Our Weekend Alone

The weekend went well :).  We didn't go out or anything because 1) we didn't have much money LOL and 2) because it was pretty cold out and slick roads.  Even with that though we had a good time just spending time with each other.  I didn't miss the boys as much as I thought I would LOL.  I think it's because they are getting older and I know they can handle being without me for a bit.  That and people I (and hubby) trusted had the boys.  Still missed them a little though LOL.  I am a mom after all!

When we went to leave them at their cousins (we left just after 7 p.m. the party started at 6 p.m.) I told Chord we were leaving.  He got this big grin on his face and says..."Your leave?!"  He was excited LOL.  Don't think they missed us too much LOL.

So after leaving we came home and just watched some TV together and spent time talking (not about the kids hehe) and cuddling!  It was really nice.

Sunday, we had a gift card for Applebee's so we went and had lunch there.  It was good but neither of us could finish our food LOL.  After that we headed to my mom's and hung out there for a bit and then we left there around 2:00 p.m. to go to Harlow's sister's house where the boys and their cousins went to make Christmas cookies and other Christmas crafts.  So we stayed there and visited.

It was so cute when we walked in the door. The first think I see  is Chord having a white circle on his forehead with a red M in the middle of it plus a crooked mustache  painted on his face LOL.  Then I see Jarod done up like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer with little antlers painted on his forehead as well!  I have some of the other things they made on our Christmas tree.  They had such a great time and so did hubby and I :) . 

We left hubby's sister's house at about 5:30 p.m. and got home just after 6.  It was a wonderful weekend had by all!  I hope your weekend went well too!

Today I don't have much to blog about since we didn't do much today. We did go to Meijer's to pick up some package envelopes for hubby. It was pretty funny though as we were walking back to our vehicle and Harlow was asking the boy's where they would like to eat. They both said BK but then hubby said how about KFC? Jarod looks up at him and puts his hand on his chin and says "Hmm, that would be good!" LOL it was just so cute the way he said it. I swear that boy knows how to put a smile on just about any one's face. He doesn't even have to try hard. He is very much the classic class clown LOL.

Yesterday though it was Chord that had me laughing. He and his brother were just goofing around and Chord put his arm around his brother and says "ahh, my funny sibling." LOL. It just sounded so funny coming from an eight year old's mouth. He is always surprising me on how much vocabulary he knows and can use correctly.

In our homeschooling I am trying a bit more hands on and physical things for teaching Jarod. I think he is a visual and Kinesthetic learner. So today we went outside and I drew a line and put the numbers 1-10 on it and had him pick a number and we would either add or subtract so say for instance if he was standing on the number 3 I would make a problem out of it like 3 + 5 =? So he would have to jump on each number till he counted to 5 and he would of course land on the number 8. I am hoping doing things like this will help him learn his math facts a little better.

Chord is a visual and auditory learner. He can see or hear how to do something and he can do it for the most part. Like when he was in first grade I had just told him what multiplying was. I told him it was like saying what is three sets of five equal too and he got it that quick! It wasn't something I really taught him I had just told him about it and he knew how to do it. Even before he learned how to carry over or borrow from. That is just how he learns.

So with each of them I have to teach them differently. They don't learn the same way. So I am trying to find good way's to teach Jarod that he will understand. He really liked the adding on the line thing today. If anyone has more suggestions on how to teach a kinesthetic learner please feel free to give me suggestions LOL.

What’s Been Going on Here

I know I haven't posted a blog since Monday but things have been busy here. First going back to this past Wednesday night hubby started not feeling well. Thursday he ended up coming home early because he was really not feeling well and called off on Friday and I went grocery shopping. Through the weekend hubby still didn't feel well but Saturday we went to my SIL's for dinner. The boy's had a good time and hubby did his best to enjoy himself though he didn't feel good at all. Then Sunday he stayed home and the boy's and I went to my mom's house so he could rest peacefully.

Monday hubby called off work again because he was still ill and then called and made a doctor's appointment. They said he had a stomach virus and couldn't do much about it. He got a note for returning to work on Wednesday. Also on Monday I as I told you in Monday's post that I went to a Bible Study with the MOMS Club®. I also did a lot of errands and cleaned house along with schooling the boy's.

Tuesday I did my normal thing of going to the Laundromat to do laundry only this time I didn't take the boy's because they said they weren't feeling too well either. Thank the good Lord though because they didn't get the virus their dad had. I guess they just felt blah so we didn't do school that day. I'm just so glad that they didn't get hubby's virus though.

Yesterday we got schooling all out of the way and went to the Library where I got a few books they will need for some of their school work and they picked out some books to read and then we went to the park next to the Library. The boy's had fun playing at the park and later a little girl came and played with them as well. It warms my heart to see how well they play with other children. They don't care what age or sex you are. If you are willing to play with them then they are willing to let you play with them LOL. This little girl had to been about four years old and my two are five (will be six in Jan.) and seven (will be eight in March) and they played wonderfully with her. So we stayed there for a while and came home. Yesterday I also did more cleaning on the house that I don't get to very often.

So that is what I have been up to and just haven't had the time or energy to post LOL. This is already my second post of today so I guess I am catching up some LOL. I hope no one else's family has been sick like ours. I really don't like this time of year because it doesn't take much to get sick. I guess it will be a little better in the winter months because at least then the temps will be a little more stable. Ahh living in Michigan and it's ever changing weather LOL.

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?

My Rambblings

We had a good weekend. Saturday was my mom's birthday so we went to her house to be with her. It was a nice time of just being together as a family. We are blessed that our families combined (hubby's and mine) get along really well. So we don't have the rift between in laws like some families do. All though hubby's mom and dad have passed away I did get to know my MIL really well before she passed away.
My MIL was a strong willed woman and always said what she meant and never minced words LOL and I loved her for it. She was like another mom to me. Which is saying a lot since my mom is a great mom herself. I miss my MIL. She passed away in Nov. 14, 2002 of breast cancer that spread to her brain. She had her faults of course but all in all she was a good woman.
Anyway I got off track again LOL. I swear I do that all the time. It's like I have a million things going on in my head and they all get jumbled together and I just ramble LOL. So if I don't make any since you know why LOL. Just ignore me.
Sunday the boy's and I didn't do much because hubby had to go to his friends house again to help with something so he had the car. We only have one car so when one has it the other one can't really do much LOL.
Monday was a MOMS Club meeting and the boy's and I went. It was nice. We had a guest visitor and she was a Child Consultant. She basically deals with children who are having a hard time adjusting to day care, school, day care homes, child centers and registered relative care providers. Anyway a lot of what she was saying about children and some of their behaviors is what I have done with the boy's. Such as acknowledging good behaviors instead of only focusing on the bad ones. I have notice when I see the boy's doing something "good" and I compliment them on it. Like one time sitting through a long sermon at church and being very hungry. They at first whined and then they just sat still and I told them wow look how good you guy's are. They behaved through the whole thing after that. Not that I don't discipline when they act bad but I try to acknowledge when they are good as well. I have to say doing that has always done well for us because the boy's don't act out as much as they did when they were younger. There were other things that she said that we do at home too. So it made me feel good that I am doing well by the boy's. Not that "experts" always have the right answer but this one believed how I believed and I have see how it works with my boy's. I may not be a perfect parent but hubby and I must be doing something right because it shows through the boy's.
Today I just had to go to the Laundromat to do laundry like every Tuesday LOL. I got compliments again about the boy's by two different people. They both said they were so well behaved. I had them do some school work there but let them play around too. One of the ladies that gave me the compliment was an elderly woman. She was saying you don't see that much these day's. I am so proud of my boy's LOL. Can you tell? Ok I am done bragging LOL. My children aren't perfect (neither are hubby and I for that matter LOL) but they are good kids.
Tomorrow is a Halloween party with the MOMS Club that I am in. So I will taking the boy's there. I will get there early though to help out with getting it all together. The boy's get to dress up in their costumes so they will love that. Then it's off to Trick or Treating. So if I don't blog tomorrow you know why LOL. Hubby is taking the day off work to go with us too. Will be an eventful night to say the lest LOL.

Homeschool Moment today

It was a a good day. It was a bit dreary outside but it was a good day none the less. This morning while doing school work with the boy's when I heard this noise. At first I had no idea what it was but as I listened I realized it was birds chirping. I open the door and there were 100's if not 1000's (LOL) of birds all over our yard! So I had the boy's put on their shoes and we went outside to watch them. They are getting ready to migrate south. It was very cool seeing all the birds hanging out in our yard resting and getting some food to go LOL. That's one nice thing about living in the country. If we have lived in the city there was no way we would have seen this. It was nice too because if the boy's had been in regular school, they never would have seen it.
Also today we went to the Library and got a few more books. Then we went to the park right next to the library and was surprised to find most of the playground equipment wasn't wet even though it was sprinkling earlier. So the boy's got to play for a while. At the park they also have a walking path so after a while we just walked around it. It was nice to just look at all the different things and walk with the boy's. We looked at some interesting trees and just nature in general. The boy's and I loved it. So we didn't do a lot of "school work" but we did learn something about nature and each other. One of the many reason's I am so glad we homeschool.

Ramdom thoughts

I get compliments all the time on how well the boy's behave. Some of which I really don't understand. We were at McDonald's once and a lady working there replied, "Wow, your boy's are so well behaved." Hubby and I thanked her but after she walked away I thought, how are they supposed to act? I mean they are eating after all. Did she expect them to run around the restaurant screaming like a bunch of wild animals? I mean I could understand if we were waiting for a long time like when we went to Church for it's anniversary service and dinner. Well it ended up being a long service and the boy's were starving. They complained a little but behaved through the whole thing. That I can see being complimented on but sitting down quietly with family eating at McDonald's? I just thought that was strange LOL.
I don't know why I am blogging about this now since it was about a month ago when this happened LOL. I guess I just started thinking about it. Maybe I do take for granted how well the boy's behave? I mean don't get me wrong they do act up. Like last night they wouldn't go to bed like they were supposed to LOL. I was a bit irritated with them to say the least. They also do fight with each other but not as often as I remember fighting with my younger brother. I don't know if this is because my brother and I were six years apart(me being the oldest) or if it's because the boy's are homeschooled and are together and so close to each other in age and each other's best friends or what.
Whatever the reason for them being so well behaved I know we are blessed to have such wonderful boy's! I hope they grow up to be well adjusted men and hubby and I have taught them everything they need to be in the world without being "of the world". I am grateful to God that he has given us the boy's to help us grow-up (trust me I was totally different than I am now before we had kids). I only hope to do His will to help these boy's to grow up well.

Another Blah Day and other things

It's been a rainy, grey day. It hasn't poured down rain but he slow drizzling kind. I don't mind rain too much but when it's a drizzle like it was today it makes me so tired and blah feeling. If it was stormy I would love it. Since I really do love storms but it wasn't a storm, just blah! I know it's fall but I can do without this blah weather LOL. Then again I am not ready for winter just yet either LOL.
Can you believe it's only two more months till Christmas? We got ahead this year. We are pretty much done with the boy's stuff. They wanted Star Wars stuff so it wasn't too hard LOL. Now we just have to get a few things for like my mom and other family members. Can't do much this year though since H. will be losing his job at the end of Feb. Pray that he finds a new job before this one ends. But there in Michigan it might be hard. Don't know what or where we will go if we have to move to another state. Michigan is slowly dying though. With the car manufacturing going down hill and jobs moving out of Michigan. I just don't know what will happen. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!
Today was laundry day so we went to the Laundromat and did that along with getting all their school work done there. The boy's are so good for me when we go. They do their work like I ask them and never give me too much trouble LOL. All though they like to get gum out of this gum ball thing where you play pin ball with it till it falls in the hole lol. We were there from almost 8:30 a.m. till about a quarter till eleven a.m. I am blessed to have such good boy's LOL.
Tomorrow, other than doing school we don't have anything planned. It will be nice to just relax for a day. Saturday will be a busy day with going to the zoo and hubby being off again to help his friend out again. Ah a mother never really rest does she? LOL

This and That. That and This

Sunday we didn't get to church. Because H. didn't get home from helping his friend till four a.m. He even woke me up when he got home LOL. That's ok though because we went outside for a minute and looked at the stars. It was really pretty. That's one thing that is nice about living a bit out in the country because you can really see the stars. They were so bright! So I guess getting me up at that time of night (morning) turned out ok LOL. We were pretty much lazy for the rest of the day LOL.
Today was a pretty normal day. Woke up at seven a.m. I woke the boy's, they had breakfast and brushed their teeth and got dressed. Then I let them play till eight a.m. and we started school. C. and I are having fun learning about George Washington. We are making a project out of it. He is really learning a lot from it and I am too LOL. That's one thing I really love about homeschooling too is that I can learn right along with them. Keeps my mind sharp LOL. We all finished just before 11 a.m. and they went and played together while I got tomorrow's lesson planned and printed and the house cleaned up some and then it was dinner time. Not too many dull moments in this house LOL.
Tomorrow is Tuesday so it's laundry day. Which means it's time to go to the Laundromat. I got all the clothes ready and the boy's school stuff packed to go tomorrow. I do school a little with them while we are there. Keeps them busy and keeps our schedule a bit on target. But if something happens our schedule can be changed and not a big deal. Another great thing about homeschooling LOL.
Instead of going "Trick or Treating" on Halloween, we are going to go to the Zoo this weekend and do it there. They do it every year and we have a membership there so it's only a small fee to do it other wise. Plus we did it a couple years ago and the boy's loved it. So I know they will love it this year too! We have had their costumes for a month now LOL. They have been counting down the day's. C. is going to be a Clone Trooper and J. is going to be Darth Vader. LOL can't tell they love "Star Wars" can you? LOL. My brother got them into that. I have to really be sure to thank him for that(Insert rolling eyes) 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.