May 30, 2008 - First Fire in the fire pit...May 18th

This was a picture of our first fire of the season.  Here we are about done for the night.  At least I was.  Kate and her boyfriend stayed out later just talking around the fire.  This photo was taken in her honor.  She loves to take pictures of people's feet.  So, here are our feet.  From the left you have Kate, Meg, Paige, Me, Chelsea, and Mark.  Aren't we a handsome looking group?  *grin*

We had hot dogs over the fire. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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May 17, 2008 - You're a good Mother!

In the training of our kids, I try to encourage them by letting them know when they make good choices.  My little 3yo has been caring for her sick dollies.  She dresses them warmly, wraps them up in a blanket, then places them in bed.  Checks on them several times and proclaims them well again.  I watch her and as she wraps the dollies up so carefully in their blankets, I tell her... You are a good Mommy! 

She is picking up on this encouragement.  Tonight her sister made supper and Dh and I were out making our strawberry bed in the dark (OK not so good of timing for eating, but we were visiting relatives this afternoon for a birthday dinner and didn't get home until late).  Anyways, Chelsea our 16yo makes supper.  She fixed Paige a plate and set it before her.  Paige tastes it and decides it is good and says to Chelsea... "You are a good Mother, Chelsea!"  Chelsea just beamed when she told me... she thought it was cute, but also enjoyed the compliment. 

Her other sister Megan had gotten the same compliment the day before when she played with her, stating to her that she was being like a good Mother.  

My heart smiles in that a 3yo can recognize good character traits and even compliment her sisters.  I enjoy watching her play.  Sometimes she is not so good and needs redirection, but the times when she has good play... I just smile that something good has made it inside and she is able to process it and make it her own.   

Watching your child play may seem like a waste of time... I mean you could get laundry done, or the garden planted, or something accomplished!  But there are times that watching a child play is so important.  It is so important to help them understand in their play that they are making good choices.  There are days that I love to do this.  There are days that I avoid doing it, because the chores seem so huge and mounting.  But it is an important part of mothering our kids.  Things may not get done as quickly, but they eventually do get done.  I had big plans for planting ALL the onions on Friday, but that didn't happen.  But I did get some planted and some roses as well (which my 3yo did help plant as well).  I loved it when we finished planting the roses, she surveyed the plants now in the ground and turns to me and says... "Good Job, Mom, you did a good job." 

Encouragement... it doesn't happen naturally, it has to be taught.  What a blessing to see little ones conquer the very things that we as parents may struggle with.  God continues to teach me each day, as I am teaching my own kids... my amazement never ceases as I look to these children he has blessed our family with.  No, they are not perfect.  In fact, they have been a lot of work at times, but when we are diligent to do the work we've been given... oh what a blessing to behold!   Makes it worth every minute that I had tossed aside from my own personal ambition and traded it in for Mothering. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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March 14, 2007 - Just had to share...

You know quirks your kids have.  Well, this little one of ours... she is quite the bold little one.  She just turned two a couple weeks ago and she is a little spitfire!  She reminds me in different ways of my other girls, but she sure is her own personality. 

Her current couple of quirks that I hadn't seen in my other girls are: 

When she doesn't like what we are telling her, she listens, nods her head yes, like I heard you, then Shhhhh's you.  Like, that's enough, I get it.  She was climbing up onto the coffee table, she then climbed on a stack of drawers that hold her toys and I told her... Momma doesn't like it when you climb up so high... she nods yes then looks at me and says SHHHhhhhh.  It is sooo cute that I am doing all I can to keep from laughing.  The rest of the family is unable to control themselves... they bite their lips or turn away so that she hopefully will catch on that it is impolite to Shhh, someone.  She even holds her little finger up to her lips as she does it... and it doesn't sound rude, but I feel it can grow into a rude statement, so we are watching this closely and letting her know that this is not acceptable to do.

The second is that she is soooo honest.  If she does something wrong... she says... Baby did it.  I will find something and she will say... Baby did it.  I say, you did it?  She says, Uh huh, baby did it.  Tonight she brought me an aquadisk (a frisbee for water) and she says... Oh my, color (it had marker marks on the back), uh huh, baby did it.   I pray that this honesty will not be curbed... what an asset to develop this at such a young age.  I just pray that I do not react in such a way that would encourage her to be dishonest at some future time. 

Anyways, just sharing...

Warmly, ~Melissa

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December 13, 2006 - Happy Birthday to Chelsea!

Happy Birthday to my Dearest Chelsea... my now 15yo! 

Chelsea is a wonderful young lady.  She is growing more and more everyday.  There are so many neat things about her that add loveliness to our home.  Chelsea is warm, loving and tenderhearted.  She is very sensitive to others pains and is very willing to make amends.  When she sees someone hurting, she wants to comfort them.  Chelsea also adores little Paige and loves to be her tv buddy!  Watching Little Bear with Paige just brings her joy...and Paige loves it as well.  Chelsea also will sit and play computer CD's just for little ones and play with Paige.  Since Paige cannot run the mouse, she really enjoys this interaction... she loves learning new words, so it is fun to her to play games that identify objects...luckily for her Chelsea is very willing to do this for her.   Chelsea is our fashion girl.  She loves clothes and loves looking nice.  She fusses over her hair and her clothing, sometimes to our disdain, but that spills over to others as she enjoys shopping with anyone and will gleefully help them pick out clothes... I guess if they can't go on her body, she's glad to have them go one someone else's.  

Chelsea is in the 9th grade.  Her chores are taking care of the barn cats and the indoor cats.  To which she does a wonderful job.  She seems to keep a good eye on their needs and is attentive to things that need to change.  She also helps with the farm when needed.  I love to watch her catch sheep... she is one of our thinner girls and when she catches a sheep, she usually goes for a ride.  She's gotten better at keeping her footing the last year or so.   Chelsea does well in school.  She tends to excel in math.  But overall, I am pleased at her progress this year.  We are relaxed homeschoolers, but in high school, we hit the books hard and it tends to be a harder transition... She seems to be adapting quite well to the change. 

Well, that's my 15yo girl.  It's hard to believe how big and independent she is getting.  Although, she still is my little girl... always will be.   Love to you, baby.

Warmly,  ~Mom 

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