fun in the sun

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Day 1 - ok it just took me forever to choose which pictures to post - impossible!  Too many!  Let's just say we had a great day today.  We began the day at Balboa Park, visiting the Fleet Science Museum and then having a picnic lunch in the park there.  Cool breeze is a beautiful thing!  Then it was off to La Jolla - where there are seals right where the beach is and the kids got to "get their feet wet" in the ocean!  After an hour or so the kids began to get used to it and had a blast jumping waves - Jonathan decided he liked the water (but the sand more).  Allison was miss pose for pictures.  I think an hour passed from the time we began to pack up and when we were finally in the van headed toward "home".  Yes - it took that long to get all the sand somewhat off all 6 of us!  Great low key day - now the kids are in bed dreaming of Legoland.  We will most likely be there from 10am - 8pm when they close!  Yikes! 

california here we come!

Well today has been a full day of packing and list making.......I think this may go down in history as one of my more relaxed days before a trip.  Usually I am quite grouchy during the 24-48 hours preceding a trip.  The difference?  I think I have finally learned how to pack 6 people for a road trip - and I figured out how include the kids and keep them busy.    They each have their checklists for packing - I just give a final check.  We also have a checklist for household chores and when they are completed they get to watch the tube which is an unusual occurrence in our house so it works as motivation.  Also I have decided that hey - if we forget it - we'll just buy it for crying out loud.  And this time I am going to try and bring only 1 or 2 books to read instead of 10.  That should make my tote bag lighter!  I am always paranoid I will want something and not have it.  

We are staying with my aunt and uncle in San Diego and will meet up with Merl's brother Bryan and his family to do Legoland and the beach.  The kids are beyond excited.  Our last trip to San Diego was exactly 3 years ago (pictured above).  Allison was a baby and of course everyone else was 3 years younger too.  I hope to get a new "Baywatch" photo of Ryan as well as fun pictures of everyone.  This will be our last vacation until next summer so we are so psyched to be together as a family since Merl pretty much was not with us in New Mexico the majority of the time.  

We will bring the computer to load pictures each day so I hope to blog for fun.  I will report on the cool 70 degree weather (yes I will be cold - I always am if it is under 80 degrees), how many times Allison asks "when are we going to get there?", and just how much I cannot stand sand.  Yes, I am a mountain girl - but beach photos are great!

tips for a successful "quiet time"

I wasn't going to blog today - but now I have to share this crack-up.  It proves I am losing brain cells daily.

I have been aspiring to get up before the troops in order to have a little "quiet time" with my bible and the Lord (for years).  This has  ALWAYS been a challenge for me - the night owl who prefers to stay up late and not get up at 5am....but I want to hear from the Lord and desperately need the Holy Spirit.  Anyway this morning I seemed wide awake at 5:45 so crawled (no, limped) out of bed.  Merl was already gone for work so I was trying not to make any noise to preserve the "peace".  Jonathan began stirring immediately so I quick searched for a pacifier and tried to anonymously stick it in his mouth.  He sat up but I made it out before he saw me......whew!  After 5 minutes of rubbing my eyes I could finally see clear and had started on my coffee.  I sat down with my coffee, bible, pen, and new bible study by John MacArthur.  I read the passage and started on the questions.  The first question really did not make sense to me so I checked to make sure I had the right verses.  (Not understanding the passage is not new to me - I often am not sure what is going on.)  I tried to write an answer, but just it didn't make sense.  Question #2 - ok - now I am really totally lost....so I write an answer based on my knowledge but not what I read....hmmm.  15 minutes gone.  What is going on here?  Maybe I am reading the wrong book for crying out loud or am I really this dumb?  Check the book I am supposed to be reading:  EPHESIANS.  Check the book I WAS reading:  PHILIPPIANS - Oh brother.....so I thought I'd share with you some real wisdom and tips to a successful quiet time:

1)  Double check to make sure you are really awake before you even attempt to get out of bed. (If you are not awake it is probably not worth losing the sleep)

2)  If you are in fact awake, before you get out of bed (this is if you are getting old like me), check to make sure your legs are capable of walking (bad knees can be stiff when not used for long periods and send you straight to the floor)

3)  Don't make ANY sounds or you'll wake up the rest of your family. (This is why it is easier not to move at all ..... no flushing toilets, opening doors, etc.)

4)  Here is the problem - coffee/tea is ABSOLUTELY essential - but how do you accomplish this without making any noise?  Well here is the first element of your quiet time - PRAYER

5) If you actually get to the point of sitting down, make sure you have everything because if you have to get up again, surely someone will wake up from the noise.

6) OK - so now finally you have made it with all your things: glasses, bible, notebook, pen, and yes - coffee.  At this point 9 times out of 10 a child will wake up - but if it happens to be that 1 time, here is the most important tip:

7)  Check to make sure you are reading the right passage that matches your bible study questions!!!!!!!

DISCLAIMER:  For those of you (I know who you are) who think that I do this everyday - please do not kid yourself......  It is always a struggle for me to be disciplined enough to spend quiet time with the Lord and his word.   Almost always the reward is sweet - but I am just another person working at it like anyone else.....I will keep persisting!

books,books,books!

Books are really only one of the reasons I eagerly anticipate each year's Homeschool Convention.  We were blessed to be able to purchase several exciting materials we need for this year over the weekend.  The kids were stacking all the books to see "how high" their work was - little do they know this is less than half of what we'll be doing/reading!!!!  I still have more items to order but I am close to wrapping up the planning and starting the school year.  

I think I will probably share more of my thoughts about the convention eventually because some of the challenges were so meaningful.   This is always a time of encouragement and refreshment for me.  It is an opportunity to be away from the kids (and miss them!) for two whole days while having my vision renewed about homeschooling.  Having the opportunity to fellowship with SO many friends, hear motivating workshops, touch and feel the curriculum, and yes - drink coffee is rejuvenating for me!  It was great to have Merl along too - last year he had to miss.  Although I will say that I spent less money last year without him....he likes all the great things there!  I appreciate his leadership, vision, and support for our family  - it is a team effort.  May the Lord receive the Glory and His will be done in our lives.

brother and sister

Aren't they a fine looking pair?  I think so!  Valeta, Merl's sister came this weekend to visit and attend the Arizona Homeschool Convention with us.  She has come several times and it has become a tradition that we look forward to every year with great anticipation.  I know Merl really loves and appreciates his sister so it is a treat.  Valeta is a great blessing to me for many reasons.....I so appreciate her sweet spirit of encouragement and love as well as her ability to be positive and gentle with the way she says things and views situations.  Though our time was short - we packed it full of laughter, tears, great discussions, shopping for curriculum, listening to encouraging workshops, and food!  The primary reason we were able to have this time was thanks to my wonderful parents who kept the kids Friday and Saturday (thank you SO MUCH, mom and dad) and Valeta's husband Rusty, who stayed home with their children and allowed her to come!    The Lord blessed our time and ministered to us all and for that we are thankful. 

first haircut

Our baby is growing up.....Jonathan received his first "haircut" so to speak from daddy.  At first he sat stock still on his aunt Valeta's lap while looking all around with just his eyes - not moving his head.  He kept giving that look out of the side of his eyes.....(some of you have received this look of suspicion).  As the session wore on however, he became sure he had endured quite enough and began to protest by squirming and attempting to escape.  Meanwhile daddy was randomly cutting here and there to hurry and finish.  Now we have a 17 month old that is looking more on the toddler side than the baby side.  Oh my - where did the time go - and if only I could savor that smell and feeling of a little huggable body in my arms.  Is this why grandparents are so enthusiastic about their grandchildren?  

little swimmer

Allie finished swimming lessons today - and boy are we proud of her!  She began the summer with tears and fear but has been transformed into a proud swimmer!  Allie persevered through her anxiety and was dedicated to working almost every day on it.  Today when I was telling her what a wonderful job she had done she said "I really want to grow up and so I am working on my swimming."  Sweet Pea!  Actually all three kids did great in lessons this year.  Madison can swim the breaststroke, freestyle, backstroke, and is working on the butterfly.  The kids and I have been enjoying attending the dive meets of a close friend and as a result Ryan decided he'd like to try it so started doing back dives off the diving board!  No fear I tell you.