Busy days....

I haven't blogged because things at the Mangum's house have been a little crazy. We started officially teaching the children their formal lessons. We also implemented our new chore system. The morning chores are working out great, I may have to do something different for our afternoon and evening chores. Sometimes we're still doing lessons in the afternoon. (mainly Taylor)

Taylor is in Challenge A at Classical Conversations this year. This would be their 7th grade program. We are loving the curriculum. It's a lot more work, but Taylor is mastering everything so far. She is very dedicated and determined. I'm so proud of her.

The boys and I start Foundations next week. So we will all be together at CC on Thursdays. This will be great! I'm very excited about adding our memory work into the boys lessons. I love Classical Conversation's curriculum. It has worked so well for our family. I've organized all our readers and supplemental resources for the year.

Ethan is reading well. He only has 4 more books until his promised reward! I'm not big into rewarding the children with things they have to do, but for Ethan's reading I felt it was okay. He is great at reading, but it's more "work" for him. He would rather count, organize patterns, add crazy numbers... So we can already tell he's going to be our math boy. He loves to be read to, but is a little lazy when it comes to doing it on his own.

I'm reading The Core, by Leigh Bortins right now. She is the founder of CC. I am really enjoying how she breaks down each "subject," and explains how we should teach it classically. I can really say that I'm growing in my understanding of classical education and teaching the trivium. I also started a sewing class. It is every Thursday evening for 8 weeks. I'm so excited to learn how to sew. It started with a frustration in buying clothes for our daughters. I've already bought one pattern, the fabric, and everything else needed to make this adorable dress. I can't wait to start making our daughters cute, appropriate, and trendy dresses!

Martie has been busy with ministry stuff. Lot's of meetings. He's counseling a beautiful couple that is getting married this January. He's also working on a new Constitution for the church. He is preaching a series on the Gospel. He just finished 1 Tim. He's now trying to teach the church how to share the gospel. (I don't mean the "Faith method", the "Way of the Master", or any of those other methods) He's just teaching the bible, hopefully we will out of love for our Savior go out and preach the gospel to the dying world around us.

Martie is also going out of town for five days. I'm very excited for him. He's going to Washington, DC for a "Weekender" at Mark Dever's church. (Nine Marks Ministry) He has read almost all the books offered by this ministry. I'm a little nervous about being home alone with the children that long. I just love having him around, I will miss "adult conversation." We'll see how that goes. :)

That's about all that's going on at the Mangum's house. Thanks for listening to my wild rambling.

Chores

We are going from this:

To this:


This first picture is a picture of these charts that I designed a long time ago. It has worked well for a season. Ethan has done great with it, Andrew well... Andrew continues to be Andrew. Anyway it was time to add Tabitha onto the chore chart system. I have been wanting to read "Managers of their Chores", but to be honest was intimidated. I was afraid of investing the time and money and then not implementing. See I have a sin issue called inconsistency. I am a chart and list kind of gal, but I don't always implement all my lists and charts.

Well I must say after reading the book and taking all the time into making these chore packs (that the children wear), we have been implementing them. So far so good! We are still in the early stages of training. The real test will be next week when we start back teaching the children their lessons full time. I am in hopes that it will make my life easier and I will have a cleaner house.

The book is wonderfully written and really lines up with our beliefs and goals for our family. One of the selling points for me was when Terri Maxwell said that she always found herself doing one thing really well, while the other things weren't getting done. That is where I am. With a large family and children at various ages I'm finding it more difficult to keep up with all the housework, teaching them their formal lessons, planning meal, clipping coupons....

Below are some pictures I snapped of the children doing some of their chores:

Ethan and Andrew helped eachother make their beds. (even when they didn't have to)


Boys beds are made, and I DIDN'T DO IT! :)

Tabitha and Ethan having their "quiet time with Jesus."

...and one last side note, Andrew is still being Andrew. He will be the one that has a more difficult time focusing on the task at hand. So just because you see this fancy system, don't think it's all fun and freeing. I still have my work cut out for me. ;)

Tests results

The doctor called yesterday afternoon. Both of Carissa's tests came back normal! We are so thankful to the Lord. We can now stop the antibiotics. The picture was taken right before we left for the hospital.

Carissa update

We got to Duke at 1:00 this afternoon. The receptionist then informed us that Carissa had two different appointments. (I didn't know this or expect this) Of course with me already being nervous, my eyes filled with tears. But then my sweet husband reminded me that God is Sovereign and He is GOOD! So we calmly sat down and waited.

We did not have to wait long. They called us right back. We got her undressed and then they started working with her. This was probably the hardest part. She's screaming and I can't hold her. However, praise the Lord we were able to stay with her the whole time. The test took about 10 mins. and we were done there. The doctor said there was no sign of kidney reflux! Praise the Lord.

We then went to wait for the ultrasound. (which was supposed to be at 3:30) They were able to take us back early. We only had one patient in front of us. There was about 30 mins. and a perfect time to nurse my sweet baby. By the time we went back for the ultrasound Carissa was fast asleep. (a very hard sleep) I was able to lay down and hold her the whole time. She stayed asleep. PERFECT! We don't know anything from that test. We should know by Thursday.

God was so gracious to us. Here are just a few things we are praising Him for:

• The radiologist took us right back. (no wait)
• They were able to move the ultrasound appt. up.
• We had a 30 min. break in between appointments so Carissa was able to nurse during that time.
• She slept soundly through the ultrasound appt.
• There were no signs of kidney reflux.
• The other 4 children were able to spend the day with Grandma and their cousins. :)
  

God is so good! I pray that we were a testimony to that goodness today! We will update you all as we know more. Thanks for coming along side us and petitioning our Great Lord on behalf of baby Carissa.

Carissa's tests

We have to be at Duke tomorrow at 1:00 pm. Please be praying for Martie and I. We are so nervous. We know and trust the Lord for whatever the outcome. It is still difficult handing our baby over to complete strangers while they poke at her. Thank you for praying, I will update as we know more.

Nursing Bib and Hair bows

I just finished making my first nursing bib. Now to pick out some pretty fabric! I'm so excited. Next I'm making the girls hair bows.Update: I just made 4 hair bows for the girls. I'm so glad I figured out how to make these. Bows are so expensive and we loose them often.