Slow and steady

It is slow and we are trying to keep it steady - Benjamin's reading lessons that is. He needs the steady more than anything for him to make progress. I think he is getting close to having things click for him. I am trying to keep it simple and keep going over everything we have done together patiently and in small amounts each time. The hardest part has been keeping this regular. I am easily distracted by a need to keep everything else steady. So my strategy is to progress through each day in the same way I might proceed to get out of debt. I pay who I owe the highest interest to first and the most. In this case I owe Benjamin the most, Erik probably the second most where it concerns writing and test taking, and then Cecilia and Martin with their math. It has taken till the last week or so to get some consistency in our routine and the kids are picking up the pace now. Patience. Slow and Steady. Anything can be accomplished 15 (or a bit more) minutes at a time. I do believe we hit every day this week with consistency. Almost November......I guess it could be worse.

Wood God

Thus begins another season of worshiping the Wood God. The wood stove is being uncovered from being a clutter catcher right now. Of course my resolution to not use it for a horizontal surface was given up a long time ago. It is supposed to be 28 tonight. Brrrrr....... We just found our fall/spring jackets and now we have to hunt down the winter ones.

This morning we moved our hoards of squash and pumpkins to the root cellar and basement and some of it was delivered. We should be eating some this evening but we also had salsa to finish and a disaster kitchen to clean and as many potatoes as we could dig to dig. Believe it or not the kids got some worthwhile school work done in between all of this.

I have been reading Mrs. Piggle Wiggle to the kids and they are loving that. It will have some effect on them for a little while. I am pleased that reading out loud is happening. I still have not accomplished working on any book for myself. I am still pleased with the slow and steady wins the race philosophy around here. It is working.......slowly but steadily.......so ends another school day.

Chasing it

I have been making some attempts to help my dears figure out how to chase their education. That is what I say to the oldest two here, "Chase it". We start each day with our stomachs of course and then some panic kitchen clean-up, followed by catechesis and hoping no one has a break down in the middle of it. The next stop is reading out loud to them for awhile, followed by mandatory math for everyone. With math I set a timer and they have to complete it in that time or will be sent to bed early as there is no reason math should take all day. We try to keep track of how long math took each day so they stay on track. Because of limited time, we have been skipping the reading out loud part this last week, but I really don't want to skip it. If the day is good, everyone proceeds to grammar, their own reading, and some Science. Fitting Benjamin into all this is tricky as I seem to lose him or the rest of them with an interruption like paying attention to just one kid!!!! So my goal is to snag that kid over breakfast or reel him in at bedtime.

Consequences for not chasing it are an early bed time and absolutely NO internet. The internet is only allowed after the sweet darlings come to Charley or I and convince us it is okay for them to get on it. So.......they have to chase it if they want it. I have found this is working pretty effectively for the oldest ones. Now the trick will be remembering this is the rule. They know how to play me. If I can get three of these days in for sure then I know it has been a good week. It doesn't always happen. I am holding to that wonderful advice I heard years ago of lowering my expectations and then I won't be so dissatisfied and frustrated with them. It is nice to see they are making any progress at all. I think they are also seeing the benefits of chasing it too. They are seeing the error of neglect too. Sigh. Plug along and don't think too hard about it and we will be happier! I won't push them out the door into the passing bus this way either. I find it humorous that homeschooled kids have a fascination with school buses. If only they really knew what creeps into their parent's thoughts.

Comedy with their mom

I have been trying to teach Benjamin the basics, such as the days of the week and the months of the year. I have NOT had circle time with the little people with little sun and rain stickers etc. All the kids have listened to this CD which has a cute little song about the days of the weeks and the months of the years. Well, this morning Benjamin could still not say these correctly so I started singing those cute little songs and my dear older children all broke into song with me. It sort of reminded me of the Alleluia Chorus as they were amazingly loud. They don't miss a beat in their inheritance of weirdness from their mother. Benjamin enjoyed it too. So now I am thinking they will be joining in on this just like the hymn of the week if they are in ear shot. I am glad they know their days and months. I'm glad too that they are fun loving and have a nice sense of humor.

Irony of saving money

My favorite money saving book is 'More with Less'. It is a cookbook. I am not sure I would define myself the same way as this book but it did teach me a thing or two. I guess I have been a "everything in moderation" sort of person. Well, I do find it amusing that the month I get rid of all our debt, we become somewhat financially challenged. It seems as hard as I try to cut back, the more things break. Keep laughing Karin. I can not say I am driven to save money in a crazy way but I have been very free to spend money on things we didn't really need in the past. The feeling of entitlement seems to easily grow on a person. Getting rid of bunches of stuff helped me see we don't really need to get MORE stuff to take care of.

My greatest weakness is currently books. Books can get me in trouble that is for sure. Between medical stuff, food, gas, trying to save for future vehicles, and a few miscellaneous things which kids need like shoes for organ lessons, shoes for growing feet and a few birthday gifts we seem to burn through quite a bit. Sometimes it seems even those things are out of line as we have greatly reduced our spending and still seem to not get much further ahead. Our septic system, as I have mentioned, finally will get fixed tomorrow, our stove is still broken, and a few more feet need shoes. More money...........I hate money.

With all the predictable expenses I am trying to be more responsible with treats like grabbing sandwiches while out with a kid on errands, sugary cereals (ouch to the pocket)(never thought I would see the day when I actually looked forward to my oatmeal!) and even the occasional chocolate craving. OF course part of all this is motivated from the mystery of Charley's job in the future and having a buffer. I am staring at the fridge and groceries and trying to use what is most likely to go bad first, use the veges from the garden and researching all sorts of yummies online, and eating meat from the freezer which we already have. Pretty crazy eh? Charley of course is FINE with this. We can still eat like kings with a little creativity. I will attempt to not make myself nuts with obsessing. Anna did talk me out of picking up a sandwich this afternoon when I finally got Erik out to get his new glasses ten months after his appointment. It all adds up doesn't it Anna dear.

Oh, I might get criticized for this post but oh well. We are still trying to have fun with this. I ask who is going to murder a pumpkin today so we can make pumpkin this and that and turn orange. I see the benefit to just staying home and snuggling with my kids and learning stuff together. This is probably getting boring but I have no doubt I will continue to chase after this thing for awhile anyway till it is much more of a habit and not so much of an impulse. I will have to post the hilarious article I read called something like "15 different situations you should NOT use your credit card". It was on Yahoo or some such place. I can't remember the exact title but it was pretty enlightening.

Just one last word of encouragement......I still love ice cream and I don't make it from scratch........can I kick that habit????? And...yes, yes, I know none of this craziness will 'save me' but keeping my head on straight can't hurt too much either.

Organizing

Between hungry babies and screaming toddlers, I think I finally have all my plans in order to keep sailing smoothly through the school year. Progress. Deep sigh. I am hoping to keep on track or at least keep crossing things off so that my small people get some more attention. Right now I am dashing out the door to finally purchase new glasses for Erik who should have gotten these four months ago but life keeps happening! Then a quick trip to purchase milk, butter, and eggs and back to the trenches.

Screaming two year old equals headache..........

I might write a book

Way back when I had perhaps four kids I looked for books on advice on raising a 'large' family. There really aren't any. I did find one book called something like, "What I wish I knew sooner". It was written by a mother of ten or so kids and it was hilarious, sobering, etc. I liked it. I could probably put my hands on it if I got up off the couch to do so.

I might write a book by interviewing all my fantabulous Lutheran friends with large families and compiling the truths we have learned. I think about this book writing when I peruse other blogs and see people pondering doing things I have done and wish I hadn't, I want to scream a warning or at least tell them my experience. Perhaps people don't really want help though. There are many romantic ideas of raising lots of kids and having animals too. Sigh. I have a lot to say about that. I can think of the chapters:

Dreaming of having a large family
Having three kids and being asked how you handle all those kids
Giving up on cloth diapers
Doing everything by scratch to 'save' money
Thinking raising animals would be a 'neat' idea
Organizing our stuff (??????)
Cutting costs
Cutting costs again
Revisiting cutting costs
Taking up a second pew at church
Cathechizing our kids
The day I sent the FlyLady a letter bomb
When things go wrong
Flying the nest
Kids and 'relationships'
Kids getting married
Figuring out that your kids can only invite family to their wedding as there won't be room in the church.
Grandkids while having your own children
Family shrinking
Empty nest????
Smiling at families with lots of kids
The funeral

Those might be a few of the topics. Would anyone want to read it? I probably offend people at times on blog responses as I have been there and done that so I rarely remark. There is also the, every family has their own take on things, but that is why I would interview people to get more input of their experiences. I am sure I would have fun commiserating with other moms and dads at a bare minimum. Why doesn't this book get written? Because we don't have time to write it!!! I can dream.

Trying not to be overwhelmed or whine

It is just another week filled with unexpected stuff. Two of my kids were hired to help our vegetable farmer friend and perhaps I should have said no. I am short handed at home and am struggling to get dinner on the table. Why am I typing. I am feeding the little person who is keeping me on my toes as well. Two kids are fighting and chasing each other around the house. I do NOT begrudge Evan his need to eat but seeing things which need to be done everywhere does stress me out a bit. So I am whining. The other end of the stick is to just greet every new challenge as it comes and NOT feel overwhelmed. I do know that once Evan is more independent I will be able to tackle more things with a vengeance. The laundry and dishes seem constantly out of control no matter what that FlyLady person says. My dearest husband had a sudden urge to pour cement.........no other comment on that one. Sigh. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Lots of things seem different this year and one of those things is trying to do a more thorough job with the kids on their schooling. We are home most of the time and have limited trips out of the house but even that has been challenged by doctors appointments etc. Things just seem different. Struggle, struggle. I need to spend A LOT more time with Benjamin and his reading and math. I need to help Erik...........as I can.....and then I was looking forward to reading a lot more with the kids and that came to a screeching halt last week. I do sense that EVERYONE seems to be crazy busy. I hear people talking about life calming down. REALLY? I just can't see that happening any time soon.

Yes, I am whining. I need a few more of mes or patience to wait a month or two for Evan to become more content longer. I am also trying not to worry about the weight gain thing with Evan and remembering I better look into that baby cereal soon enough. I guess I will worry about that once I cross a few other bridges.

A song for everything.......

"Oh, we sing this song about the sewer. About the sewer, we sing this song. Together we stand, with shovel in hand, to keep things moving along." Having worked at a summer camp, the wealth of stupid songs keep us all slap happy I guess. The septic system is still screwed up and the septic dudes have not shown up to help us out. Sadly, the system is not designed for this many people. Still singing that song............

In other news, the kids found Anna's missing boot in the van while I bought milk at Aldi's after church today. It has been missing for almost two months and kids have trampled on it and spilled on it without taking any notice. How can you NOT notice a boot under your feet??????? The pains large families suffer from the soup otherwise know as the van. My nursing sling was also on the back bench floor being trampled. ?????? I just do NOT understand. I will try not to think to hard about this strangeness and just accept it as our plight in life. I'm not sure I can call that my cross to bear...........oh well. I can not even imagine driving my little dream car - a green, convertible, little European car thingie. Sounds good. Two passenger.......me and a grandkid, when the time comes, zooming around town.

Found a rotten potato on the kitchen floor next to a container which has been sitting there for months. How does this happen? Probably happens the same way Anna's boot could be left undetected for months on the van floor. Same problem.

I have decided that since there certainly isn't enough time or me to chase after all of this stuff with the Evan in arms, that I am basically geering bedtime on each child's willingness to help pick up after themselves and others. If they stand still, staring straight ahead, after being told the same instruction several times, then a seven o'clock bed time is in order to help their brains along the road to recovery or increase their awareness of what is going on around them. Sharpening of their brains might help some around here, plus if they can't do the work then, it will free me up to do some of it myself when I am not taking care of them til too late in the evening. Evan can just come with me.

That is all...........for now.

Godchildren

I was blessed to spend the afternoon with my Goddaughter who is now 21 and fairly newly married. As she said, we should get together more often. We had great conversation and she had lots of questions about life choices etc. When she arrived to meet me, she had "The Well Trained Mind" in hand and peppered me with questions about homeschooling. They are not even expecting at this point but she is enthusiastic to investigate these things now. It was a great talk. I am glad I am able to help her and humbled she comes to me for advice. I wish the rest of my Godchildren lived this close but perhaps, as they get older, I can figure out ways to talk more with them. If I am remembering correctly, myother two Godchildren are 6 years old at the moment. I am also pleased that my 21 year old Godchild and her husband have settled into an LCMS church even if it is not my own. No joke - pray for your Godchildren as duh, God answers prayer. I think more and more about that as my own children get older and are closer to being completely on their own. I am thankful that even when I forget to pray, Jesus has that covered too. Sigh. Praying about a lot of things. Now I need to remember how many different things I said I would send her as far as information goes. I should have made a list.