Jo vs The Laundry

I was in the kitchen cleaning,  when I saw Josiah folding the wash cloths and hand towels out in the living room. (Yes, I had a pile of laundry on my couch waiting to be folded).  He told me he was going to fold some laundry.  I told him that would be wonderful and continued cleaning.  Then I saw him grab a big towel to fold.  Now,  last week was the first time I taught him how to fold a big towel, and I only showed him once or twice, thinking he will never remember all the steps.  I completely underestimated his abilities, because he did a fantastic job.  I am not talking about an easy fold either,   I am talking about hotel style folding.  (I worked in a hotel during high school and some college)  I can not believe he remembered how to fold it like that.  He forgot one step, but I don't think anybody would have noticed, or even thought a four year old folded the towel.  I am so proud, I have to post a picture.

2:00 am

What was that?  Was that screaming I heard?  Something definitely fell.  Wait, now I hear some sort of humming noise.  Is one of the kids sleep walking?  What is all that ruckus? 
It's 2:00, am and I happen to hear something fall, most likely a book off Josiah's bed, that's not unusual.  What is unusual is I hear some humming coming from the kitchen or living room.  It's not coming through the baby monitor.  So I wake Justin up and tell him I am hearing strange noises.  (Again it's 2:00 am I am not thinking clearly, so my mind goes to the worst, someone is trying to break in.)
We get up,  I go to check on Juliet first, while Justin checks the living room and kitchen.  Juliet  is sound asleep.  I move on to Josiah and Jada.  I walk into their room fully expecting to see one of them  out of bed.  Nope, both in bed sound asleep.  HMMMM, that's weird.  Was I in such deep sleep that I was dreaming the noises?  I go back out to the living room, embarrassed that I woke Justin up.  When I get back to the living room, Justin says all he sees is a cow elk out by the car.  We turn to head back to bed when I hear the humming sound.  It was the cow elk talking!  Then we climb back in bed, and we hear the bull elk bugle, there's the screaming sound I heard.  There were some cow elk and a bull elk walking around right outside our house, making a ruckus. Now it's 3:30 am and I'm wide awake. 

Volunteer EMS Training w/PHI helicopter

This post was written by my amazing husband, Justin.

Today was one of mixed emotions for me.  On one hand I was unhappy that I was going to be away from my family for several hours on a day that I normally spend with them.  However, on the other hand I was given the opportunity to train with one of the rescue helicopter companies, PHI, that support our local volunteer EMS.  I enjoy serving my community by volunteering as an EMT as well as chief of our Volunteer Fire Department.  It can be very difficult to see people in their worst moment, but also very rewarding to be able to help those in dire situations.
Our EMS department has relied on the help of PHI  to get our patients to definitive care as fast as possible.  They have always been one of our greatest assets.  This was an opportunity for us, as a department, to train and talk with the flight medic, flight nurse, and pilot in a non-emergency environment and become more familiar with what happens to our patients, after they leave our care.
I have also had the unfortunate privilege of being a passenger in on of these helicopters.  The work these people do in such a small space is amazing. 
If you happen to know anyone in the emergency medical services I would ask that you thank them for what they do.  You never know when you might be in need of their help.

                                                                                              Grammy and the helicopter

4:00 am

It's 4:00 am and I am so rudely sweetly awaken by the pitter patter of little feet. I try to ignore it at first thinking I am just hearing things.  Then I hear the little voices.  I try to tell myself maybe they are just talking in their sleep, but then it grows louder.  I can no longer ignore it, for fear they will wake the one baby still left sleeping.  I walk in their room to two wide awake little ones.  There is NO WAY they are going back to sleep now.  I tell them to play quietly, that it is very early.  I go back to my room, and turn on their monitor thinking I will be able to get a few minutes of sleep as long as I can hear them.  Of course I can't sleep, I am too worried someone might cut a finger off, or start the house on fire. (At 4:00 in the morning, I'm not thinking clearly)   So here we are. All three are awake now, because it was only a matter of time before they woke Juliet up. I think I will have some coffee now, and enjoy the early morning time with all my babies.

26 Week Update

This has been a really fantastic week pregnancy wise.  My back has felt great. Which really is amazing. The varicose veins are unfortunately getting worse. The exhaustion I felt during my first trimester is back, but is easily handled.  Thankfully all the kids take a nap at the same time, which in turn gives me about an hour and a half to rest.  If I don't get that time to rest, I am asleep by 8:00 or 8:30.

25 Weeks             29 Weeks
27 Weeks             30 Weeks
28 Weeks

 

Jada

I took Jada to the Homeopathic Dr. yesterday.  We were able to look at some blood under the microscope, which was pretty neat.  She still has a little fungus going on, and some digestive issues.  I already knew she was having these issues, without looking at her blood.  It was nice that somebody else was able verify was I already knew.  So we are going to, up her probiotics, give her a few supplements and up her beet intake.   She is doing really well compared to a year ago.  Hopefully next year all the issues in her gut will be healed.

This is the probiotic we use.

The Laundry Race

This week I have lost this great laundry race. It seems I may have fallen behind.  I wish I could say this pile of laundry is the whole weeks worth, sadly that is not the case. I folded a pile just like it the other day, and there is more waiting to be washed.  What is that you say,  why don't I do a load a day and fold it immediately when it is dried? That is a splendid idea, it might just work.  I may have lost the race this week, but I need not worry because next week, the race starts again.  I will be victorious.

My little "helper"

Circle Time Schedule

• Devotions
• After devotions we have complete silence for one minute. I set a timer for this. They practice listening during this one minute. (How can you hear the Father if you are always talking?)
• Calendar
• Counting
• Day
• Month
• Year
• Weather
• Colors
• Shapes
• Going on a Bear Hunt (Action Song)-Video coming soon
• ABC's
• Amazing Action Alphabet by The See Hear Do company ( This is fantastic.  It puts the letter and sound it makes with an action.  My kids love it)  We do a letter a week.
• Read a book out loud to them (Sometimes I choose, sometimes they do)
• Go over the house rules
• I usually go over a simple worksheet like rhyming, matching, patterns, etc
• Practice writing letter of the week.  (We don't do this everyday.)

I don't always do bear hunt, but I try to do some little action song or finger play, like Bunny Foo Foo, Where is Thumbkin, Five little Monkey's, etc.
I also have a felt board I sometimes use, and we read lots of books through out the day.

I found an amazing book called, The Complete Daily Curriculum for Early Childhood. It has tons of different craft ideas, recipes, songs, different age appropriate activities, etc. I think I have the first addition.  The reviews were better for the first addition. However, if you go with the first addition, you will probably have to get it used.  I did buy a used copy, but it was in great shape.  It was well worth it.  I wish I had it when I was teaching Preschool.

A Sister's Love

More pictures to come!