Fun Projects for Homeschooling

  I came across this blog Eberhart's Explorers while looking for ideas for Presidents Day projects. She has such fun, creative ideas for younger children.

  I am always looking for inspiration for projects. I am very creative when given the time, but lately time is not something I have an abundant supply of! So I get excited when I stumble across a good find and someone who has done all the hard "planning" for me! I'm going to try some of these Presidents projects this week and see how it goes. The children will be happy for a change up in their weekly studies. :) They will be thrilled to learn more about President Lincoln...they chuckle every time President Lincoln is brought up and say, "That's our Lincoln's name!" :)

Blessings~Heather

A Helping Hand Gardening

  SproutRobot is exactly what I was looking for! I am so excited to have this "Helping Hand" as I call it. I have always been a hands on learner. Someone needs to show me what to do, and I will get it. Like, hold my hand, and walk me through it, type showing. But once I see it and do it, I usually can do it. This year I will be trying this SproutRobot.com. I am super excited!! It emails you notifications to start your seeds, and when to plant them for your zip code. It gives you picture directions that are easy to follow. And the best part is it's FREE!

Here is a link to the page: "How To Plant Cabbage"

  I will be trying this for our planting season this year. I so badly want to grow a garden, but haven't had the opportunity to be shown hands on. I think it is so important to help with our grocery budget, and for getting the children to actually eat veggies. The one year we had a small 8x8 raised garden bed that my hubby put together for me for Mothers Day...complete with wonderful organic compost! The children ate the most veggies I have ever seen them eat! It's always better when grown by your own tender care. But, that's as close I got to being a gardener (and my square foot garden was a flop last summer). It was fun for the summer, but I really didn't know what I was doing! This year I'd like it to be different! I want to involve the children and keep my mind focused on the project and not get bored, or flake out on it, as I seem to have a problem with. "I'm a sprinter, not a marathon runner!" It's just my nature, and I'd like to change that...I do awesomely well for a small period of time, then something throws a wrench in it, and I never get back to it.

*Pictures to come throughout our journey! Pray for steadfastness! I need it :)
Heather

Got the Time?

  It dawned on me that I must set my alarm clock like no other. I was watching a tv program the other night and the character's alarm clock went off at 6:58am. Hmmm? Why would someone set it for 2 minutes before 7am, and not 6:55, or even 7am? Why 6:58?....

  Then it occurred to me that I have NEVER set my alarm clock but in 5 minute increments. It looks weird to my eye. It's either 6:55 or 7 am. It would have never crossed my mind to have set it at 6:58! I don't know why I never thought of it...it struck me as a weird thing to have not EVER have set it for such a time...

Maybe it's the same reason I have to eat skittles, or peanut M&M's (who wants to eat a plain M&M anyways?!) with specific colors, and in even numbers (unless I'm really hungry, and then it's a free for all!). Didn't you know red goes with yellow, and orange? Or that brown goes with yellow or orange (no red)? And blue, and green go together? 

  I'm showing my insanity here! Truly this is where my mind goes while eating them. Oh goodness, I do sound like a crazy person! Lol

  So anyways back to my discovery of how strange I am. Am I the only one that thinks this way? Or do I have fellow crazies doing the same strange stuff??! Who woulda thunk you could get an extra few minutes of sleep not using my 5 minute rule!!! Lol

Blessings~Heather

The Big One...

  The biggest deal of the century, or at least my century, I scored last week! I seem to always be one step behind when it comes to finding a good deal. Praise God, He allowed me to find this one...

  My dad and I were walking around Lowes, looking for some flooring and bathroom vanities for our bonus room renovation, and I figured we should take a look at the clearance section. As we are standing there, I noticed two big boxes. I thought to myself, "Wonder what's in there?" I went around the other side to find tags that said, "Clearance $17.60 Was $199.00". Breakwater Blue storage pedestals! Same color family as my washer and dryer, not the exact color, but close enough to make it worth buying them!

  The logical side of me says, "Don't do it! You're doing fine with the setup you have, and Bob hasn't been working for 3 weeks. That's $38 you don't have to spend right now." The free spirited side is jumping for joy at this steal of a deal, and saying, "Sweet! Load 'em up!" Thankfully my dad is a free spirited type when it comes to deals and says, "What? You can't not get them! You'd be crazy not to!". So thankfully my dad footed the $38 bill, and I now have my beautiful pedestals that took only 5hrs to install...Gasp!! Sorry honey! I really didn't think it would take more than 30 minutes to get them in. Boy, was I wrong!

Addie trying to help us lift the ducting.

"I got it Daddy!"

"Good Job, Addie!"

We tried it, but I ended up climbing back there to hold it.

Bob pushing the dryer back into its spot.

Don't they look lovely!?

Here is the real color without flash...kind of a Seafoam Green with a Grey Blue

Lincoln trying them out.

Kisses from Daddy

The end result! I'm a happy girl!

So there is my awesome find for the year! Not bad :) It makes the room seem bigger and I now don't have to stuff myself into the dryer to get what's in the back! Oh, and a big thanks to our neighbor Ryan for lending us some plumbers tape!!

How to Have a Happier Marriage

How to Have a Happier Marriage at Generation Cedar

I love the idea of this! What a simple thought...what if....

I also recommend "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace. I read it a few years ago and I think it made all the difference in my attitude and in our marriage. I need to reread it, and refresh my perspective.

Blessings,
Heather

Mr. Higgins

Meet Mr. Higgins! 
 He's the newest member of the Messner brood.

A "Westie" or West Highland Terrier. We arrived at the name by google-ing Scottish baby names. :) Higgins means Intelligent...my prayer is that he will live up to his name! 

This is a picture of the children getting their surprise! Mr. Higgins arrived 2 weeks before Christmas. They were busy watching a Hallmark Christmas movie and we told them they had to unload the diaper wipes. They all slowly made their way over to the box...let's just say they were shocked!

  This is starting the "UGLY" cry. She couldn't believe that Dad gave into another dog. I can't believe he gave in myself! lol


So happy!

 
  Here is how he spends most of his days. He and Lincoln have the same sleeping disorder :) infancy! He was born October 1, so he and Linc are only 18 days apart. That will help with remembering how old he is!

  

Christmas Eve after making the Ginger Bread house.
















  I just had to put this one in of Linc on Christmas morning. I just love his smile!

 



 This is how Higgins spent most of his morning on Christmas...trash patrol ;)















  So yes, we added more stress and fun to our ever growing home...whether it be children or pets. I have always wanted a Westie. I can't even remember how long ago the desire sparked in me, but I am very thankful that it finally happened! Our neighbor's Westies just happened to have puppies, and they just happened to be generous enough to give him to us! I just pray Higgins survives the little girls. :) 


  Now to come up with his registered name! We'd love your help in naming him. So far we tried to appease all the children and their "names" that they had wanted to call him, but we still haven't decided. 


This is what we have as of right now:
"Mr. Higgins Huckleberry Jingle All The Way"

I know it sounds crazy, but registered names are always a bit out there! So if you have any good ones that will beat ours...let's hear 'em!

I Just Can't Win

  I was thinking the other day as to why I try so hard to have presentable looking kids when we head out the door. 

By this I mean:

1. No slippers or pjs worn out in public.
2. Your hair must be done.
3. Holes, really? NO! (sometimes they do slip out the door before I realize!)
4. No dress up clothes.
5. No dirt or ketchup on faces.
6. Matching clothes are a must...no miss matched "I like it!" toddler style.

  Technically this should be a given for any human with any etiquette at all. With that said, it makes for a very frustrated toddler or youngen that wants to put their own spin on things. 


  As an example, my friend allowed her toddler to wear his favorite slippers to the store. I started thinking that I'm super stuffy, and I should be laid back enough to let our children do that on special occasion. Then it dawned on me! When we take our family out in public, people stare. They count heads. They make a little gasp as you walk by. You see in there eyes the date calculator spinning to see if I'm really old enough to have this many children. Sometimes they're just plain rude. It would be just asking for it if I did allow my kids to do it! 


  Can you imagine the thoughts of the folks walking by? "Don't you have shoes for her?" "No wonder he's wearing camo pants and a striped shirt...they must not be able to afford much else." LOL   
I'd have them handing me money and giving me a pitiful look, and telling me "Use this to get them something new..."

  It seriously would happen! I know very well that I shouldn't really care so much what others think, but when you are already in a totally different court than most everyone, it's like adding gasoline to an already smoking stack. It ignites a very sour reaction to most people and they usually don't have a problem voicing their opinions, strongly. So why add fuel to the fire? Maybe that's wrong, but I would rather be a good example in public that makes someone realize big families aren't taboo, then one that confirms people's already made up minds about how ridiculous big families are.   

  It's kind of a double standard of sorts. You're a FUN mom when you have one toddler in tow and he's in his Superman costume...

Yet a SOCIAL DISGRACE of a mom if you take our 6 children dressed in their favorite cowboy/cowgirl costumes...







Make sense? Hmmm....

So for now I will just be FUN mom when I only take one or two of the kids out with me! :)  


Blessings~Heather

 

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