homeschooling set up

Is it really already that time of year?!?
We are in transition and homeschooling on the road, so to speak.
My mom and I converted one of the offices in the San Antonio house into the schoolroom for MV and Jack this year!
We are only homeschooling through February, when we leave for South America, so we have a lot to accomplish!
Below are pictures of our set up for this year and hopefully our temporary space will work out just fine and dandy :)

disaster zone.

hence the wine.

:)

getting the centers ready...

reading center, complete with cubby hole and pillows :)

mv's "big boy" desk

Bible verses for both ages ;)

completed room! 

summer crafts...part 2

oh, boy.
did we have fun this summer.
prepare for picture overload :)

water pinatas!

ice volcanoes!

baking soda + water, frozen into volcano shapes, + vinegar 

...and then just sensory fun ;)

nature suncatchers!

ice cream dough

baking soda + water + food coloring, and chilled until super cold! 

orange bird feeders

homemade finger paints

the adventures of master gabe in the hospital

Our newest, handsome man entered the world at 9:04am on August 13th. 

Nine pounds, seven ounces, and twenty-one inches long. 

He's perfect. 

We labored through the night before, for about seven hours, then headed to the hospital. 

Three hours later, and all natural, he was born!

Our big boys and Nanny got to visit later the same day!

The same prayer cards that we used as meditation during labor really came into play over the next few days...

...because we were due to head home the next day but Gabe's respiratory rate got a bit too high for comfort and his oxygen saturation levels a bit too low so the docs transferred him to the nicu for additional testing. 

Not fun for this mama. 

But after xrays and bloodwork, they ruled out pneumonia and other possible infections, and I felt better. 

They put him on a seven day course of antibiotics, just to make sure, and a breathing tube to help keep his breathing steady. 

After a few days, the breathing tube came out and monitors taken off!

Still had a couple days left to relax, heal...and miss my other crazy boys at home with my parents!

After a week and a day, we finally got to head home with our beautiful boy!
We were tired.
:)

welcome home, littlest love.

homemade remineralizing toothpaste

So, maybe you know about our efforts to go more granola.
Like homemade hairspray or diy deodorant.
And now we are on to homemade remineralizing toothpaste!
It's easy and while it might take a couple days to adjust to the taste, it's really quite tasty.
Completely healthy with no additives.
And the best part?
Actually cures cavities.
No. Joke.
Just give it a try and see.

ps- my boys love it.

Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste
Makes a small tub...I'd say equivalent to a tube.
5 tablespoons calcium carbonate...found here
2 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons stevia...totally optional but it takes the slight bitter taste out
3-5 tablespoons organic coconut oil, warmed until it reaches it's liquid state
Essential oils, to taste...we use peppermint, orange, clove is great for a slight numbing if you have sensitive teeth too

Mix the calcium carbonate, baking soda, and stevia in a small bowl.
Slowly whisk in coconut oil, a tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Add 5-15 drops of your preferred essential oils, to taste.
Taste a bit on your tongue and add more oils or stevia to taste!
That's it!
*Just scoop some out with your toothbrush or popsicle stick.

ft. sam houston's quadrangle

Last week, I had one of my last ob appointments at Ft. Sam and we decided to go a bit early with my mom and the boys and see the historic Quadrangle.
And boy, was it worth it!
If you are ever in the San Antonio area and want some free family fun, bring a few bits of stale toast and a couple quarters, and head over.
Peacocks and ducks and deer, oh my!

The bell tower and peacocks!

fancy duck and goose pond

feeding the koi

chasing ducks :)

white peacocks!

bring carrots for the deer!

39 weeks pregnant with baby Gabe!