A new chapter: Homeschooling

Tomorrow starts a new chapter in our household.  Instead of the kids getting up and putting on uniforms, rushing to catch the bus and coming home and having the age old homework battle; the kids will be getting up, sitting at the kitchen table and being taught by their father.  Tomorrow we officially start homeschooling.
The decision to homeschool was not taken lightly.  We loved the kids school, especially the teachers and the principal.  But after over a year of research and discussion we took the leap.  I wont lie, I am slightly worried about the decision.  When the kids had teachers I knew that we didn't have to teach them everything, now they look to us (mainly Nick) to learn everything they need to know.  I will say growing up till 6th grade I went to a Montessori school and we did a lot of workbooks and when I heard that in that way homeschooling was similar, that actually made it doable.
I will say this summer was kind of weird.  No back to school shopping, except for the curriculum (and Daddy took care of that).  No calendar filled with back to school night, uniform sales and such.  
For anyone that homeschools or knows anything about it, we are going with the Seton Catholic Curriculum along with Saxon Math.  The kids will be learning Latin for the first time and we will be learning it right there with them (hey we will be all set if they ever go back to a Latin Mass!)
We want to thank all the homeschool parents and regular teachers that have helped us to make sure we are on the right track.  
The kids are excited... I think this will help them develop their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses.  
So tomorrow's back to school pictures will be a little different, but I will be excited to return home from work and hear all about their day!

C-Ya!

First day of school blues!

I remember as a kid the dreams started about a month before school starts... they even continued after I graduated college.  You know the dreams... some version of going to your first day of school and not being ready.  Well ready or not, that first day of school is tomorrow! 
Not for me though... for my kids.
This year Jeffrey will be in fourth grade, Samantha will be in second and Carter will be a new preschooler.  For the first time in a few years I will be down to one kid three mornings a week at home!
Are we all ready for tomorrow?  Mostly.  Most of the school supplies have been dropped off at school, the shoes have been purchased and the uniforms tried on.  We need to just get a few more things together, wash off the gym shoes and pack it all up in their backpacks.
Are the kids ready?  Mostly not.  They would love to stay home and hang out and not go to school! 
Is Mom ready?  YES!  This has been quite the summer with the kids not always getting along, I think they need the separation that school will bring (even if J & S's classroom doors are just across the hall from each other).
So tomorrow we will all wake up and bring the 2 oldest to the bus stop.  Wednesday we will go to Carter's preschool open house and Friday will be the first day for him.  Some wonder if Elizabeth will be ok with all of them gone, for some reason I think she will be just fine!
Happy New School Year!

C-Ya!

Big Week

Next week is quite the big week here... Tuesday is Samantha's 5th birthday, Friday is Carter's 1st birthday and Halloween. Add in a lot going on at school with birthday and Halloween parties plus we have to turn in Jeffrey's Christmas wreath order for cub scouts and Samantha's butter braids order for preschool (anyone want to buy any?) and it will be busy. Ohhh and for anyone that lives in the Twin Cities... Carter will be on KARE 11 during the 10am show for his first birthday on Friday!
And tomorrow is huge at church... it is the anniversary of the dedication of the church and also this is the 100th anniversary of the church this year (well actually next June) and Nick installed a huge 57,000 rock and so they are dedicating that and having 4th degree honor guard and special music and a breakfast brunch. So that will be exciting.
And I have been neglecting this blog something fierce... funny I am on the internet every day but never know what to write. Yea a ton has been going on with the family... especially the kids.. I just need to write about it. I have also been neglecting my scrapbooking and it is nice to look back on the blog and find out what I have done. I really need a long weekend to work on that.
Ohh.. and Go MINNESOTA GOPHERS... 7-1 Yeah!!!

C-Ya!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to me and all the other Mothers out there - whether you are a mother-to-be (as I was 6 years ago) or a "special Mom", whether your children were born in your tummy or in your heart. I love having this day where we honor Mothers!!!
In celebration of this being my first Mother's Day with 3 children, here are my three little (?) bundles of joy (with Lucy)! Jeffrey, Samantha & Carter do make this day extra special for me.


Nick is going to make dinner for us tonight. Of course I wish my Dad was still around and we could continue our tradition where us and my parents went out for dinner, but with him being gone I just don't feel like going out to eat.
Fathers must get jealous that Mother's Day falls during the school year because every year the kids seem to make me creative Mother's Day gifts but school is already out for his day (mental note to try to think of something creative for them to make this year). And this year was great... here are what the kids made at school. The card with the person giving a hug was made by Jeffrey and Samantha made the hand in the clay.. on the other said it talks about stuff we like to eat together like noodles, wraps and parmesan cheese!!

Don't know yet if Nick will get me a card from him and/or the kids. He doesn't seem to be great at remembering that.
I hope your day is happy!!

C-Ya!

Partial revamp

As you may be able to see... I did a partial revamp of the blog. I am actually on the hunt for a new template, but till then I changed something in the templates section.
I also deleted a couple more things on my sidebar.
So if you notice something is not working right, please let me know. But also tell me if your are finding it is loading faster. Thanks!!!

And, today it was back to school for the kids! It definetly was quieter around here!!!

C-Ya!

Back to School!

Yea... can you tell I am counting down the days!!! Honestly, I don't know what it is, but lately it has not been fun to be a sahm. The kids are not listening to me and they are fighting with each other constantly. I am sure it does not help that we have had 2 types of weather, really hot or rainy (as of the past couple weeks for the rain) and have not been outside much. Today is actually nice but they have trashed this house so bad that I do not feel like letting them outside.
So next Thursday Jeffrey will start Kindergarten!! He will be going to school full time, riding the bus and wearing a uniform! We had his open house last night, he got to see his classroom (including where he is sitting - right across from someone he knows - Yay!) and his locker and check other things out. It was quite funny, we went to the new family event before the all school event and we were joking with those that we know because, while we are a new family to the school, we have been going to the church for awhile and know our way around and other parents and such.
Samantha will start preschool in a week!! This is her first foray into school and even though she denies it, I know she is excited. She was so jealous of Jeffrey going to preschool last year. We decided to have her go to the same school as Jeffrey (because Jeff went to the public school the last 2 years) and she will be in class with her "boyfriend". Of course this also means I can call her potty trained!! It has been over 2 weeks since she has had an accident and has attained all her goals - so she is going to get a day with Daddy soon and got her Dora underwear. We also got to see her room yesterday, but will have an official open house next week. And I even went into the bathroom with her to make sure she could do everything and she can.
So I am looking forward to next week. I will actually have 2 1/2 hrs of me time 3 days a week... well at least till the baby is born!!
C-Ya!!