WFMW- Schedule!

Posted by Mari Jo on August 31, 2011 about Family, Comments are off

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I thrive with routine. I love having a schedule that keeps my accountable to completing daily tasks. I find that days that I adhere to my schedule are far more productive than those days I choose to just “fly by the seat of my pants”. I love that saying. I don’t however actually like doing it.

Every mother is different, and some may like having a schedule more than others, but I think at least having a basic routine and order to your day makes everyone, especially children feel organized and safe.

So here is my daily schedule. There are exceptions obviously. If someone is sick then everything goes out the window (actually, I kept the schedule intact the entire time Landon was sick last week, and it saved me some serious chaos!), also on evenings we are out late the day before, I let the kids sleep in the next morning. That is the beauty of being a stay at home mom who home schools, I don’t have to adhere to somebody elses schedule. Also, certain things might be left off, due to laziness (like the 20 min work out…ahem). But I do try and stick to the schedule as much as possible, while remaining flexible and allowing for God’s interruptions throughout the day. A friend at our door step, a grandparent visit, or an invitation out to dinner, are all welcome interruptions! But for the days that there are no interruptions, this is what “works for me”!

Hopkins Family Schedule

Psalm 127:3 Remember: Be an abiding mom, NOT super mom. Flexibility does not equal failure

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
7:00 am	Mommy up, see daddy off, kids up at 7:30,Put in laundry	Mommy up, see daddy off, kids up at 7:30,Put in laundry	Mommy up, see daddy off, kids up at 7:30,Put in laundry	Mommy up, see daddy off, kids up at 7:30,Put in laundry	Mommy up, see daddy off, kids up at 7:30,Put in laundry
8:00 am	Breakfast, dishes, switch laundry devotions	Breakfast, dishes, switch laundry devotions	Breakfast, dishes, switch laundry devotions	Breakfast, dishes, switch laundry devotions	Breakfast, dishes, switch laundry devotions
8:30 am	Circle time, work boxes, 9am L nap,Mommy chores	Circle time, work boxes, 9am L nap,Mommy chores	Circle time, work boxes, 9am L nap,Mommy chores	Circle time, work boxes, 9am L nap,Mommy chores	Free day, play date, field trip, etc.
10:00 am	Work boxes	Work boxes	Work boxes	Work boxes
11:00 am	Landon wakes up, outside/Free play/craft	Landon wakes up, outside/Free play/craft	Landon wakes up, outside/Free play/craft	Landon wakes up, outside/Free play/craft
12:00 noon	Lunch, switch laundry, dishes12:30 Nap/rest	Lunch, switch laundry, dishes12:30 Nap/rest	Lunch, switch laundry, dishes12:30 Nap/rest	Lunch, switch laundry, dishes12:30 Nap/rest	Lunch, switch laundry, dishes12:30 Nap/rest
1:00 pm	chores, planning, dinner prep	chores, planning, dinner prep	chores, planning, dinner prep	chores, planning, dinner prep	chores, planning, dinner prep
2:00 pm
3:00 pm	Kids wake, free play	Kids wake, free play	Kids wake, free play	Kids wake, free play	Kids wake, free play
4:00 pm	Cook dinner/ AA chores	Cook dinner/ AA Ballet	Cook dinner/ AA chores	Cook dinner/ AA chores	Cook dinner/ AA chores
5:00 pm	5:30 Dinner/ Devotion	5:30 Dinner/ Devotion	5:00 Awanas	5:30 Dinner/ Devotion	5:30 DinnerDaddy teach science/ Bible study
6:00 pm	Bath time/ Dishes/tomorrow meals	Bath time/ Dishes/tomorrow meals	Bath time/ Dishes/tomorrow meals	Bath time/ Dishes/tomorrow meals	Movie Night/Dishes
7:00 pm	Devotions/Kids bed, 7:30 20 min workout	Devotions/Kids bed, 7:30 20 min workout	Devotions/Kids bed, 7:30 20 min workout	Devotions/Kids bed, 7:30 20 min workout	Devotions/Kids bed, 7:30 20 min workout
8:00 pm	20 min clean, start dishes, fold laundry, relax with Dad	20 min clean, start dishes, fold laundry, relax with Dad	20 min clean, start dishes, fold laundry, relax with Dad	20 min clean, start dishes, fold laundry, relax with Dad	20 min clean, start dishes, fold laundry, relax with Dad

This is just one of a few different schedules I keep. I also have our school schedule, which basically allows me to fill in the blanks with what I will be teaching each week, and I also keep a cleaning schedule, although I must admit I have not been adhering to that one the way I should. Hey, I think I just motivated myself!

I hope that someday all of this info may be a help to AA as she becomes a wife and mother. What a crazy thought!

Have You Taken Your Mommy Vitamins?

Posted by Mari Jo on August 30, 2011 about Family, 1 comment

Two days last week, I was super cranky. It could have had something to do with the fact that Landon was sick the better part of last week and was waking up in the middle of the night burning up with fever, or just the fact that I was cranky for no good reason. Either way, my kids and my husband deserve the absolute best out of me. So I decided that I needed to take some Mommy Vitamins to get back on track. They may be a bit different than what you find in your local pharmacy.

Vitamin A- Acknowledging that nobody else is the cause for my bad mood, and that it is sinful.

Vitamin B- Breaking the cycle of negativity. Negative speech and negative thoughts are not helpful for anyone.

Vitamin C- Cuddles. Instead of go-go-go, I needed to slow-slow-slow, and cuddle my babies. I find that whenever I stop and do this, my mood is instantly lifted and so is theirs. Having a cranky Mommy is no fun! Also, C could stand for Chocolate. Better yet, chocolate and cuddles at the same time!

Vitamin D- Diving in and get to work on things that are bugging me. Instead of complaining about how frustrated I am, I needed to jump in and tackle a couple of things that had been in the back of my mind causing me stress. Whether it is an aspect of the kids character that I find needs disciplining, or a random household chore, it needed to be addressed rather than thought about. I find that I can often get stuck in the feeling of being overwhelmed by a project, rather than just finishing it.

Vitamin E- Enough of me, let’s get some more G-O-D!

Vitamin K- Knees. Time to get on my knees, confess my sin, and ask God to change my attitude! Praying that God gives me more patience, and that he helps me to not let my frustration (which is inevitable with two little ones!) show to those around me.

Vitamin Z- Zzzzzzzzz. I needed to give myself a break and catch up on the sleep I had been losing at night, and so did poor Landon. Without adequate sleep, everyone at home suffers.

So how about you? Have you taken “Mommy Vitamins” Today?

If you haven’t, here is my reason for taking them, and I am sure you have reasons of your own!

Works For Me Wednesday

Posted by Mari Jo on August 24, 2011 about Family, Comments are off

I have seen this nifty post idea on a couple other home school blogs, and I just love getting tips from real moms who are in the trenches. So often I read articles in magazines or online and I think “have these people actually ever had a child?” So I love knowing I am getting advice from someone who has “been there, done that” and is currently working hard as a homemaker.

So here is my contribution. It may not be much, but hey, it “works for me”.

Since we have started full-fledge home schooling, time is scarce. I found taking care of daily necessities plus the added stress of home schooling was leaving me frazzled and cranky by the end of the day. Meals were especially frustrating. I felt like I was making the same breakfast and lunch over and over because I was just grabbing whatever was easiest and would let me get back to what I needed to be doing.

So something I have started doing is making the next days breakfast and lunch the night before, right after dinner. I like this because my kitchen is already messy and in need of cleaning, and I feel like I am capable of making healthier, more creative choices for meals. Also, Brandon is home to watch the kids, so I don’t have a one year old tugging at my pant leg the entire time.

Now, in the mornings, I can relax during breakfast time. During meal times, all I have to do is pop the plates out of the refrigerator, heat things up if needed and grab drinks. Rather than running back and forth to the kitchen a zillion times every meal, I am spending all three meals sitting at the table with the kids. It has made meal times so much more enjoyable for me!

If you are feeling frazzled like I am, give it a try! It “works for me”!

Happily Spent

Posted by Mari Jo on August 23, 2011 about Family, Comments are off

Today I have changed 7 dirty diapers, made 12 meals, 2 snacks, cleaned and swept the kitchen 3 times, completed 3 monster loads of laundry, 2 loads of dishes, home schooled for 3.5 hours, kissed 3 boo-boos, took a beautiful girl to ballet, snuggled a sick baby, read books, sang songs, pushed kids on the swings, picked up toys (over and over!), vacuumed, prepped for school tomorrow, prayed and put kids to bed, and now I am writing this post. Being well-rested is certainly not in a mothers job description. There are times that feel like I have spent all day meeting someone elses needs, and I just feel empty, completely poured out.

I remember a sermon where the preacher was talking about the state of our hearts when we left this earth. I remember him saying that he wanted to leave this life completely “spent”. He wanted his body and soul to be completely “used up” in service for the Kingdom of God.

I so often get caught up in the world’s way of thinking about serving ourselves. “You deserve a break today”, and “Because you are worth it” are just a couple successful marketing examples showing how our society constantly tells that we should meet our own needs, before serving those around us. I am just as guilty of this way of thinking as anyone else, if not more so! I would be lying if I told you that I didn’t inwardly (and sometimes not so inwardly!) sigh every time the kids spilled their milk. I don’t like work. I don’t like being disrupted from my “routine”. I don’t like giving up myself and my selfish desires. Geez, I don’t even like getting out of bed in the morning!

But I don’t want to be that way. I want to embrace the feeling of being spent, and rather than complaining about it, relishing it. What a blessing it is to know that I am exactly where God wants me, doing exactly what He created me to do. Before I was ever thought of, God knew I would be Brandon’s wife and helper, and Aubrey Ann and Landon’s mother.

So often people feel like they have to go to some foreign country to minister and do God’s work. I know that I need look no further than right down the hall to find my greatest ministry. I have the opportunity to spend every day praying for, molding, and leading two souls in the way of the Lord. I have the opportunity to spend everyday encouraging my husband to be the man that God created him to be. To build him up, not tear him down. That is my ministry, my legacy, my life’s work. If I do nothing else with my life, but serve my husband, my children, and my God, then I have been a true success. Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.

Lets pray for each other, that God gives us a renewed heart for our greatest ministry. It is right down the hall. It comes in the form of dirty diapers, dirty dishes, laundry, boo boo’s, spilled milk, and hearts that are begging for someone to love them enough to be ” happily spent”.

Two Truths and a Lie

Posted by Mari Jo on August 22, 2011 about Family, Comments are off

Have you ever played this game? Basically, a person says three statements, two of which are true, and one is a lie. The goal is, to guess what is true, and what is a lie.

Ready to play?

Here is Landon earlier today.

So here goes, two of these statements are true, one is a lie.

During the time these pictures were taken Landon:

1. was going potty. (I will let you guess whether you think it is #1 or #2)

2. Had a fever of 102.8

3. just said the word “red” for the very first time

I will give you a few moments to think.

mmmmm hhhhhmmmmm mmmm ( I am humming the Jeopardy song, excuse my voice)

The lie is:

3. just said the word “red” for the first time.

Gotcha!

Week one- DONE!

Posted by Mari Jo on August 19, 2011 about Family, 2 comments

I made it, and believe it or not, I think I am alive! Week one of this school year is done. AA did so good, and Landon actually did better than expected as well.

I asked AA if she thought school was fun, or hard. She responded, “Mommy, school is fun AND hard.” I think that is probably the perfect balance I am trying to achieve with her. If I can keep school challenging, but still fun, then that will be the perfect atmosphere for real learning.

Some surprises this week:

1. What in the world do I do with a one year old during school time? Thank you Lord for naps! So far, he sits on my lap while we do a very short circle time opening (prayer, pledge of allegiance, songs, counting, alphabet, calendar, colors, shapes, and memory verse), then he does “carpet time” while AA does her first two work boxes. Carpet time is where I set a timer and put toys out on a specific carpet, and he is expected to play with those toys on that carpet until the timer goes off. He does pretty well, as long as I am in the room, but the second I walk out, I can hear the the thumps of his little crawling legs and arms following me. Hard to get upset about that. By the time carpet time is over, it is time for his morning nap. He sleeps from 9-11am, which is enough time for AA to finish the rest of her work boxes. Then we have time for “P.E” which right now is basically any physical activity, but eventually I hope will be replaced with ballet and other activities.

2. I am in love with certain parts of our new curriculum. This is just a quick note I scribbled for AA up on the board while trying to explain part of her history lesson.

How do you not love a history lesson that teaches this? And after the lesson, she GOT it! She keeps talking about how people have a beginning and end, but God is eternal, like a circle, with no beginning and no end. Love it!

3. I LOVE our work boxes. Right now we are only doing five work boxes, with two additional “freebie” activities (reading, drawing, guided computer time etc.) We will be working our way up to 10 work boxes this year, and 12 the next, once we get a better handle on our time management.

This is our set up, for now. Number tags help her stay on task, and answer the never ending question, “when are we done?”, and “what am I doing next?” for me!

Work with mom tags. This immediately lets AA know that this work box is to be done with my help. Whenever she sees one, she gets all giddy. “Mama, I get to do this one with yooooouuuuu!”

This is where she hangs her tags as she finishes them. This also gives her a good visual as she finishes each box and sees herself getting closer to finishing them all for the day.

Judging by the picture, I think AA feels just as happy about our first week as I do!

Homeschool Jitters

Posted by Mari Jo on August 17, 2011 about Family, Comments are off

Today we had the first day of the school year. AA doesn’t turn five for another year, so she will not be starting K, but we have decided to start a curriculum this year rather than me just using a hodge podge of things I have accumulated over the years, and things I find online. For some reason, that makes this year feel much, much different. Maybe it is because I am using something I am not familiar with, maybe it is because I am afraid I am going to be really bad at homeschooling, or that AA or I may hate it, but I am nervous.

I want so badly to give the kids my best that sometimes I forget that no matter how hard I try, I will NEVER measure up. God is the one in charge of educating the children, not me.

We have chosen to use Heart of Dakota as our curriculum this year.

This is teacher’s manual, but the program came with all sorts of lovely read-alouds, a new early learning Bible, a hand writing program, a phonics program, and even a book geared towards helping children build critical thinking skills.

Heart of Dakota is Christ-centered, which was our number one criteria when we were choosing a curriculum. I love that it is literature based, and that it doesn’t require a lot of prep time to implement. It will need to be supplemented, but I personally think that is true of all curriculum. That is the beauty of homeschooling! I don’t have to use a “one-size fits all” approach to teaching. I can tailor everything to perfectly meet each of the kids needs. I can skip concepts that AA has already mastered, and spend more time focusing on what she is struggling with. I am afraid that the curriculum might be a bit easy for AA, but I still want to give it a try, and see if it can fill in any gaps that I may have missed with her education.

This curriculum covers our Bible, language arts, history and science needs. I will need a curriculum for math next year, but for this year I am going to use what I have on hand, which happens to be Sylvan Learning (first grade), and Book 1 and 2 of a series called “Developing Number Concepts”. I simply could not decide whether I wanted a fully “hands-on” approach to teaching math like Rightstart Math, or Math U See, or if I wanted something more work book based like Saxon. So, I am going to give it another year and see what appeals to AA, and what is going to give me the flexibility I need.

Some other subjects we will be covering are art, and Spanish and P.E. We are waiting to start geography until next school year when AA officially starts Kindergarten.

From my limited research, I have learned that there is no perfect curriculum. You will find all sorts of people who are very passionate about their curriculum, and just as many people who tried the same curriculum and hated it. It is just a matter of trial and error, and finding what works for your family.

Please pray that we keep God at the center of our home. Pray that I have the ability to remain flexible, realizing that a “schedule” is designed to serve me, and not the other way around. Above all, pray that God gives us patience, and wisdom as we embark on this very new journey.

I spent the better part of last week revamping the school room, and setting up a “work box” system to keep us better organized. More on that later!

O-N-E is our Landy!

Posted by Mari Jo on August 14, 2011 about Family, 1 comment

I think must have inadvertently stepped into some sort of time warp, because it can’t possibly be one year since I gave birth to our sweet little boy. This whole year seems so surreal. Some parts (like the marathon feeding sessions from a dropper, or with the rocking chair pulled into the darkest closet I could find) seem like ages ago, but other parts (like his first smile, holding his tiny hand as he slept, and his first giggle) feel like they just happened yesterday. Sigh. If there is a mother out there who knows some secret to keeping your kids little, pass it my way.

So here is our last picture of our little baby the night before his birthday.

Landon woke up this morning to our birthday tradition of all of us bursting in singing “Happy Birthday” while video taping. AA cried three years in a row, yet we still do it for some reason. Luckily for us, Landon didn’t cry, but he did just stare at us blankly as if to say, “What in the world are you crazy people doing?”

Afterwards, we dressed him up in a funny hat, and took pictures of him. Sounds like a great way to spend your birthday, huh?

After hours of torturing our kids with silly accessories, we decided to have some breakfast.

Heeeeelllllloooooo monkey bread.

Seriously, Brandon told me if I am ever trying to convince him to have another baby, to remind him that more kids=more birthdays=more birthday breakfast=more monkey bread for him. If you notice the giant chunk of monkey bread missing from the plate, it is because Brandon was so blinded by his excitement about the monkey bread that he forgot we needed to sing happy birthday, and cut off a huge chunk to warm up in the microwave. I told him not to mess with birthdays.

I think he is wishing that his sister hadn’t stole his awesome hat.

Next we were off to the zoo.

Landon loves the “Du-dle” Aka Turtles

Ok, just one more silly hat picture. He really wanted to take this one. You can tell by the way I am holding his hands down.

Riding the “dur-dle”.

AA feeding the giraffe with his really creepy tongue.

Baby brother decided to feed Sir creepy tongue as well. *shudder*

AA working at her part-time job as the zoo’s paleontologist. Very, very serious work.

After AA’s boss let her off early, we headed home for a much needed rest time. We enjoyed a birthday dinner of hot dogs and homemade mac and cheese. Yes, we eat enough calories on birthdays to get us through the winter.

Naked, and ready for some dessert!

Yes, we are singing “Happy Birthday” again. Why? Because I can! Remember what I told Brandon? Don’t mess with birthdays.

Yes the cake is store bought. No I do not feel guilty for not making a homemade one. I do however feel guilty for the two pieces of it I inhaled.

What IS this thing?

I am not sure what it is, but it tastes pretty good.

Don’t mind if I do.

Want some?

Yes, I will take two large pieces please.

You know what else cake is good for?

It makes excellent lotion!

Happy birthday big boy!

Peanut, Peanut Butter (and jelly)

Posted by Mari Jo on August 12, 2011 about Family, 1 comment

There are few moments that are more grand than your first bite of a candy sandwich. Our little guy had his first peanut butter and jelly and I felt compelled to document the precious moment for all of your enjoyment. Relax, enjoy, and relive that first dreamy bite.

First, the sandwich in question:

Hello friend. I have missed you so.

Next, the scene.

High chair? Check.

Bib? Check.

Delicious candy sandwich? Check.

Adorable baby? Double check.

And the moment.

Wait for it.

It’s goooooood!

Crunchy peanut butter, grape jelly, and bread. So simple, yet so delicious. Only something is missing.

Ahhhh…that’s better.

So good, I would eat it without using hands.

Big sisters like it too!

After all that deliciousness, only one thing is needed.

Hey, eating PB&J is serious business.

Ok. Maybe not.

The Measure of a Servants Heart

Posted by Mari Jo on August 11, 2011 about Family, Comments are off

Being a servant does not always sound appealing to me. I have a hard time finding the joy in scrubbing the toilets, changing that dirty diaper, making another peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or picking up the baby toys…again. In fact, my selfish will feels like stomping its feet like a two-year-old and saying “I will not, no way, nuh-uh!”

There are days where I want to do nothing but what I want to do. I can imagine it now…. (enter dream sequence):

I wake up late to the sound of birds chirping. Brandon rushes to my side,”What can I get you for breakfast, my dear?” Both children are standing by his side smiling, but silent. Ahhhhh…silence. I float into the kitchen to a lovely breakfast, Landon lays a napkin in my lap, and Aubrey Ann pours my orange juice without spilling a drop. We all sit down and eat. Not one bit of food is dropped to the floor, nobody needs a refill on their drink, mouths don’t need to be wiped. I leave my dishes at the table and retire to my bedroom for a much needed nap.

Need I continue? Yes, just for one more moment….aaaaaahhhhhhhh

Ok, I am done.

Do you know what is missing from that dream?

Joy. Joy and life.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is in the book of John. It is the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. I cannot even begin to fathom the amount of humbleness it took for the God of the Universe to bend down and wash the feet of His followers. Did Jesus do this begrudgingly, half-heartedly, or with the thought “I guess I will do this, but they better be thankful!”? Absolutely not. In fact when Peter protested, “No…You shall never wash my feet” (13:12) Jesus all but insisted. He didn’t say, “Ahhh well ok, if you don’t want me to…” No, He wanted to serve. Not because it was fun washing those grungy feet, but because it is a blessing to serve others. In fact Jesus says himself , “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (15-17)

When I look at my ministry as a mother from God’s perspective, it isn’t a chore. Not even scrubbing the toilets. It is an honor to be a servant to my family. When I start to feel that aching sense of self-importance, or I start to have a “what about meeeeeee?” moment, I think of Christ. I think about what a blessing it can be to serve those around me, and what a blessing it is to have a family to serve.

Motherhood requires setting aside our selfish desires to be served. It requires a sacrifice of “me” for the sake of “we”. It requires service. That service when done in love creates joy. Joy and life.

Our home is a home filled with dirty diapers, dishes, laundry, dirty toilets, children in need of rearing, and feet. Feet that are in dire need of washing. I better get to it.