow thinks baby is transverse. I wouldn't be surprised, that's how it feels anyway. He must be all scrunched up in there. It's funny to watch my belly move all crazy these last few days. Winslow has been amazing at putting up with emotionally unstable me! I've needed the house clean and everything done all the time, just in case he decided to come early. Winslow has been working hard at keeping me sane and happy, foot rubs, taking kids to the library, putting up Christmas lights, and all the last minute honey do's. He rubs my tummy and talks to the baby and asks me how I feel. Um, I feel FAT. HA ha ha ha. One day this week he came home and I was totally freaking out. The new sweats I bought for after the baby are a little tight for the moment (of course they are! I'm nine months pregnant, they'll be fine afterward, but I was freaking out anyway) and my maternity pants I have grown out of. What will I wear for the next few days? I was thinking and saying and crying. Ha ha. My loving husband took it all in stride. (keep in mind I had some other sweat pants that fit, but they were in the dryer drying, I was just freaking out in the moment. )

Saturday I took time to snuggle with David in the rocking chair and then again later on the couch. It's mostly awkward with this large belly of mine, but he and I both enjoyed the moments. My baby has grown up so much.

I'm excited to leave pregnancy discomforts behind. I'm nervous about recovery from major surgery though. It's always rough for the first week or so. Since I don't have labor to stress over I have been stressing over nursing. Why? because I just need to stress over something I guess. It all works out I know, but in the mean time I keep worrying, will it all work out, will I remember how to take care of a baby.

Drinking lots of water the last few days so I can be hydrated. Not so sure about having a scheduled c-section. THey tell you not to drink or eat after midnight and my c-section isn't until noon. With my other c-sections, I ate and drank all the way up to a few hours ahead, since none of them happened at a scheduled time. Can I cheat and just drink in the morning? Maybe not, with David's c-section I got pretty nauseous during the procedure.  Guess I better follow the rules.

So as long as baby doesn't make an early entrance this evening or tonight, we plan to go to Show Low in the morning, do a little shopping before we check in, and then HAVE A BABY!!!

The Plan is to name him Nathaniel. After the apostle Nathaneal from the New Testament. Winslow and I both loved the story of Nathaneal. We'll see after he comes out if his name fits.

Took the kids to the park a couple of days this week. The weather has been fantastic still. It was fun to watch my kids play pretend and enjoy the sunshine.

Rachel and David both have colds. Rachel has a cough and she wants to get better fast so she can touch the baby. I am so grateful I haven't caught any yuckies.

The kids are excited to have their Grandmas coming. Winslow's mom comes today and my mom will be here friday. We are SO SO SO grateful for their help!

Did I mention that last week I tried to burn the house down while we were at church. We came home to crazy smoke damage and then spent the week washing every surface of our home. All bedding, all clothes, all curtains, carpets, furniture, etc. Quite the ordeal!!!! So the house is ready, AGAIN, for baby.

Last night we got all dressed up in our jammies to go watch the annual light parade. Um...well, it must be next week. Because no one was out parked waiting for the light parade. So we drove around and looked at Christmas lights instead. The kiddos had a great time, and then we came home and made delicious hot chocolate. We are looking forward to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional Tonight. I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!
We've been enjoying Elf on the Shelf again this year. So far he has been found on the Dryer, on the Advent Calendar, On the Piano with a BARBIE!, and in each of the kid's rooms. Something tells me he is going to do something EXTRA SPECIAL tonight. 

I love Fall

This fall has been so beautiful. We have had absolutely gorgeous weather. 50's in the day and in the 20's at night. I love it. We haven't had the crazy wind so typical of our area this year. So our fall colors stuck around for a long time. My fabulous friend Nancy has taken my children to the park so many days so I could have a break.
We've enjoyed some wonderful days at the St. John's park with our Home Schooling Friends. The kids have played kickball and relay races. I have loved being able to be a part of it all and NOT on bedrest.
I had a lot of fun putting together preschool and kindergarten home school  curriculum for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I used up all my ink putting it all together! Plus putting together Christmas gifts for extended family.
I got to go see a movie with girlfriends last week and go out to dinner.
Abby and Rachel both had birthdays and we took them out for lunch. Rachel chose Arby's for her birthday meal and we made Pumpkin Shakes for desert. Abby chose a local Mexican restaurant and then had a mint chocolate chip blizzard.
I put together some freezer meals for after the baby and lots of yummy pumpkin bread for breakfasts.
I've had bursts of energy and days of complete exhaustion.
Made a cover for the baby's car seat. I was so nervous about doing this, but it worked out in the end. 
Lots of trips to the doctors, Dentist appointments for all the family. 
Jacob found a kitten in our woodpile and made it part of the family. Even Winslow thinks it's cute. And after some persuasion, our orange cat has decided it too likes the kitty.
I've been putting together Christmas so it could be all done before Baby's arrival. *and we finally have a name decided on. Halleluiah!

I tried to burn the house down by leaving a pot of beans BOILING ON HIGH while we were at church. Thankfully, I remember after sacrament meeting and not at the end of church. Raced home to find the entire house filled with smoke. Three days of cleaning everything in the house, including, but not limited to, ceilings, walls, light fixtures, light bulbs, furniture, carpets, bedding, curtains, clothes in every closet, cabinets, floors, and more, and we are finally getting most of the smell out. Every time I think we have gotten rid of the smell, we leave and come back and there it is. Hopefully people don't think we've taken up a new habit! The smoke damage was quite extensive. We have been incredibly blessed with friends who have come and spent hours helping clean, watching children, washing laundry, bringing in dinner and treats, and fixing my clothes washer when it started leaking!!! I admit there were a few times when I felt so overwhelmed by the task at hand. And Winslow was super sick through the whole ordeal and unable to really be of help (Fever, coughing, miserable Daddy, no fun!). I have been so blessed by all the helping hands.

Thanksgiving Day was eventful. The turkey wasn't all the way dethawed so lunch turned into dinner. I did make rolls and pie ahead of time. We watched the Macy's parade and football. Had a whole bunch of contractions and then nothing.... Abby and Rachel helped make the green bean casserole and the mashed potatoes. And I was so glad to have a day of relaxing!!
Today we got to go visit with my brother Matt and his wife Alyssa and their kids. Can I just say I love my siblings and their spouses. I have the best family ever!

We are in the final countdown for baby. Dec. 3rd is our c section date. We'll see if baby decides to wait that long or not. I'm planning on him waiting. But everything is all ready to go just in case he decides to make an earlier entrance. The kids are excited. David thinks the baby's name should be Alcoa. What!!! 4 year olds always have the most interesting things to name babies. Thankfully I am actually feeling less uncomfortable. I am trying hard to stay away from Winslow's cough. Coughs and c sections don't go well together. He's no longer contagious, but he sounds terrible, poor guy. Praying the family stays well.

Getting it all together, NOT!

4 weeks left until our scheduled c-section. In some ways I want this baby to wait until the scheduled date. The Biggest being that my mom can't come until then. In other ways, I hope he comes just a little early. The biggest being that I am just so darn UNCOMFORTABLE! How is it that I always forget how hard the last month is. Mentally, I just don't think I can do another minute some times. My skin is so so so itchy(love having dry skin and lovely stretch marks), my hips are so miserable, I can't breathe thru my nose (every night) and I get into my jammies as soon as possible every evening! And yet, it's worth it. Just uncomfortable. Right now I am trying to concentrate on Thanksgiving week. 2 weeks until the Monday of that week, when I will be 37 weeks. Then only 2 more weeks after that. We have been keeping busy and there is lots to do. I've been baking and stocking the freezer with breakfast and dinner items. Hoping to make things a little easier post c-section. We have a chunk of Christmas done. I still need to finish a few sewing projects this weekend. In between having Abby's friends over for her birthday. Last Saturday we had Rachel's friends over to make cupcakes. They had a good time and played an Xbox Dance game. Next weekend we are hoping to spend time with family.
I'm trying not to have an anxiety attack when I realize the things I haven't done yet. Most of them are Christmas, so really I need to relax.
I do have to say how THANKFUL I am to have stayed OFF of Bedrest this pregnancy. No drugs has been SO NICE. I tried hard to take it easy. I did have contractions on and off in the second trimester, but we were able to keep it to a minimum. I used a natural progesterone cream and that seems to have made a big difference. (This is also what I did when pregnant with Rachel...who we also had NO BEDREST with.) It has been so nice to be able to keep doing all the things that needed done on a daily basis.
I do have to say I am so tired, and despite the long to do lists I keep doing, Some days I would really like to just curl up and take a nap. No such luck. Some days I have to though. Any time I have to drive somewhere (more than a half hour) I am totally wiped out.
My two week menu is saving my life with meals though. If I didn't have it planned out, my family would totally be eating pb and j every night. 
This baby is a mover and a shaker. He likes to roll, which makes me a little queasy! We are still working on a name. We both have names we love, I am hoping we can decide on one that we BOTH like. Good thing we still have some time.