Jaron's First Day Homeschooling

Well after many months of feeling like I should take Jaron out of school and teach him hear at home....I finally did it. Friday was his last day of public school. He has a hard time focusing and staying on task in a classroom full of children and only one teacher. I knew that I could provide him with the one on one attention he needs to get his work done.

Today was our first day of homeschooling and we survived! His teacher sent home a chart of things he needs to work on in Writing and Language Arts. Also she sent home his science and math workbooks that he needs to complete by the end of the year. I have done all the necessary paperwork (one form) for the state to notify them he is homeschooling now. All I have to do now is record his attendance and mail it in to them once a month.

I went to the local school supply store and bought a couple of books with activities in them for all subjects. We already have a lot of stuff like handwriting paper and arts and craft supplies. I had a rough idea of what I wanted him to do but did not plan ahead I just got all the work books out and let him pick what he wanted to do next. He has a hard time sitting still so I let him do 30 minutes at a time with 15-30 minute breaks in between each subject. He chose math first, then map skills, creative writing, science, language arts, Art (painting and playdough)...

...then reading The Story of Creation, Handwriting and Spelling words from the story. We covered the required 4 1/2 hrs by the state and finished the day by 1:30pm.

I am pleased with how smooth it went. Jonah had a hard time understanding why Jaron couldn't play with him but once he figured out when he took breaks they could play then he was ok with it. I skipped my nap today with the little ones (not easy but I will have to quit that) and that's when we read the story and focused on his handwriting and spelling.

Jacob is still in public school and wants to finish out the year there. He is warming up to the idea of homeschooling next year. His main conern is not having friends. But I am going to join a local homeschool group to go on field trips with other families next year.

I am excited for this new beginning in our lives. God has allowed me to stay home with my children and my husband is a hard worker providing for us to afford it.

He hates the gate!

I have a baby gate that I use to keep the boys out of the kitchen when I'm mopping or to seperate them when they're fighting. Or just to keep the little ones out while the big ones do homework.

 And Justus is not a big fan of being seperated from Mommy or maybe it's just the fact that he can't pace the floors like he does now since he's mastered the art of walking.

 He paces around with his hands behind his back and going from room to room not following anyone just pacing....it's cute...he gets it from his daddy and peepaw.

 So after I mopped on this particular day I grabbed my camera when I saw his face smushed up against the gate. He kept doing it so I kept snapping as many silly faces as I could capture.

We had fun and I think he liked seeing mommy laugh so hard...he was putting on a show for me.

My Valentines....

Well all of us are coughing and have yucky noses. It's rare to get them all in the same place for any length of time. But when they are sick this is what they do most of the time. Laying around watching movies and bonding.

 Then when Jonah heard me ask for a roll of quarters at the bank he knew he had the chance to earn some money so he offered to help me vacuum and empty the dishwasher and clean the table. It's amazing how a quarter will movtivate this 3 year old!

And incase you didn't know....yesterday was valentines my husbands birthday! Every year I tell him happy birthday and in return he says happy valentines day. He got me purple tulips and some chocolates (THE BEST GIFT EVER!). And I made him this heart cake and a nice card.

We tried to celebrate and enjoy ourselves but it's not easy when everyone feels yucky.

I do love him more today than the day we met. He means more to me now and I can appreciate the differences we have instead of trying to change him. Opposites really do attact and we fit together like a puzzle. I am so glad God sent Chris to me and we have been together for 13 years. It's amazing what the Lord can do in your life if you just let Him.

This too shall pass...

Last week Jaron was congested and coughing....now we ALL are! Justus is the only one running a fever so after 3 days of alternating tylenol and motrin every 4 hours trying to help his 103 fever~ I gave up. I went to the ER today~desperate to find out "what's wrong with my baby?!?!?" After waiting for eternity the doctor and holding him on my numb shoulder (for 3 days straight) she came in and checked his ears. After confirming my motherly instinct was right, both ears are infected, I decided that a shot of strong antibiotics was in order to kick this nasty infection before I go crazy from lack of sleep. I do not want to wait for 10 days of antibiotics (accompanied by diahrrea) before his ears get better. We both wanted relief and fast!

We got home and the Lord reminded me of the stock of numbing ear drops we have because all our boys have had TONS of ear infections. So I gave Justus some of those drops and some milk in a medicine dropper. He won't suck a bottle because his ears hurt so bad. And too much milk increases the already troublesome mucus. But ibuprofen on an empty stomach makes him puke. But the milk causes phlem and makes him cough which leads to puking. UGH! It's a vicious cycle that I am praying will be better tomorrow. Please pray my baby sleeps tonight and is back to himself soon! (my shoulder can't take anymore~carrying around a 25lbs. baby for 3 days has not been easy but I'm his mother and I will do whatever I have to do to help him feel better)

New Ideas!

I have been looking online for new games and crafts to do with the boys. This marshmallow launcher was a BIG hit! Made with a small glad cup with the bottom cut out and a balloon stretched around the bottom. Fill with marshmallows or just put one and pull back the balloon to send the "amo" flying.

Then we made a baseball diamond on the carpet with masking tape and they loved that too!

Jacob is so ready to start their baseball season in March.

Despite the rain we had fun inside today.

And I can't forget Jaron dressed up in daddy's suit and said "here comes pastor Jaron". So cute!

Personal Pepperoni Pizza Party!

We let the boys create their own little pizzas with english muffins, mini pepperonis, pizza sauce and shredded cheese. Then 5 minutes in the oven to melt the cheese, they all gathered around the oven window with the light on, anxiously waiting for their creations, mouths watering. It was fun and we all loved them!

Playtime~all the time!

 When child locks fail...

 tigger gets a tail...

 and they all check their email...(except Jaron~he's said "where's my laptop?)

 The fish are not alone...

 And there's two kings on their throne...

then Jonah wrote his numbers on his own.

Letting Go...

I set high expectations for myself and never reach my goals. I have good intentions but when I can't complete my "To Do List" I beat myself up for it. I want my house be perfect, spotless and organized.
It sounds so crazy as I type because I know that's impossible with 4 children. I want all the papers on my desk to be filed in the correct place. I want to create and plan crafts for my kids but never do. I read online and get tons of ideas but never follow through with them.
Keeping up with the check book and making sure bills get paid is priority over the other paperwork.
I want to get on a regular cleaning schedule with sweeping and mopping and vacuuming.
Chris washes clothes almost daily and they stay piled up on the couch most of the time until I feel so guilty I make myself fold them.
Most of this sounds like normal things most people probably have under control. I guess it's the lack of sleep that makes me unable to focus. I feel like I'm in a fog. I try to sit down and work on something and just can't muster up the energy. I need to prepare for taxes but haven't started yet. I need to research homeschooling curriculum but haven't done it yet. I drink caffeine to stay awake and feel like I'm in survival mode most days just making sure everyone is fed and bathed.

I need to stop giving Justus milk bottles in the bed but I haven't. It's my fault he's still on the bottle and not fully transitioned to milk in a cup. I have been slacking on that too. If I could just get a good 7 hours of sleep every night I am sure I'd be able to skip napping with the kids and really knock out all of that stuff while they sleep 2 hours each day. So every night I pray for God to make the children stay asleep so I can get some sleep too. I have high hopes that tonight will be better than last night. But Justus is teething and also is croupy today so sleep is not really happening much.

I have to learn to let go of the things that aren't important and focus on what needs to be done. The rest can wait. I shouldn't be so hard on myself and then I wouldn't feel so guilty for the lack of accomplishment. It's a vicious cycle I need to break and I am determined....

Creative Minds

Jaron and Jonah wanted to be pirates this morning so we got out the laundry baskets, papertowel rolls and used a golf club to make a flag.

 It's amazing how they can entertain themselves just by using a little imagination.

Sundays...

This was the second sunday in a row Chris made me bacon, eggs and toast for breakfast. And for years he's ironed everyone's clothes for church. He really is a good daddy and husband.

This is our typical routine.

 I get up and eat breakfast. (He usually lets me sleep and feeds the boys breakfast.)

Then I pick out what I want them to wear for church and he irons while I shower.

I dry my hair and the 2 youngest usually join me in the bathroom for that.

I clean out my bag and put only the necessities for church (diapers, wipes, snacks, toys, paper, crayons, pipe cleaners with ABC beads, bottle of milk, one thermos of water and smarties for good behavoir.)

The boys go into our room and get dressed where they find all their clothes lined up on the bed in age order and ironed thanks to daddy. :-D

Then they all need a snack because they ate breakfast at 6:30am and it's 9 now and we're about to leave for church so they usually all have a yogurt.

Sometimes we go through a drivethru on the way home and yesterday was one of those days. 

 Justus got a taste of Mcdonalds fries and wasn't happy when the box was empty. 

 He flipped it and flopped it....

 and waved it around....

and after realizing they were definately all gone he enjoyed a warm bottle of milk followed by an afternoon nap.

Thoughtful Thursday

We watched Ratatoullie today and the boys love to get the fake food out. They pretended to cook and after the food was all cleaned up and we were getting ready for bed, I looked up to find this one soup spoon hanging with the keys. Because we never know when we're gonna eat some soup. I forgot to ask who put it there but someone was being thoughtful.

I love these boys...

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After stepping out of the bath Jonah held up his hands "Look mommy uncles!" He was talking about his wrinkled hands because he was in the bath for a while.

Wordless Wednesday