Home School Room 'Trolley'= My New Best Friend

Before this new semester began, I started cleaning out and making more space in our school room. I pushed back the bookcase wall into the living room and brought the table off the wall to the center. This has made all the difference. I am starting to use the big whiteboard more (I used to just pull out a handheld one) and this helps. But I also took stuff OFF the table. This trolley from IKEA has been great for this. It is not the cute turquoise one, it is the practical one and I LOVE it. 

For the peeps in Asia, I bought it here on taobao.

It is very multi-functional and I haven't quite figured out all I will use it for. But for now it is the media hook-up/plug in center, and pencil sharpener home, among other things. You can hang containers from it if you need to. 

 The bottom shelf has our trash can and go to marker/color pencil caddy that used to be way up high and out of reach, now kids can grab it if they need to, and I can grab it for our history time.

 The second shelf has a brown basket that has all of our Phonics Road stuff.
Since I now have three kids on three different levels, having these cards handy is great. I am not sure if I will keep them there, but they were cumbersome with the Phonics Road Notebooks.

 I also love the drawer. And this is MOMMA'S drawer. Extra paper, good pens (used for IEW only), red pens, skittles for maps, stamps and stickers. This is so convenient since my real desk is in the other room.

 these pictures are blurry, but I hope you get the jist. The small dvd player is GREAT there and I do roll the trolley if I want to get it closer when we watch our SWI or I am doing Phonics Road prep via the video. The Homeschool purple phone stays here as a base to be picked up for 'flashcard' review of verses and catechism. The speaker stays here until we need it to jam to our latest CC memory work.

 It is just snug over there in the corner.

Out of the way, but completely purposeful. LOVE this little command center so much that I had to share. 

Married 13 years! A trip.

Hard fought and worth every ounce of challenge and joy, our marriage is more delightful now than ever before. But by the grace of God...seriously.

God chose to take a strong-headed, arrogant lady, shaken and changed by HIS mercy, and put her together with a truly God-fearing, pure-hearted, fun-loving, and brilliant man. And as I learn to live the grace gospel and be able to actually hear it from my husband...we thrive more and more year by year.

Some of our closest friends had encouraged us many times to bring our kids up (5 hours away) and take a night away. We finally took them up on it for our anniversary. It also helped that they had just opened a brand new Hilton in their town, on the edge of towering mountains and overlooking a vast lake.

We woke up early on Friday, drove out of town as the sun woke up. We ventured on the brand new highway, which took us up and up, winding a bit backwards before if finally went in the direction we were going.

Through the blur we are headed on the green about to turn the S curve backwards...crazy. But at least it is a smooth highway, way better than the previous road.

Gorgeous drive.

It took us a little over 4 hours, record time.
We made it by lunch time, hugged the kiddos and left on our own adventure.

We went to old town to get some really good hamburgers and happened upon this HUGE dog in an unfinished shop.

Our friends had called the hotel and told the manager we were coming, and it was our anniversary. He met us in the lobby, had impeccable English, and had arranged a gift in our room.

look at this view.

niiiice.

wine, fruit, and a huge plate of Tiramisu.

We ate well, watched movies, and talked about our adventures and growths this year. 

The next day we met back up with our kiddos and friends....

How did it go?

I should now mention that the Thursday night before we left, Tobin threw up. Our local friend had taken us out to a new noodle shop and bought each of our kids their own can of soda, which Tobin drank up. The noodles were oily and spicy. Clearly this was the reason, and he felt fine afterward. So we kept our trip on and forgot about it. 

Then as David and I drove to lunch on our own I called our friends and told them when we remembered, 'but we really think it was from the soda' (this because we do think Tobin has slight reflux issues, he has been known to chug a drink and then throw up 2 seconds later, and be fine, we thought this was what we were dealing with).

This was not what we were dealing with (or they were dealing with since we were in ignorant bliss). 

Tobin was fine at lunch, fine all day, fine at dinner. Our kids had a blast! That night he did indeed throw up on his pallet on their long-haired rug. Gross. It may have gotten cleaned up by midnight. 

Next, at some other hour, Bella woke up and tiptoed to Mrs. Erica's bedside with leg pain, something she had been doing on and off for a month with us. She ended up on the couch and Mrs. Erica ended up with very little sleep. 

We didn't hear about any of this until we were seated and chit-chatting in their living room the next afternoon. 

What friends, I tell you. 

We stayed that night with them, had great talks and laughs, and continued to apologize profusely. And seriously this was so beneficial to our kids. They LOVED their time with this family. Even Gabrielle became good buds with E, their two-year-old. 

But ours was a gift that kept on giving. That evening, as we headed home and back in our own beds, Our friends' stomachs went woozy. And the virus went viral, and circled right back to our family with Bella and Tobin again on Tuesday, Sophia and me by the following Friday. 

I canceled hosting Easter since I was incapacitated on the prep day. We stayed away from everyone that week and into this one. 

Despite the sickness, this trip was amazing. 

We are so blessed by deep friendships that expose us, grow us, and show us very sacrificial love like what we experience with these folks. I mean. They cleaned up our kid's vomit --in the middle of the night! And they did not even hint that it bothered them at all, no complaints. 

True friends. 

Blessed Anniversary. 

Amazing Marriage.

One quote that David and I often say to each other, whether it has been a day of non-stop training kids to share (ie, not pull each other's hair out), a night of wake-up calls by ailing children, or an all day village visit...is this:

"I love doing life with you."

and we absolutely mean it. 

No one else. I choose you. And I would do it a million times again. 

It may sound sappy,  but we like to remind each other in the daily grind, in the life we are living, the death by living we hope we are doing well, we would have none other by our side.

The All sugar fast...

I am blogging this just to say that we actually did it! I was SO doubtful of myself, I knew David could do it. And though I agreed to do it and help him succeed, I thought by day 2 or three I would sneak some dark chocolate (at least).

David proposed we fast from all sugars, that is anything that breaks down into a simple sugar and all natural sugars. He meant all breads (starch), starchy veg (no corn or potatoes), no fruit, no beans. Only meat and veg for two full weeks...

Why on earth??? We are not gluten free per se, we are not paleo per se, we are not in these boxes, David has been all of that and then some before they became the fads they are today, simply to attack his heart arrhythmia and other issues . 

Our family actually enjoys some delicious sugars (I just had a piece of Chocolate Eclair Cake and black coffee) (and making desserts together counts as homeschool). We also delight in some amazing gluten (bread=yum). But we certainly have tapered the past few years. 

David got the suggestion from here. He has come to really appreciate Dr. Phil Maffetone and his take on exercise physiology. He also wants me to follow the "Maffetone Method" for distance running if I ever commit to a long distance again.

The whole point is to get your body off its dependence on burning carbs and start burning fat for fuel. And then see which carbs your body does not tolerate very well as you slowly work them back in after the fast. (Depending on what your symptoms are). David and I are not close to obese, we don't have blood sugar issues that we know of (I might who knows), but David does have some cholesterol issues. I actually didn't have hardly any symptoms (except the craving for sugar and caffeine). He does say that if you are not 'carb-intolerant' then you may not see much change.

But I did feel change. And hear this, we did not eat less. I actually felt like I was eating more calories, especially at lunch. We had to get creative when we could not eat our spinach/strawberry/oil-filled/protein powder smoothie. We ate huge salads, veg filled omelets, lots of nuts, and meat and veg every night. Soda water with a little squeeze of lemon became a favorite, and David oven roasted almonds that were delicious and carried me through the 2 weeks as my go-to snack. 

Our goal was not weight loss but we each dropped 2kg (4.4 lbs) in two weeks. 

We got in bed on time each night when we were tired but we were never 'dragging'. We woke up more alert and ready to go before 6 a.m. each morning. After the first three day adjustment with our bowels (we felt bloated as our bodies adjusted), and making it through the first weekend (which is when we tend to go carb crazy), we knew we could do it. My skin felt smoother, and I felt more focused for longer periods of time. I also really realized that most of my afternoon sugar snacks are actually habit, not hunger. I knew I would go back to my small pips of dark chocolate and cranberries but I did not miss them. I drank a ton more water too. 

Date night? We couldn't do our fave sushi (filled with rice), so we opted for Ma La Cai...

Go light on the msg please. This is all veg with some small boiled eggs in there, put in a delicious broth. David loves this, but the first week I wasn't feeling it, by week two I said, yes! 

Please appreciate the big-ness of this plate. We each had our own and ate the entire thing!

Though David said, 'go ahead, try the spice dip, its spicy but yum'. On hitting my tongue it was delicious, by the third second my mouth was on FIRE. Thanks, David, he chuckled as I chugged water.

The real questions:
Did I enjoy this fast?
Yes and no. By the end I was ready to be through because I was a bit bored by meat and veg. Though I didn't crave things at all like I thought I would. I did miss noodles, sushi, and dumplings.

Would I do it again?
Probably not like we did, unless I was helping David or someone else through it.  This fast made me very aware of self-control issues in the food department. It also re-convinced me as to the huge part nutrition plays in overall health. And while that is basically what my college degree is in, I have always struggled to put it into practice.

Results? I listed a lot above, but what real changes? I think in daily practice I make better snack choices, even at night. Of course when a good dessert is made (1x/week or less) we eat it. And we basically go sugar free past lunch time. I still do a bit of dark chocolate in the afternoon (it is almost 100% dark and bitter to the taste, the girls and I eat a few bites over language arts). I also now know that I can do sugar free, it is not a 'no way' thing anymore. Our night time snacks are also not sugary as much anymore.

And here for fun, Tobin, who tried to give me a piece of his candy during our fast and waited a full 10 days to watch me eat it.

Skateboarding: A tribute to Granddaddy Johnson, and Rodney Mullen

I am not sure when the bug bit, or how it started, but our kids really started wanting skateboards.
We didn't think they were quite serious.
We said they could use their own money and they did.
These are not expensive boards, for sure. But they are fun.
I texted my friend:
If we want to keep our kids OUT of the hospital, why do we keep buying toys like this?

Before David walked out the door with the kids to the store we started talking about best skateboarders of all time. I said:
"You know where he is from right?..Rodney...Rodney...what was his name...?"
"Where? Gainesville?"
"Mullen, yes, that's it! and Yes, from Gainesville."
"Indeed!" (David really didn't say 'indeed' but it sounds more fun. He said "of course," with a smart aleck smirk)
 (and since we have this ongoing joke that everything is 7 degrees separated from G'ville, from many NFL football players to Tom Petty to a few famous serial killers, we laughed hard)

No but really. I then went on to tell the story, the memories that came flooding back...
My dad (Granddaddy Johnson), skateboarder and surfer that he was (and still is at times, when the surf is up), used to take my brother (Uncle Herschel) skateboarding.
They had their 'spots' around G'ville. I remember one in particular, Julie and I would ride our bikes while they conquered the hills and did their tricks.

I think there were a few Rodney Mullen sightings, he would be in the O'Connell Center parking lot doing tricks or something and we would go (this may not be altogether true...I just have a recollection of it happening jumbled in my brain).

And then there was the skate park in Jacksonville...Whoa. He took us there too. Kona, or something like that...these really are pleasantly fun memories that make me wonder how my dad had the time to do such cool stuff with his kiddos....
....because he really actually enjoyed the 'stuff', and really actually enjoyed us. He took the time. What an encouragement to me, to get 'in the pool', and not just sit on the sidelines and watch my kids.

Then....we found youtube videos of Rodney Mullen to show the kids....and David mentioned Tony Hawk as being equally good...so we found some and showed them more....
Just remember kiddos, they make it look SOOOO easy.

And just to be sure I googled 'greatest skateboarders of all time'
#1 and I quote: Having created the kick flip, 360 flip, pop shut-it, heel flip, and many other tricks, it’s safe to say Rodney Mullen is the greatest skater of all time.

(Tony Hawk was #2 and actually mentioned as the 'most popular')

But watch out all, here come the Coker Kids....:)
They bought their boards and returned to get started.

 I actually tried to get on and thought they were narrow and FAST. (in other words I about busted my tail.)

They gave us the above board which could hardly roll and was good to get your bearings, balance, and try a few tricks.

 In the first 20 minutes David doubted his choice, probably because I was the usual skeptic.

But, twenty minutes after that, many Cokers proved competent.
I have to say, David was amazing. A skill, 13 years into marriage, I didn't know he had. But because he is a good soccer player and dancer...of course he can skateboard (my own logical fallacy I know).
He taught them well.

Sophia was able to go fast and keep going, she learned the way to move her body by leaning and bending knees for direction. Bella picked it up quite fast too, though a little more timid. Even Tobin, after working with him, was really getting the bend in the knees just right. He still doesn't have the speed he wants, but he is working on it. And yes, they are all, every last one, bruised up quite a bit.

 And pipsqueak?

 She enjoys a ride too...

More pics to come!

A few fun pics

The crew:

Sibling Super Love

I sent these to my friend Heather via WhatsApp

 Charmers!!!

The NOT 'Big Girl Bed'

A few weeks ago we moved Gabrielle, now 2.5 years old, out of her crib!
We moved her into a pseudo-bed: A giant trunk with her mattress pad on top!
She did great the first day and night.
It has been down hill from there.
The second night she actually fell out, which kept me up all night figuring out the next step for the room that she and Tobin share. David nixed it all for the time being and rigged up some helps to keep her safe.

She continues to love it, but  the freedom has inspired her a bit.

She and Tobin talk and play, of course. We actually had to set up our monitor via phone/ipad, the first time we have used a monitor in forever. Three nights ago they were standing on their beds playing catch with a stuffed animal. We kind of knew they were playing catch but I didn't know the full story until Tobin reenacted it for me during our school time the next day. I had to explain that if he falls, no biggie, if she falls, it would be a hospital visit.

Last night we spotted her on the monitor in Tobin's bed with him. To be sure we do a ton of discipline and training. They apparently think it is worth it to get the discipline and keep on playing...which means it is not very effective, I know. The very nature of discipline is to bring about change...hmm.....we will let you know how that goes.

But she is growing up, well into her second year and continues to be mischevious, funny, and full of wit and charm, even if she doesn't get to sleep until almost 9 every night.

The First Full Week of the New Semester: Local School + Homeschool : [In Which I quit homeschooling altogether]

Let us remember this post where I ended by saying "if all my plans fail, I know God's plan will never..."
or something super-spiritual like that to remind me that if the week falls apart He is in control. And I did mean every word. And it did fall apart. And I did not handle some things so well. And on day 2 I walked out of the room and told David: "I quit. I can't do it. They can go to Chinese school all day....and yadayada.."

Why am I telling you this?
Because homeschooling is hard.
Because homeschooling overseas is, dare I say, harder.

And most of what you see here is this:

Looks great, right?
Parts of the Earth Science Project this week, they LOVED it!

Blogs and Instagram are actually not supposed to portray reality, they are only portraying tidbits and snippits, I have spoken to that before....
But it is fun and humiliating to keep it real every once and awhile, and to actually confess sin.
This is not the medium to do that for everything, but regarding some of my 'lack of kindness and patience' with my children, I have a feeling others can relate.

So, let's back up a bit....
Mommy (that's me!) had a rough week.
I lost my temper the first few days with different children
...some of it had to do with the tightness of the schedule (CRAZEE),
...some of it had to do with hormones (seriously, this has gotten worse as I have aged)
...some of it could have had to do with a big diet change: David and I doing a 2 week and 2 week only 'no sugar or carbs of any kind' (this includes fruit and beans) (this has kind of been amazing to do, never having done this ever before in my life, it is not sustainable, the goal is not weight loss...I will stop there, it could be another post...all that to say, change in diet and blood sugar!) (I think I am actually eating more calories!) Anyway....

...really it boils down to my indwelling sin of pride and selfishness which results in hmm...
...meanness, unkindness, get out the thesaurus and lets just nail the description of me 3 out of 5 days this week.

It results in the opposite of I Corinthians 13-Jesus-kind-of-love, or the Sermon-on-the-Mount-kind-of-calling, the calling to something so much greater than turning away from those hitting you on the right cheek...it is turning to them the other also. I couldn't do it. I didn't do it.

Thankfully, this attitude did not define me 24 hours of the day, but in different instances. And I can honestly say, having assessed it quite thoroughly, that the restoration (when I thoroughly apologized, multiple times) has been very sweet. I have seen so much of God's grace in our eldest in dealing with me and I with her through this. And I have felt God's nearness so much to me in his word, not a 'get far away your sin disgusts me' kind of feeling. Yes, my sin disgusts God, but His Spirit in me keeps reminding me and his word keeps spurring me to live in His reality: that He covered all my shame on the cross, that he saves those crushed in spirit.

Was it ugly? Yes. Do I ever want to be that way again? No.
I am sure I will lose my patience with my children again, but I am also sure that the Lord will help me fight this with truth, and work in me the humility of the cross that only comes from being 'poor in spirit'. D. M. L. Jones calls this the central characteristic of the Christian, this 'poverty of spirit': it is one's attitude toward oneself in the presence of God: weak, small, lowly, needy, bankrupt really. So, no I can't live the Sermon on the Mount calling apart from the nearness of my God. But I can do it.

I was so full of myself this past week and let tiny things fester to boiling, I saw this as taking 'my' time, as ruining 'my' plan, as hurting 'my' feelings,  as doing whatever to 'my' whatever. WHOA. This selfishness started hurting those around me with words.

Praise God for the quickness of His Spirit in me to help me and of David to also speak into me. Praise God for quick forgiveness and true forgiveness. I was quite despairing over it all, His Word and the words of others had to help me dispel the lies of Satan, who wants me to despair.

On Thursday I decided to apologize one more time in front of our helper at lunch. The day was great, things were all fine, but she had witnessed some of these struggles. I told her that I broke the peace in our home and was sorry to her as well.

Did I really quit homeschooling? No, I was bluffing...
In fact we went on to make egg tempera paint from scratch just like Giotto did in the late 1200s. What a picture perfect homeschool we have ;)