Dads holding the space

Our family is a little untraditional. Besides being blended of yours, mine and ours, Randy is the one to stay home with the kids. for a while I honestly felt some resentment that he spent so much time at home with them but so little involvement seemed to occur.

"Well what did the kids do for homework today?"




"I don't know...."




"Did you take the kids out as I left the passes for the museums, zoos etc."




"No..."




"Oh my gosh it is soooo freaking beautiful outside. You should soak it up like we used to and take the kids to the forest or the park"




"eh, I'll think about it..."






AHHHH... You feel my frustration right? I live in a cubicle and felt like I missed so much of my kids lives by working and Randy seemed to just let it pass by. Since our blowup he has noticed that he needs to be involved, hold the space and be present. He used to complain that the kids ran amok often and drove him nuts by nonstop screaming and fighting. Homework was never finished and dinner was barely done by 7 pm.




Since deciding to take the plunge, I can say for the last several weeks that homework has been done consistently by 1 pm and dinner by 5-5:30. The kids now have a designated time for cleaning, helping each other and my house looks considerably better. They say it takes 4-6 weeks for a habit to start and I can say we have a much better rhythm and flow to our home. Randy has even surprised me:
"I hate now when I don't have homework and lunch done by 1. I feel its spinning out of control."


Music to my ears.


I am unsure of how long this will last but am grateful for the drive that my husband has given to help our homeschool.

Easter Monday?

So... I'm a bit late on the holiday posting but I'm ok with saying happy Easter Monday!

I have had the last week off due to some medical issues. Between some extreme fatigue and pain I have lived more in bed and at the doctor's office than I had my entire 3 pregnancies combined. This has really put me back unfortunately and discouraged me as I feel I am at a disservice to my family at the moment. Luckily Randy has stepped up and been great and supportive. Koda has upped her game as well as well as working more hours which I am so grateful for. I was unable to do some of our regular Easter activities like Resurrection rolls and dying eggs. I had to take a step back and pick between keeping calm, sane and pleasant vs doing the activities. Colored eggs don't have to be just for Easter and we can celebrate Jesus' resurrection every day. I had to promise myself it would be ok as it will. It will always be ok as my children care about my attitude for activities more than the activities themselves.

 Here are a few photos from our holiday weekend.

Nanners bunny she drew/copied from her chocolate rabbit. I was quite impressed as she is only 5. 

 

This was my first ever holiday ham decked out in extra cherries that I made cooking from my barstool in the kitchen.

 

My 2 boys behaved so well at church last night in the nursery with me even when I was not feeling well. I appreciate every time they try to make my life a little bit easier.

Breast is best

PSA don't ever ask a breastfeeding mother to cover up or even mention nursing in a bathroom.  It is illegal in most states and completely unneeded. That is all

Its been awhile

Cue the sappy Stained song.... Actually I like that song a lot. There has been several changes through the last few months and I realized how little I have been posting. This use to be an online journal for me and a reminder to take lots and lots of photos to remember everything. I have been taking less photos since Koda is now pursuing a photography major as she does all the work for me. Here are some of the big things I need to update on.

I had our new baby in early October. He goes by Giddy and for the most part is a very pleasant baby.

 

 

Koda is inches close to graduating and we are starting to plan graduation parties and picking out diplomas. She does not have a college picked out for the time being and is flip flopping her college path of doing criminal justice or photography first as she needs both to do forensic photography. Yes, she wants to take photos of dead people and crime scenes and this confirms she is her father's child.

Nanners is almost graduated from her Cubbies class for Awana and has started a new dance program. She really enjoys her new teacher and luckily since it’s through our local park district that I work at I can be involved and spend more time backstage with my little dancer.  

 

 

RyRy has FINALLY started talking. There was some major concern of a language delay with him as only spoke 20 words, most of them being made up. Then one day, BAM. His vocabulary just exploded and he talks about how cool and happy he is about things. He adores being a big brother and is always insisting on helping with "baby".

 

Homeschool wise I have chosen to take a different approach for the littles as Nanners is approaching school age. As much as she begs to read and many peers are reading it is obvious that it isn't clicking yet. I have done some more research and talking it over with Randy and have decided to take more of a European approach of waiting until 7 to push any real "schoolwork" and we are adding more of a Waldorf approach to their preschool time. There will be an entire entry about that change when I get a chance to write it.

 

Although it’s been summed up in a few paragraphs its been some exciting changes and I can't wait to share more of our adventures with you.

 

Out of the mouth of babes

" Mama, can you do my hair today?" came from a little voice over the weekend.

" Well depends on what you are wanting. I can try" ( she has been known to ask for ornate crazy things for hair that is super long and impossible with her little bob)

" Mama, I want you to do my hair like black people"

............. * kids and husband chuckling in the background*

" Well what do you mean honey?"

" Like a little BLACK GIRL MAMA!" as she hands me her hands overflowing with colorful barrettes and half of them stuck in her hair as is. 


After over a half hour searching Mr. Google. we finally figured out together that she really only wanted rainbow beads and or hair clips in her hair. It is amazing to me how children do not think negatively about other races and embraces it and wants to share a similarity, like rainbow hair. It was a very proud mama moment for me as our families come from some prejudice backgrounds and to have my daughter want to look like that encourages me that I'm doing something right with her. So sure enough we are going to have "black people hair". 



After 3 attempts we only were able to get her hair braided but she seems quite happy with the results.