Finding My Bearings

We returned from Florida around 11pm on Tuesday night...

Since this was our first major vacation with 5 kids ever, I didn't realize what a task it is to try and get back into routine, unpack suitcases, wash laundry, grocery shop, and teach school.

I'm just trying to find my bearings again.

I may feel like I need a vacation after my vacation.

Luckily, we have a three day weekend starting and I'm confident we can all catch up on some rest as well as other household things that need our attention. By Monday, I hope to be back at it...

In the meantime, I thought a few pics would be nice.

A little teaser from Florida.

Banana River...which is really a lagoon. We hoped to see some manatees, but it was not to be.

View out our 4th floor condo of Cocoa Beach. We were soooo close to the ocean.

One of the seven people who were unhappy about leaving the warm, sunny state.

The "cool kids" look...

Some very tired sisters.

Ella and I at the Cocoa Beach Pier around dusk

The Zoo Crew

Our first day at the ocean. It was still a little chilly, but the warm-up was coming soon.

Five on Friday (March 3, 2017)

1. How is it Friday already?!? It seems some weeks just drag on and others zoom on past. Can't say that I'm sad to see it's Friday. I love a good Friday...and this one hasn't disappointed. The day has gone really well: the kids have played good, I've gotten lots accomplished, and Jason and I are going on a date tonight! Yes, you read that right. Grammie and Papa are coming over to watch the kidlets so the hubby and I can get away for a few hours. He has been so incredibly busy with work these past few weeks I feel like we have been two ships passing in the night. I can't wait to reconnect with him and spend some time without kid interruptions.

2. This week has included dr. visits via mychart. I am so impressed so far with how quick of a response I am getting from the CVS Specialist at Wisconsin Children's Hospital. I can ask her any question and she personally gets back to me within a day or so. I had to take Hattie in for a few more lab tests that were ordered. 2 of the 3 have come back so far and they have shown to be within range so that is a huge blessing to see her numbers return to normal. Secondly, I had to collect a "stool" sample. I've found it not a particularly pleasant job as a mother, but one has to do what one has to do. Thank goodness they provide a very large popsicle stick and rubber gloves.

3. Ella has been invited by one of her friends from West to take part in Girl's Time held in Maple Grove. It also happens to be that her friend's mom is Ella's Spanish teacher. :) She is going to be learning how to do some sewing tonight and she's pretty excited. I'm hoping her sewing skills will one day surpass mine...which really shouldn't take too long.

4. Lily said 17 verses at Awana this week. To say I'm proud is an understatement. That's a lot of verses and she put in a lot of time this week working on them. I love celebrating her accomplishments and this is one for the records.

5. This weekend will include packing for vacation since we leave in only 9 days. It's getting down to the last week and I have a million things still to do. I spent the better part of today researching kayaking adventures for us to do while in Cocoa Beach as well as some fun excursions in Orlando. Although this week has been pretty chilly as far as temps go (snow made a reappearance), Sunday is supposed to be a record-setting 61 so I am planning on taking that day off and getting outside with the kids.

6. Just since I can, I'm doing one more...Pippin is here spending the better part of a week with us. Between you and me, it's nice to have an animal in the house again. I forgot how therapeutic it is to just sit and pet them, have them want to lay next to you, and look into their expressive eyes.

  

Caught!

I see someone has been on my phone playing again...

And if you get on there without my permission, I will post it.

Weaving 101

Look who finished his weaving project in time to go to the Awana Overnighter...

He's showing his Pact Panther Pride.

Since this project required ripping out over half of his work that he had already done (because he left the yarn colors he needed to complete it in his desk at school) and starting over (with yarn that I had at home here), I'm hoping he learned that procrastination isn't always the best tactic. He weaved for almost 4 hours straight. Judging by how much fun he had at the Overnighter...I'm guessing it was worth all the work.

Five on Friday (February 23, 2017)

1. This is an honorable mention that I forgot to blog about from last week. Ben completed his 5th grade T-n-T book in Awana. He set a really high goal and wouldn't quit until he reached it. He ended up saying a total of 16 sections in order to complete his book. I picked him up from church and this kid was absolutely beaming and so proud of himself. It took a lot of effort and concentration and not getting to go to gym so he could spend the extra time saying verses to his leader...but in the end, he was soaring. He said it was so worth it. He's out gunning for beating Zyra's old record of 22 sections in one night. And as a mom, it's so rewarding to see him so excited about hiding God's word in his heart. I just love this program.

2. The Awana Overnighter is tonight. Ben and Ella are old enough to go and they are completely psyched for it. The kids meet up at church tonight at 6:30 for a pizza feed and then there are games galore including a flashlight scavenger hunt and more dodgeball than you can shake a stick at. And as an "overnighter" they stay up until they can't take it any longer and crash in their sleeping bags on the floor. I informed Jason that the only way they could go was if *one* of us volunteered. Guess who's gonna be slumming it on the floor and guess who's gonna be cozy and comfy in her own king-sized bed tonight? :)

3. Speaking of the overnighter, there is a certain someone who is weaving like a mad-man. He left his art weaving project until the very last minute. As in it was due yesterday. Seriously. The parents were none-to-happy about this lack of judgement and irresponsibility. Ben was told that he had to finish his project if he wanted to be able to go tonight...hence the weaving, weaving, weaving. Procrastination at it's finest.

4. We are busy getting ready for the upcoming trip. I know I have talked about it a zillion times on here, but I am really. really. excited. We have never taken a trip on an airplane as a family together. In fact, the 4 of the 5 children who have been on a plane before were tooooo little to remember anything about it. I can't wait to watch them experience flight and I can. not. wait. to see them  experience the ocean and all it's power and beauty. Suitcases have been hauled out and I spent the past weekend sorting through bins and bins of summer clothes. It's starting to get real now! Each child is responsible for wheeling their own carry-on...except Hattie. Jason is certain he will be carrying her duffle bag on one side with her on the other. :) If I had to wager, I would say he's probably right. hehe. Which also means I will be rolling two carry-ons myself.

5. When we announced we would be taking a family vacation back in January, it was 67 days away. The kids were told that once we got down to "20 days left", we would make a chain and each day take away one link until all that remained was the one telling us we were leaving on a jet plane. So a few days ago, I got out the construction paper and we sat around the table as a family, writing numbers on slips of paper. It was such a simple activity, but one that bonded us and brought us all together in anticipation of it. We had so much fun! I'm determined that every trip we take from here on out has to have a count-down chain to go along with it. Please disregard the obnoxious mess in the mudroom...this is real life, people.

Preschool Days with Ella

Another happy customer as Ella taught Hattie how to make valentine's day cards for her friends.

I love that she is learning how to be creative and how to show love to others. It's so easy to get lost in this "me" culture...and I want to instill in all my kids a love for showing kindness to others.

Hattie had a blast and her cards turned out really cute.

Proud of both my "babies"...the first and the last.

Valentine's Day 2017

Valentine's Day was pretty low key around Hubler Planet this year. And when I say "low key"...I really mean it.

Last year Jason and I really put forth a lot of effort. (No blog post since I was on a hiatus...you'll just have to take my word for it.) We had a scavenger hunt, board games, word finds, crossword puzzles, and all sorts of treats and special food. Then there was Valentine's Day 2015 and that was pretty fun too. So the kids were expecting big things from me this year.

But this year...well, this year was a flop. Jason worked late as he had a big project due at the office, in fact, he didn't get home until we were completely finished with our supper.

What I did manage to do was make a Korean meal...it's called Korean Royal Rice Cakes. Back in the Joseon Dynasty it was a meal prepared only for royalty...so my kids ate like kings and queens. ;)

Jason also picked up marble soda at the Korean Mart earlier in the week. Every one got their own flavor. It's named "marble soda" because there is a glass marble that seals the soda inside the bottle. You pop down the marble and it's ready to go.

I realized that I have 4 of the five kids pictured. In the interest of being transparent and showing off real life, Cora was busy throwing a fit so I didn't take her picture. She informed me that she didn't like the rice cakes, that they were too chewy, and she wanted to know exactly how much she had to eat.

You can't win them all.