Sunday Football

Around these parts everybody's a Seahawk fan. Well most everybody. Pretty sure we have the biggest Russell "Wussell" Wilson fan living under our roof. I have to bribe him to wear attire other than the jersey and if my counting is right he's taken his Seahawk football for show and tell five consecutive weeks. 

 This kiddo runs play after play in our front room so it was nice to take the game outside on this beautiful sunny Sunday.

 He begged the girls all day to play football with him.

 And he was so thrilled when they obliged. 

Amelia is always happy to join him for some football.

 Maggie vs. the Littles

 Holding?

 Josie Kate with the kickoff

Don't mess with the girl in a pink Unicorn shirt

So thankful for this beautiful afternoon, fall colors, front yard football and watching my kiddos making memories. Just missing my biggest player who's sidelined with a football injury. Hopefully we can take him off the injured reserve list for next Sunday's front yard game.

what's more important?

Everyday, sometimes a couple times a day, Jo poses this question to me....."What's more important?" "What's more important mom, doing your schoolwork or making someone a birthday surprise?" "What's more important mom, being on time or taking care of a frog?" "What's more important mom, if someone ruins your shoes or hurts their ankle?" [as she's walking around in my wedges].  Just about every time, she's got me. She gets it. She sees the bigger picture and she reminds me that in our hurried pace, in the demands of getting things checked off lists and being places on time there are far more important things people in this world. This girl, she's schooling me on what the important stuff is. Of course I know these things but am I truly living my life to reflect it? I am so caught up in the list, in the getting there that I miss out on the good stuff. The important stuff.

It's funny. You make decisions for your kids with the mindset you are the expert on what they need most. I was so excited to have them home and to be their teacher this year. I hope they've learned a thing or two from me but I guarantee they have taught me more. God has used them in big ways to teach me important lessons. We've learned to work through disagreements, we've had deep talks about God and heaven, the wonder and awe of a spider web, being called out numerous times on my patience [or lack thereof] and then reminded I'm an example. yikes. Their appreciation for the world around them and their love for others is humbling. Their faith blows me away- it's no wonder that Jesus tells us we must have faith like a child. They get it. And I am so thankful to be their mom and so thankful for the lessons they teach me each day.

Like sometimes making sure your frog has water IS more important than being to somewhere on time.

"Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"
For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me." Matthew 18:2-5 [MSG]

Sunday with the chicks

A boy and his sticks

 

We've been having glimpses of spring lately. And by glimpses I mean breaks in the constant downpour of rain and temperatures rising above 40 degrees. We are all ready for the nicer weather to be upon us and have been taking every opportunity possible to be outside.

Especially since we added to the family last week.

Six sweet chicks have joined the farm. We refer to Jo as the chicken whisperer.

 

Capturing Maggie Lu capturing the chicks.

Pardon the poop but I love this pic. It's mirror image chicks.

Kids had a mean game of kickball going on. Hold onto your boots Jo.

And seriously, when did this happen? She's looking so grown up.

She'll be thirteen in 19 days. I can't believe it.

And here we go again.....

 

 

 

Homeschool Round Two.

 

Tomorrow the Poulin Academy will commence with these three superheroes ready and eager to learn {well at least I'm hoping for that}. After much prayer, a whole lot of research and more prayer we are stepping out in faith and being obedient to what we feel God calling us to do with our kiddos. We love our little elementary school and adore our girls' teachers but feel like this is the direction He is leading us. We are a bundle of emotions over here but mostly excited for the journey ahead. I'm excited to have more time with them, to help shape their hearts and spend more time growing in our faith together. I'm looking forward to learning alongside them and getting to see firsthand when they master a new skill or concept. We know this is not going to be easy. There will be a lot of sacrifices made around here to keep these kiddos doing school at home. We've weighed it all out, made the lists of pros and cons and agreed that we could argue both sides until the cows come home but at the end of the day we have to go where He is leading us. There may not be a logical explanation and it may be counter cultural but it's where He has us. And that gives me a peace that surpasses all understanding. He is so good like that. We welcome your prayers as begin this new chapter and I'll be sure to keep you posted on PA news. For now, I'm off to do some lesson planning.

 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.

                                                        Psalm 127:3-5

 

 

 

 

 



Pumpkin Pickin'

 

 

Oh, what fun it is introducing Z to all the firsts.

I love that he seems to be enjoying the beauty of this season as much as I do.

 

We hit the pumpkin patch today. Well, more like the produce stand but it's just perfect for us. 

Jojo-always the clown.

I just might have to frame this one in the middle.

 





 

And this goof ball did NOT want to stop for 2 seconds for a picture. Hence the crazy eyes.

I can't imagine our family without this little one.

I am so thankful for the firsts we get to share with him.

 



 

Wouldn't trade one minute of this crazy, loud life. Love these monkeys.

 



Moments

This morning we started a new Bible study at church. Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts. I read her book a couple years ago so it shouldn't have come as a surprise when the tears welled up and the emotions let loose. Her words are so beautiful, so poetic and filled with truth. One of the many points that hit home today was the moments in our day. Each of the minutes that add up to the moments that comprise her lives.

Our days are so hurried. From the moment we wake in the morning we're hurrying from one activity to the next. By 8:45am I've already loaded kids in the car and left my driveway twice. Most days there will be at least four more trips down the driveway. Always on the go.

I have to admit, I'm growing weary of this pace. I want to slow down and enjoy the moments. I want to take in the minutes with my children because I know those minutes are fleeting and before you know it your baby boy is fourteen and feeling the growing pains of teen years.

I want to slow down and rediscover life with my kids.

To see the world through their eyes and with their enthusiasm.

I want to cherish each and every moment without feeling the pressure to rush to the next activity.

I want to document again so they have record of our moments together.

So when our memories fail us we have an archive.

 

 I don't want to miss the minutes with these sweet faces.

 

 

To see through their eyes and from their perspective.

Signs along the way that I've passed dozens and dozens of times but never noticed.

Today I'm giving thanks for those moments and prayerful for more minutes.

 Less hurried. More simple.

 

 

A jumping princess, a flipping fairy and some colorful volcanoes

Sleeping beauty has re-discovered the trampoline and we can hardly keep her off of it.

Rain or shine, this is where she wants to be. Preferrably dressed as a Disney character.

Tinkerbell learned how to do a front flip on Easter

so the tramp is where she prefers to spend all her free time too.

 

One of the few pictures I have with a head attached.

All my other pictures she was jumping so high her head kept getting cut off.

My three girls. Lu isn't much into the princess costumes anymore. Basketball shorts are much more her style.

Love this crazy girl!

Thanks to Grandma's super fun grab bag for Easter we acquired this awesome Science kit. Sam, the lil' girls and I had some mind-blowing Science fun this morning. We did a couple experiments out of the kit and then Sam taught the girls how to make colored volcanoes in a cup. They were mighty impressed with his skills



game.set.match

Rocky grew up playing tennis. He has played more years of his life than he hasn't and he's taught and coached most of that time too. So one might assume that our kids are little tennis players following in their father's footsteps. Not so much. For one reason or another it just hasn't worked out for the kids to play much tennis. This past spring Rocky was hired as the Men's Tennis coach at his Alma Mater~Pacific Lutheran University. This is not only a huge blessing but an amazing honor to follow in the footsteps of some incredible coaches.  He is beyond excited for this new journey and that excitement seemed to rub off on the kids too. The night he was hired Sam and Maggie took their racquets out and attempted a match in our driveway. Apparently he had to be hired as a college coach for them to appreciate they had a pro living in their house!

        We hit the courts one night in July

so the whole family could get in on the tennis action.

Maggie keeping her eye on the ball

Sam just wants to hit it out of the ballpark

Miss Millie....loving every minute of her lesson!

                                                       The ball girl was pooped out

Love this one of Millie. So happy to be learning from her dad the pro!

Once the tennis was over the kids wanted to race. I couldn't turn down Sam's challenge. I'd love to tell ya I won but let's just say it's been a long time since I've done any sprinting and four tennis courts length and back is a lot longer than I though it was.  Yep, he beat me.

Love-Love