A few tantalizing pictures for your visual frenzy. Just kidding. I have nothing to say today...no energy. So, I thought I'd just post silly pictures. Here's me and hubby (making a serious face). My picture says "HI, I'm fat, just take a look at my chin...and no, this photo had not been edited!"

We've been busy, busy, busy here. We're in the middle of ripping up carpet so that we can have our concrete floors stained. It should look really beautiful when its all done. Our carpet is disgusting, and neither my husband nor I are fond of carpet with little children. We are 'converting' our dining room to our schoolroom/ library. The gorgeous schoolroom that my husband worked so hard on for us last year ended up being too small for all of us, and with a new baby coming we just need extra space for the six of us to fit during 'school'.

I hope to post pics of the boys' bedroom soon. It turned out really well, my husband is an excellent painter of 'stripes'.

I also hope to post some pics of a few of Amy's things in anticipation of her arrival, a few dresses that my mother has bought and some material that my mother-in-law is using to make the bedding. By the way, the crib bedding that I posted a month or so ago was just a joke. That's not our nursery. This little girl will be sharing a room with one of her brothers for at least five years (or until we have another girl), so there will not be a super-girly nursery.

I'll update more later.

We've been painting our older boys' bedroom this evening. We took a break to let the first coat dry and went to see a movie. We saw Iron Man, which of course, is a total guy movie. Normally, I'm not a chick-flick kinda girl. I like espionage and cops and mysteries. I do not, however, like unrealistic superheroes. Hubby liked it though...two big iron robot-thingies battling it out...what could be better?

Adrian asked about using a mop to wash a car. It was totally my son's idea. He had recently used the mop to clean the top part of his walls (he has high ceilings) in preparation for painting. So, he decided it would work equally well for a large vehicle. I guess it worked. The truck looks a little streaky, but  I don't care. They had fun, and I didn't have to do anything but snap photos. Just the way I like it.

I'm going to bed now...its almost 2 am. :)

I just wanted to let the commentor know why a particular word is starred out in my birthing post. I understand that the word is not dirty and that every woman has one. However, Homeschoolblogger automatically stars out any words that are se*ually explicit as to avoid the blogs coming up in google porn searches.

Sitemeter has an awesome feature that allows me to see what words people used in a search engine that got them to my site. You would be VERY surprised to know that one article I wrote on the HPV vaccine brought a few hits by people who were clearly searching for child pornography...just because I had the terms "11yo girl" and "s**" in the same artice. Disgusting.

So, if you see something starred out and you are wondering why I'm such a prude...its because its safer to do it this way.

This time four years ago I was awaiting the arrival of two things that were very dear to me - our long- prayed-for second child and our first official year of homeschooling. Our oldest son was six and we had tried for about three years to get pregnant. I went through the normal ups and downs and spiritual questioning that every woman who has faced infertility has seen. We were thrilled when the Lord opened my womb, with no help from doctors, and were counting the weeks until our second son came into the world.

As for homeschool, my husband had allowed me to 'try it out' on a temporary basis for my son's K4 and K5 years. I prayed for a year for God to work His will in my husband's heart regarding homeschooling. That year, when our son was six my husband gave his blessing that we could homeschool, and I was busy preparing the state-required paperwork.

I spent hours planning for both the baby and homeschooling. I spent the summer reading birthing books and writing lesson plans. The baby was due in September, so I hoped to get a full month of school done before he came. I worried about how I would do school and care for a baby. I agonized over curriculum and baby-scheduling and came up with a perfect plan. I had objectives for every subject, monthly evaluations, and even a homemade planbook that I had spiral-bound at Staples. I wrote down four different schedules for the baby, faithfully attended childbirth classes, and stocked up on all the sweet-smelling-Johnson&Johnson products I could buy.

Then God happened.

It was our first week of school and it had gone well so far. That Thursday we were set to work on reading, math & science.  While I was sitting in our rocking chair, reading a book to my son, I wet my pants. Or so I thought. When I stood up and more liquid gushed down my leg I realized what had happened. My water broke. A month early. I wasn't scared, but just frustrated that things weren't going according to plan, and I didn't even have a bag packed.

I had no idea what to expect, so I went to the bathroom to see if anything mysterious, like a baby, came out with the water. It hadn't. I left my soaked shorts on the bathroom floor and waddled to the phone in my underwear. My industrious six year old grabbed a towel and followed behind me as I left a trail of amniotic fluid all over our new laminate floors. I called my sister and my husband. I told one to bring me maxi pads and the other to get his butt home from work fast.

I had no idea then that the two things I had been waiting for would come in the same week. Sometimes God surprises us like that. Sometimes He just knocks us plum out with His love - like blessing us with four children in those four years (one is still cooking). 

Four years later, I am again spending the summer planning for another baby and another schoolyear to arrive almost simultaneously. Only this time I have more experience and wisdom to draw from when I'm making my plans. Here's what I've learned about babies, birth, and homeschool during these four years.

• I've learned that rocking my babies to sleep is okay.
• I've learned that hospitals are the worst places to give birth.
• I've learned that what a struggling reader needs more than an oustanding phonics program is an encouraging and relaxed mom who loves him when he succeeds and when he fails.
• I've learned that everything I thought I knew about parenting when raising one compliant child turned to dust when we added three progressively more stubborn children.
• I've learned that my husband can't read my mind when I'm in labor, and even though he  sometimes needs me to tell him what to do, he is the only person I want touching me when I'm having a baby.
• I've learned that school will get done eventually and children are always learning, even if their progress doesn't fall within the parameters set forth by public school.
• I've learned that its harder to break a 2yo from finger sucking than from paci-sucking, but it does make for a cute picture.
• I've learned that all the parenting, birthing, homeschooling experts are really just people and they don't always know everything.
• I've learned that no matter how well-laid out my plans are or how much I think I know, God's ways are better than mine. And if He brings about something in my life that doesn't go according to my plan- well, then I should shove my plans to the backburner and thank the Lord that He loves me enough to lead me on.

I'm incredibly busy right now with childrearing. I've been trying to take some time to purposely change some things in our home. Its exhausting. I'll give an account at some point, after all the dust has settled. Stay tuned for some blog posts that are bumping around in my brain.

The Conspiracy Theory Post:  a list of my favorite conspiracies

The Submission Post:  duh, its about submission...been thinking on it for awhile.

More posts on childrearing and what not to do...from experience!!!

The School Planning Freak Out Posts: a series of posts where I lay down the expectations and goals for the next year, even though there's an 87% chance that I WON'T meet them.

We celebrated my hubby's birthday last weekend. My sis and oldest son concocted a prank to play on him. It involved whipped cream and little children (oh, and one big child...my sister).

He wouldn't know what hit him (okay, he totally did...he is very hard to surprise!)

That was awesome!

What a pair. Its so funny because when these two met almost 9 years ago at my oldest son's 1st birthday party...one of them started a cake fight.  It is still not known who was the culprit! Clearly, my sister won this round.

My in-laws spent last week in Hawaii, and blessed us with some groovy souvenirs from the islands. The boys have cute outfits and koa necklaces, while hubby and I are looking tropical in pretty leis.

I'm so bored. I'm hoping my husband will call. But since he is taking his sweet time, I went searching for something to make me laugh. Here's what I've come up with...funny t-shirts! Can you imagine me wearing these in public?!

Hubby is off leading worship at a youth camp for the next seven days. To pass the time, we're trying to do lots of fun stuff. This morning we hung out at my parents' house. Then we made a run to Sam's for a week's worth of junk food (ie, quick and easy). We'll be eating off paper plates three times a day, so I don't have to worry about dishes. Woohoo.

Once we got home, we filled up the kiddie pool with soap and water and enjoyed a huge bubble bath. I had a video, but I have no clue how to upload it to youtube or anything like that. I'll try, though.

In March, when I left for a week, hubby did very well with the kids. I hope I do as well! We plan on going swimming several times and maybe even heading to the 'beach'  at some point. I have two cakes to make this week, too, so that should kill some time during the evenings. One is for a relative's baby shower. The other is for hubby's birthday party on Sunday night. I'll post pics, of course!

We are on night four of Pukefest 2008. Wednesday night and Thursday night the three littles turned into puke monsters and dirtied every blanket or sheet in the house. Friday night, my oldest son and I became the vomit kings and managed to puke everywhere but the toilet.

My husband pointed out OFTEN that the 3yo managed to make it to the toilet each time, but th 9yo and the 30yo didnt. It was nasty. I know my husband loves me because he has seen me with chunky orange liquid rocketing from my mouth and dripping off my clothes. Attractive, yes?

Tonight, we assume that oldest son and myself will still continue to vomit, though right now we are feeling fine. I'll update you in the morning, if you are interested in our bodily fluids.

i have not done much writing since I've been back. Shame on me. I have a few things that need polishing before I can send them off to the editor. I have a homeschool article to research and write, so I just have tons going on.

Not to mention that I'm having company over this week, so I'm in a frenzy to get the house ready. I'm finishing up several projects that I started awhile ago, like the kids' bathroom.  We tore the wallpaper off, and then realized that it was tearing down sheetrock with it. So, we left the kids' bathroom in an unfinished state for several months. Now, they have a cute beach-themed bathroom. The theme was my oldest son's idea. I just told him that I didn't want it looking like a Florida condo. :(

I'm also working on curtains for the living room and kitchen. I'm praying they turn out okay. I'll post pictures if they do. Hopefully I'll post our Easter pics as well.

Check in later.

In anticipation of my trip, I planned a hair appointment several months ago. I decided to take the plunge and get my hair dyed. I wanted something different. What I got is striped hair. I used to look at women with obviously dyed hair and think they looked so fake.

I look fake.

But I like it. Its different. It makes me feel good. And it'll grow out if it doesn't grow on me. The best part is that my husband likes it. I think he was tired of the frumpy-homeschool-mom look that I was sporting most days. He definately likes the trendy divaish thing I've got going on now.

I love being a homeschool mom. I just don't want to look like one.

I'll be going to Mount Hermon in less than two weeks. I'm excited and nervous. My mom and mil have been sweet and bought me a few outfits to take with me. If I were a bit more confidant, I'd pose for yall, but that's not going to happen.

I'm not a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination. Normally, I'm comfy in sweats and t-shirts. But, I felt so pretty trying on my new clothes, and my hubby definately appreciated them. So, I think I need to work on taking better care of myself. He deserves me to look my best. No, I can't look like Cindy Crawford, but I don't have to look like a dowdy, tired housewife, either.

I'm totally loving the babydoll shirts. Those are perfect for robust gals, like myself. Maternity fasions have gotten less clingy and much more lose, which I love. Honestly, I'm tired of seeing supertight maternity shirts stretched over bulging bellies. Where's the love for mumus? When I was pregnant with my first (10 years ago), maternity shirts were made of yards and yards of gathered fabric. Not flattering, but it sure did hide the belly!

I guess I'm just trying to bring back frumpy.

Lighthouses are beautiful. This weekend we started our vacation by walking up this one. It is not the best way to start a vacation. Especially, if you are overweight and not used to walking up 178 stairs with four children. Our legs were sore the entire time. They are still sore, but it was a great experience.

The gorgeous picture is courtesy of my hot hubby's mad photo skills. NO editing! None of the beach pictures needed editing because of the great sunset lighting.

Today was a loooonnngggggggggggg day. We spent the afternoon in a darkened bowling alley with 1400 kids and rockin' booty music. We were at my nephew's birthday party and the boys really enjoyed bowling. It was the first time for our 3yo, and he was so excited to go "real" bowling. You see, he's been playing Wii bowling, and he can beat everyone in the house. So, he was ecstatic to get his hands on a real bowling ball.

After the mass hysteria of the birthday party, we ran errands and then ended up rocking out at a youth praisefest at 8pm. So, we're pooped. Tomorrow is the 2yo's birthday party, a very small family affair...but it still requires cleaning and cake baking. My mom was a gem and cleaned while we were out today. The cake is in the oven, and will only get minimal decorations...some crumbled graham crackers for sand, and some spray icing for water...woohoo.

Have a great Sunday.

      For my birthday my sis and bro-in-law gave me a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. Last week I made my purchase online and today I got my books in the mail. Yeah!!!!  Here's what I got.

    Originally I was going to buy "Passionate Housewives, Desperate for God", but these two just called to me. Barbara Curtis, the author, is going to be a teacher at The Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference, so I decided to check out a few of her books. I knew  from her blog, that she was a homeschool mom with lots of kids, so I wanted to see what she wrote about.

     I really need the refresher for preschool teaching, because I've got three preschoolers coming up and its been six years since I've "taught" preschool. The book is great, so far. It stays true to the idea that mommy is the best teacher for her children, and that real education doesn't happen in a classroom. I'm encouraged and I hope I can start to use some of her suggestions this week.

     I bought the other book because I have a hate-hate relationship with my laundry room, my laundry, and most other housecleaning tasks. I read the first chapter online @ Amazon and I was hooked. If God can meet me in my laundry room...He can meet me anywhere. I'll post more details as I read, but I'm super excited.

Thanks sis and bro for the presents. I will enjoy the hours I get to sit quietly and read, read, read.

     We have had such a busy and lazy (hm?) time. Our past two weeks have been full of fun activities and laced with many naps in between. My husband is back at work today, and the boys and I are working toward getting back to 'normal'.  I don't expect that we'll be anywhere near normal until the weekend. I'll probably use the rest of the week to get the house cleaned up and prepare lesson plans for the rest of the year.

     I have to update my Thirty Before Thirty list. I have a few things to add. I may not make it to thirty things, but that is totally okay with me. We're in the midst of travel planning, making airline and hotel reservations for my trip in March. I'm excited but getting more and more nervous.

     I'll post again later today with more updates. I hope everyone had a great time during Christmas and New Years.

This post was made possible by a generous donation from the

My Sister Rocks Foundation.

Unlike the previous 420 posts on this blog I am writing this one while reclining on my comfy sofa.  I can do this because my sister and brother-in-law gave me a laptop for Christmas. After crying like a baby, I immediately felt like a big loser, and not in the tv show way. With this gift the sis and bro have sucessfully changed the gift giving dynamic. I mean, a pound of cheap coffee and a Best Buy giftcard cannot compete with a laptop. I know its not a competition, I am just floored by how thoughtful and generous they were. My sis also made this gorgeous laptop cover.

To see and order other beautifully handcrafted items, visit my sis's store, The Purple Martin.

We had a great, but hectic Christmas. I'll have more updates for my Thirty Before Thirty List soon.

It's almost 1pm on Friday afternoon, and I am desperately avoiding preparing for the weekend.  There are a few loads of laundry to be done, a kitchen floor to be swept and mopped, a dinner to plan and prepare, a birthday cake to make, school records to write, interview notes to be transcribed, interview questions to be emailed, and two writing assignments to hastily finish.  Ahhh...my life as housekeeper, cook, baker, teacher, freelance writer (dare I call myself that) and student.