Catch-up and Great Reads

Happy Saturday! I am currently listening to the sounds of my kiddos playing happily and the hubs outside power washing our swing set and deck (yay for re-staining!). I am super thankful for a weekend to relax and get things done around this casa. I just got a new shelf to organize some of our homeschool stuff so I have been working on that off and on. I am hoping to get on here soon with a post on all of our curriculum choices for next year.

We are definitely enjoying some of our favorite parts of summer; Nick and I have been to the Muny twice (Billy Elliott and Gershwin's Porgy and Bess) and I took Max to a show (Tarzan), we have gone on a few field trips with my mama (the zoo and the botanical gardens), made a trip to KC, and are gearing up to start swimming lessons next week. I go back and fourth between LOVING summer and being ready for the fall. Fall is by far my very favorite season. I love the feeling of getting back into a routine after the summer... also the cooler weather, football, and pumpkin everything!

Speaking of gearing up for fall... I have been re-reading my two very favorite parenting/homeschool books. I read A LOT of books on homeschooling, parenting, and the Christian life. But, there are two that I read again and again and come back to every year to be re-inspired and reminded of why I do what I do and why we live the way we live. They are,

Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
I feel like this is the ultimate book on home educating. I recommend it to absolutely everyone who says they are thinking of homeschooling but don't know where to start. This book goes beyond homeschooling and talks about your home and raising children in general. This book is such a breath of fresh air and Clay and Sally Clarkson could not be more encouraging. My copy is literally falling apart and I find myself grabbing it off my bookshelf on a very regular basis.


Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne
I actually don't own this book which I need to fix pronto. But, I check it out from the library a lot. Nick and I are actually reading it together this time. While this book isn't from a Christian viewpoint, I feel like the information in this book fits in well with our beliefs and encourages me to give my children the gift of a childhood. I am quick to say "yes" to many activities and things... this book helps me get back on track and keep my priorities in check.


If you are needing a little encouragement in your parenting I cannot recommend these books enough!

Well, I better get back to work. I hope everyone has a happy and productive weekend!

4th of July Weekend 2014

Oh how I miss coming and blogging in this little space. I honestly really just enjoy writing, and blogging is by far my favorite way to do it. Unfortunately, it just hasn't felt like there is time lately. While summer seems to have fewer planned activities, for us, summer is always a little busier! My mom is off of school in the summer so we end up spending a lot of time with her and then when you add in swimming, the Muny, field trips, visiting family.... well, blogging just hasn't fit in. But, since I enjoy it, I do want to try to make more time for it.

We just got back yesterday from visiting my sister in Kansas City. She and her husband had their first baby on July 1st. His name is Cooper and we are totally in love. We were so blessed by getting to go spend some time with them and snuggle on him. It was also fun that it happened to be the 4th of July so we got to celebrate with them and my parents.

Here are a few pics from our trip (not in order!)

We had a nice time (even if a certain 1 year old barely slept the entire trip) and loved getting to snuggle on our new nephew!