Mourning our Homeschooling

So I put my kids in school this year.

Molly wanted to be in the band.  Ben was really struggling at home.  I was a bit on the crazy side...so I really thought this was going to be good.  It is good.  So far.  For the kids...

BUT

(you knew that was coming!)

I am a little torn up inside.  Because if anyone was ever made to be a homeschool mama, it is ME! And I just put my kids in school...GAH!  I just keep remembering my mantra last year.  "It doesn't have to look like everyone else's school to be good.  It doesn't have to be perfect to be good.  It is okay to learn a different way!"

Now, I'm all inside out trying to help the kids learn how to learn the public school way.  It is hard for us.  I mean, you have to have your ACT TOGETHER!  And this act is still missing some major components!

Things I like:
The quiet time in the day for just Sophia and Andrew and I.  I like getting to run errands without worrying that it is taking time from the kids' education time.
I do not have to worry if I am covering it all anymore!  PHEW!/wipes forehead

Things I am not really down with:
Routine... :)
Other people telling me what has to be done all the time.  Loss of autonomy.
No time to just sit around and be a family together doing family things.
Too many homework assignments that take FOREVER to complete.  We are so ADD that there is just no focus left by 3:00.  Homework is a total drag.
Bullying behaviors at school.
Attitudes being picked up from other kids.  Working on this one!
Making sure they have lunch money, their books, their stuffffffff.  So annoying.

So, as for now, we are still in this homeschooling thing.  If anything, putting them in school has made me feel less adequate in being able to homeschool.  HOWEVER, I still feel that if they were at home, we would get by just fine, and they would still become productive members of society as adults.

Drama

The other day I was leaving to go out with a friend for about an hour.  Sophia was upset and as she was crying laid on the guilt with "You gonna leave THIS baby?" As she points to herself and stick out her lips and wails...Oh, the DRAMA!

Career Choices of a Six Year Old

Today Jake let me know what he wants to be when he grows up.

A firefighter, a dentist, a bush pilot, and a pirate.

Me:A PIRATE???  Hey, do you know what a pirate does?
Jake:  Uh, no.
Me:  THEY STEAL.  You want to steal?
Jake:  I'm gonna be a good pirate...I'm only gonna take stuff from bad guys.
Me:  So, you are only going to steal from bad people?
Jake:  Yeah, that's it!
Me:  But Jesus says not to steal.
Jake: Oh.  Well, then how about I just go around and tell people to follow Jesus.
Me:  Ok, that sounds like a good plan, but that is called being a  missionary.
Jake:  Oh yeah.  I wanna be a missionary when I grow up!

Oh, the sweetness of a 6 year old.

Temporarily Out of Order

Ok, so life is busy...sorry for not posting...anything...ever! If I even have one person reading this thing anymore, here is a bit of an update.

My 16 year old niece is now living with us. She is super awesome and we love having her with us!

Puppy was caught spanking himself today. He says he was bad...I am not going to disagree, just wish I knew what he did. Must check all breakables in the house, and find out what he was doing.

Monkey was baptized in April. He was so sweet. He also had a fun time learning how to swim. Now he and his sister can race across the pool this summer.

Mouse is busy learning her role as the little sister around here now. It is hard adjusting to not being the boss anymore. But she worships her cousin, so it is not so bad. She has a beautiful swim stroke. We are looking at doing some competitive swimming next year.

Our new little ladybug has cut her first tooth and is rolling over like crazy. She will soon sit up and crawl. We are all on the lookout for her first word. Babbling is so sweet and precious, now bring on the "Mama, and DaDas!" Those dimpled smiles are melting our hearts and brightening our days.

As for me, well, I am busy trying to cope with two new family members, figuring out a routine, and trying to control my own ADD. So, when things get crazy, I drop a few balls from the juggling act. Right now, one of those balls has been this sad little blog. Also, I have been reading the Maximum Ride series from James Patterson. It is a teen adventure series. Very fun and easy read. A few swear words, that he could have left out, but still good.

Another book I am waiting for payday to get is my long ago friend Novella Carpenter's book, Farm City, The Education of an Urban Farmer. Hope you will pick it up too.

Just so you know

According to Puppy, babies poop out of their bellybuttons. How gross is that????

It took some convincing, but I think he finally believes us that they don't, now that the umbilical cord came off.

Also, did you know that the stuff you put on your lips when they are chapped is called Lapstick? Well...now you know.

Chores - A quiet rebellion

We have been working hard on creating and following routines in the last few months. These routines are what we will cling to in the upcoming days of change and adjustment in our family to the new baby.

Each morning Mouse is responsible for unloading the dishwasher after getting dressed all the way to shoes, and eating breakfast. The other day I happened to see that she was busily putting the dishes away, fully dressed to shoes, but over all that, she had on her robe. Is this a quiet rebellion? Time will tell.

She's Here!

Baby Girl - 7lbs. 0 ounces - 18.5 inches - dimple in her right cheek. Perfect delivery!