Maggie

 

September 23rd, 2014

 

Magdalena Rahab was born

 

weighing in at 7 lbs 13 ounces

 

 

Countdown to baby

It's starting to sink in that I'm due to have this baby in 6 1/2 weeks!~

I'm feeling the need to start preparing (I know you're thinking I should have thought of this sooner, right?) We already have most of the necessity things like a bed, car seat, Ergo, blankets, clothes and such so my list of 'needs' are more centered around what items we'll need as a family. Things we use everyday that I can stock up on so we won't be running to the store. 

This is what my list looks like (in addition to diapers & wipes): 

• Paper towels
• toilet paper
• paper plates
• plastic utensils
• garbage bags
• shampoo/conditioner
• toothpaste
• laundry detergent & dryer sheets
• dish soap

And also some pantry items that will make life a bit easier like: 

• bottled water (our well water isn't that yummy)
• powdered Gatorade (for the hubs)
• extra jars of peanut butter & jelly
• Coffee k-cups
• granola bars
• fruit snacks

I decided when making out my menu plan this week that I'm going to try and streamline our breakfast & lunch options as well. I narrowed it down so the kids will have just a couple of options. 

Breakfast: Pick one~

Instant oatmeal (2 pkt limit each) 

or 

a ziploc with 1 cup dry cereal & a granola bar

Lunch:  ~Mom picks which and adds a fruit & veggie, will be same for all kids each day~

Hot dog

Cup o noodle

Beef & Cheese burrito

Quesadilla

PB&J 

I know those are not at all the healthiest choices, but I'm going for easy and cheap.

I'll also be doubling as many dinner recipes as possible to put the extra one in the freezer. Making ahead muffins, burritos (breakfast & lunch varieties) AND try to get caught up on the laundry...ha! That won't happen, but I can dream! 

Not your typical get ready for baby type stuff now is it? :) 

School year 2014-2015 - The plan

Yesterday I sat down and worked out a plan for the upcoming/fast approaching school year. My plans are always more of a goal, as in, it's a rough draft that gets tweaked as we go along. :)

Here goes:

Amanda - 9th grade (I have a high schooler!!!)

Notgrass World History which covers three subjects: Bible, Lit & History

Ctc Math Algebra 1 (https://ctcmath.com/purchase/homeschool/) - this is something new we're trying this year for most of the kids...give me a few weeks and I'll come back with a review for you!

Apologia Physical Science

I've heard that Notgrass is heavy on reading, but my girl loves to read so we may add in some other independent reading with book review papers as well.

Kenny - Grade 8

Ctc math Algebra 1

Language arts - Saxon writing / grammar 8
                         CLP building spelling skills
                        Independent Reading list (read book, write review/response paper) 2 books per month

Apologia Anatomy - we've tried to complete this one twice now and it just never got done. So THIS is the year we WILL do it. :) He will be working with Stephen, Jessica & Abram as a group for this and history.

Mystery of history - as group

Code academy - computer programming

Bible - CLP studying God's word

Stephen - Grade 6

Ctc math - 7th to pre algebra

Language arts - Saxon grammar / writing 7
                         Explode the code 8
                         CLP building spelling skills
                         Wordly wise 6
                         Independent reading - 1 book per month with review/response paper

History & Science - as group

Code academy - computer programming

Bible - CLP studying God's word

Jessica - Grade 5

Ctc Math - she just finished up Saxon 6/5 so I'm assuming she'll start at level 6

Language arts - Wordly wise
                         CLP building spelling skills
                         Climbing to good English grade 5
                         Independent reading - 2 books per month (of mom's choice)
History & Science- as group

Elementary Spanish class (hosted here at our store)

Bible - CLP studying God's word

Abram - Grade 3

Ctc math

History & Science- as group

Language Arts - Climbing to good English grade 3
                          Wordly wise 2 & 3
                          Pathway & Abeka readers to read aloud to mom
                          Handwriting/ copy work out of above readers

Bible - CLP studying God's word

Elementary Spanish class (hosted here at our store)

Noah & Kathleen - K-1st grade (I'm teaching these two together, hoping that works well!)

CTC math or Singapore 1A & 1B - I'd like to use the online math but I'm not sure if I'll love it. They need the handwriting more hands on at this age so we'll see.

Language arts will be a combination of : Alpha phonics, Explode the Code, Evan Moor's Phonics Fundamentals & handwriting/copy work.

All together

On the drive to and from our store (approx 15-20 mins.)
we'll listen to audio: 2 days/week for history
                              2  days/week for Science
                              1 day - literature audio book          

Memorize 1 verse of scripture per week & keep a file box of all of them for review

We'll add in a bunch of other random things that I think are 'school' but won't count to actually write down in the plan. Educational games, documentaries, life skills (cooking, chores, safety skills, etc), workouts at the gym, swimming, entrepreneurial skills from working at our store and much more. :)                      

Camping

3 1/2 days

3 nights

15 people

Fishing, swimming, boating....

lots of eating

S'mores around the fire.

Mosquito bites & sunburns

Can't wait to do it all again.

33

Today I am 33 years old. 

Age is a funny thing, like time... One moment it can seem like it's happening way too slowly and the next moment it can seem like it's rushing by.

I was walking around the hardware store last night and caught a glimpse of my oldest boy just beside me. It made me pause for a second and just think....how am I old enough to have a son who looks me eye to eye & will be taller than me any day (if he's not a hair taller already)?? How am I old enough to be nearing the birth of our twelfth child?

A friend commented something the other day on this photo:  I love the symbolism, with the swing showing what the Sims family represents in enjoying every minute of life.

and it really made me think. 

I want that statement to be accurate. I want to enjoy every minute of life. 

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17 NIV).

Catch up

When Google reader ceased to exist I pretty much ditched blogging. Most friends were on Facebook and that coupled with a busy life just kind of took over. But I miss blogs. I miss people sharing what's happening in their lives beyond a one sentence status.

To jump back in I'm going to just start with a glimpse of today.

Today is Saturday, I'm at our store until 3:00 today and it's a pretty mellow day. The street is closed off for a cycling race this afternoon, so traffic is slower than normal. It's giving me a chance to get some backlog of books & clothes tagged. I'm here with 8 of the kids, Ian's not feeling too well and stayed home with Kenny & Stephen.

Nicholas is almost 16 months now & not quite walking yet, though I keep catching him standing on his own and he's sure cruising along furniture fast! His hair has started filling in and it's CURLY! The first of our kids to get that trait from their daddy.

I'm 24 weeks preggo now with our 12th baby! Still seems crazy when I say that. :) I'm feeling well, second trimester is usually the 'easy' part. No nausea & tiredness and not quite big enough to be uncomfortable yet.

In the past month we got to visit with three of my aunts, my uncle & two cousins all of whom we hadn't seen since we moved to Illinois almost 6 years ago. They got to meet several of our kiddos who have been born since...it was a lot of fun!

Now I'm off to eat my lunch and get a few more things done before closing up shop and heading home for the evening.