An Interesting Easter

So Easter...that was interesting.  I had been feeling...under the weather, for about it week.  But between the move, homeschool, and all the other adults being busy with the taco truck, I just kept trying to push through.  Each morning, I would wake up expecting to feel like me again, and when it didn't happen, I would just take my Tylenol and start the day.  Isn't that what we moms do?

The long and short of it is that most of what I had planned didn't happen.  There was no rice crispy treat eggs, I didn't do any handprint/footprint bunnies, and I can't even tell you what we ate for Easter brunch or dinner.  But we did color eggs, the Easter bunny did come, we had our very own Easter egg hunt in the front yard, and two weeks later I was finally diagnosed with pneumonia.

But maybe it was good for me.  Maybe I needed to be reminded that while all the extra stuff is fun, it isn't what Easter is about.  Easter is a celebration of the most important day...ever.  It is the day our Lord over came death and sin for us...for me...for them.

Getting creative with the Creation

Let me preface this post with the confession that I do not do nearly enough art time in our homeschool. It is one of the things I want to be better at including.  However, I feel like is impossible to study the marvelous creation without becoming inspired to get creative too.
I gave the boys the option of painting one of the "days" of the creation and they both picked day six because as Jake explained, "Everything, both plants and animals were there."
All three kids worked so hard, and were so excited to see the craft supplies that have been been held hostage since before we moved.  Jake had a few minutes of frustration when he felt like the proportions of his bird were not quite right, but we were able to work though it (I just can't figure out where that perfectionism comes from...).  I enjoyed watching James' attention to detail as he carefully painted individual leaves on the tree branches.  I also loved how much fun Scarlett had being one of the "big kids."  She was very involved in picking what color she wanted next and only tried to eat her paintbrush once or twice.
We were all very excited to show our work to Daddy at before bedtime.  Did I mention that I painted too?
But as beautiful as my water color tree is, it is these three little (rapidly growing) creations that i am most proud of and grateful for.
"Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy." 2 Nephi 2:25
 This is my joy.

Time is moving and so is she!

It is just over a week until the mover come to pack up our things and drive them across town to our new house.  And while I don't feel very nostalgic over leaving this home, I did have a minute yesterday where I looked over at Scarlett and thought, "Her whole life has been in this home."  It caused me to take a pause from what I was doing and really just "see" her, and soak in the tiny little person she has grown into over the last 14 months.

I hesitated to pick up my camera as I looked around the living room.  Did I really want to document this mid-moving chaos?  But as I watched her, I couldn't help but realize how perfectly this moment represented her, and then of course, I couldn't help myself.

Notice the messy little pony at the top of her head?  This morning she asked for a "bow."  She sat very still as I brushed her very soft (very slippery) hair together, and didn't move until the rubber band was securely in place.  But somewhere in the 30 seconds between her crawling of my lap and me coming back from grabbing something from upstairs, most of the pony tail had escaped.

As for her lack of pants, well, that could be explained by her obsession with the dog's water bowl.  But yesterday was the first time she didn't try to eat Coal's food too, so I call that a win!

She loves books but unless you are looking at what is in her hands, it is difficult to tell whether she wants you to read her a book or play ball.  Her two favorite things still sound very much a like.

Speaking of balls, for months anything round was a ball, but over the last few weeks, Scarlett now calls anything round and edible an "app-le."

She speaks in intense and animated sentences, unfortunately (for both of us), I can only decipher about 20% of what she is saying.  But I am noticing that with each passing week, her words are becoming more and more clear.  Her "big" words include: ow-side, die-sore, tain (train), nie (nice), baby.  She is also an excellent mimic, and will echo almost every "OW!" "Ew!" and "No!" her big brothers yell.

I am usually "Mommy" but when Scarlett gets dramatic (which is about 100 times a day) I suddenly become "Ma-mmy!!"  I have no idea why, but we all think it is funny it has quickly caught on.  Arthur has been especially quick to join her.

Unfortunately, very little Spanish is spoken in our home.  I heard once that it is the maternal language that gets passed down...so sorry kids, English it is.  However, we do have a Spanish term here or there that has slipped into the daily family dialog.  A common one is "mimi" as in sleep.  So when we ask a child if they "want to go mimi?" we are asking if they are ready for a nap or want to go to bed (which, if you know my children you know, they rarely want to do...ever).  But instead of associating mimi with sleep, Scarlett thinks that "mimi" means snuggle time with mommy.  She gets so excited!  She will give several giant nods and start to giggle in anticipation.  I love that she loves me so much!  It is the best feeling the world.

Growing like a week and getting smarter everyday, this is our girl!  

Saucer Runs

Winter can officially end, the Orr boys, plus one very eager little sister, have had their snow day...well, week really.  These pictures are actually from day two for the boys, but I don't think they lacked any excitement they had on the first day.  

Scarlett joined in about half way through, and she loved everything about it!  Arthur couldn't even sit down in the saucer before she was trying to climb in his lap for another turn.  I couldn't really predict what her reaction was going to be when Arthur sat her down for her first "run" but when she all smiles and high fives at the bottom it was pretty clear how she felt.  

Everyone had a blast and I am happy to report that we made it through another snow week injury free, unless of course you count Jake's very cold  fingers (the result of a missing snow glove that I am 100% sure he wore to play football...).

Math in the Morning

I have long since lost track what is "normal" or what my children "should" know at a particular age.  I guess a couple years of homeschool will do that to you, and honestly I am grateful...it is quite liberating!  

That being said, I am sure proud of this boy.  He has really excelled at math this year, and is showing real interest and understanding.  Most mornings I let him decide whether he wants to do his Math (he just turned 4 after all), and almost every morning he is happily grabbing his Saxon math book right along side his big brother.

Maybe this is what homeschool "peer pressure" looks like, or maybe it is what happens when you know that your partner in crime doesn't have a choice but finish his math so you might as well join him.        

Either way, I am grateful that I get to homeschool.  I would hate to miss moments like this!

The "NO!!"

We don't get too much snow here in TN.  We usually get a couple of light dustings each winter...enough to make you feel festive, but not enough to get use to living in the snow.

So Scar as seen the snow a couple of times, and we have spent some time looking out the window and talking about the white blanket of "No."  But, before this week, there had never been enough to go out and enjoy a true "snow day."

Monday morning we woke up to it really snowing.  Scarlett hadn't been awake 5 minutes before her nose was pressed up against the glass of our window and she was pointing and yelling, "No!  No!!"

After breakfast, she and I watched from inside while the boys sledded down the hill in our front yard, but she made it very clear that watching the action was not what she had in mind.  So here are a few pictures of Scarlett experiencing snow for the first time.

Splish Splash They Were Taking a Bath!

This actually was a Saturday night.  With church back at 9am on Sundays, I have to start prepping the night before.  It is nice to let the chores go for a little while and harass my kids with my camera instead. I really should do it more often!  It always helps me to slow down a little bit, focus on what is really important, and remember how incredibly blessed I am.

Take 1...

Take 2...

Take 3...

Oh never mind!  Love these crazy babies!!