Day in the Life 2018 with 4, 8, 10 and 12 yr old Girls

For those of you who are new around here, my husband, the Rugged Mountain Man, and I have four daughters we call our Blossoms.  I'm glad you're taking a peek in our day and hope you enjoy a glimpse of our rustic reality.

Though my husband's alarm went off at 5:30 am, my eyes are now fluttering open at 6:20 am when he kisses me and heads out the door.  He's already had coffee and a light breakfast that I laid out the night before.  I get up and pull on comfy pants and a hoodie.  I head out to the kitchen, grabbing my Kindle and journal on the way.  It should be noted that I do this bleary-eyed and crazy-haired on auto-pilot. 

That's probably the best way to have your quiet time ~ 

make it so easy, you don't even have to think about it.  

I'm cozy in my chair, when the big Blossoms, ages 12 and 10, join me on their respective couches with their Kindles.  It's our together, yet individual, quiet time and it's what's working for personal devotions in this season.

The little Blossoms, ages 4 and 8, wander out at 7:00 am and join us for a snuggle or two before we move to the island for breakfast.  We eat and chat about the day ahead.  They always want to know what's on the agenda.  The little girls sometimes listen to the audio Bible on the YouVersion app, if I remember... because I have mom brain, ya know?

Afterward, we have together devotions using the Bible for Children and Godly Character Traits.  Focusing on one character trait a week seems to be working for us.  Then, they finish getting dressed and head outside with our dogs to care for our micro farm animals... yes, in the rain, sleet, snow or hail... because animals gotta eat.

If we need wood, I bring it in now.  Otherwise, I jump in the shower and then tackle my daily chores.  The Blossoms are back inside by 8:15 am.  They slam out some inside chores like vacuuming or cleaning bathrooms...

and we hit the school books at 8:30 am.  Everyone opens up their independent work drawer and gets started immediately.  These days my 8, 10 and 12 yr olds are pretty independent, but I help with internet research, essay editing, tough math spots, spelling tests, cursive curlicues and whatever other questions arise.  At this point, I shoot for doing three things with our youngest Blossoms - writing copywork, phonics and math.  When we hit this trifecta, she's happy and I'm happy.  She usually heads off to play quietly afterward.  When she feels included, she plays better and that means our school day goes better.

At 10 am the happy snack time timer goes off.  The girlies grab a snack and usually a book and spend 15 minutes off the school clock. Then, it's back at it again.  We do history and science together and this is normally when we knock that out.  The girlies work til lunch at 12:30 and I am 100% available in the school room during this time.

I've been super happy with their desire for learning this year. "Let's look it up, mama!" is something I often hear and I love when they crowd around the computer for us to find out about something we didn't previously know. By far, my favorite positive change I've noticed this school year is the amount of cross-grade learning that is happening spontaneously.  If I run to the laundry room to switch the loads of wash or out of the room to answer the phone, it's not uncommon for me to return to find one of my two older girls helping their younger sister on the computer, explaining a math problem or coaching through a piano piece.  When you can teach someone else something, you have thoroughly learned a concept.  This articulation and communication skill is invaluable.  It's been happening so much between the Blossoms lately and it's thrilling my soul.

We gather around the island again for lunch.  The girlies clean up afterward while I return to my chair for read aloud time.  We've cranked through several Trixie Belden books this year and are currently trying out a Nancy Drew book.  The Blossoms get upset when I stop after only a chapter or two.  The meal's not complete til the kitchen is neat, so when it's neat, read aloud time is over.  Our youngest Blossom then gathers up some books and heads back to her room for rest time.  The other girlies get about 15 minutes of rest time.  They grab books and head to separate rooms.  Afterward, it's back to whatever school work still needs to be done.  I use rest time to read.  Sometimes I miss the naps I used to snag occasionally when they were younger.  Motherhood is tiring, but I find it emotionally and mentally tiring, moreso than the physically tiring it was in years past.

I correct work, record grades and record the school day at this point.  It's my administrative time.  Once that's done, I answer emails and tie up all the loose ends that seem to be a homemaker's job, whether at the computer or around the house.  The Blossoms are usually still finishing up school work, depending on how focused they were/are today.  I feel like one of the best character lessons we drive home on any given day is that

the best way to do schoolwork is to just do it.  

It's perseverance in its most basic form.  Oh, and I'm always dealing with character issues too.  That's par for the course.

Around 4:30 pm, I start supper.  I'm really trying to always have at least one of the Blossom helping me, actually doing parts of the prep.  I love that they often have down time by this point, but since it's really important to me that the Blossoms know their way around the kitchen, I try to remember to call one of them in to help... if they aren't already hanging out with me in the kitchen.

The "DADDY'S HOME" announcement at 4:40 pm is still the biggest event of the day.  No joke, having four girls is no hardship for the Rugged Mountain Man, who presides over his girlie fan club with class and his unchanging trademark humility.

By 5:00-5:30 pm, supper's ready, the Blossoms have set the table and we all sit down around the supper table.  I love the supper time conversation, which usually has something to do with animals - what rabbits they want to get next, whether or not goats are in our future and the overly optimistic cries of "Let's get a cow!!!!"  The girlies clean up the kitchen and pack Daddy's lunch.  I lay out tomorrow's coffee and a light breakfast for him and then, I hang out on the couch with Rugged Mountain Man for a little while.

By about 6:30 pm, the kitchen is pretty tidy and we move on to what could be best described as family time, I guess.  At this point, there's been a lot of ice-skating rehearsals in our living room.  The girls have found the Olympics to be inspiring, so I grit my teeth and hope the knick-knacks on the walls don't get the worst end of all the lifts, spins and jumps that have been going down around here lately.  As I said, I'm always tying up household loose ends, but I try to keep them minimal in the evenings so I'm available.  We doodle together sometimes.  One night it might be coloring.  One night we did gymnastics together.  Sometimes it's a card game.  Sometimes it's reading books.  I just want to soak up all this quality time with the girlies.

A timer goes off again, this time at 7:30 pm.  It's our nightly clean-up and it's all hands on deck.  All rooms get tidied.  All clothes put away.  The stuff basket gets emptied.  The desks get a dose of neatness.  EVERYTHING.  And, oh, does this ever keep our lives moving in the right direction, because every day we are focusing on the work and goals for that day, instead of always playing catch up from the previous day.  I can't take credit for this idea; I borrowed it from Abbie at M is for Mama.  It really doesn't take that long and it's so worth it.  Plus, it should be noted that it is keeping my Mommy-ometer from plunging.  This mama doesn't feel quite so overwhelmed every night at 8 pm!

After the girlies get ready for bed, the little girls go to bed at 8:30 pm.  I tuck them in, while the big Blossoms hang out with Daddy.  We all hang out then, sometimes reading and sometimes chatting.  They go outside (yes, in the dark) and close the chickens and ducks in for the night.  Then, they get ready and head to bed around 9 pm.  They like to squeeze every last drop of mom and dad conversation out of this time, so I'm usually reminding them often and urgently that it really IS bed time.  Not that I blame them or anything.  I love good quality conversation, so I understand how much they value having our full attention.

I usually plop down on the couch with the Rugged Mountain Man; sometimes to read and sometimes to chat.  I like to hit the high notes and the low notes of the day with him.  He always has some quiet words of wisdom or encouragement for me, something to the tune of

"Steady plodding makes good progress." 

I'll just hold on to that thought, when it's time to do it all again tomorrow.

Dominique

PS - You can find my other day in the life posts here.

Don't Be Surprised

After you've homeschooled for about a week or, quite possibly, only three hours, you often find that homeschooling is about 97% character training. 

I understand that this gig is tiring.
I get that it's big and it gets ugly.
I get that it is discouraging to be David waging battle against a seeming Goliath of rotten attitudes.

When I see the character issues rear up, I see it as confirmation:

I'm in the right place.

The fact is, I'm the woman God chose for this job.  That thought keeps peace in my soul on the hardest of days.  Knowing your calling, knowing His place for you, settles so many issues; contentment and perseverance being just a few of them.

When their foot-stomping sobbing ensues, whisper to yourself, "I'm in the right place."  

Because the focus of homeschooling is, admittedly, schooling or education, we are sometimes surprised when character issues surface.  It's just math, right?  Do it, get it done and move on, right?  Why isn't it that easy?

Don't be surprised when the character issues surface.  

If they came trained, we wouldn't need to train them up, would we?

If you're looking for me, I'll just be over here, making them do __________________.

Where will you be?

An Adventure in NYC

It all started with a scavenger hunt on Christmas morn.  Six clues later, 

the Blossoms were delighted to discover that in 17 days, we were venturing to New York City to spend the day at American Girl Place.  They made it their first order of business to tweak the now obsolete Christmas countdown to an American Girl trip countdown.

The day began at 4:30 am, with the girlies choring in the dark first, and then clambering into the van with a hot "cuppa" for each of us.

The drive went smoothly, as we avoided rush hour and pulled into our pre-reserved parking garage space.  We walked ten minutes to American Girl Place, which the Blossoms actually spotted first, with shouts of, "THERE IT IS.  I SEE THE AMERICAN GIRL STARS!!!

The store is divided into different sections - contemporary characters, Girl of the Year, BeForever dolls, Just Like You dolls, Bitty Babies and Wellie Wishers.  There are beautiful displays to just look at and a plethora of displays to be played with and rearranged by lovely little girlies like mine.

Blossom3 and Blossom4 are checking out a recording studio set for the Melody character, straight out of the 1960s.  

I loved how the displays brought to life the girls and the nuances of history they've read about.

There was a section devoted to the MegaConstrux American Girl sets.  Since our girlies are into Legos, they found this area to be very intriguing.

Check out this model of NYC made entire out of Lego-type blocks.  Their favorite characters were sprinkled throughout the display... and mine too!

And that NYC skyline!

The Rugged Mountain Man enjoyed watching the Blossoms savor all the girlie American Girl nuances.  

Eventually though, those feet got tired.  

We'd arrived at 10:15 am, so it was time to take a break with a Samantha movie before our next reservation

at the doll salon!!!! Clad in American Girl cranberry colored shirts, the Blossoms lined up to have their dolls' hair made to look new again.

They'd labored over which hairstyle to choose for the previous seventeen days.

Their stylists did a phenomenal job and even threw in a few insider tips on how to take care of their dolls' hair.  We ended up being thoroughly pleased with this splurge.  It's been a month and the Blossoms STILL haven't taken the hair styles out.  The stylists know what they are doing and make it last.  Ten thumbs up from all the females in this house!

The little things made a big impact too; the girlies thoroughly enjoyed riding the escalators up and down to each section.  We visited each section numerous times.

The snazzy pink Christmas decorations added to the glitz and glam that four girlies whole-heartedly appreciated.

Blossom1 was also particularly inspired by Tenney's banjo. 

She came home and made this guitar for her doll, Elizabeth.  I'm impressed!

With our morning muffins and McDonald's stop a very distant memory, we were more than ready for our reservation at the American Girl Cafe. We watched Grace and explored the book section while we waited to be summoned.  

Let's just say that their signature pink lemonade may have stolen the show at the Cafe.  For those of you who've read the American Girl books, the pink lemonade is from Samantha's birthday celebration.  It's quintessentially American Girl!  Even McKenna was tickled to have her own pink lemonade.

The Blossoms got their dolls settled in their doll seats, all the while delighted with doll-sized cups, plates and place mats.  They proceeded to sip an inordinate amount of pink lemonade, not that I blame them or anything.  

Afterward, we perused every display again, about sixty times, so they could pick their outfit to take home.  Such a difficult decision, but they did manage to resolve it as you can see by this shot the next morning.  Fancy doll hair and fancy doll outfits!

Though Daddy probably would've been done at American Girl Place after only half an hour, we didn't depart until 4:00 pm!  He and I agreed that we wanted the Blossoms to squeeze every last drop of delight out of our visit there.  And we did.  

#bestdayever

We walked the streets of New York, constantly admiring the skyline.

The flags of the world were a hit too, as Blossom2 has a particular interest in flags and their countries.

We perused the Rockefeller Center and ice rink, as well as the Lego Store that you can see off to the right in the above picture.  It was very crowded, so we just did a walk-through, enjoying the magnificent Lego creations there. 

The Blossoms were very tired by this time and dusk was rapidly drawing near.

After walking through the magnificent St. Patrick's cathedral,

 we journeyed back to our van, sighing with satisfaction in resting our feet and having seen something the Blossoms and I have wanted to do and see for a long, long time.  

Navigating homeward during rush hour was long, difficult and a bit strange.  The Rugged Mountain Man had to learn to drive like a New Yorker.  We were also a bit puzzled by the police in Times Square donning riot gear, bulletproof vests and grabbing tear gas amidst peacefully strolling pedestrians.  Perhaps they were preparing for the normal Friday night party crowd?

As the temperature was rapidly dropping and excessive rain fell with an ice storm looming on the horizon, we made our way out of the city at a snail's pace.  The Rugged Mountain Man and I made a stellar navigation team; he at the wheel and I wielding smart phones, maps, snacks and an extra set of eyes.  We were grateful to beat the storm home and sent prayers of gratitude to the Lord as we lay in our beds for only a half an hour when the sleet began to ping off our bedroom windows.  

During our dinner at the Cafe, Blossom3 was asking fun little ice-breaker questions off the back of her dolly place mat.  When she posed the question "What is the greatest adventure you've ever been on?" we looked at one another, grinned and piped up in total unison, "THIS ONE!"

Although... the Rugged Mountain Man says next time, we are going to Wyoming, 

where there are no people.

Dominique

In My Comfy, Cozy Corner

"How do I behave submissively to the Rugged Mountain Man today?"  

I think on this often.  I'm profoundly interested in anything that makes me the kind of wife outlined in the Bible, a virtuous women who helps and blesses her husband.  

In my comfy, cozy corner, I sat sipping tea and mulling over the day ahead; how to meet it with a good attitude, how to be obedient to the Lord in every part of it, how to be joyful through whatever we ended up doing on this particular day.  I wrote in my journal,

"Maybe submission is as simple as being flexible.  

Actually, it is probably, and more accurately, 

being happily flexible."

In this I can surely grow.  Indeed there are ample opportunities in a day for flexibility toward my husband.  He might need my help with a project.  He may remember something he needs me to do.  He may want to change our plans.  He may be quiet when I feel like talking.  So many moments for me to be happily flexible.  Choosing to grow in those moments and relying on His grace to pray,

"Lord, please help me to be happily flexible... today."

Dominique

These snapshots are from our recent visit to NYC, where we meandered through St. Patrick's Cathedral.  More to come soon, I hope.

Micro-Farm Tested Winter Gear for Kids

The secret to raisin' winter-lovin' or just winter-enjoying kids might be as simple as keeping them warm.  Like my dad and the Norwegians say,

"There's no such thing as bad weather, 

just bad clothing choices." 

The Blossoms spend about 40 minutes every morning feeding their livestock, in addition to afternoon or evening play times outside.  We've found a number of things that keep the girlies outfitted for real, rustic life outdoors.  These are our micro-farm tested winter favorites!

#1 - Canvas Overalls
We love Carhart type overalls.  They keep the heat in.  Instead of over-paying for the brand name, we actually prefer the less expensive brand, Walls.  They are durable.  Though currently sold out at walmart.com, Berne and Schmidt are excellent brands too, and they are available at Tractor Supply stores.  We have found that regular snow pants are not as warm and they don't hold up to the every day wear and tear that this lifestyle requires.  I also don't care for snow pants you just pull on.  When you're bending and reaching like the Blossoms are, they need their body heat to stay in and overalls make an overall difference. (ahem... pun intended... sorry)  When the hand-me-downs wear out and I end up buying chore/play coats for the girls, I like to buy the matching canvas coats too.  Its toughness is unbeatable!  Plus, if I buy them in camo, they double as warm hunting gear too.

#2 - Mufflers or Gaiters
I upcycled a fleece scarf and fleece scraps into these mufflers.  They're an easy sewing project that has been super worth my while.  They stay on much better than a scarf.  There's no risk of it getting caught on any of their equipment, cages or pens, like a scarf would.  They can be pulled up over the nose if the wind is particularly bitey.  I wash the Blossoms' mufflers often to keep the germs at bay, since they often breathe through them on the coldest days.

#3 - Thick Wool Socks
Every year, the Blossoms get a pair of wool socks in their stockings.  They love this tradition and it pays off in the winter.  I even try to buy the colors they like best, so when I'm folding socks, I know whose are whose.  We've found that these Kodiak kids socks, which I've often bought in store at Wal-mart and online, hold up really well, keeping their feet toasty.  On the coldest days, with subzero temps, the Blossoms will layer two pairs in their boots to ward off the chill.

#4 - Long Johns/"Under Armor"
I once scoffed at the idea of wearing long underwear.  I've since decided that it is the mountain family's best friend!  Thermal long underwear bought from Wal-mart, hand-me-down under-armor and thrift store off brand finds all do the same thing: keep the girlies' core warm.  When the Blossoms were very little and tiny long underwear was a little harder to find, I layered leggings and a tighter long-sleeve tee.  It worked very well.  Long Johns + winter = MUST HAVE

#5 - Hats that Cover Ears
We own several aviator style hats. The Blossoms are required to wear these type of hats when they go out to feed and play, unless they have a thick "beanie" that goes down over their ears and stays over their ears.  Their bright orange hats I picked up from Wal-mart are their favorites!  I've since weeded out all the ridiculous beanies that don't do anything but look cute.  I need to know the girlies are warm outside.  It isn't wise to be under dressed in the wind and cold.

#6 - Insulated Waterproof Gloves
The jury is still out on a dependable brand of warm, but flexible gloves for the Blossoms' winter gear closet.  Right now, we have a wide variety of options for them, ranging from ski-type snow gloves to wool flip-down mittens.  The current winners are these insulated rubber coated work gloves recommended to us by a 4-H alumnus.  The Rugged Mountain Man told her that Blossom2 always got saddled with refilling the water dishes on brutally cold mornings and she promptly recommended these.  I ordered them as soon as he passed the info on to me.  When Blossom2 came back in from chores after wearing them for the first time, she gave me a HUGE hug.  They keep her hands warm AND dry, so she was tickled to have something that took the bitterness out of good wholesome work.  I imagine I'll be ordering a few more pairs before long.

#7 - Rubber Boots
Rubber boots aren't known for being super warm, but when paired with thick, sumptuous socks, they are a winner for choring that involves snow, ice and water.  For kids' sizes, Wal-mart has them in stock, though I've found the longest lasting to be the adult sizes carried at Tractor Supply stores.  We buy 'em bigger and let 'em clunk around in them til they fit.

As I was headed outside to help with the shoveling, I took note that 4 1/2 year old Blossom4 got herself totally and suitable suited up for a 25 degree day in the snow.  She did it all by herself.  Now that she's helping outside daily, she didn't start out the winter being able to handle all the zippers and closures, plus remembering all the right gear.  Mama and the big Blossoms had to pitch in there.  I told her how proud I was that she managed all her layers all by herself.  I'm excited that she's learning how to be appropriately attired for winter.  Hope you found a few tips for keeping your people warm and toasty this winter.  Get outside soon!

Dominique

PS - If you're interested, check out my summer work equipment list here.