Wagner News!

We have been hoping and praying for this for some time now...

19 more sleeps until we move into a new HOME!  Let me back up.

We fell in love with the perfect house for us 2 Thursdays ago.  We, as in Steve and a friend of ours, have been painting and pressure washing and new flooring our current house over the last month.  And, we quickly got the house on the market last Sunday since we had placed a contract on our potential new home.  72 hours later we had almost 10 scheduled showings and 3 contracts.  We were literally OUT of the house the whole day on Monday.  Desperate to kill time, I went to the MALL with my kids to return something. I RARELY go to the mall with my kids.  Mostly because ESCALATORS ARE SO TRICKY.  At one point I had a ridiculous up and down and up and down and up and down escalator situation to get everyone on the same floor.  It ended with me getting my shoeless Zayden out of the arms of a perfect stranger.  Good times.  Hilarious now, but a perfect example of why I rarely go to the mall.

Anyways,  We secured a contract on our house that asked for more than we listed for!  We are so thankful!  I spent the first few days in pure dream land.  Luckily our awesome real estate agent met my level of excitement.  Steve remained calm and content.  She even joked that he needed to up his level of excitement to meet ours!  I couldn't believe how it all came together and so fast.  I didn't even recognize my own house with new floors, new rugs and fresh paint everywhere I turned.  Seriously, take a look:

http://www.trulia.com/property/3215971231-1806-Jeffrey-Bryan-Dr-Charlotte-NC-28213

And, then Steve and I "left town" for our quarterly overnight get away on Thursday and it hit me.  We are leaving our HOME.  The home that we brought 5 of our babies home to.  The home RICH with memories of first steps, first bites, first fights and more.  We received a text from our agent alerting us that our playset/playhouse  was  a "fixture" and it had to stay.

WHAT!?!?

The playhouse and set that was gifted as a FAMILY PROJECT, as a pile of wood that was the BIG Christmas present 4 years ago.  The playset and house that my husband built with Zach, Zoe, Zane and Zadie?  Like they seriously cut the wood together, hammered in the nails together and PAINTED the playhouse as a family project.  They worked, while I watched from inside and nursed our then 3 month old Zeke.  And, every friend we have EVER had visit us has signed the inside of the playhouse.  And, the men in our small group LITERALLY raised it on the platform when we realized the shingles made it too heavy.  Not happening.  This whole moving thing is the MOST ridiculous idea we have ever had.  We don't need more space.  1700 square feet for 8 people is fine.  Roomy even.  Afterall folks in much of the world live in far less space.  The deal is off.  We are not buying.  We are not selling.  I will no sooner give them my next born child then I will give them OUR PLAYHOUSE BUILT WITH OUR LOVE.  What sort of heartless buyers are they?

Steve remained calm.  I flipped out.  This is how we do things.  He Listened.  Laughed.  Loved me well.  He reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, "Beginnings are Scary.  Ending are sad."  So thankful I had this "buyers remorse" when we were away together.  With our precious Z's around it would have been difficult to naviagate this convo.  So not thankful that I had the buyers remorse when we met up with the inspector whose very gift and talent is to point out and record every tiny detail that is wrong.

And, then eventually I calmed down.  And, remembered when I first began to pray about the house we were buying and the house we would sell MONTHS ago I prayed it would be a blessing for a family buying it.  And, then Steve pointed out that we could build a NEW treehouse in the TREES, this time including Zeke and Zayden!

I slept on it.  I prayed.  I ate a very big breakfast.

The next day I very so tenderly and with so much anxiety broke the bad news and the good news to the kids, "bad news we have to leave our playset, good news we will build a new one IN THE TREES".  I expected weeping.

They didn't even seem to GET the bad news.  They immediately started imagining and dreaming about all the features of their new playhouse they would build with their dad.  They referenced things I didn't understand.  They also all talked at once.  At one point Zoe said, "this isn't bad news at all this is all GOOD NEWS"!  I love kids.  They are so much better at flexibility and joy then I am.  They teach me.

Let the packing begin!  Looking forward to new memories but first...  Finding pleasure in remembering the old memories!

Learning All the Time

Years ago I would have great angst if I didn't start our homeschool curriculum BEFORE the public schools.  I was so afraid of getting behind.  What is behind anyway?  And, now I have such joy in seeing the way our lifestyle has changed and seeing how we are learning all the time!  Certainly we will start some formal studies after labor day but I no longer buy into the myth that education is a race!  Education is an adventure of discovering who God made my children to be!  One of the ways I uncover how to direct our curriculum is to see the books they choose.

Most days (summer included) we do a "room time" of at least an hour during Zayden's nap time. Zach, Zoe and Zane read their library books (or sometimes a classic audio), while Zadie and Zeke listen to an audio book or have an older Z read to them.  This gives me a break and it also helps me relax with the rhythms of reading out loud.  I go in read aloud spurts.  "Tidal waves" are a great metaphor for my morning or afternoon read alouds.  I will go through a season of reading aloud a bunch, then a season of rest.  Repeat.  Room time helps me ensure that they are reading regardless of my tide.  My homeschool vision includes them having a LOVE of learning, so reading is essential.  I am always impressed with what they select and it helps me know how to feed their passions and interests. I have 6 kids so delight-directed learning is ESSENTIAL.  I find it much easier to FUEL what they are wondering about, FEED what they are curious about and FAN the flames of what they imagine in play, then demand they learn know and care about what I have pre-planned.   God didn't give me the gift of planning!  I like to capitalize on learning MOMENTS.  When I capitalize on the moment THEY are interested, their attention, focus and determination are off the charts.  Passion trumps curriculum.  Interest drives mastery.

I love watching her creativity spill into science.  One day in room time she had taken a cardboard box and made a pulley system to try and pull up her books from Zadie's bunk to hers.  Then at a play-date this past weekend the dad used a pulley system to bring up Nerf darts on the balcony and she was so excited!  Today, she chose to make a small pulley with popsicle sticks while listening to audio books!  She LOVES to craft while listening to books and I love to see where her imagination and inventiveness takes her.  

Today the preschoolers listened to this.  Fantastic narrators!  Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss?

Zach stumbled on Unbroken and now has been in a huge phase of ANY war book.  But, recently this book, "the true cost of toys" peaked his interest.

This is what was in Zane's bunk!  Of course they were sprawled out, I stacked them.  Steve got him interested in the BFG because he told him Disney is making a movie.  And, in the bottom corner is his very raggedy copy of his Animal Encyclopedia that he learned to read in!!  

In 1st grade, I would FIGHT Zane tooth and nail to do his phonics curriculum. I finally took a break in exasperation and (if I am to be honest) surrender.  THEN we kept renewing this Animal book from the library. When I finally realized that he was DRIVEN to read by this book because of his curiosity, I got him his own copy.  He was not discouraged by the complex words but would constantly ask what they meant and then tell you about the funny looking Proboscis Monkey or a poisonous snake. Within a matter of just a few weeks, he went from hating reading to being a ravenous reader.  This is just ONE of many stories that make me a big believer in FEEDING my kids all the subjects through the topics they love.  

I started a Kindergarden unit on colors that came together so nicely and was so much fun that preschooler Zeke and even the 3rd grade twins demanded to participate!  I HAD to start just Zadie's "school" because she simply could not wait.  I am considering having Zach write a Readers Theater play from "The Day the Crayons Quit".  It will be excellent practice in writing for him, plus he will get to direct the play! I love how home education allows me to take what we love and find the learning for each age. I would be a miserable failure at following separate curricula. 

And, water beads are colorful and fun.  AND MESSY!

Zoe is slowly working her way through the Little House in the Big Woods.  We all listened to this on audio last summer in the car.  "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once", CS Lewis.

From the day they were born having boy/girl twins has been like a living labratory in gender difference.  I have to blog about this some day!  Zane is working his way through a series of "Natures deadliest" and Zoe recently got a book about "Teeny Tiny Animals".  I loved seeing their unique contrasting interests!

And, finally what I am reading!  I have re-read parts of bittersweet and started Life without Limits but I can NEVER read just one book at a time so I jumped into The Power of Play.  

 I would love to hear what YOU have been reading!  One of my besties moved to Florida last year but we still, at least weekly, talk on the phone and literally READ QUOTES from books we have been reading.  We are nerds and we love it!  She got me into a cool bread book and I got her into Bittersweet last month.  So please, I would love to know who you are if you are reading this and what you are reading!  Because child or adult, homeschooled or public schooled, we are ALL learning all the time!

The Power of story

Almost a decade ago with 1 toddler I started volunteering in the children's ministry at Mecklenburg Community Church.  I was so overwhelmed with my toddler, my job and our new city.  I never thought I'd have another child.  I was suspicious of church.  I had church baggage.  I was scared.  I wanted to make sure they weren't going to scare my toddler.  Walking into a MecKidz classroom and seeing the INTENTIONALITY of it all is like being in a "Church Disneyland".  But, better.  I was immediately drawn in by the fact that a team of us could handle 30ish preschoolers better then I could handle my one at home!  Everything is looked at through the eyes of a child.  The heart of the ministry LOVES children and designs every detail around them while teaching profound truths.  

In a 1,000 big and little ways over 9 years, serving in this ministry has changed and continues to change me.    It changed the answer to core questions like:  Who am I?  Where do I belong?  And, who can I trust?  I met people that sincerely loved God and loved his word.  Over time, I began to surrender to the wonder of these preschool lessons:

God Made me, God Loves me and He wants to be my friend forever!

Monday night I was able to share a few of my thoughts about STORY to a small group of Meckidz leaders!  I was so honored!  And, terrified.  AND SWEATY.  But, I regret not having more of it memorized.  Something hungers in me to work on my "art" of what I wanted to say a bit more.  So I thought it would be fun to polish the "talk" on my blog a little bit more.  

Stories spark complex emotions.  Stories connect, inspire, bond, motivate, and ENCOURAGE!  

GREAT stories AWAKEN us to TRUTH.  GREAT stories sneak past our defenses and armor and can plant "seed thoughts".  GREAT stories  aim for our heart and drag our head along behind.  GREAT stories are multi-faceted.

Great stories aren't perfect.  I learned this in the trenches.  I have to blog soon about my nephew Silas and what God has done in my life as I pray for him.  But, I used to believe the lie that stories had to end happily every after.  But, on this side of heaven we are all yearning for His return.  The best stories are, "here is my brokennes, my blood, my sweat and my tears... and HERE this is how God is holding me all together just as he holds this beautiful broken world together.  What part of scripture are we wrestling with?  

GREAT stories appeal across age, race, gender and time.  Great Storytellers ironically are GREAT listeners.

God is Always with us.  For me when life feels mundane and lifeless.  I often times am believing a bad story.  Truth got tangled in my head and my heart.   My mental script, my narrative, my STORY is tangled.  And, how often it gets tangled!

How do you SEE great stories?  Seeing God stories is opening our eyes, opening our heart and opening our mind to what God is doing in our lives and in the lives of those we serve.  

There are 1,000 different ways to tell the same story.  What story are you telling about MecKidz?

Every one who serves in Meckidz has a story in their mind about what volunteering means for them.  Really.  Engage Sincerely and Compassionately, Interrupt Kindly and you will find out.  Their "serving story" is a result of the sum total of all their interactions and experiences and it becomes the lens through which they interpret their future serving with.

Let's start telling more stories of what God is doing!  We can share stories around our MISSION and VALUES every chance we get.  Championing our mission and values in every way we see it.  

As leaders with a COMMON STORY a common narrative repeated, we can:

1) invite people in community

2) encourage them on MISSION 

3) help define the lens through which they see their experience of serving

The bible does this.  Its filled with many little stories that make up the GRAND story of Jesus loving us so much he gave us Jesus.  But, all the little stories point to Jesus.  Every story whispers his name.

When the WORD became FLESH in the person of Jesus;  What did he use to communicate over and over again...?  Stories!  

The following are some BEAUTIFUL words that inspire me to share my story more often!

"... It is your responsibility to tell God's story, in every way you can, every form, every medium, every moment.  Tell the stories of love and redemption and forgiveness every time you experience them.  Tell the stories of reconciliation and surprise and new life everywhere you find them... There's nothing small or inconsequential about our stories.  There is, in fact, nothing bigger.  And when we tell the truth about our lives- the broken parts, the secret parts, the beautiful parts- then the gospel comes to life, an actual story about redemption, instead of abstraction and theory... And, only you can tell your story.  If you have been transformed by the grace of God, then you have within you all you need to write your manifesto, your poem, your song, your battle cry, your love letter to a beautiful and broken world.  Your story must be told!"  (by Shauna Niequest from Bittersweet)

Kids Eat Free or Cheap- in North Charlotte!

Monday-

Whiskey Warehouse - before 6pm 1/2 price appetizers (awesome wings, nachos chicken fingers, and PIMENTO CHEESE poppers, you can tell from the all caps I love them)
*Yes, I bring my children to a place called "whiskey warehouse".  They have highchairs :)  The rooftop seating is super fun and you get a great view of the city.  We once had a 70ish year old pastor walk over and buy our meal there, super fun memory!

Afton Tavern - 1/2 price pizzas or  2 free kids meals per 1 paying adult meal

Tuesday-

Macadoos - 2 kids meals for $.99 each per 1 adult, plus it is $6.95 burger night

McAllisters - 2 kids per 1 adult entree

Carolina Ale House - 2 kids meals for $.99 each per 1 adult meal

Bob Evans - Kids eat free after 4pm

Texas Road House - 1 kids meal per paying adult

Moes Southwest Grill - 1 kids meal free per 1 adult meal, balloon artist roams during dinner

Hawthornes - 1 free kids meal per $7 in food and drinks spent

Wednesday -

Firehouse Subs - after 4pm - 2 kids meals for 1 adult

East Coast Wings  - after 4pm - 1 kid per paying adult, balloon artist roams during dinner

Fosters Grill - 1 kids meal for $1 per paying adult meal, balloon artist roams during dinner

Thursday -

I've got nothing.

Friday -

More nothing.  Will you settle for a picture instead?

Saturday-

MexiCasa - Kids eat free with an adult getting a meal and a drink.  Kids drink not included.

Sunday -

Zapatas - Kids eat free with an adult getting a meal and a drink.  Kids drink not included.

Shanes Rib Shack - 1 Kids meal free per adult dinner plate.  Dinner plates have 2 sides (macaroni and cheese is a side), so 2 of our big kids split a dinner plate great.

Firehouse - 2 kids per adult combo meal

*Steak and Shake has free kids meals Saturday and Sunday but we tried once and the service was horrible.

Where do you eat free or cheap during the week?  Please comment and let me know!  Even if it is out of town, I'd love to know!

Imaginon!

Last time I talked about our local library.  This time I am talking about the Library on Steroids in Uptown Charlotte, Imaginon!  We went today for the free summer exhibit, Clifford!  But, we stayed almost 4 hours.  I love places that entertain and engage my 2 year old all the way up through my 12 year old.  The entire library is creative and playful and every corner and floor has multiple inviting areas that invite curiosity, wonder and learning!  

Each Summer they have a "Discovery Place Kids/Children's Museum style literacy" exhibit.  In years past they have had various incredible themes for the summer exhibit like:  Classic Fairy Tales or Arthurs World.  This year it was CLIFFORD!  

I love seeing them work together.  Even if it is pretend.

This was an area to color and leave your creative expressions on the board for all to see.

This exhibit is technically not for 12 year olds.  I didn't have the heart to tell him.  

Did I mention that we brought Wolverine to Imaginon? We almost brought Captain America and then Mr. Incredible.  But, Mr. Incredible changed to Wolverine when he realized he had a rip showing off his underwear. 

Something inside me sings when I get a group picture!

Zachary camped out and found a half dozen war books that he perused and Zeke and Zayden felt so big playing on the preschool computers.  We only spent a few minutes on the computers but Zayden was able to "play" instruments on screen and hear the sounds in his headphones.  And, Zeke was able to play "Bingo" with Dora.  

Most places I can not take my children without extra help or an anxiety attack.  There is just so many things I have to restrict them from.  Our world is not welcoming to children...  But, This place is DESIGNED for kids, it makes my heart so happy!

I am a sucker for a beautiful and fun ABC chart.  I can't not take a picture.

How did he get so big?

I have always thought it would be fun to have a light table.  I will just use Imaginons' instead.  That way they are in charge of dusting it.  And, buying the light bulbs.

More learning toys that I don't have to organize, rotate or clean or find the pieces.

A boy and his blocks.

His language is exploding.  And, he couldn't stop saying, "tractor".

Zoe hit her next goal in the summer reading program so she earned a FREE book and she picked a Little House on the Prairie book and spent a good chunk of the ride home reading it!

.  

The sheet she has in hand was a super cute scavenger hunt activity that her and Zane raced around to complete.

And, then we were so lucky to be there for a "story adventure" craft and song program with Eric Carle books for ages 5-11!  Score!

We want to make it back before the summer ends to be sure and do the free Clifford Exhibit one more time!  They reserve 10a-12p for "family time" so you can be sure not to be over-run by camps during that time.  But, it is for 1 adult and a maximum of 5 children.  They let me exceed the maximum.

Other visits Zach usually visits the teen loft for 12-18 year olds but the war books kept him busy.  And, Zayden usually won't let us skip the wooden fire truck in the loft; which is right next to some awesome iPads with educational apps for older kids.

I have one final tip. No visit feels complete without walking through the city just 1 street over to Brixx for pizza!  If you ask in the box office they have coupons for Kids eat free with 1 adult meal.  We found out about these coupons when going to the school year plays which are AMAZING plays for children.

Whether you have 1 toddler or a half dozen children you will find a FREE and FUN and FRUITFUL adventure without being FRAZZLED!  How do you like that alliteration?  Wishing you all the magic and wonder that this special place brings!

*Note about parking.  They have a garage UNDER Imaginon.  And, it is free for the first 1.5 hours.  And, a few dollars after that.  But, if it is full which it is sometimes you can park in the 7th street station and validate by visiting that market!

One of my happy places!

Doesn't this picture make you want to take your child to the library?  I must say you don't even know how happy this picture makes me.  First and most important, I have been seriously working on Zeke's ability to smile in a picture.  He truly enjoys pretending to not notice group pictures are being taken and tries to sabotage them for attention.  I needed a proactive plan or else I would not have the pictures my 'Mom' heart longs for.  I have been jokingly giving him "smiling instructions" which is a fun way to giggle and give him attention. Today after we spelled all his names (his request) and his nickname on the library letter magnet wall, I asked him to smile for a picture and he obliged!!  I died from happiness.  And, then was quickly brought back to life when I realized Zayden was taking books off the library shelf one by one and replacing them wherever he felt they needed to return. Again.  It is a good thing Zeke looks so ridiculously ADORABLE in this picture because the battle he gave me to carry his fine waiver card in HIS WALLET almost broke me during our checkout process.

 They have a great selection of puzzles!  And, I am not in charge of organizing them.  That is the best part really.  

This picture is not from the library at all.  It's a Christmas present box I re-purposed into a crayon box.  It is my favorite picture I have ever taken.  It fits in a way I just can't explain right at this moment.  Just trust me.   

Let's be real.  The library can be very stressful.  There are people that shush you.  There are lots of things toddlers and preschoolers CAN NOT grab and in general it is a very quiet place and most children I have met are not very quiet people.  Each season presents new challenges on having a joyful library time with my kids. The struggle is real but it is really worth it.  I thought it would be fun to share some of the scoop.  I know I am just scratching the surface of the library and I think most of us agree it is an underutilized FREE tool!  This past "school" year we went most every Tuesday and it was one of my favorite parts of our school year rhythm.

Things I love about the library (besides the books):

1) Programs!  

The storytimes are FANTASTIC and I often get inspiration for songs and books to enjoy at home!  

The Summer Reading Program is a fantastic way to READ DOWN YOUR FINES.  With 8 of us checking out books, if we are just 1 day late it can be EXPENSIVE.  Did you know that you can read down your fines?  We have already earned about $50 worth of fine waiver cards this summer!  Sign up EVERYONE in your family for summer reading today!  Even adults can earn fine waivers.

2) Volunteer Opportunities -You can "adopt a shelf" to organize.  Kids can organize a section and log volunteer hours.  It is a great chance for a child to do meaningful work.  I know my kids would much rather be in charge of a section to alphabetize then do an alphabetical order worksheet.  And, they get to practice service!  And, they discover new books they would not normally pick.  I was blown away at the books that Zach would bring home from the library this year after he would serve an an organizer.   Books that cover a myriad of science and history topics; that he was interested in just from spotting them while he brought order to his ISLE.  

The day I saw the personal signs for this I was on a LIBRARY HIGH.  Until I realized that Zeke, Zadie and Zayden were running around crazy and re-arranging isles.  Highs and lows of motherhood are brutal.

3)  AUDIO BOOKS!  With 6 kids I am RUTHLESS about finding "low effort high impact" stuff. Audio books are huge for us.  We do them in the car and at room time.  The library has a HUGE inventory of playaways.  They are smaller then a mobile phone and you plug in headphones or speakers and you have a great book on audio. Preschoolers feel so BIG having their own audio version of "Giraffes can't dance" or "Winnie the Pooh".  

I made Zoe pose for this picture because I really want more pix on my blog!  I have this idea that it will make my blog more legitimate.  And, she so enjoyed the audio book that she is still listening to it now and coloring.  Score!

We also are JUST getting acquainted with Overdrive, another source for audio books through the Charlotte Mecklenburg website.  Zoe has listened to Alice in Wonderland and Anne of Avonlea on it.  How great to have FREE audio classics available!  And, I know we are just scratching the service of what is available.  Hoopla is also available through Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.  I would guess any local library is providing similar options.  

Reason #128 why I love children...

They dance in the rain.  They find the fun.  They are DRAWN to it.  All children are.  The world is their oyster and they do all they can to enjoy it!  They soak in the wonder and delight in every precious small and big gift.  I want to be more like them when I grow up.

Let me back up a bit.  After dinner, I was sitting on the porch and reflecting on the true real LEGITIMATE STRUGGLE of the day.  Multiple meltdowns during room time at the same time; while I prayed to God they wouldn't wake Zayden. Dinner seems like it should be a WHOLE other post.  But, I will just jam pack this one.  I made a new recipe.  Brunswick Stew!  I felt so resourceful using up the leftover rice and barbecue and homemade salsa.  I was officially giving myself an award in my head for being very homemakery.  Half my Z's ate it.  Zayden and Zach even had seconds and Steve loved it!  And, it was low calorie!  But, Zane, Zadie and Zeke...  I don't want to talk about it. Actually I am lying.  I completely and totally want to talk about it.  Let me give you a few quotes from dinner where I tried very hard to be a grown up but actually failed...

"Zane if you were playing me a drum song and I covered my ears in disgust and every so often let my hands off my ears to hear one second only to recover my ears, would that be kind!!??"

"Zadie if you colored me a picture and I wouldn't even take the time to glance at the picture..."

Well, I am sure you can imagine.  The words might have been okay but my heart... my tone was REVENGE, ANGER...  My children always show me who I really am.  Anyways.  Stressful but wonderful dinner.  And, other surprise stressers from the day that I was not handling great.  I went to the porch to relax while Steve directed after dinner chores.  

And, the rain starts.  I am contemplating crying.  And, then Zadie comes out the door followed by all the other Z's and they start dancing and playing in the rain.  Pure JOY!  

They danced, raced, and played.  And, I felt my heart soften.  At one point I found such humor in them riding bikes and scooters BAREFOOT but with a helmet!  We care about brains not feet in the Wagner household apparently.  And, then the rain stopped.  We talked about that God brought us the perfect sprayground but it was over and Zeke raced to the garage to grab a watergun and yelled, "I can make Mo RAIN!"  

And, now I have to go and do all the wet laundry!

PS- The cutest rain song I have ever heard for preschoolers is:  "If all of the raindrops" on the "Songs for Wiggleworms" album!  You can't listen to it without smiling and dancing!  DO NOT get the barney version you will pass out from disgust and annoyance.

Family Vision

On our drive home from the beach, Steve and I were dusting off our "family vision statement" and having a healthy discussion about where we are and where we want to head as a family.  We were first prompted to write a vision statement a few years ago through a Family Mentoring Class at our church. During the class we were asked to read, "What is a Family" by Edith Schaeffer. I loved this book because I starve for older, more experienced moms from which to learn mothering wisdom. Reading (then re-reading) this book provides the sort of wisdom I am yearning for.

I am so easily distracted.  You know the old adage, "you can't see the forest for the trees expression"?
That is ME.  All I see are trees, and snakes and sticks and dirt... I am so distracted by the small things, the scary things, the emergencies that Lord knows I am most definitely NOT seeing a forest.

Of course, by sticks and snakes and trees I mean tantrums, laundry, picking up the crayons and markers and making dinner for like the 7th time this week (for the 5,000th week in a row)!  But with an eye toward heaven and with both knees on the floor, I just take it by PURE faith that there is indeed a forest out there.

I love Edith's beautiful and wise Christ centered view of family. She helps me to see the forest.  She paints beautiful metaphors about family that make me step away from the sticks, the dirt, the snakes, the poison ivy, the tantrums, the illnesses, the bedtimes, the chores, the, the, the .... and see the beautiful breathtaking forest.  I so need that.

We landed on these guideposts:
1) Growing in truth, wisdom and character from the Holy Bible
2) Create a respectful, peaceful, and encouraging home
3) Foster a Love of Learning
4) Loving others through SERVICE
5) FUN!

Math FUN!

2011, my first year of homeschooling and my curriculum choices felt EXCRUTIATING.  I was so worried about picking the wrong thing.  Lacking confidence and a VISION the curriculum was my master so I HAD TO PICK THE RIGHT ONE.

Now I see curriculum as a tool, MY slave even, which is so freeing!

I delight in finding math in our everyday life!  I enjoy learning more about myself as I try and see the world through their eyes and journey with them to a greater wonder of math.  I DETEST making them do boring input, output delete type activities.  Drudgery.  I'm hunting for magic moments.

2 years ago during PE the power of these "learning moments" hit me so starkly.  Zoe and Zane had completed dozens and dozens of  draw the hour and minute clock problems in their math curriculum.  Every week for months.  Hello spiral curriculum.  And, they were getting it.  In a robotic way.  

But, then there was this GIANT clock on the wall of this indoor pool at PE.  And, they wanted to know what time we were leaving and how many minutes they had LEFT and how many more SLIDES they could get in before our departure.  Very important stuff when you are 5.  And, I try very hard to make their important stuff an opportunity for a shared adventure of discovery.

Their motivation to figure out the clock was off the charts.  They watched the clock and asked a few questions. Responding to those few questions, in that moment, we made more progress than weeks worth of "curriculum".  Why?  Because the answer to the question MATTERED to them.  When a child is curious their attention and focus are completely dialed in. Nothing stops a curious child!
How priceless it is to share in our children's delightful discoveries!

Here are ways I use the world as my classroom and discover math:

1)  Halves and Quarters
- I love transforming mundane motherhood activities and making them meaningful!  Enter sandwiches!  This question preceeds you getting your sandwich most of the time at my house, "Do you want 1/2's or 1/4's?  Do you want 4 pieces or 2 pieces.

- Do you want 2 rectangles or 4 rectangles?

- 3 year olds can understand complex math when it is meaningful and modeled with passion

2) PIZZA!  Who wants to help me cut the pizza into fractions?    Just using the terms you need them to understand puts them in their working vocabulary and develops their number concepts.  Going out to most pizzerias they have the sizes with the diameters of pizzas on the wall.  Perfect visuals!  Which makes a great discussion!  Look at the 10", 12", 14" and 16".  If they are all cut into 1/8's which pizza would you want an 1/8th of?    How much pizza is left after our family finished eating? What fraction is it?  This is meaningful math that matters.  It becomes a group discovery.  Did your little brother have half of an 1/8... what is that fraction?  And, sometimes these fractions are HARD for me to figure out which is perfect.  I model it is truly stumping me and work with what I know.  Kids learn so much when they see a grown up sincerely say, "I don't know".  What a gift we give to our children when we model how to handle not knowing.  And, what an invitation for them to journey in the discovery!

3) Road trips!  We recently went to Florida to visit some friends.  It was a 6 hour trip.  So at the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 point we celebrated.  We celebrated the FRACTION and PERCENT!

For preschoolers: "the top of my head is Charlotte the tips of my toes, Florida.  We are 1/4 of the way there we are 25% of the way there we are at my SHOLDERS...ish :)

4) Age in things.  When I said yes to children I said yes to mess.  I am always looking for creative ways to teach them to help with joy!  (Colossians 3:23)  Habits are built ever so slowly...Math and clean-up marry well.  While getting gas, "Everyone grab your age in things of trash in your row and pass it forward".  After a busy week in the car, "everyone grab your age in things and take it out of the car."  A massive pile of legos that is threatening to make me despondent, "everyone grab your age in LEGOS times 3!"

Often my kids, with this significant measurable attainable goal, go above and beyond!  "You did 4 MORE things then your age in things that is so awesome." And, how encouraging it is to this weary momma on how it adds up.  12+7+7+5+3+1=... Well that sounds like a problem I would work with them together!  And, by no means do I feel pressure to grab every math problem, just the ones that are jumping out at me.

"Age in things".  This is a phrase heard even at dinner.  You must eat your age in green beans or carrots before being offered dessert.   At 5 years old Zadie doesn't have a single math worksheet.  And, I absolutely don't think she should!  But, conceptually she plays with 2 times 5  and 3 times 5 during clean-up!  This is a regular way we talk and so as they get older so does their working knowledge of that times table.  And, they get to hear the conversations of their siblings times tables!  They LOVE to make sure others are doing their appropriate amount of "things".

5) Groceries.  Most Fridays I take my crew to Sam's after the Y to do our weekly shop.  We use the store as our classroom.  Mostly they enjoy guessing about the total.  Each week they know approximately how much we spend and they enjoy ESTIMATING.  This is a great chance to develop number concepts.  We also rotate (under my direction) who picks up what item.  Zach grabs the spinach and how much is it again?  Once the receipt prints they all can't wait to know who was over and under on their guess.  And, what a perfect chance to do greater than and less than!  And, it helps keep them out of trouble :)

6) Baking.  There are TONS of fractions in baking!  My older boys love to bake and as long as they clean up the mess I let them bake on Fridays.  They often double a recipee to share with others and there are endless opportunities with fractions.  Zach made a chocolate pie the other day and had to figure out 3, 1 ounce chocolate squares in a 4 ounce pack times 2.  But, he was highly motivated to figure this math problem out!

7) Sales!  Zach is in a Nike phase.  When Nike clothes are 25% off, a perfect "problem" to crack together.  The other week I woke up to Steve and Zach at the dry erase board with graphs on what the cost of a shoe was compared to what they sell it for!  It was Saturday.

8)  Division fun!  The twins 100th day of Kindergarden we went to Chuck E Cheese and I got 100 coins and we had fun working together to DIVIDE them equally (among 4 "gamers" at the time, Zeke was only a baby and Zayden was still held in God's heart).  Anytime there is a limited number of a special treat they LOVE doing the division.  Everyone is highly focused on dividing a dozen donuts equally among 12 people.  We make it fun!

I love searching for their UNIQUE interests and pointing out the math in it!  This isn't always easy but it is worth it.  And, I won't find what I am not searching for.  And, the reward of delight in their eyes at getting the next level is an instant reward!

Enough

I want to strive for excellence in Motherhood, but I often lose my way.  I want to honor God with the gift of motherhood.  I am inspired and encouraged when I spot excellence in others!  Journeying to excellence is tricky.  I think I'm on the road to excellence and one wrong turn and I am in the pit of perfection.

A mentor of mine defines excellence as, "doing the very best you can with what you have got!"  How freeing!  Because that means with the resources, talents, time, energy and limitations I have: I do MY best.  I can look at a friends beautiful home, amazing craft or their unique talents in 1 of 2 ways.  I can look at it with expectations of excellence and I will admire her work, her heart and the beauty she has created.  Or I can look at it with a perfectionistic heart and I will feel inferior, ashamed and hopeless.  I want the 1st.  Kathy Koch refers to a "perfection infection" that is rampant in our world in, "No more Perfect Kids."

The problem isn't that our world has been edited to perfection.  The problem is that I accidentally start believing I have to be perfect.  Fear is so sneaky.  Guilt is too.  They creep in 1,000 different way in a 1,000 different disguises.  Just when you think you have conquered them a new hill appears.  

Perfection verses Excellence

(by Kathy Koch and Jill Savage)

Excellence is something done well.  Perfection is something done without fault.

Excellence is attainable.  Perfection is unattainable.

Excellence is positive.  Perfection is negative.

Excellence is satisfying.  Perfection is never satisified.

Excellence is freeing.  Perfection is binding.  

Excellence allows for failure.  Perfection punishes failure.

Excellence EXPECTS mistakes.  Perfection panics at mistakes.  

Excellence is growing.  Perfection is dying. 

Excellence is learning.  Perfection is performing.

Excellence is open.  Perfection is CLOSED.

Excellence is motivated by confidence Perfection is motivated by fear.  

Excellence comes from God.  Expectation of perfection comes from the world. 

Excellence allows for many ways to accomplish something.  It allows for context. 

Excellence is empowering.  Perfection is rejecting.  

Perfection steals our joy and results in hopelessness.  

IF we expect perfection from ourselves, we will be in perpetual disappointment.  If we expect perfection from others, we will become hypercritical. 

For me when I have a perfectionistic heart it feels heavy and hopeless.  And, I am ultimately worshiping myself.  I am fogetting who I am.  I am a sinner.  And, I am wonderfully made.  What a perfect paradox of truth.  I strive to keep my eyes on Him.  Failing every day.  But, when I am looking to Him who is perfect then peace and joy fill me in my journey towards Excellence.  

Romans 8:6 really speaks to me on this issue in my life.  "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death.  But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace."  

Perfection elevates and idolizes self.  Excellence points to the only one who is perfect.    Excellence admires and inspires.  Perfection envies and suffocates.  Excellence celebrates unique gifts. Perfection expects to excel at everything.  Excellence believes I am enough because He is enough.  Perfection is never good enough. Perfection is death.  Excellence is LIFE.  

Sorry!

Christmas Eve 2009.  Sorry was the game.  Our family of 3 was going to bond with the wonderful new game of Sorry! It was a disaster.  He was too young to understand that "getting bumped out of the way" and sliding back to home were not personal but a part of the fun and sometimes bad luck of the game.  Steve and I are growing up with our kids so we had yet to learn this was a perfect character building moment.  For all of us.  

I have blinked and that 5 year old is 12.  This week he played Sorry with his 3 year old brother against me.  What a gift it was to see this little boy that used to be SO DEVESTATED by the UNFAIR rules in Sorry be able to maturely, enthusiastically comfort and laugh at the game while his 3 year old brother faced the cruel realty of Sorry!  I love this about having 6 different ages.  I love seeing the stage they are in, have been in and will one day be in all in 1 game or 1 moment.  It is a gift.  It helps me remember that Zeke will one day outgrow his RIDICULOUS tantrums that come about for all kinds of confusing reasons.  I get so stuck.  So often.  I let fear sneak in and worry too often.  Its a battlefield in my mind.  But, a rare moment I see this glimpse and realize I need to hunt for the beauty in each stage because they are each unique gifts not to be squandared.  I can not go back with Zach.  I can not move forward with Zeke.  I can only dial in to the present and find the beautiful gifts that each of their stages offer!  That is so easy to type and so hard to do.  "Enjoy every moment!" That is what those who have rear view mirrors say right?  And, as I look at Zach I know it in my gut they are right.  But, I take things SO LITERALLY.  And, it is impossible to enjoy every moment.  I will simply keep hunting for more moments to enjoy.  And, working hard at growing up and through the hard moments.

Reason #47 why I love children!

They have no armor. Some of the moments I feel most alive is connecting to another humans' heart. With children this is EASY! No face or image management from them. You just get to know them. Many times their entire BODIES communicate their feelings. Toddler tantrum:  case and point. Or a more delightful example, most 3 years olds can't say butterfly or bird with out flying around in excitement. Isn't it delightful to watch a toddler bounce up and down as they enjoy their favorite food?  And, they can't wait to be known, to be seen, to be loved. I think most adults feel the same way they just have 735 pounds of armor on to prevent this from happening. A precious gift it is to have a friend that doesn't mind unloading all 735 pounds of armor to been seen, known, and heard. I always feel these are such holy moments. But, children they are always ready for this moment.

  Both of these reasons compel me to start a blog. I love children. I love connecting. I love sharing about the highs and lows of mothering my precious children!