Homeschooling and Loving it!

Homeschool Schedule like Sonlight

2011-04-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

I have created a new document, for the purpose of making my hectic life a little easier. I have always been drawn to the Sonlight Instructor's Guides, and I almost bought one just because I love the format! However, I like doing things my own way, so I tinkered around on excel to make a document that would fit my needs. Feel free to download it and alter it on your own computer as you need!

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ApkU0Jijr_J2dFdJVzlDWGtodlA3eFdXWndCcVR3Q3c&hl=en&authkey=CKbjtfsI

2011-02-06T13:37:00.000-08:00

I haven't gone near this blog in so long. I am constantly on the go. Let's break it down:

Monday-Friday: Homeschooling

Tuesday- Gymnastics and Swimming

Thursday- Indoor Soccer and Swimming

Friday- Co-op (PE, Music, Geography)

Sunday- Church and Scouts

This is weekly. In addition, we have constant play dates and field trips. This week, we went roller skating. Sometimes, we head to the museum.

Our trip last week was lots of fun. We went to the Museumof Natural Sciences in Raleigh as well as a quick stop to the history museum next door.

Here is Aidan, showing you a turtle and the boys posing in front of a Hell Bender. Yes, a Hell Bender. How many times do you think they said "Hi, HELL Bender?" "Mom, it's a HELL Bender!" Any chance to say a "bad" word, it is ridiculous. :)

Aidan is learning how it would have felt to get water for the family in the first picture, while Preston looks on as a dinosaur consumes his brother.

In December, we celebrated Aidan's 7th Birthday with a Star Wars theme and on February 2nd, we celebrated Preston's 4th birthday with a "Blue Baby"/"Brown Baby" theme. Those are his precious monkeys who like to go everywhere with Preston.

Here is the R2D2 cake I made:

Blue Baby/Brown Baby cake I made:

So, those are just some highlights of recent months.

A day in the life of our homeschool

2010-09-01T16:24:00.001-07:00

So, here goes... a day in our homeschool. I would say "typical" day, but there is never a typical day, because we switch things up, go to co-op classes, enrichment activities, field trips, and meet with homeschool groups. We have a field trip coming up soon to go to... a COOKIE FACTORY! We are super excited about that, as we will get to sample their moravian cookies and see how they are made. We are going on one to the transportation museum, plus we are going to the Alamance Battleground one day in October to get a very Colonial Williamsburg type experience- meeting blacksmiths, schoolteachers, spinners, and more. We will even see a cannon fired! Aidan is thrilled about that.

First off, here is what our homeschool area looks like. It is a section of the playroom. The picture on the left shows you that there is a bookcase full of books(this is 1 of the 2 we have upstairs), a Thomas chair the boys sit on to look at books, the plastic bins with craft supplies and math manipulatives, a map of the U.S., a dry erase board (which we use every single day for most subjects!). On the picture on the right, you see 2 desks. The smaller one is for our 3 1/2 year old, Preston. The larger is for Aidan, our 6 1/2 year old. We have a multiplication chart, 100 number chart, chore chart, calendar, and weather chart.

Now, here is how our day went today.

I first woke Aidan up...who happened to be camping out in his tent in the playroom. Life is good. :)

Somewhere around 7:15

We started with an art project, and then went on to math. We use Saxon 2, which is manipulative heavy. The lesson today was on drawing pictures to represent addition and subtraction problems, plus reviewing calendar work, graph work, addition, and basic fractions.

After our normal lesson (which takes between 30 to 45 minutes), he got to play around with tangrams/pattern blocks.

Around this time, Preston woke up and was ready to learn! He may be 3 1/2, but he tells everyone he is homeschooled. He loves reading, math, pretty much everything. Here he is, reading from an easy reader.

After breakfast, it was time for history. This is Aidan's favorite subject. We use Story of the World and we are currently studying ancient times-middle ages. We had an encyclopedia reading today and we read a book set in the time period of ancient India, entitled The King's Chessboard. Aidan also went back to last week's work to finish a project from the Byzantine empire.

Aidan then did some reading from two of our Abeka readers, his Handbook for Reading book, as well as his seat work for Language 1 and Letters and Sounds 1.

After a snack, we needed a break... so we headed to the Burlington area to Joe Davidson park for playground fun and a nature walk.

The boys loved hiking through the woods and discovering different trees, rocks, mushrooms, and even a little stream of water. After a nice walk through the woods, we found a bench to sit on and eat our picnic lunch. The boys were very tired when we were through and ready to go home. We ran into another homeschooling family there, learning about the phases of the moon. The woman, who will teach Aidan's geography co-op course, had the same idea as I did- to do some learning outside.

We went back home and it was time to read! I read the boys a book about too many toys, and Aidan read a Henry and Mudge book. Aidan also used Explode the Code online.

This usually takes place in my bed. :)

When all of the subjects were completed, we headed down to the .....

POOL!!!

So, that is one day in our lives. Every single day is different. Some more stressful, some more exciting, but each a blessing.

1st Grade!

2010-08-25T16:50:00.001-07:00

So, today the school bus arrived nice and early to take all of the neighborhood kids to school... It was the first day back for the local schools, but we started back with our school work 3-4 weeks ago (so we can break when the weather is nice and cool). We are loving homeschooling right now! Today we did our schoolwork, went to a bowling playdate with our homeschooling group, and spent an hour at the pool.

Our school choices this year:
Math- Saxon 2
Reading- Abeka, Explode the Code Online, Phonics Pathways, HOP
Spelling- Hooked on Spelling
Science and History- Well Trained Mind choices (classical)
Electives- Hooked on Spanish, Abeka Health
Classes- Homeschool Gymnastics, Art, Geography, and Music
And lots of trips to the museum, zoo, and LIBRARY!

This year we switched our math program from Math-U-See (used Alpha last year) to Saxon 2 this year. The boys like Saxon much better. I say boys, because Preston sits there and counts, skip counts, and answers the questions with his brother. He also insists on reading his brother's 1st and 2nd grade reading material, annoying Aidan greatly. :)

I am really looking forward to a great year. Last year I was not at all confident, but I am learning more each year!

Mother's Day reflections

2010-05-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here in a quiet house... Joel has taken the boys out for some Mother's Day shopping. It has given me a peaceful house, which is nice- for a while. My family often comments on how crazy it seems at my house, but I truly cherish the noise. The sound of raucous laughter, the running feet, the barking dogs. It may be chaotic, but it is my chaos.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I think back to those hospital trips...those tiny little babies that I would be entrusted with. I remember turning around in the car as we left the hospital when we brought Aidan home and seeing the car seat with him in it. It hit me...he was MY son. Up until that point in the hospital, it was all very dream like. He would be mine to protect, nurture, and raise. When his little brother joined us 3 years later, I felt so blessed. They certainly grow quickly, but every stage is so special. Play-dough food brought to me for tasting, pictures to admire, swings to push, and books to read. I could fill pages with the every-day moments that fill my day, and my heart.

I hear them in the driveway now. Bring on the noise! I am so very blessed...

I am on a roll!

2010-03-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

I am getting in shape! Since last Monday, I have spent every day on my treadmill. I took Saturday off, so I have so far done 7 out of 8 days. I have dropped 3 lbs. Only 8 to go!!!

I absolutely abhor exercising, but I love my bikini more than comfort any day of the week. So, I am officially on a roll.

On another note, I sent my resume to Burlington Christian Academy. Gulp. We'll see if I get a response, if they are even hiring... I would like to teach for a year, see if I like it before I devote a Master's to the subject. I could bring in some money, the boys would get a 90 percent tuition break, and it is a good Christian environment. I hope to hear something in the next week or so. It would definitely be a change for us all, but it would be a nice change, albeit temporary (hopefully a baby will come one day). If it doesn't happen, that is OK as well. Aidan has been a bit lonely without any friends around and I would like him in school...just not public school.

Finally, we have bought land and we are listing our home this week on MLS! I am super excited about moving, our cool house plan, and our proximity to my mom. After yet ANOTHER break-in for the neighborhood (2 in 2 weeks, 4th or 5th in a year), I am ready to GO! :)

Preston, my 3 year old!

2010-02-23T11:46:00.000-08:00

Well, this post is a tad late. Preston turned 3 years old on Groundhog Day (Feb 2nd). We spoiled him rotten, of course. Joel took the day off and we started the day at Bob Evans for breakfast. After a nice meal...

We went to Build-A-Bear! Or, in our case, Build-An-Owl and Build-A-Puppy. Preston made a cute dog, which he named....Rocket! Yes, he is obsessed with Little Einsteins. Aidan made an owl, named Hedwig, demonstrating that my children watch too much television. :)

On the following Saturday, Preston had a birthday party with our family. We decided on a Little Einsteins theme, so of course I made a cake shaped like Rocket.

We did a treasure hunt for musical instruments, which the kids played when the hunt was over. They did a craft, played together, and it even ended with their cousins spending the night!

I cannot believe my baby is 3!!!

A stolen quiet moment...

2010-02-08T07:44:00.001-08:00

The boys and I played a few rounds of Candy Land while Greg napped and then they decided to get on their costumes and play Harry Potter. They are casting spells on one another in the other room. I have a minute to myself!

So, I have definitely adjusted to having little Greg around. He is a good baby, doesn't cry much, and the boys get excited when he comes. I think this will definitely work out! Slowly, but surely, our debt will be g-o-n-e. Then we can save up and move to Chapel Hill in a few years!

I have been considering the summer lately...what part-time camps to put Aidan in and whether or not to homeschool year round. I will (of course) give him a break in the spring and in the summer, but 3 months off? I don't think that is the best idea. He wants to do soccer camp and I am going to sign him up for a wilderness camp (hiking, fishing, etc), and perhaps a VBS. I don't know if we should just continue on with math and reading, or with everything. I don't want him to be burned out but I don't want him to forget things either. I would like a nice balance.
We will definitely have lazy days and a lot of time on our gigantic waterslide in the backyard, but 3 months seems a bit endless for doing nothing. :)

Tired, tired, tired...

2010-01-27T18:40:00.000-08:00

Today was interesting and exhausting... I decided I would make some extra money for our family by taking in another child. I watched a 9 month old today. It is amazing how much it altered our day. He crawled everywhere, put everything in his mouth, and needed to be watched like a hawk. While he was a good baby and didn't cry much, the boys were definitely affected. Preston closed himself in his room, said he was sad and said that the baby couldn't come in. Aidan told me in the evening that he was upset that I didn't pay attention to him like I did to the baby. While he took 2 naps, those naps were used to do homeschooling. We did not have time to play while he was here. After he left at 4, the boys and I sat down and played a game of Harry Potter Clue. Then, time for dinner and a trip to the grocery store.

What I realized today is that homeschooling is so much work and I really probably cannot take on more responsibility. With housework, cooking, homeschooling, errands, doctors and dentists and various appointments, my schedule is crammed full. Perhaps a summer gig with an older child will work, but I don't have a lot of free time as it is. And, when I had him on my hip, Preston was on the floor. It is still his hip. Silly? Perhaps... but, he is my baby until I get pregnant. I don't want another person's baby to usurp that position.
I will give it a good solid week- until next Friday- and see how I feel.

Need to pull out that denim jumper...

2010-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

So, I am attending my very first homeschool event today. I do not know many homeschoolers who are normal, save for my high school friend, Barbie. I know there are many who are still cool, but whenever I meet one they seem to be a bit off.
When we went to Gymboree last week, I met a homeschooling woman with her five kids...wearing- a bonnet and a prairie type dress. So, needless to say I am a bit curious to see if I will fit in. I do not own a denim jumper or a modest...anything. Nor will I. EVER.
It is like high school all over again, although I don't even know if I want to fit into the crowd. I am going for Aidan, not for myself. It just seems a bit surreal... I always thought of myself as someone who would drop her children off at school, grab a Starbucks, and have a bit of a break at home or at a job.
Now, my days are nothing like that. They are NEVER quiet. Preston has decided napping is no longer for him and likes to make as much noise as possible as I try to teach Aidan about space, Hammurabi, and how to become a better reader. I wake up, spend all day with them, and then crash after they go to sleep.
I often wonder how much I am helping versus how much I am losing my mind. I KNOW that our public school is not the answer, but sometimes as my patience is wearing thin I question my decision.
I miss going to school, having a life, having conversations with people. Now I talk to my children, sometimes my mom, my husband, and my sis. I do not know a lot of people, do not get out often enough, and have become Mommy. Not Eva....just Mommy. Mommy. MOMMMY!!!! He took my toy, MOMMMMMY!
Don't get me wrong, I have good and bad moments. When I see the boys play nicely, when I experience them having fun, learning, being silly I love it. I guess some days I am so tired. I miss being Eva.
Unfortunately, making any friends at a homeschool group won't cure that. There, I will just be Aidan and Preston's Mommy. Perhaps I'll grab a Starbucks on the way. And some earplugs.

New Year, New Resolutions...

2010-01-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

So, it is a new year once again. Happy 2010! It is the time to make resolutions, although whether or not one will be able to maintain the resolution after the first week is a different story. So, I am attempting to make and keep some resolutions, because we should all strive to become better people. So, here are mine:
1.) Get organized!!! I feel as though I do not have a firm grasp on paperwork, books, and the nursery. The rest of the house is not too bad, but I need a better system. This includes organizing the hundreds and thousands of pictures I have. Daunting, yes. Rewarding? Definitely.
2.) Be on time. This is hard. I seem to always arrive 10 minutes late, at least, wherever I go.
3.) Walk my dogs every day. Since we have a fence, it is so easy to let them use the backyard, let them in, and forget they need to use their muscles. I will start with at least once a day and move up to twice once the habit is formed. Right now, I walk them but not daily.

So, these are the main ones. If I can think of more, I'll add to my list. Wish me luck!

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The crazy month of December!

2009-12-16T06:02:00.000-08:00

This month is half over and it has flown by. Our 7 year anniversary was on the 7th, Aidan's birthday is the 17th, and my mom and stepdad have bdays during December was well. With homeschooling, Christmas shopping, basketball practice and games, and family events, I am wondering where this month has gone! My sister told me to update my blog, and I must admit I have let it slide. It seems that every moment of every day is filled with something.

So, let's see... my little baby is turning 6 years old tomorrow! We had a Star Wars birthday party for him. I spent a good portion of that Friday morning constructing a lightsaber cake. He loved it! I guess those 2 cake decorating classes were worth it, to make my little man happy. :)

His cousins, Kaitlyn and Ryan, and his best friend, Nathan, slept over. It was chaotic having 5 kids in the house, but fun! They stayed up until midnight with Joel, watching...Star Wars, of course! Here is a pic of them, camped out in the playroom.

The next day, after a fun morning of playing in the house, we met up with my dad and stepmom at the roller rink. We all went roller skating- even little Preston!

So, there is only a few days until Christmas. I have now spent too much time updating thisblog. :) I have Christmas wrapping to do, candy to make, and kids to teach. Ahhh!

Taking Facebook too far

2009-11-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been thinking about how much I hate Facebook. What? HATE Facebook? But, you think to yourself, you are ON Facebook! Yes, yes- I am. I don't hate Facebook per se... I hate the people who seem to make their lives exist entirely on Facebook.

Lets call them... The Facebook Freaks.

I see the updates- I know when you are buying a purple virtual cow to live on your virtual farm, I see how often you have won a bejeweled game (and I note that you have been on facebook all day playing this to get the highest score), I have received your virtual hugs, kisses, and even your virtual martini. If you want to buy me a drink, please make it something I can enjoy!

This facebook freak also supports every cause- lets save the rainforests, reduce toxic waste, lets save the whole freakin planet from our computer! If you would just join me in my plight by clicking a button, we can save the world! Woooo!!!

Why do these people live entirely online? When did living on facebook become acceptable socially? Will these people get married online? Post their vows on their walls?

I would apologize to the person whom this offends, but frankly if you are offended- well, just send me a virtual butt kicking. I can take it.

Sigh

2009-11-04T05:25:00.000-08:00

Joel and I talked a lot last night and we can't agree on the Brady house plan. He brought up the point that adding a sunroom to the plan was expensive and wasn't serving the purpose well. I want the sunroom for our informal dining area, as the house only has a formal one and we have 2 sets. He made the point that we have to walk through the living room with food every day to get there. Could get messy and impractical.

He wants to just eat at the bar in the kitchen, but my answer is no way! I am home all day, every day, and we eat every meal at our breakfast table unless it is a special time or we have company. I would be willing to use the formal one for dinner, but to eat at a bar otherwise? For years? I don't know if I can do that.

So, we are still looking. Getting the house ready if we can agree on another house plan in the neighborhood. I made progress yesterday in my organization at least!

One more concern- we will be moving to Mebane schools and they are good. Joel thinks he should go there, I see him flourishing with homeschooling. Sigh.

There's no place like home!

2009-11-03T06:35:00.001-08:00

Isn't it amazing how you look at your house differently when you think about selling it? Joel and I talked yesterday about putting our house on the market in 30 days. 30 days?!? I am excited but nervous. It is hard enough to keep the house semi-clean during the day, but there are things to be done. Closets to get and KEEP organized, paint touches, carpets to clean, windows to wash, pantry to organize, clutter to get rid of. When you live in your home every day you look past the pile of shoes in the garage, the finger prints on the fridge, the toys toys toys.

So, I have to get this house ready and keep the boys from destroying my progress. Notice how I am hiding on here instead of tackling it head on. Well, I better go start trying!

House Hunting

2009-11-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

This Halloween, we took Harry Potter and Hedwig to trick-or-treat with a Ninja and the Bride of Darkness. The cousins had fun walking, getting treats, and even getting a scare from one woman who took Halloween very seriously in her horrifying mask. It was nice spending the holiday together.

--------------------------

We spent the rest of our weekend looking for a house. This has been an ongoing process/fight as we hope to move closer to our family. We live in the middle of nowhere, otherwise known as McLeansville. So, we are hoping to move back to Mebane, which is a short 20 minute drive from our family and a 5 minute drive from my mom's office, the library, the park, and more. We found the house that I am hoping to buy! It is in Governor's Green, a DR Horton community. It has good schools, if Aidan goes to public they are good. The house is a Brady- here is the floorplan.

The room titled guest suite will become a tv room/playroom for the boys. We will also have one extra room not seen on the plan- off of the family room back door would be a sunroom around the size of the dining room. The bedrooms upstairs are huge and the loft will be perfect for 2 desks for the boys. So, I am sold on the house- we just need to convince Joel!

The PERFECT Blog

2009-10-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed as you peruse blogs that everyone seems to have the most perfect life? Especially when I stumble upon a homeschooling blog of a devout Christian..."Oh, I have 10 kids and we are just loving every minute of it!" "I got up at 4 today and baked muffins, gathered eggs from our chickens, washed the floors, worked out for an hour and prayed in my Bible" "Joe Jr. has written his own encyclopedia and he's only 7!" OK, that was a bit much, but HONESTLY. This is what you will find and it is a bit depressing. Why? Because it isn't reality. If it is, let me know- I must be a terrible mom.

My alarm is my children, crawling all over me begging for breakfast at 7 AM while I try to hide under my pillow. Breakfast is often a bowl of cereal, and those floors...well, I wouldn't eat off of them if I were you. Of course, my kids do- 5 second rule and all that- and I bet that those blogging moms would be appalled. I try and hit the gym 3 times a week but most weeks I drag myself there once and hope that it is enough. Life isn't anything like a blog. Life is full of frustration, worrying that you are doing everything wrong and praying that your children turn out OK. Blogs can be so superficial- you let the world think you are doing OK. You don't tell them about your problems, you create this guise of perfection. I am guilty as well. I surely don't want to air my dirty laundry for the rare person who stumbles upon this blog by mistake; however, I hope to be honest.

Whats the deal with Star Wars?

2009-10-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

As one of two girls, I never watched Star Wars growing up. I saw it once on a date in middle school and I cannot for the life of me tell you what it is about.

I can name 5 or 6 characters, but do not see what all of the fuss is about. Sorta like the Beatles. All you need is love...all you need is love...all you need is love, love- or is it that all you need is someone else to write your lyrics for you?

With that said, I am now a mother of 2 boys who gravitate towards weapons with a passion. When my older son was building with some tube shaped blocks a couple of weeks ago, I pleaded that he make something constructive- not a weapon. I said, "No guns, no swords, no knives." Down to the kitchen I go... soon I hear the yell of my younger son darting down the stairs followed by his brother who has made...an AX. Yep, an ax, which of course he was swinging at his brother. Granted, it was plastic but it was rather forbidding looking.

Today, my older son decides he wants to become a droid (apparently a S.W. character). He taped paper around his arms, legs, and chest and was shooting people with a rolled up sheet of paper. He then proceeded to tell me about the different movies, the toys he wanted from the movies, and would not stop talking. So what did I do? I turned on Star Wars. :)
Here I am, enjoying a rare moment of quiet as my baby naps and my older child becomes more obsessed.

Autumn Fun!

2009-10-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

We decided to visit a local pumpkin patch a few weekends ago to experience some fall fun. We enjoyed a hayride, met a calf who was only a few weeks old, stuffed a scarecrow, and more. The boys had a blast petting the animals, except for the goats....one goat decided it didn't like our boys and tried to horn them! There was a bubble maze and we each got to pick our own pumpkin. It definitely got me in the spirit of autumn!!!

Loose tooth already!

2009-10-20T18:21:00.001-07:00

My baby...OK, I know he is technically not a baby at 5 years old, but he is MY baby, has a loose tooth! This is his first and man it is loose! So, first the training wheels on the bike come off and now this. When I saw that tiny little tooth wiggling around in his mouth, it brought tears to my eyes. I remember when that tooth first popped into his mouth and already it is ready to go... sigh.

I feel so blessed that I was there with him today to watch his excitement-that I am always with him and Preston for every experience.

1st week of homeschooling...

2009-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Well, it is official. We have started to homeschool! We started a new math program today, called Math U See. We are using the Alpha level. Today we started talking about the place value of numbers. Aidan can add and subtract but doesn't understand WHY 30 is bigger than 20, only that it is. Aidan is learning his continents, where to find them, and today we talked about Asia. We have been working on our Hooked on Phonics for reading and Aidan is doing well. This week we talked about plants and their uses, differences, etc. for science. Aidan learned some Bible songs about the Creation and Adam and Eve, as well as a song to remember the days of the week. It has been an interesting start. I am sure we'll find our groove soon.
He is finishing up his soccer season in a few weeks and will start with basketball for the first time. I hope to get him started with piano lessons in the next week or so as well.

My baby is coming home

2009-09-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

Aidan's last day of school is this coming Tuesday! I am excited to be bringing him home to homeschool. I spoke with his teacher yesterday about my concerns- how Aidan is very unhappy, etc. and she put the blame on him. In a mean tone, she said "Aidan wants to do what Aidan wants to do when Aidan wants to do it." She told me she was getting him ready for the real world and this is KINDERGARTEN- time to grow up. Woah. So, I realized that they didn't care if he was there or not. It was draining my time, money, gas, and sanity. So, Tuesday is his last day! 3 days at Myrtle Beach for a little vacation, and we will start school the following week. I am scared but excited!

I love this age!

2009-09-15T15:47:00.001-07:00

Ok, I have to post these cute stories from my sweet 5 year old, Aidan.

Aidan and I were talking about our visit to Eastwood lake on Sunday and he told me how much fun he had jumping into the water. I said, "Oh, you liked jumping off those docks, huh?" He said, "No, Mommy, those aren't docks. Those are there to catch the goose poop so it doesn't go into the lake". :) The docks were, as usual, covered in poop and he thought they were there to catch it.

Later on, I was discussing with Aidan the concept of "tri" meaning "3". I gave him the example of a triangle, a tricycle, triplets, etc. After I couldn't think of any more examples, he said, "I know! A moose tri". I asked what that was, and he said, "You know, when a moose wants to do something and it has to try". I cracked up.

Gotta love the things they think. :) Hope that made you smile.

Anxiety...

2009-09-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I worry. I worry about money, my children, my choices in school, the meaning of life, the state of my marriage, my family, and more. I have OCD and because of this, I worry about the same things, every single day, all day long. Right now, my main worry is about my son, Aidan. He is not thriving in school right now and I feel like I should take him out. He is ahead of the class (he can read, they are doing vowels), getting into trouble, refuses to go, pretends to be sick, etc. It also costs money, gas, and 80 min. of my time every day I don't carpool (at least 40 min a day, at minimum). However, he is gaining independence, making friends, and I'm hoping it will improve. It has only been 2 weeks. I feel like homeschooling will grant my peace from this anxiety...
So, I am trying to look to the Bible. Philippians 4:6-7 states, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"(NIV version). On a side note, one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible follows, 4:8-9. Read it. :)
I am not supposed to be anxious, but how do I resist worrying? My mom tells me I must get it from my grandmother, Bessa, who (my mom thinks) "wakes up every morning and picks something to worry about".
I guess I will just continue to pray and hope that prayer alone can help. I know my family is quite sick of hearing about my worries. I am going to try and not worry for at least the rest of the day. Thank goodness it is already 6 pm!

My little boys are growing up.

2009-08-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

So, two huge milestones have come to fruition at the same moment. My older son, Aidan, is starting kindergarten on Tuesday. My younger, Preston, is now in a big boy bed. Where has the time gone?
I have mixed feelings about kindergarten. On the positive side, it is only 3 hours a day. It goes from 845-12, 5 days a week. He will be home for lunch and have time to play with friends. The teacher seems sweet and his best friend, Nate, will be with him. Unfortunately, I am not ready for my baby to be gone every single day. I like having him home with me. Aidan doesn't really want to go, but because I have a feeling we will need to homeschool after this year, it will be good for him to socialize for one more year. I have decided that our boys will not attend public school- ever. After reading Gatto and various statistics, I would not put my children in even the best one. I am OK with private schools, but there are still issues there- bullying, drugs, etc.
As for Pres, he is doing well in his big boy bed. We moved the full size bed out of our guest room and gave it to him. The crib and baby stuff are now all in the guest room- which is now the baby's room. Now I just have to get pregnant! We no longer have a space for guests, but we rarely have people stay. Preston will have a pirate room. The bedding and wall mural are on their way!