August

(For those who've kept us in prayer lately, I thank you immensely, for those who've no idea what I'm referring to, don't worry... we're doing great because God is an awesome, merciful God.)

Pictures of the kitchen should be up next week. For now some other visual updates and a reflection. When I deleted my old blog, it was because I was starting to get on a soapbox about society and issues and things and it wasn't healthy for my spirituality. So I've tried to keep this blog focused on just the kids and basic updates etc. As it is, I'd like to start the occasional chronicle entry of our homeschooling journey too. I don't want to do this because of any reason other than I simply want to share some of the things we are striving for in our home so our friends and family can understand us better--(red flags always go up when people hear that we are homeschooling.) and hopefully clear up some misconceptions about what it means to be a homeschooler. There are a million other homeschooling blogs out there that are way better than mine (just ask and I'll link you) so I don't intend to make this total homeschooling blog... but there may be an occasional post with our happenings and/or our philsophy behind our lifestyle. Because homeschooling isn't just an academic choice for us-- it is a lifestyle choice (more about that later!) For now the picture parade:

I just love this photo... it epitomizes the Peck lives.



Xavier gets ready to be ring-bearer in Aunt Mandy's wedding:



Here are the bride and groom:


Dominic's first plane ride, when we went to the baptism of our new goddaughter in CA.

The only good thing about my yard this year:

And I think I might frame this one for the wall:

a new thing

Very recent and spontaneous decision making has led to an entirely nightmarish, crazy, rewarding spectacle.

It all started with a can of paint. I wanted to simply rid myself of blaw, so I bought a single can of dandelion yellow paint for the kitchen.

But then the ugly pink countertop looked horrid. So we bought new countertop. Then Steve said we may as well update the cabinetry we've beeen wanting to do since the day we moved in.

(The house has the original 1957 falling apart wood cabinets in the kitchen)/

Then we figured we may as well go all the way and do the floors too.

Since we had only a tiny wall oven and cooktop, this also meant getting a new (to us) oven. And the dishwasher apparently was leaking and rotted out the floor decking so a new one of those is in order too.

My oh my, what a project. Today I washed dishes in the backyard with the hose. Steve promised to have the sink in tonight. The whole kitchen was GUTTED. All my STUFF has been in boxes and wagons all over the living room. The backyard is filled with ripped up piles of floor and cabinets with old rusty nails sticking out. The kids are not allowed back there obviously. Which is a nightmare considering it's summer and the living room is filled with stuff.

As it is, he and a buddy from work have been working VERY hard to get this done. Our budget and savings account and credit card have taken a beating... but we figure this'll boost the resale of the house by at least 10 grand. Anyway the new cabinets are in. Countertops in. Sink is tonight. Floor is tomorrow. Appliances next. Then paint touch ups. Oh my. I hate eating out now. We're breaking out the campstove tonight.

However, it is going to look fabulous when finished. We will not likely be painting the exterior of the home this summer like it so desperately needs, but this will be a huge, welcome change. Golden yellow walls, bright white cabinets, pepper blackish countertops, blackish ceramic tile. Kind of a bumble bee look I think... hmmm. Anyway, I'm at the library computer so no pics until it's all said and done.

glimpses

Recent shots of each of us Pecks:

Me and Nico in a sling I made.


Nico and Leo at bathtime. Yes bathtime. On a hot summer day this sometimes means putting bath soap in the kiddy pool.

Little man testing out his biking skills.

Not so little man charming the camera-girl.

Steve-O acting like a BBQ hot-shot on the 4th of July.

and now.

Since I've always been one to freely admit my moderation problems with the Internet, I'm quite thrilled to be announcing that Steven and I decided to get rid of our lovely, fast, efficient DSL. We are going internet free; the signal will be dropping from our house in 3-5 business days!

Now the legions of fans I have may find my assembled FAQ to be of some help to you:

Q: Does this mean we'll never see you again?
A: No dearies, we'll still be alive. And even online occasionally.

Q: But HOW?
A: There is a Starbuck with free Wi-Fi two blocks from us. We have a laptop.

Q: But your blog is so titillating, how can I manage not knowing the details of your life?
A: Well, you could try writing a snail mail letter; I ALWAYS write back.

Q: Eww... how old fashioned!
A: Indeed.

Q: But seriously, the blog?
A: I suppose I can manage posting pics or pertinent updates on occasion. Monthly?

Q: Netflix?
A: We currently have about 160 movies on our queue... that should hold us over for some time before we need to update it.

Q: Online banking and bill paying?
A: While Starbucks isn't my FAVORITE coffee place, it'll do in a pinch.

Q: Will you still be checking your e-mail?
A: I imagine weekly or so. I still prefer e-mail communication over the phone most of the time.

Q: But what WILL you do without it?
A: Hopefully engage more in the 3D world here... laundry, dishes, walks, music, beaches.

Q: But Ellie, we know you... how will you live without instant access to your homeschooling forums and your Catholic forums and your amazon.com and facebook and the Drudge?!?
A: Someone once told me that God will reward us anytime we choose a greater good. I truly believe not having internet in our home will be a greater good, even if those things weren't "bad" to begin with.

Q: Okay fine, but you can't tell me Steve feels this way too?!
A: There are depths to that man that many people don't often see or take the time to discover. You'd be surprised.

Q: So are you saying the rest of us with internet are bad people? How judgemental!
A: Of course not. The pope has internet, I'm quite fond of him. It's simply what seems to be the right choice for us at this particular time in our lives.

Q: Well FINE, but I bet it won't last!
A: It may not, we aren't totally dogmatic about this. We figured it was a good way to save money, to simplify our lives, and to focus more on the family. If our joy somehow DECREASES because of this, we may be online again soon. But while technology has done fabulous work in increasing human entertainment and pleasure, it has done almost nothing to add to human joy.

another first

my favorite company

I get a lot of unsolicited catalogs. Shopping mail order or online does that for you... they sell your name etc., etc., and pretty soon Steve is getting American Girl Doll Catalogs and I'm getting Northern Tool Company catalogs.

As it is, I recently received yet another toy or education catalog that I was just about to recycle before I opened it up.

Oh. My. Word.

Mindware is THE BEST catalog I have now! I love EVERYTHING! It is amazing! I could plan almost our ENTIRE homeschooling curriculum JUST from this catalog for years! Fun. Educational. Clever. Quality. What more could anyone possibly want?!

My kids would love this stuff! More importantly... so would Steve and I!!! Ha, ha, ha. We just spend close to an hour together browsing this catalog. Go check it out, you won't be disappointed.

family portrait

Okay so I know you're all needing a laugh and I'm willing to oblige since I'm short on sleep and avoiding my sewing machine that needs me at the moment.

This is the photo we tried to enter into a Dream Vacation contest. It had the caption of "Well, we're dreaming big of our family cruise, but for some reason we can't seem to make it out of port." Anyway, there was a bug with the website's entry form and I tried, and tried and tried. I even wrote to their Tech Support but they didn't help me. So I concluded, maybe erroneously, that the whole contest was rigged or just a crock.

So I'm left with this fantastic portrait for your viewing amusement. If Dominic's face had been a little more "engaged" I think it would have been in the running for the $10,000 vacation.