Getting Ready for Homeschool!

So here we go...for real...except in NC it's not documented until your first child is 7, but anyway!  Mimi is not following most of her friends to public school this fall.  We have officially decided that home education is what we are choosing and we are all excited!!!  I have planned and planned and I cannot plan anymore!  After tons of research, personal stories, and prayer we truly do believe that we have time to introduce formal education (and I say that loosely) and we will be living a kind of eclectic/life learning/unschooling kind of school life.  Anyone reading this that may be confused, concerned, or worried...don't be.  I've done enough of that for you and a small community!  Typically, those worries stem from lack of information and I feel like if people would take a moment to ask the person that has lived the life or done the research they would see where they are coming from or at least respectfully walk away understanding that everyone is different and that's OK and what makes the world go round:).

All the girls have expressed their topics of interest to me and I've picked some I desire for them to learn about and we'll go from there!  We're all excited about Children's Museum trips, nature walks, new dance classes, lots of writing, reading, and craft time, and our co-op days.  Just this morning we've already had a newspaper and tickets to a magic show created.  I just LOVE it!!!

Well, there it is!  It's out in the atmosphere...again (for all my close friends that have been on this roller coaster where I've gone back and forth)...ha!

No matter where your babies are headed for school this fall it's a time of transition and excitement for all families.  I pray for all of our hearts as we decide how we will educate our children.  Enjoy it and be "in" it all the way whatever that looks like for you and your family.

Toodles!

Erika and the little girls

Bubbles is 3!!!

Bubbles is 3 now and we can't believe it!!!  Here are some of her favorites right now:

1.  Favorite songs - What Does the Fox Say and Rockstar

2.  Favorite food - Cupcapes!!!  Yes, that's how we say it around these parts:).

3.  Favorite stuffed animal - ChiChi

We have SO much fun with Bubbles and can't wait to see her grow this year as she does "school" with her sisters next year and starts her big girl dance class.

Silly Bubbles

I'm not really sure how we got such a spirited and imaginative little girl, but I couldn't imagine life without Bubbles!  On the way out the door today she asks me to put the goggles on her face and says,"I'm a worker and my name is Craylan."  Who is Craylan?!  

"Craylan" singing to Kidz Bop with toothpaste on her chin.

You (whoever might be out there) May Not Believe Me...

but...I'm blogging again!

So, I laughed at myself when I couldn't even remember my blog name...ha!  I am really trying to give this a "go" again.  So here goes nothing!  I WILL commit to this blog for the last time and truly stick with it because it's really fun when I do commit and as an "official" homeschooling family I can link up with other families easily.  I feel like I need to re-introduce myself so here are some things about me and the crew:

1.  We like to have fun!
2.  We homeschool:).
3.  We are a dance, music, and sport loving family.
4.  My goal with this blog is to share life and also share information with others as it relates to faith, family, and homeschooling.

Toodles!
Erika

 

The Power of a Hug

The power of touch is amazing!  You can say a lot with a hand shake, a gentle hand on the knee, or a big ole hug!  Hugs are huge for us in our house.   We give them when daddy comes home, we give them when someone is sad, and we even give them when we're mad.  Yes, when we're mad.  Those are the best and the worst!  The best because they put a smile on your face.  The worst because while in the middle of making your really good point (that's really not that great in the big picture), the magic of that hug has now softened you and makes you think before you speak.  So, I guess they are the best and the best during a disagreement...ha!  

Try it!  I dare you.  The hug was one of the best things we implemented into our lives when we were first married.  My mother-in-law gave us a gift bag of candy kisses and a poem about the power of the hug and I will never forget that simple, but powerful gift.  We use the hug with the discipline of our children and we use it to set the tone for any discussion we need to have as a couple.  Some of the hardest things we've needed to say to one another have been communicated while we were embraced.  It's lovely and it keeps us strong.  

So go ahead, hug.  It's pretty awesome:).

Erika

Speaking Positively About Your Kids

At the beginning of my motherhood adventure I had a conversation with a friend.  We were discussing how we would vow to speak positively about our children.  I have been around several mothers who get asked the question,” How are the kids?" Too often the response is something negative.  "Oh, the kids are driving me nuts with their bickering" or "Oh my goodness the baby kept me up all night." I'm not saying that mothers don't have a right and even a need to express frustrations.  However, I do feel as though I hear this type of response more often than a response of happiness.  The way we respond to the,” How are the kids?" question shapes how people view parenthood and I want to personally paint a picture of happiness.  Is parenthood hard?  Yes.  However, it is happiness and my life wouldn't be full without my husband and our girls.

It is so easy to get into a back-and-forth about the difficulties in parenting.  However, I feel as though speaking negatively about our children hurts our relationship with them.  It's important in any relationship to keep private matters private out of respect and love for one another.  So why would we treat our relationship with our children any differently?  Not only does it keep the negative at the front of our minds, but our children hear and internalize those words as well.

I love my children to pieces and I want them to know that I respect and care about them and their feelings.  One way I know I can do that is by praising who they are and not blabbing about what they do wrong.  Praising them fills my heart with love and compassion for them and I know it will go a long way in the relationship that I desire to have with my children.

How do you answer the question, “How are the kids?"

Erika

This is All I've Got Today

When I'm having one of those days...weeks...this is all I've got!  Elmer's Glue, construction paper, stickers, and scissors.  They are my lifesavers and I don't know what I would do without them...HA!

Erika