life these days...

One of my favorite tiny baby necessities is this lovely velcro straight jacket swaddle blanket. 

All of our babies have always slept so well swaddled, until they get too big and grow out of the need.

At 4 months, Gabrielle still loves it and sleeps 12 hours straight in it. (Not in this seat of course, but in her bed...) Thank you, sweet baby, for

humoring your exhausted mommy of 5 by sleeping like a little angel. 

It's a rarity to hold her asleep, since she lays down so nicely and falls asleep on her own.. these moments are my treasures!  And I try to get pictures whenever I can.

Annika is such a little mommy to Gabrielle... always patting, cooing, smiling, tickling, and comforting. 

Her most used sayings are:

Ooooooh, it's okay, Gabi-elle....

We coming, Gabi-elle...

Gabi-elle kye-ing, Mom!

Gabi-elle funny. 

This next set of pictures captures the many faces of Gabi. 

Aren't her curls just the best?

And this, is the big girl's newly painted room!  It used to be our school room, and now it's gutted and filled with girly things wall to wall.  The dresser and play table and chairs were painted the same pink as the closet... we love it!!!  It's definitely bright and cheerful, just the way we wanted it. 

I'll post pictures of the finished product once the room is totally put together. 

keeping sane

This post is for my sister and for the friends who wanted to see our school day schedule/routine.  Today was our first day on it, and I'll have to say... this entire day so far has been wonderful...  the kids and I are loving it.  We'll be using this routine 4 days a week, which is usually Monday - Thursday. 

Gabi easily fits into our routine, and she eats every 3 - 3.5 hours all day long until she goes down for the night at 9:30pm.  I won't list her happenings here, but know she fits into all of this so easily.  She plays on the floor on a blanket, sits in the bouncy seat with toys, or is held by yours truly when she's awake.  I love my baby girl! 

7:00 am
I wake up (boo hoo, I'm not a morning person!)
make my bed, devotions, shower

8:00 am
my laptop time
kids awake, dressed, morning chores (put pj's away, make bed, clean room)

8:30 am
breakfast, kids brush teeth
I dress Annika, do girl's hair
kitchen chores for me

9:00 am
feed and change Gabi
Gavin feed our doggie Annabelle

9:30 am
family school Bible time

10:00 am
Kindergarten with Morgan, help Gavin as needed
Drew plays with Annika, they clean up after
Gavin does Math

10:30 am
Kindergarten with Morgan, help Drew as needed
Gavin plays with Annika, they clean up after
Drew does Math

11:00 am
history with the boys
Morgan and Annika watch a video or PBS

11:30 am
Mom has preschool/playtime with Annika
big kids have free time to play

12 noon
feed and change Gabi
Annika joins the big kids

12:30 pm
lunch!

1:00 pm
after lunch chores for me
get Annika to bed after she cleans up her toys
Drew and Gavin start their reading and language arts
Morgan puts her laundry for the day away before Annika naps

1:30 pm
join kids for the last hour of school
boys working on reading, writing, and spelling
Morgan does math, handwriting, and language arts

2:00 pm
Morgan computer time
boys continue language arts with me

2:30 pm
my laptop time
boys put away the day's laundry, then quiet playtime with Morgan

3:00 pm
feed and change Gabi
Gavin computer time
Drew and Morgan continue quiet play

3:30 pm
my rest/read time, return calls from the morning
Drew computer time
Gavin and Morgan continue quiet play

4:00 pm
continue my "free" time
kids continue quiet play together

4:30 pm
me dinner-prep and chores
kids chores

5:00 pm
me continue dinner-prep
wake Annika (yes, she takes a long nap!)

5:30 pm
Jeremy home and dinner/family devotions at table

6:00 pm
feed and change Gabi
kids have dinner clean-up
Annika play

6:30 pm
Jeremy and I, dinner clean-up and chores
all kids play

7:30 pm
kid's bedtime chores (pajamas, brush teeth, clean up)
bath/shower for kids every other day

8:00 pm
family time, read chapter book to kids

8:30 pm
kids to bed

9:00 pm
pray/talk/devotions with Jeremy

9:30 pm
feed and change Gabi, to bed for the night

10:30 pm
bedtime for me!

Now of course there will be times when we're flexible, or time we have to got out during these times, but for the majority, we'll be home and going by these guidelines.  And also remember that this runs just 4 days a week... the other days, Jeremy is home and I'm a night owl!!!  We're loving it and are so thankful for the book Managers of Their Homes that got us going with this.  It is a lifesaver!!!

feeling heavy

Honestly, tonight I'm feeling heavy... like a little black rain cloud is hovering over my head.  We never dreamed we'd be happily in love with our new daughter, have her in our home for over 2 months, and still not have any resolution with this adoption.  I won't go into much detail, but things are slow and communication stinks with her birthparents.  We're needing prayer, and want Satan's hands off of this baby, our family, and her birthparents.  I figure this is a good place to vent, and a good way to get the prayer request out there...

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.   Isaiah 12:2

He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.  Deuteronomy 10:18

Tomorrow is a new day, with enough worries of it's own.. so this heaviness stays here... I'm re-giving it to God.  I'm taking joy in my sweet family, my salvation, and the blessings of adoption... namely the little 11 pound 4 oz. bundle who is snoring in our room.  Tomorrow is our first day of school around here.   The books are laid out, mechanical pencils are in place,  and I have 3 eager students who really are excited to start.  I'm excited too, now that my brain is clear. 

Thanks for reading (listening), blog friends and real-life friends.  :) 

Oh, and as a side note, these are the beautiful poppies that graced our walkway this summer... they're all gone now, but for months we had poppies in yellow, white, red, and this beautiful pink color.  I love poppies!!! 

afraid no more

We're venturing into the world of cloth diapering!  I can't believe it took us until our 5th baby to give it a whirl.  I can't even imagine how much money we've put into disposable diapers already... hmmm let's see...  I think I'm too scared to find out how much money we've spent!  Whenever I thought of cloth diapers in the past I thought of tree huggers, scrubbing poop with my bare hands, soaked through clothes and blankets, and just general yuck.  It has always intrigued me, but it was just so foreign.  But I have a couple cloth diapering buddies (thanks Carly and Heather) who have shown me how easy, enjoyable, and incredibly frugal it can be.  Actually, our diapers will be paid for already in just 2 months... then it'll be free diapering from then on.  Now that is something I can get used to!    

The clothesline pictures are just for show because I thought they were cute... the ones pictured below are the ones I bought... a bunch of pink and purple, and some red.  Then a few of the printed flower ones too in a couple different colors.  Another cool thing you can buy to use with your diapers is a liner that is flushable so you can just pull the liner out, flush it and not have to deal with poo at all.  Sorry if that was TMI, but that actually was my biggest fear in all of this ~ dealing with POOP.  So now that that's taken care of, what's there to fear??  I've heard cloth diapering can get addicting or turn into a hobby, and of course, I don't even have them in my hands so they're just diapers to me... but very cool , cheap diapers and really cute too. 

And I'm not making any promises that I won't become addicted to cloth diapering, or even turn it into a hobby.  I'm just sayin'. 

Kawaii's cloth diapers are a cheap way to get started... and I've read good reviews on them.. so what have we got to lose??  I got them for $7 each, and the printed ones for $7.50.. not bad!  

The diapers above are the Kawaii One Size Heavy Duty Pocket Diaper with microfleece inner.  AKA:  it snaps down to fit newborns all the way up to a toddler, and the pocket part means that you can stuff the tar out of it to soak up all that wetness with the included soaker pads.  (or whatever they're called.. ha ha)

Since Gabrielle is such a skinny minnie at a whopping 11 lbs. 4 oz. at 4 months, I'll be using only the velcro ones on her I think, and the printed ones will be for Annika until she's out of diapers in a few months since they snap closed and might not close as small as I need it to for Gabi.  We'll still be using disposables for all day outings, church, and other days when it's just needed.  I'm always ready for a new adventure and I think this one has been a long time coming.

So I'll need to get a pail with a seal on it to keep the soiled diapers in, and wash every 2-3 days I think... I'll have 20 diapers to start with 2 girls, but Annie is potty training, so hopefully she'll go through less and less.

Who knows?  Maybe this will pique your curiousity and cause you to check out this world of cloth diapering too. 

Amazing Vacation!!

A few weeks ago, we came back from an amazing, last-minute vacation!  We knew my brother and family, and my sister and family were going to visit my Mom at the same time this month... they had asked if we could come, but with this pending adoption, yada yada.... it just wasn't feasible.  (The paperwork that has been signed already includes travel...) But after talking more about it with my Mom, we decided to go for it and not tell anyone we were coming!  So we arrived a few days before my sis and brother and SURPRISED them all, it was so fun!  I love surprises! 

So we stayed for nearly 2 weeks and had a fabulous time lounging around in the 90 degree heat, visiting closeby relatives from Jeremy's side, driving to Crater Lake, painting pottery, visiting the science museum, watching movies, swimming, and most importantly had Cousin Camp!  The kids wore their camp shirts everywhere!  (see above photo)

It was the first time my Mom and all us kids had been together in years.. we all live in different states which makes it hard.  My post is so late in coming because my laptop is broken and uploading pictures on this computer, which is hooked up to our huge TV, is hard on the eyes....  Plus there's too many pictures to choose from!  So I'll add a few now, and add a few later!  If we're facebook friends, check out my whole album there!  I took TONS of pictures.

P.S.  My laptop is now in operatiing order!!!  It took me almost a week to complete this silly post... But now I'm back to blogging!  I've missed it so.

what to say?

Several times over the last few weeks, I have opened up a new post and closed it because I didn't quite know what to say. These last 7 weeks with Gabrielle in our family have been so wonderful, she is a sweet, sweet girl who has won all of our hearts. But this time has also been wrought with hard times. The consent paperwork to adopt her, and make her legally our daughter are still not signed. It stinks. It hurts. And I just want to yell, ENOUGH ALREADY! But I'll settle for blog yelling, because that wouldn't be a good idea. It's a story I won't explain, it's more of a private matter... but we need much prayer for peace in our hearts, patience with this process, and for our sweet baby girl to be legally ours pronto.

Most of the time, I feel just fine. I have every confidence she isn't leaving our home, but it's a lingering uneasy feeling that keeps coming back to ooze it's way into my thoughts. And every time I give it to God, because I'm not capable of handling it well. We need prayer protection and so does Gabi. We're needing a miracle in the form of open communication with her birthparents and signed and filed consent forms.  Thanks, friends.   Feel free to pass our prayer request on to others who will pray. 

Have you said YES yet?

They're waiting....  all over the country.  All ages, all sizes, all needing the love of a family.

School Year 2010-2011

A couple days ago, I finally had the chance to sit down and order our homeschooling curriculum for this coming year!

We ended last year with a fizzle and hope to start this year with a bang!  My priorities have gotten back in the proper order, and I'm excited to take on the new challenge of adding a third homeschooler, a bouncing two-year old, and a delightful new baby to our homeschooling days.  Also this year, we're looking to implement the concepts of a daily routine presented in Managers of Their Homes as well.  I'm hoping to give our new daily schedule, which we'll implement 4 days/week,  a test run toward the second half of August and then start school and our full routine the first week of September.  I'll post our school/daily routine once I have it completed...  I'm still in the working it out phase.  I thought I'd breezily get it done this summer, but unbeknownst to us, we have a new BABY!!

So here is what we'll be studying this year, starting with our new kindergartener, MoRgAn!

Sonlight K, which is an introduction to world cultures.  We love this curriculum and have done it in the past.  I can't wait to re-read these wonderful books to Morgan. (and Annika if she'll sit still long enough)  My favorite book in this collection is Jim Herriot's Treasury for Children, Morgan and I just read through it this last spring at bedtime.  Get your hands on it, you'll all love it ~ our public library has it, maybe yours does too. 

Horizons Math K and the DVD MathTacular

Handwriting Without Tears ~ love it for our kids.

We love the Explode the Code series to add to our curriculum for language arts.  Morgan did Book A last year and will complete Books B and C this year.

The boys will be studying Sonlight's Core 4, which covers the second half of American history.  We did the first half two years ago using Winter Promise's American Story 1.  We LOVE the books Sonlight chooses, plus the missionary and world-view focus they include. 

This is Drew's pile of books he'll be reading to himself this year.  Some are fiction stories that took place in American history, and others are non-fiction accounts of great Christians.  He's excited to dive in too and is especially excited that Old Yeller is included. 

Gavin's pile of books!  Thankfully we didn't have to order these this year, Drew went through them last year.  These are GREAT books. 

Handwriting Without Tears for the boys...

New this year in Math for the boys is Teaching Textbooks.  We're really excited about it.  We have enjoyed Math U See these past 3 years, but I've been feeling more and more that using the boy's love of computers in our schooling would help a bunch with the motivation factor and the general excitement about math, which they're both fantastic at.  Check out Teaching Textbooks here.

Also new this year, is Sequential Spelling.  I've wanted to get the boys going on a great spelling program, and I think we've found it.  I've heard rave review about SS, and am excited to get started. 

Another thing my boys love is LEGOs.  What boy doesn't??  I haven't found one.  For science we'll be toying around with robotics and LEGO Mindstorms.  We ordered the above kit from LEGO Education and it's called the LEGO Mindstorms Education NXT Homeschool Pack.  Can I just say, thank goodness for state funding for our homeschooling??  I am SO thankful, and never want to take it for granted. 

And to add to our social studies from Sonlight, I ordered the oldie but goodie computer games Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and Oregon Trail.  I played these for hours and hours as a kid at a friend's house and can't wait for my kids to join in the fun.  I think my love of history and geography was started chasing Carmen all of the globe as a grade-schooler.  Really! 

That about wraps it up!  We're always adding more books to our library for general reading, and have added some new ones this summer that we're happy to now own.  Someone always has their nose in a good book around here... at this moment, 2 kids are reading, 2 are napping, and 1 is attempting to raid the fridge.  Life is so good. 

I'd love your feedback if you've every used any of the above curriculum!  Please share you experiences.

let me introduce you to....

Gabrielle Rozelaya-Aniah

born April 24, 2010

6 lbs. 1 oz. 

into our arms on

June 26, 2010

I need your help!

As an attempt to get the creative juices flowing again in my writing, I need your help with something!

Knowing me, what sort of book/article (non-fiction) would you like to see me write?

 I've really missed writing and have been thinking a lot about giving it a go again... and am wondering what kinds of things should I write about?  What would you like to read?  I'm feeling more and more that I should get to writing again and attempt to get published. 

PLEASE COMMENT!!!  Even if I don't know you.. HELP!

food for the soul

Psalm 27
Of David.


1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil men advance against me

to devour my flesh,

when my enemies and my foes attack me,

they will stumble and fall.



3 Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident.



4 One thing I ask of the LORD,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD


all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to seek him in his temple.



5 For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.



6 Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the LORD.



7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;

be merciful to me and answer me.



8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"

Your face, LORD, I will seek.



9 Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

O God my Savior.



10 Though my father and mother forsake me,

the LORD will receive me.



11 Teach me your way, O LORD;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.



12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing out violence.



13 I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living.



14 Wait for the LORD;


be strong and take heart


and wait for the LORD.

mid-summer harvest

This is the scene I came upon as I was

walking out the door to book club the other night...

isn't this a great view??!! 

I love my family. 

Jeremy and the 4 bigger kids were deep in the strawberry patch

picking our yummy berries!

Doesn't Annika look just like

a little strawberry shortcake? 

Cuuuutie!

Some garden treats Jeremy harvested yesterday:

strawberries, cucumber, swiss chard, veronica cauliflower, eight ball squash, and rhubarb.

Here's a better picture of a Veronica type cauliflower.. I read that it is an Italian version.  The lime green color is so perfect, and they are sweet and in my humble opinion, yummier than traditional white cauliflower.  We grow both, but these are new to our garden this year ~ YUM! 

Jeremy picked and brought in the first rose of this year for me off our rose bushes... beautiful!

I can't believe we're past the mid-way point of summer (boo hoo..) but the best of our garden is yet to

come, and that is much consolation! 

Still to come?
raspberries
apples
carrots
green beans
yellow squash
zucchini
eight ball squash
broccoli
cabbages
cauliflower
onions
cucumbers
pumpkins
tomatoes
yellow peppers
herbs
potatoes
more veronica cauliflower
more swiss chard
more rhubarb
more strawberries
more spinach
more buttercrunch lettuce