Thred Up

When my first son was born, a dear friend at church supplied me with a full wardrobe. I returned the clothes when my son outgrew them and her new son wore them. I have found some magical arrangements like this along my parenting road. Still, they are always gaps. When my daughter was born I scoured yard sales and thrift stores and found some great treasures. When she outgrew them, I sold them. With five children and an ever growing to do list I haven't kept up with clothes swapping like I wished I had. I have often wished for a group of friends who gathered and swapped clothes.

Enter Thred Up.

I pack a USPS Priority Mail box and list its contents. Someone chooses it and pays shipping. I print a label, mail out the box and choose my own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnrqcWjBoBM&feature=player_embedded


Right now, they are offering an incentive for joining. Read through the facts page and see if it will work for you. They also offer programs like giving your box choosing credits to a military family

The countdown has begun

Still don't feel ready for school. I got organized, made a schedule, made chore charts, moved some furniture around, keeping having pep talks with my kids and long cleaning sessions. Now Im tryign to shove some more fun Summer stuff in before Labor Day. We still have birthdays between now and then:)

Holidays are an event for me. I LOOVE them all (except for maybe Halloween:)My kids really are my world and I want them to know how special they are. If not on their birthday then when? My time is so packed as it is and it's hard to fit anything else in. I cannot make a boxed cake. Seriously. you would not believe how many nights before birthdays I have spent in tears. We live on a very limited income. We have been so blessed with 5 children. ALL summer birthdays. We don't buy expensive or extravagant gifts. BUT if we plan a special birthday dinner or buy themed paper plastes there goes our budget. One of the problems with not having family traditions to pass down is the temptation to pass down all of everyone elses. Do you see my dilemma?

Our 3 year old turns 4 on Friday and our 9 year old daughter turns 10 on Monday. My husband is working and then on Saturday I am working....when?

WELL! We have this new friend. Great great friend. Who asked if she could come over with a birthday cake? Uh YES PLEASE!! We have another sweet friend who offered to take pictures of the progression of Nate's Scleroderma. On the same day. INSTANT PARTY!! and here it is:










And here are some pictures of Nate. I had no idea how hard it would be. Apparently one of the points of photography is to use light that softens imperfections and hides features. that isn't what we were looking for:)


She was able to take over 100 in differnt lights and at different angles. CVS is having a print one 8x10 and get one free special this week. I also had $2.00 off. I was able to upload and print photos to take to his Drs visit next week:)




Feeling pretty accomplished and at peace. Mostly just very blessed:)

Organization here we come!!

A "typical" day in our homeschool life, huh? I have been trying to figure out what I want and need that to look like. Perhaps a good time to join the ladies at:
Heart of the Matter for A Day in the Life of Week.

I am not an organized person and I tend to color outside the lines. I also don't want to MISS anything! I have told you how much I love the Maxwell family's MOTH system.



I found thee most AMAZING planner!! The Well Planned Day


It includes Catechism questions and Scripture passages for memorization, tear out grocery lists, places to document each child's schedule and transcript info....everything I would have never thought to include and many I didn't realize I need but really do. There is also a planner available for high school and one for junior high. We may be moving on to those soon:)

Our oldest is heading into high school and I have been meaning to map out his 4 years. I have felt like my kids just aren't cooperating lately and I KNOW that a schedule will conquer this. But when do I find the time? I KNOW that I need to schedule every minute so that my littles aren't overlooked or underfoot...but where do I find the time??

I had a God sent opportunity this week. An amazing lady in my life has graduated her children but continues to be involved. She hosted a ladies retreat in her home. With spots for 5 people to each have their own room and snacks and drinks and lunch (and the wisdom of an organized Titus 2 woman;) I did not bring my camera:( I wish I could show you the cool paper plates and matching napkins that even matched her cute outfit, and I wished I had taken pictures of her wall arrangements and had a chance to read through their family's amazing library.

Do you see the distractions I find? hence the much needed day away and set aside. SOOO, on my husband's day off, I ran off and left him with an unorganized home and uncooperative children and spent the day praying over and pouring over our schedule. I printed out chore sheets from DonnaYoung.com and brought my handy planner and MOTH sheets.

I have started this process over and over each year but never fully completed our schedule because I didn't have a block of time or the right surrounding. I'm hesitant to show you because I haven't worked the kinks out and don't want you to think I'm neglecting anyone or anything. Those things will come in time-right?


**I should probably add that two of our children are involved in an Art/Science/Bible Co-o on Fridays, our boys are active in Boy Scouts and our daughter in a Keepers at Home Group, our schedule does include a bedtime routine and family worship, I need longer paper:)

I made copies for each of my older kids to go over and will look at the chore charts with them soon. We don't start school until after Labor Day (I'm old fashioned like that--AND we still have two more birthday celebrations in our home)

I'm pondering a prettier way to display the MOTH schedule than the color coded chart. silly I know but have any ideas?

Under the Weather or Life Ahead, Ellers Down (A Week in Review)

It has been an odd few days. I feel like we haven't done anything but as I'm thinking it through we actually have. Want in on my thought process? Here we go...

Wednesday- We found out about Nates Scleroderma and spent time talking to other people about it and trying to figure out what to do. At first, I kind of liked the idea of there not being a medical treatment. meaning that we could search out and do what we see fit without refusing anything. But Im beginning to wonder if this will be even harder becasue there is no clear path and no way to pay for it and we may blame ourselves for not treating an "untreatable" disease.

Thursday- Was a Boy Scout court of Honor. Both my boy scouts have outgrown their pants and their patches didnt get sewn on. I stapled them on on our way out the door. A new family just moved into town. I have been wanting to meet the wife, she approached me several times and I said the oddest things. She said, "HI. my name is__________we met at the homeschool meeting last week." I looked at her totally empty and blank and said, 'Did I go to that?" Uh, yeah, apparently I did. She is a sweetheart and kept trying. She eventually asked me a question that I gave a long, honest answer too. That would be "me." She and her husband just moved her and JUST had their sixth baby, by C section. They want to have us over for lunch. I'm excited and beating myself up too.

Friday-We "did" art and Science with friends. My son got a much needed haircut.

Saturday-Hubby worked. My older son worked on a freind's Eagle Scout project. We stumbled upon a firefighter fundraiser.

A freind came by with birhtday cake and presents. Cake did not sound good to us (this may be foreshadowing to future events)

Sunday- Church was wonderful. They are praying for Nate and there were no lame comments. I got a "lead" on a naturopath.

Monday- Josh had breakfast with a friend and felt very encouraged. We spent time talking (we never get a chance to do that) By midday, I cried. ALL day. That night, I felt feverish and really uncomfortable. Our property manager came over to say that "we'd" be getting a new roof between 7 and 8 the next morning.

Tuesday- SIck in bed. SIck SIck. made plans to go somehwere to escape hammering. Couldnt get out of bed.


Wednesday- Still not out of bed. Friend made me a huge, beautiful pot of chicken noodle soup. My husband took our children down to find sand crabs, They also had a seal come to shore.

>Dr. called to say that Nate would be seeing an oral surgeon tomrrow morning at 8:30. Say What? I called and rearranged appt. It seems to be VERY important. Hubby reminded me that we dont have dental insurance.

Thursday-Husband back at work. me still in bed. Intersting day. Turns out the garage had nothing but wood with huge spaces and shingles over it. My husband figured this out in the middle and ran back and forth to the garage with sheets and tarps. The contents of our garage are now covered in a few inches of dirt, grunge, sawdust and nails. I got up and tried to clean a path to do laundry.




My nine year old daughter followed me out there. I think she accomplished more than I did. Friend from homeschool group called and wants to feature our family (and this blog) in the homeschool newsletter. She brought me lunch. FUN stuff :) Our Satelite dish no longer works. I tried to troubelshoot for far too long and the sound of my children sent me back to bed.

Friday-I got up to greet the satelite repair man. Made coffee and did school. Took care of medical paperwork and ran errands. Went by Grandmas to have patches sewn on properly. Visited thrift store and Dollar Tree looking for the Family wall vinyl I read about in bloggy land :). Felt tired. Came home and did more and more laundry then dinner. What am I thinking I should be resting!

Saturday-My husband got called in for an "extra" shift. My older boys went to a leadership meeting with boy Scouts. I had trouble getting out of bed. After our house was trashed beyond recognition and my nine year old near tears I strapped my babies into their carseats and headed out to get coffee and go to yard sales. Did I mention that I ran out of coffee? Didn't help my "get up and go" one bit. We came to a yard sale and my three year old convinced me to let him out of his car seat (first mistake) A few weekends ago (near his birthday) I took him to a yard sale with a TON of kids clothes and a TON of toys. Toys were a $1.00 a bag and clothes 25 cents each. While I sorted through clothes I let him fil a shopping bag with toys. He politely asked before each toy and was so grateful. I kept encouraging him to fill the bag. WELL, I created a monster! This yard sale the toys were 50 cents each and it turns out I had $1.50 in my wallet. Maybe that was actually mistake number ONE. So, there I am with this three year old with no concept or money filling his little arms and hands with toys. I am feeling so tired and should be in bed. Oh what fun.

Sunday- Was wonderful. Church was great. A family from church wants to pay for Nate to see a Dr. that they reccomend. Can we do that? After church, we attended a BBQ picnic with our homeschool support group. GREAT PEOPLE with GREAT KIDS. Fun fun.
A few smiling people that I hadn't met before approached me and said that they had read my blog. I stood there dumbstruck. Again, not good with small talk. I said some pretty lame things. Im not sure what I was feeling. Exposed? No. I dont know. Need to work on a nice polite retort in case this happens again :)Any suggestions? Anyone else had that happen and stood there like a deer caught in headlights?

Im feeling like Im getting nothing done and then again feeling like there is way too much going on in this blog post.. And wondering if anything is worth sharing..hmmmm. I hope I can be an encouragement to others feeling the same way. Im not trying to "do it all" or "have it all" or outdo anyone and some weeks I feel pretty beaten up by life. It is my prayer that I can make good decisions about the care and management of our family and sneak some fun and good memories in there too.........

Monday August 24, 2009

My facebook status now reads:

Kathy Eller childrens' frustration that we havent started school like "everyone" else somehow involved a water bottle and being locked outside and mud. now Im cleaning and school planning and disciplining. Before coffee. Hello Monday.


BUUT....Im going to take a quick break and answer these questions. Not because I think Im all that interesting but in hopes of breaking the ice and getting to know people a little better.:)



1. Do you cook every night?
Yes. Nothing that great or exciting. The same few meals over and over BUT we eat and are thankful for that. (Can you tell that this has been addressed before?)



2. What kind of laundry detergent do you use & why?
Tide FREE, High Efficiency because I have a front load washer/dryer and have a highly sensitive child (follow Feingold program) and have not gotten around to making my own laundry soap. I have bought some detergent on Etsy. But find Tide on sale and with a coupon and earn cents off gas. I also use Tide in my Bissell carpet steamer.

3. Do you do laundry every day or loads at a time?
EVERY single day. I try not to on Sunday. I pre-sort by doing big boys now day, little boys one day etc...I alternate cloth diapers and towels/rags. I dont put things away :) Either people put their own clothes away or i sits in baskets until my husband repeatedly asks me when "we" are going to get to putting the laundry away.


4. How often do you eat out per week?
We almost NEVER do. But I will scrounge change and eat Taco Bell when Im out running errands.

5. Where do you usually eat out?
As a family? Subway. Me? Carls Jr with a coupon, Taco Bell. Seems like forever since we actually ate out together as a couple....

6. What is your favorite retail store?
Target. there isn't one nearby....

7. What's your favorite thing to drink?
Coffee, red wine, Mountain Dew,....

8. Do you take vitamins? What kind?
Im not too good at the "every day take one" and am kind of hit and miss :) I am still working through a bottle of Rainbow Light Pre-natals.
Really like them though. I would like to try the Supermom.

9. What percentage of the household chores to you do?
Its getting to the point where I am overseeing more than doing. But it still takes ALOT OF TIME.


10. Do your children do chores? {Or will they, did they, etc}
Yes, they do and are pretty good about it and trustworthy. I need to work on a schedule of morning chores, afternoon chores, evening chore and before bed chores....

11. Do you go to church?Yes. Love love love "my church" The teaching is solid and sound. The people have been so gracious and amazing and generous to us in so many ways the past 8 1/2 years that we have lived here. We attend a Reformed, Presbyterian (OPC) church a half hour away.

12. Do you have a housework schedule?

No but I can really see where that would be freeing :)

13. Do you keep a working budget?

Would LOVE to work up to one. Right now we spend the absolute bare minimum and juggle bills to be paid.

14. What do you do at night as a family?

We prepare and eat dinner, clean up and prepare for bed, "do" family worship. My husband works in the early am hours so he and the babies go to sleep. The older kids linger longer and longer to spend time with me OR get out of going to bed....I clean up the house, handle paper work and watch tv/go on the computer (usually until about 2am)

15. How do you prepare yourself for a new week?

What I really WANT to start doing is go through the weekly evaluation sheet in This Planner

Click here to visit Graham Family Ministries.and pray about the week being better than the last:)

16. What should do your mornings look like?
I got this all down on paper last night:)
We gather at the table
(so wish it was this one:) for breakfast and Bible reading together. Chores are done, people are dressed, diapers changed, rooms tidied. Big kids start individual math lessons, Madelyn and I do a seperate devotional, babies watch a short video and the days goes on switching "activities every half an hour-hour...

17. What time do you get up in the mornings?
Really working on that :)SHOULD be between 8 and 9.

18. What time do you go to bed at night?
about 2am. Hoping this is just a "summer schedule" and I can turn things around:)

19. How do you manage all of the paperwork that floods into your household? {bills, school work, magazines, ads, etc}
Increasingly and increasingly better :)

20. How do you keep your household organized? {calendars, charts, etc}
There is a calendar on my office wall. A daily schedule in the dining room. A laundry schedule and chore schedule in the hallway....


There are more great ladies answering these questions HERE.

Almost time for Holiday Planning

Im getting so excited about Autumn coming and the hoilidays and cozing up with a blanket and my littles....

I came across an amazing deal and resource that I want to share with you!!!

A dear friend of mine uses this planner:




every Holiday season. I am soooo impressed with it. It is so much more than a calendar or list of presents to buy. The Graham Family Ministries have done SUCH a good job of including all the things important to me :)

I "borrowed" this description:
What you will find in this 146 page ebook:

Blank monthly and weekly calendar pages for planning your year

Weekly "To Do" lists showing exactly what needs to be done each week

Thanksgiving and Christmas Menus forms

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Recipe Card forms

A Holiday Self-Evaluation form

Shopping Lists

"Sheri's Tips"- tips to make your holidays meaningful, shared throughout the ebook

Christmas Craft and Gift Ideas

Memory Making Ideas for the Family

Holiday Journal Pages

Many, many forms such as:

Christmas Gift Shopping List
Gift Making Checklist
Christmas Card Checklist
List of Baked Items to Share/Give Away
Favorite Meals to Freeze for Later
Decoration Ideas
Needed Supplies to Purchase This Week
Holiday Baking Schedule
Kids' Gift Idea List
Christmas Gifts to be Shipped

PLUS!!! This ebook includes "The Glorious Coming: A Jesse Tree Celebration of Advent" - Jesse Tree devotionals, ornaments, and instructions to make your own Jesse Tree!

PLUS!!! Some of our favorite holiday recipes!

Some things that I hadn't thought about but should have: doubling a recipe each week to avoid the drama later during the holiday rush. Planning time for your children to make gifts for people.

During August and September you can get $4.00 off this e-book by entering:
AUGSALE
Click here to view more details

Mourning Zachary Michael Cruz

We lived 7 days this week. We moved furniture, we entertained guests, we saw old friends, we played, we ate, we shopped. My camera broke and i attacked it with pliers. My two year old now sings, "Cheeseburger" from Veggie Tales and "you've got a friend in me" from Toy Story (your are so lucky that I dont have the techno-capacity to *show* you....But, I dont want to share about that...

On Saturday, My 12 year old son, my 7 month old son and a dear, life-long friend and I went to a funeral. We went to the funeral of a child. That is never good. Never supposed to be. At the funeral, I watched the father of the young boy in pain. I read his words to us, apologizing in advance if anything he says or does in his mourning is seems unsavory in a church and said that he knows well the rules in a Baptist Church. I cried for him again. The Cruz family is very gifted musically and much of their life was around music. We heard the songs that they sang to Zachary and we listened to a song written to God challenging Him to come home and prove himself. I cried because He is here and He has proven himself and there is no answer to why Zachary was so horribly taken from this world. So many questions but no answers. I cried as the casket carrying Zachary was carried out to "Imagine" by the Beatles.

I dont know how someone heals from the loss of losing a child. How someone heals from the sudden death of a loved one. I dont know how someone does any of this without a church "home," without the family there, without the assurance of salvation and knwoing the Loving, Healing, Fogiving arms of Christ. How?

I was so proud of the amazing parent that Jodie became. The amazing family that she and Frank have made for Zachary and Miles. Man, am I proud to know her. (or maybe to have known her.) I never got a chance to meet Zach. It was soo obvious what an amazing person he was. Not just "for a five year old," He lived life, he loved people and he crammed a lot into those five years. Makes me wonder what my last five years consisted of. I hope someday to meet him.

On Sunday, I went home to my church. My Presbyterian church that many of you would think stiff and formal. As we stood to sing the first hymn (yes, I said hymn) I bawled like a baby. I cried because I do have that comfort and healing and peace that the Cruz family needs to find. I cried becasue saying that to THEM sounds pius and judgemental. I cried for their loss and for the amazing church family that I have been blessed with. I cried because I CAN cry in my stiff little Presbyterian church.

I wish I had words for the Cruz family. I have nothing but tears. But I know WHO does have Comfort, Peace, Healing and my prayer is that they reach out to Him.

My Heart Aches

About a month ago I shared about the death of a dear friend and what an impact their family has had on our family. Truly amazing people. I have always joked that I want to grow up to be like Sue Riddering and always secretly wondered if it was "too late" and I am not cool enough now to ever grow into something as beautiful as her. Sue took care of her husband through his 12 year battle with Lou Gehrigs disease. She raised four amazing children. Raised them to know and proclaim Christ. She homeschooled them, full-time mom, and was the most amazing, and an honest hostess through it all. She hosted an amazing funeral (sounds weird to say) and reception. She thanked us all for coming and helped us to mourn and laugh. she, her children, her grandchildren and her extended family all went to a cabin to celebrate the holidays together. They spent some great times of fellowship together. My dear friend went in one morning to wake her mom and she didnt wake.

She made sure that I had a baby shower for my fifth baby when two of her children were having their FIRST babies. She hosted the shower so she could attend while caring for her hsuband. I didnt need a shower. I hadnt expected a shower. I was a little uncomforatbel with the whole thing :) She fixed it all. She fixed so many hurts and social situations without ever raising her voice or pointing out that people were being dumb. She just somehow fixed it and made us all the better for it. She made me feel so loved and special and deserving.

I have been crying and crying. I feel like a child who loses their parent in the grocery store. You KNOW that feeling. Frantic. Cant go on or do anything without finding that parent first. I wasnt THAT close to Sue on a daily basis. How do I go to church without Sue? How do we go on? I feel so silly and so selfish when I think of her family and the HUGE loss they are feeling. Practically. Emotionally.

My one Comfort is the assurance of her salvation and that of her husband. They are together. With Christ. I also cry when I think of the grandchildren that were miscarried in this world and now celebrate with there. Together in Him.

Around to it

Today I got frustrated about never having time to do the things that I need to during the day. I have 5 children, including a two year old and a newborn, my husband is also home during the week. I have made a schedule and delegate a lot of chores to others. But it doesnt save me any time because I am constantly answering questions or checking up on the progress of the said delegations. Our house is also very LOUD. I dont get phone calls made, I dont get paperwork done, I dont go anywhere.

There is something that you might not know about me. I had Stage 3 malignant Melanoma removed from my back 6 years ago. I have only had one check up since then and I have some moles on my face and back that have been really itching and bothering me. Doesnt that sound so stupid and irresponsible written down in black and white?

I meant to see the dermatologists every 6 months. Medi-cal would only pay for once a year. Then the health dept didnt have calendars to make appts for 6 months in advance, then I dindt have a car, then I was pregnant and sick, then I had a newborn, then I was pregnant and sick again. Five years went by. How did that happen? Wait! I just told you how it happened.

Now here I am. I called to try to find a dermatologists covered by our insurance because right now I don't have a dime to my name. Seriosuly. I had to transfer my paperwork to a different place that will take effect October 1st, then I have to get a Drs. referral. I am really freaking out though. I found the first melanoma and it was taken care of. Am I pushing my luck now? Did I become paranoid or have I ignored my warning.

I can name so many people who have quickly died from Melanoma. Why would I not take this seriosuly? I dont have my affairs in order for such a thing. I want to see my chidren grow to marurity and fulfill the dreams that we've dreamed for them. Im scared.

Party or Pack

I mentioned earlier that we MAY be moving. We are looking and we probably should move, then again we dont have the money (or time or energy or resources) to move and probably shouldn't.

We don't own a refridgerator! Would we have any help? We have way too much stuff! we have a two year old! We have two babies in our room and our daughter's room gets covered in mildew! Our dining room table no longer fits in this dining room! Think of all the cleaning involved in moving after 7+ years! We need to come up with first month's rent and a deposit and deposits to hook up electricity and gas and water and....

SO..I wondered about celebrating birthdays--what if we move first. Our baby is outgrowing his newborn clothes--do I get out a box of clothes and wash them and pack the smaller? Do I get out our Autumn things and decorate for the seasons? Normally, I would, but are we moving? I still havent packed up maternity and non-breastfeeding clothes either.

I did get out some Autumn tableclothes and wash them. Today is Saturday, my husband was working, my oldest son went on a 6 mile hike with Boy Scouts. I took my two middle children to an art class at the library and chased after my refusing to nap two year old and waiting to nurse/crying two month old. Long long hour and a half. When we got home I put my toddler down for a nap and did two more loads of laundry in an effort to "catch up." I found some cookies! I yelled out to my older "I found cookies! Wanna have tea! Pick out a tablecloth" The table was set, water set to bowl, china out, Autumn mugs ready, places set....Kudos to efficiency!! My daughter just turned 8 but is such an asset to me personally--this must be what it feels like to have a personal assistant. Except that I wouldn't have to referree a personal asistant yelling at her brothers, atleast I dont *think* I would.