Over the last 6+ months our home has gone through some serious change... mostly all wonderful and good. Simplification has been the name of the game.
Our motto has been easy. If it doesn't directly support and contribute to our family, our beliefs or our goals then it's nixed or tweaked until it does.
It's one of the main reasons we decided to homeschool Ethan and then Lorali. It's the biggest reason we decided to get rid of Doug's BMW and swap it out for a more afffordable truck (cut the payment in 1/2). It is a major contributing factor to setting our schedules and planning our lives. We have less playdates with friends but way more family time. We have less TV and less arguing. We have less dates as a couple but, we actually have a stronger relationship. We had to cancel things to make room for church callings and activites. We strengthen eachother a support everyones individual identities and intrests as long as it doesn't take away from the family.
While parts of it have been harder then others, overall it's been THE BEST CHANGE EVER for us. We're all happier, less stressed and more confident. Everyting that we do we try to make the most out of our time and efforts. No cutting corners just evalutating if we are spinning our wheels for a reason or just to move....
In the process of simplifying we've revamped our home to reflect that as well. We've organized so that theres a place for everything and (theortically) everything is (should be) in it's place.
In Janurary, we realized that we were in desperate need of a defined library/homeschool space. In February, Husbandface built us these sexy things...
I mean seriously, I told you it'd be a thing of beauty but even I had no idea how wonderful they would turn out! I love the wallpaper back, I love the lights, I love that it gets my kids reading more, I love the storage space it provides, I love the decorators dream niches it give me, I love having all the kids school stuff close at hand and I LOVED unpacking 5 boxes from the old house onto it!! The best part?! It was a super simple, easy, AFFORDABLE project that totally transformed our space. I was worried it would make the room feel smaller but I have loved being VERY wrong! Thank you, Husbandface for another amazing creative home project!
Want to know the secret? IKEA, baby! or more accurately... IKEA ,Billy! The main idea came from the amazing, creative Chris over at Just a Girl. She's brilliant. For ours since our room was wider, we got to include 5 billy bookcases and extentions and since our ceiling height is SUPER TALL we decided on library lights instead of more shelves. It's the perfect touch and Doug even wired it up to turn on with a light switch. (he's kinda amazing) A quick trip to Ikea for the shelves/extenders/lights, a stop off at Lowe's for some trim/wallpaper/l-brackets and we were set! I swear the hardest part was lining up the pattern on the wallpaper! It was such an awesome project that was crazy affordable.
*and since my parents gave us money for Christmas, we had it to spend so really it was basically free!* THANKS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA FOR AN AWESOME CHRISTMAS GIFT!!! WE LOVE IT AND USE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!!!!
Last week went by too fast and in an effort to remember in my old age how wonderful my life was *at this moment* I'm going to do the uber fast- one-liner-recap of the week....
Monday- The kids BEGGED for a Happy Potter Read-A-Thon Day... we stayed in our jammies and read for hours and hours finishing book #2 just in time for dinner.
Tuesday-
Today was all about spending time with the BFFs... Lunch w/ Cottrell's then Doug and I joined Phil and Alicia at a Pink Floyd tribute concert.
Wednesday-
The kids enjoyed some adopted Big Sister Time all morning, Owen went on a date with who he calls 'my miss rebbie', and then Doug and I took the kids to see Mary Poppins at the Fox Theatre!
Oh, I have to say more about the play because it was sooo flipping good! The songs were 'practically perfect' and the set?! HOLY COW, I loved the amazing 'pop-up' backdrop and colorful sets. The kids were more then adorable and I found myself looking over at them AMAZED that they are mine. They were cracking me up during supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, just trying to sing along but not being able to even pronounce it. (don't worry, they've been practicing it ever since and have it just about down pat) I am soo blessed to be thier mommy and for reals, Husbandface and I make freaking cute kids! At the end of the show as Mary Poppins is saying goodbye she kisses Burt on the cheek and Owen (in a loud five year old 'whisper') says, "Eww! That's so gross! Now they're going to get sick! Only married people can kiss without getting sick. That's discusting." The entire time Doug and I are trying to hush him but we were laughing so hard he didn't really think he had to listen to us. It was adorable and a moment I want to remember FOREVER. I bought a Mary Poppins Umbrella as a souvenier and the kids have just been praying for rain so they could fight over, play with it.
Thursday-
After living in GA for 9 years I finally made it to the Tellus Museum. I got to spent it with another wonderful friend from high school, Jackie whom, lucky for me, moved to Georgia because she missed me so much. (okay okay, it was because of her hubby's job but let's face it, I'm the one that benefits.) We took all the kiddos to the museum and I'm pretty sure they loved every minute of it. Ethan practically had to be yanked out of there and feels like he 'missed too much' because I was rushing in through exibits (5 hours wasn't enough time spent obsessing on science). It was such a great day!
Friday-
We played in the dirt... ALL DAY. Doug and I are working on A MAJOR YARD WORK RENO and Friday was the day we told the boys they could get as dirty as they wanted, dig where ever they wanted and build whatever they wanted.... Needless to say I think they were in heaven. They even helped me move dirt and rocks and earned a few bucks in the process. My back still hurts from all the work I did but the kids? THEY had fun! (I'll post picts of the backyard project soon.)
Saturday- MORE yard work but the highlight for all of us was....
Doug's nephew's coming into town to visit!! In Doug's family though, nieces and nephew's aren't what you're thinking. They're our my age. Seriously, Casey and Brandon are the coolest cousins ever and my kids can NOT stop talking about how awesome they are. They pulled out all the stops, playing Star Wars, Having a Rock Bank competition, Teaching multiplication and Poi and generally showering my kids with tons of love and attention. IT WAS SOOOO FUN TO HAVE THEM AROUND and I totally wish they lived closer.
We all hated saying good bye but were glad they got to stay all weekend.
How do define a perfect Spring Break? You head out to a favorite location? or reach out to your favotie people? For us every year seems to be different. This is our Spring Break 2013. Yeah, no beaches, no crazy parties, no trips but still perfect for our cute family.
Hoping not ever to forget how perfect it was, Joanna
heard around the house this morning, "Mom, can you find me a blanket." "Mom! Cam's crawling on me and I can't think." "Mom, where are the extra pillows?" "Mom, please don't make me stop doing this to write in my journal."
amid CRIES and TEARS and dramatic flair, "Mooommm! I finished my book, now I have NOTHING to do today!"
*I think I'm doing something right with these cute little homeschoolers*
About 7 years ago I was reading a book and holding a newborn baby girl on my chest. The book was a beautiful book with a strong woman with and even stronger daughter and I thought about how I was going to teach my daughter to be strong and tender and hardworking and loving and sensitive and all the other amazing qualities a good female role model has. Instead of realizing what a daunting task this seemed to be, I started making a list. A list of MUST READ books for her. Lessons that are taught much more elequently then I could.... while it is an ever changing/ updating list this is Our Mother/Daughter Book List as of right now...
The Paper Bag Princess- I first read this in Middle School at EFY but, it's message is so beautiful and simple and endearing I want my daughter to remember it... always. We have read this one often since she was 2, hopefully as she grows she'll remember she's never too big for a good picture book.
Madeline- Because really, who doesn't love this spunky girl full of adventure and determination.
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? I loved this book the moment I read it. A princess can be whoever she wants to be!
The Secret Garden- Lorali and I actually already read this one aloud together and oh my goodness, it was magical! It was sofun to see her realize what happened and to talk to her about how changing your attitude can change your happiness. If She's in the backyard, she and the boys are almost always playing Secret Garden.
A Little Princess- This one she's getting for Christmas. She's watched the Shirley Temple movie soo much but I want her to read the book as well. Such a strong character teaching her about endurance and having a good attitude. I can't wait to get started.
Pollyanna- Same message as Little Princess- and yes, I think having a good attitude is an important enough lesson that it needs to be reenforced. A Good Attitude can change her life and I want that for her. She's getting this for Christmas as well.
Charlotte's Web By EB White- A classic... I mean, no childhood is complete without this one, no matter how many times they watch the movie they need to read the book, if only to learn that the book is always better then the movie.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate - We read this a few years ago to all the kids and watching this little girl grow up is really enchanting and I'm soo glad we jumped ahead and read to them this level of book (and they enjoyed it!) . Even Doug loved the writing and the setting (A Cotton Farm in Texas). It's a great book about being inquesitive and unexpected.
Pippi Longstocking By Asterid Lindgren- This one's a cute read, fun and silly and important because I want Lorali to know that life doesn't have to be storybook to be real or fun.
Little House on the Prairie By Laura Ingalls Wilder- Another classic... with lots of strong women that have different strengths and still have lessons to learn from one another. I love that aspect.
Tuck Everlasting By Natalie Babbitt- A fantasy novel about immortality and asking if it's worth it or not.... it's actually a lot of the same questions asked in Twilight without the terrible - creepy bad example of an unhealthy relationship and minus the teenage engst.
Freckles and Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter- A classic girl-meets-boy and sets out on an adventure novel. It's wonderfully written and protrays a girls love for nature that will stay with the reader for years to come. Even the mother-daughter conflict has a lesson to be learned.
Sarah, Plain and Tall By Patricia MacLachlam- A beautifully written novel set late 19th centure Western US with a wonderful female lead. The leasons of how to cope with change and feelings of abandonment are wonderful.
Anne of Greene Gables By L.M. Montgomery- Because really, I've never met any woman ever who has actually read these books and not fallen in love with them. Anne is the perfect example of endearing, imperfect, perfection. She's smart and teander and flawed and strong. LOVE IT!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- Another classic with a lot of very different female role models that teach a million lessons. They're all flawed, they're individuals and yet still strong and smart and loving. While my Little Miss doesn't have the joys of having a sister this book will certainly give her that, even if it's just for the 546 pages of the book. Besides, Lorali wants to be an author when she grows up and I want her to read about Jo and how she became and author.
The Diary of a Young Girl By Anne Frank- This one I want both my boys and girls to read.... To learn the frailness of life, to understand the importance of family, to realize the strength and power of even a young child.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli- A great pre-teen novel that teaches individuality and acceptance and staying true to who you are. Very short, quick read but fun and entertaining as well.
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok- A wonderful book about a girl who emigrated to the US with her Mom and lives a double life as star student at school and sweatshop working, obediant daughter at home. Wonderful novel that highlights womens ability (and sometimes flaw) to translate feelings and parts of themselves when they're with different people/settings. Strong female lead that is flawed enough to learn from what not to do and strong enough to overcome that.
The Scarlet Letter For the casual reader Hester Prynne might be a victim but she is everything more then that as well. She's flawed and hurt and full of faith, she is strong in the face of unforeseen challenges and a complex woman who is worth looking at through an individuals eyes.
The Secret Life of Bees By Sue Monk Kidd- I loved the perpective that this one gave. I want Lorali to learn that surrounding yourself with people that love her both family and friends will not only make her life easier but happier.
Plain Truth and My Sister's Keeper By Jodi Picoult - Because every woman needs to know what others go through to protect thier children, to stay part of a group and what lengths people go to in order to hide the truth --- and how many people can get hurt. Besides, a little mystery and intrigue are good for ya. ;)
Gone With the Wind- This one needs to be read as a right of passage. Then re-read at different points in her life as she grows up. Because as endearing as Scarlet O'hare is later in life there are a lot of pitfalls to avoid by learning from her mistakes.
The Help By Katheryn Stocket - I loved this one! It's beautiful and powerful. I think I want my daughter to read it because I need her to understand the power of words. The power of one person and the the power you can have when you combine the two.
Moon Over Manifest- I loved what little Abilene discovers to be a 'true place' and I hope my daughter can discover for herself what that means.
Emma By Jane Austen - One, I think every woman needs to learn the dangers of meddling in another person's life and Two, I think it's imporant to love even the flawed characters in our life. Besides this one you can get lost in and the beautiful english countryside is as good of place as any to disappear.
Memiors of a Geisha By Arthur Golden- This one was actually one of the first books to make it on the list. I think it's important to read things in a timely manner and at an age appropriate time but I also think that many books can help you mature and understand the world around you. This is one of those books and I want Lorali to read this before she turns 18.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells- This one made the list because Lorali needs to learn that every book doesnt have to be life changing but can still teach a lesson. It also has a wonderful mother/daughter/sister/family storyline that relatable and challenging and heartwarming and irreplaceable.
The Other Bolyn Girl by Philippa Gregory - I think girls are smart. I also think that the world doesn't always expect them to be. This book is wonderful for teaching because of the historical aspect of it and still relevant to us today. It's wonderfully written and thought provocing. So it's on the list.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - Another book that I feel Lorali needs to read before she moves out of my home. It's important that she recognize that there were strong women in the bible and that women are there to support other women.
Eat, Pray, Love - (iBook) Another one I read because of someone else. The movie was coming out and I had a Girl's Night Out planned with all the Wallace Women to see it so I figured I'd read it first. I liked it, I was drawn to the fact that the Author really puts herself out there and writes about so much, personally. She's willing to share it all in an effort of self-discovery. I also liked her thoughts about God. Specifically God within You. For me it resonates with my thoughts on eternal life/progression and The King Follett Discourses, Man (and Woman) as God. I wish more people we comfortable writting about and sharing and reading about thier spirituality. The more we read about others the more we realize that religion is all individual and so similar regardless of what church someone goes to.
The Hiding Place By Corrie Ten Boom - Oh I have read this one at least a dozen times. I love Corrie and her sister. One's strength and leadership and one's faith. They were amazing women with pure hearts and and amazing life of living your beliefs. I hope to someday be one-tenth as stong of an example as they were.
Jane Eyre- A woman that suffers greatly yet proves to be passionate, complex, smart and maintain her individual identity without conforming. Lorali, While it's important to see anothers example and admire them and even want to be like them it's also just as important, if not more so, to find your
Much Ado About Nothing- Because reading it will make you enjoy the play that much more and understand the opposite sex that much more and yourself even more then that!!
Book Thief - Set in a poor Nazi German town with a young girl as the center of the story. This is easily one of my favorite books ever. I loved the way it was written. I loved the characters. The writing was poetic and full of artistry. It was beautiful and horrific and magical and profound. The narrator is Death who surprisingly finds the beauty in the human soul. I would recommend this to EVERYONE! Please read it.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- This one I've seen on stage, every movie and read the book too many times to count. I love it. enough said.
Les Miserables By Victor Hugo - A change your life- defining book. Right after Bible and Book of Mormon this ranks up there as one of the most important books in my life. And another one I think Lorali needs to read it before she leaves home. Maybe I'll take you to the broadway show when you get it done. Another book I think EVERYONE needs toRE- read as an adult. Powerful, thought provoking, spiritual and absolutely perfect. This one is the creme-de-le-creme.
So there it is... my list for my Lorali. For now. Hopefully she will learn to love reading as much as I do and learn to lose herself in them, learn from them and grow from it. I'm sure I'll add to our little list as I can think of it but this is what I've come up with over the last few years. What do you think? Any I missed?
*and just because of your name I'm going to add to this list SHOWS YOU MUST WATCH (or maybe that's another list all together) but top of that list is Gilmore Girls (and not just because of your name) Rory Gilmore is an avid reader.... you can look at her book reccomendations HERE.
Today is a summer read-a-thon type of day. We spent the morning building individual forts and gathering favorite books then had a special lunch inside. I take turns reading to each of the kids in their forts for 15 mins at a time then I read to them all together for 15. I think it's quickly becoming one of my favorite traditions of the summer.
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