"Beautiful are the feet...

...of those who bring the good news!" That's what the Bible tells us in Romans 10:15. So, I thought it only fitting to take Madison to get her first pedicure before she left on her first missions trip. Uncle Jack helped to score both manicures and pedicures. She loved it!

She said she felt like a queen with servants doting on her and getting her water when she was thirsty. She is so precious.

I cannot not even put into words how full my heart is when I think of this girl. She is truly amazing. I can't imagine my life without her and I continue to pray that she will desire to pour her out in the service of the Lord to advance His Kingdom. I love her like crazy cakes!

Go Grambling!

I know it's been forever since I've posted. Kinda ironic that my last post of "keeping it together" has been sitting on the blog for so long because I can't find the time to post recent activities. Oh well, when school is in session priorities change.
Last month we planned on going to Dallas to meet my family and see dad's team play at the Cotton Bowl. We planned on going down on Saturday (at least that's what the kids thought). But Friday morning Uncle Joby video called us on the laptop and informed the kids that it was spontaneous day (this is Joby's annual day - you never know when - that his gives the kids gifts and a super fun day)! He told the kids we would be coming to Dallas right away and spend the day with him. He also had them look in the oven where they found 3 Nintendo DS consoles to entertain them on the drive!
Once in Dallas Joby took the kids swimming on the roof of our hotel (thanks mom & dad and Jack & Josh!)

What a view!!!

Joby became the "Uncle Joby Express" in the pool... so fun...

And Papa joined us a little later...

Uncle Jack, Josh, and Nana all joined us by evening and we all went out to dinner. It was great to be with my family. It was also fun to see SO MANY people in the hotel and around town in their Grambling tshirts.

The next day we were going to continue spontaneous day with passes to the zoo that Joby got us but it was POURING and storming outside. We went to mall and walked around instead and ate lunch at La Madelines. We headed back to the hotel in the rain and got some naps in for Pip and me.

When it was time to leave for the game the rain stopped and blue skies emerged. It was a very fun game and the Tigers were victorious.

Pip and Uncle Jack - she was scared of him (it was kinda funny) at first but warmed up in no time...

Some famous (I think) rapper did part of the half time show. Right up my alley - haha.

Distracting the kids with treats while the Grambling dancers perform quite a number at half time...

Go Papa - so proud! (And the Tigers have won every game since! They are 8-1 as of today.)

Keeping it together

There's a lot of chaos in every home - I know it. But as you can imagine, there is plenty in this house with 7 active, loud children. Add to that the responsibility to feed them 3 meals a day, and educate them (a 7th grader, 6th grader, 4th grader, 3rd grader, and two 1st graders!) and you are probably wondering how much hair dye I use to cover all the gray. Ha! Here are a few things that have helped me in recent weeks to make our home joyful and productive amidst the chaos...

Lesson plans written for the year.
This is the first year I have written out my lesson plans for the entire year. I have normally written them a week at a time. There is nothing wrong with writing them a week at a time, but if you have a slight leaning towards laziness, which I do, one can find themselves letting things slide. I would either be too tired to write the new week of lesson plans or maybe even forget to write them. Then I play catch up all Monday getting it organized. And if I'm looking at it all on Monday morning it is very likely the supplies I needed for a project never got purchased and now we just have to move on. OR, since there was nothing written in the blocks for the following week it was easy to just push off what was planned to days ahead. I'm not saying we never got school done, we did, it just wasn't as organized as I needed it to be.
So, I have used my regular planner. I love this kind because the month is spread over two pages with lots of room for writing...

Then, I took the pages dedicated to the individual weeks of the month (which I NEVER use) and made them into lesson plan boxes. That way my lesson plans are right with my planner that goes everywhere with me...

I spent a good deal of my summer writing lesson plans for every subject for every day. This has been AMAZINGLY helpful for me. Combined with our moving out to the dining room table it has helped me get done everything I need to do and everything I want to do. Because it is all scheduled I have done art projects and activities that have fallen through the cracks in days past. Plus, whatever supplies or books from the library I need I write in the "notes" section of the previous week. That way I am sure to have all supplies ready when we need them. I love being this organized. I will never go back - this is definitely the way I need to plan.

Having a daily schedule.
Having a schedule up with designated times has also kept us very productive. I thought there was NO way I could do all my schooling before lunch but when I put it all on paper it actually seems possible. And when I put it up on the chalkboard to keep us all on task it is very helpful. We don't have to follow it like it is the law but it gives us general guidelines for where we should be. I love it.

Posted Scripture Memory.
I have been horrible at implementing good scripture memory in my home. Sometimes we get good about it but it slowly fades and we go back to relying on all the Scripture music Cd's the kids have (which are WONDERFUL!). This year, since I have my chalkboard in the dining room, I can post our memory verse where everyone can see it. And with every meal we can review and say it together. I picked a program from desiringgod.org that has memory verses for every week of the year. We are also doing it with friends so the kids can keep eachother accountable. It has been wonderful. Every woman I have talked to who has gone before me says they regret not doing more Scripture memory. How can I not take that to heart and try to be better at hiding God's Word in their hearts.

Posted Meal schedule.
Does it every drive you crazy to have your kids ask every day "What's for dinner?" Well, I have 7 that ask and since they are home with me all day they ask about lunch AND dinner. Now, full disclosure is that I am still a very fleshly woman. I wish I were more patient at this point in my life but I still struggle. And where I sweetly answer the first 2 that ask me about what we are going to be eating by the time I am being asked for the 6th time I might get a little testy at the unsuspecting inquirer. So I am have posted a meal schedule.

I have always written out a menu for the week while I make up my grocery list. Now I just do it on a little chart so the kids can refer to it instead of asking me. I have written out lunches and dinners for each day of the week (I've also been trying to do more creative lunches instead of pb&j over and over). When I'm feeling a little sassy I even color coordinate it.  It hangs inside a cabinet right by the kitchen sink for easy access.

They love knowing what we are having and I love not having to answer the question over and over.

Helping with room cleaning.
I want my kids to have clean rooms. I know some parents feel like it's a battle they do not want to fight and as long as their kid closes the door they don't mind. That is not me. I want to teach them to keep their room clean so they don't become crazy hoarders or awful spouses. I think it shows gratitude for what God has given us. I also realize that most of the time when a parent feel very strongly about something that is a non-essential, they will one day eat their words and completely change their mind!  But for now... (ha!)
I've found, however, that when they come out and say their room is clean it does not necessarily meet my definition of what is clean. This had lead to frustration in all parties involved. So, two to three times a day I have been going back to their rooms and pointing out what can be done and actually help them so they can maintain clean rooms. They love having me help, it helps them learn what to do, and it means their rooms have stayed pretty consistently clean.

I don't mind if they build elaborate forts or bring out all 6 million Lego's - it has just been difficult for them to get everything back to where it belongs. By staying on top of it we are all a little bit happier. (I wish they would help me keep my room clean!)

I had a few more things to share, like twin time and a rolling chair, but this post has gotten pretty long so I will end - it's going over the scheduled time- hehehe- Just wanted to share a little glimpse of what is making this momma so happy in the last few weeks. Yay for being intentional about what is going on. Who knows? In six months this may all change because it was terribly impractical of because I've resumed my lazy ways but for now it is working. A happy momma does mean a happier house. And this house, as you know, should always be full of all the fun in the world.

Little Buddies turn 6!

Here we are - at the end of the birthday whirlwind. I need to remember for the future how much I DO NOT feel like whipping up birthday cakes and party decorations by the end of August and be prepared. This year I am just thanking the Lord for cupcakes and our flock Ice Cream Social.

Whenever there is a 5th Sunday in the months the family flocks (we all started as one but have grown into 3!) meet for an ice cream social. My buddy RC calls it 5th Sundae (I have such clever friends). Last year "5th Sundae" wasn't quite developed yet but a 5th Sunday smores night was scheduled at our house and as it happened to be on my twins birthday it became their birthday party. Our social this year was the day before their birthday and guess who decided to try and pull it off again. Yep. Nominate me for lame mom of the year or cleverest woman on the block but I told the boys that everyone was meeting at the church for their birthday. :) And wouldn't you know it, some of those precious people brought gifts. It really felt like a party.

Then, on Monday night (their actual bday) we had two families over who also have new 6 year olds for pizza and cupcakes. I told the boys I was just too overloaded to do fancy cakes or themes so they both picked a character they would like to be turned into to top their cupcakes. Wilson chose Annakin Skywalker

and Tyson chose Leo from Little Einsteins (surprise surprise)

It was a quick and easy yet fun solution.
It was great to celebrate my boys with dear friends.

They got great gifts but were most excited to open the huge box from Nana and Papa (it was a basketball hoop)

I always call them my naughty boys but I love them to pieces. They are my precious little guys. They are best of friends, different as night and day, love their family, love first grade and are full of energy. I long for them to give their lives to Jesus. They are turning my hair gray and filling my days with laughs. I love them to pieces.

A New School Year!

The new school year has begun for the Woodard Academy!

I've given up my classroom so that we can move some boy bodies in there. Currently all four boys share a room and that is getting a little hectic (and stinky if you get my drift - and hopefully not theirs!). I am sad about losing that beautiful classroom but am also excited about moving back to the kitchen table. Just like there are seasons in life there are seasons in homeschooling (a shout out to RC here!). I used to prefer the kitchen table to a classroom, then I NEEDED a classroom and now I am actually needing to be back at the table. It will help me be able to continue school moving along even if I am needing to make dinner or clean a little or help princess pip.

We used Skittles as incentive to stay on schedule. Every time we started a new subject on schedule everyone got a skittle. I don't have everythign out of the classroom and into the kitchen yet. It's a work in progress.

Had to move all the curriculum and art supplies out to the kitchen - I love my super organized cabinets...

We started the morning rocking it out. My kids love to dance. Two of their new favorite are "Oh Happy Day" by Tim Hughes and "ny2la" by Press Play. Both can be found on YouTube.

During Science (which is Anatomy and Physiology this year) we made a "personal person" in our notebooks. With each new system we will add a layer (skeletal, muscular etc...). They are going to be very cool...

I chose not to put the twins in drama this year. So, on Mondays when the 4 oldest go to drama and Pip naps I get a little extra mommy/twins teaching time. Today after their school time Tyson said "Thank you for doing this with us, Mommy!" Precious. I love it. They also get a snack which is a big treat (I know, I'm a mean mom who doesn't give her kids afternoon snack)

SO, we are in full swing. We stayed perfectly on schedule today. But it's easy to stay on schedule on day one. It's day 64 I'm worried about (or day 2!). I am praying for the discipline and diligence to provide a good and productive year for my kids. It really is my joy to do this. I know it is the right decision for us. Prayers going out to all of you as your start your school years wherever, however, and whenever that might be. May our highest goal be to teach our little ones that there is a faithful loving God who demands their obedience and that in obeying they will find their greatest joy!

Not wasting her young life...

I'm so proud of my precious, Madison. I am blessed beyond words to have her as a daughter. Check out her blog as she is tryiong to raise money for her first mission's trip... (scroll over the space below)

http://madisononamission.blogspot.com/

Cutie Cole turns 8

As I'm getting pummeled with birthdays (Jason was 2 days before Cole's - no blog post for that birthday boy- sorry honey) I am also getting pummeled with all the emotions that come with realizing your babies are growing up. Some say they wish they could stop their kids from getting older and I don't - I am eager to enjoy them at all stages of their lives. But I still can't quite grasp how quickly it seems to go by.

Cole turned 8 on Tuesday. For his birthday dinner he requested hot dogs, mac-n-cheese, and curly fries (which is what Carson requested too sans the fries - I know - lucky me.). He loves the curly fries bc he loves spelling his name with them.

I made cupcakes since his real cake was coming the next day at his party. Cole asked if everyone could have a candle in their cupcake. Isn't that precious. So, we  gave everyone a candle and 3 for Cole. Yes, they are pink but the boy wanted cherry icing (again, I know, lucky me - the preservatives and artificial flavor were so delightful).

The next day we had a pool party. Yes, a pool party. How fun! We have a neighborhood pool that allows us to reserve it for private parties. We invited our bestest co-op buddies. They had lots of fun. Cole got out the pool almost 45 minutes before everyone else. I thought he might be upset but he was just so anxious to get home for cake and presents. I love that about him.

After swimming we headed to out house for pizza and cake. Cole wanted Larry Boy. I couldn't figure out how to make it well so we did the whole editable image thing.

He got great gifts and I got great gift ideas - want one? A two liter, a pack of Mentos and a gadget to help you drop the Mentos in and create an exploding fountain. How fun is that?!

I know God has great things for Cole. He has an amazing sensitivity and is artistically gifted. He is enjoying being a part of the Playroom Theater Company and is crazy in love with his baby sister. He's the one who wakes me up every morning asking if he can eat and asks 10 times more than everyone else if he can play Wii or a computer game. I see him growing up and maturing before my eyes.

Happy birthday Bubba. I love you like crazy cakes and am so happy you are my son. Forever I'll be your honey if you'll be my pumpkin.

Where's Pip?

Yesterday the kids were playing in the sprinklers in the back yard. After they had been in for a while I realized I didn't know where the Pipster was. I looked inside and out and couldn't find her. Until finally I saw this...

That little pipsnicker is such a hoot. I love her like crazy cakes.