Twirls 'n Curls

  Good morning, my name is Liz and I'm filling in for Phil today, Monday, September 12, 2011.  ~The top HEADLINE for today: Homeschoolers across America report that they have seen an increase in family unity and togetherness by schooling at home, as well as creative learning by even the youngest of students. "They love learning," says one mom in southern California, "to the point that it gets all over them, you know? It just kind of...spills out." Indeed ma'am, a picture is worth 1,000 words. ~"I've been on a diet two weeks, and all I lost is 14 days," moans a local housewife who chooses remain anonymous. She is thinking of suing her Internet company for their slow service. "It takes me so long to load Facebook each morning, I simply don't have time to excercise. This is an outrage, it just doesn't add up." It may not, but those pounds sure do... ~ This Just In: Local father caught on camera being absolute...

Family Update: My older two girls recently started tumbling class, and they absolutely love it! It's great for me too, we do one sport a season, and they were going to be on different soccer teams this year. That meant someone would have practice every night, plus 2 games on Saturday. They are in the same tumbling class, and it's one night a week! Plus, it's super easy to practice at home too. The class was adorable, all the girls in their gymnastics clothes trying to stretch and act like professionals already.   Both our girls could use a little help in the coordination department (my genes, unfortunately), so this is really good for them. By the time I was Hannah's age, I had broken my arm and gotten stitches in my lip! Their teacher was super nice, professional, and has oodles of patience, she's amazing!  Hannah asks every day if it's time for class again, and they practice all the time. Lots of fun for my energetic girlies!!

(Click here or here for other posts in this topic) One of my favorite parts of parenting is getting to experience all of the "firsts" of life with my kids: you know, first teeth, first steps, first time watching a 3D movie... Those firsts. Big firsts, like the ominous first trip to the dentist. Disastrous firsts, like the time Linsey tried to cut her own hair. Unforgettable firsts, like when Hannah realized she was a big sister. Adorable firsts, like the first time Nattie tried to drink from a water fountain.   I got to be there. For each one. Because I'm their mom. There's nothing quite like the first time my kids finally mastered a two wheeler, or started their first day of school. And with my oldest being only 6, I know I've barely scratched the surface of "firsts" that will happen. I love them. I dread them. I fear them. But no matter how I feel about my kids growing up, I am determined to treasure each new ...

While my daughters were swimming at a relative's pool on vacation, our youngest slipped out of her floating ring and began to go under.  I quickly tossed my phone on the grass and jumped in to rescue her, fully clothed. No drama there - she was fine, just a little scared, so she wanted to get out of the pool. Cue drama: As soon as I helped her out, she ran over to where my iPhone was lying (safely) in the grass and picked it up to return to me. "Here you go Mama, pho-one!" The scene to follow unfolded in slow motion. "No no, sweetie, Mama doesn't want her phone in the water!" (That's why I threw it out before saving you!) I could hear the wheels turning in her two-year old mind. She looked at me briefly, smiled, and threw the phone like a skipping rock. Only it didn't skip, it sunk. "No-o-o-o-o-o!" I cried, diving under to grab the phone before it touched the bottom of the pool. After sitting a couple days in a bag of rice, I'm hap...

Summer is... a time to have some of those important "firsts" in your life,   and rekindle friendships, some old... (no offense, Mom!) ... some new. It's a time to gaze in wonder at God's creation, And learn some important lessons as you do. Summer is a time for family bonding, for wading in the pond-ing, And just plain ol' summertime fun!! Enjoy the last of these summer days!!

First Day of School Outfits :)   This last month of summer has absolutely flown by! I have some amazing pics of our family vacation to AZ that I will post later, but vacation was quickly overshadowed by the start of school about 4 days later. (We homeschool - my oldest is enrolled in an online virtual charter academy called K12 , click here for a post on that). Here are a few snapshots from this week that remind me of why I love teaching my kids: ~ There's nothing like teaching your kids something and watching their eyes light up as they "get it." This is Hannah's first official pre-school year, and we are using the "Letter of the Week" method (I get lots of ideas here ). She gets so excited, and that makes me love teaching her even more! Natalie sorting out her blocks by color ~ We teamed up with some good friends for homeschooling this year, and they are doing fantastic in their first year. One thing the kids love: Learning outside w...

   Now at first this may sound cruel, Do you only like your kids while they're sleeping? Let me assure you this is not the case. They're just so...peaceful. And still. And...clean. After a long day, seeing my kids sleeping angelically in their beds reminds me of just how precious they are, and what a gift God has given me. It even makes me miss them a little bit when they sleep in! Plus, they're just so cute when they're asleep! Seriously, I have been known to flip on their light and snap a pic at midnight. And you know what else I love about bedtime? BEDHEAD!!