Welcoming Christopher Reed!

Stream of Consciousnes: On March 31, 2011 I gave birth to a handsome baby boy. He is a wonderful addition to our family. With Christopher's arrival comes probably our last child. It is exciting but also a lot of life changing all at one time. I turned 30 on Saturday and I can't help put feel a little sorrow in a happy, sad, I just had a baby way. With Christopher's arrival I am learning a lot about myself and the other members of my family.

• My husband Jason is wonderful. I don't think that I could have a better husband. He is a huge help with everything. I decided to deliver Christopher without "drugs" and Jason was such an encourager. He knows me to my core. He knows that I would have been disappointed had I given in. This is not a criticism of those who have had, or will have an epidural. It was for me personally. Something I wanted to do for myself. Through the experience I saw something interesting. I saw God's just love even in the pains of childbirth. With those pains you are able to birth your baby quicker and more effectively. It was kind of funny to see all that love in all that pain. I think Jason is coping with Dilbert Cartoons on his Android. I love him more with each passing day!
• My daughter Isabelle is such a helper and desires so much to be a big girl. I learned that she is super loving and affectionate. She also has a hard time containing this personality trait. She is also clumbsy. She is does everything a million miles per hour. She is a ball of energy. I noticed through bringing brother home how honest and willing she is. What a blessing she is. Isabelle copes through biting her nails, she did the first time too.
• My daughter Genevieve is very independent and with the welcoming of her big brother she losses her baby of the family status. I like to affectionately call her my "Little in the Middle." Anytime someone comes over she thinks that whoever is visiting is going to take me with them or take her. She cries when she is lonely for "My Family." She also says, "I'm so mad." Evie copes through Peanut Butter Cookies. 
• Myself-I love my family. I am feeling pretty emotional about that. There was a post on this homeschool group that I belong to and a women with children the same spacing as mine just lost her husband in an accident. This has left me shaken a bit and perhaps taking the turning 30, having my last child thing so hard. 

Isabelle Accepted Jesus into Her Heart

Jason and I are so excited that Isabelle accepted Jesus into her heart. She and Jason were talking on their way home from Awanas and she decided to accept Christ. It is so funny to watch how excited she was and how nearly a week later she is still excited. This morning she was talking to Eve and told her about Jesus and about Heaven. She asked me to pray for Evie. It is so amazing. The verse I have for her on her spiritual birthday of 3-23-2011 is 1 Corinthians 3:23 "You are Christ's, and Christ is God's."

Homeschooling Curriculum Thoughts

I recently signed up for the local homeschooling conference- It is the CHEC (Chrisitian Home Educators of Colorado). Best part...It was free because my oldest is not 5 yet. I am super excited as R.C. Sproul Jr. is the keynote on a couple of the days. Recently with my extra time I have been contemplating curriculum for next year and here is where I am...

Isabelle- Kindergarten 4/5

• Handwriting-Handwriting Without Tears
• Phonics and Literature- Mommy Teach Me to Read---I never thought I would look at a Montessori approach but the more I know about it, the more the myths about it have been debunked and I love it. They have great literature and activity ideas. On the other side for I will be doing a bit of Mommy Teach Me with Eve who will be 2/3 next school year.
• Phonics and Literature-All About Reading Pre-1 (Just looking into it)
• Science- I have thought about doing My Father's World but I am starting to stray away. I am not sure an umbrella curriculum fits my style or needs. I think I may end up doing theme based kindergarten and developing it based on Usborne and a couple of Science Explore books I have.
• Math-Right Start Math
• Writing because Writing and Handwriting are NOT the same thing :)- Just pushing my pet peeve.- Journalling 
• Bible-
• Memory Verse- AWANAS ???- We have been doing it this year and Isabelle loves it but we will have to see if it fits in with our family needs next year.
• Character Development- Accountable Kids (I am going to take a look at it, at the conference
• PE-Family Time Fitness ???? We want to do something as Isabelle loves to be active.

Well there is a glance at my brain in regards to homeschooling curriculum. 

What's New With You?

I figured that I would give a little update of what is new with us and then extend a promise to work a little bit harder at blogging. Currently I am 38 weeks pregnant with our son Christopher Reed. He is due April 4 and for those of you who don't know me well, I have never been pregnant past 38.5 weeks so I am getting a LITTLE anxious to meet him. I do have to say it is wonderful to be "on maternity leave." This year has been a hard one for me at work as I chose to over commit myself and work 3 full days a week. I think I was trying to provide for us and lacking a lot of trust in God and although it was a good experience, I found that the things that mattered most took a hit. The peace at home was nearlly absent and my daughters were growing up so much. I found that I was spending a lot of time with other people's kids and missing my own. With that being said, Jason and I decided with much prayer for me to cut down to only working one day a week next fall. Isabelle will be able to come to work with me and take Kindergarten classes and my mom will be able to be a grandma again and not the "babysitter." With the extra time on my hands and the desire to do a bit of blogging (not feeling like I have to or need to) I am hoping to become a regular blogger, updating you on our family, our homeschooling adventure, our walk with the Lord, yummy recipes, and all the good stuff that the popular blogs have :)

Brought Up to Speed

As you probably know I am probably the most incompatant blogger. I rarely update my blog and I don't even feel guilt about it :) I am going to try once again to get into blogging to keep everyone up to speed on us but I am warning you if blogger is as user friendly as it was before, this may not last long :) If anyone has any tricks let me know

Lair'O Bear Hike. The Perfect Hike for Kiddos.

Climbing a Tree with Papa Reed

Maggie after her Father's Day Mishap still loving the water and outdoors

Jason and Isabelle making a Bow and Some Arrows

Isabelle with Her Star Wars Backpack. She Insisted on Star Wars and Says She Loves Star Wars but has NEVER seen it...What a Silly Girl

Most of Our Explores End Up With Someone Taking Their Pants Off. If it's not Eve it's Issy

Genevieve Got Into the Vasoline.

FYI...Vasoline Does Not Come Out Very Easily. We tried clarifying shampoo, raw egg, baby powder and baby oil.

Taking in a Rockies Game

We were playing with bubbles during our homeschool and they had a great time.

I think this is hokey but they liked it!

Issy and Evie at the Aquarium

The Many Faces of Evie

Isabelle Loves Water Slides and Diving Boards.

Eve at Pirates Cove. She loves the water soooo much.

Julia and I

Our Trip to Iowa to Visit Lindsey and Julia

Our Family

If You Were Wondering If My Belly Looked a Bit Enlarged...It Is. We are expecting Baby #3 in April of 2011.

March 2009 and a Bit of April

Isabelle Swimming at Her ISR Lessons

Her Starfish

ISabelle is Taking Infant Swim Classes that Make Her Water Safe. 

Issy and I at Her Lessons. 

ISR Swimming 

Goofing Around 

Eve Tries to Take Isabelle's Sippy Cup. She wants to be just like her sister!

Eve Chowing on the Duck 

Adorable If I Do Say So Myself

Isabelle 

Learning About What Happens When Snow Melts 

Isabelle Loves to Clean the Bones Completely. She is Eating a Rib. Our Little Cavewoman!!

Issy and Alex at Disney on Ice

The Girls and Their Main Squeeze 

Isabelle was Helping Me Shovel Snow 

Evie Trying to Drink Papa Cookie's Water

A Masterpiece

The Hands of a Surgeon

My Napping Girls 

Eve (Thanks Lindsey) and Cade- She is thinking..."Get this boy away from me :)" 

Well with the passing of March and April so came Jason and I's 5th Anniversary and My 28th Birthday. Time sure flies. I know it is cliche but it is so true. I watch the girls grow and I am filled with so many emotions but when I sort them all out I know two things...

GOD IS SO GOOD

and

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER 

February 2009

Gymnastics

Jason at 30. Relaxing at the Broadmoor

Bumbo Sitting 

I love my Binky 

Swimming Time 

Eve's 1st Day Swimming 

Issy's Little Friend Emily and The Two Birthday Buddies 

Eve

Well Jason and I went on our first night away from both girls. We were celebrating Jason's 30th birthday. I keep giving him a hard time about how old he is :) Our night away was great! I missed them, but with two kiddos a break is much needed. I love the time I get to reconnect with him. 

Eve is now 4 months old and learning so much each day. She a super giggler and loves to squeal. 

Isabelle is communicating so well. Her memory is amazing. She loves to read, play pretend dress up and kitchen and retell stories to us. Most of her stories end in a mean queen going to time out (We told her that the mean queen in Snow White went to time out:). She loves movies...too much I think. 

I tried to upload a video but this silly blog won't let me. Sorry it was super cute!