Popcorn and Cupcakes! Homeschool Fun October 29, 2014

Hello dear ones! It’s been so nice to get back to our homeschool group. Morning sickness kept us away for so long. I want to share two funky fun holidays we celebrated: Popcorn Day and Bake a Cake Day. Something like that.

My BFF Hannah hosted popcorn day at the park. We learned about the history of popcorn, had a popcorn treat, and did a neat popcorn experiment. The kids loved it!

Michael helping with the experiment

The kids formed a hypothesis before trying the experiment.

The next week my buddy Rachel hosted Bake a Cake Day (or Cake Day?).

Rachel gave the kids slips of paper with different cake names on them. Then she read a book on cakes. Each time Rachel got to a cake name, the kid would pick a slice of cardboard cake and take it to their seat. The adorable “cake slices” had cake decorating forms inside. The kids were each given an imaginary customer to bake a cake for. Michael got Manny the Magician. The kids then had to figure out what kind of cake their customer would want. Michael planned a magic cake.

After the kids presented their papers, Rachel showed them how to use frosting and fondant to decorate their cupcakes. They had cute aprons and chef hats.

The kids displayed their favorite creation on the table. Then the kids had a “cake walk” to see their work. Rachel brought nifty lil boxes for the kids to take the cupcakes home.

We haven’t been as crafty at home as usual. We did make a scarecrow magnet though. It’s taken all I’ve got just to get school work done.

Well, God bless & remember the High King lives! ~Amber Dover

Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) 2014 October 28, 2014

Hello dear ones! This is our 7th year celebrating Sukkot. Usually we go camping but pregnancy and other circumstances changed our plans. We did however continue our pottery tradition, learn about some neat birds, and enjoy a small town Harvest Hoedown.

I’ve got a couple of links to update you on this holiday and our family traditions.

• Here’s info on what the holiday celebrates and Sukkot pictures going back to when Michael was itty bitty:
  https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/my-family-rocks-sunday-sukkot-the-feast-of-tabernacles/
• Last year’s Sukkot celebrations at Enota Campground and the Dahlonega Gold Mines. Also a short trip to Helen, Ga:  https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/my-family-rocks-sunday-sukkot-at-enota-dahlonega-gold-mines/
• Our trip to the pottery store last year and a look at how it all works:                   https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2013/09/16/crafty-monday-part-1-ancient-egypt/
• A look at last year’s pottery when it was finished and also a picture of all our Sukkot pottery together (minus this year): https://amberdover.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/crafty-monday-ancient-israel-and-her-neighbors/

Autumn is a very special time for our family. I go to town with the decorating because it’s my favorite season. Sukkot (a Biblical harvest celebration) is one of my favorite holidays. We usually go camping since Sukkot means feast of booths/tents basically. We also take a trip to the pottery store and paint harvest themed pottery. This year I did a bowl with owls on it. Since I’m pregnant I added an egg for “the year of the baby”. Michael painted a small owl. We spend hours at the shop and we have to wait a week to pick up the finished product. Here’s pictures of our pottery in the works.

I was thrilled to be able to celebrate Sukkot this year. Morning sickness ruined any chance I had at celebrating Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Talk Like a Pirate Day (I like holidays). I knew I wouldn’t be able to tent camp though. So I booked a cabin at Roosevelt State Park. Unfortunately, when we got there we couldn’t stay. A water line had burst and the management booked us a room at Callaway Inn instead. We were a bit disappointed. I had cooked a lot of food and most of it went to waste. We couldn’t play the guitar and the t.v. was a distraction we wouldn’t have had in the cabin. There was no camping about it. But we did however get into Callaway Gardens for free and we still got to see Roosevelt State Park.

Pic: The view from Roosevelt State Park on Pine Mountain.

We did make a leaf chain to decorate our “sukkah”, which was a hotel room. It didn’t have the same feel at all but Michael got to have fun collecting leaves atleast.

We had a big breakfast at the Inn restaurant. We hadn’t budgeted to eat out but it was nice to eat well. We visited Callaway Gardens which was right by the Inn. We’ve been to Callaway many times but we’ve never seen their Birds of Prey program until now. It was great to see an owl, a hawk, and a vulture in person. Okay, the vulture wasn’t that glamorous. I learned about the benefits of vultures but I did not enjoy the thing flying so close over my head. Here’s a pic of my favorite critter: the owl.

We took a walk in the vegetable garden. It’s a great place to take photos. Here are my favorites.

So it wasn’t camping and we did end up watching a lot of HGTV (we don’t have cable at home), but we did do our devotional and learn about the harvest. The day we left we caught a small town harvest hoedown in Warm Springs, Ga. We found our pumpkin for the year (another Sukkot tradition). You’ll see pictures of it in another post when the guys carved it. Warm Springs is such a charming town. The festival was small but quaint. We walked away with home cooked barbeque and some delicious funnel cake. Here are my favorite pictures.

Balloon animals!

Country music while we chomped down on boiled peanuts

Michael decorating a small pumpkin

We didn’t get to have our s’mores and hotdogs until we got home that night. We’ve got a fire pit in the backyard so it worked out.

The best laid plans don’t always work out but you can still have fun if you’re flexible. Our Sukkot celebrations are usually not by the book and this year they weren’t for sure. But it’s important to get to the heart of any holiday. The Israelites lived in tents in the desert. They faced all kinds of hardship and unexpected events. Our plans didn’t work out and we had to stay in a dwelling that wasn’t what we wanted. Our sukkah was a hotel room but it still wasn’t home. It’s a reminder as believers that the Earth is a temporary dwelling. Our true home is in Heaven. For now we are pilgrims and this world is our wilderness. It’s a crazy journey with surprises around each corner. But the Lord Jesus dwells with us and reminds us that home isn’t that far.

God bless & remember the High King lives! ~Amber Dover

PS: Enjoy these festive pics of our cat Chester (Winchester).

Michael’s 3rd Grade Piano Recital & Art Show October 21, 2014

Hello dear ones! This Summer Michael and I threw a recital and art show. My parents got to see what Michael had done for 3rd grade. We had tasty appetizers and a short program.

For the appetizers I made:

• turkey meatballs
• shrimp cocktail
• chips with spinach artichoke dip
• S’mores cookies

We enjoyed the snacks while Michael performed a few piano pieces.

I strung up Michael’s artwork through out the living room. I also used it to decorate the table. I wasn’t able to hang everything but some of it was in a book. After the recital everyone looked at Michael’s work. I explained what we learned this past year.

Michael brought out his Lego creation to show off as well.

It wasn’t very formal but it was just a family recital after all. I announced that Michael had passed to 4th grade and he received a certificate. I hope to make a yearbook one day. So…how about you? How do you show off your kid’s work/ milestones? Do you do anything special?

God bless & remember the High King lives! ~Amber Dover

Summer Bucket List 2014~ Ninety-two Summer Activities October 18, 2014

Hello dear ones! This is late but here’s what we did this Summer. I hope you are inspired! We didn’t get to everything but we sure had fun. Pregnancy and other circumstances threw a wrench in some of our plans but we’ve got plenty left for next year :).

1.play with water wall

2.checkers on trampoline

3.shaving cream art

4.ocean diorama

5.shark study (lapbook, crafts, shows on tv.)

6.ice cube boats

7.make a socktopus

8. shadow tracing

9. read a book

10. pool noodle games (target station or wickets)

11. milk carton boats

12. family car wash

13. picnic

14. night walk @ park (look for bats)

15. play catch with water balloons

16. bowling

17. sidewalk chalk fun

18. water gun fight

19. get an ice cream (play at Sweet Frog)

20. board games

21. living room race track with tape

22. card games

23. cardboard sledding (@  ______ Park?)

24. feed ducks

25. star gaze

26. visit the library or a bookstore

27. Memory lane- eat a treat while looking at scrapbooks and old videos

28. do a puzzle

29. catch/watch lightening bugs

30. play with an old toy

31. make a pillow fort

32. make a homemade video

33. make sock puppets and put on a show

34. play flash light tag

35. play hide n seek

36. dress up and play pretend

37. potion lab

38. digital hot potato (timer on camera)

39. Play Mother May I?

40. Play Red light, green light

41. play Simon says

42. clean the floor with brush skates (watch Pippi Longstocking)

43. dance party

44.paint a tree

45.pet rock

46.take chalk to ________ park for rocks

47. take sand toys etc for ________ park

48. make a pet rock

49. make fresh lemonade

50. yard work to earn money for yard sale

51. candle light night

52. silly picture day

53. slumber party (Snick 90’s theme)

54. visit pet store

55. visit Target and get a $1 treat

56. balloon tennis

57. cloud watching

58. play store

59. outdoor movie

60. water slide with tarp

61. glow in the dark bubbles

62. ride bikes

63. make a book

64. make a comic book

65. water pinatas

66. make homemade icecream

67. write a play/movie and act it out

68. shaving cream balloons

69. shaving cream Twister

70. Tell jokes

71.use glow sticks to write on the concrete at night

72. Become a bug (magnify bugs and watch them. Pretend to be one.)

73. pillow fight

74. Play Firefly with flashlights

75. learn about baseball (lapbook, movie, & play game)

76. make watermelon star bites

77. Christmas in July

78. snowball fight

79. shoot balloon ninjas with Nerf guns

80. Bug study (Bee crafts, bug movies, & Bee lapbook)

81.Space study (planet lapbook, movie, crafts (planet necklace, footprint rockets), & constellation cupcakes)

82.Dino study (movie, pterodactyl mobile, & dino cookies)

83. Trip to the past: old cartoons & shows, old games, & try candy popular from the past

84. Take the dogs for a walk

85. Play in the water at the park

86. See a play

87. Go to the museum

88. See a movie at Imax

89. Volunteer & donate

90. Visit the arcade

91. Nature hunt

92. Go window shopping at the mall

Well, that’s it.  I wasn’t able to capture every moment but we had a lovely summer with a great big surprise at the end. Lord willing, next year I’ll be able to show you Summer fun with a newborn/infant. 😉

God bless & remember the High King lives! ~Amber Dover

Pregnancy Realities, Expectactions, and Hanging Up the Cape October 3, 2014

Hello dear ones, I am still alive. It’s been awhile. I have indeed been in another world. It’s called morning sickness hell. I’m nearing the end of my 12th week of pregnancy. So I’ve finally got some updates and hey, even a few words of wisdom…or something like that. Here it goes.

So above you can see my lil song bird’s picture. I adore this baby inside of me, but I hate pregnancy…atleast thus far. There’s over 8 yrs between this and my last pregnancy. We were labeled infertile. So this lil one is a miracle. Over the course of my infertile years I dealt with failed fertility treatments and a failed adoption. I spent the hardest years fantasizing about pregnancy. I bought baby clothes as a hobby. My sims had big families and I smiled and thought “How cute!” when the lil avatar threw up in the toilet. Sim morning sickness only lasts a day. I was sick and depressed during my first pregnancy. My Mom took care of me while my husband was deployed. No, that won’t be me next time, I told myself. If I ever get pregnant again I will cherish every second. Even if I’m sick, I’ll just push on. I’ll force myself to get out of the bed. I’ll take medicine and eat crackers if I get sick. I can sooo do this again. I pictured me, all aglow, still doing everything as if I wasn’t pregnant. Yep, I’d keep a clean house, cook homemade meals, and school my son like normal. Somebody go back in time and slap me, please!I

I am super thankful that I didn’t get pregnant all the times I begged for it. I can’t imagine throwing up 24/7 while taking care of a toddler. I know some moms do it well but not me. Some women have easy pregnancies. My sister has mostly been like that. This has not been my lot though. Bad morning sickness, low thyroid, and a surprise biopsy have been my lot. In a couple days I’m being checked for a lump in my abdomen. Just call me “Lumpy”.

The toilet and the bed have been my best friends. Even my mom barely knows me these days. I’m a recluse. My house is a mess but my husband does his best, while he juggles school and work too. I don’t cook or clean. I heave. I haven’t been taking care of my 8 yr old. He takes care of me. Seriously, Michael is wonderful at making toast and hot tea. I haven’t been to church or really anywhere. I’m starting to feel like a heathen. And as fun as watching reruns on Netflix is, I hate living this way. I actually WANT to clean my house.

Yes, I’m probably going insane. Maybe it’s the uncontrollable crying, and the hormonal fits of rage if I don’t get some dang Cocoa Puffs. Seriously, when I’m have a craving I will kill for it. Okay, maybe it’s not that bad. But I did have evil thoughts when my hubby made me wait a night and half a day for that chocolatey goodness. And he just lay there sleeping soundly while I was suffering with the worst case of insomnia…grrr. Cravings aren’t as bad as the aversions though. Just thinking about McDonalds make me want to vomit. Hello, I used to know the cashier there by name! I am changing into something unhuman….no, something un-Amber. Pretty soon I’ll be howling at the moon! My guys are probably scared of me but I’ve assured Michael that mommy won’t always be so mean.

Anywho, so my expectations were not realistic. I am happy now though. I’m eating my fourth bowl of Cocoa Puffs and it feels so good to be able to eat. I’ve lost a lot of weight from this ordeal. I need to pack on the pounds so the neighbors don’t mistake me for the Halloween skeleton. As horrible as this all sounds and as much as pregnancy stinks for me, I have had plenty of time to reflect on my life. I’ve decided to hang up my super woman cape. I’m coming to grips with reality and it’s starting to be okay…

You see, things weren’t perfect on the other side of the fence. I played the part of Super Mom/Woman very well. For several weeks, I mourned hanging up my cape. I missed how I used to “do it all”, how everything had it’s place and time. True, we’ve had some awesome times, but I know now that everying “I” did was because God gave me the strength and mental ability to do so. It didn’t take much to completely reduce me to a bedridden grouch. I wasn’t very joyful as Super Woman. Honestly, I was stressed and angry. My theme song was “Human” by Christina Perri. I went around lamenting that “I’m only human!”. I was mad that I was juggling everything, and most of it came out on my husband.

Something happened when I got sick. I didn’t have the energy to juggle. My husband had to take up the slack. For the first time in ten years of marriage, my hubby really started taking care of me. He brought me roses and gave me a foot rub. I quite enjoy my daily foot rub. It’s not paradise though. Things pile up quickly and it’s getting stressful for my hubby to do everything. My prayer is for middle ground. I don’t want to go back to doing it “all”. I think it’s good for my guys to do more. But I want to do some things too. I miss all the time I spent with Michael. He’s played way too many video games lately. I miss my own cooking. I appreciate my husband’s efforts but watching him try to cook a full course meal is stressful. I miss my version of cleanliness. I miss church. I miss driving to Walmart anytime I feel like it. I miss my friends.  Pampering isn’t that fun when you feel like crap. I’m ready to start living.

I know that life won’t ever be the same. Homeschooling may never be the same. My blog will probably change. Heck, who knows how I’m gonna parent baby # 2. I have plans for trying different methods…cloth diapers, unmedicated child birth, breast feeding longer, and baby wearing. But if all those plans fly out the window I know I’ll still be a good mommy with God’s help. I won’t ever be perfect. I never was. I just thought I was “super”. I wasn’t. My God is the only super one.

Before I found out I was pregnant, I was doing a Bible study on the book of Daniel. There’s a story in there (Chp 4) about Nebuchadnezzar. He was a Babylonian king who thought he was the stuff because Babylon was a great city. He didn’t recognize that God had given him everything. Because Neb boasted and idolized himself, God took away his sanity for 7 years. The man left his palace and roamed the wilderness like an animal. When the 7 years were up, Neb humbled himself and recognized God as the sovereign over the kingdoms. Neb was only king because God allowed him to be. Neb’s kingdom was then given back to him.

I feel like I’ve had a Nebuchadnezzar experience. My insanity has been pregnancy, but I pray that things are starting to get better. I’ve still got pride issues but I’m a work in progress. Praise God, pregnancy doesn’t last seven years! 😉

General updates:

• Weeks before I got pregnant, we gave our hens away to my friend Erin. They are very happy in their new home. It would’ve been so hard to take care of them at this time. Thanks Erin for being a blessing!

• A week ago our guinea pig Snowball went back to the pet shop. We had no time to give her the attention she needed. Hey! More room for the new baby :).

• My big sister will be having her baby boy any day now. I can’t wait to meet my nephew. My Mom is thrilled to have an abundance of grandchildren!
• The ultrasound tech gave us a hint on the gender of our lil song bird. I’m not telling though, not until we know for sure. Chris and I are still haggling over names. Yeah, we had 8 years to think of names, but all those don’t feel right anymore. Back to the drawing board.
• The baby is very healthy. I’m not throwing up as much so maybe I will be too someday soon. My baby is super active and puts on a good show. I love my lil song bird.
• My best buddy Hannah wants to throw me a shower and she’s going to be my doula. She’s given birth completely natural twice and she’s a La Leche league leader, so I’m in good hands. I’m still confused about cloth diapers. Hannah is like a stinkin’ cloth diaper genius. Maybe I should buy a doll and practice.

• I’m loving the midwives I see. So far my experience has been ten times better than my prenatal care my first pregnancy. The midwife works with the hospital so I should be giving birth at the hospital….just unmedicated. I’ve been told this hospital is like a nice hotel.
• My hubby graduates in May, Lord willing. Pretty soon he will be applying for jobs. Please keep us in your prayers. Our lives are changing dramatically.
• I’m not sure when this blog will get to some form of normal. I’ve had a few ideas floating around. We’ll just have to see. If you’re still subscribed, I thank you. That encourages me to continue.
• My book…hmm. This was supposed to be the year of the book. It looks like the year of the baby instead. My book is still important to me. Family comes first though. My NaNoWriMo plans will depend on my health and sanity.
• Crafts and homeschooling…yeah, one day at a time. Our school may not be as hands on as it used to be. Still, I’m sure I’ll have something to share every now and then.

Thanks again for reading. Hopefully I’ll write again soon. God bless and remember the High King lives! ~Amber Dover

PS: We actually did some pretty kewl things for our Summer bucketlist before I got pregnant. Although it’s Fall, maybe I’ll get around to posting those adventures. We’ll see…