August 25th, 2010
The homeschooling plunge, that is.
After much praying, discussing and thinking we’ve decided to start homeschooling this year, rather than next. We are not going to send her to the small, private Kindergarten we were originally planning on. I got to thinking that if we really are going to homeschool and still do Kindergarten next year again why not just do it this year and see where we’re at next year. This is the perfect time for me to “try my hand” at homeschooling. If we fail miserably this year she can still go to public Kindergarten next year and we’re no worse for wear! If we are a huge success I can choose to do the Advanced Kindergarten program the homeschool system we’re using offers or put her in First Grade if I feel she’s really ready. ( Or, maybe, if I’m really ready!)
The homeschool system we are using is by Christian Liberty Academy. Which, incidentally, is the same one my family used when we homeschooled! We will be enrolling Katelyn into their school system and signing up for the CLASS Administrative plan. We will be sending her work to them for them to grade and they will provide transcripts and report cards. They are nationally accredited so when we do put her in school in the future all of our ducks will be in a row.
I was told about a wonderful homeschooling group/ co-op at a church in a town close by that I’m so excited to be joining. I feel like it was the hand of God that showed it to me. I got an e-mail from a woman at church yesterday telling me that she heard I was thinking of homeschooling and that her daughter homeschools and is part of a Christian homeschooling group. This was wonderful news that came at just the right time! She gave me her daughter’s phone number and told me to contact her. After speaking with the homeschooling mom I was super encouraged about the whole process and it just seemed to seal the deal for me.
I found out yesterday that I don’t have to “report” to our town this year that I’m homeschooling since she won’t be five when the school year starts. I will have to report next year with what my homeschooling plan is. The good thing about CLASS (Christian Liberty Academy School System) is that they do provide testing on the students to gauge where they are academically so I’ll have those tests to show the school system if there is ever any problem.
I’m excited and nervous at the same time! I’m loving the Bible based Kindergarten curriculum they have. Their Kindergarten, Advanced Kindergarten, Modified First Grade and First Grade curricula covers the span of children ages 4-6 and the level they are at academically. I like that! We all know a four year old who can read already and who will breeze through regular Kindergarten or the six year old who may not be quite ready for First Grade but has already done Kindergarten. I like the flexibility and options they offer.
I feel like this will be a good fit for Katelyn and for my teaching style. I have such a peace about this decision. We feel like with Katelyn’s personality and some of her emotional “issues” she needs to be schooled at home for a while. While Katelyn is doing her work I plan on doing some simple, preschool learning with Madelyn too. My head is reeling with schedule planning, ideas and homeschooling stuff. I was wide awake at 5 am thinking about all of this! I will most definitely be blogging more about our daily schedule and any additions I’m making to what they send me. ( Like art and music) I’ll also take pictures of our set up once, well, it’s all set up!! We will officially start once the curriculum gets here and we’re all set up with supplies and everything we need.
Another thing that had my mind spinning this morning was my excitement over my first prenatal appointment tonight. I’m praying and hoping for a nice, strong heartbeat. I’ve been a little nervous about this appointment but I know it’s all in God’s hands.
Thanks for reading and wish me luck!
August 24th, 2010
We celebrated Madelyn’s third birthday party this weekend. So, for my Top Ten today I give you my favorite pictures from her party!
For breakfast I let the girls have toast with Nutella as a special treat. Love their Nutella smiles!
The cake! It was a little lopsided and I had a super hard time using the frosting pouches and tips from Cake Mate (never again!!) so my writing was a little off. But still…
The theme was just a Flower/Butterfly theme. Madelyn couldn’t decide one so I finally just picked some cute, matching party goods from the dollar store and went with that. I don’t think she really cared what the theme was!
This was the smallest party I’ve ever had. There were all the kids I invited, minus one. Madelyn doesn’t like a lot of commotion or large groups of people so a large party wouldn’t have been what she really wanted. We had a simple cook out.
Love this picture of Madelyn trying to open her gift. Like it required a lot of exertion! She received a lot of Barbies and Barbie stuff. She loves them. With every gift she would say ” I wonder if it’s a Barbie?” and then gasp and “oooh and aahh” over each new Barbie she got.
This is the best picture I got of her in her party dress. We got a lot of complements on it. My mother in law has good taste! From now on you’ll notice Madelyn is holding that Mermaid Barbie in.every.single. picture. She literally did not let go of it for two days.
Cake time! She didn’t have any, by the way. Once she opened her Mermaid Barbie we didn’t see much of her after that. She’s my loner and perfectly happy playing in the corner by herself.
Madelyn holding her Mermaid Barbie? Check. Madelyn not eating her birthday cake? check.
For party games, I turned on the sprinkler and let the kids throw water balloons. Mike had them try to get the water balloons in the little basket ball net. They had a blast! I love this picture of the exploding balloon in Katelyn’s hands.
Post water play snack. Madelyn did not participate in any of the water play and instead chose to watch holding her Barbie.
This picture was taken after everyone left. The girls sat on the deck and played with Madelyn’s new Barbie Camper. It was so cute to listen to their play. It was a perfect day for a third birthday party and we all had a great time.
For more Top Ten Tuesday head over to Oh Amanda!
August 20th, 2010
Tomorrow my “baby” turns three. How did this happen? I told myself I wasn’t going to be one of those moms who constantly wonders how time slips away because I was going to know where all that time went. But… I’ve turned into that mom!
My cute, 9 pound baby girl went from this:
to this:
to this:
to this:
to one of the sweetest, most content and cuddliest almost-three-year-olds I’ve ever met.
To my sweet, adorable Madelyn Reese:
We love you and are so proud of you. We are so happy that God gave you to us!
HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY!!!
August 18th, 2010
Best buds in matching shirts watching the rain and lightening outside the dining room window….
When a long comes another buddy to join them!
This post is linked to Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus.
August 17th, 2010
Now that Katelyn is the ripe, old age of almost five we are having to start thinking about schooling for her. As much as I want to hide my head in the sand and pretend she’s not getting old enough for school already, I can’t. This year she will go to “Kindergarten” at the private school she went to Pre-K for last year. But technically she isn’t old enough to go to Kindergarten so if we put her in public school next year, she’ll have to do Kindergarten again. We are considering homeschooling next year. It’s a big decision and one we aren’t taking lightly. In fact, I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision just yet!
We were homeschooled until Junior High and ended up skipping grades because we were ahead. Our situation was a little different since we were missionaries to Brazil and came back to the USA every couple of years on furlough. During that time we’d travel all over the country visiting churches. Homeschooling gave my parents the flexibility they needed to continue our education while traveling all over. They also wanted us to have an American, Christian education and felt this was the best option all around at the time while living in Brazil.
Many of my cousins were homeschooled and did just as well. I’ll have to admit to dreaming about going to school once I started getting older. It seemed like such an awesome thing! Well, once I did start going to an American, Christian school it didn’t end up being all that I had dreamed that’s for sure.
Anyway, I survived and feel like I have a unique view on both sides of the homeschooling versus public schooling debate.
I’ve noticed that homeschooling has become a lot more popular these days. Even non Christians are doing it. It used to be a “Fundametalist Christian” thing and now everybody is doing it for different reasons. However, depending on where you live it can be popular or not so popular.
If I were to homeschool I’d be the only person in my area that I know that’s doing it. No one in my church homeschools (as far as I know) and none of my friends do here in Massachusetts. I wouldn’t have much family support here for it either as my husband’s family don’t seem to be supportive of the idea or like it much. My family thinks it’s great but they’re all the way in Texas!
I know there’s a certain stigma that goes with homeschooling: socially awkward children, education depending on the quality of the parent’s teaching skills , narrow minded, fundamentalist, and children unable to function in society. Comments like ” Ooh, they’re homeschooled. Thaaat’s why.”
However, there are so many options that homeschooling families have today to cover all the social and education bases that things that once seemed like huge obstacle, aren’t anymore. Things like extra curricular activities, sports, clubs and lots of social interaction at church. ( If you’re a church going family, that is).
So, needless to say this is something I’m praying my heart out about right now. My husband is kind of letting me take the lead on this since I’d be the one doing most, if not all, of the educating.
My Top Ten today deals with questions/ fears I have about homeschooling and the reasons why I want to do it.
1.What if I can’t explain a concept very well to her and she is not getting it?
2. What if I find homeschooling a certain someone very frustrating and don’t have the patience for it?
I have worked with her on preschool and pre-k concepts and we can really butt heads!
3.What if she hates it and begs to go to school like all of her friends?
4. Will people stop and ask us why my kids aren’t in school like they did us?
Whenever my mom used to take us out to the store or to run an errand during school hours when we were back on furlough some nosy person would inevitably ask why we weren’t in school at the moment. So my mom had to launch into the homeschooling explanation and then the missionary explanation. I used to die of embarrassment.It got to the point where many times we just stayed home until school was out just to avoid the nosy questions. I preferred it that way! I know that’s not a big deal now and most people probably wouldn’t ask.
5. What curriculum is the best and most simple to teach?
6. What if I feel a continual lack of support in doing this? Like we’re the odd ones out?
I can’t stand nosy, contrary people and I don’t want or feel the necessity to constantly explain myself all the time about our choice. I know for some people homeschooling is a hot topic and they are almost offended by the idea. I’ve seen many parents act as if I’m saying they aren’t good parents because they put their kids in public school.
7. Will my girls feel like they “stuck out” like I did because we were homeschooled?
Reasons why I’m considering homeschooling:
8. My children would get a Christian based education here at home. We would teach them the values we believe in and Creation based science concepts.
9. I like the simpler, slower. flexible pace of homeschooling. There would be no rushing to school in the morning and then rushing out to pick my kids up. There would be no trekking through the snow every morning with all of our gear. In and out. In and out. I feel like the time spent learning would be more efficient.
10. There is lots of one on one attention in homeschooling. Smaller class size for sure!
Do you homeschool? Are you planning on homeschooling?
On the flip side: Do you hate homeschooling and think it’s a terrible idea?
I’d love hear from all of you!
For more Top Ten Tuesday check out Oh Amanda!
August 9th, 2010
We went fishing for the first time this weekend. My poor husband has wanted to do this all summer long and we just haven’t gotten around to it yet. So,Saturday while I was at a baby shower, he grabbed the girls and took them fishing. I met up with them after the baby shower. I had originally planned on going home and taking a nice nap (yep, I’m so there right now!!) but then I felt guilty and thought I really should meet up with them and see the girls fishing. Well, I’m glad I did! It was fun and I got some cute pictures. The girls were really more interested in the snacks Mike brought them and throwing rocks in the lake. What can I say? They take after me in that department.
The only thing “we” caught was a snapping turtle.
She makes a cute fisherwoman, right?
My other cute fisherwoman.
I adore them and this picture.
Madelyn with one of her many rock treasures.
Me!
A rare sight. Me in front of a camera instead of behind it! Since I had come straight from the baby shower I was not wearing the most appropriate fishing attire. Those black pants were darn hot!
Now the pregnancy update part:
Yep, still pregnant! It feels weird and exhilarating to write that. And as I do I feel like I’m jinxing it. But, ahem, I don’t really believe it that. I’ll be 7 weeks along this week and I thank God for every day that passes that I continue to stay pregnant. I’ve kind of been walking around holding my breath right now. It’s amazing how oblivious I was to miscarriage with Katelyn and Madelyn. I went along knowing they were common and happened to other women but never thinking it would actually happen to me. Now I’m so aware of that! I don’t want to be a nervous wreck until the first trimester is over but I’m definitely nervous. I really have to keep myself in check. And I know that God has his hand in everything that happens to us. And the reality is(not to be morbid!) anything can happen to this pregnancy, this baby or any of my children at any time. I can’t live my life in fear of this.
{Wow, this update went off the deep end! } So all morbidity aside, I’ve been feeling pretty good. Only a little nausea every now and then. Tiredness is starting to set in. But other than that I can’t complain! I have my first prenatal appointment on the 25th of this month. I really looking forward to that. I really, really , really want to exercise during this pregnancy. I’m also going to try to go to the Chiropractor once or twice a month and see if that keeps the migraines at bay.
If you’ve read this far I thank you.
Peace!
August 5th, 2010
Hello Blog Hop ‘10 friends. Thank you so much for stopping by.
VERY nice to meet you.
My name is Mel and I blog here at Simply Mel. I’ve been blogging for about five years but have only seriously been blogging for two.
Yours truly with our two girls.
If you click around you’ll see I’m a stay at home mom to two gorgeous ( if I do say so myself) little girls. In about eight months or so I’ll be a mom to three! We’re adding another little one to our family in March of next year.
This is my almost- five- year- old, Katelyn.
And this is my almost- three- year- old, Madelyn.
And our bun in the oven is Sweetie. No pictures of him/ her yet!
We couldn’t be more excited! I miscarried three months ago after trying to conceive for two years. Then the Lord blessed us again with another pregnancy. If you look under my categories you’ll see several ones about “TTC” and “Miscarriage”. It’s a subject close to my heart and I’ve written a lot about it. I try to be as open and honest as possible about my struggles here on my blog. I sometimes even throw in a little TMI! I must admit that now that I’ve miscarried once, the possibility that it could happen again is constantly on my mind. I pray for peace and protection of this little life every day.
I’m married to a fabulous, very tall (6′7), hard working and loving man. We are both Christians and want to serve and glorify God in all that we do.
This is my hubby, Mike.
I’m a Missionary/ Third Culture Kid that’s suddenly found herself {sorta} grown up, married and a mom! I’m a Southerner at heart who somehow ended up living in New England and marrying a wicked “smaht” Yankee boy. (Not to be confused with a Yankees fan. Ahem. )
I’m quite horizontally challenged (which makes it all the more hysterical that I married such a tall man), love coffee,my family, being a stay at home mom, Glee, singing, a good thriller novel, cooking, girly things and watching movies. (To name a few!)
I blog about my family, my faith, struggles, life lessons and the humor that God throws in our life almost daily.
Thank you for stopping by! Please feel free to click around and leave me a comment or ask any questions you feel like. You can also go to my sidebar and follow me on Twitter or check me out on Facebook.
Enjoy the hop!
To join in on the blog hop fun check out Pensieve Robin’s blog and link up! I hear there’s also some great giveaways.
See you around!
August 3rd, 2010
This little girl will be the big THREE in a couple of weeks.
Seeing her adorable, smiling face every day brings me great joy.
She’s my cuddly, sweet little girl
Who still needs her naps and
And loves her sister and her friends.
She’s my adorable, almost three year- old ,second born and she definitely makes me SMILE.
This post is linked to Wordful Wednesday over at Seven Clown Circus.
August 3rd, 2010
Can you tell I couldn’t come up with a better or shorter title for this Top Ten Tuesday post?? Uh, yeah. It’s 6:30 am and my brain isn’t functioning all that well.
Anyhoo…moving on!
Dare I say it??
Fall is not far away. ACK! Back to school is not far away. Double ACK!! Everyone around me is buzzing with back to school shopping and talk of the school bus coming.Even though Katelyn isn’t technically really in Kindergarten yet, she’ll be doing Kindergarten at the little school she did Pre-K at and I have to drive her half an hour and back every day. Not really looking forward to that! But when the tuition to a good, cute little school is paid for you, you can’t complain!!
I am SO NOT READY for Summer to be over. And it happens all to quickly here in New England. Fall here is beautiful. I love Fall. However, Fall being here signals the coming of a long, depressing, dull and disgusting winter.
I LOATHE winter here.
However, there are a few things I’m looking forward to come September. I truly enjoy the month of September to December 31st. It’s January to April that I don’t like!!
I present to you : Top Ten Things I’m Actually Looking Forward To In The Fall
1. My birthday in September. Wait….maybe I’m not looking forward to being a year older!
2. Being able to start singing in our church choir.
3. Helping start up a missions themed Wednesday night Bible club for the kids at our church. I’ll be teaching the 2.9-5 year old’s. It’s going to be great and I hope we have a good turn out for it.
4. Halloween. I love Halloween! I’ve always loved it. I know many Christians “frown” on it but I love seeing my girls dressed up in their costumes, trick or treating, school parties and our church’s big Trunk Or Treat event. I think my love for it goes back to when I was preschool teacher and we had so much fun decorating out classroom for Halloween and the kids all came dressed in their costumes for our big party.
5. Finding out the gender of our baby in October! I can’t wait for that. I’ll also enter the second trimester here so that will be a great milestone as well.
6. Apple and Pumpkin Picking.
So fun! There’s nothing like biting into a chilled, crisp apple right from the orchard
7. The sights and smells of Fall.
Love the crisp- but- not- freezing air. The Pumpkin Spice candles. The beautiful colors.
8. Thanksgiving.
Who doesn’t love that time of year. Thanksgiving and then…. Christmas! Wait, did I just say Christmas?? But it’s August!
9. The return of “Glee”.
Need I say more?
10. Being able to start buying new, cute maternity clothes.
I’ve only ever been at the end of my pregnancies in the summer and beginning of Fall. I’m going to have to buy winter maternity clothes. I love maternity clothes because they are comfortable, cute and give me a good excuse for showing my belly. (That’s already there in the first place! Ugh.)
For more Top Ten Tuesday and to link up head over to Oh Amanda’s blog! It’s fun!
August 2nd, 2010
I’ll admit it. I have a hard time saying “no”. Whether it be to my kids, fattening foods,church ministries, friends or adding more activities to my schedule. And when I do actually decline something (other than the fattening foods!) I feel sooo guilty! Why say “no”, when it feels so good to say “yes”, right?
What I’ve found, however, is that the guilt is not making up for the stress that is being added into my life every time I say “yes” to something. I’m finding that I’d rather feel guilty than stressed and resentful.
Do you struggle with saying “no” to people, things and activities in your life?
I’m slowly learning that saying “no” is not only a good thing, but sometimes a necessary thing. I’m learning that, in this season of my life, I am even having to say “no” to good things, and even, great things. There is just not enough time or child care! While I have small children (and am growing my family) I’m going to have to wait on certain activities and even church ministries. My focus right now is my children and my home.
Church ministries are like crack to me. I love doing them. I love being part of them. Heck, I like starting them! There’s just something that draws me to that sign up sheet and makes me want to sign my name to yet another activity or Bible study. I get this rush of good feelings and excitement at the thought of being a part of a wonderful Bible study or hosting church cookouts. But after the initial rush wears off and the reality of the commitment sets in I start to get resentful at the time it takes. I start noticing that I’m not at home as much, that my housework is piling up, that I’m snapping at my kids more because I’m busy trying to get caught up on stuff that piled up while I was taking a part in another activity I signed up for. Back before I had children taking a part in all of this stuff was a lot easier. Now that I have children my focus needs to be on raising and mothering them.
For instance, here’s a list of things I’d love to be doing or starting right now:
-Hosting a weekly Bible study at my house.
-Starting a drama group at church.
-Singing monthly at the Christian coffee house close by.
-Starting a mother’s group/ play group.
These are all great things and things I really enjoy. But right now I just have to say “NO” to them! There isn’t enough time. And if I tried to keep up with all of this I’d eventually become stressed and resentful and no fun to live with! Right now my focus needs to be at home. My family needs me. My children need my love and unstressed, undivided attention during this period in their lives.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”.
This is not to say I’ve given up on all activities and ministries. I have a pretty full plate as it is! Here’s a list of what I/ we are doing in the fall:
-Driving Katelyn half and hour to school and back every day.
-Soccer for Katelyn (thankfully only once a week!).
- Dance for both girls (also once a week).
- Mission Friends on Wednesday nights. ( We will no longer be doing Awana at the other church. I’m teaching the youngest group of children about missions in our new Wednesday night ministry for kids at our church).
-Choir (The rehearsal happens to conveniently fall after Wednesday night activities so I’m doing two things on one night of the week)
As you can see that is plenty for our family right now. Mike has a couple of new things up sleeve as well but those need to be worked out. His time is mostly taken up with work!
We have a new motto we’re trying to apply to our lives and our home right now (oh, especially our home!!): SIMPLIFY!!!! Sometimes, (not all the time) God can teach us and use us even more when we learn to say ” no” ! ( Not to Him, of course)
Another thing I’m having to learn to say “no” to is PERFECTIONISM. My schedule, my home, my children and myself are not going to look perfect or be perfect. I don’t think I’m EVER going to get my house to look exactly the way I want it to at this point in my life. I have to stop stressing about it and do the best I can. And then MOVE ON!!
How about you? Do you have a problem with saying “no”? C’mon, practice saying it with me : ” NNNOOOOOO”
Feels good, doesn’t it?
(Say “yes” )
