Dugan Christmas Party

For the past nine years we have gone to the skating rink for the annual Dugan Productions Christmas party. The kids love it. All of the children receive a little stocking full of quarters to play the arcades. Mine, however, use every last one on the Claw. Melody is quite the professional at winning stuffed animals. That night she won five!

Everyone enjoyed the pizza and sodas, cookies and candy, and the kids had a blast skating the night away.

We feel so blessed to be part of such a family-friendly corporation. Mr. Dugan is a very generous man and we appreciate him and are thankful for Jimmy's job!

My Best Boy

Five years ago today, shortly before dawn, I was in a corner of my bedroom sitting in a pool of warm water. Jimmy was kneeling beside me with love and anxious concern in his eyes. My mother was a few feet away looking on in pride and understanding. I had a midwife nearby and the only light in the room came from the amber glow of a bedside table lamp as soft and soothing music played in the background.

I remember the seering contractions. The burning. The pushing. The feel of the wrinkles in the rubber pool beneath my fingers as I scratched and clawed at its bottom. And then, finally, the instananous relief. The unmatched ecstasy like no other experience in the world is the moment a mother is delivered and a baby is born. Five years ago today that jubilation was mine. My boy. My son. My Roman.

Happy Birthday, buddy. I love you.

Tea Party

My amazing daughters surprised me with a *tea party* two weeks ago complete with a VIP chair sign, crackers and cheese, apple juice, and hot chocolate. Two of them eve dressed up in their Sunday best and adorned themselves in my jewelry and makeup. It was a complete surprise and I was overcome with their kindness! Moment like these make motherhood feel like royalty!

"What did you do today?"

A conversation with my beloved went something like this just a few minutes ago.

 

Me: "Hey...um...when do you think you will be home tonight?"

 

J: "In around an hour or so.  How was your day?  What did you guys do?"

 

Me:  "I woke up, made two batches of homemade muffins, cleaned up, had prayer and taught a science lesson to the kids, did math, phonics, grammar, reading and spelling with Leah.  Worked with Melody on Math, spelling, reading, English, and writing.  Made lunch for the kids.  Cleaned up.  Did Math with Hali and graded her reading, spelling and English.  Rocked Teagan because she was fussy.  Read her three stories.  Vaccumed, swept, did a load of laundry.  Washed dishes.  Read to Teagan again.  Put her to sleep.  Exercised.   Took a shower, finally and then leaned up after the kids made cuneiform hieroglyphs out of clay.  I'm exhausted."

 

J: {Prolonged silence}  "I'll be home as soon as I can."

 

He's such a smart man!

 

 

 

Halloween Proof

We went to my sister's for their annual Halloween party last weekend. We always have so much fun eating frito pies and laughing as the kids go through the giant haunted house and run around like crazy monsters and goblins!

MMMM MMMM Muffins

Wanna know why I loved homeschooling today?  Because I got to sit at the table with my kids at 8:30 in the morning eating fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip muffins and sipping hot cocoa as we watched the snow flutter in the front yard.  Homeschooling or not, you should try these muffins.  My kids were raving about me all day...well, at least for five minutes of it. 

 

 

Sour Cream Chip Muffins

(coutesy of my Taste of Home cookbook)

 

1 1/2 cups flour

2/3 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup sour cream

5 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup chocolate chips

 

1.  In large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, b. soda and salt.  Combine the egg, sour cream, butter and vanilla in separate bowl.  Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.  (Yes, it will be thick.)

 

2.  Fill greased muffin tins or lined muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean  Brace yourself for deliciousness and lots of compliments. 

 

 

 

Mama Nutisms of the Day (so far)

{Spewing water from my mouth onto the dining room floor}  "ACK! WHO PUT JUNK IN MOMMY'S WATER?  ROMAN!!!!"

 

"No, Roman!  You can NOT make a snowman in the house.  Take the snow back outside!"

 

"Kids, let's play a game.  Just pretend Mommy does not exist right now, okay?"

 

"How did Teagan get the bubble bath?  There is a ginormous lake of pink goo in the hallway!"

 

"Teagan!  What is in your mouth?"  Pop.  She spits out a blue marble.  Pop!  She spits out a purple marble. Pop!  She spits out a pink marble.  "Teagan, we do not eat marbles in this house!"  {Muttering under my breath, "We just lose them!"}

 

I assigned Hali the task of teaching Roman his ABC sounds and two-letter blends.  So, when it was time for his lesson I called out, "ROMAN!  It's tutor time!"  Apparently he interpreted that as me having called out, "ROMAN!  It's tooter time!"  And I got nothing but laughter from my boy for five straight minutes. Hali-- rolling her eyeballs-- replied, "Can't we just call it teaching time from now on?"  

 

Mama Nutisms

While I get up every morning feeling happy to have my children all home with me and excited to start a new day of teaching and learning together, I have to admit that some days can get pretty hectic.

 

This morning I was trying to teach Hali multiplication while entertaining Teagan on my lap and intermittently giving Melody advice on her writing assignment.  Roman and Leah were scootering in the dining room while chasing eachother in and out of bedrooms all the while Leah was screaming and slamming doors.  I did what any Mama Nut would do.

 

"LEAH!!!!"  I (not so) calmly said as I opened the recently slammed door she was hiding behind.  I had caught her attention and really wasn't sure what to say next.  So, I just tried the honest route.  "Do you want mommy to go away to a place for crazy people?"

 

She returned my grumpy look with one of surprise and--was it fear?  "No."  She simply responded.

 

"Okay, then.  Please stop screaming."

 

She nodded her head and I closed the door behind me as I left her in the bedroom.  I didn't hear any more screaming all morning. 

Trish