A Birthday Mara

Mr. Wiedz's mom's birthday is at the end of the month and since she will be back in the sun in Arizona and I had completed the gift I was making for her we had an impromptu/surprise birthday time this past weekend with the family surrounding #3 and #4's soccer tournament...

Mara shawl using some wonderful yarn I had found at Desert Vista Dyeworks, the color way is called "Arizona Sunrise" which is what led me to *having* to purchase it and it *having* to become a shawl for her in the first place. I loved how the fabric of this turned out. It is so light, yet when it's on it creates such warmth! The drape is lovely and the fiber was dreamy to work with. The colors so vibrant...I'll be stalking their store for more!

Someone is 13!!!!

My sweet #1 is 13 today. Everyday with her has been a gift. I am so blessed to be on this journey with her.

She wanted a float down the river with her dad this morning. So we (I'm the shuttle driver) were up before sunrise so they could float and see the sunrise on her 13th birthday.

Later this afternoon we will pick up her friends, the set from her old school meeting the set from her new school, head to the mall for good old fashioned mall trolling and a movie. Then we'll come home for pulled pork dinner and cake. (#6 helped with cake decorating this morning.)

Happy Birthday to the gift that made me a mother.

Happy Birthday #5 & #6!!!

 

 #5 and #6 both have March birthdays. They are about two weeks apart but for now a joint party is the easiest and neither of them care...so joint party it is!!!

#5 got to choose the theme since #6 doesn't know about such things or care yet, and he picked Batman! Worked for me...some yellow, some pink, some black...we're in business!

We had a great day celebrating our two sweet blessings. And a nice turn out of neighbors and friends and family.

Happy Birthday sweet monkeys!

We are in full swing Spring Break here. Cuddling and reading to dollies, building raised garden beds and rebuilding the chicken coop, playing with neighbors and visiting grandparents, volunteering at camp, dinner and a movie for mama and Mr. Wiedz, and mama's throwing in some reading time for #3 and #4.

All in all we are having a great week.

No More Classical School of Wiedz

Right before Christmas break Mr. Wiedz brought up a sensitive topic...what if we sent the boys to public school.

It was time. And I could feel it. If I'm honest I could feel it all last year too. But once Mr. Wiedz brought it up and brought it into the open it was time to deal with it.

So we talked. And we asked the kids. And I took some hard looks at where I think my identity comes from.

I had wrapped a lot of my identity in being a "homeschool mom". But that's not all I am. And that is not where God was leading us right now.

The boys were ready. They were making friends in our neighborhood and playing on teams in our community and making friends. They were ready for this step out into the world. #2 has thrived in public school these last couple of months...so ready was he to go out and be with people.

The little kids needed their turn. #5 and #6 had never had their turn with just mama. Oh, I took them out on dates. And snuggled them to bed. But during the day, I just got them busy so they could be out of the way. Now they have hours of mommy time. We do preschool stuff (watch for more adorableness about that) and play games and read books and sing songs. All the things that I was shoving to the side because of the pressing grammar and reading and projects of the big kids.

Lastly, I was sinking. I was losing myself to it all. And Mr. Wiedz saw that. He offered me a branch and helped me see a way out. I admit I have had a fair share of tears over making the decision and also with living with it. Interestingly I was reading Christ in the Chaos (affiliate link) about the time we were deciding all of this. Her whole point is we are not the "homeschool mom", or the "sports mom", or the "all-natural mom"...we are HIS. We belong to Christ and our identity is in the gift He gave us on the cross. That's the life line. 

So, the week before Christmas break I filled out paperwork, met with teachers, bought backpacks and enrolled the boys in school.

And the beginning of January, they went.

They love it. There have been some tears, some struggles, a lot of working hard, a lot of giving and compromising to fit in "the system" but it is working. We are all happy.

And we have made it to spring break! I have been looking forward to that all along!

Photo curtesy of #1 (follow her on instagram at sw_snapshots)

Best laid plans…that's what they say.

I'd gotten into a great groove these last few days.

Kids to the bus. A little break. Tidy up the bedrooms (open curtains, make beds, toss laundry down the chute). Treadmill for 20 minutes. Check out some blogs. Dishes. Snack. Preschool activities with the littles….you get the idea. 

A good day.

Today. Mr. Wiedz forgot a charging cable for his computer. His dead computer. Conference calls keep him from coming back himself (cause he totally would if he could), but make it necessary to go into town this morning instead of all that other stuff.

So here we go.

Um, yeah...

So.

I'm not sure if this managing a bigger home, homeschooling, working for our company, wife-ing and mothering and crafting is going to mesh so well with the blogging-thing.

I want it to.

I really want it to.

But...

Who knows, I'll try. Because I really do have some fun stuff to show off. We are doing good in school. Some of the stuff we are working on is share-able (meaning you the reader might actually be interested in it). I'm knitting some fun things. Some actual finished projects! The kids are growing (I tried getting them to stop but they like it too much) and we are generally just having an awesome time...I'd like to share that with you.

I'll write up some ideas and see if I can squeeze some time to type and embed photos and the like into my day.

Summer {waning}

Ahhhhh. I bet anyone that has checked back in here in the past 4 months (!) has gotten real tired of looking at that yarn along picture. Here's a cute baby playing at the water's edge to look at instead. 

We spent a couple of nights last week camping with my extended family. So fun! Such good memory building. 19 cousins to play in the water all day with. Shared dinners and running around during a wind storm trying to save camp. Good times.

But it is good to be back. Good to get the last of summer wrapped up. Our list of "before the rain starts" just seems to get longer even when we are able to get a project done from it. My school preparations are going good. I'm still needing to get some of my books (I'm so jealous of moms who know what they're going to use and have it ready in the spring - I'm still trying to survive the current year in the spring...I never know what I'm going to do or use for the next year yet!). I now know what I want to use and where to get it and I'm starting to get a look for how our days are going to go. This prep stuff is my favorite, wish I had days of uninterrupted time to get it done.

I'm hoping for more hands-on this year. Pull out the activity book for history more often, make some great arts or crafts, read good books and enjoy them with each other. And I'm hoping to record it on the blog again this year.

So here's to the last weeks of summer. To getting those "before it rains" projects marked off the list and to keeping the fun in school prep.

10 months

Well, the little miss is 10 months old now (and that was only yesterday so look how on top of things I am!!)! She is so adorable and so loved in this house! She's cruising around and has mastered getting back down after she's been standing for awhile. She has started chattering which is adorable!...I could listen to her all day. She's interested in toys and hates being left alone in a room (even if I am coming right back). She still takes 2 naps most days but has become a pretty sensitive sleeper, I've got a fan going all the time now for some white noise and hope that helps. She does not sleep through the night...sigh. She got croup before Christmas and cut two teeth right afterward. Our family went through round after round of passing sickies around, #6 ended up with an ear infection and pnemonia. Poor thing.

It was somewhat of a challenge to get a picture of her this month. Between the brother's feet in the picture, the blanket falling down (it's no longer big enough to stay draped up behind her) and her complete interest in the bear...plus it was night-time (right before bath-time I remembered) so the pictures were either too bright from the flash or blurry from not using the flash. Oh well, she's too stinkin' cute to worry about such things!

Handmade Christmas :: jammies

I hope I can post about the handmade I got done this year...there isn't too much. For as little as there was handmade this year there are even fewer pictures of what was done so we'll see if I can even post about it.

One thing that I almost crossed off the list and almost gave up on were the Christmas Eve jammies. I have given the kids new jammies on Christmas Eve since #1 was a year old but the past four or so years I have made the pants each year (here is last year's post, inside that are links for other years). And each year they are a little comically large or too tight...can't seem to get them just right. But this year there was just so much on my list and a little baby and the sickies and a new fabric store that I had heard had all sorts of crazy long lines...

But I did make it to the store. The lines weren't TOO bad, I was able to run there while Mr. Wiedz came home for lunch one day.

And I decided that this year there was no need for the pants to be a surprise, after all I make them every year so they know what they're getting.

Last year my mom had to help me with waistbands because I had made my rises too short. She made contrasting waistbands and sewed them onto the top of the pants similarly to how I do the cuffs on the bottom. I decided to start that way and I'm so glad I did. Probably saved the pants!!! No seams!!! I was able to cut out and sew all six pairs in one day and add elastic the next evening.

Done! And adorable.

*I am notoriously late in getting shirts to go with the jammies each year. Actually last year I didn't even get shirts and they just wore whatever they were wearing that day to bed and the next morning. This year I got a great deal at the Children's Place's cyber Monday sale and got all the kids new shirts. They didn't match or "go with" the jammies but everyone loves their shirts and they all looked so cute.

Oh wow! Fall. It's been a tough one.

Remember how Mr. Wiedz called the beginning of my pregnancy with #6 "the fog"? That's a little bit like I feel looking back at the fall. We had a lot of changes and I think it has taken me awhile to find my stride. But I think we/I are finding our way.

And here we are on the edge of a new year.

I love new years...it's like a new school year to me. All fresh; clean paper, sharpened pencils, untested schedules and blank calendar pages. Combine that with my newly found stride and we may be ready for this new year!

So, here's to a new year...a new chance to get into the stride. A new year full of grace in the midst of the crazy.

:: 9 Months ::

Of course it's almost been a month since I took this adorable picture of my 9 month old baby girl. That also means it's almost been a month since she was 9 months old...how can it possibly be that she's getting so big! Right before her 9th month she started pulling herself up. She had gotten to a standing position on our {unused} fireplace but I came home from work one afternoon and the babysitter shared that she'd done it holding onto the couch! We were all so surprised! Of course she has since learned how to cruise along the couch and between furniture. And the all-important getting back to the ground. She even bends over now to pick things up. And she pulls up on ANYTHING now that she's figured out this trick. She's also clapping now which is ADORABLE!!! She finally outgrew the 6month clothes and like most of my babies seems content to skip the 9 month size and go directly to the 12 month.

Who knows...maybe her 10th month post will get up before she's nearly a year old.

8 Months

Well, here I am again. Amazed how fast time goes. I took little miss 6's picture on the day she was 8 months old. But we were celebrating Christmas with my extended family (yep, Christmas in November) and I figured I was doing good to get the photo taken, I'd upload and post when I got home. Fast forward (seriously, that's how fast it feels like time is going) three weeks and I'm staring down another month of her life and the milestones that are crashing on us like nobody's business and I haven't even gotten the 8th month pictures out of the camera yet! 

So here you are.

She's 8 months old! While we were at my mom's for Early Christmas she got herself to a sit but hasn't been able to replicate that milestone again. That getting themselves to a sitting position is by far my favorite milestone! I love it when they are no longer frustrated by the position they are in. No teeth yet. We've tried some different food but she really isn't into it. All my other babies liked applesauce and pears and all those sweet things...not little 6. Crackers are keeping her occupied while I cook dinner and that's what's most important right now. She says "da da" which Mr. Wiedz is convinced means she's talking to him. Whatever, it's adorable. She smiles all the time and everywhere we go I am surrounded by people telling me what a great baby she is.

Well, it won't be too long until I'm back with her 9th month picture, is it really almost December?

7 Months

Oh! The baby is 7 months old already! Can you believe it?! We can't. 

She's sitting like a pro and rolling around and scooting backwards to get around the room. Adorable but a little challenging for this household of other little people who don't pick up after themselves...we are having a lot of conversations about little pieces of paper and plastic and legos.

We started eating a little rice cereal but she wasn't too into it and I'm a little lazy so it hasn't become a regular thing.

She's a little bit of a thing, my most petite baby. So sweet and tiny.

I am loving these monthly photos, it is so fun to watch her grow and change. I made a collage of the first six months on picmonkey...love the way it turned out.

6 months (a little late)

Well, this picture was taken almost a month ago which means of course that little miss #6 will be 7 months old this week. I figured it was right to post her 6th month photo before her 7th month...there you go.

#4 got to tell me a little update for #6, here's what he had to say...

• she rolls to her stomach and back to her back.
• she is cute
• she smiles a lot and is starting to laugh
• I love her

Oh, my sweet babies...how I love them!

Come back in just a few days to see our little darling at 7 months!

5 months

Another month. I'm so enjoying the pictures showing #6's growth each month and I know I will LOVE having these post to look back on, especially these ones that her siblings wrote, telling how much they love and what they are observing about her.

It's #3's turn to tell you about our sweet #6...

• She rolls over both ways now.
• She likes being held
• She is a sweet little bug.

Little miss #6 is getting so big! She can squirm around, getting across the room if she wants. She's starting to "talk" a lot and smiles and laughs at her siblings. She LOVES his siblings...watching them in all their antics around her. She is sleeping well, some nights she wakes once but more often then not she sleeps through until the rest of us wake up.

Wanna see other months?

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

4 months

We are back to bring you our sweet #6's monthly update. We've had a milestone around here this month but I'll let #2 tell you about it since it is him month to share about his sister.

• She's cute.
• She's fun to hold.
• She's rolling over a lot.

That last one is just too much of a big deal to leave in the words of an 8 year old brother. Miss #6 rolls from her back to her tummy now and most often gets a little worked up that she's stuck sucking carpet. But in a move completely unusual for my babies she has been completely content to just lay there. Eyes wide open and laying completely relaxed. She even laid on her tummy in the middle of the living room and fell asleep the other day...strange and wonderful.

Dance

I'm thinking July may have to be the month I catch up. I looked over my list of things I wanted to write about, share here, document and remember. I'm behind. I always say {at least to myself} that I will be more consistent. Perhaps it just is what it is and I won't worry about it but with no journal and no scrapbook this space is where I keep track of most of our goings-on...so I'll catch up.

So...today I bring you dance. As in the dance class #1 took most of last year and finished with a recital and community performances in May (!).

 

#1 started being curious about dance at some point, I don't even really remember the start of her interest, and started dropping hints about maybe taking a class. In an effort to invest in the children's interests and passions and as a way of making sure #1 has other interests besides basketball we decided that dance would be something worthwhile of her time. I started researching dance places around town. #1 wanted to take a hip-hop class, that added a level of "concern" for me as I wasn't sure what kind of moves, music and costumes we would encounter. I found Hosanna Dance in town, and know some friends who have taken classes there, that met my "concerns" and #1 interest in hip-hop.

She started weekly classes in December and as the spring got closer and closer the work of class started turning toward the recital. Recital week is a pretty big deal with rehearsal, pictures and the actual show. For #1 we also had to purchase all the make-up and hair supplies necessary for her performances. I don't use a lot of make-up and hair supplies so we had to purchase everything new and #1 had so much fun with it all!

#1 did a great job with her performance. It was a joy to watch her on stage and working out something new and taking an interest and following through.

Another thing I really liked about Hosanna Dance was that after the recital, the last couple weeks of the class year were devoted to community performances in assisted living homes in the area. I thought it was a wonderful way of teaching the kids to give back to the community in whatever way they could and a blessing to the residents who maybe don't get out much.

3 Months

 

 I thought it would be fun to hear what #6's siblings thought of her in these monthly posts...you already know how I gush about her and there are only so many ways I can tell you she is awesome. I thought you'd like to hear it from someone else...

First up is #1's reasons for loving #6:

• She is my only sister.
• I can always make her laugh.
• She's tiny and cute.
• I know I can always help her out.

Two Months

Since I didn't get my post done about rowing Madeline , I give you our two month post.

Little Miss #6 is growing so quickly. Lots of little rolls. She had a two-month well baby visit to the doctor, and weighed 11lbs and 11oz. Dr. said she looked like she was eating well. She rewards eye contact and cooing at her with a sweet little smiles and coos and gurgles. The last few days she has discovered her tongue and is often trying to figure out what that strange thing is.

She is a great baby, sleeping in a predictable pattern that gives me some sleep if I choose to get it (aka, go to bed at a decent time). She is well loved by all of her siblings and tolerates #5's attention. Her sister (10 year old #1) is an awesome big help and adores having a sister!