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Pal turns 2

I may be smack dab in the middle of my 20’s, but thinking about my third child turning two seems a little fast to be moving through this career of parenting. Two? Really?

Yep! That’s right. On the first of this month, our Pal turned two years old. We planned to celebrate by taking the kids, my two step-cousins, baby niece, and a few adults in our family to Joker’s. You do have to be creative when living in a camper when the snow prevents outdoor birthday parties. We’re up for adventure afterall, so Joker’s seemed like a fun place to bring the kids to run around and celebrate Pal’s new year.

The weather had other plans though, and we ended up being stranded by a blizzard that dropped several inches. Me, hiking down the hill with three kids and two trays of cupcakes to meet Papa at the party after work? Yeah, I don’t think so. Even if he hadn’t needed to take the car to work we would have had to reschedule anyway. We did reschedule the party, but still celebrated Pal’s birth in our own simple way.

Play at home, taking pictures, cuddling, singing, and of course, chocolate chip pancakes with candles to blow out. Pal may be young enough to not miss a party he wasn’t cognizant of, but we made sure he had fun anyway!

And I even managed not to have another baby on his birthday, so our youngest children will have birthdays of their own ::: smile :::

Our gift to Pal was the same thing we gave Buddy and Girlie on their 2^nd birthdays: a big kid comforter for their beds. Buddy has Thomas the Train, Girlie has princesses, and Pal now has Bob the Builder – appropriate for a little boy who loves anything that resembles a tool!

Happy Birthday big boy! We love you very much.

Our new baby girl

Welcome to this world Chickie

wrapping up the winter

Very shortly I will be leaving my post as blogger for a few weeks, although I will not stop writing. Our baby is due in just two weeks and I am ready to set some hobbies aside and clear my mind in preparation for this amazing event that will change our lives forever.

Before I leave though, I want to share some of my favorite pictures from the past few weeks which haven’t found a home in any of my posts until now.

Making molasses candy with Buddy and Girlie…

Playing in the snow…

Stopping along the road to snap a few shots…

Lego building…

And some pretty things at home…

On Wednesday I’ll have one more announcement, and on Friday you’ll discover what exciting things will be taking place here while I’m gone (you won’t get bored!).

This winter has been eventful for sure, and I am ready to greet Spring with open arms.

“I found a tiny snowdrop, blooming in the cold,

I’ll share with you the secret the little flower told:

‘Though winter still is here, it hasn’t long to stay.

I came ahead to tell you that spring is on the way.’”

~ Christina T. Owen, God’s Springtime Wonders (1962)

 

Building Snowmen

Since before the first snow, which is hardly ever good for building snowmen, Buddy has been anticipating the event with great joy. Every time it snowed we heard, “can we go outside? Can I build a snowman?” And then finally it happened – the snow became sticky. I sent the kids outside, but I did not expect them to build anything resembling a snowman without help. Apparently I was wrong! After Buddy’s hard work I looked out the window to discover four snowmen demanding pictures. My littles are growing up so fast.

My Day with Pal

Last week my grandparents had Buddy and Girlie over for their first sleepover at their house. This gave Pal and I a special chance to spend some time together the following day. While I appreciate having time alone, being able to focus my attention on one child every now and then is fun and important for our relationship.

9:15am Pal and I woke up after an evening grocery shopping with Papa. We breakfasted on leftover pumpkin pancakes, graham crackers with peanut butter, and soymilk.

10:00am I made a few phone calls while Pal sat on my lap and played with toys. We got dressed and I had my morning coffee. Pal brushed his teeth for about 10 minutes.

10:55am Outside together we fed and watched the chickens, collected eggs, and filled the generator with gas. Pal hitched a ride on the sled I used to drag a tank of kerosene up to the porch, and watched me take pictures of the sun lighting up the snow.

11:35am Back inside Pal helped me fill the heater with kerosene and then we cuddled and read “The Little Plane” and Sesame’s “Eyes and Nose, Fingers and Toes” which led to tickling and peek-a-boo.

11:55am Pal ate a banana and colored while I took notes for this post and called Papa to plan our evening. Hand tracing with Pal, picking up a few things, and fixing the binding on my home management binder with duct tape interspersed.

12:20pm Lunch of turkey, cheese, and mayo sandwiches, sunflower seeds, and yogurt.

12:40pm Pal to bed. I began journaling about our lovely morning and how much I look forward to the end of Girlie’s difficult transition between toddlerhood and being a preschooler. I remember Buddy going through the same process and then think about how I still have two more kids to get through age 3, but how blessed I am to only have to do that one child at a time.

1:00pm Back to earth, Mama. Change poopy diaper and put Pal back to bed. Snag a couple pieces of the kids’ gum and write a couple blog posts.

3:00pm Blogging done for now. Pal still not awake. Ate a snack and did a word find page, then closed my eyes for a few minutes planned to close my eyes for a few minutes.

3:15pm Pal is up. We cuddled and looked at pictures.

3:35pm One more phone call on the to-do list and finished straightening up while Pal played on his own.

4:05pm Signed a birthday card I made the other day and had a tickle war with Pal while we waited for Papa to return home from work. Then off to my grandparents for pot roast and picking up Buddy and Girlie.

getting back into the swing of things

Managing two blogs on just 2-3 hours of internet time on my laptop each week is not an easy task, but it is something I’ve grown accustomed to. I have a system of jotting down notes for a post, writing it out on paper, typing it up when the generator is running (my battery is shot), saving pictures on the desktop at the same time, and then finally taking the finished product to my WiFi spot all by my lonesome self each Friday (or Saturday) evening.

 

(“I want to be a ballerina!”)

This system has made scheduling posts on a weekly basis essential, because one, I dislike typing posts and managing the blogs on Papa’s phone (our daily internet access), and two, having the ability to access the internet with my laptop more frequently is not practical for our family.

While being off-grid is a joy, it also poses its challenges, and this would be one of them. Since moving off-grid we have had many interesting topics to write about, but in the process, it has become more challenging to write about the day-to-day stuff. So much is happening every week that it is hard to squish it all together in my weekly posts with all the other things we do.

So, four paragraphs later, I want to recap the last three weeks for you as best I can, to give you an idea of what life on our little homestead has been like recently.

 

(“let me take a picture of you!”)

At the same time Papa was replacing frozen pipes (which we’ll be sharing a video on soon) and toilet, I was coming down with a very strange virus that left me all but immobile for the week between Christmas and New Years. Thanks to Papa and my mom I was only alone with the kids for three days, but by the end of it I was so anxious to be feeling normal again, able to be there for my kids and take care of our home.

The first week of January, Papa and Pal both came down with the bug, and while it didn’t hit them quite as hard, I was back in my prime and able to help them feel more comfortable. There is nothing like being stuck to the couch for a week to make you thankful for daily duties to give you satisfaction in life!

That same week, the kids and I worked on homeschool projects, did some extra cleaning around the home, and otherwise enjoyed quality time together after the busy (but lovely) holiday visits to family.

 

(playing a homemade tamborine)

This week I had another prenatal, followed by a play date with my sister-in-law and her four month old daughter. I had also scheduled an additional two play dates, which I don’t normally do all at once, but the snow/sleet storm we had kept us home. Instead of being out and about almost every afternoon we’ve been working on our January rhythm; making muffins, musical instruments, reading books, and playing in the snow.

Every day we begin leisurely around 8:00 or 8:30am (Papa leaves for work at 6:30am), eat breakfast and do our Bible study at the table. The kids then play independently a bit while I help individual ones get dressed and drink my coffee, we settle down to a half hour or so of “school” activities, usually followed by more play and straightening up together. Lunch, quick clean up, and outdoor time for the older two while Pal naps. Craft projects, reading together, dishes to wash, and more independent play make up the afternoon. Papa arrives around 4:30pm, supper at 5:00pm, visiting until 6:00pm and kids’ bedtime follows. Papa and I work on joint or individual projects, sometimes watch TV, and shut off the lights anywhere between 10:30 and 11:30pm.

Our days are rarely quiet, usually busy, but they have a rhythm which I have learned to recognize and appreciate.

As a side note, with Christmas gift-making over, Papa and I are now working on a really exciting project in the evenings which I can’t wait to share with you! There have been some really neat things going on behind the scene here at American Family Now and we are brewing up something super big in response, which I hinted at a couple weeks ago and I can hardly wait to tell you about in full! Let’s just say, we have some courageous and awesome readers, and because of you, American Family Now will soon be changing in a big and cool way! Stay tuned for full disclosure!

100 things you may not have known about us

Here’s a fun post to start off the new year. Read ahead to see what you already knew about our family, and perhaps a few things that might take you by surprise…

Papa

1. Is kynophobic (strongly dislikes wavy objects)
2. Homeschooled as a child
3. Was a member of the Civil Air Patrol
4. Attended flight school
5. Writes music
6. Designed a tool he named The Square Up, and was pursuing a patent at the same time a man from France patented the same tool. Papa’s notes record that he designed the tool well before the frenchman patented his.
7. Carpenter by trade
8. Has one brother
9. Passionate libertarian
10. Mathematical and logical thinker
11. Fascinated with survivalism since childhood
12. Traveled to Spain and Ireland
13. Prefers drinking from plastic cups over glass
14. Allergic to cedar
15. Built a 17 L.E.D. flashlight years before they appeared on the market
16. Always admired carnival rides and modeling them with Lego
17. Favorite food is Cheeze Its
18. Favorite car is “any piece of crap that runs”
19. Would like to change Christmas to February 7th
20. Always wanted to live in a camper

Mama

1. Grew up on an on-grid homestead complete with well and woodstove, gardens, pigs, sheep, rabbits, and other assorted animals
2. Also homeschooled as a child
3. Despized coffee until Girlie’s pregnancy
4. Took piano lessons as a child and still thoroughly enjoys piano music
5. Graduated top of her class at a private school
6. Swam approximately 1/2 a mile at 36 weeks of pregnancy
7. Has been a birth doula for nine years and aspires to be a homebirth midwife
8. Published a book
9. Was an office manager for three years
10. Traveled to Ireland
11. Has one brother, one sister, three step brothers, and one step sister
12. Has been friends with one penpal for 15 years
13. Volunteered at a local health institute for three years
14. LOVES the sound of rain at night
15. Big fan of chocolate
16. Took horse riding lessons in 4H
17. Enjoys creating beautiful things with simple materials
18. Feels most comfy in a pair of jeans and a pony tail
19. Not a picky eater, except when it comes to seafood. She even mixes leftovers together to make lunch for herself
20. Appreciates a peaceful home more than time alone

Buddy, age 5

1. People watcher
2. Became interested in trains as a result of his obsessiveness with order
3. Prefers classical music
4. Enjoys designing train engine parts
5. Favorite game is Angry Birds
6. Love language is time
7. Enjoys the outdoors, regardless of weather
8. Only one of our kids currently overcoming their extreme picking eating
9. Favorite shows: Thomas the train and Sid the Science Kid
10. Aspires to be a train engineer
11. Has 2 pet worms
12. Favorite books are the Little House on the Prairie series
13. Biggest city visited was NYC, as a baby
14. Night owl
15. Problem-solver
16. Didn’t talk fluently until age 3
17. Developed a friendship with an older neighbor as a toddler
18. Walked before he crawled
19. Gets tired of sweets quickly
20. Calls soccor “football”

Girlie, age 3

1. Adventureous, very little timidity
2. The youngest of our kids to enjoy solid food, at six months
3. Sensitive to temperature
4. Corrects her improper grammer herself
5. Wants to be a ballet dancer
6. Enjoys trying big words in context
7. (Obsessively) favorite color is pink
8. Is proud of her “long” hair
9. Builds Lego cars and houses
10. Excellent at observing and making comparisons
11. Overcoming her fear of dogs eating her
12. Loves and adores babies
13. Love language is touch
14. Favorite shows are Curious George and Kipper the Dog
15. Likes to sing her own songs
16. Enjoys stories about princesses
17. Draws a mean bicycle
18. Biggest city visited was Boston, at one year old
19. Prefers pen over pencil, just like her mama
20. Has gone through a stick of chapstick in less than two days

Pal, age 22 months

1. Enjoys mimicking Papa
2. Has a birth mark on his shin of a few perpendicular lines
3. Uses the word “hi” to express many things
4. Has feet as big as his sister’s
5. Straightens home on his own initiative, appreciates order
6. Thoroughly disappointed when he can’t help Mama bake
7. Opens his sandwiches to eat the inside first
8. Enjoys carring heavy things
9. The remote control capture more of his attention than the TV
10. Can’t help but boogie when he hears music
11. Favorite books feature animals
12. Has recently developed a fear of bath tubs
13. Favorite toys are real tools
14. Enjoys stacking and sorting
15. Great climber
16. Likes to make friends
17. First favorite food was steak
18. Will not leave his pacifier willingly
19. Once reprogrammed a walkie talkie to be voice-activated
20. Climbs into his high chair for dinner time

So did you learn anything new? interesting? crazy?

Thoughtful Gifts on a Budget: the results

Before Christmas I shared with you a few resources and ideas on how you can make thoughtful gifts for your loved ones on a limited budget. As we all know, even with the best intentions, sometimes we still overspend. That’s why, even though Christmas is over, I wanted to share with you the nitty gritty of what we spent on what, and what gifts we made and bought.

Gifts for extended family

This year we made a general gift for many of our family members, as has become our tradition following the first birthday of each of our children: an hour(ish) long DVD filled with video and picture slideshows from the first year of their lives. This year it was all about Pal. Grandparents who have limited contact with our kids have especially appreciated getting this inside look at our little ones’ lives.

I would love to tell you how we made them, but each time we have changed our methods and it’s a bit too complicated for this post. All told I made I made 17 copies, and not including the extra gas it took to run the generator while we combined the videos and made the DVDs, we spent $25 on this project. I had my mom take a family photo of us (seen on the Who We Are page) and printed 4×6 copies for each person/couple receiving a DVD, bringing the cost up to $31. Here is a sneak peak of the video: a slide show of Pal’s first month, with pictures taken by Renee Tougas.

For the younger people in our family who might not appreciate the DVD as much I made unique hats, and a sweater for my baby niece. Six hats and the sweater came to a total of $13. Remember that some of the materials were already in my craft boxes.

We attended two yankee gift swaps this year, for which I made Obi-inspired hot/cold packs for the men, inspired by this book, and crocheted doilies with candles, inspired by this book. Total price for the four gifts: $10.

One of the more expensive gifts was two large platters of chocolate chip cookies that Papa brought to the Christmas party at his work place. All ingredients, including leftovers, cost about $20.

There were four additional gifts for specific family members: Old Spice (a tradition for a particular family member), nativity ornaments made in Israel, and a hardcover book on shaded gardens bought at a used book store for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Total price: $24.

Grand total of gifts for extended family: $98

Gifts for immediate family

Papa and I don’t normally purchase gifts for each other unless we find something the other has been wanting for a long time, or it would be especially useful. This year we both decided, on our own time, to buy thoughtful, yet inexpensive gifts for each other, from us and the kids (Buddy has been very concerned that the two of us have gifts). So Papa bought me a pair of insulated mittens to replace my worn ones, and cozy slippers, both on sale at Kohl’s. Total about $25. I bought him a lunch box to replace the plastic bags he’s been bringing his lunch to work in, and a pair of long-johns to replace one of his old ones. Total about $20. Nothing fancy, but thoughtful and appreciated.

The kids were really fun this year. Each has developed their interests for things homemade and bought, so this is what we did for them:

• Homemade Christmas tree ornaments $0
• Angry Bird game, currently under construction $17
• Candy Canes with M’N’Ms $3
• A smock for Girlie, made with this book $0
• A tool belt for Pal, made with this book $2
• A top hat for Buddy, made with these directions, found through a friend $7
• A scarf made for each person in our family using this book, total $19

Because Papa was hired recently, we were able to purchase a few more things that had been on our wish list for the kids: Lego kits for Buddy, a princess Barbie with accessories for Girlie, small hand tools for Pal, and a back pack and flashlight for each. Total came to $97.

Grand total of gifts for immediate family: $190

Christmas money spent this year: $288. My only concern in sharing these details with you is that our example won’t fit the needs of some, and maybe others will even judge our budget as too little or too much for our own family. Instead, I choose to trust that you will not see this as a way to judge what’s right or wrong about our Christmas or yours. I want our story to give hope to those on a tight budget who are concerned about being able to give thoughtful gifts to family. Please use this as a jumpstart to your own gift giving, but do base your choices on your own family’s needs. When you give yourself the freedom to make and purchase gifts based on your personal income and not someone else’s, it makes gift-giving so much more fun and joyful!

Christmas eve and morning in the camper

 

On last week’s blogging night I was busy assisting at my 25th birth, so all the fun things I’ve been thinking about blogging are again put on hold. Seems to be a pattern developing here…

Here are pictures of our Christmas eve and morning in the camper, which entailed retelling the story of Jesus’ birth, getting gifts out of storage and getting the camaras ready for the morning.

Then opening gifts, breakfast of bagels, and a morning playing with presents and listening to Christmas music. Fun, fun, fun!

Oh yes, did I mention ALL the pipes froze last night? Tomorrow’s project for Papa’s day off – bypassing the water pipes with new pex tubing over the ceiling to help keep it from freezing again. More on that later…

Merry Christmas everyone!