So I had this "grand idea" a couple weeks ago. I would invite my nephews and niece up for Memorial Day weekend and let the cousins spend some time together and let my sister Jessica and new brother in-law, Vernon, have some alone time. (Well kind of alone time since they have a 2 month old baby.) Emma's birthday was on Memorial Day so I thought we would just have a weekend long "party" with the cousins. 7 kids in our house for 4 days was loud and crazy and fun. Bedtimes weren't as bad as I thought they would be after the 1st night. It was a great weekend, but I'm exhausted! Trying to keep all those kids fed was a challenge and a half! But so worth it!

The first thing the girls did when we got home on Friday was change into "dress up" dresses.

Then they wanted to go play outside and I made them change into play clothes. They came out like this. I think Emily wore Emma's clothes most of the weekend and Emma wore Emily's clothes. So as usual we were getting them mixed up all weekend long. Silly girls!

The boys wanted to play target practise with the airsoft gun and we had a neighbor kid at our house most of the time so that made 8 kids running around!

When they got tired of target practice they came inside to make a tent in the living room.

We watched the movie Tangled which Cale said was a "dumb movie" but as you can see he sat and watched it anyways.

Kendall got out his rc plane and flew. The kids loved that!

The kids stayed up late talking and giggling every night and for some crazy reason they were all up before 7am! We were all pretty tired!

We had a little flag ceremony in the morning on Memorial day. Since it was Emma's birthday she got to be the flag bearer.

All the kids and Kendall.

Jessica and Vernon came up and we had dinner at my mom's house. The kids all had fun playing with bubbles.

Jacob playing with some toys at my mom's house.

Emma really wanted a pinata for her birthday, so the kids had a great time with it!

Daniel taking some swings at the pinata.

Vernon got the older boys real dizzy before they could start swinging the mallet around!

I made an apple pie and a cherry pie for Emma's birthday. Darien's birthday is on Sunday so we celebrated his birthday too while we were all together. My mom made a chocolate cake for him.

Emma and Daniel being silly!

Noah, Cale, Daniel, Emma, Jacob, Emily and Darien.

Okay we were missing the newest cousin Alexander in the last picture so here are all the Washington cousins. Some day we will get all my siblings and all their kids together and get a picture taken!

Emma opening her presents.

She LOVES I Spy books and now has the game! So much fun!

Jacob and Alexander getting to know each other. Alexander is 2 months old and I think he weighs more then Jacob!

He is so cute!!

Hmmm, what's this??

Thoughts on being a homeschooling mother

This is a subject that I've wanted to write about for a long time. It's a subject that I've been hesitant to write about in the past. I've been worried that some how I would offend someone by saying what I really feel. Maybe because I've been really sensitive about other people's comments or criticisms. I'm not very good at writing down my thoughts and expressing myself. I've recently met a group of homeschooling moms who are amazing. They inspire and uplift me. They remind me that I'm not alone in this awesome journey of educating my children. Being a homeschooling mom is very lonely sometimes. One amazing mom in this group says she doesn't have a "thick skin" and I kinda feel the same way. I feel like I'm a failing when I hear comments like; so and so "is reading or doing math at the 5th grade level and he/she is only in the 1st or 2nd grade" and then looks at me like my kids are stupid or I'm failing to teach them so they fit into the "normal level". I'm trying really hard to get past this, to not be so sensitive. Don't get me wrong, all mother's love to share "brag" about their kids achievements and strengths, I'm totally one of those moms! But sometimes it's obvious that my kids are being compared and criticised. Or it could be just my own insecurities.


Today this group of homeschooling moms and all our children got together. Two of the mom's have teenagers and are "veteran" home school moms. I'm so impressed with these teenagers! There were a lot of kids, at least 15, ages 9 months to 16 or 17 yrs old. They all went outside to play and I was never once concerned about the kids cause I knew the older ones would keep an eye on the younger ones. I was impressed with the teenagers who seem to be mature way beyond their years. They were gentle and kind with the younger kids. They are very intelligent well rounded kids who seem to have a strong sense of who they are and where they are going. I want my kids to be that way! I enjoyed my time with these new friends. They have so much experience and wisdom, they've been where I am as a homeschooling mother. I love their little bits of wisdom and advise. It's nice to feel that I'm okay. To be reminded that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I don't take my children's education lightly. I've put many hours of thought and prayer into this. I have no doubt that this is what I'm supposed to do. I love teaching my children. I love seeing the joy in their faces when they learn something new and exciting. I love the freedom of letting them really explore something they are passionate about. I love seeing Noah learn about Leonardo Da Vinci and being inspired by his sketch books. Noah now has a sketch book of his own and has spent many many hours drawling and sketching this week. I love having my children close to me (even when they drive me crazy)! I love being a mother!

Going Private

I've decided to make my blog private. If you want to be able to visit my blog please give me your email address so I can allow you to view the blog. Just leave me a comment. Thanks!

Tulip Fields

Saturday we took our annual drive up to the tulip fields. The day was absolutely beautiful! It was heavenly!

A rare picture of me with Jacob. I am usually behind the camera.

This was kinda neat, a field of red tulips with one yellow tulip in the middle of this huge field.

The kids in the red field.

Kendall with the kids.

Kendall and Jacob

Daniel smelling the tulips.

This section of the field was not blooming quite yet. Noah smelled this flower and pronounced that is smelled like a cucumber!

Hmm, rocks don't smell quite as nice as the flowers! It had rained a lot until just two days before we came to the fields so the top layer of dirt was dry but the ground was very soft. The kids thought it was like walking on a trampoline and spent more time jumping on the path then looking at the flowers.

Jacob wasn't so sure about these flowers!

I felt like I spent way to much time telling the kids to "stay out of the mud", "stay on the path", "watch where you're going, you're going to run into someone!", "Stay out of the water!", "Put the rocks down, don't throw them!". I think I need to lighten up a little. But sure enough Daniel followed his brother and sister over to a spot where there was lots of mud and water and he fell into the mud. Oh well! It's always fun to try to get mud out of clothes, you'd think I'd be an expert at it by now!

Another cool flower. It had this stripe of red on it, like someone had taken a paint brush to it.

Me with the kids.

Someone was nice enough to take a picture of the whole family.

Emma looking at the yellow tulips.

Daniel and Noah.

The kids finally found some flowers that they could pick!

And Jacob could get on the ground and feel the grass.

Poor kids are not use to having the sun shining the their eyes and picture taking wasn't so fun today! It was a very fun day and we so enjoyed the warmth on our faces and sunshine in our eyes! The next day, and everyday since has been cool, gray and wet. :(

Random Pictures....

Emma and Noah have been struggling to get along lately. So I have a new rule: When you fight you must walk around the yard holding hands until you are both happy and have resolved the issue. I took this the other day, it was sprinkling as they walked around the yard. They are learning to talk about things and learn to like each other again.

I thought this was so cute, Emma is such a little mommy! She was reading a book to Caden.

We have been having some problems with Jacob's eating habits (or lack there of). I tried to start feeding solid foods to him at 6 months and he was not liking that at all! I kept trying but he refused to eat solid food at all. I noticed that he was starting to look a little thin and was getting concerned about him. I tried to supplement with formula and that didn't go over to well. He refused to drink it and acted like we were torturing him! My milk supply was starting to get low so I was starting to really get worried!

We prayed for inspiration on what to do to help him. I'm happy to report that he is now eating solid food! He now eats anything and everything we give him and he is looking a little healthier. And I have been able to get my milk supply back up thanks to some advise from Kendall's mom. He still refuses to drink anything from a cup or bottle but I'm not too worried about that, it will come in time.

The other day I was in a baking mood. I made two apple pies, hot rolls, and home made donuts, all of which we had for dinner that night. I know, I'm totally crazy! The donuts were made with whole wheat flour, as was the pie crust and there was very little sugar in the pie. The kids thought it was great! And Kendall was nice enough to not complain about it!

When Kendall was done eating he went to the fridge and grabbed a carrot to eat. Noah looked at me and said "Why does Dad get a carrot and I don't?!" So I told him he was more then welcome to grab a carrot too.

Emma was at school yesterday and I was busy teaching Noah his science lesson when I realised I didn't hear Daniel (which is usually not a good sign). I peaked into the living room and found him carefully looking through Kendall's tool catalog. He's starting way to young, I'm so in trouble!