And it begins again...

School has started.  We dragged ourselves from the beach to the school table.  What was I thinking? 

To recap the summer:  

Aubrey played All Stars again.  It was a great summer.  The team was full of precious boys and we enjoyed the families immensely.  Daddy helped coach.  Yep, the girls go some Mama made outfits again.

Right before we left for the beach, gymnastics started.  I do believe it is the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Little girls in leotards.  Priceless.

Then we had a few short weeks and then we were off to the beach.  After too few days with our toes in the water, it was time to come home.

One thing to note from the summer is my conquering of the house.  I mean, friends, I had it going on.  The house was tidy and we had clean bathrooms and fresh sheets, as well as dusted and swept and mostly mopped surfaces.  I mastered the art of one load a day laundry and my laundry room was empty (thanks to my big sister coming to town and unearthing the folding table for me.  I only kept it up).  It was heaven.  If you get on such a roll and want to continue it, do NOT, and I repeat, do NOT plan a beach trip returning the day before you start homeschool.  Just don't.  You will be half way through your beach novel and stay up half the night to finish it.  Yep.  Don't.

So, Monday dawned all too early with mess everywhere, half planned lessons, and kids who did not want to be there.  

This girl is home with me this year too.  Bookending 2.5 rushed hours of dedicated big kid school with half and hour trips to preschool was just too hard.  Mommy preschool, while less traumatic than waving bye to Mom at preschool, is much less fun.  I'm hoping to improve that situation soon.

My LJ has retained a good deal of what we learned last year, so I have been able to hit the ground running with her.  She's a little perfectionist like her mama, so we get along pretty well.  On a side note, I just pulled her third tooth about 30 minutes ago.  I throw up a little inside every time I have to do it, but she won't let Daddy near her wiggly teeth--I don't know why; I'm way less gentle about such things.

This boy, this boy--he's grown up a lot.  We are able to do so much and I'm letting him learn a little more independently this year.  Teaching Textbooks are the bomb dot com, let me tell you.

As I sit here, my house is relatively tidy, I mean, my bed is made--that's something.  My laundry room is only partially gone, so there's hope.  The real issue is that I'm pooped.  Emotionally gone.  Having to play mama, teacher, disciplinarian, chef, maid, and cheerleader/spotter/coach/referee all day is just hard.  I did get the sheets changed per schedule on Monday, but that was it.  I'm hoping to take baby steps and be in the full swing of being large and in charge by mid September.  

So, if I can manage it, I'll share how I set up my home made planner this year as well as some of the things I have planned for CC.  

Pray for us friends.

I'm Having a Garage Sale

Pray for me friends.  I've decluttered and have so much more to do, but I couldn't walk in my attic and the garage was getting bad, so I'm finally having a garage sale.

I'm advertising on a cool app called gsalr and my neighbor has had great success with it.  You should try it out!

Gsalr

The State of Things

So there is a LOT going on at our house that I've been meaning to share here.  Like, I've been meaning to share it here for 3 months.  Life just happens and sitting to write at the computer whilst my house slowly fills with stuff seems to be the least of priorities.

The biggest thing happening here is this:

Yes, you read the chalkboard correctly, we have joined the growing number of homeschoolers.  We've thrown ourselves headlong down this path for so many reasons, namely, I wanted more time with my kids.  Not just any kind of time, but the kind that connects us.  The kind that pours into them.  I also wanted more tree houses, forts, bike rides, tea parties, and the like to happen here.  They happened far too seldom between the months of August and May.

So, I decided what curriculum to buy, prayed earnestly for a spot to open up at our local Classical Conversations group, and plunged into spending ALL THE FREAKING TIME with my kids.  I say it like that lest you think that I'm one of those that want my kids underfoot at every waking moment.  I am not.  And I want to make sure you know that, and also, that if you feel this way, it is okay.

Let me digress here for a teeny bit.  I am one of those mamas that swore I could never homeschool.  I thought it was a horrible option (I mean, what about socialization???) and that it was NOT for me.  My hubs suggested homeschool several times over the past few years and I bristled like a scared skunk (and my attitude was just as stinky, let me assure you).  So the fact that I initiated the conversation this time shows a major heart change for me.  I basically surrendered and said, 'Okay Lord.'  That was when I found out that there were a LOT of families out there just like mine who were homeschooling.  I had wondered where all the women who were wired like me were hanging out, and now I've discovered  they were at home.  Homeschooling.

So, let's pick up the saga on August 20, 2014.  Our first day to ever homeschool.  We got up and dressed and I announced school would start at 0900.  The kids begged to go ahead and start now.  It was a great day.  We had fun and it was easy.  August 21 rolled around and it was more of the same.  Caitlin was a bit of a problem, but manageable.

This was our joke picture.  You know, the one where non-homeschoolers think we do life in our pajamas all day???  Notice the scowl on the baby's face?

Then preschool started.  I braced myself for a screaming Caitlin as I left her at school while her brother and sister climbed back into the van with me.  There was no screaming.  School at home was still sweet.  There were major behavioral victories.  I LOVED IT.  We were done in time to collect Cate from school and the rest of the kid day was spent playing with each other.

I did make her a school dress that she refused to wear.  Of course.

Then came the day that I felt like I was wrestling cats all day.  Literally.  I mean, we're talking about addition and the comment during a pause was about Power Rangers.  Really?  Really?  AGGGGGHHHHH!!!!  I wanted to scream.  Then came the brave soul who asked, "Can't we skip school today?"  I think my head spun on that one while fire and venom spewed from my mouth.

This past weekend was quiet and I failed to spend the hour or so getting everything assembled for upcoming school week.  I had to dig through the folders I have rearranged 5 times to come up with all of our work.  So today was awful.  Pure awful.  Lillie pouted for some reason and was so ugly I dropped her clip (I may explain that soon enough).  Aubrey hated copywork (I knew he would) and complained through the whole assignment.  I am hanging on, knowing that it will get worse still before it gets better.

I had a wise friend I've just met explain to me that the adjustment to homeschooling is like the adjustment to marriage.  No one will tell you the truth.  The truth that the first year of marriage is the hardest thing ever.  You look at your spouse and wonder what possessed you to willingly surrender your freedom to live with someone who can't manage to rinse the toothpaste out of the bottom of the sink (when in a fit of I-can't-stand-this-anymore I told him what I thought of his dried up pool of toothpaste in the bottom of the sink, he calmly informed me that I had many annoying habits that he just lived with.  Talk about wind out of your sails).  13 years have passed and I ache to think how much I adore the man (who now rinses the toothpaste out of the sink).  I have willingly surrendered my 8am -2pm  freedom that came with kids who go to school.  It is hard and I feel like I have lost my mind.  Yet in the chafing of this adjustment, there are bright spots that I cling to.

A bright spot.  Aubrey was asked to write ten o'clock in digital time on the board.  He wrote it, calling it the fake time, and then looked at his watch and recorded the 'real' time.  Why do I think that is so funny???/

I'll keep you posted.  This will be okay.

Another Season in the Books

So, hello friends.  Long radio silence here on Maggie P.  Sorry bout that.

Spring Rec Ball turned into All-Stars for us, and my friends, let me just say that All-Stars is no joke.  It was a lot of hard work for this little boy (and his parents).  We had 2-3 hour practices smack in the middle of the evening 2-3 days a week.  But, my sweet A learned a lot about baseball and grew up just a little bit, so we are glad for this season.

As you can see, there has been some sewing here at Maggie P--the cute little spirit wear tank dresses were made for the girls before the first game.  We have matching hair accessories, but those were tossed waaaaaay before this pic was taken.  We got lots of compliments on our dresses and they are pretty stinking cute.

This last tournament was a killer, with rain delays and back to back games on Saturday and Sunday.  The boys tied for 3rd place for the Regional Title (having already won the District 8 Championship).  Oh, and just to be clear--the girls were groomed before the game.  We had brushed hair and ponytails and all that.  There was a splash pad at this ballpark (someone was using their brain when they did that) and the girls played in it while the boys slugged thru the last game.

This boy, this boy who daily steals my heart, wanted his number to be a 1 because he knew how much the number means to me.  It is in fact the only and best number ever, but I may be a little biased (if you're lost, that's because you didn't go to the 'W', but that's okay--not everyone is blessed enough to be a Loyal Daughter).  I was a #1 a long time ago in my college years, so A wanted to be a #1 also.

Our super kind neighbors were awesome to us this summer--one drove over to see a game during the State Tournament while another one came over to give A some batting pointers.  Those pointers made something click and A had some GREAT hits this game.  When he gets just a little bit stronger he's going to be a force to be reckoned with.

But in the end, we had to go home.  These boys played very, very hard and all of the parents are really proud of them.

So for one more time....

One, Two, Three

OG!!!!

You see the south Louisiana glisten on my face?  Southern girls do indeed sweat as well as glisten, and we do it in places as we get older that we never dreamed possible.  But that's enough about that.

These kids.

2013--The year of posts that never made it here

 Weelll, we can put a fork in '13 cause it sure is done.  Looking back through the blog posts, I did pretty well on keeping things up to date until school started back in the fall.  So, instead of a round up of things I did post, here's a round up of things I didn't post.

 We did a lot of playing, fort building, tea partying, swimming, bubbles, and more playing.

 I did a lot of sewing that didn't make it here.  These are just the ones I have pictures of....

I had a lot of projects that we did that would have made cool posts.  Things like making slippery kid boots not slippery, painting hand me down birdcages into a new cool distressed look, how to have pretty pots on the cheap, refreshing chairs into kid friendlier versions, and lots of fun things to do with kids.  Too bad they never made it here....

Cate spent a lot of time being 2.  Here she is not getting her way.  So she goes to stand in the corner.  Then the puts her hands on her hips with a 'hmph!'  Then she turns her back to me with her hands on her hips.  Then she starts giggling.  Wash, rinse repeat.

We had some really sweet times.  Apparently I took a lot of selfies.  Including the one I took in the mirror with Cate on the day I went back to work...

We did some silly things and I took more selfies.

Lillie turned 5!!! And had her first friend birthday party.  Ariel, of course...

We had the Seibel Thanksgiving at our house.  We had so much fun.  And a house full.  15 for night and 20 for lunch on Thanksgiving Day.  I wanted the turkey to taste good, so I asked my sweet brother in law to cook it for me and he did a great job!

I have very few pictures from Christmas.  Maybe that's because we all got the stomach bug (yes, all 5 of us) within a few days of each other and didn't feel great until after Christmas.  I was the last man standing, so that stank for me.  We made the trek to Atlanta and got stuck in traffic on the way home.  Papa put out quite a spread.  It was a great Christmas.  I made stockings and it took me all of December to finish them.  They were hung on Dec 23.

It was a blessed year.

And I got my hair whacked off.  12 inches.  I love it.

Stay in touch.  I have some goals and things to share for 2014.  Sorry for the repeats in the photos...There were some I just liked too much...

The Ariels

This photo says it all.  Mama wanted to grab some photos of the costumes she slaved over made and LJ wanted to go to school already.  Nevermind it was 0815 in the morning and school doesn't start til 0900.  The attempt I made inside the house was even worse...

I only got the halfhearted smile after I threatened her with the fate worse than death--staying home with ME.  I mean, we had already had a little pep talk, reminders of how princesses act, and a small amount of Mama being silly.  C'mon already.

Nonetheless, I persevered.  And again, I was rewarded with not one good picture of both girls in their costumes at the same time.  I'm going to have to buy Photoshop and get real good at using it.

Let's talk about the details....

I started with this pattern.  It only came as small as a 3, which swallows Cate, so I had to chop it down pretty liberally.  I was AMAZED when it actually kinda fit.  I also had to chop about 6 inches off of LJ's and it was supposed to fit by her measurements.  I know why most sewers start with their own pattern but I am still a bit weary of starting with a blank piece of paper.  I would have been more than frustrated if I had paid more than $1 for this little pattern.

Here's a look at the fine print.

Helga came through in a mighty way this year.  I used her to roll all of the edges of the sparkle chiffon I used.  I loved the way the chiffon stood up and I don't think I could have stood it if I had had to roll all those edges using my special little presser foot.  I doubled the sleeve detail and the waist peplum and made the fins from several layers of tulle and chiffon.  We were trying to knock off the Disney Store costume, which was sold out of Cate's size when I finally got talked into buying the costumes this year.  (confused?  LJ wanted me to buy her costume this year and when I priced what it would cost to make the Ariel costume I decided it was not that much more to buy the darn thing and then I could move on to other projects.  When I went to click the button, Cate's size was gone and heaven forbid her costume wasn't just. like. Lillie Jo's.  So we went to plan B).  I pooped out on the bodice detail with a clip on flower from Hobby Lobby.  I planned to sparkle up a seashell but I was sick of it by that time. Because I had to chop LJ's skirt so much, I ended up reworking it twice before it was ok.  Hence the sick of it. I got the bodice trim from Etsy and it was PERFECT.

I actually made the costumes for about $20 a piece.  I used dull satin for the bodice and the tail, chiffon for the peplum and bodice overlay, and sparkle tulle for the fins.  Hancock had all of their special occasion fabrics 40% off and then I also had a 10% off your whole purchase coupon, so it ended up about $30 cheaper to make both costumes.  I may be fudging a little because I had to get the flowers ($3 a piece, maybe?) but still, it did come out cheaper to make it and the fabrics are nice and won't fray.

So I do believe this is the best of the photos.  They look pretty darn cute with the Ariel wigs and crowns from CC but I figured the preschool would prefer not to have to readjust the wigs all morning.  You're welcome Preschool.

I'll add a pic of Aubs when we Trick or Treat tonight.  Yep.  Tonight.  The weather is supposed to be stormy here tomorrow night and so our neighbors graciously agreed to let us descend upon them tonight.

The preschool wasn't completely spared.  The necklace sings and Cate LOVES it.  I push the button, Mama????

Don't mess with me...

A few weeks ago, you saw this....

  Yeah, you saw that right.  I'm in for KCWC Fall 2013.  I'm ready.      
After all that smack talk, turns out, I'm NOT.

I hit publish on this post on 10/6, thinking that KCW started 10/7.  Turns out, I was two weeks ahead.  I had cut out two sets of leggings for the girls because the weather here had turned colder and we needed  leggings.  I had to sew them up.  Then I started on Halloween costumes.  And stopped because I dreaded it.  I finally made myself start them (like start sewing what I had cut out) and now I remember why I stopped.  I HATE sewing in lining.  It doesn't cooperate!  Unfortunately I have to keep going.  I have too much money in Ariel the Mermaid colored fabrics to stop now.
You will, however, see the Mermaid costumes when done, because, who can resist two little Ariels?
Not me....