Shoeshine

So you know those moments where your heart is just overwhelmed with love for your children or your spouse? Well I had one of those today. My son Nathan has been choosing to wear his 'church' shoes on Sundays. His question before lunch today was "Dad can you teach me how to shine my shoes?" Now why this particular comment would cause that love sensation I'm not sure, but it did.

Learning

Well the school year for us officially started on September 6th.  I was nervous, let me tell you!  Me teach my own kids reading, writing, and arithmetic?! 
We started they day off just reading the Bible and then praying for each other.  Even now a week later this is the best time of the day.  The kids seem to really enjoy this part.  Then we do weather, days of the week, and our hundred day of school count up (bee #6 is on the board today).  Next we start school.  Nathan starts with penmanship and seat work and Emily and I do her language arts, reading, and poetry.  Then I introduce her new cursive letter and she does the practice sheets for that.  While she is doing that, Nathan and I take on language arts, reading, and poetry.  Then we all take a break.  After break Emily does seat work and spelling and Nathan and I do Math.  While he does Math worksheets Emily and I do Math.  Then she does Math worksheets and we are done.
On Fridays we do any tests that are needed and then right now we are doing science.  Later we will take on American History.
I've learned a lot this first week.  I've changed our schedule 3 times already :)  Also I've learned that at some point during the day I need to remove myself from their range and just be alone.
Let the Adventures continue.

The Decision is Made

Well we have made the decision to home school starting this next year.  We will be taking it one year at a time.  Several things brought us to this decision.  First, we have a hard time placing our children in public school.  Our district has been hit hard by these economic times and that has led to cut upon cut upon financial cut.  This year the number of teachers has been razed to the bare minimum and they are predicting around 40 kids per class!!!  Also, I have a hard time subjecting my children to friends that I wouldn't be comfortable letting them go to their house to play with.  Our children are not missionaries!
Our kids have been attending a private school and the curriculum they use places our kids at least one if not two grade levels ahead of public school (My 2nd grade son was learning some of the same stuff my 4th grade nephew in public school was).
Second, the gas money required to get my children to their private school was 3 times what the tuition for the school cost!!  Now David has a pretty good job, but with gas prices going up our gas was going to land at almost $800/month!!!
So we looked at our options.  Homeschooling won.  For less than one month of tuition + gas to get them to private school we could buy all the home school curriculum and outfit the 'school' room.
Now that the decision is made, I've ordered the curriculum and have started organizing the school room.  I must admit I'm part excited (always thought I'd be a good teacher) and part terrified (stay at home with my children and teach them!!)
Let the Adventure Begin!

It's a Foreign Language

You almost need a degree in Meganese to understand my daughter when she talks...at least about some things.  You have to just know what she means, or you are out of the loop.  I can understand what she's after....mostly, her father is a bit more clueless.  Some examples:
"Mom I want my tappings."
"Those are my click, clicks."
"I want to wear my rounding."
"Do you see my oncles?"
"I want to watch Sam."

The interpretations are as follows:
"Mom I want to wear my blue canvas shoes with the rubber toes."
"Those are my plastic princess dress up shoes."
"I want to wear my dress/skirt."
"Do you see my elbows?"
"I want to watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs."

Now I'm sure you could have guessed the rounding, but every single other one threw my husband for a loop.

Kids are so fun, and I love all her little sayings and will miss them as she grows up.

Who Knew?!

So who knew dishwashing was a contact sport? Apparently in our house it is. Nathan faked right and went left and I smashed into his forehead with the edge of a plate. Whoops!

                                                               

Spring Cleaning Fever

Well spring is in the air.  It must be because my little fingers are starting to itch and my brain spin with spring cleaning ideas.  It doesn't help that I've been reading a book titled "Is There Life After Housework" by Dan Aslett (I think I spelled the name right).  My plan for spring cleaning this year is to start by SIMPLIFYING.
I was doing laundry this week (so what else is new) and Emily brought down her dirty laundry...all three baskets mounding full...and she still has stuff in her drawers!  Seriously?!  Nathan and Megan's clothing piles aren't much better.  So I'd like to downsize the kids closets and then just get rid of all that stuff that's been sitting there for years that I haven't touched since we moved in here 3.5 years ago. 
I'm planning to start in my bedroom, which is a bit overwhelming because our closet has a storage area in it.  I am so looking forward to decluttering our house!
Of course it may take me years to do it, but I'm hoping not.
Alright, off to bury myself in dust and stored stuff.

Getting Old

Well thank goodness!  It has been confirmed...I am NOT old.
At the dinner table tonight Emily (5) asked me how old I was.  I answered truthfully "32".  She said "For real?"  I confirmed that 32 was my correct age and asked her if she thought I was old.  With a little giggle she said "No, you're not old, but you are getting old!"

Sigh.  I can totally remember when 32 sounded ancient.  Looking back, 32 was when my mother was pregnant/giving birth to my baby sister.  I have more gray hairs now than I care to even try to count and I contemplate on and off having another child of my own, so I guess Emily is right, I'm not old (still reasonable child bearing years), but I am getting old (gray hairs proof positive).

Bumper Sticker Baby

Conversation between Me and my not yet potty trained almost three years old Megan.

Her:  I have an owie.
Me: Where is your owie?

Her: Ummmm, on my bum.

Me: Megan, did you poop in your diaper?

Her: Ummm, yeeeessss, it happens.

Laugh Out Loud!

It is so very true.  Poop does indeed happen!

Quote of the Day

"Mom, mom I persevered!"  Emily, age 5.

Something we all should learn to do!

(By the way, in case you were curious, she persevered by sticking to it and opening her own valentines day candy heart necklace all by herself...didn't even ask for help!)