tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75543902009-07-10T09:12:52.552-07:00Notes from the crunchy Christian mom of three unschooled boysCrunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.comBlogger413125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-65610856348637722492009-07-07T22:00:00.000-07:002009-07-07T22:00:07.710-07:00

Our pumpkins were ready to be picked today, can you believe it?! The two pumpkin plants that sprouted out of the compost pile produced these six cuties. A couple of them look like they came from two blossoms, like Siamese twins. Double butt pumpkins.The boys are already excited about pumpkin pie and pumpkin cookies! They don't seem to care about turning them into Jack-o-lanterns.Also picked a

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-73696667745596414172009-07-06T22:00:00.000-07:002009-07-06T23:58:09.873-07:00

Questions that come up during a home renovation...How does my garden grow? Will I ever be able to see it from my kitchen window again? (Yes, that's the old garage door blocking my view. It's been leaning against the elm for three weeks now.)How do feet grow so fast that I have eight different sizes of socks stored in one drawer?Where did all the matches for these socks disappear to? And what do I

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-17571641938991024412009-07-06T11:55:00.000-07:002009-07-06T12:47:46.951-07:00

So funny, I thought it had been only three years since I last painted that bedroom. But looking back at my first few posts, I realize how much has changed -- and how much has stayed the same! -- in the last five years.I am still a hypoglycemic parent all too often. And my eldest child is still a sensitive, persistent soul with a lot of strong feelings, and a unique love for all of God's

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-20453299883623556242009-07-05T20:03:00.000-07:002009-07-06T12:46:50.789-07:00

I hope you've had a fun and freedom-filled Independence Day weekend! Ours was full of everything red, white, and blue...Fruit salad with blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon... Rainier cherries...Tomatoes from the garden for our bbq'd burgers...Sprinkle cookies...Fresh blue paint on the walls of the boys' new bedroom...And new red curtains...I celebrated our country's independence by

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-48485025557150023732009-07-03T23:40:00.001-07:002009-07-06T12:49:37.251-07:00

A summer day filled with swimming, sweets and good friends... what more could these boys ask for?We were invited to a tea party this afternoon, where we each got to decorate our own votive candleholders and tiny jars. We lit the candles, learned a little color theory, sipped tea, frosted cupcakes -- and then burned off the sugar in the pool!We finally dragged ourselves away from our dear hosts,

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-9098182552540982332009-07-01T15:59:00.000-07:002009-07-01T16:52:48.511-07:00

Ideas and plans are bloating my brain.I've gorged myself on too many awesome books and blogs and movies, etc., lately, and my mind is feeling a little like my overburdened tomato plants look right now. Loaded down with big, beautiful fruit that just can't seem to ripen fast enough to keep the branches from breaking and outer fruit from scorching -- now that it's finally hot, it's TOO hot.I am

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-1109310711052470132009-06-27T14:29:00.000-07:002009-06-27T14:59:50.615-07:00

I LOVE this. I napped every day when I was pregnant with each of my kids -- completely guilt-free. A mama needs rest to grow a new baby, right? Duh.But when I'm not pregnant (like, now), I feel a twinge of guilt when I get the urge to crash on the couch before the day's duties appear "done." (But seriously, when is it ever done? Even when I don't nap...?)Most days, I just push myself until the

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-31873384015314915332009-06-23T08:15:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:15:43.675-07:00

Over last few months, we started mentioning the possibility of Littlest sleeping in the "big boys'" room.But, we said, "not until you're three." I didn't want him to feel rushed, but I wanted it to feel special. Of course, he didn't know quite what that meant, to "be three."Until he realized he was having a birthday -- you know, one of those days when you get presents! And eat cake! And everyone

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-66817904424678941882009-06-22T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-22T07:52:47.309-07:00

Look at all this fabulous produce from our CSA! And that's not showing the lettuce, a huge bunch of green beans, half a dozen artichokes, another bowl of plums, and several pounds of zucchini (from the CSA and our garden). My fridge runneth over!And check out all the garlic I pulled up this week!!! Forty heads!! (If you don't like to cook or garden, you might not find this quite as thrilling as I

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-25834642900079392062009-06-19T13:30:00.000-07:002009-06-19T20:16:38.341-07:00

I know some people like to make blankets as baby gifts. I can't seem to find the time to commit to such a big project. Especially with the baby boom going on around me this year.Hats are more my style. They're small enough to carry around so I can sneak in knitting time wherever I go. And if I get a last minute shower invitation, I can whip one out in a couple days.I've used the "wizard's cap"

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-90609907585831936422009-06-18T09:42:00.000-07:002009-06-19T20:12:12.928-07:00

Thanks for all your great comments on my last post, everyone. I do think most of the time nothing you can say will change anything. But every once in a while, the right words can make someone think a little bit... if you can get them out!Leanne, your children are certainly blessed to have had teachers who are able to be so flexible! I've known a lot of teachers, and in general, this is a very

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-67718804109017820982009-06-16T21:58:00.000-07:002009-06-16T23:12:44.694-07:00

I had one of those public experiences tonight that always catches me off guard, perhaps because I spend more time with people who share my perspective about learning than those who don't.I was at the bookstore, looking for some field guides for the boys, when a mother and her two daughters came up behind me."Mommy, can I have this clock?" said the younger girl, who was around age 6. She was

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-53476325479125356172009-06-14T22:17:00.000-07:002009-06-14T23:12:13.419-07:00

Another week in pictures...Can it have been three years already?Littlest requested a knitted dinosaur for his birthday. So, of course, he got one.It was a dinosaur-themed week, at least at home. (Eldest and Middlest were visiting the early Christians in Rome all week.)In between playing with his birthday presents, he took advantage of the absence of his brothers, and mastered using the computer

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-81256251791583922812009-06-08T17:37:00.000-07:002009-06-14T22:03:26.067-07:00

Perhaps I should have scheduled more blogging time into the last few days? ;) Thank you for all the sweet comments on my last post. If you actually use the idea, I'd love to hear about it!We had a lovely first week with Scott home. Lots of hanging out time. Some baking. Blueberries! Some jam-making. Jam sessions. Pajama and movie days.Plus, some yard work. Skating on the new driveway.Lightsaber

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-40611742704229390422009-06-02T22:41:00.000-07:002009-06-02T22:55:00.757-07:00

Every few months, when the season changes, and our plans and routines follow suit, I find myself yearning for a calendar I can manipulate with my hands.(Yes, even unschoolers can use a schedule. We just prefer really flexible ones.)I was inspired by Mary's spreadsheet, but I wanted something I could change whenever I wanted, without having to re-print. No online cut-and-pasting. No erasers. No

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-17181391523686785092009-06-01T15:53:00.000-07:002009-06-01T16:21:17.041-07:00

I haven't felt much like menu planning the last few weeks. Maybe because it's getting so hot. Maybe because I keep forgetting to call the appliance repair guy to come check out why my oven stopped working.Although I'm pretty sure I know why -- it was feeling overworked! It quit after I baked four dozen cookies, and then tried to bake a lasagna. Fortunately, my parents didn't mind me coming over

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-5020681487803750012009-05-30T21:35:00.001-07:002009-05-30T22:51:56.664-07:00

Just in case anyone wondered, we also like big trucks around here... ;)This week we had the old, beat up, barely-there blacktop dug out of our driveway...This was the view out of the boys' window...It was a four-day process to go from the old blacktop to a new, crisp and clean, concrete driveway...We loved watching the whole thing, even though we were woken up quite a bit earlier than usual all

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-68531220672466283502009-05-29T14:31:00.001-07:002009-05-29T16:53:17.688-07:00

Who says boys can't enjoy the fine art of stitchery?Last week my older two were both inspired to pick up their knitting, and start new projects, after their friend across the street finished crocheting his first blanket.I love seeing my boys knit. I love that it gives Eldest something to do in the wee morning hours when the rest of us would prefer to be asleep still!This week, I got out a little

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-47787802701767192162009-05-22T22:25:00.000-07:002009-06-01T16:21:07.075-07:00

"For I know the plans I have for you" --this is the Lord's declaration-- "plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."--Jeremiah 29:11Scott left soon after dinner tonight for a long-awaited weekend away to practice his favorite hobby, so the boys and I are on our own for the next two days.It's okay. In only one week, he'll be finished with school, and we'll have all

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-68227862915339644872009-05-20T14:47:00.000-07:002009-05-22T22:51:02.581-07:00

It's a (nearly) wordless Wednesday...

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-61583849339583290022009-05-18T22:10:00.000-07:002009-05-18T22:14:28.699-07:00

After four months of avoiding our late fees at the library, we finally headed back to the land of abundant knowledge two weeks ago. I love, love, love that I can check out our library system's offerings online, request the books I want, and have them waiting for me at the front desk.I realized after we got home that I was a bit self-centered in my book collecting. Where are all the books for the

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-90578741110524257622009-05-18T17:27:00.000-07:002009-05-18T17:27:56.996-07:00

I've got some catching up to do after my postlessness of the last two weeks! Before the flu knocked me out again, we did a little studying of carnivorous plants.My oldest, despite his love for all things that creep, crawl or fly, no matter how disgusting, decided a few weeks ago that he really wanted a few bug-eating plants. He was holding onto birthday money until we could find the right

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-89482762450686646322009-05-16T19:07:00.000-07:002009-05-19T09:01:51.503-07:00

B is for Before...A is for After...N is for New spaces...D is for a Desk of his own...G is for new Games...I is for Inventions...S is for Staple art...T is for lost tooth...A is for alphabet cards...G is for Growing Up.

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-57532135670724777712009-05-07T09:09:00.000-07:002009-05-07T09:12:58.560-07:00

Moreover -- let us also be full of joy now! Let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.--Romans 5:3 (AMP)

Crunchy Christian Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15729511504280715449noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7554390.post-68191092574081333772009-05-05T22:10:00.001-07:002009-05-05T22:59:10.172-07:00

Look! It's a miracle! There's no laundry on the Laundry Sofa!Oh, wait. That was Saturday, after five straight days of laundry washing, folding, sorting and putting away. Don't look now... there's another load about to land!!I was so inspired by Stephanie's spring cleaning post in March. But I couldn't go there yet. This weekend I felt it was finally Time. The garden is getting along. Outside

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