A Fishing Story and Blessings

We had a pretty good weekend.  Saturday we didn't do much of anything but Sunday was Church and then afterwards we went to my mom's so her and her fiance' could take the boys fishing :).  We all went (even Hubby who is not really into fishing LOL).  I pretty much just helped the boys fish.  Hubby I think just enjoyed watching us LOL.  Chord caught his first two fish ever and Jarod also caught two!  They were just small little blue gills but boy did it make Chord excited LOL!!

He was casting his rod like an old pro and hooked those two fish with his own skill LOL.  I will have to get the pics scanned or have my mom (she took the pics with her camera. I forgot mine ugh) email them to me to share on here.  Chord thought fishing was the best thing ever LOL.  He had a blast!!

Jarod on the other hand got a little board.  He doesn't sit still for long so he was off doing his own thing most of the time.  He did enjoy giving me the worms to put on the hooks though LOL.  It's so funny because just last year he wouldn't touch any bug or creepy crawly with a ten foot pole LOL.  Just a year later and he's held many of bugs and creepy crawlies (except spiders LOL) and thinks it's fun!!  Go figure.  Chord on the other hand still doesn't like to touch them LOL.  I don't think he's really scared of them.  I think it's just he doesn't want to feel them crawling on him LOL.  All in all the fishing trip was a blast!!!

Anyway today one of our Pastors had his wife call and invite us all out for dinner.  So hubby, the boys and I went and met our Pastor and his wife at Church and then we drove to a Pizza Parlor.  It was a nice time.  I love talking with them and hanging out.  Anyway they know of hubby not having a job right now and how well it's been really tough on us financially.  I know I don't talk much about it here but it has been rough.  (I know God will get us through so it's not something I try and dwell on).  Anyway (Sorry got off track) out of their own personal money gave us some money to help us along!

This wasn't church money but from them personally!!  I am in tears just typing this because I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful Church family that one of our Pastor's and his family would do that for us!!  It was so unexpected. 

See our Church is a pretty big Church but yet it's still such a close church! Our Pastor's know everyone by name and manage to talk to everyone!  They invite people out to lunch or dinner or whatever just to fellowship with people!    I have never been to a church that was like this before!  Especially one so big!! 

I just have to say our family is so blessed!!  I know we are going through a hard time with the unknowing if and when Harlow will get a job.  Granted Harlow will be starting school in Jan. but he has to go full time (in order for Michigan Works to pay for it all) so he won't be working and we will be living off  of unemployment(Well TRA which is like unemployment after the unemployment) for at least a year. Which is a struggle (Sorry veered off again LOL) but we have been so blessed from family, our Church.  I tell you I know we couldn't get through this with out God working His miracles with us!!  Every time we start to wonder what we are going to do something happens and we make it through.  We are truly blessed!!

Well I guess I have babbled on long enough.  Once again a post got longer than what I was intending LOL.  I hope everyone had a great weekend!!! 

Today was a good day. We went to Church and had a good service! Talking about how when God wants us to do something we can't go by our history but our destiny that God has for us. We might not be able to do something but God can and will get us through. So it was a good service since we are going through our own tribulation with hubby not having a job. Helps us keep leaning on God. I know we will be ok. I have that much faith that we will pull through this tough time.

After Church today we went to Harlow's cousins house to pick-up some movies he borrowed from the boys (Clone Wars, an animated Star Wars thing). They live just down the road from our Church. It was a nice visit.

After we got home a few hours later Harlow and I made dinner. See yesterday we took some pork chops out and marinated them in apple pie filling. Harlow learned from a friend of his about this so we thought we would try it out. It was really good!! The boys even ate it all up LOL. I made some mashed potato's with some garlic in it and we also had a salad (fresh veggies except the lettuce was store bought) . I love trying something new and everyone liking it LOL. So I will have to make it again sometime.

Other than that not much going on. Tomorrow not much planned either other than doing school work with the boys. Trying not to use too much gas. All though I do have to say it's been a little lower than it has been. Still too much though LOL. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Today we just went to my mom's and her fiances house. We didn't do too much but it was nice to just hang out. The boy's love going there. They know how to make themselves home when we go there LOL. They know right where the toy's are and get right to them LOL.

I love the fact though that even if they don't play with the toy's there they love just hanging out with them. My mom's fiance my boy's call grandpa too. They call my dad grandpa too but they see more of my mom's fiance than my dad since he lives in Arizona. Anyway what I was meaning to get at is the boy's love going to visit them. They love just hanging out and don't feel they have to be constantly entertained. Maybe it's because they do play well together and we've never had all their days scheduled and they had a chance to use their imagination or maybe it's just the way they are I don't know. I just know I love that they are this way. I know I wasn't like that when I was a kid LOL. Then again I was an only child till I was a month shy of being six when my brother was born. Who knows :P.

Man it's so hot here! I really shouldn't complain though because I hate Michigan winters more than Michigan summers LOL. I do deal with heat (even humidity) better than cold. Yes, it's very humid here lately but I still don't want winter to come LOL. I just can't seem to ever get warm in the winter. I have a much easier time getting cool.

What's really funny is I can wear pants all year round even in the summer and not get extremely hot. I don't like wearing shorts often because I don't like my legs much LOL. So very seldom do I ever wear shorts (though today I did LOL). I also don't seem to sweat as badly as some people. Weird considering I am a bigger woman. Like today for instance both my mom and my hubby were dripping with sweat but me I may have been sticky with sweat (I do sweat after all LOL) but I don't drip with sweat. Then again it might have to do with my normal body temp being only 97.6. Anything higher than that and I literally have a slight fever and can tell when it's just a little higher than usual. Am I just weird or is anyone else like that?

Tomorrow I have a MOMS Club® membership meeting to attend. This is one I will learn a little bit more about being the Secretary. I'll have to shadow the current Secretary and then I am on my own in July. This is something new for me. I know it's only a voluntary thing but it is an International Club and I will have to mail some things out to the corporate headquarters. So it is important for the club. So pray that I do all right. Then again I can always ask help from the previous Secretary too but it's still something so new to me. It's like starting a new job even though I am not getting paid for it LOL.

Today we didn't do much. We went to church and then came home. We have been out and about lately so it was nice not to have to run any where or be any where. Like I said tomorrow is the MOMS Club® meeting. Tuesday is laundry day at the Laundromat. Wednesday no plans as of yet anyway. Thursday the third is Freedom Festival at our church. They are even going to have firework displays. We are helping out on watching one of the Moonwalks for an hour. It should be fun. We invited one of Harlow's brothers (one we haven't seen in forever) to come so hopefully he and his girlfriend and children do come. The other ones are invited too of course but we had to offer to this particular brother because we rarely see them. Friday is not only the 4th of July but also Harlow's and mine 10 year Wedding Anniversary. Don't really have any plans though because we are tight on money now. To be honest I would just love to stay at home and just spend some time with him. I am not too picky LOL. We will see how that goes. So that is my week in advance. Hope everyone else has a great week!!!

Ugh it was a hot and sticky day today. It did rain some today but it sure didn't help the humidity. Didn't do too much today. Went outside and played baseball with the boy's and their friends. they all had a good time.

Tomorrow we are going to my sil and bil's house for a 4th of July get together (yes I know tomorrow isn't the 4Th LOL) their town is having the fireworks and my sil and bil's house is really close to it. Last year the fireworks display was great and the boy's loved it!! This year I am sure they will too. Plus they get to see family they haven't seen in a while. The boy's are the oldest cousins but they still love to see and play with their cousins.

I hope everyone is staying cool. Sorry I didn't have much to blog about today. Too hot and sticky LOL.

Sorry I didn't blog yesterday. We had church and didn't get home till after 9 PM and I was too tired to get on an blog LOL. We are reading Romans in our class at church. We have been talking about the difference of living just under the law and living under Grace. I am really enjoying it.

Today was Create and Play with the MOMS Club. We made some homemade children hand castings for the craft. It's just using flour, salt and water. She is going to take them home to bake and paint them. I think they will turn out great! I can't wait to see them!

Later we went to Harlow's brother's house to just hang out. The boy's had fun playing with one of their cousins. Their other one was in preschool so she wasn't there but her younger brother was. They always have so much fun when we go there.

Afterwards we went to Burger King and got something to eat and went to the cemetery where Harlow's mom and dad are buried. They finally have a headstone up for them so I got to see it for the first time. We didn't stay long though because it was pretty chilly out. We will go again when it's nicer out. Maybe we'll bring some flowers to put out there too.

I didn't know Harlow's dad too well. I had met and talked with him before we were married and all but I didn't get to know him much. Harlow's mom though I did. I really do miss her. She really was like another mom to me. I could go and talk to her about anything and she would listen. If I miss her that much I can only imagine how much Harlow misses both his parents. That is something as a wife I can't take away the pain of losing them.

Ok I am done being sappy I guess. Tomorrow was supposed to be a Bible Study within the MOMS Club but that was postpone till the 16th now. Tomorrow the boy's have a Hula Hoop thing at Church to go to. There will be games and things there for the community! I think it will be a good time.

No plans as of yet for the weekend. Probably go to my mom's on Sunday for Mother's Day but that's about it. Things will probably change though. They always do LOL. I hope everyone is having a good week!

I don't know if I will get a chance to blog later today so I thought I would now. Right now I am babysitting my Niece but at the moment she is taking a nap. She is just too cute! Makes me remember when mine were that little. She will be two on the 11th of this month. She really loves playing with the boy's and the boy's love playing with her. In fact Chord was just asking me wow is she still sleeping? LOL He wants her to wake up so he can play with her LOL.

After my SIL comes to pick my niece we are going to my other SIL and BIL's house for dinner. Just to hang out as a family. I know for hubby it is a good thing. Both his mom and dad have passed away so all he has is his brother's and sister. Tow of his brothers he doesn't get along with so well for some very good reasons but I hope they are there anyway because no matter what they are still family. Even though we might not agree with some of the things they do we still do love them. To me they are just as much family as my own brother and parents. So I do hope those two brother's show up. I have a feeling only one might show up but I can always hope. I hope everyone has a good day. My Niece just woke-up so got to go LOL.

Weekend and Monday catch-up. Friday we really didn't do too much. We just had a relaxing day. Yeah to finally get one LOL. I looked through the new curriculum the boy's will have next year. Seems pretty good. I might have to start some of it early. Chord tends to catch on really quickly. I got Bob Jones University Bible and English, Horizon Math, Bibloplan history for Ancient times, and God's Design for Life, The Human Body for science. I also ordered an art, music and spelling curriculum which should come tomorrow some time. So far I like them but we shall see when I start using it next year LOL. I haven't found our perfect curriculum yet even though we have been at it now for three years, for years next year.

Saturday, I went grocery shopping like every Saturday and then later went to my twice monthly Parenting support group. I have to admit though I just like going to be with friends not necessarily because I want parenting advice LOL. Not that my boy's are perfect or that I am a perfect mom but my boy's for the most part (they do have their moments trust me LOL) are pretty well behaved. So I enjoy "mom time" the most. It never hurts to learn some new things either though. So that was my Saturday.

Sunday, was of course Church. My cousin who had the fire was there too. So she and her family sat by us. It was nice chatting with her and seeing how big her kids have gotten. I don't really see much of my extended family so it was nice. She and her family are doing the best they can be in this situation so please if you all could keep them in your prayers I would be grateful. Thanks everyone!.........After Church we came home and had lunch and then went to my moms for the day. I hadn't been to her house in a few weeks so it was nice to be there with family. My mom and I are really close so it's always nice to see and spend time with her.

Monday, I let the boy's have the day off for Presidents Day and I also left to go to my friends house who also homeschools to show her the curriculum I got for the boy's next year. She wanted to take a look at them and see if she wants to order something similar. She has decided to get similar to me and some of other things too. We plan on during the summer time to get together and maybe share a few things. So how was everyones weekend?

Busy Few Days

I've been busy the last few days. Thursday was supposed to be Create and Play with MOMS Club but the other mom that does it with me one of her kids was sick so we ended up postponing it till this Thursday. That was ok with me though because I had a headache and didn't have anything to take for it. I kept forgetting to pick some up and hubby was already at work when I started to get the headache. (He works afternoons). So that's why I didn't post anything on Thursday because of my headache. Much better now.

Friday I had to run to the store and pick up a few things. This time I remembered to buy some Ibuprofen. After I got home I did dishes with Jarod's help and baked some brownies, with Chord's help, for me to bring over to a friends who I was hosting at her house a Discovery Toy's party for her. I left just after seven p.m. and didn't get home till after eleven p.m. It was a fun night but I was tired but still didn't get to bed till almost one a.m.

Saturday was grocery day so I got up drank some coffee and ate some breakfast and was off. Got everything we needed and came back home around eleven a.m. Then I had to leave again to meet some of the MOMS Club mom's to talk about a parenting book my one friend has called Love and Logic. I am learning that even before even hearing some of this book I have been parenting the boy's just like that. Maybe a little modified though. It's nice getting together with other mom's and discussing parenting. Learn something new and I am learning hubby and I aren't doing too badly. Then again I think most parents do the best they can and that's all we are doing.

Today was of course Church day. It was a good sermon as always and Chord really enjoyed the worship today. I loved watching him today just dance for the Lord. He was jumping around really getting into the music. He really loves worshiping the Lord. I think I could learn a lot from him. Instead of just standing there quietly worshiping I need to really enjoy being with the Lord and be so happy to have him in my presence and show Him my love for Him.

After church we came home and had lunch and I got the dishes done because I had let them go for a couple of day's from being so busy. So glad I got them done. I don't like leaving it that way. Felt a sense of accomplishment after that and then we went to my mom's and her fiances ' house. Hubby had changed the strings on my mom's fiances' guitar last week and so we returned it this week. It was a nice and relaxing time. I enjoy being around family. So what has everyone else been up to?

Babies and more on Our Homeschool Moments.

The boy's and I ran to Meijer's this morning to pick up a couple of things for Create and Play tomorrow and hurried home because just after ten a.m. my brother brought over his little girl so we could babysit. She has a little bit of separation anxiety but the boy's and I got her to get over it pretty quickly.

I don't want any more babies or kids but I did enjoy having a little one around. Also since I don't have girls I played with her hair LOL. I was really surprised she sat there and let me do it LOL. She has got all these uncontrollable curly hairs LOL. Boy though an almost two year old can wear you out LOL. She wasn't into everything it's just having an almost two year old around I think LOL. The boy's enjoyed playing with her too. Although they didn't like it when she wanted to get into their Lego's LOL. So we had to distract her lol. But all in all the boy's loved having her around and she had fun too. Sometimes I miss my boy's being that little.

Because we had a little one with us today schooling got done a little later than usual but it still got done. Lately Harlow has been helping out with the teaching. Today as I was getting ready to teach Jarod his math he said he wanted daddy to help him because the last couple day's dad has helped him while I was working with Chord. So Jarod is really enjoying time with dad teaching him his math. Its neat because he was fine with me teaching him other things but wanted daddy to help him with his math. It's really nice that Harlow takes the time and enjoys doing this. In the beginning when we started homeschooling I was doing most of it. This is our third year into it and I have notice Harlow helping now without me having to say a word.

Homeschooling the boys really has made our family closer. My hubby works afternoons so he sleeps later than we do but he makes that time count for something and willing to help. I have realized now that our homeschooling isn't so much about academics (of course it has it's place) but it's more about family and getting to know who each other are. We aren't worried about who they are hanging out with or what exactly did they learn in school today. Instead we are talking, reading and playing together as a family. We are watching our boy's blossom into who they are. I am so glad we made the decision to homeschool. It isn't for everyone but it is for us and it's been such a blessing.

More Rambblings

As you can see I changed my blog look again LOL. So that's what I have been doing for a bit today. My mom also came over and we all went shopping. My mom had accidentally got four of the same present instead of two so she took the boy's out to get them one more Christmas present. I told her she didn't have to but she insisted. So we all went with my mom. Even hubby went with us. My mom has a Dakota truck with a small back seat so it was a tight fit LOL. Since Hubby is a tall man ( 6'4") I went in the back seat with the boy's. Afterwards my mom got us something to eat. It was a good time.

I love that we all went out as a family. It's so nice that my hubby and my mom get along so well. She has told me that she feels like my hubby is one of her own kids. Before hubby's mom died in 2002 of breast cancer (it spread to her brain) she and I got along really well too. She was like a second mother to me. I miss her a lot. So hubby and I are blessed that we do get along with our in-laws.

As I said in my post yesterday we are going to a friends house tomorrow. I don't know how long we will be there though since we will have the boy's and I know they won't be up for the new year LOL. It should be a good time though.

We will be starting school up for the boy's again next week. Since Jarod's birthday is on the third which is on Thursday I don't see the point of starting up school again on a Friday LOL. I need to get things ready for next week anyway.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Sad

What am I talking about? Well another blog I read is getting criticized about not only because she homeschool's but also because she is considering to sending her children to public school. So on one hand she has people saying you shouldn't homeschool because blah, blah, blah. Then on the other hand she has other homeschoolers telling her that she shouldn't send them to public school because blah, blah, blah. I didn't read the comment because she had password protected that blog post. But from her post afterwards I know it wasn't a nice comment. So I don't blame her for password protecting it and shutting off comments. It's just sad that, not even a fellow homeschooler can support her. I won't put a link to her site because I don't think she wants more trouble.

What I do want to say is that we all should support each other weather we are working moms, stay at home moms, moms that send their children to public/private schools and those that homeschool their children. We all have one thing in common and that is we all wants what's best for our children. For some it may be for both parents to work because 1) they need the income or 2) because maybe the mother wants a job outside of the home. Sometimes women want to work 3) Maybe they feel it shows their children that women can be hard workers outside of the home and women can be more than just a "mom". Still others want to be SAHM because they feel a pull to take care of the kids and be at home. This doesn't make them bad women it's just what they feel is best maybe for 1) they want to be there for their children whenever they need them (not that working mom's don't it's just different). 2) When I quit work to be a SAHM it was because my hubby and I would work separate shifts so we wouldn't need a babysitter and I missed being with my husband and being there for the kids. I felt like (not everyone feels the same way this was what I felt) I was missing out on the boy's life. 3) Maybe for some (it was for me too) they felt God was telling them to be home with their family. Not everyone who is a Christian or religious may feel that call but some of us do. This doesn't make either choice a bad choice. It just means different things to different people.

As for those sending their kids to public/private school or homeschooling them, there are many different reasons for both. For sending them to a public/private school it maybe 1) Both parent's have to work and maybe they don't think they can work and homeschool 2) Maybe to them it's the best choice for their family. 3) Maybe they generally don't want to do it or maybe they feel like they can't. For homeschooling them 1) they may feel it's the best choice for their family. 2) Some that are religious might do it for religious reasons and honestly that is their choice. 3) Maybe the school in their district is not a good school system. There are a lot of other reasons in either case but those are just a few that I mentioned. Again what we all have in common is we do what we think is best for our families.

Some people after homeschooling a while decide to send their children to public/private school again for many reasons. A few are 1) Maybe the parent that was homeschooling the children has to go back to work for financial reasons. 2) Maybe something has happened in the family like a death or other traumatic event and they can't fully keep their thoughts on homeschooling their children. 3) Maybe they are burn out and truly need a break to recuperate from it all. Sometimes we can stress ourselves out from it all. And 4) maybe just maybe it's because they feel it's the best for their family to now return them to public/private school.

In any of the cases above we must realize we are all mother's/father's or even grandparents doing the best we can for our families. Not every family is the same. We all have different needs and wants from our families. So what is best for yours isn't necessarily for someone else's family. I don't feel like I am the best parent because I homeschool and because I am a SAHM. I think we are all mother's/father's just trying to do our best with our children. So let's try to support each other even if you don't agree with each other's choices. Yes I know there are some bad parent's both public/private school parents and homeschool parents but I am not talking about them. I am talking about all of us parent's that try our best to raise our kids the best we know how. So instead of judging each other why don't we ban together and hold each other up and support one another. There is enough bad things in the world than to worry about how one educates their children don't you think?

SAHM and Homeschool Mom?

Sorry I haven't blogged in a few day's. Either I haven't been feeling too tired or too busy to get a post up. Wednesday I was just cleaning house and chatted online with my hubby, who was at work so I was a bit busy with that and then went to bed. Was just too tired LOL. Thursday was Create and Play I had to go to with the boy's(MOMS Club thing). I and another mom friend of mine is in charge of that. Other than that I just seemed to have a lot going on and didn't really get a chance to get on here. Yesterday, Friday, my mom came and picked us up after hubby went to work (we only have one car) and took us to her house where my brother and his family showed up soon after. It was a nice time all around.
Today Hubby, is going to a friends house to help him with a project he has to do for his schooling so he will be there most of the day. My mom will be here later today (about 7p.m.) and take us to my aunt's house where she is having a bonfire (if not too windy LOL).
I have to clean house a bit (not too terrible anyway) and get everything around for when we leave with my mom later. But I thought I would blog a bit before I get busy again. I have already went grocery shopping today LOL. Always on the go!
I have often wonder why they call it "Stay at Home Mom" or "Homeschool"? LOL I mean I am both a SAHM and homeschooling mom but when am I ever really home? I think we are more on the go then we are at home. Home is where we go to sleep and eat LOL and once in a while relax LOL. Other than that we aren't home all that much. We just always have some where to go or do. I have to do laundry at the Laundromat since we don't have hook-ups so I do that every Tuesday. I usually take the boy's with me so I can do schooling with them there. Almost (not always) every Friday we go to the Library for books I need to get out for the boy's and their learning and for their and my enjoyment. Every Saturday (for the most part) is the day I go grocery shopping. Sunday is church and we start all over again. This isn't including making play dates for the boy's or the once a month "Create and Play" I do with the MOMS Club. It also doesn't include the other things I do with the boy's in the MOMS Club. So when are we really home again? LOL. Maybe instead of calling it SAHM we should be called Mom on the go? LOL. I am not sure what we should be called but Stay At Home Moms and Homeschool Moms doesn't seem to fit either LOL. Any ideas? LOL.

Busy yet Again.

Saturday we went to Hubby's 2ND cousin's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. They even had a video with pics of both families. See Hub's 2ND cousin is 57 years old. His first wife died in a crash many years ago. So this has been a long time coming. I thing he will have a wonderful marriage.
Anyway the boy's had a great time too. Especially when the music started LOL. They both went to the dance floor and got down LOL. C (my oldest) even met a little girl there. The little girl kept following him around. So I went to C and told him he should ask her to dance with him. So he did and he and the little girl danced LOL. Not slow dance of course, he is only seven years old LOL. They talked and danced most of the time we were there. It was just too cute. Once I put the pics in my laptop I will post the pics. Later I went to talk with C and he told me he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend LOL. But, later he said he was too nervous and it was time for us to go home LOL. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen LOL.
J. danced most of the night on his own or with his brother. He just loves to dance and talk to people LOL. I am surprised he didn't dance with anyone LOL. At my brother's wedding, a year ago, he danced with almost every girl there, especially with the teenage girls LOL.
Sunday we went to church and just spent time as a family. It was nice to just relax and be together as a family. I don't get on the computer much during the weekend because I try to just be with my family. Next weekend I might be on a little more because hubby is going to his friend's house to help him out with a film he is making for his school. (His friend is going to school to make films).
Today, was a really busy day. First I got up and got dressed and it was off to go to the dentist for my appointment cleaning. No, cavity's for me LOL. That's good because with C's fillings last month my mom actually paid our deductible and other things that weren't covered. We've just had a lot going on with fixing our car and insurance being due soon. So it's good I didn't have to get any fillings! Anyway after the dentist I had a mom from the MOMS Club come over so we can go over our crafts that we are going to do with all the kids in the club on Thursday (Create and Play). It's something her and I do together for the club kids to do crafts and sing song's and read some books. It's really fun for all the kids. I also enjoy reading and playing with the kids LOL.

A bit of an appology and some pics!

Sorry yesterday's posts was a bit emotional LOL. I am not saying all kids should be homeschooled but it just gets me that some how this kid got lost in the system of the school and parent's seeming to not notice their child is out of control and can become violent. I mean he was already in a Juvinial place because of his violent temperment. Something should have been done way before that.
Anyway on a different note LOL. I wanted to share some pics with everyone. First here is a pic of my new hair cut that I got a week ago sorry the pic was taken with my web cam on mylaptop so it's a bit grainy.....

Then also last week hubby came home with flowers for me. Isn't he sweet?!

Then last night my baby (J.) lost his very first tooth!! This pic. didn't turn out the way I wanted it to either but you see his missing tooth LOL!

Why is it so much harder to go through things when my younger is going through then my oldest? I don't love one more than the other (I can't imagine my life without either of them.) Maybe it's because I know he's my last baby?! I had my tubes tied after he was born. I don't want another baby but it's still so hard to see him grow up. Don't get me wrong I feel sentimental when my oldest goes through things but even more so when it's my youngest. I keep telling them both they are not allowed to grow up LOL. My oldest just tells me with rolling eye's "Mom, we have to grow-up sometime." LOL. But why oh why? LOL. Ok done feeling sentimental for now LOL.

Sorry I have been MIA

I haven't really forgotten to blog. I have just been busy with family. The boy's are all healthy and back to normal now, thank goodness. Saturday, my mom and I hung out together. We did some shopping and just spent time together. I love hanging out with my mom. With her working afternoons and all it's hard to get some one on one with her. So when we do get that chance I enjoy it very much. My mom bought the boy's some workbooks from Walden's and some other books too. She also bought them some fall coats. I didn't ask her to do any of that but she did anyway. It was just nice to just spend time with her and talk and be silly LOL. We are good at doing that LOL. Hubby (H.) even cleaned the kitchen and did dishes while I was out! I was very appreciative of that. What a good hubby I have!
Sunday we went to church and we just spent time at home as a family. I also did a little bit of grocery shopping. I usually do it on Saturday's but our electric company was going to shut off the electricity for a few hours from 12:01am to 5:30am Sunday morning. So I just waited till Sunday to go to our local little store to pick up a few things. I will probably do more at a later date. Depending how we go through what I got.
Today, not too much is going on. We got up at 7am and ate breakfast and everything else we do and then at 8am we did school work. A little after 11am we were done and then I spend some time with hubby. Just before hubby went to work (he works afternoons) we read some of the Bible (We do that everyday as a family). That's been our day so far. Don't have much of anything planned other than cleaning the house and making dinner later.
Tomorrow is laundry day so I need to get clothes around and school books around. That way when tomorrow comes I just have to put it all in the car and go to the Laundromat. Ugh I so wish we had hook-ups in this house we rent but nope we don't. I guess I should just be grateful for what we do have and I am but I can always wish right? LOL

Kids (Insert rolling eyes here) LOL.

Kid's are resilient aren't they? Why am I saying this? Well, it started yesterday. We came home from being out and about (getting my hair cut along with other errands to run) and I noticed J (my youngest) had what look like a small rash on one of his cheeks. I thought maybe he just brushed up on something that maybe he had a slight allergy to. Other than that he was ok. So I forgot about it. Well later that night he complained of a headache. So I gave him some Tylenol and gave him a cold wet wash cloth. Started to get a little concerned but I thought well he was up early this morning. He might just be tired.
Fast forward till morning time. I had decided to let the boy's sleep in a little to make sure they got enough sleep. Well they wake up just fine and we start schooling after getting dressed and brushing teeth. Everything goes by ok and then J starts to lay his head down and be whiny. I check him and he has no fever so I tell him to take a nap (this was about 9:30am). Then about 11:00am he wakes up and he has a slight fever, he's crying of a headache and he now has a rash not only on his face but his stomach as well! I get so worried I call the doc. They said they would give me a call back to get me an appointment for him. So I wait and J is whaling that his head hurts. I am getting worried about him so I give him some Motrin and give him some water to drink. The doc's office calls back and says to bring him in at one p.m. So we eat lunch and I watch over J and then out of no where he says he feels better and even eats (at first he didn't want to ) and starts playing with his brother. This after screaming bloody murder about his head. We take him to the doc's office anyway and they said it's just a viral thing and to just keep giving him Motrin or Tylenol. I guess though here in Michigan they have had a few instances of Measles but they really checked him out and he does not have that thank the good Lord. He seems fine now but I will keep an eye on him. Tomorrow we will all just have a easy day together with family. At least till hubby has to go to work.

How We Came to Homeschooling

Well, how we came about homeschooling is like this. A long, long, time ago in a galaxy far, far away. LOL ok I know cheesy sorry. My boy's are really into Star Wars so it's rubbed off me I guess LOL.
Anyway when my oldest son (we'll call him C.) was just a baby we lived in a town that I didn't care for the school so much. I remember commenting to my husband (we'll call him H.) that if we lived there when he was older I was going to homeschool him. See I went to that school when I was in high school and I hated every minute there. Anyway, years pass by and we have another son (We'll call him J.) and we did move to a better town. Actually we moved to the town he grew up in. The summer before C. would have started Kindergarten hubby came to me and he said. "Remember when you said something about homeschooling them?" I paused for a moment and said, "Yes, do you still want to do that?" He of course said yes and that summer I spent a lot of time at the library and getting every book I could on homeschooling. I also scoured the Internet for sites on homeschooling. Like the laws in Michigan, how to get started and the like. I also began praying about it. I prayed that God would give me a sign that this is what we were supposed to do. I found that the laws in Michigan for homeschooling were very laid back. No test taking,(which I believe that test don't really prove what your child knows or not) and no having to report to anyone. As I prayed and read more about it I felt for sure that this was the right thing to do.
I won't lie and say it was easy from the get go. In fact I had worked myself up so much about doing it and trying to get him to learn that I gave myself high blood pressure LOL. The first year as most anyone will tell you is the hardest. That first year was more of a learning experience not only for C. but for me too. I learned how he learns and he learned more and more each day and we learned together that we could do this together and be closer than ever too.
We are now into our third year of homeschooling and this year my youngest is now learning along with us. You would think it would be harder to teach the both of them together but it's not really. At least not so far LOL. Give me a couple more years and I will let you know LOL. I think J. watched C. as he was just starting out and wanted to do what his big brother was doing too. J. just started doing Kindergarten work this year and he is already starting to sound out small words. I thought he would be harder to teach because he is a very active little guy LOL. To get him to sit still can sometimes be a struggle but we find ways to keep him occupied and keep him working. I am still learning everyday with each on how they learn. Things I am sure will change over the years but one thing that won't is that we all will learn as we go. Learning never really stops. I enjoy learning more now than I ever did as a child. I hope to help my children love learning through out their whole lives and not to take even the smallest learning experiences for granted. Even watching an ant carrying it's food to it's hill is a learning experience.
That has been our homeschool journey and it will continue to grow each year. What I don't know we will learn together and even with what I do know there is always room to learn more. Homeschooling isn't just about teaching your children but it's also about continuing your (my) education. It's also about love and family. Each homeschool family is different and each child is different. The only way really to do homeschooling wrong is not learning anything at all.