The face of another double ear infection...

We took Sugar to her pediatrician again yesterday.  She's been miserable...and it's no wonder!  She has another double ear infection.  Poor babe!!  With this 3rd ear infection within a matter of two months, we are being referred to an Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor.  It's a little ironic considering our recent appointment earlier in the week with a speech therapist and occ therapist (regarding her thrusting tongue).  The doctors earlier in the week thought it might be a good idea to follow up with an ENT if we start to see any additional concerns with Sugar's mouth via feeding or when communicating.  Apparently allergies (which we have been questioning all along) and other types of throat issues can cause a tongue to thrust. 

We are anxious for the ENT appointment because we are hoping to get some answers to help Miss Sugar with all of her quirky medical needs.  Her eczema continues to flare up and her ears are continuously getting infected.  We are so fortunate though.  In the grand scheme of things, these minor medical concerns are just that.  They're minor.  They can be resolved.  Things could be so much worse.

Stay tuned until we have more updates regarding the ENT appointment...

Homeschooling Myths Debunked

It's been almost 3 months since we began our homeschooling journey.  Up until this point, we have been trying to identify what type of curriculum and approach is going to work best for PQ's learning style.  At the beginning of our journey, we used the curriculum materials that were given to us (which were the same materials that SCS was using while PQ was there).  At first the transition was fairly simple.  The curriculum materials were familiar to PQ and this allowed me to establish a routine that we could follow each day.  As the first few weeks passed, I couldn't help but feel stuck.  I couldn't put my finger on it.  I just knew that I didn't like how the school days were feeling. 

I began sharing my feelings and frustrations about the curriculum with some friends who have many more years of experience in homeschooling than I do.  They all chuckled when I began my stories of frustration over the materials.  (Apparently, I'm not the only one who doesn't love the particular curriculum that we were using...I'm always the last to know...hahaha...just kidding...it's a journey...we all have to figure out what will work and what won't.)  It's not that the material was bad, it was just plain BORING.  I want our homeschooling journey to be enjoyable.  For our entire family.  And unfortunately, the original curriculum just was not enjoyable.  Papa H and I felt like we were a worksheet factory and that is not the approach that we want to take with our children.

Mama Sunshine was such a sweet friend when she recommended using the Five In A Row program with PQ for the remainder of the year.  With only a few months left of school, I didn't want to buy a brand new 3rd grade curriculum when PQ will be transitioning to 4th grade within a matter of a few months.  Mama Sunshine offered up her Five In A Row teachers guide for us to try for the remainder of the year.  The Five In A Row program takes on a literature approach and it allows us to incorporate a variety of other subjects as we learn more about a particular piece of literature.  After choosing a book for a particular week, we dive deeper into science, social studies, math, health, art, music, and other subjects as they relate to the particular book that we are reading.  The program is very hands on.  It's extremely comprehensive.  And it's EXACTLY what we needed!

Below is a small glimpse of some of the work that PQ has been doing.  We have explored more things in the past few months than PQ had completed in the majority of his schooling up until this point.  Before homeschooling PQ, I had some preconceived notions about what home-school is...and what it's not.  I have to admit that I was wrong about a lot of my ideas.  Using some of the pictures from our first few weeks using the Five In A Row program, I thought I would debunk some of the typical myths about homeschooling.  For my own sake, it helps me to see how far I'VE come in this journey.

MYTH: Most kids are home-schooled because they got kicked out of school.

TRUTH: Making assumptions is wrong.  Some families may indeed need to home-school their children for this reason.  But the majority of families who choose to homeschool are not being forced to do it.  Most families WANT to do this.  For our family, we chose to home-school PQ for several reasons.  Our main reason for homeschooling PQ was to play a more active role in what he learns.  Teaching him through a Biblical worldview is our priority and we do not see how this can be reinforced any other way.

MYTH: Home-schoolers hang out at home all day.

TRUTH: While we do enjoy the comforts of our own home (and yes, we sometimes school in our pajama's), we are extremely busy with school work.  It's not a "Get Out Of Jail Free" pass. 

MYTH: Home-schoolers aren't socialized.

TRUTH:  The classroom is not the only place where kids socialize.  They socialize through playdates and extra-curricular activities...just like other kids!

MYTH: Home-schoolers are sheltered.

TRUTH: Home-schooling is not sheltering.  It's quite the opposite.  Home-schooling allows a child the opportunity to go out into our world and explore.  Everything.  The opportunitites do not cease.  The possibilities are unending. 

MYTH: Not many home-schoolers have science labs like the one's at High School.

TRUTH: If you're involved in a co-op or a home-schooling group, chances are that some other home-schooling family has the equipment that you need.  Plus, many science experiments can be done with simple household items.  

And who said science labs had to start in High School, anyways?!?

MYTH: Home-schoolers are painfully shy.

TRUTH:  Some kids are shy.  Some kids are outgoing.  It's all about personalities!

MYTH: Homeschooling is BORING.

TRUTH:  In my own opinion, homeschooling is exactly what you make it.  One of the greatest advantages to homeschooling is that field trips can happen any time of the day, week, or year.  And they can happen as often as we like.  The opportunities to engage in experiential learning opportunities are endless!

MYTH:  Home-schooling families are all alike.

TRUTH:  Nope.  Sorry.  It's not true.  We all come in different shapes and sizes.  And we all have our own unique approach. 

MYTH: Traditional school settings are where students learn the best.

TRUTH: The world is our classroom!  And the more exposure that students have with it, the more they will learn!

The question is: What shall we explore today?!?

Praying for Mama Grace & Mama Esonja

Won't you please join me?

PQ- 3.5 years earlier

Children grow faster than our hearts can handle...(my little man was only 5 years old when this picture was taken)....and his smile will forever make my heart skip a beat.  

I love you, PQ!

Raising Readers Who Giggle

A huge THANK YOU to PQ for stepping up and reading to his baby sister today.  Sugar absolutely ADORES anything that has to do with PQ.  Hearing him read to her was simply precious.  She's definitely a wild woman...she loves to giggle when PQ is around.  Even if that's in the middle of a Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme!  It never fails...PQ always makes her smile (even when he's not trying)!  She LOVES her big brother.  She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES him!

Praying at my favorite spot...

Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to sit quietly on the rocks overlooking the ocean.  I'm not a 'beach girl' who enjoys being at the ocean during the summer months.  I'm just not that girl.  I am, however, the type of girl who loves to sit at the beach during the off season and just reflect on life.  When I sit at the beach listening to the waters and overlooking the large seascape views, I find myself feeling extremely humbled.  That's when I  realize how small I am.  That's when I realize how powerful our Creator is.  That's when I realize that any situation can be brought to His feet and placed their for guidance and reassurance.

I was reminded of something earlier this week while I was at the beach.  I was reminded that in our life, we often feel the storms of this life come crashing down on us.  I was reminded that sometimes we can see the storms building in the distance as we wait for them to unfold before our very eyes.  I was reminded that the storms in this life may come crashing down but in the end, the wave crashes and a sense of peace prevails. 

I'm not saying that our struggles in this life are easy to dismiss.  Not at all.  But what I am saying is that the struggles in our lives are similar to the waves crashing at the beach.  They are rugged in strength as they approach and as they unfold.  But when we lean on God, He will provide the peace and relief from any calamity that we might be going through.  There is no situation or problem that is too big for God.  No matter where we are in life...no matter what struggles we are faced with...God has us in the palm of His hand every step of the way.

I left the beach feeling encouraged and empowered.  The things that we go through in this life are things that are ultimately going to draw us closer to God, if we let them.  1 Peter 5:7 tell us to "cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you".  Earlier this week, I needed to be reminded of His desire to walk with me through this life.  Do you need to be reminded of His love for you?  Do you know how much you are loved by Him?  Do you know that He is waiting to guide you through whatever it is that you are faced with?  Why go through life alone? 

Thank you, Mimi...XOXOXO

A Happy Freezer!

This past Saturday was another fun-filled day of making freezer meals.  Y'all know how much I love getting together with a bunch of girlfriends and making food to fill our freezers, right?  It really warms my heart to look in my freezer and know how it all came together.  For your viewing convenience, I have labelled each freezer meal for you to enjoy.  (Thanks again to all of the ladies who participated!)

A= 6 Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls ready to be baked (courtesy of Country Mouse)

B= Homemade Meatballs (courtesy of Mama Sunshine)

C= Homemade Sloppy Joe's (courtesy of Hong Kong)

D= Homemade Pizza Sauce (leftover from the pizzas that I made)

E= White Vegetable Lasagna (courtesy of Country Mouse)

F= Cheese Calzone (using leftover dough, sauce, and cheese from the pizzas that I made)

G= Vegetable Pizza (courtesy of me...*wink*)

H= Spaghetti Pie (courtesy of Glory)

I= Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce (courtesy of Auntie Bets)

J (almost snuck past me when I was labelling everything)= Chicken Divine (courtesy of Gigi)

*A big shout out to Fletch for coming out and seeing how it all works.  We hope you will join us next time!*

Mother Daughter Time

 Papa H and PQ went out of town last night for a Father Son Retreat.  They opted to carpool with Mr. Twirly (until I come up with a new name for him, this will be his screen name), Scholastic, and Duck Egg to the retreat.  As soon as we realized that our boys would be going away for the same weekend, Twirly and I made plans to have a Girls Night with our daughters.  Mama Sunshine and Izzy Sunshine (although she didn't know it) jumped at the idea as well.

On Thursday night, we finalized our plans for Friday night.  We decided to get dressed up and take the girls to a local restuarant.  Get ready for it...I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking that the girls wanted to go to some posh tea house, right?  Well, you're wrong.  The Texas Roadhouse was the pick for the night.  (And as Sugar and I were walking into the restaurant with the Sunshine girls, I realized that our first Mother Daughter outing was at a place that holds the state name where Sugar was born.  Aaaaawww....how fun!)

Before we left for our first Mother Daughter Night!

Introducing the Beautiful, Sparkling, Little Girls!

(Sugar, Chuckles, Izzy Sunshine, and Swiper)

Oh boy...this is how Swiper got her nickname!

Everyone loves a bright light, right??!!?? 

Texas...born not raised.

Just because she was born in Texas doesn't mean that she's destined for a ranch.

My girl was not impressed by our saddle efforts! 

Sweet, sweet girls...

(Papa Sunshine- I hope for your sake that Izzy Sunshine grows a mustache at some point soon...*wink*...WHOA...look at this picture!  She's a gorgeous little girl.  It's just a matter of time before the boys come knockin' at the door looking for Izzy!) 

Who said you had to be dainty at Girl's Night??!!??

(The funniest part for me was finding rib sauce on Sugar's dress and tights...hahaha...Swiper was at it again!  The evidence was there to prove it!)

Don't be fooled...these two love to snuggle up with Sugar as well.

(The only difference is that I didn't find any of their dinner on Sugar's stuff...hahaha!!) 

This one is for Grampa H!

Perhaps she will want to go hunting as well...???...

*wink*

Little Girls are certainly God's blessing!

Thanks again, Girls...We had a great time!

The Results Are In...Steamed Broccoli

Our family loves food.  It's that simple.  Even at the age of 6 months old, Sugar really enjoys food.  Up until today, her favorite food seemed to be sweet peas.  As much as I want to gag at the mere thought of sweet peas, my baby girl adores them!  For dinner this evening, Sugar had sweet potatoes (which she really enjoys) and for the first time in her life, she had steamed broccoli. 

Drumroll please...

This could get interesting...

Let's try another bite... 

She's still not sure about the broccoli...

Interesting texture...

SHE LIKES IT!!! 

Who would have ever thought!  She genuinely LOVED the broccoli.  She managed to keep it all down (without gagging or spitting up)!  Wahooo!  She's a rock star!