My Bullet Journal

I need simplicity. My bu is a simple journal that I find at Barnes and Noble. It cost my $5 and seemed like an inexpensive experiment. It was to be my "practice" journal which soothed my perfectionist tendencies, but it turns out I really like it. The lines are very light. And I've held my breath and drawn right over those lines for sketches and such. :D I really like that it has a strap that holds it closed.

Here are some of my additions:

 A year-at-a-glance calendar glued to the inside cover.
(never mind the highlighted areas. this is my daddy's work schedule and he sends me one of these calendars every year so I know when I can call him :) The calendar happened to be the perfect size and I kept losing it.)

On the opposing page is simply evidence to my love for all things AO. :D

 Key page

 Index

 I added 12 Month-at-a-Glance Pages to the front of mine which solved my longer range planning problem. It also helps me to look back and see some of the projects we enjoyed in the past. (Christmas books for example.)

 

My month-at-a-glance page complete with notes for making my own hummus in an extra space.

 This is my weekly spread. I don't always highlight. Sometimes it just helps me "see" better.

Interspersed throughout my journal are occasional empty spaces. These seem like the perfect spots for a doodle from a child who is having a bit of trouble being still or who just needs to share a picture. :)

Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty

I Will Try Again Tomorrow

It's been a difficult 2 weeks. Joey has been prepping the exterior of the house for painting this past week. Sander and hammer have kept the babies from sleeping well. They've been tired and cuddly and oh so sweet as long as we are together. Last week they both had a cold and stuffy noses which always makes nursing and sleeping difficult for wee ones. I've felt defeated and have reached a whole new level of tired.

Today was better. We visited with friends. The children played hard and laughed much. Women and girls helped to hold babies. Babies that are getting heavy. Yesterday they moved into size 3 diapers, meaning that they are each over 16 lbs.

We returned home today to a house half painted a lovely buttery yellow.

I am thrilled at how, quite by accident, I caught my dancing girl in this photo. She was just coming out the door admiring the sun-shiny brightness of our home.

A friend shared this encouraging quote this evening. "Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying 'I will try again tomorrow.'"

Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty

Baby Love

Summer Sun!

 

 Big Sister sharing her love of nature, green, and dangling things with her baby brothers. How she loves these babies.

 

So much excitement!

 Mason (l) and Morgan (r)

Summer Sunshine Naps

Mason (f) Morgan (b)

Chloe making a bouquet. She loves to pick and play with flowers and grasses. Arranging them into posies.

Cohen really likes the book "Blueberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey. Recently he asked if he could have a bucket like Sal and pick blueberries. It just so happened that the next day at Target we found these. We spent the day picking and bringing me "blueberries". So happy with the play. :D

Sabin jumping high! He's mastered the pogo stick. Sometimes he will even bring it on walks around the neighborhood, hopping all over the place.

Peacefully BuZzInG!

Misty

I Feel You

This week the babies hit some quiet little milestones. They are now reaching for things. The funnest part is they are reaching for each other. I love watching them. With concentrated effort, arms bouncing all over they work so hard to reach for each other. An ear, a tuft of hair, toes. Tonight I looked over at my sleeping babes to see Mason's arm over Morgan.

Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty

Exam Week for Year 1 Term 2

Twice now I've been mistaken in thinking that exam week would be a simple week of schooling around here. Currently our exams are almost completely oral: I ask an open ended question, he responds. Simple right? Instead, my dear son has gotten into his head that exam week is actually "drama week". He puts on these "plays", sometimes rather involved productions, for almost every naration.

Fitting, I suppose, that today he has enrolled the help of his younger siblings to put on the play of the "Wise Men from the East".

Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty

Advent has Begun

I do love this season. The lights. The projects. The baking. The candles. The awe in my little ones faces. The anticipation of things to come. We've been celebrating the whole month of December since Sabin was just tiny. Each year it's a little different. Last year we had a Jesse Tree and used Ann Voskamps ornaments to hang and her devotional readings. This year we are focusing on the various names of Jesus, using the ornaments here in black and white. Each child is coloring his or her own set while I read the corresponding scripture and we chat about it.

We're also continuing our annual tradition of adding to our child-friendly nativity. We use a story written by Noel Piper for this.

For the Month:
Songs - The Holly and the Ivy, Sussex Carol
Hymn - Angels From the Realms of Glory, O Come Emmanuel
Books - The Christmas Mystery along with various other Christmas picture books (one each day)
Memory Work
Poem - The Lamb
Bible Passage - Luke 2:1-20

As for our regular lessons, we're finishing up our current term this week and then, with the exception of reading lessons, our school is the above along with various activities, crafts, services, baking, all the fun stuff. :)

Peacefully BuZzInG!
Misty