My 10 Kids

Just Keep Swimming

2012-01-26T22:58:00.002-09:00

Ok, so I totally messed up taking pictures for the last week. That's not completely true but I didn't get them posted. I've been trying to decide if it's a lost cause or not.

Last weekend Todd and I were discussing what movies to rent for our family movie night and I suggested that we needed to rent some Disney classics for the little girls. He came home with Finding Nemo and the original Star Wars Trilogy. Good choices all around. It made for a nice relaxing Sunday. My dad used to call them "Dingus Days".

This week has been a long one. I've been trying to get work samples done for our homeschool program and finish editing several sessions, and gather information for taxes, and keep everyone going with housework, and... this list seems never ending. Since the movies were five night rentals from Blockbuster Nemo was on a couple times a day for five days. As children have come to me through the week with this challenge or that I keep finding my self saying "just keep swimming, er I mean moving, working, studying, ummm.. "

Poor little Dory can't keep anything straight but she knows that she needs to "just keep swimming". I think taking her advice can be very helpful. My favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. I know that the Lord is working in my life and the lives of my children. I may not see my path clearly but I know that he is guiding my footsteps. I need to remember and trust in this fact and just keep swimming, moving, editing, cleaning...

And if I missed a week of pictures, well it's not the end of the world. Here is one I took on Saturday.

Day 16 - Oliver {365 days}

2012-01-19T19:11:00.002-09:00

This little guy was a Christmas present for our children. His brother is at my sister's home in Anchorage. He's a maltipoo+ , meaning he's a mut, but he's a cute little dust mop. He's in need of a haircut already! :)

He is adorable and the little girls love him a lot! He's learned to hide under the couch when he's had enough. We were in need of an other playful animal around here. Koda (Kimber's dog) went to live with Shawn and our second kitty went missing, and Max, is just getting old and crotchety. The kids currently each have a different day that they are responsible for feeding, watering, and pottying him - and thank goodness he's finally gotten old enough to sleep through the night.

Introducing Oliver!

Day 15 - The Hat {365 days}

2012-01-18T18:17:00.000-09:00

Do your children ever get a piece of clothing that they wear for days on end? For Christmas Katie got this hat from Ryan. It's not what I would have picked out for her but she LOVES it. She wears it at the oddest times. It's a sequined leopard print fedora. Fedoras are the preferred hat type in our house ~ some family's sport baseball caps, my children have at least five fedoras laying around.

I think it's their dad's doing. He's been involved in scouting since we were married and has used an Indiana Jones style hat for years on campouts. He's been through several of them as our children have loved them a little too much. I've been thinking about borrowing Andrew's grey one for a Valentines session... hmmm... just a thought.

Day 14 - Jasmine (365 days}

2012-01-17T20:45:00.000-09:00

Do you have animals in your house? We do. It's started before we even had kids. Our first pet was a rabbit. It was supposed to be a mini-lop but it turned out it was a giant lop and it was WAY to big to live in my kitchen. Yes, I said my kitchen - I even had a book about potty training rabbits. LOL

We've had quail, love birds, numerous dogs, several cats, goats, and chickens. I think that's about it. I never felt any fond emotion toward rodents, snakes, or bugs. Kimber, my nineteen year old has been our animal whisperer through the years. It's amazing what she can do with animals - and most of our animals have been "hers", by their own inclination.

When Kimber left home the first time without her dogs they were heartbroken and moped for weeks. When she comes home they follow her around. You can always tell if it's Kimber in the bathroom because the animals are hanging out in front of the bathroom door.

Todd likes to joke that you can predict when our family is going to have a new baby by when we get a new baby animal. It happens about 3 months before we find out we're expecting a new baby of our own. I have to admit that it's been a fairly reliable indicator.

Jasmine is actually Sabrina's cat. Since the dogs all claimed Kimber as their own, Sabrina wanted something different. Birds and our small children weren't a good mix so she asked for a kitty. Jasmine has been a wonderful cat. She let's the little ones play with her without scratching and goes and hides when she's had enough. She's also a really good mouser and living in this underdeveloped subdivision that's a problem in the spring and fall. I like cats. They are pretty self reliant and not too demanding, unlike the new puppy we have that we're working on potty training and is chewing up everything - including all Liberty's pacifiers. But that's another post. :)

Day 13 - Uh Oh! {365 days}

2012-01-16T20:30:00.000-09:00

Today's picture isn't a pretty one, but it is a classic one. It's a stage each of our children have gone through and I have a picture of most of them in front of their artwork at one point or another.

As we were cleaning up and getting everyone ready for bed I came around the corner to catch Liberty in the act! She was singing to herself and having a grand old time. Until I hollered at her. That apparently hurt her feelings because she started to cry, recapped the red marker and handed it to me.

Well, at least we haven't actually textured and painted that wall yet.

Day 12 - My Ballerina {365 days}

2012-01-15T15:29:00.000-09:00

Some of you may have seen the picture of Sabrina yesterday on my facebook page. It is a beautiful picture of her dancing in the snow at 12 below zero. Sabrina has always been our little dancer, even when she didn't want to take formal lessons she has danced through life.

This year she has renewed her dance lessons after opting out when she was younger. She is working really hard to regain what was lost from lack of formal training and practice over the years. It's an interesting thing.... I could have pushed her and made her continue to dance when she was younger, but I suspect that the passion and drive that she has now wouldn't be what it is had that been the course we'd chosen.

Because she wants this so badly she spends her own money buying supplies, hence the love of a new tutu, and the current savings for new shoes. She studies, and dances, and choreographs, and the cycle repeats itself. I'm proud of her for working so hard to get where she wants to be.

P.S. Less you think I cheated and took this yesterday when I took the outside pictures, you'd be wrong. She LOVEs the tutu and is wearing it while she cleans the kitchen. :)

Day 11 - Moving Day {365 days}

2012-01-14T18:10:00.001-09:00

It was a gorgeous day today! Beautiful light, sunny and bright. Todd suggested I should share a picture of the sun glistening off the snow laden trees and say something about how we have gorgeous light in Alaska in the winter it's just to bad it only happens when it's 12 below zero! LOL :)

Today Kimber and Christopher moved out! Kimber found herself an apartment and then she and Christopher cooked up a temporary plan to have him be her childcare solution. This will be interesting.

So today they loaded up her car and Todd's pick up and made several trips back and forth in the -12* weather. Their brothers and sisters helped pack box after box down the stairs and out to the waiting vehicles. Libety stood guard at the door closing it after each person went through with a load. She was so cute!

Tonight our home seems different... I'm not quite sure what I feel. Is it a sigh? Is it holding it's breath to see what happens next? It will be interesting to see if we can regain the rhythm that we had going before three extra people added their needs, wants, and desires to the mix. I am praying that all goes well, that everyone finds what they need, that this is a step in the right direction.

P.S. This is my son Andrew. He has been so patient with his older siblings moving back into his territory and bossing him around.

Day 10 - Loving the Light {365 days}

2012-01-13T22:07:00.000-09:00

I'm not feeling well today but figured that I didn't want to miss dong pictures today. Yesterday I got a new book called Photographing Children by Ginny Felch. I'm really excited about her style and the way she teaches. I got as far as the chapter of seeing light before I needed a nap.

I took a couple quick pictures using the available light in my bedroom. I'm loving this in black and white but I also like it in color. To see the color shots visit this album on my FB.

Day 9 - Late Nights {365 days}

2012-01-12T21:02:00.001-09:00

We've gotten in a terrible habit around here. We have been staying up WAY to late. It's a problem for any number of reasons not the least of which is a late night leads to a late morning.

Todd and I arrived home from date night at 8pm and found a wonderfully clean house, (thank you Andrew and children) and the kids in their pj's eating a snack and watching The Other Side of Heaven. That's better than most nights when they are still dressed running around like little indians. But as I suggested that it was time for bed I was begged to let them finish the movie - that had just started.

I'm a softy so I said yes. I, of course, realizing that I hadn't taken a picture for the day went on search of interesting light. It wasn't a good sign that I needed to bump my ISO up to 6400, open my lens up to 1.8, and slow my shutter speed to 160. I probably could have turned on the overhead lights but then I'd have lost what I was seeing, so sorry about the grain. I knew that all of these pictures wouldn't be pretty.

So here is Gabriel, my amazing six year old, who loves legos, dinosaurs, and computer games.

Oh, and ps, Andrew informed me that being leap year I should really call this a 366 project. I told him that I have no intention of taking 366 pics! Ha! :)

Day 8 - Playing with Light {365 days}

2012-01-11T13:45:00.000-09:00

Last night I was reading online instead of going to sleep. Todd kept growling at me about the light from my laptop keeping him awake. I've really tried not to do this lately but I've been feeling like my technical knowledge of photography is lacking. I know how to take pictures when everything is picture perfect, but what about when it's not? Like in my house in the winter? So I've been on the hunt for everything I can find about taking pictures in low light.

I've also been trying to make more sense of what I want to do for this 365 day project. As I wander around looking for something to take a picture of it often seems... I don't know... contrived. My biggest issue in my house is the fact that it's not pretty. I see gorgeous pictures online of children playing in an immaculate, well appointed living room and it makes my heart clench.

That is not my life right now and I'm really trying to make peace with it. I keep trying to remind myself that I don't have a mortgage and that helps us not panic in the winter months when construction is slow. I remind myself that someday it will all be something different but for the moment I need to find the joy that is here, everyday, despite the unfinished walls and the clutter of 13 people.

For the next little while I'm going to be taking pictures of my family. Someone has to be in the picture and I'm going to experiment with available light so I'm going to use B&W so that the emphasis is on the light and dark, instead of the colors. I'm going to try to keep my camera closer at hand and ready to go for those moments that pop up out of nowhere.

So here we go... It's Liberty, again. I know, I know, I've already photographed her. But she's always willing to pose for pictures. (unlike some of my children who duck and run) And she's absolutely adorable and always doing cute things. You'll probably see a lot of her this year.

Day 7 - Legos {365 days}

2012-01-10T13:45:00.000-09:00

Everyday I walk past the little boys room and ask them to pick up the Legos. They do and the next time I walk past their room they are scattered across their room again.
Legos are amazing toys. They fascinate everyone in the house from Liberty, who likes the feel of the little pieces in her mouth, to Andrew, who can occasionally be found tinkering with a few pieces as he ponders the bigger things in life.
As I took a minute to really look at what at first glance appeared to me to be another mess in the middle of their room I realized that there was a method to the madness. If I paid attention, as a six year old like Gabriel does, that I would see the story unfold, the drama of each little piece and it's part in the bigger picture.
So I didn't nag them about picking up the Legos this time, and I'll try to remember next time that maybe there is a bigger story being played out, bigger than my need to have the Legos off the floor.

Day 6 - Laundry {365 days}

2012-01-09T19:18:00.000-09:00

In a household of thirteen people, it's a certified emergency when one of our washing machines is out of order.

We have two sets of front loaders and the best things about them is that they hold A LOT of clothes, and you can stack them and get two sets in the space you could only get one normal set. The worst things about them is that they take forever to finish a load, it's impossible to soak anything, and the rubber boots on the inside of the door get torn easily.

Our repairman would argue with me on the last point. He claims that he never replaces them on anyone's machine but ours. I happen to know that my sister, who also has a large family, has similar problems. I wonder if he doesn't see it that often because families with lots of kids can't afford the extended warranty so they aren't calling him. My brother-in-law replaces theirs. I'm really glad that we got that discount from Allen & Petersen that enabled us to be able to afford that warranty because, boy have we used it!

The trouble is when the kids take turns doing the laundry. No matter how many times I ask them to shake out the piles of laundry, sort it by colors, check the pockets, and not to overfill the washer... well you get the picture right?

This past year I've been doing a lot of the laundry so we've managed to go a year without a torn boot or a call to the repairman. When we discovered a lake of water the other day, it didn't take long to identify the source. After calling Allen & Petersen we realized that that washer is still under warranty, Woo Hoo! Enter the repairman, shaking his head, he tells me that he doesn't have any in stock since we hadn't called in over a year and no one but us EVER needs one, and I really should tell my children to be more careful, and it's a $300 part, and he has to get pre-authorization because it's so expensive, and they might not cover it next time since it's already been replaced twice, and...

Really? You're giving a mom with a mountain of dirty laundry grief? Ooooh I was so annoyed!

Meanwhile, we're going to have to run the other washer round the clock to keep up, let alone catch up!

Matilda Jane

2012-01-09T18:56:00.000-09:00

So I finally did it! I broke down and ordered some outfits from Matilda Jane. They are gorgeous and so soft! I've been to a trunk show and seen them in my niece's closet, I wondered if they were really worth the extra price...

Last December I decided to give them a whirl. I searched the website and found some amazing offerings in their new Platinum line. They were so adorable I knew that they would look amazing on my little girls. The next big hurdle was finding their size. If you know anything about Matilda Jane you know that they only have a limited supply of any given item and when they're gone - they're gone.

After much thought and research I decided to buy a size two. I'd read that they run big so a size two would fit both Abigail and Liberty. Then came the UPS disaster of Christmas 2011. If you missed that particular fiasco the short story is the new UPS man tried to deliver a slew of packages to a boarded up house down the street. When he inquired of a neighbor as to what was up he was told that the lady of that house had died. From that moment on it took us three weeks to get the message to him that I wasn't dead and that that wasn't my house!

Needless to say my box from Matilda Jane that was intended for a Christmas present just arrived today! We tried everything on and they are big on Liberty and fit Abigail just right. We'll be doing pictures of the girls modeling soon!

Day 5 - Daddy/Grandpa {365 days}

2012-01-08T19:56:00.000-09:00

I love my husband! He's always been a helpful husband, he cooks, does dishes, cleans out the refrigerator, changes diapers, and cleans up puke. He's the best ever! As a young married mother I didn't appreciate what a wonderful man he was; I lamented that he didn't bring me flowers, jewlery and wisk me away on fanciful trips to faraway places.

I've grown and matured and now I'm so grateful for the wonderful man that I can claim as my own. He's my rock, my anchor, the one that listens to my dreams and helps make them come true. I love you dear!

Day 4 - Dinner {365 days}

2012-01-07T20:33:00.000-09:00

Today everyone was running a million different directions. It started when Todd and I heard a car start outside and jumped out of bed to see who was going where. We had to explain to one of our grown children that it would be nice if they checked to see who else might need the car before just heading out.

After much discussion we determined that Andrew would take the van to help a family in the ward move, Kimber was going to visit friends in her car, Christopher would run his errands in the Vibe, Todd would take his truck to the range to go shooting, Sabrina would have to wait for her errands until Monday, and I would finish editing. (seems like all I do lately, I'm almost caught up from my crazy December)

So those of us staying home had a lazy day. One by one, the cars returned to the house. Todd had promised the little kids that he'd take them swimming when he got home, but first we needed to eat dinner. Dinner. It's an event in a household of 13. Tonight we had spaghetti made with Italian buffalo sausage. Yummmm...

Day 3 - Ryan {365 days}

2012-01-07T20:14:00.002-09:00

On my way home yesterday from shooting a wedding, I was running through the things I needed to do before heading back to the reception. Download my SD cards, grab a bite to eat, make sure Abigail gets picked up from preschool, read through my lesson for Church... Suddenly I remembered that I needed to take a picture for the day.

I was thinking about what I could take a picture of and visualized the beautiful yard with all the amazing snow. Hmmm... then I though about the fact that we needed to refill the wood bin next to our woodstove. This is vital since we use the stove to heat our home. Perfect! I'll capture Ryan getting wood.

As I drove into the driveway the first thing I saw was Ryan getting wood! Yay! I jumped out of the car, grabbed my camera from my bag and snapped this picture.

I didn't get a chance to edit and post it yesterday but I took it! That counts in my book! :)

Upon reviewing the picture I realized that he was in serious need of a hair cut - so today you wouldn't recognize him from his picture, he's been clipped! LOL!

Day 2 - Katie and Kaleb {365 days}

2012-01-05T13:39:00.002-09:00

This morning after the chores were done I looked around to see what to take a picture of. I saw Katie playing with my grandbaby Kaleb. I opened the curtains and turned them so they had better light on their faces.

In Alaska it's really hard to get "good" light, especially this time of year. The sun is rising at 10:30am and setting at 3:30pm and it's very flat, blue light. Even when the clouds come out from behind the clouds it is so low on the horizon that it doesn't clear the trees in our neighborhood.

Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful up here in the winter, especially when the sun is shining, but not the amazing light that portrait photographers lust after. I'm not sure that kind of light exists in Alaska... But I digress.

Kimber works at 5 in the morning so we all take turns helping with Kaleb. Katie is a special favorite of his. And watching them together this morning I was impressed with her patience and love for her nephew. This is definitely worth documenting! :)

Day 1 - Liberty {365 days}

2012-01-04T15:58:00.002-09:00

I recently purchased a book from Jinky Art called For the Love. It's a book about why we take photographs and ideas for how to see things differently. If you haven't seen Jinky Art's work you need to visit her site. She captures the essence of childhood and I aspire to her amazing style of photography.

Anyway, I'd been thinking about the trend that is going around of doing photography projects and trying to come up with one for my family. Not something for my business but something personal that would document our lives. My sister, Amy Earle, is in the middle of a project called 52 dresses for her daughter. I considered this and realized that if I take one photo of a different child each week I'd have five shots of each by the end of the year. That would be awesome but didn't hold much inspiration for me. Hmmm... what to do? The new year was fast aproaching and I began to think I'd just let it slide. Really, who was I kidding? One more thing to add to my crazy life ~ that is not what I need to commit to...

Then I opened Jinky's ebook and started to read. In her introduction she said something that changed me. It's changed the way I think about photography, the way I run my photography business, and it changed my mind about doing a photography project for my family. This is what she said:

“For The Love” is a gentle reminder to mums,

dads and grandparents that we need to slow

down, record, and remember these precious

days...

When setting out to put this book together I knew exactly

what I wanted to talk about: the reasons behind taking

photographs; the heart and soul of what each click can

and could mean; and the extraordinary gift that each of

us has by giving our children something to look back on

and remember their childhood by...

Let’s face it, old family albums

are usually shoved away in a far corner collecting

dust. However, you must admit, that whenever they are

opened and viewed there is a sense of wonderment that

is unlike any other. It’s not a place we all long tovisit

every day, that feeling of “yesterday”, yet we know that

family albums are some of the most treasured items in

the world. The one thing we would take with us in a

fire.

Yet in today’s world, the family album is becomingobscure.

Forgotten about. And we are raising a generation

of children who will have had their memories lost in a

hard drive crash, or on a forgotten DVD drive."

~Barb Uil

I grew up with photo albums. For my sixteenth birthday my grandmother gave me a photo album with pictures of my whole life to date. Naked baby pictures, pictures of swimming at the "swimming hole" with my cousins, dressed up in matching dresses with my sisters for every holiday imaginable, each picture a valuable memory to be revisited each time I opened that album.

I continued to add to that book though highschool and college and when I got married I started a new album. At this point scrapbooking was all the rage. I was a diligent scrapbooking mom for many years. Then as my family grew the pages had more time between them until finally with the aquisition of a digital camera there were no more albums. What changed? Yes, I had gotten very busy but we were still taking pictures. With the ease of transfering them to a hard drive suddenly they were out of site, out of mind. Someday I'd get them printed and do somethng with them. So now they sit in various hard drives scattered throughout my house. Unseen, unshared, unavailable to my children. At least if I was printing the pictures I could put them in an album to be enjoyed even if I didn't scrapbook them.

My daughter has been begging me to finish editing my grandbaby's newborn pictures so she can scrapbook them. She's been diligent through the years of getting those digital images printed and keeping up with her albums. As I read "For The Love", I recognized that I need to put a priority on my family. More often than not their pictures go to the bottom of my editing pile - the never ending pile, where new sessions of strangers are added every week.

So, drum role please... I'm going to be very ambitous and commit to a 365 day photography project. I will take a picture of my family and some aspect of our life every day. But more than take the picture I will post it here to this blog. Then at the end of the year I will print those pictures into an album.

I realize that sometimes those pictures aren't going to be perfect and pretty. That isn't my life. I've watched my sister Amy's blogs and moaned how I can't post pictures of my family because our home isn't finished and it's not beautiful, and it's usually a disaster, and, and, and... But while I wait for my life to be picture perfect my children are growing up and those memories are slipping away undocumented. So I will repent, I will not postpone, I will do it today.

Here is DAY 1: {Liberty}

Nikon 85mm 1.4

2012-01-03T17:03:00.000-09:00

This would be a SWEET lens to have! I have been thinking about getting this lens for a while but I chose to get the Nikon 70-200 2.8 first.

Today I saw that CRAVE Photography is having a giveaway and though I don't usually enter these things I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring. What the heck, I've got nothing to lose and a couple of amazing prices to gain!

Go check her out if you haven't seen her photography, she is AMAZING!

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-14T20:39:00.001-09:00

I put together a video of my family putting up our Christmas tree this year. This is a family tradition, it doesn't have a specific date, but we always do it together. The boys take care of setting up the tree, I hang the wooden beads and put the angel on top when the tree is decorated.
It's also my job to hand out the ornaments as we put them on the tree. Most of our ornaments are special. There are ornaments that were mine as a child given to me by my Grandma Hanke. When she was still alive she also gave my children ornaments. My mother followed in her footsteps and gives ornaments every year too.
The other Christmas decorations go up this special evening too. There is the advent calender made of felt in the shape of a Christmas tree that I made when Christopher was a baby. It was designed after one that my family had that was made by my father's mother. Then there are all of the decorations that we have recieved first from my Grandma Hanke and then from my mother when she passed away. We have Santa's and Snowmen, Angels, Carolers, and Snow Globes.
And last but not least is our Nativity. This year we pulled out our smaller Nativity because Abigail and Liberty are soooo curious I was terrified that they would break the larger one that was made by Todd's mother and used in their home every year.

Then we turn off all of the house lights and have Christmas cookies and eggnog by the light of the tree.

I realized as I was putting this video together how important it is to document these moments in time. I hope that I will remember this and continue to add to our collection of memories.

I would be remiss not to mention that my daughter Sabrina took some of these pictures too. She's becoming quite the good photographer.

Merry Christmas 2011 from Tammy Smith on Vimeo.

Christmas Cards

2011-12-12T20:31:00.002-09:00

I have seriously negected this poor blog since I've become so busy with my photography business. Today I realized that I really needed to get a Christmas card for our family together. Above is the front side of the Christmas card I put together. I've ordered it and once it gets here the next challenge will be addressing the envelopes and actually getting them in the mail.

In the process of looking through pictures I discovered that I have also neglected to take enough pictures of my own children. My children LOVE having their pictures taken and are generally patient as I try to get the perfect shots but I realize that I've missed out on getting some of them just because it's inconvienent to shoot everyone at once.

As I thought about this I was inspired by my sister, Amy. She started a photography project to take a picture of her daughter once a week in a different dress. What's been so cool is watching her daughter as she has changed over the last six months.

I'm going to start a similar project in January. I have ten children and if I take a picture of one of them every week I'll get five good pictures of each of them every year.

I'll post the picture every Sunday starting on January 7, 2012. Stay tuned!

Blood, Sweat, and Tears?

2011-09-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

My oldest child is twenty and I fell in love with the idea of homeschooling while he was still a baby. I kept him home for kindergarten but soon gave into social pressures and he spent the next two years in school. I gathered my courage again during the first quarter of his third grade year and I brought my children home.

In our home we follow the educational principles known as Leadership Education as outlined in the book, A Thomas Jefferson Education, by Oliver DeMille.

When I tried to figure out how many years I’d been using the principles of Leadership Education I realized that I’ve always used them. When I read the first edition of A Thomas Jefferson Education it felt like coming home. The ideas in that book embodied what I’d always known in my heart and soul about educating my children.

Today I read the following comment on a discussion group for TJEd. It was the introduction for the author’s suggestion that those who have a blog participate in her blog roll. The premise was that we can each benefit from sharing the journey together. I agree with her premise but not with her introduction.

Her introduction:
“Leadership education is really tough. It is a blood, sweat & tears kind of life. As far as homeschooling goes, I think it is the toughest… way of doing things. There is no how to. You must struggle through the principles and work out for your family how to implement them.”

In moments of panic I have been guilty of abandoning the principles of Leadership Education and looking for other methods to educate my children. Talk about tough, try having five children using a different curriculum for every subject, every day. It’s ridiculous! Calvert, Oak Meadows, K12, these are just a few that will drive a mother under the table in short order if she has more than two children.

If we as parents could understand and embrace the reality that children educate themselves, most of our angst would disappear. When I panic it’s because I see gaps and I believe it is my job to fill them. It’s not. I can’t. It’s a little like potty training. When I was a young mom I was lucky to have an older wiser mother tell me that she always made her kids wait until they were begging for underwear before she even tried. I have employed this advice for all of my children. Some have trained earlier, some later, but never with any major effort on my part. The child is in control and it’s all about their readiness and willingness. I’ve never been successful demanding that they potty and it’s the same with learning. We all need to relax and let it come when it’s time.

“Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind” --Plato

When we remember the Phases and implement the Seven Keys of Great Teaching Leadership Education is a breeze. The phase is LOVE OF LEARNING, the key is Inspire, NOT require. There is no place for “blood, sweat & tears”, when it stops being fun you stop. I think that many of these challenges are overcome with the implementation of “You NOT them”. When we stop focusing on our children and start setting the example of learning, reading, and writing our children will naturally come along.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes” --- Marcel Proust

Oliver and Rachel DeMille have literally given us books full of how to’s. In the book Leadership Education, you will find 52 ingredients for creating a Core and Love of Learning environment. Yes we have to study these and figure out how to apply them in our homes. This is part of You NOT Them. Study these books, read and re-read them, they are classics. In addition to the books listen to the audio CD’s and visit the DeMille’s website.

I believe that as we come to truly embrace and live the principles of Leadership Education that other parts of our lives smooth out. A six month No helps us prioritize, a six month purge helps us simplify, a six month inventory helps us stay in touch with our important relationships. FEC is vital to Leadership Education running smoothly but it also helps everything else in our lives run smoother as we are keeping in touch with our weekly schedules, the needs of our children and spouse, and discussing the direction our lives are taking. Understanding that when our evenings go well then our mornings follow and that embracing the seasons instead of fighting them leads to smoother transitions, are just some of the wonderful wisdom to be found within the principles of Leadership Education. (these ideas are covered in detail in the book Leadership Education)

I think this introduction should have read being a parent is the toughest. It’s not Leadership Education that is tough. Being in tune with our children, trusting ourselves in a society that says we need an expert to tell us what to do, navigating the perils of TV and internet media, all require that we be on our toes, ever vigilant. The challenge is not Leadership Education it is life and life is not for wimps. I whole heartedly agree that we can gain encouragement and support from reading each other’s blogs, benefiting from the experience of others but let’s be careful not to blame Leadership Education for the challenges we feel from life. Let us remember:

“We are made or unmade by ourselves. By our thoughts, we forge the weapons by which we can destroy ourselves. Likewise, we build for ourselves heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, we ascend to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, we descend below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character. We are our own make and master.” -- James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

Are They All Yours?

2011-09-22T18:36:00.000-08:00

I thought I would take a minute and introduce my family.

I talk about being the mother of ten children but you may notice that two of them are missing from recent pictures. Above is the last family picture we had with Christopher and Kimber still home, but Liberty wasn’t born until after Christopher left so we're missing one. Todd and I are often asked if "they are all yours?" Yes, we are the parents to all of our children, I gave birth to all of them and no there are no twins. With those question out of the way I'll move on to the introductions. As I think back through the years so much time has passed and each one of them has amazing and unique stories that could be told. It’s hard to condense who they are into a couple of sentences, but over time and through my posts hopefully you’ll have more opportunity to learn about their personalities, passions, and unique views on life.

My husband, Todd, is my best friend. When others speak of bunko night, girls nights out, or personal time I don’t get it. I can’t wait to spend time with him, especially alone time. He’s my protector, my hero, and my champion. He indulges my crazy ideas and helps me make my dream come true. Todd is compassionate, patient, and steady. He is a talented craftsman, in high demand. He owns his own contracting business and has recently started a new venture as a firearms instructor.

I’m Tammy. I’m a dreamer. I love being a mom; I’m passionate about natural childbirth, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and homeschooling. I’m passionate about a lot of things and love to share my passions with anyone that will listen, that’s one of the reasons I write this blog. I love to travel, read, go on dates with my husband and come up with a new idea with all the fixings!

My oldest son Christopher is 21. He’s on a mission for our Church. He is serving in the Ogden, UT mission. He has been gone for over 18 months and will be returning home just before Christmas! It will make an awesome Christmas present!

Kimber is our oldest daughter and is 19. She has been living on her own (mostly) for the past year. She has spent time in Utah and now lives with roommates in the Matanuska Valley, near home. She has a boyfriend that is in the military and is away at training. He will be home soon and they are expecting a little boy in October. Kimber loves animals and hopes to own a shelter when she gets older.

Andrew is 17. He’s our resident Shakespearean scholar. He’s putting the finishing touches on his scholar phase and looking toward depth phase. He is planning to take a few local college classes this fall. Andrew plans on owning his own community theatre where he will teach acting and speaking classes for youth and direct plays.

Sabrina is nearly 15. She is a talented actress, singer, and is planning to expand her talents in the area of dance this fall.. She loves music and can often be found by following the sound of her singing. Sabrina is a HUGE helper around our home, and is always full of good ideas and a kind word when things get stressful. I don’t know what I would do without her.

Ririe is our newest scout. At twelve years old he is on the trail to Eagle earning four merit badges at scout camp and becoming a 1st class scout. He has blossomed under his older brother’s tutelage and is a talented orator and actor. He is an responsible and dependable young man. His dad often takes him on jobs when he needs an extra hand.

Ryan is ten. He is so good and gentle with his younger siblings. He is quiet and contemplative most of the time. He loves to read, just like the rest of my brood. He devours books and recently completed the CS Lewis Narnia series. He is tall and dark, unlike any of my other boys, and I can see him having that mysterious quality that makes girls swoon in a few years.

Katie is nine. She is excited about getting older and being able to participate in more group activities outside of our home. Katie is an amazing little mother to Abigail and Liberty. She always knows what to do to help solve a problem with the little girls. She loves to read to Gabriel and he worships the ground she walks on, following her around and doing whatever she suggests.

Gabriel is our little imp. He will be six this fall and I can hardly believe it! He loves his big brothers and sisters and is so excited for Christopher to be coming home soon. He loves to play with tinfoil, he makes all kinds of little things out of it. We joke that all he needs for his birthday is a roll of tinfoil from Costco. He has a great imagination and will play with dinosaurs, action figures, hot wheels, etc for hours.

Abigail is our little miracle. She has a complicated medical history that could fill several posts. The short story is that she has a rare congenital heart defect that has been repaired. She suffers with problems that affect her ability to speak so she is learning sign language. At 3 yrs old Abigail is a sweet, cuddly little terror. She is quiet and inquisitive which makes a bad combination as she often gets into things without anyone noticing. If you'd like to read more about her journey you can read about her here.

Liberty is a year old. She and Abigail are best friends and worst enemies every day. It is fun to watch them play peek-a-boo, and chase each other around. Liberty’s squeal of delight as she plays with her older siblings brings joy to my heart.

This is my beautiful, amazing family. I love being the wife and mother in this crowd, there is never a dull moment and there is always someone to snuggle with.

Alaska State Fair

2011-08-28T21:47:00.000-08:00

This year my older children didn't want to hang with us and see the animals at the State Fair, so Todd and I took the younger three, Gabriel, Abigail, and Liberty and headed for the Barn. It was kind of fun seeing their enthusiasm with out the bored over tones of the older children who think they've been there done that.

The Dirty Details

2011-08-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for part 2 of The Cloth Diaper Diary?

We’ve been using the Babyland diapers from China for about a month now. They are holding up well. We’ve only had two minor bumps but at only $4 each they are easily overcome! The biggest issue has been that the microfleece liners are cut too small and after being washed a number of times they’ve shrunk. This has caused leaks. I don’t believe this would be a problem when used on smaller babies but my toddlers are well hydrated with BIG bladders so it’s a challenge. I thought that I was going to have to purchase more inserts from another company.

The second issue hasn’t actually been a problem but I can foresee that it could be and most definitely would be for other cloth diaper users whose babies are bigger than mine. I currently have petite babies so the Babyland diapers fit great. Liberty is using the middle adjustment sizing and Abigail uses them without any adjustment. Since Abigail is currently well on her way to being potty trained I don’t anticipate her outgrowing these diapers but I’m not sure if Liberty will fit in them until she’s potty trained. They are smaller than my large Happy Heinys and the two onesize Happy Heiny’s that I own are definetly bigger and have one more row of adjustment snaps on them. The one size Happy Heinys are bulkier on my petite kiddos and I have more trouble getting the fit right around their waist than I do with Babyland.

Overall I’m extremely happy with the Babyland diapers. I could have purchased additional microfleece inserts for as low as $1 new. That would raise the price to $5 per diaper – still a GREAT price! As for the size issue, I figure that I can slowly invest in larger diapers using some of the money that I’m saving using cloth. I’ve got time on my side.

HOW MANY DIAPERS?

I’ve decided that 30 diapers aren’t enough for two children, even if Abigail is only using them at night or when we go out. We HAVE to wash diapers every other day. This is my goal but sometimes life happens and then there are no diapers. This happened one evening and after a discussion of whether or not to run to the store and buy disposables I decided to dig out my large Happy Heinys and small stash of medium Fuzzy Bunz. (see Diaper Diary part 1) In all I was able to add twelve more diapers to our stash and the large Happy Heinys are only a little too big.

In the same box I found that I had extra microfleece inserts, a pile of small Kissaluv contours, a handful of Kissaluv fitted diapers, and a motley mix of other inserts. I decided to try doubling my diapers with these and the inserts that came with the Babyland diapers. This solved my insert problem. Success, even at night!

HOW DO YOU STORE YOUR DIRTY DIAPERS?

I’m still working on this. What do you do? I’ve always used the dry pail method, as opposed to a pail full of water for storing the dirty diapers. I have a bucket, diaper pail, basket, etc, where I place soiled diapers after removing anything chunky. Breastfed baby poop isn’t a problem. It will wash right out but once your kids start eating solid food it’s kind of gross! Ok, it’s VERY gross. We have a sprayer attached to the toilet plumbing for cleaning big messes. With pocket diapers I also remove the inserts and fold over any Velcro to avoid everything becoming connected to everything else before putting them in the pail.

In the past this has been stored in the laundry room. Unfortunately I found that my children aren’t as concerned about how the diapers are treated as I am and I was finding dirty diapers all over the laundry room instead of in the diaper pail. And when thrown in a tall narrow pail I couldn’t see if they had properly cleaned and separated the diaper prior to throwing it in the pail. So… I’ve moved the diaper pail to my bathroom and started using a waterproof diaper pail liner in a short round laundry basket instead of the pail. This allows me to see the diapers and is convenient for cleaning them when soiled. BUT, and this is a BIG but… What about the smell? I need to find a shallow bucket with a lid. I’m thinking about getting some Thieves essential oil and putting it on a rag in the pail to help kill the odor. Any thoughts?

HOW I WASH MY DIAPERS:

I put everything together in my frontloader, making sure all the Velcro tabs are folded and we haven’t missed any chunks. Yes this requires touching the dirty diapers. Motherhood and frugality aren’t for the faint of heart. My kids use rubber gloves when they do the diaper laundry; Whatever it takes.

I use a free and clear laundry detergent from Costco. In the past I’ve added ½ cup of baking soda to the presoak and ½ cup of white vinegar in the rinse to help with stains and odor. There are pros and cons to using vinegar. This is a discussion for a later date. I’ve had trouble with urine smell every once in a while but right now my diapers aren’t having an issue so it’s not part of my current diaper routine but I know it will come and go during our cloth diaper days.

I set my machine on the sanitize setting with a pre-wash and extra rinse. For my machine this will take several hours. This is why I have to monitor my diaper stash so I don’t run out of diapers. When done, I put my covers in one dryer on air dry and my liners in the other on high heat. I have dried my covers previously with no ill effect but now that I have two dryers I figure this is easier on the Velcro and PUL and ultimately will help my covers last longer. Line drying your covers works too.

STORING CLEAN DIAPERS:

One of the reasons that I love pocket diapers is that I can stuff them and put them on a shelf or in a drawer and they are ready to go. Remember, I am a busy mom to many children. I might change only 1/3 of the diapers on any given day. My children are wonderful helpers but I need to make cloth diapers easy for them and my husband. Pocket diapers do this for us.

There are many choices for cloth diapering. Ultimately it is a great way to save money but it comes with a cost of time and forethought. Personally I believe in seasons and that over time our choices will shift and change as the circumstances in our lives evolve. I believe that the investment in cloth diapers is always a good one. Even during the times we didn’t use them I knew that they were there, ready for an emergency, financial or natural. This is peace of mind.

There is soooo much information about cloth diapering available online it’s truly amazing. I LOVE www.diaperpin.com and www.clothdiaperblog.com. They both have good how-to, reviews, and other information that applies to a cloth diapering lifestyle.

I will continue The Cloth Diaper Diaries as our journey unfolds. Stay tuned!

What Does a Stitch in Time Save?

2011-08-05T18:20:00.000-08:00

Do you sew? I do. It’s something that I learned in 4-H when I was 12. My first project was a quilted book bag, and the second was a knit t-shirt. It was white with little red, yellow, and navy colored flowers on it.

That was the extent of my sewing as a child. Fast forward to the early years of my marriage; I had more time than money and a mother-in-law that was willing to help me grease the rusty skills learned so many years before. For my first baby I made burp rags, baby gowns, and blankets. When my first little girl came along I made puffly sleeved dresses with peter pan collars. Halloween was always time to break out the sewing machine. Once upon a time I even did raggedy ann and andy costumes, complete with wigs.

Then we started to make more money and I had more children. I was easier to run to Walmart or Old Navy than make my own outfits. When I did pull out the sewing machine I was interrupted by little people so many times that I couldn’t remember where I’d been in the project. I still made the occasional blanket and would break out the sewing machine for something special or to hem a pair of pants but with more money than time and it only happened on rare occasions.
But I still know how to sew and it haunts me. I look at some of the latest fashions for little girls and I am loath to plunk down $40 for a skirt that is made from scraps and would be sooo simple to make… if I had the time.

: Matilda Jane Summertime Collection

The latest fashion craze led by Matilda Jane has my heart in a quandary. The knits are soft and beautiful and anything similar is hard to come by at Jo-Ann Fabrics - the only fabric store in Alaska. Sure I can shop online but how do I know how soft the fabrics are. (I’m a touchy feely type). I went to a Matilda Jane trunk show and was once again overcome by the realization that many of their items would be so simple to make – heck, half of the items had raw edges! But I don’t have the time right? I keep reminding myself of this fact – the last thing I need right now is another project, another stack of fabric to stick in a tote and push into the dark corners of my storage areas. I share my thoughts with my sister, who’s beautiful, only daughter – in a house full of boys, owns the most beautiful wardrobe EVER. Her advice? Just buy them.

I realize that this is easier said than done. I have ten children not four and five of them are girls. A Matilda Jane wardrobe for each of them is going to set me back a pretty penny! Granted my older girls wouldn’t be caught dead in Matilda Jane but you get the picture. So I’ve searched etsy, ebay, and the web looking for alternatives. What I stumbled upon is called upcycling and it’s fanned the flame of my desire to sew. You use fabrics from previous clothing to create something new. You can find some awesomely soft, and adorable knits at the thrift store in the form of old clothes. It’s almost convinced me that it’s worth carving some time out of my crazy schedule to make some of these projects.

Here are a few of these projects with links to the websites they came from:

Today is the first day this week that I don’t have to leave the house; But I long to scour the local thrift stores in search of the perfect fabric to make a project or two. Or what I really should do is the laundry and the bathrooms – wait, where did that come from? Hmmm… the possibilities.

The Never Ending Dilemna

2011-07-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

Laundry – in a family my size it’s never ending!

Growing up as the oldest of ten I did a lot of laundry. We had two washers and two dryers and a large folding table where I passed many hours folding laundry. In my house we had a sock basket and an underwear basket. Since there were seven girls we shared most things.

Over the years I’ve had a love / hate relationship with laundry… Mostly hate. I don’t really mind washing it, but I don’t enjoy folding it. As my children have gotten older I’ve attempted to train them to do the family laundry. It’s a thankless job and no one enjoys it. We’ve had several systems that have worked, but we haven't found one solution that works all the time.

Here are a few of the systems that have worked for short periods of time:

Doing laundry one day a week. Everyone is assigned a basket and on laundry day you gather all the dirty laundry, sort it and wash it. As it comes out of the dryer you sort it by individual and give them the basket to fold.
Everyone does their own laundry with one person responsible for general household laundry and small children.
I do four loads of laundry every day, folding, hanging and putting away for small children, parents, and household. Children over 5 put away their pile of clothes. Everyone over the age of 12 does their own laundry.

The drawbacks to the first system were that some children in my house don’t have enough clothes to wait a week between laundry days and I don’t want to have them own that many clothes (that’s another topic). We tried it doing laundry two days a week. That was still VERY time consuming with our large family. Also I found that often the children just lived out of their baskets rather than fold them and put them away. Sometimes I don't care, other times it drives me nuts!

The challenge we had with the second system is keeping the laundry person motivated. It’s a big job and over time quality suffered, sorting stopped, I found rocks, crayons, and other things in the dryer.

I find that I care more about the laundry than anyone else in the house. I care if it smells because it was left in the washer too long, I care if the whites turn blue from being washed with the jeans, I also care if my husband has a clean towel to use every day. So for now my favorite system is the third one.

Here are a number of things that I’ve done to help myself with the laundry.

I bought 6 large matching laundry baskets that aren’t allowed to leave the laundry area. I use these to sort clothing and transfer laundry from the dryer to the folding table.
I created a folding area. We are still finishing our home (it’s mortgage free, so it’s a work in progress) so I had Todd install a hanging rod over the folding table. I have drawers for storing certain things like hats, mittens, and scarves. I also have a basket in a cupboard for putting items that don’t fit to be sorted for good will or storage.
I’ve whittled down on towels, sheets, and blankets so that it I have less laundry to physically do.
I have a large garbage can for tossing clothing whose time has come to an end.
We have two washers and dryers.
I use the signals on the dryers to know when the loads are done.

I guess you can say I have a system.

I like to get the laundry going first thing in the morning.
I call for each child to double check their areas of responsibility and bring me all the dirty clothing.
I sort into baskets by color and material, then start the wash.
As I’m sorting if I see something that is obviously trash I get rid of it before washing. I try to keep my eye out for stains and pretreat but with my large volume I miss a lot. However, I’ve found that if I’m washing things regularly they don’t sit long enough for the stains to really set in and most things come out in the wash.
When the clothes are dry I fold or hang the clothing immediately. This saves on ironing.
When folding I watch again for quality and size. If an item has gotten too small if goes in the basket in the cupboard to be sorted later. If it’s clearly trash I throw it out. If I missed a stain I’ll pretreat and throw it back into the laundry.
We do have a sock basket in our house. It is a job that I’m willing to pay to have sorted, folded and put away. I offer this to children needing to make spending money.

It takes me about four loads a day to keep up. This becomes a challenge if I’m particularly busy for a few days. I then rely on my children to do a few loads. They’re pretty good about washing but not folding so I’ll break out the music when I get back on top of things and spend a few hours folding.

I think the biggest thing to keeping laundry under control is keeping inventory low. I do this by:

Discarding items with holes or stains
Minimizing the physical number of towels and how many are used a day. I try to encourage my children to hang their towels to dry and use more than once. If everyone uses a towel per day that’s 10 towels to wash every day!
Keeping our wardrobe minimal. It gets expensive to clothe all these kiddos. I try to buy quality clothing that wears well and lasts. I don’t buy lots of cheap clothing and it ultimately helps with the laundry dilemma.
I go through all the clothing everyone owns several times a year. I try to identify what’s not being worn and why, what needs to be replaced, etc.

How do you do laundry in your house? Do you have a wonderful system, or just a great tip? Please share!

Cloth Diaper Diaries pt 1

2011-07-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

Cloth Diapers… Those words struck fear in my young married heart! Our second major argument as a married couple came when my husband uttered those words while we were planning the birth of our first child.

As the oldest of eight children he had been raised changing cloth diapers and I, as the oldest of ten, had only changed disposables. I couldn’t imagine using cloth diapers, was he nuts? People didn’t still do that! Did they?
Of course I prevailed on that subject and the only thing we used cloth diapers for was to clean-up spit up and to burp the baby; Until that same baby got a horrible diaper rash. Christopher had very sensitive skin and we couldn’t use the generic diapers on him – only the best and most expensive would do. But that rash would not go away. I tried everything and finally I asked my neighbor (who still used cloth diapers – I could hardly believe it!) to show me how to fold a cloth diaper. It only took a few days to clear up his little bottom but that was long enough to cure my husband of any desire to to use cloth diapers.

Fast forward 14 years. (That’s a long time, huh?) By this time we’d had six more children and my husband would jokingly tell people that he wished he’d bought stock in Pampers when we first got married. We’d had all but one of our children out of the hospital and all of them naturally without pain medication. I had always been curious about alternative medicine and was looking into becoming a midwife. I breastfed, co-slept and didn’t immunize my children. These interests brought me face to face with cloth diapers again.
With the proliferation of the internet (my children can hardly believe that it hasn’t always been available on cell phones) I was able to explore the subject in much greater detail than ever before. For the first time I considered my baby’s comfort when weighing the decision to use cloth diapers. I realized that wearing paper 24/7 was probably pretty uncomfortable, after all I hated wearing a pad during my cycle and that was only 5 days! So we ordered some Fuzzi Bunz. Those beautiful, amazingly soft diapers arrived and I set them on my dresser waiting for a spare minute to wash them.

Then… our house burnt down.
Ok, that’s another story but it definitely delayed my transition to cloth diapers. I had just found out we were expecting baby number eight, so I decided rather than transition my toddler I’d start fresh with an infant. I ordered another batch of Funzi Bunz, and ebay became my friend. I purchased many styles of cloth diapers for this new little bundle we were expecting. I really enjoyed my entrance into the world of cloth diapers! There were so many colors and styles – these were a far cry from the plain white prefolds and plastic pants I’d used for a week with my first baby.
Fuzzi Bunz are pocket diapers, meaning they have a fleece lining and waterproof outer layer and you stuff an absorbent insert in between to absorb moisture. This allows the baby to stay drier and helps space out changes compared to other styles of cloth diapers; this was an important feature since I was leading a very busy life. Fuzzi Bunz was our favorite and I soon gave away all our other diapers.

But the love affair came to a halt when at four months old my son outgrew his Fuzzi Bunz, two months soon than I'd anticipated. They were leaving red marks on his chubby little thighs. I needed bigger diapers. That’s when I found Happy Heiny’s. Once again I was in love. The Velcro tabs allowed for greater adjustment than the snaps Fuzzi Bunz used. This solved our chubby baby problem. I sewed up some cloth wipes and we were saving hundreds of dollars!
Abigail, our next baby, had medical problems that made cloth diapering very difficult so after much trial and error we packed away our cloth diapers. When Liberty came along it seemed silly to use cloth on one, and paper on the other, so we only dabbled with cloth diapers for her first year.
The past few months we have set some financial goals that have me going through our budget looking for ways to save money. Re-enter the cloth diapers. Now that Abigail is 3 and almost potty trained and Liberty is a year old we dug out the cloth diapers again. But Liberty is too chubby for our small fuzzi bunz and too small for our large Happy Heiny’s and it seems we’ve lost a box of medium Happy Heiny’s somewhere. What I needed were some one size diapers. But they are VERY expensive! As a midwife I am a wholesale distributor of Happy Heiny’s but even those are $15 per diaper if you include insert and shipping! My husband was skeptical. Would it be cost effective to buy cloth diapers when we dodn’t know if we will have more children?

We figured it out. We’re currently buying four boxes of diapers and a case of disposable wipes a month. They are a generic brands. It costs us $74 a month. At my wholesale price it would cost $450 to buy 30 diapers. Wow, prices had sure gone up since I'd purchased my diapers years ago! I didn't have that lying around; I can’t even imagine paying $18 per diaper!

I logged onto ebay, hoping to find a smok’n deal! What I found amazed me. There are pocket diapers, called Babyland, available out of China for under $4 a piece with free shipping, including inserts! I immediately ordered 30 diapers, some with Velcro and some with snaps. They got here in just over a week and they are awesome! The workmanship is perfect and they don’t appear to leak! They are exactly the same as any other pocket diaper I’ve seen for a fraction of the price. They even have micro terry inserts which are my favorite. So, for less than what we’d spend on two months of diapers and wipes, I was able to buy 30 one-size pocket diapers. I don't know yet if I'm in love, but I've bought myself the time to find out and the money to slowly change my mind if need be. I’m excited to be saving again!

Watch for installments of the Cloth Diaper Diary where I'll share my ups and downs, tips and tricks, do's and don'ts

A Year Off ??

2011-07-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

What would you do if you could take a year off? Your bills are paid, you have money for groceries, now what?

I've been reading about some families who have figured out how to do this and more. I've actually been scouring the internet reading about families that are having all kinds of adventures. Some of my favorites are:

Man Vs. Debt
Discover Share Inspire
The Art of Non-Conformity
Eduventure
Families On The Road

I've been scheming about how we can do this. Right now the plan is to get the house finished this year, finish paying off our debt, and hit the road next summer! Doesn't that sound like fun? I think so!

I want to travel throughout the US. We'll be back in time for Andrew to go on his mission. I want to share the landmarks of this great nation with my children. I've never seen the Statue of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore, or the St. Louis Arch. I want to spend enough time in Washington DC to really see it all. We'll visit Amish country, Monticello, New Orleans, travel route 66, spend time on beaches and hiking the Appalachian trail.

The nice thing is that we already have a travel trailer and now we have a van we can pull it with. The house is paid off so we can rent it out for the year and use that as income. Now I just have to figure out how to come up with a couple thousand more a month.

I've been doing the calculations and I think we have to have a minimum of $3000 a month to do this once we've paid off the debt. Hmmm... how to do that. Todd and I are working on a couple ideas. More to come later.

Little Miss Liberty

2011-07-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

Liberty has a mind of her own! She's getting so big, it's just not fair. She refuses to sit in her highchair and since it's been thru three children before her it doesn't have a safety strap any more. She climbs on the tray and jumps up and down! It's hysterical but we try not to laugh because it's soooo naughty.

Her and Abigail are best buds and worst enemy's all in the space of a few minutes. It's fun to see them playing together. I haven't had two little girls this close in age before. And with Abigail's slight delay it's like they are only a year or so apart. The trouble they can cause...

Poor Neglected Blog

2011-06-30T12:07:00.000-08:00

This poor blog has been very neglected lately. I've been so busy over at TammySmithPhotography. I got the new website up and have discovered that I've got a bug on my computer. It's not doing any harm at this point but I can't see my website clearly and that is driving me NUTS! I've got to take my computer to someone to have it figured out but I use it every day to edit pictures and run my business, I can hardly imagine being without it for a few days.

This summer has seemed crazy, has it felt that way to you? First, Sabrina went on a Pioneer Trek with the Anchorage Stake, then cub camp, stake girls camp, we've got youth conference next week and boyscout camp coming up. Andrew is trying to earn money to attend a Shakespeare workshop in Cedar City, UT next month and will be gone for 6 weeks! Todd's got a trip rafting the Gulkana with his scout troop, I've got three midwifery clients due, 2 photoshoots a week, and a wedding to shoot. WOW, it's a busy summer.

Don't forget planning for the next school year. I'm feeling tempted to go independent again. I cannot express how I HATE the paperwork of belonging to a district homeschool program. Yes, the money is good but really? I'm not convinced it's worth the time and stress it causes me to do one more thing - especially something I don't believe in.

Then there is the mad dash to get ready for winter. We've got to go dip netting this coming month, get 13 cords of wood chopped, split, and stacked, get a buffalo this fall. I feel like I'm doing a mad dash through summer racing toward winter. I hate this feeling. What happened to the lazy days of summer?

I think I need to change my attitude, I need to slow down, feel my feet, enjoy the moments, all those cliche's. But they speak the truth. My kids are growing up. Andrew will be 17 this August. Sabrina is 14.5, Ririe 12.5, Ryan 10.5, Katie is soon to be 9, Gabriel is turning 6, Abigail just turned 3 and Liberty 1. Christopher will be home from his mission this December and Kimber just turned 19! That means I'm 42 and Todd just turned 45!

We're getting older and time is precious. I have a goal, I want to take a year off and explore the United States. Crazy huh?! Imagine it, getting up each day with no external demands, just your family and the things you've decided to spend time on. Time to listen, to share, to explore together as a family. I'm dreaming... I'm formulating a plan... stay tuned!

2011-06-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

"Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow... Don't worry about what you don't know... "
~ John Michael Montgomery

I’ve been fascinated by the ideas of simplicity and living a purposeful lifestyle for years. I’ve played with these ideas, watched others from the sidelines, and slowly worked at integrating them into our life. All the while my family was growing.

To me living Life on Purpose means knowing who you really are and what your purpose in life is while making choices that support that knowledge and lead you forward in that purpose. I believe simplicity is essential to living life on purpose. When we limit our stuff, slow down our schedules, take time to breathe and enjoy the moments we can see ourselves and our purpose with greater clarity.

[box] "Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going to fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." ~ Eddie Cantor[/box]

Here are some of the ways that we are living Life on Purpose:

We are self-employed
We birth at home
We are mortgage free
We have a large family
We use alternative medicine
We homeschool
We have adventures as a family

While these things are much easier after 22 years of marriage and child rearing there are still many things we’d still like to do, be, or have. Time is slipping by and as our third child prepares to graduate from high school and we face becoming grandparents for the first time this fall we've looked up in alarm. These events have brought an awareness that we don’t have forever, that we need to become focused to reach our goals and share these ideas with our children before we lose the chance.

Some of the changes we are purposely working toward are:

Becoming debt free
Eating “clean”
Simplifying our home (this is a never ending process)
Having our income be location independent
Producing some of our own food
Choosing adventures that lead to family growth

So here I am blogging about our journey, hoping that by putting our hopes, dreams, and aspirations "out there" that we will not only help ourselves but help others have the courage to step out and live their dreams too!

We have BIG goals and dreams; we hope you do too!

Sabrina

2011-05-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

Sabrina is growing up and getting sooo beautiful! I think we're going to be fending of boys with sticks in a few years! (she's going to hate that I just said that)

She is my right hand woman around here and I'm not sure what I'm going to do while she's gone for four days next week! She's headed to youth conference with the Anchorage Stake. They are doing a pioneer trek! How COOL! We're still working on gathering her costume pieces, she has to wear period clothing.

She has also been making some of the beautiful headbands that I've been using in my photoshoots! I suggested that she needed to start selling them. She wants to take a trip to DC this fall, I think it would be a good way to earn money!

Princess Abigail

2011-05-05T23:37:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from Las Vegas with a suitcase full of treasures! Abigail was so excited about this tutu and hairbow that we put it on immediately and danced! I can't believe she is almost three! Where have the years gone?

Front Sight

2011-05-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Todd and I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas. We had three days to ourselves before we attended a four day defensive handgun course at Front Sight.

We are celebrating our 22nd anniversary this week and this trip was part of that celebration. We realized that we haven't been alone, just for fun, on a trip longer than overnight without children since we had Christopher! WOW! We were sure due and I'm thinking that we need to do this every six months; it was WONDERFUL!

I was able to buy a new camera, the Nikon D7000, a new lense, camera bag and setup, props, lighting, backdrops, etc. It was so much fun! Todd was a very patient man while I was shopping and shopping and shopping!

Front Sight was a blast! The first day it was very windy and cold! Brrrr... We had to buy jackets from the Pro Shop. I'd never thought that we'd be cold in the desert in May! That evening we bought a long sleeve shirt and windbreaker at Walmart. My face was windburned and sunburned.

There were about 38 people in our group that were all part of the Breshears Party. Most of us were from Alaska! Jimmey Hickey won the Man on Man competition. He's 20, this was his first trip to front sight and he hadn't shot a gun until a month before coming on this trip! He did awesome! I didn't win my round but I didn't kill the hostage so that was good! You'd be surprised how many people did. ;)

Todd graduated from the course. This is hard to do and they say that only 25% of the attendees actually graduate. I got a certificate of participation. We're excited to be First Family Diamond Members at Front Sight. This allows us to attend all of the Front Sight courses free of charge including those offered in Kenai in the summer!

Front Sight offers lots of different kinds of courses. They offer shotgun, rifle, handgun, and rope courses. They offer beginning classes, skill building classes, and advanced courses. They also teach hand to hand defense courses. It's a great place to learn defensive skills from amazing instructors. I highly recommend it!

Tammy

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

The week before this Easter has been marked with the stomach flu. This has had me worried about the amount of sugar the Easter Bunny might bring! It was a busy week with Heck Week for Twelfth Night, finals for Williamsburg Academy, Todd busy trying to get all his jobs wrapped up so we can leave tomorrow night, I had a lady approaching 42 weeks that I was trying to induce to have her baby, and every day someone new was vomiting. YUCK!

But we survived! It's actually been a VERY productive week and we've found that when we work together as a family we can accomplish amazing things!

The play was a raging success and deserves a post all it's own as soon as I can get the pictures edited! I also had three photo shoots mixed into our crazy schedule. But, like a force of nature, the Easter Bunny comes - crazy schedule or not. And did he ever come!? WOW! We have eggs, candy, and water guns galore!

What Do You Do In The Summer Time?

2011-04-17T23:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's not summer time yet but it sure felt like it the past few days. It's been so long since we've been able to play outside without coats and snow boots on! Abigail and Liberty LOVED the swings! They could have swung all day! Is that a word? Swung? Looks weird... oh well... we had a GREAT time!

Of course there were still mud puddles and the occasional lump of snow that refuses to be gone. Inevitably someone finds their way into one of those puddles. First it was Gabriel. He came running over to show me that he'd fallen flat on his stomach in a patch of wet stuff. Hmmm... are you ready to go then? NO! and he took off again.

Next I talked Abigail off the swings and into trying the slides. (Liberty was starting to look a little green from the swinging.) At first she was a LOT hesitant but it only took dragging her up to the top and forcing her down once before she found a new passion. Up and down, up and down, round and round! I love when they can be entertained so easily for so long by something so simple!

Then it happened... Abigail fell in a puddle... It was OVER! Abigail doesn't do wet, cold, or muddy. I dragged the other kids out of the park and into the car. Abigail had to be stripped down so Gabe stripped to and we turned up the heat in the car.(it really was only 50*). Dairy Queen was just the ticket to stop the whining about having to leave so soon! I'm never past bribery.

We're looking forward to our next trip to the park!

Easter Pictures

2011-04-15T22:38:00.000-08:00

So I've been having sooo much fun with photography and this seems to be something that my whole family is enjoying! This is nice since midwifery has taken me away from my whole family for sooo long. It's nice to be spending time with my children again.

I've been trying to take these Easter pictures for a week! I bought the clothes last week with the intention of getting them done last weekend. Oh well, you know how that goes... Anyway...

Yesterday I loaded up the clothes, the kids, the hair stuff, the diaper bag and off we went to take pictures! Gabriel was so excited he couldn't sit still but Katie didn't feel good, she was tired and I had to prod her out the door. On the way out I couldn't find my cell phone so that took 15 minutes of scouring the house before I remembered that it was in my coat pocket in the back of the car (of course, LOL).

So away we went. Gabriel kept asking if we were there yet. It's only a 25 minute drive to my office but he was eager to get there. As we passed the fairgrounds Katie threw up! I pulled over quick and it splashed on Gabe! OOOHHHhhhh NOooooo! Grossssss!!!!!! Gabriel was very upset. Luckily we were almost to my office and it has a shower.

After cleaning everything up, out and off Katie said she was feeling fine so we set about to take pictures. With all the packing I'd left the camera sitting on the kitchen counter!

Sooooo....

We went home...much to Gabriel's disappointment...to try again another day.

Today was the day! They turned out Wonderful! Have a look...

What's Black and White and Red All Over?

2011-04-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

I've always thought these play animals were cool! When my older children were small they were VERY expensive. $5-$10 a piece, way too much money to have a zoo full of them. Imagine my joy when I found them for $1 each!

I first discovered dinosaurs at Target just before Christmas at this price. I had to have them. Yesterday I saw these ones at Walmart. Granted they don't have the weight of the nice expensive ones but REALLY? My kids don't know the difference (they've never had the expensive ones) and they play with them the same way.

I love that they are simple toys that inspire the imagination. I had to laugh when Gabriel asked my why I didn't get ones that talk. As if I need anything else in this house that makes noise. I told him that he was doing a great job of talking for them.

Toys have become so artificially noisy. I don't think it's good for our kids to have their toys do all the "talking" for them, it limits the script, limits our children's imagination. Ultimately it limits their ability to think outside of the box. This is a BIG problem in our world today. We think we need to pay big bucks for something or someone to tell us exactly how to get what we want or who we can be. (read interesting thought on college here) We aren't inventing things anymore. We aren't the innovators, the ones that overcome, the ones that challenge convention. We are losing our GREAT AMERICAN SPIRIT. I believe scripted toys, toys that tell us exactly what to do with them, "talk" for themselves instead of letting our children imagine what the conversations could be contribute to this loss.

So for now, I will not buy animals that "talk".

Family Pictures

2011-04-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

My sister Amy Earle is the most amazing photographer ever! Last weekend she visited and was able to take our family pictures. I think these are the first professional family pictures we've had since Sabrina was a baby! That's a longggg time!

I had hosted A Day with Amy, a photography workshop, during the day and we were waiting for evening light to take these pictures. The day had been gorgeous and sunny and then... well of course, because we live in Alaska... it started to snow! LOL Oh well, we made the best of it, keeping the cars running and the babies in the car to stay warm until the last minute. We had so much fun my children were begging for more and making all kinds of suggestions for poses and locations!

Here are a couple of sneak peeks Amy posted, I can hardly wait until we get the rest of them!

Pictures of my Children

2011-04-13T17:56:00.001-08:00

So I was thinking about how I've been waiting and waiting to hang pictures of my children in my house. I've been waiting because my walls aren't finished. I decided to stop waiting!

Last weekend I put pictures up in my studio that I have taken in the past few months. They were beautiful! My children were facinated by the giant picutes of themselves. That was when I realized I needed to stop waiting. I had 13 pictures printed and mounted! I could use so many more. As I was hanging them my kids wanted to have some for their rooms. How fun and actually not too expensive. I've borrowed an idea from Amy and mounted my own pictures. I can get a 16x20 for $5.99 and mount it on foam board for less than $2. I did all 13 pictures, size 8x12 and larger, for $45. That's a great deal!

I love decorating with pictures of my family. I think it really adds something to a home, something that shows where you've been and who you are. I can't wait to get the family pictures that my sister took! I'm going to get some really BIG ones of those. I might even spring for the gallery wrapped canvas... hmmm

Tammy

New Laundry Room

2011-03-29T20:53:00.000-08:00

Laundry has been the bane of my existence since I was doing laundry as the oldest daughter of ten children growing up. Since our house is a work in progress just like the rest of the things living in it we've struggled to find the right system and the right people to keep it from overtaking the house.

The past few attempts to delegate the Laundry to my children have been less than successful. It's not so much that they are incapable as that it takes four loads of laundry per day from collecting it, to sorting, to washing, drying, folding and finally putting it away. That excludes the laundry from Andrew, Sabrina and Ririe who do their own. That's a lot of laundry! I've purged and organized and there doesn't seem any way around it. That's a load of darks, whites, towels, and bedding (Abigail wets) - then there is the inevitable pile of wet, muddy snow clothes, smelly camping gear, weekly change of sheets. that gets thrown in the mix several times a week. You know how it goes...

So with my two oldest in hard core scholar phase it's difficult for them to keep up. They struggled to complete a full cycle every day which inevitably put them more behind the longer they had the job. Ririe is capable but I have several other jobs that I'd rather have him doing. (he is amazing at keeping the downstairs - dining, livingroom, and entry - clean) Andrew has the kitchen and Sabrina has the three bathrooms. So for now I'm doing the laundry again. I had Todd do a little remodeling to get the set up just right for me and I'm LOVING it!

Shakespeare Conquest

2011-03-29T10:37:00.000-08:00

My son Andrew has been teaching Shakespeare Conquest for the second year in a row. He's pretty amazing! He prepares every week and does fun things with the kids. He LOVES Shakespeare. He has read almost all of Shakespeare's plays. They are getting ready to put on Twelfth Night, April 16! They practice at our home three times a week. It's been awesome to watch it come together and see all the kids enjoying themselves, pushing themselves, stretching as they reach their goals.

It's amazing how becoming a student of Leadership Education principles has changed our lives! I remember Rachel and Oliver DeMille saying that when you have a student squarely in scholar phase they will pull the others along. It's soooo true. I am in awe as I watch Sabrina and Ririe follow in Andrew's footsteps. They study endlessly without being reminded. They walk around the house with their noses in books or quoting their lines from Shakespeare. I am seeing the pull with Ryan and Katie and they are only 10 and 8!

Ryan is teaching himself to play the piano. He was so excited to find some sheet music on our bookshelves. I need to get him some piano lessons soon. Katie loves to sit and read to Abigail and Gabriel. She is sad that she didn't get to take an online class like everyone else this year. She's just itching to do what they are doing. I can truly see the process at work. Trusting the process... it's paying off beautiful dividends!

Tammy

Fun with Photoshop

2011-03-22T20:55:00.000-08:00

So a friend needed a picture of the Teeland building and wanted to know if I could make it look old. I tried to get a picture of the building without a car in front of it but wasn't able. I decided to sit down with photoshop and see what I could do. WOW! I'm amazed at the the things one can do with photoshop!

Little Britches Clearance Sale!!

2011-03-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

Little Britches Clearance Sale!!

I need to dispose all of this inventory!

Gently used Gap, Gymboree, Old Navy, Carters, OshKosh, and more! Sizes 0-2T
======================================================

Saturday March 19 from 10am - 2pm ONLY!

All items at cost. $1-$3 per item.

Sale being held at 927 S Cobb St. Palmer AK

call 315-3070 for more info

Get $5 off a $20 purchase when you share this link on your facebook and post this link on 5 local friends facebook walls.

Pictures of Mom

2011-03-11T20:56:00.000-09:00

I asked Amy to take a few pictures of me so I had one for my website. I got more than I could have hoped for. I love, love, love the pictures she took. I don't think I've ever had pictures I've liked as much!

A Tough Week

2011-03-09T22:18:00.000-09:00

I've been having a great week at Amy's in Kodiak. I am learning sooo much! Amy is a fabulous mentor and photographer. I am truly blessed to have her as my sister and friend. Our daughters on the other hand have had a really tough week. Liberty started getting sick the morning we left for Kodiak, when we arrived we found that Betsy was sick too.

We've had fevers, snotty noses, and a lot of fussing! It's been crazy. There have been small breaks here and there where I've managed to get Liberty to smile and be my model between nursing and naps. Today I dosed her with a homeopathic rememdy and she was great for most of the afternoon! She even entertained herself while Amy and I worked on the computers.

Green Beans

2011-02-23T15:28:00.000-09:00

Liberty is very excited about food. She LOVES green beans. She does not want us to feed her, she will do it herself - thank you very much! LOL

My Home

2011-02-22T20:25:00.000-09:00

I've been thinking about my house differently lately. I've often worried about what others think since it's unfinished and usually messy. But recently I've just been grateful for it. Grateful that it is truly a home, not just a house. It is full of love and laughter; it is warm and cozy; it is big and strong; it keeps my family safe.

We own our home and the land that it sits on. This is a HUGE blessing in our lives. One that I am more and more greatful for as time goes on. There is a method to the madness that is behind our unfinished house. We are mortgage free!

One of the blessings that comes from building our own home is that our children get to help. From framing, wiring, plumbing and sheetrock, to flooring and paint. They are learning through the process. I hope that they will take these lessons and apply the joys of being mortgage free to their own lives as they grow.

Tammy

A New Deacon

2011-02-22T20:00:00.000-09:00

Ririe was ordained as a Deacon this past Sunday! I'm so proud of him! He's so excited. It was really special because he was able to be ordained on his birthday! We missed all the family being there. Kimber and Shawn came over for Sunday dinner. We had cake and icecream to celebrate both Ririe's ordination and his birthday.

Tammy

Photography

2011-02-15T20:40:00.000-09:00

I'm really enjoying photography. Someone asked if I'd ever had a hobby, just something I do in my spare time, just for fun. I laughed. Me do something half way? Spare time? Dabble with something? Hmmm... No I don't think so. It's usually all or nothing, feast or famine, on or off with me! LOL

I'm following a blog about becoming a better photographer. She mentors three people a year and lets the rest of us follow along at our own pace. I'm excited about the idea. The first assignment was to take two self portraits, the first with yourself in it and the second of something that represents yourself. They both have to be meaningful, represent you somehow. Here are my photos:

I feel like this is often the way my children and husband see me. I love learning knew things, reading new things, puzzling things out. So here I am once again deep in thought,

These are my favorite socks. They do what they are supposed to do, they protect my feet and keep them warm but they are a little different. They don't quite match and they are pretty bright with fun patterns to keep things interesting.

I'm excited to share what I'm learning on this journey. If I am able to make it the journey should last a year. it will be interesting to see what comes out on the otherside. I figure that a year will come and go anyway, why not learn a new skill? What new skill would you like to learn this year?

Tammy

Playing with Photoshop

2011-02-09T20:40:00.000-09:00

I'm having fun figuring out photoshop elements. Reading tutorials, figuring out where the tools are and how to download and install actions. Amy was busy today so I was on my own. Here is a picture of Abigail that I touched up. Hmmm... what do you think? Amy says the best pictures are the ones where it isn't obvious, that you used photoshop unless you want it to be... I'm on the hunt for a fun picture to try something really outrageous!

Baby Otto

2011-02-07T11:24:00.000-09:00

This little guy is such a cutie, and what a sweet disposition! No wonder I love babies! ;)

Tammy

Watermark

2011-02-07T00:13:00.000-09:00

Katie

So my sister, Amy, suggested that I needed to watermark my photos. Do you like my watermark? I've been playing with several different ones and I think I like this one the best, but I'm open to suggestions. I've been trying to get Amy on the phone but we've been playing phone tag... you know how it goes. ;)

I started a new blog, http://www.tammysmithphotography.com/. I don't have anything up on that site yet but I'm loving photography sooo much I thought it would be fun to have a place to put the pictures I'm taking up. I got to take pictures of Katie, Liberty, Sabrina, Ririe, and Ryan. That leaves Andrew, Gabriel, Abigail, and Todd. I had the pleasure of taking pictures of two of the babies I helped bring into this world! That was a very special opportunity! Next week I'm taking pictures of the cutest newborn ever and one of my good friend's children.

I'm hoping to get some good shots at an upcoming birth! What a special moment to be able to record those precious moments of bonding just after a baby is born. We'll see! Do you want me to take your picture? I'm looking for subjects to practice on! Practice makes perfect! And it's so much fun!!

Tammy

My Brother's New Little Girl!

2011-02-06T23:38:00.000-09:00

I was blessed to attend the birth of my newest neice Sarah Oborn! She is a beautiful little girl! I was very excited that I also got to take some pictures of her! She was a pleasure to work with, such bright blue eyes, just taking in the world around her.

Sarah

Joe and Sarah

Tottyanna and Sarah

New Family

Tammy

My Boys

2011-02-02T16:37:00.000-09:00

Today I took two of my boys, Ririe and Ryan, out to take pictures. We had a great time, they especially enjoyed watching me slip on the rocks and land in the snow on my butt. LOL!

I had a lot of fun with them, there is something to be said to really seeing them during this process. As middle-ish children they are often lost in the shuffle of everyday life. Taking pictures is helping me to really watch, see them as they are, how they are growing and what they are becoming; mature young men.

Tammy

Hobbies

2011-02-02T09:12:00.000-09:00

I'm so excited about my new hobby, like I really needed something new to occupy my time! LOL Oh well, one thing I've found about myself is I get restless if I'm not learning something new. It's an odd predicament, something that has previously gotten me labeled as "flighty" by my family and probably others that haven't said it to my face.

I love to learn new things. I find something I'm interested in and I learn everything I can about it. I spend money on books, equipment, supplies. Whatever it takes to master the new found interest. I have dozens of books about Straw Bale Houses. I LOVE them!! In a perfect world I would live somewhere warm that I could build one of these beautiful homes! The are cost efficient, cozy, and fun to build! When we were designing our home that is what I wanted to build, but alas, straw is not cheap in Alaska, so I looked at log homes. Perfect for Alaska! Hence my collection of books on building log homes. What I found was that it was a little out of our skill set - so we built a standard stick framed home, but wait... this was an opportunity to learn about lumber, loads, stick framing vs. trusses, plumbing, insulation, electrical, lighting design! You name it I have a book or two or three about it!

I absorb the written word, I love to read! It is the way I learn best. Then I go for it! So my latest adventure in to photography has been no exception. The Internet has cut down on my book collecting and my husband has let out a sigh of relief as I have been able to find what I'm looking for more and more often online. Kindle has been my newest find! Although I love the feel and texture of books with an appetite for reading and knowledge like mine the can get expensive. Sooo... I have been scouring the internet for information, examples, ideas regarding photography. I had an amazing book about photographing babies, I think I loaned it to Amy. I'm hoping she has it so I can re-read it when I go visit her next month! That's right! Yay!!!! I get to spend an week shadowing my sister during her photo shoots and watching her edit her shoots!

Here are my latest photos:

Playing with a Camera

2011-01-29T15:16:00.000-09:00

Abigail and Liberty

I've been having a great time playing with a camera. It's an amazing camera! There are unique perks to having a talented photographer as a sister!

My sister, Amy, lent me her spare camera to "play' with. I'm thinking about buying my own fancy camera so she let me try hers before I make such a big purchase. It's a little intimidating, all those buttons, dials, and gizmos. If I wasn't impressed enough before now I think Amy is the MOsT AMaZinG photographer ever!

Having to figure out the buttons, dials, and gizmos while chasing, crawling after, and cajoling small people to let one take their pictures! WOW! She is more talented and endlessly patient than I could have imagined!

You to can benefit from her knowledge and tutoring. Visit Simply b Photography and signing up for "A Day With Amy". She's coming to Palmer and North Pole, AK this spring!

Tammy

Getting So Big!

2011-01-27T00:54:00.000-09:00

This is Katie. Katherine Elizabeth. I can't believe how big she is getting! All of my kids are getting so big!

I only have two babies now. The rest of my children are potty trained, dress and bathe themselves, can make meals for the rest of the famly (ok, Gabe can only do toast and applesauce - but that counts some mornings), do chores, but most of all they are eager students! They are absorbing information, they are busy educating themselves.

Ririe and Ryan are taking online classes through Leadership Education Academy. They are so excited through out the week, discussing their assignments, playing the suggested games, and doing science experiments. It is truly amazing to see Leadership Education in action! I remember Rachel and Oliver DeMille claiming that once you had children in scholar phase they would pull the rest of the children along. It's true. I have to hold them back, slow them down, they are sure they are ready for the next phase right now! Katie is sad to not be taking online classes. Her turn will come.

Gabby, her cousin sent her a picture in the mail and Katie is very excited to return the favor. I'm not sure who she got to take this picture for her but I find it interesting that she chose to stand in front of the bookshelves in Andrew's room.

Book ownership is a big deal in our home. I recently cleaned off a set of bookshelves to move them and decided to distribute some of the books to the individuals rooms whom they would best be appreciated by right now. Katie was thrilled to put some books on her shelf. As a child I had a book collection. I had stickers in the front of the books declaring them as mine! I would make my sisters check them out and I would hunt them down if they weren't returned in a timely manner.

I still have a book collection. Books multiply and replenish the book shelves in our home. I have created a house full of children who collect books too. I'm trying to remember to let them have ownership of some of those books. I think it is a habit that will serve them well throughout their lives.

My husband laughs that I am always reading more than one book. My nightstand is stacked high. I'll have a brain candy romance novel going, for when I need to turn off my ever busy brain, a business book - currently Unzipped, by Michelle Miller, my dog eared copy of Thomas Jefferson Education - my go to resource book for homeschooling, my scriptures - I've been reading on my iphone lately, I've just pulled out Plato's the Allegory of the Cave - for a class I'm taking. Deeper in the pile you'll find a couple of midwifery texts, square foot gardening - spring is coming, and a book on Country Self-sufficiency. I just have so many things I'm curious about that one book won't do. Anyone else have this problem?

Tammy

Scouts

2011-01-15T21:48:00.000-09:00

Karl Greathouse, Ryan Smith, Colby Torres, Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell, Kaleb Greathouse, Ririe Smith, Cade Torres

These boys are all part of troop and pack 339 of the Settlers Bay Ward. They were privileged to present the colors at the Governors Mat-Su Inaugural Luncheon today. They did a great job! It was great to see them all dressed up in their complete uniforms.

I had to run and get a new shirt, two pairs of pants, two belts, neckerchiefs, slides, patches, etc. yesterday. Whooo was that expensive but what an impressive outcome. The difference in the way they carry themselves with the complete uniform on is amazing! I think it was definitely worth it! Now all our scouts have complete uniforms. I hemmed the pants so that they can be let down as they grow and they have a great elastic thing in the waistband that stretches as they grow.

Scouts is a wonderful thing! My husband was called as the scoutmaster the year we got married, nearly 22 years ago, and he's been serving in the scouting program in one capacity or another since then! Wow!

Tammy

Christmas 2010

2011-01-13T10:07:00.000-09:00

With the McKimmey and Earle children missing, our nativity seemed short a few angels and shepherds this year. The Hopkinson's came to our house for the family Christmas party. We had a great time but we missed Grandma and Grandpa Oborn, and everyone else that's away at school or living elsewhere.

Christmas Eve we had fondue as per our Smith Family tradition. Then we opened Grandma Oborn's traditional Christmas pajamas. Here we see everyone posing in their pjs. It's weird to be missing Christopher and Kimber. It's odd to feel our family shrinking in the everyday events where they are missing.

Christmas morning found us busy with gifts. Playdoh was a favorite and continues to provide many hours of imaginative play. It was interesting to note that we got a Wii for Christmas but none of the kids asked to get it out and set it out until well into the late afternoon after they'd played with all the other gifts they recieved.

Liberty was plumb tuckered out from all of the excitement. She was a special little gift sleeping under the Christmas tree before the day was half gone.

Liberty has a wild head of hair! We've taken to pulling it up in a top knot to keep it out of her eyes. She has an infectious smile and is quite the mover as she is now mobile and into everything!

Sabrina is growing up. She got this hat from her siblings for Christmas. It fits her personality. She's becoming an amazing young woman with diverse interests and a great gift for taking the little one's under her wing and making them feel special.

Ririe and Ryan are still close in size. Ryan has recently grown bigger feet than Ririe. He's wearing a men's 9! Ryan recieved a airsoft pistol for Christmas and Ririe got a bow and arrow set. They've been having a lot of fun in the back yard shooting at targets together.

We had a great end to 2010! We're looking forward to a wonderful new year!

Breastfeeding at Church: Now and Then

2010-11-28T23:42:00.000-09:00

I just came across this post and was so inspired. I wanted to repost and share! Where to nurse at Church has been one of my biggest challenges since having children. I even took on a member of a Stake Presidency to get a nursing room in a building that didn't have one. What a wonderful piece of history and how empowering it should be to all of us. Nursing is normal, there is nothing immodest or dirty about it. The Lord gave us these bodies and expected us to use them they way they were designed.

Saturday, August 21, 2010
by Stand and Deliver

Breastfeeding history moment: LDS Sacrament Meeting, 1871

My sister-in-law (remember her from her birth story?) took this picture for me at the LDS Church History Museum. It's an illustration of a Sacrament Meeting in 1871, if I read the sign right. On the left side, you can see two women breastfeeding.

From this illustration I learned several things about the culture and practice of breastfeeding at this time & place (probably Utah):

1) Public breastfeeding was accepted as normal in mixed company and during worship services.
2) LDS women breastfed in public without a cover or blanket.
3) The norms of dress at the time meant women unbuttoned their dresses at the chest area to nurse. In the closeups below, you'll see that the collar of the dress remains buttoned up at the neck.

The illustrator seems familiar with the techniques of breastfeeding (or was just good at reproducing what he/she saw). Notice the woman supporting her breast while her baby nurses, something I often do myself.

I'd love more photos of this illustration, especially one taken straight on that includes the explanatory text. If anyone is visiting the Church History Museum in the future, please take a picture and send it my way!
If you want high-resolution images of the illustration and the original 1871 accompanying text (from Harper's Weekly), click here.
Other posts on this same topic:

Breastfeeding at church: now and then at Life Inspired

Get all your shopping done in just two days!

2010-11-28T18:16:00.000-09:00

The past few years I've repeatedly told my husband that I hate this time of year because it feels like I go a hundred miles an hour trying to get it all done and then BAM! It's all over. This year my sister, Tressa, had a brilliant idea. We spent the night at her home on Thanksgiving night. She and I went shopping on black Friday, met our husbands at a hotel that evening, went hot tubing, watched a movie, and spent the night. The following morning I got all my wrapping done and finished my shopping before returning home to a house decorated for Christmas by my children! It is wonderful to have grown children to watch the younger ones and be so responsible!

I am now finished with my shopping and wrapping and can enjoy the Christmas season. I'm excited to have time this year. No stress, just time to do cookies, gingerbread houses, 12 days, all without worrying about the presents and wrapping! This will definitely become a new tradition!

It's not to late to have a similar experience. Black Friday might be over but you can still get all your shopping and wrapping done in just two days.

Pointers for those interested:

line up someone to watch your kids; trade with a friend, find a willing family member, hire a young adult, etc.
get Christmas lists from children/family/friends ahead of time
take time to ponder what you'd like to get before shopping trip
make lists and check them more than twice, carry them and a pen with you
make a list of stores, and items desired at each store
stay on task, make this only about gift shopping. Don't get distracted by household shopping.
have a shopping buddy. This is much more fun when you can bounce ideas off someone, divide and conquer, etc.
take scissors, tape, gift tags, and wrapping supplies to hotel
take munchies to hotel
request a early check-in and late check-out to give yourself extra time. We had a full car by noon and were able to drop off one load and keep going.

Tammy

New Food

2010-11-16T08:05:00.000-09:00

I've been switching our family over to whole foods. Abigail is not supposed to eat wheat or sugar. She's not old enough to understand why she can't have something so I thought it would be easiest to just switch the whole family. It is a healthy way to eat soo... it's become an interesting journey.

I am feeling better. Abigail and I are also seeing Dr. Mike Olkjer for nutritional counseling. He diagnosed me with a fungal infection and a sensitivity to cheese and eggs. The supplements for the fungal infection seems to be making a BIG difference in what I thought were thyroid symptoms. After I did a little research it seems that many of my symptoms are common to both thyroid and fungus. Who knew? Dr. Mike! =)

The egg component just came out yesterday so haven't tackled that yet. So far it hasn't been to tough to change, the biggest thing is having real foods in the house and time to prepare it. I've been reading food blogs and devouring recipes. What a great time to make these changes. There are so many wonderful resources available.

We are using steel cut oatmeal, sprouted grain bread, almond butter, lots of salad and vegetables, sweet potatoes, brown rice, dried beans, fruits and nuts. We've cut out cereals, peanut butter, pasta, pre-packaged food, and are cutting down on the canned foods we use.

I am using Larabars, Earnest Eats, Cliff Z-bars and Cliff C bars for snacks. I also like Terra chips. These are the only pre packaged foods I'm currently buying. I'm looking for recipes to make my own. I've found some great sites:

Hope to post more soon. And as I try the recipes I'll let you know how it's going.

Tammy

Front Site

2010-11-07T09:58:00.000-09:00

Todd and Kimber are enjoying Front Site. Apparently Kimber is a natural. They've been very busy, attending class and shooting all day long for the past couple of days. When Todd calls he sounds very tired.

I know I am tired. The kids and I still aren't sleeping well. Yesterday I had a migraine. I finally sent Andrew to the store for some Excedrin Migraine and it helped a lot!

Tomorrow I have to go to Seattle Children's Hospital for Abigail's check up. It will be a quick trip leaving at 6 am and back at 10pm. I'm taking Liberty and Abigail. My aunt Arlene is going to meet me at the hospital and help with Liberty during the appointments. I'm so grateful for her help! Tressa has agreed to watch Katie and Gabe while I'm gone so I don't have to worry about them at home. I was wondering how I was going to manage this by myself. Family sure is awesome and I'm glad I have so much of it. Thank you, Thank you!

Tammy

Missing Todd

2010-11-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

It's strange how no one in the house sleeps well when dad is out of town. I find myself staying up late on the computer, Liberty tosses and turns, and I hear children wandering at night getting drinks and going to the bathroom. My thoughts go to the gun safe at the side of my bed as I recite the combination and scenarios run through my brain. The kids probably aren't up any more than usual but without Todd home I don't sleep as deeply or as soundly.

I hate being home alone! Obviously I'm not alone in a house filled with children but I feel the hole that is usually filled by my husband. It 's not like he's never gone but it's usually only overnight on a scout camp out or a week long scout camp during the summer months. It's different when he's actually out of the State.

Todd and Kimber went to Las Vegas to take a self defence shooting class. Todd has been wanting to do this for more than a year. I would have loved the opportunity to join him but the shooting range is no place for a five month old!

I'm hoping that for our anniversary next spring we'll be able to get away together. It's been a long time since we've escaped the State together. Our last venture out of the state together was...??? Wow, that's bad I can't even remember. We went out of State when Gabe was two. That was three years ago and Gabe was with us. And there was the times we were in Seattle for Abigail but that definetly does NOT count. Unfortunately Liberty will still be nursing for our anniversary so she'll be along for the ride too. Hmmm.. where to go... I need to start planning.

Tammy

It's just like potty training...

2010-10-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

My oldest child is twenty and I fell in love with the idea of homeschooling while he was still a baby. I kept him home for kindergarten but soon gave into social pressures and he spent the next two years in school. I gathered my courage again during the first quarter of his third grade year and I brought my children home. When I tried to figure out how many years I’d been using the principles of Leadership Education I realized that I’ve always used them. When I read the first edition of A Thomas Jefferson Education it felt like coming home. The ideas in that book embodied what I’d always known in my heart and soul about educating my children.

“Leadership education is really tough. It is a blood, sweat & tears kind of life. As far as homeschooling goes, I think it is the toughest… way of doing things. There is no how to. You must struggle through the principles and work out for your family how to implement them.”

“Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind” --Plato

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes” --- Marcel Proust

Oliver and Rachel DeMille have literally given us books full of how to’s. In the book Leadership Education, you will find 52 ingredients for creating a Core and Love of Learning environment. Yes we have to study these and figure out how to apply them in our homes. This is part of You NOT Them. Study these books, read and re-read them, they are classics. In addition to the books listen to the audio CD’s and visit the DeMille’s website.

I believe that as we come to truly embrace and live the principles of Leadership Education that other parts of our lives smooth out. A six month No helps us prioritize, a six month purge helps us simplify, a six month inventory helps us stay in touch with our important relationships. FEC is vital to Leadership Education running smoothly but it also helps everything else in our lives run well as we keep in touch with our weekly schedules, the needs of our children and spouse, and discuss the direction our lives are taking. Knowing that when our evenings go well then our mornings follow and that when we embrace the seasons instead of fighting them our yearly transitions are easier, are just two more of the wonderful seeds of wisdom to be found within the principles of Leadership Education.

I think this introduction should have read being a parent is the toughest. It’s not Leadership Education that is tough. Being in tune with our children, trusting ourselves in a society that says we need an expert to tell us what to do, navigating the perils of TV and Internet media, all require that we be on our toes, ever vigilant. The challenge is not Leadership Education it is life and life is not for wimps. I whole heartily agree that we can gain encouragement and support from reading each other’s blogs, benefiting from the experience of others but let’s be careful not to blame Leadership Education for the challenges we feel from life. Let us remember:

“We are made or unmade by ourselves. By our thoughts, we forge the weapons by which we can destroy ourselves. Likewise, we build for ourselves heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, we ascend to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, we descend below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character. We are our own make and master.” -- James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

Miracles In Our Lives!

2010-10-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

Monday afternoon it was decided that we would bring Abigail into the hospital so that we could get her started on IV antibiotics for the positive blood cultures that she's had. We've been fighting this illness for over two months now.

Abigail is a HARD stick and we were worried that she'd have to have multiple sticks but they were able to get it in one! Yay! Tuesday they gave her IV sedation and tried to get a pic line in. The first line failed. They were working on the second try when I got a phone call from Todd saying that Andrew had totalled the suburban! What a way to tell me. He could have started with "everyone is ok but... ". I kind of lost it at that point.

Andrew was driving home on KGB rd and fell asleep. In his attempt to recover he over corrected and lost control of the car, rolling it down a steep embankment. Ryan and Katie were in the second seat back. They were all wearing seat belts. They were not injured, I give all the credit to Heavenly Father for protecting them!

After making phone calls and reassuring myself that all was well with the kids I headed back to Abigail's room. They were cleaning up. The doctor told me that she was amazed because they had been fighting her small veins when suddenly they just opened up and the line went where it was supposed to. I knew in that moment that this had been the Lord's hand also.

I'm so grateful that I was able to gather my children around me at home last night. It really puts everything else into perspective when you have such a close call. I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for his protective and helping hand to smooth out the bumps in our lives.

Tammy

Mmmm...

2010-10-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

We have recently (in the past three days) gone off of sugar and processed food. We are doing this for our little girl Abigail. She has been quite ill and the doctors are a little confused by what is going on. So we have sought help outside of traditional medicine while they figure out what they want to do. This is how we ended up going off sugar.

We all "KNOW" we should eat better, that sugar and processed foods aren't the best choices we can make but actually doing something about it has been difficult for our family. I have lots of excuses; my family is so big - it's too expensive - I don't have time - my kids won't eat that way. This list has been endless and so I haven't made the changes that I know we need to. However, that has all changed now that my little girls health is on the line.

So, how to change? When the new doctor described what she couldn't have we looked at each other and then asked him, what do we feed her? Protein and Vegetables. Hmmmm.. It's been an interesting few days. Our meals have actually been much better since I can't just throw out pancakes, PBJ, and noodles for a day's fare. Yesterday for lunch we had a yummy chicken salad with avocados, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce with taco soup and sprouted grain bread.

I had a horrible headache yesterday. We were all a little grumpy. We are dealing with the withdrawal symptoms of not eating sugar and flour. Until Abigail is well again this includes those foods that turn into sugar quickly in our bodies, potatoes, white rice, most fruits, regular bread, etc. The hardest part is thinking ahead, making sure you've got fresh stuff in the house, and taking the time to prepare the meals. They don't just happen.

My sister, Amanda shared her experience with making a similar change. She lost 50 lbs! Bonus!! I hope to share her experience. She has passed on some yummy food ideas and lots of encouragement. I'm excited to try her recipe for zucchini lasagna and her baked green bean "french fries".

For now no sugar seems to be helping Abigail. She hasn't spiked a fever since going off of it. She's sleeping a lot but that's restorative. I'm encouraged.

Tammy

"Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication!"

2010-10-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful talk by Pres Uchtdorf during the Saturday morning session of the LDS conference. It really made me think about the way I respond to stressful times. Heaven knows we've had our fair share of hard times these past few years. I think I'm guilty of what this:

"When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be."

He then talks about how trees grow and how you can tell the conditions that the tree lived through by studying the growth rings. During times of stress the tree doesn't put it's energy into growth, it slows down and takes care of the basics. He counseled:

"My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness. They will teach us to do “all these things . . . in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby . . . win the prize.”

This talk is important. I heard Rachel DeMille say once that "there is a force greater than gravity that fills up our schedules." TJEd teaches that we should implement a 6 month "No", a 6 month purge, and a 6 month inventory. These can help us find balance, pay attention to the little things.

I know that after listening to this talk and returning to read it, I need to take heed to the counsel of our living prophets and apostles. I'm grateful for their timely words.

Tammy

.

P90X

2010-10-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

Our family is doing P90X. It's been a lot of fun, and a lot of hard work. The kids are doing the videos during the day as part of school and Todd and I are doing it in the evening after the kids go to bed.

We've been at it two weeks. I'm down 8 lbs and Todd is down 5 lbs. The routines are getting easier after doing them a few times. We still are modifying but it's getting easier so there is hope!

Todd and I are the only ones using the food plan. It's just fun activity for the kids. As a family we are trying to eat better all around.

Tammy

Returning to Our Roots, Sowing Seeds for Our Future!

2010-10-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

Returning to Our Roots,
Sowing Seeds for Our Future!

What a great theme! It's so applicable to everything I am doing in my life right now. I'm building a family, a business, a life, a community, using the foundation my parents and others built for me and while doing so, I'm building the foundation for my children's lives. This is a never ending cycle, whether we build a strong foundation or a weak one is completely up to us.

I've only attended a MANA conference once before. It was in Baltimore, MD. I'd been a apprentice midwife for a short time and had been distressed by the medical mindset that permeated the Midwifery Association of Alaska. At the MANA conference I suddenly found myself surrounded by midwives who were embracing the traditional role of midwives. It was wonderful!

I'm looking forward to returning as a licensed midwife. This is a special conference because it offers the opportunity to visit "The Farm". This is the home of Ina May Gaskin, a well-known and respected elder midwife. I will also get to learn more about delivering breech babies, using herbs, training apprentice midwives, and much much more! There will be an abundance of information but the atmosphere is what I'm looking forward to the most! REAL midwives, practicing REAL midwifery.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a real midwife, practicing real midwifery, but unfortunately, the atmosphere in the Alaska midwifery culture is fear and medical based. It will be awesome to be surrounded by others who trust birth and women's bodies, who turn to natural methods for complications before they turn to drugs. Many of these midwives practice where they don't have the option of using IV's, pitocin, or have a friendly OB to transfer too. Some of them even practice where it is illegal to do so, operating under the legal radar to offer choices to childbearing women.

I will be bringing Liberty with me. This is another great aspect of traditional midwifery. Historically, babies just tag along and are expected. While contacting a shuttle service that is providing service for this conference I inquired about the price for my baby. After answering my question the woman asked if the conference was offering a babysitting service? I was puzzled by her question and she explained saying that mine was not the only baby coming to the conference, that in fact, there were a lot of babies coming. I laughed and explained that it was a midwifery conference and that babies just happen.

I'm grateful to be able to serve women while still tending to my family. By studying our past we can gain wonderful ideas and knowledge. This knowledge can then be set to work building the foundations for our children and all those we come into contact with.

Tammy

So much for posting more regularly...

2010-09-14T00:53:00.000-08:00

Sorry for not posting more often. When did life get so crazy?! I swear that someone has changed the length of a day, just like I used to wear a size 10 shoe and now need an 11.

It's been a couple of crazy weeks. Andrew and Sabrina started their online classes with Williamsburg Academy and then left to attend Elevation for a week with their wonderful mentors! Got to love a school that can get young people studying 10 hours per day and loving it! They had so much fun and I'm SO excited to have them home again. LOL

Abigail has been needing some dental work done. She fell and broke a tooth, this necessitated an emergency visit to the dentist (thank you Bro Walther). Then she started running a fever. Start the first course of antibiotics. Shortly after finishing said antibiotics the fever reappears. Kids get fevers, they teethe, they get ear infections (note, American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend using antibiotics for these anymore) so I let it run it's course for a week. I did use Tylenol and ibuprofen for her comfort. Finally I broke down and took her to doctor (FNP actually). No obvious cause, figure it's the teeth. Begin 2nd round of antibiotics. Scheduled dental work. This will require general anesthesia for a two year old so we needed clearance from her cardiologist and pediatrician.

Abigail is doing well on 2nd round of antibiotics. Reporting this to cardiologist who wishes we had gotten blood culture before doing antibiotics. Oh well, if she runs a fever again after finishing antibiotics we'll do it then. Not going to happen right? Yeah well... after visit to pediatrician where everything is wonderful, that evening, day four after finishing antibiotics, the fever is back! You've got to be kidding right? Wrong! So now we have to get blood drawn for blood culture and start 3rd round of antibiotics. At this point I'm praying that this won't mess up her dental surgery schedule because her teeth are what are causing the problem.

Sunday we get ominous phone call telling us the culture is growing something, oh no!! We make plans to visit pediatrician again Monday and get 2nd blood culture done. Luckily we get news Monday that the sample was contaminated and Abigail does NOT have a blood infection. Abigail NOW clear for her dental surgery. YEAH!!

Talk about stress!! A positive blood culture would have meant a PIC line with IV antibiotics for 2-6 weeks and if the artificial valve in her heart got infected they would have had to replace it!! That would have been a disaster!! Heavenly Father answers prayers!!

Now back to the mundane, every day stuff. Dentist appointment, Achievement Day Girls, and Cub Scout pack meeting tomorrow. Key of Liberty and Colton's appt to go to the Temple on Wednesday, Thursday... HEY, Thursday looks wide open! maybe I'll get the house clean. Friday is Abigail's dental surgery and Andrew's first Shakespeare Conquest Class. Hmmm... That might be a problem... MOMmm... is it ok to still call for my mom? ;P

Tammy

New Format

2010-08-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

I've been playing with the new editing options with blogger. I actually don't know how "new" they are but since I haven't been blogging regularly they are new to me.

I've been thinking about lots of things lately and decided to put my thoughts on paper in a more orderly manner. I've been visiting many blogs with lots of great information given in a much more organized manner than my own. In the past this has been a place for random thoughts, I'm hoping to use this blog as a forum to organize my thoughts on areas that I've decided to spend time on. (see previous post)

I hope you join me on my journey to give our life a facelift. Please share your ideas and give me feedback on mine!

Midnight Musings

2010-08-21T00:17:00.000-08:00

It's midnight. It's pitch black outside. That's normal for most of the country but here in the Land of the Midnight Sun, that means that winter is coming.

With winter quickly approaching comes the list of projects that we're probably not going to get to this year:

get siding on the house
paint the house
plant a lawn
build a greenhouse
go fishing

Then there is the list of things we HAVE to get done before winter:

get 10 cords of seasoned, dry firewood cut and split
fix the transmission in the suburban
get enough hay for the goats to last the winter
take the garbage trailer to the dump
clean up the yard
get meat for the freezer, probably a buffalo

And finally the list of things I'd like to get done before winter:

take the kids berry picking and make jam
go to the zoo
go camping one more time
use the canoe at least once this year

Here in Alaska the summer lasts four months. It's a mad dash of getting ready for the next winter and soaking up as much sunlight as possible. This summer has been a cold, rainy one. The sun has blessed us with it's warm and healing rays for the past few days. I'm hoping it will stick around for the next month so we can check things off of these lists.

6 month "No"

2010-08-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

"I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I've really got to do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why"
- Alabama

Many of you know that I've been diagnosed with a very low thyroid and adrenal fatigue. This explained my fuzzy thinking, bone searing fatigue, poor memory, and the list could go on for ever. Anyway, my doctor scared the heck out of my husband and he's now an adamant proponent of my slowing down. This is VERY hard to do! There are so many worthy causes, so many great ideas just waiting for someone to do them, so many wonderful ways to get involved and help friends, neighbors, communities. Where do I draw the line?

At Stake Women's Conference this past weekend I attended a class where I heard something that was a good reminder. The class was about living within your means. In the process of talking about budgeting the gentleman spoke of prioritizing our time, interests, efforts, etc. He suggested a technique where you spend no less than 45 minutes thinking and writing down everything that is important to you for the next five years. What do you want to do? Where do you want to be? What will life look like? What changes do you want to make?

After doing this you have to take additional time, maybe even days or weeks carrying this list and prioritizing it. Figure out which things are most important to you. He stated that the average person can effectively concentrate on three things. If you are above average you can effectively concentrate on five things. Hmmmm...... Effectively, that is the key word isn't it? I can fill up my days with so many wonderful, worthwhile projects, but how effective am I?

Lately I'm not feeling very above average. So I started my list, started looking for things that aren't a priority. This is hard. I'm not out tanning and getting pedicures, I'm not a power shopper, or sitting by the pool at a country club, I'm busy doing worthwhile things that are a service to my family, friends, church, and community. These are things I enjoy, get satisfaction doing, things that cause me to stretch and grow.

What I found was that I needed to make a list of the things I wanted to say "yes" to first so that it was easier to see why I should say "no" to other things. What an eye opener! After looking at my "yes" list I knew that those things were going to keep me busy all by themselves.

Be a wife to an amazing man and mother to ten beautiful children

support my husband in his church callings
meet my husband's needs so he can create an income for our family
mentor six individuals with varying interests and talents
support a missionary
encourage a college student
take care of a special needs child
feed them good food

Provide a beautiful, inspiring home

finish our home, one room at a time
make sure animals are cared for
organize household chores
create a garden
Simplify!

Build a Midwifery Practice

support birthing mothers in natural birth
be a resource for women in my community
sell natural, responsible products for families

These are my three areas of focus. Within each of them are many things, but this list is helping me pick and choose what to say "yes" or "no" to. I'm going to post it everywhere as a reminder for when I get the crazy notion that I can create an online monthly newsletter, or speak at a conference, or teach other people's children for two classes a month, or..... hopefully, it will help me ask myself if it fits into the areas I've chosen to focus on.

Tammy

Thinking about School Again

2010-07-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

I recently read someone talking about how they don't have any "school materials" in their home because they are "boring" and children would only do the minimum required by the parents. I wondered at this watching my children drag out workbooks and excitedly go through them. I did not ask or suggest that they "do school" or point them in the direction of the workbooks. My kids love "school" materials, they dig through the book shelves in search of something interesting to fill their time with.

We've had a rainy summer so there have been many days that the kids have been searching for things to fill their hours with. We've been getting up early with Todd for the past couple of weeks. It's amazing how much time there is in a day when the day starts at 6am! After breakfast and chores we read, play, color, discuss, and many other things. They have been loving our huge box of blocks and the teepee. I spend a lot of time in the rocking chair nursing Liberty.

Todd had two days off of work! It was so exciting! Andrew and him were able to texture the third floor! I finished priming it today! I hope to finish painting it this evening and start laying the wood floor on Monday! This will allow us to move Ririe, Ryan, and Gabriel back upstairs. This will free up the downstairs room for Kimber. Yes, she is coming home. She will arrive at the end of the month! Everyone is very excited to see her after her long absence. I bet her dogs will be the most excited members of our family. LOL!

Tammy

Aunti Amy came to town...

2010-06-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

Last night Amy and Jake had a layover in Anchorage on their way to California. We picked them up at the airport and went to dinner and a movie. During dinner Amy started taking pictures of Liberty and then suggested before the movie we should find a place to take some more pictures.

We found a grassy spot at the library and Amy worked her magic! Amy has an amazing talent for photography! I'm so glad that she had the opportunity to take pictures of Liberty! Todd says we need to get her to take a family picture next. It would be great fun to take a ferry ride to Kodiak and have her take pictures there before they move away! Hmmm... I need to start scheming to make this happen.

It's weird to think about having a family picture taken without Kimber and Christopher. I have ten children now but only eight of them live at home, so it doesn't really feel like ten. We will now be getting smaller every couple of years. When Todd and I were contemplating the house we are still working on three years ago, we realized that at that moment we needed the most space we ever would need. That from that point on our children would begin to leave home. It's a strange thing.

Tammy

2010-06-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

Liberty is sure cute! Her eyes look like they are going to stay blue! But her hair is getting lighter. It was black when she was born and now it's brown and the tips are even lighter. If we lived in a sunny area and she was outside I might be able to understand. I've never seen this happen before but then again I've never had a baby with hair! LOL She's sleeping six hours every night! What a blessing with me being so tired.

We're trying to put our family back on a schedule. I have to say it's not going very well. I'm still trying to nap when Liberty naps so it's a little chaotic. Oh well, she's only little for a little while right?. You know that poem about ignoring the housework because your rocking your baby, when you've had ten babies the cobwebs can really add up! LOL

Liberty Grace Smith

2010-05-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Liberty Grace Smith

Libby made her appearance Friday, May 14. She weighed in at 6 lbs 13 oz and was 19 inches long. She is a cutie pie with lots of dark hair. It's the kind that will probably fall out but its amazing while it lasts! She's our smallest baby and has the most hair.

This pregnancy was quite hard and different than any before, so was labor, and now we've had a few stops and starts with nursing. Libby is determined to do things differently than all the rest and make her own mark! Todd's a little worried at the trend! LOL

The kids all love her and beg for a turn to hold her. She's so little we only have a few items that fit her without rolling up the sleeves and legs! It's adorable!

Today is my first day to get dressed. I'm going to try to go down stairs for a little while. After my kidney infrection my iron level dropped really low and the blood loss of delivery put me under the bed! Thank you to everyone that has helped with my family and brought meals, given rides, etc. Slowly but surely I'm getting my energy back.

Tammy

Happy Birthday!

2010-04-21T19:40:00.000-08:00

Today I turned 41! My children say I'm now officially older than dirt! LOL

It was a busy day. Todd and I attended the sealing of my sister Amy's adopted baby girl to her family. It was beautiful. Betsy slept through the whole thing and woke in a great mood for some perfect pictures. We had lunch with the Earle's and the Hopkinson's and then ran errands for Todd.

It is also my niece's Lily's birthday. My mother and sisters called from Utah to wish me happy birthday at the same time that they were singing Lily happy birthday too! When I got home the house was clean, my children also had cleaned my room and made decorations and cards! I have great kids!

Kimber called and actually had time to chat. She's enjoying herself in Provo.

I'm 39 weeks pregnant today. Since I've gone two weeks over due with EVERY child I'm figuring that I've still got three weeks to go. Ugh. This baby is getting heavy! I think I just don't have the tummy muscles to hold her in anymore. Yes it's a "her"! Last week I had a kidney infection and spent five days in the hospital. This illness included a couple of ultrasounds so we decided to find out if I was right about her being a girl! I was! We don't have a name yet but we're working on it.

I've got a busy couple of weeks ahead of me so it should go quickly. James Ure is in town and we get to show him part of Alaska tomorrow and then help with the Williamsburg Academy Booth at the IDEA curriculum fair this weekend. In two weeks Dan Ralphs is returning for his fourth and final seminar for this school year. In between those events we have school, scouts, the store, and we mustn't forget "Much A Do About Nothing" - the play that Andrew is helping to direct and that Sabrina has a major role in. Oh and yes, Gabriel has the chicken pox and we're waiting for Abigail to come down with it next. Time should fly!

Tammy

It's Official!!!

2010-03-03T19:38:00.000-09:00

I now hold Certified Direct-entry Midwife License #59 in the State of Alaska!! It's been a long 4 years getting here. I owe my family and friends a lot!!! Thanks for all your help.

Now begins the next part of the journey. Setting up a practice. I'm trying to figure out a name. Without a name I can't get much else done. I've got to get a website, business cards, a CLIA Waiver, a Medicaid Provider Number, and the list goes on... Then there are the supplies I need to gather. Luckily I've accumulated most of the "hand tools" I need to do clinic over the past four years. I'll have time to pull together all my birth supplies. (famous last words?) LOL

I fear I'm also nesting. Today Todd and I tore apart the house in an attempt to put it back together in a more manageable order. It's still in the torn apart stage. Why is it that the mess always gets worse before it gets better? Sigh... This afternoon I had cubscouts and this evening Todd and the Big Kids (Andrew, Sabrina, and Ririe) had YM/YW and 11 yr old Scouts. This has put a kink in finishing this mess. Tomorrow is another day. All of the kids, except Gabe and Abigail, have class from 9-2 and I have to run the store. I guess that leaves Todd cleaning alone until the afternoon. But he's motivated, he is getting his office back. Shhhhh don't tell Sabrina, she doesn't know yet.

In an attempt to get Abigail out of our bed before this new baby gets here she will be taking up residence upstairs again in the king size bed with Abigail and Katie. Ryan, Ririe, and Gabe have moved back to the third floor and Andrew will once again enjoy his own room. We're mucking out and simplifying. I hope that this will make it easier to keep the house clean????

Our lives have gotten so busy and complicated that something has to give! Todd and I agreed it needed to be the housework. No one likes to do it so we're going to simplify, simplify, simplify. It occured to us that Gabe is going to be 5 years old this year!!! That's HUGE and we still treat him like a baby and don't expect him to do anything. It really is true that you do a disservice to your younger children by making the older ones carry the big chores for too long. We're missing Christopher and Kimber badly but it's our own fault for not bringing these younger children along sooner. The medicine is icky for everyone but hopefully it's worth the cure.

Tammy

Cute Video of Kimber and her roommates!

2010-02-02T23:03:00.001-09:00

darrian watts photography from d watts on Vimeo.

Little Britches February Giveaway!

2010-02-02T15:34:00.000-09:00

Set of Old Fashioned Nursery Rhyme Nesting Blocks

Kisha Dennis won Little Britches January Giveaway and we've announced February's giveaway.

Check out our website, http://www.littlebritchesalaska.com/ for information on how to enter. Please read the rules carefully so that you can get credit for as many entries as possible. Don't forget you need to leave me a comment telling me how many entries you have earned.

Elder Smith is doing Well

2010-02-02T15:29:00.000-09:00

Christopher is still begging for letters. I don't think that will change. He's still in Kaysville but is now the companion to a district leader so he's in a different part of Kaysville? That's my best guess and since they are restructuring the areas his also.

He's having his second baptism on Saturday. He's loving his mission and the people he's working with. Kimber got some pictures from him so I'll try to get those up soon.

Tammy

Little Britches Giveaway!

2010-01-06T20:22:00.000-09:00

I'm so excited about our new store, Little Britches! We are having a great time and thought we'd share it with our online friends!

We are having a Monthly Giveaway! Check out our website at http://www.littlebritchesalaska.com/ and select the Giveaway Tab for more information on how to enter and win each month.

Here's a sample of what we're giving away this month:

Come join the fun!

Tammy

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T19:58:00.000-09:00

It seems like all I have time to do here lately is post Christopher's letters. Gosh it seems like life just gets more and more hectic! Or maybe it's just me????

Kimber's off to Utah. She's staying in an apartment two blocks from BYU with 5 other girls. She moved in yesterday and said everyone pooled their change and bought pizza together for dinner. At least they're all poor! LOL She's currently looking for a job and starts her classes at the UVU institute tomorrow.

We started a new schedule for the New Year. It begins at 5:30am so that we can have prayer, scripture, and breakfast with Dad before he leaves. It's day two and I'm exhausted! But at least we aren't having any trouble getting kids to bed at night. Last night everyone except Andrew was asleep by 9:30pm, including mom and dad. This way we actually have the chores done before we leave for the store in the morning. That is nice, and when we get home the house is still clean because all of the kids are with me all day. (That is a whole different story...)

We got an email from Christopher today. Here it is:

"hey everyone,

doing good here. me and my companion (elder cordier from indiana) have to work lots with members and ward missionaries and leaders to do our work here in kaysville. i like it here cept my scarf gives me fuzzies on my shirt and its frustrating me.

thank you all for the presents. send me more letters though. i like getting letters and i dont get very many. i can only send letters on tuesdays and i dont have lots of time to write....im at the library and they give me only a half hour.

we go to the temple in bountiful every tuesday....so we get up at five in the morning.....and fall asleep during the session(not really but i felt like it) i am teaching lots of people....most of whom have had very tough lives....one gal is ready to be baptised now....but doesn't get off parol for 3 years. one guy is have trouble with attraction.....a couple who has met with 24 missionaries....before me, im the 25, and i think we might be baptising them in january.....they said they hit a point where they feel like they wont progress unless they have the gift of the holy spirit...now we just need to get them over their fears of being baptised....we have one boy who is just going through formalities.....he has wanted to join for a while but with his parents in the middle of a divorce it was dificult.... its funny how you know some people can feel the spirit when you teach but they try to deny it....

i found a great scripture the other day.... alma 60:29,33 i thought them great scriptures pertaining to the political situation today....and since i am not supposed to talk about that i dont know if i will be shareing that scripture with anyone for two years so i thought you guys might enjoy it.

my companion says i am doing better than he did when he first got out....he says i have the oppisite problem he had....he had trouble talking but he can't get me to shut up....i thought i was doing real good until he point out that the brother we had dinner with the other night looked like he wanted to hit me because i said our way of teaching was better in many ways than the memorized lessons....i wasnt trying to be offensive but apparently he took it personally. guess i need to work on that.

anyways my companion is done emailing which means i need to finish up real quick before my time runs out. love ya all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

This weekend is the 2nd Williamsburg Academy Seminar with Dan Ralphs. The first was awesome so I'm looking forward to this one. I had a birth going on last time and had to miss some of it. No one is in range to have a baby this weekend! Yay! We struggled to figure out what to do about the store. Todd and John (brother-in-law) were talking and Todd came home and told me to just close the store. "After all it's ours and that's the point of it being ours right?" Ok, sounds good to me! So we won't be open this weekend. It's nice that our overhead is minimal, we don't worry much about it.

Well until next time I hear from Christopher! LOL

Tammy

Christmas Morning Wake Up Call

2009-12-25T08:14:00.000-09:00

These are the new missionaries that arrived in Ogden the same day as Christopher.

We were just woken up by Christopher. What a great way to wake up on Christmas morning! He's in Kaysville. He's got a companion from Indiana that's been in the same area for 3 months. They are living in the basement of a members home. They were at a members home already this morning and have several appointments throughout the day.

He's says they are being well taken care of. He says that members pay for their meals wherever they go. They're food calender is always full. He's very excited to teach the people they're teaching. He says the members are good about finding people for them to teach.

He sounds happy. He doesn't have access to a computer regularly so snail mail is appreciated. His address is located on the left side of this blog. The other option is to use http://www.dearelder.com/ It's the price of a stamp but they will print out your letter and mail it for those of you that it's easier to use the computer than hunt down an envelope and find a stamp. He enjoys the pictures the kids send.

Well the kids are finally waking up and want to open presents. Ririe and Ryan were up most of the night! Ugh! I'll have to take a nap this afternoon!

Tammy

At the Store

2009-12-02T12:07:00.000-09:00

We've been looking for a family business for the past several years. I've wanted to open a store for years and years. Little Britches is the culmination of those desires. Today we are trying to integrate the family aspect of that desire.

Abigail is exploring all aspects of the store.

This is the havoc she leaves in her wake. We put it back she gets them back out. It's ok. I keep trying to tell myself that these items are out because they are childproof and I want them to be touched and enjoyed and hopefully purchased. (I have new ones on a shelf). But it's a struggle. I want to be a child friendly store, that means friendly to my children too.

The back room is being set up for the kids. We have a bed instead of a couch because that's what was extra around our house. We have special toys that are just for the store. We've brought school work and books.

Hopefully we will have more together time as we sit and wait for customers. Yesterday we met our minimum goal. That was very exciting considering our open sign came apart in the wind and we haven't done any advertising yet. This has been a "soft opening". We're still working on our advertising campaign. But yesterday was people who saw the balloons on our sign and stopped in. Not even friends who might feel obligated to buy something, honest to goodness customers who bought things!! Yay!!

Tammy

We're OPEN!!!

2009-12-01T18:48:00.000-09:00

I know, I know, it's been FOREVER since I posted. Life has been very hectic! We signed a lease to open our own little mini factory back in September and we've been busy busy ever since!

Christopher left for Utah Thanksgiving night. He enters the MTC tomorrow morning. If you haven't heard, he's going to the Ogden UT mission. He got to meet many of the relatives that live in his mission at a family party Saturday.

Today was the opening day for Little Britches. This is our own little mini factory. We are a small baby boutique. You should visit our website: http://www.littlebritchesalaska.com/ or come by to visit!

Well there is much to be done before tomorrow! Maybe life will slow down and I'll get to post more often? ROFL! I can hope!

Tammy

Remembering Grandma

2009-09-10T20:52:00.001-08:00

Gabriel Arave Smith with Grandma Gwynne 2006

My grandma Gwynne died this past week. We were asked to have the children think about memories of Grandma and write them down. I've been desperately ill for the past two weeks and this is the first moment my mind has been clear enough to give it much thought.

It just took me 30 minutes to locate this picture amid the thousands, in many different files, on several different hard drives. (it's almost worse than a big box in the basement!) I knew it was somewhere. The mind is a perfect camera. I have many pictures of Grandma in my mind that I wish I could just upload and share!

My father's mother followed her adventurous husband to Alaska in 1947. They homesteaded in Kenny Lake, between Copper Center and Chitna. I was raised on the stories and spent many weeks at the "homestead" during the first 16 years of my life.

Grandma's second husband owned a sign shop. After he was gone Grandma lived above it and I loved spending the night with her. Her kitchen window looked out over the old cemetery in Downtown Anchorage, I remember watching funerals when I visited. The legacy of that sign shop lives with us yet. My dad still dabbles with signs and I "notice" when signs are good, bad, or ugly. LOL!

Grandma and I got on famously. I was seven when I flew first class with Aunt Corrie to Grandma's third wedding. Grandpa Woody had a home in Huntsville, Ut. The next few years I was privileged to spend sunny weeks during the summer with them. Grandma tried to teach me to paint, she rubbed my feet at night to help me sleep, and grandpa taught me about his flowers and gardening. There were visits to their winter home in Arizona, night time swims in the pool, and afternoon riding her bike around the trailer park.

I loved Grandma, my memories make me smile. Since I've been a "grown-up" I've drifted away and been busy with my own children. But she's always there, writing letters with hand painted cards for my children's birthdays, making latch hook pillows for the latest round of babies, keeping track of her amazing progeny. She started with 5 children. Four of them married and gave her 38 grandchildren. She has step children from both marriages and she kept track of all of them too. Her natural children have given her 109 great-grandchildren with many more still to follow.

I'm excited she has been reunited to her eternal companion whom she had been separated from for so long! Her high school sweetheart that took her on an adventure that has lasted a life time! It is a happy time!

Tammy

Abigail's Check-up in Seattle

2009-09-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday Abigail and I flew to Seattle for check-ups with her Pulmonologist and the VCFS clinic.

Dr. Carter said everything is good! He was pleased that her airflow is unrestricted at this time. We made a plan to deal with potential illness this winter. This will be nice so Dr. Hepler can consult with them instead of Dr. Roberts (the only local pediatric pulmonologist) who wants to break out the iron lung!!

Abigail passed her hearing screening with flying colors. She participated in a new study on VCFS. We met with the speech therapist and made a plan to start speech therapy here in Alaska asap.

We will be returning in 4 months for diagnostic evaluation of her palate. Hopefully they will determine if she needs surgery on her palate or not. If so they will probably do this after her 2nd birthday.

In July we had a visit with her cardiologist in Anchorage. Her echo was great! She was cleared to go 6 months before needing another visit.

We were able to visit with many friends that we made while at Seattle Children's. Doctors, nurses, social workers, patients. Everyone was excited to see how much she's grown and how well she's doing!

Tammy

I give up...

2009-08-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

I can't compete. Not that I'm really trying but sometimes when I read my sister Amy's blog I smile, sigh, and wish... wish I had her talent for writing, her talent for taking pictures (for remembering to take pictures), her talent for always looking put together.

I was listening to a talk on Adult Phases, by Julie Earley, at the 2008 TJEd Forum. She talks about there being no place for comparing ourselves with others in Thomas Jefferson Education. She reminds us that we can look to others for inspiration but not to fall into the trap of comparing.

Amy is definitely worth emulating, she is an amazingly talented woman who happens to be my wonderfully patient and kind sister. She listens to me, she is my sounding board, and confidant. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't talk to her regularly. It's funny because through the years that place has been occupied by many different sisters. I have six sisters. Six amazingly talented, patient and kind sisters. They are an inspiration to me daily with their different paths through life.

That's why we can't compare ourselves with others, right? We're each unique with different paths and missions to complete in this life. A friend told me, many years ago, as I was lamenting my strong willed children and comparing them to another's docile, quiet little ones, that the Lord give us the children we can handle. I guess he thinks a lot of me. LOL!

My children are not docile, nor are they quiet. They aren't tractable either! But they're good kids. I need to remember to be thankful for the things they do, even if they grumble. I need to give them praise and approval more than I do. My sister Amy's love language is "words of affirmation". Praise and approval come easily to her. They are like food to her soul. Recently, we noticed that Gabriel, my 3 year old, has this same love language. He drops words of praise where ever he goes. "Thank you, you did a GREAT job, mom", "That was nice to share, Katie", "Dad, that's the BEST chicken coop!"... It's amazing to watch and listen as he sets an example in our home and reminds me to speak up.

Our family culture is different than many other people's. It's ours. Our life will never resemble Amy's. And that's ok, it's good. I read, ponder, and pray trying to muddle my way through this life. Trying to make sure I'm doing the things that need to be done, when they need to be done. It can be overwhelming, it's a lot of work. Why do I do it? Sometimes I feel like giving up.

Amy and I were looking for a mission statement for Orchard House Academy this morning. We found a quote by Rachel DeMille from her article Steel to Gold. It spoke to my heart about why I keep trying, why I wish to be better, why I push myself to do more.

"Raising children and mentoring the next generation is the most important thing we can do to change the world. It is the primary role of all women and all men, married or single. It is who we are. It is why we were born. We must train up the leaders of the future with confidence, power and grace.

We must deliver. We must achieve results. We are the stateswomen of the 21st Century. If we fail, the world will fail. If we shrink, hesitate, or doubt, precious time will be lost. We are the leaders of today. Our choices and our actions are the most important choices and actions occurring in the world today."

Now I remember...

"I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." - Ether 12:6

As we step out in faith, doing our best, with the Lord on our side, we can not fail! We can do this! It is our battle to win!

Tammy

My homeschool journey...

2009-08-25T03:56:00.000-08:00

Amy and I were discussing the journey that is homeschooling. How did we find our way, who and what were the influences that have helped us arrive where we are today.

It is such a journey, an epic one for me. As I pondered this question I realize how many forces have been at work moulding and guiding my path. Surely I've been blessed and watched over. It can't have been random chance, the many amazing people, books, speakers, and conferences that have found their ways into my life.

Here I'd like to take a moment and give thanks. Thanks to these amazing forces for good that the Lord has placed in my life throughout the years. Thanks for the words, spoken and written. Thanks for the examples, quiet and unassuming. Thanks for the efforts, to teach, to support, to do what needed to be done.

First and foremost I need to thank my parents. They read to me at an early age, bought me books of my own, encouraged my love of learning. Even though I went to public school, I received a Leadership Education. My dad mentored me. I remember the monthly interviews, discussions on what I wanted to be, what I was interested in, hours of discussions on every topic under the sun. Both my parents were readers and as a result I picked up many books that I would not have been exposed to through school. I read Donald Trump's autobiography as a freshman. I carried a book called "lying with statistics" around the year I joined the debate team. I still have a book of LDS poetry that I swiped from the family bookshelf at a young age.

Our family was involved in local politics and I had many discussions with my father about our country's founding and the differences in the political parties. I read Free to Choose, and discussed the pros and cons of joining the NRA and the John Birch Society. I grew into an independent and opinionated youth. I argued with my economics teacher about the religious beliefs of the founding fathers. I lobbied to keep the constitution in a gov't class that was enamoured with socialism.

In college I studied political science and then turned my eyes toward psychology as I began to question if I could really be a good wife, mother and a political dynamo. A 300 level child development class turned my head in another direction. A discussion on childbirth options caught my attention and stayed with me.

Then came marriage and pregnancy. I wanted a midwife and guess what? My mother in Law had just happened to have her babies at home. I had found my next mentor. One that would stay with me for the long haul. One that I still call and talk with. Dianne worked from home. Each visit for four pregnancies I was invited into her home and watched her deal with her children. She both homeschooled and had kids in public school, each according to their needs. Hmmm... this was a new idea. She was a master herbalist and a founder of the Utah School of Midwifery. Many new ideas were explored through my association with her. I read, MALEpractice, How to Have a Healthy Child Inspite of your Doctor, Spiritual Midwifery, and many other books from her lending library.

One day I was reading a report about test results published by the local school district and mailed to all residents. I was fluxumed as I read it. I re-read it multiple times trying to make sure I wasn't mistaken. It appeared that the test scores were getting lower and lower the older the children got. To hide this fact the graphs were cut and enlarged so that at first glance all seemed right. One had to READ the material to discover this fact. This began my passion for homeschooling. I was aghast! Why would they cover this up? I found John Holt and Raymond and Dorthy Moore. A new passion was born. I attended a homeschool conference and listened to John Taylor Gatto. Christopher was a year old? LOL! But I was convinced! "Better Late than Early" became my motto.

As my children grew I continued to read. I had an aunt that homeschooled her children when I was growing up. They were always a little different. (that's a whole different conversation.) I sought her out. Her children were almost raised. I called her repeatedly as I struggled to find my way once my children were old enough for school. Christopher stayed home for kindergarten. I did not do academics. "Better late than Early", remember?

Then came the questions, the outside pressure. I was weak. The kids went to school. Kimber to an amazing charter school and Christopher to public school since he didn't make the lottery for the charter school enrollment. The following year we moved and both went to public school. It was torture for all of us! They decided Kimber needed resource because she wasn't living up to her potential since her IQ was so high. They told me that if she'd had a normal IQ she wouldn't qualify for help! That's backwards!! I was pregnant and sick the whole school year. It was awful!

The following year I rediscovered my passion. I was pushed into a corner by a crazy 3rd grade teacher telling me that Christopher's handwriting was so bad that he had to stay in from recess and free time to recopy work, "after all she had to get him ready for junior high"?! Was she kidding? Nope! When a request for a different teacher was denied I brought my children home.

Once again I contacted Susie, my homeschoolng aunt. She told about a wonderful new book called A Thomas Jefferson Education. She'd heard the author, Oliver DeMille, speak and offered to help me get a copy of the book. It was wonderful! I vowed to use the principles, just as soon as I figured out how. LOL (That first edition was not as user friendly as the next one.)

Armed with Holt, Gatto, Moore, and DeMille I homeschooled my children. I struggled to define our homeschooling style. I chafed against the homeschool programs like Cyberlinx and IDEA. I didn't fit the "school at home" mold and found it difficult to relate to most homeschoolers who followed this model. I scoured the internet for articles from the now defunct "growing without schooling" a magazine by John Holt. Unschooling seemed to describe my philosophy best.

We kept growing and moving forward. We read books, played, and did projects. I would buy a curriculum and use bits and pieces of it but never followed the schedule. The concept of every child having their own curriculum and each doing something different seemed like a recipe for chaos and burnout. My "mentors", the voices of reason in the books I'd read, told me there was a better way. We learned together. The kids grew and learned. Things were going well. Then our home burned down.

That was a difficult year. We'd lost our books and I felt like I'd lost my way. Expecting another baby, I was convinced to enroll the kids in public school while we rebuild our life. Kimber returned home from highschool within the first two months. Christopher followed a month later. He felt that he was wasting his time at school with teachers that didn't teach because they were to busy handling behavior issues. He said he could get more done in half the time at home. The rest of the children finished up the year. For some of them it was a great experience.

We gathered together and returned to homeschooling the following year. My sisters, Tressa and Amy had begun homeschooling by this time. The spring of 2007 Tressa told me about a book she'd read after attending the IDEA curriculum fair and listening to Andrew Pudewa speak. She told me the title, A Thomas Jefferson Education. An old friend. Yes, yes, I replied, as she talked about it. Then she mentioned a few things that I didn't recall, hmmm... are we talking about the same book? No, it turned out that she had the second edition. Immediately I looked around and found a copy at a local homeschool bookstore. I devoured the new edition. It had a lot of new information that filled in the blanks that I'd struggled with over the years, best of all this book had a website listed! I discovered that Oliver and Rachel were giving seminars on their book and how to use it.

Amy was now living in Fairbanks and had determined that she was not cut out to be a homeschool mom. She attended the local convention and wandered through the booths. She purchased two books, the Well Trained Mind and A Thomas Jefferson Education. She read DeMille's book in one night! Her life was changed.

Three sisters, all found and read this book a different times. It was to be life changing.

Amy and I were able to attend three seminars that summer. We came home and launched AKTJEd.org and we've been on a roll since! Symbria Patterson and Shannon Brooks answered many questions and listened to our woes as we hosted the Face to Face with Greatness Seminars. I've been fortunate to have discussions with Rachel DeMille, Heather Burton, and Diann Jepson as I've taken a new path of in my excitement to share TJEd with others here in Alaska.

The wonderful forum talks have nourished my soul and answered questions I didn't know I had. I have really enjoyed the talks by Oliver DeMille, James Ure, Dan Ralphs, Janine Bolan, Ann Meeks, and the Levies. Those speakers have become new mentors and I appreciate their willingness to answer emails and share their insights.

What an amazing journey! Throughout this trek I have had the company of a supportive husband and the amazing children that I have been blessed to raise. They have put up with a lot of trial and error. I've juggled and struggled. I'm reminded of the quote by Pres Hinckley, it seems to describe our homeschool journey.

“Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke,
dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas
and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting
you have the ride.” –Gordon B. Hinckley

Thank you Heavenly Father, for all those that have made this journey what it is.

Tammy

THE BIG TEST...

2009-08-19T23:24:00.000-08:00

Remember these tests? It's been a long, long time since I've filled in a bubble answer sheet for a test.

I took the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) test today. Last night I hardly slept because of nervous anxiety. I arose at 6am, That is unheard of for me lately, and drove with Todd into Anchorage for my test. I arrived at 8am and took a walk to settle my nerves before presenting myself at 8:30 (the appointed time).

I was the only one taking the test. The proctor was great. I had four hours to take the first half of the test and four for the second half with a 1 hour break in the middle.

It took me 2 hrs and 15 minutes to finish the first half. I was a little nervous that I had so much time left but I didn't feel that second guessing my answers would be useful so I got to go to lunch early. One hour later I returned and finished the second half in 2 hrs 15 minutes also. Hmmm...

I honestly don't know how I did. It was a tough test. It wasn't the subject matter that was difficult is was the fact that many questions seemed to have more than one right answer depending on your background in midwifery.

This is a national exam and many places have more liberal regulations that the State of Alaska. I loved Becky's comment that she had to ask herself when taking her exam last year, "which midwife am I channelling?" NO KIDDING! It was very frustrating!

I won't get my results for 4-6 weeks.

Tammy

Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe

2009-08-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

I laughed so hard when I saw this cartoon. I found it in a new math book that I just got. I didn't get if for the kids, it's for me! I feel very much like Calvin but I've decided it's time to get over myself and learn the math that I need to teach my children. I've realized that my attitude toward math has rubbed off on many of my children.

This past month I listened to a talk by Janine Bolon, entitled Building a Buff Brain: Teaching Math and Science as Scientists Do. In this talk she suggests this text as a jumping off point for parents before teaching your children higher math. She says they need to be able to compute and then they need to be introduced to Geometry. I'm fascinated with math for the first time in my life! A second talk, by Michelle Harkey, entitled Math Encounter gives great ideas for teaching the basics during the different phases. (ie core, love of learning, scholar). I highly recommend these talks, they cost $4 each to download.

In the Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe, the author says, "What is taught in school can be called secular mathematics. Adding the amounts of a store purchase, calculating change, weighing produce, measuring ingredients for a recipe, counting votes, telling time, designing a bookshelf or skyscraper, measuring land boundaries, stock market economics, calculating tax: we're taught these are the ends of mathematics for non scientists. We train children to be human pocket calculators. Even many educated people who are adept at calculating have no idea that there is more to mathematics than mere reckoning of quantities.

This quantitative approach keeps us dull to the potential wisdom that the familiar counting numbers can teach us. When imaginatively taught to people beginning at an early age, mathematics can delight, inspire, and refine us. It can make us aware of the patterns with which the world and we are made. Instead, math is taught as a servant of commerce, without regard for its basis in nature. It is viewed as a distant subject that instills much more anxiety than wonder and inspiration. Mathematics is seen as outside us to be occasionally called upon, rather than woven into the fiber of our existence."

The author, Michael Schneider, gives this as his purpose for writing this book. "Over the years my studies led me to see that a profound understanding of number was prevalent in ancient times, more than is commonly acknowledged, and seamlessly wove mathematics, philosophy, art, religion, myth, nature, science, technology, and everyday life. This book is a fanning of some little sparks of philosophy from deep antiquity to introduce the general reader to another view of mathematics, nature, and ourselves that is our heritage and birthright. It requires that we liberate math from its pigeonhole and see it spanning the framework of the most interdisciplinary topic possible: the universe.

Plato wrote that all knowledge is already deep within us, so no one can really teach us anything new. But we can remind each other of the archetypal principles of number and nature we already now but may have forgotten. This book is intended as that reminder to guide you through this world of wisdom, beauty, uplift, and delight and to remind you of the gentle, wise principles by which the universe is designed. "

I'm excited to dig into this book and be an example to my children as I study math.

Tammy

6 Month Purge

2009-08-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

I'm working on my 6 month purge. Here are a few pictures. Bear with me our house is still under construction. We moved the bookshelves down to the living area again. (my husbands getting a little tired of me moving them every year! LOL) I re-organized the living area so that my littlest ones have a play area off the area where the rest of us will be working. The kitchen has been scrubbed inside and out.

We've still got many areas to purge but it's getting there. We're using the "let's work, let's play" principle to get this done. Amy, my sister, is my mentor. Only she gets to see the before pictures. LOL I'm following her assignments and suggestions and it's getting done! Yeah me!

Tammy

Be The Change...

2009-07-31T12:43:00.000-08:00

I love this quote. It means so many things. To each of us it is different. That is the beauty of it. Each of us has a mission, a unique purpose for being here on this earth. I'm looking for mine, trying to be the change I wish to see in my world.

Today I'm making phone calls. I'm trying to reach as many people as possible who attended the Face to Face with Greatness Seminars last year. I don't have a lot of phone numbers so if I miss you please contact me.

I'm trying to nail down attendance for the 1st Annual Alaska Leadership Forum. It is going to be Sept 26 in Fairbanks and Oct 3 in Anchorage. Heather Burton, the leader of the TJEd community in Alberta, Canada is coming to speak to us! I'm so excited to spend time with her and hear what all the other speakers have to say!

We are having a youth summit the afternoon before for scholar age youth 12 - 18. They will be participating in a simulation and a transformational writing exercise. It sounds like a lot of fun! Heather hasn't shared the particulars of the simulation with me, she doesn't want to ruin the surprise! LOL

We need 15 people in Anchorage and 15 people in Fairbanks to register by August 15 or we're not going to be able to go through with this forum. I didn't think that this would be a problem but as I sit here two weeks from the deadline I'm beginning to worry.

I wonder what the problem is? Have my emails been swallowed by the junk mail monster? Is it the busy Alaskan summer as we all scurry around preparing for winter? I think a lot of people think it's still two months away, and that they've got time to think about it later. But it doesn't work like that. Eeeek, what to do ... many thought swirl in my head. I wonder.... I wonder.... hhmmmm.

So many projects, so much preparation.

Valerie Owens and I spent several hours discussing her LEMI projects this morning. It's so exciting that we're building a community where my children will have amazing peers to associate with. Valerie is offering the Shakespeare Conquest, Renee Sinette (sorry if I spelled that wrong) is offering The Sword of Freedom and the Pyramid Project, and Jennifer Weed and Shelia Bailey are team teaching the Key of Liberty.

Amy and I have started an online school named Orchard House Academy. Our first class will be a Stateswoman's Class. We have realized that there are gaps in our educations that we need to fill to better meet our children's educational needs. This class will meet on Tuesday mornings 6-8am Alaska time using an internet classroom. We will be studying history through novels, biographies, histories,and poetry. We will be writing papers and sharing them with each other. Anyone that wants to join us on our journey of gaining a Stateswoman's Education is welcome to contact us. We're going to keep the group small. 6 people plus Amy and I. If we have more people interested we'll consider having two groups.

It's amazing what is happening! Listening to the Forum talks have been such an inspiration. I'm so grateful to live in a time when we have so many ways to gain an education and benefit from the experience of others. The internet is making the world so small. I can listen in and learn from people in distant places. I can share confidences and gain needed counsel from mentors miles and miles from me. Some days I pine for the "good ole days" and wish it was just me and my family in the middle of nowhere, without the complications of the modern world. Then I realize that I wouldn't have the resources I have, I would have to muddle through by myself, I'd have to learn from all my own mistakes rather having the opportunity to walk in other peoples shoes.

Thank you to all the awesome mentors that have led the way!

Tammy

Technology ate my day!

2009-07-29T23:22:00.000-08:00

Today I spent WAY to much time online. The internet is such a powerful tool but it can sure take a lot of time to make those tools work.

My sister Amy and I have been admiring different websites for the past few months. We've talked about the things that we'd like to offer on AKTJEd.org that we couldn't with the tools I was using. I've spent a lot of time learning about the MANY options for designing web pages. I decided html code is not a skill I have time to master. So now what?

Then yesterday, while trying to update our very outdated website, I saw a wonderful new blogger template. It's amazing the things it can do! It's everything we wanted! Now I just had to figure out how to change who is hosting our domain and how to keep our email addresses.

It has taken hours but it's done! Now we should be able to maintain the site with minimal time and offer a much more user friendly and current website! UGH! I've take time today to share what I'm doing with my children, maybe one of them will become a computer geek? We all celebrated as we launched the new websites!

Celebrate with us! Visit www.AKTJEd.org and www.OrchardHouseAcademy.com There's not a lot of content yet but they work! Yay!!

Tammy