Capital Tour

This is very enlightening. I am so proud of my country's heritage...not so proud of it's present. Can we return to this place once again?

Doing Better...

Reagan is doing much better! We're still working on clearing those lungs out, but every day shows a little improvement. She's getting lots of rest, eating a little and today she was able to have a play date after a two week period of not being able to see anyone! She even gets to go to her first dance class today! Yah! I absolutely will be posting a picture of her in her cute little outfit!

In case you were wondering...

where I am, Reagan has been VERY sick this past week. In fact she was almost hospitalized and we're working on getting her healthy. She was FINALLY able to get some sleep on Thursday night, after not being able to really sleep since Saturday. So when I'm not shoving medicine down her throat between 10-14 times a day, I'm trying to get her to sleep, or drink to stay hydrated or eat, to make up the 3 lbs she lost just this week.

She really is about 100 times better than she was this time last week, we just have to focus on getting her lungs clear at this point. It's VERY difficult to tell a 3 year old she can't run and jump around and act silly.

So that's where we are. Hopefully she'll be 100% by next week and I'll be back to posting.

Breaking my heart..

Today Reagan and I were talking about going to the doctor (she's sick..again.) And she said she knew why she was sick..because I hadn't been giving her her Singulair. Smart kid. She's actually right on the money. But there are reasons I haven't been giving her the Singulair.

I didn't want her suffering from the side effects anymore, and I don't want her being on medication for the rest of her life. I tried to explain that to her, but I think she misunderstands why she needs medication (and who can blame her? She's been on medication her entire life!!) She said, "but Mommy, I need it to live!"

I don't think my heart will ever be fully normal after that statement. So what to do? Josh and I agree we don't want her on medication for the rest of her life unless it's absolutely necessary, but we don't want her sick all the time either. Changes must be made.

I've been lax about not allowing chemicals in the house. That has to stop. Dust catchers, ie knick knacks, have to go. Slip covered furniture....we have but I want to get better slipcovers/furniture so it stays on. Better filtration system, no more candles and axe the perfume again.

I've decided we're going to have to go minimalist. No more photos hanging on the walls, no more tons of bookcases that never get dusted....everything is going to have to go in enclosed shelving unit/bookcases or closed door closets...natural fibers...anything that can collect dust..it needs to go. Which means my prized floral arrangements that I made and absolutely adore..gone. Knick-knacks mostly gone..only keeping a few that can fit in enclosed glassed in cases.

It's going to take a while but her health is worth it.

A post--can you believe it???

A quick post from me--we're gearing up to start Kindergarten soon and I'm spending most of my time with my playdates or getting things ready! As soon as we actually start school I'll have more time to post--umm, I think!

In the meantime, Reagan and I are dreaming of fall...we're both fall people and can't wait for it to get here! And Reagan has changed her mind about her birthday party for this year---it was space themed, but now she wants a camping theme! I'm so excited! Feel free to leave any ideas!

A Tree

Last weekend Reagan and I went to Kid City--a big event for..guess who? Kids! While there I saw this awesome display with a tree and I knew I had to get one for Reagan's school room. Today, I went out and purchased it (only $11!!!!) and Reagan has been obsessed with it all evening! I need to laminate the leaves and then we can do all sorts of fun manipulative learning fun with it.

Who knew a paper tree could bring such joy? Oh and here's a Reaganism for you! (As a side note, she refused to let me put any of the animals on the tree because apparently birds and squirrels will damage the poor defenseless thing!)
"Reagan, did you know that trees are home to over 400 different plants and animals? That tree is probably wondering where all his friends are. He's probably crying "Come back friends!"

Reagan--in complete exasperation--HE IS NOT, MOM. He's saying SHOOO!

Oh brother.

Goals for Myself

I started thinking about all the things I really wanted to make happen in my daily life--getting up early (I've never been an early riser), exercising regularly, having a daily devotional...none of those things were getting done. And it's all because I don't really have a plan. So I decided to make a goal sheet for myself. A basic list of things that I want to get done every single day. Here's my daily goal list. What's on yours?

Get up by 6:30 am
Have devotional time for myself
Exercise
Take prenatal vitamins!!
Get house straightened up before starting rest of day
Have breakfast at the table
PLAY with Reagan at least 1 hour each day
Don’t let Reagan watch more than 2 hours of tv per day (those coupons help!)
Don’t do computer time unless Reagan is having tv time
Don’t have lunch in front of the tv
During nap, spend less than 30 mins on comp.
Have dinner at the table as a family
Have a devotional as a family (5-10 minutes?!)
Keep tv off in the evenings until Reagan goes to bed
Spend one hour a night WITH Josh--not in front of comp
Spend at least 15 minutes a night pampering ME

Benjamin Franklin once said "Beer--proof that God loves us." But Leah says "Coffee--proof that God loves us." Frankly, Ben, I think I'm right on this one!

Reaganism!

The Bible is a really important book, mommy. It's not like swamp monkeys or something.

Hmm.

The title of this post was going to be "Oooh...look at me, posting two days in a row!" But um, yeah, this is Friday. NOT Thursday. This summer has been so erratic, so different from our normal lives, that I feel completely off course. I can't wait to get back on a schedule and enjoy the next few months with Reagan. AND start school!

I *think* Reagan is excited to be homeschooling this year. I know I'm excited. I've purchased almost all her curriculum--I have a few more things to order, and now I'm in the process of organizing it. I am usually one of those people that needs things planned out for me in advance so I can see the big picture--otherwise I tend to get overwhelmed. But in getting everything together, I think I'm only going to plan a month in advance...which may be more work in the long run, but it'll allow us more flexibility--which I do enjoy!

I know I printed out our curriculum choices for this year in an earlier post, but things have changed slightly since then. I've found some curriculum that I like a little bit more than those I previously posted....and I realized that I can't be quite as aggressive as I wanted to be. She IS only 3 1/2! So with that in mind, we're holding off on studying history for another year or two and we're going to be doing a lot more unit studies. I'm also utilizing the Horizon's program through Alpha-Omega Publications--I'm very impressed with their company. I love that Horizon's is an advanced program, great for gifted students, BUT, I can go as slow as we need to--or as fast as we need to!

LOL! As you can see, I'm really in the mood for school to start. Who knows, maybe I'll even buy a pack of pencils..freshly sharpened, and arrange a bouquet on my kitchen table today? ;) (You've Got Mail fans should know what I'm talking about!)

Been quiet around here...

I haven't felt much like blogging lately. In fact, to be honest, I haven't felt much like doing anything lately..but this week I've been getting back into the swing of things...having play dates, trying not to be quite so cranky with Reagan, cleaning...you know..just living.

Yesterday I even forced myself out into the rain in my new (bright red, mind you) rain boots and splashed in puddles with Reagan. I love the sound that our feet making, sucking up the mud and water and then the force of the water spraying out as our feet slap back into the mud.

While we were out playing in the rain, we watched a squirrel burying an acorn.
Let me tell you, this little guy was diligent about his task. It took him a good 10 minutes to bury it. Reagan and I decided to venture over and see if we could discover his loot. He'd hidden it well. Even though we'd watched him intently, we still couldn't find the hole. After poking around for a few minutes, I looked up and saw him scampering back down the tree, watching us. He stopped..hesitated, the scampered closer....closer...and sat up on his haunches, whiskers twitching, little hands held together....as though he was saying "please, oh please don't take my food!" He.was.adorable!

Reagan and I left his treasure alone and went inside for hot chocolate..which apparently triggered the "I'm ready for Christmas to be here NOW" gene, because later she went to the library with Daddy and returned with Barney's Christmas Special. (Yes--that Barney--as in giant purple dino.) Today she even held an impromptu concert with her friends, singing Christmas carols and asking for more hot chocolate and having a 'snowball' fight with hair ribbons.

If she's this anxious for Christmas it's going to be a long, long fall.