Merry Christmas

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We are very excited in this house for Christmas day. Of course, the kids are ready to open the presents that are under the tree. But they are also excited because it is celebrating the birth of Christ. We have been doing a lot of activities over the last month relating to Jesus and Christmas. They have really been enjoying it this month. We have been doing a tradition that started when I was a little girl. The kids have been opening one small stocking stuffer since the 20th. We do it for five days before Christmas. It really helps to alleviate the excitement a little bit. Now I just hear for about 20 minutes in the morning "when do we get to open our present" rather than listening to it all day long for several days.

We wish everyone a very happy and wonderful Christmas.

First day of school

Today we started back to school. Emmalee is in first grade this year (how did that happen?) and Eoin is in kindergarten this year ( again, how did that happen?). I can honestly say that this is going to be a more difficult year. Emmalee will do fine. She knows the routine and reads very well. I think she will fly through the phonics/reading portion of the year. Math will probably bog her down though. Eoin, oh little Eoin. I love him but man can he be difficult. The whining, arguing, disobeying really starts to take its toll after a few hours. We will have a fun year, though. He was so cute when I woke him up this morning. He hopped out of bed and said today is my first day of school. He was so excited. I am sure that after we get a good routine down, he will thrive and do very well. I also have to remember the first month with Emmalee. She and I spent several days in tears that month. I just have to remember to get some great pictures of them today and we will be set. I was going to wait for Daddy to get home so I could take some with him.

179 days left. I am looking forward to summer already.

Homeschooling

We are preparing to start school on Monday. Yes, I know it is early but we will be able to take every other Friday off. The kids are excited about. I can not believe that my baby, Eoin, will be starting kindergarten this year. He will be five in October. Where has the time gone?

I have spent the week preparing lesson plans, organizing books, making copies, etc. There are fleeting moments where I think we are crazy for homeschooling and when will I ever get a break. Then I stop and think why would I entrust the raising of my children to someone else. Someone who really doesn't know them. Someone who has twenty other students to get to know and teach as well. Why would I do that? Yes, homeschooling is tough but there is never a day (full day, just moments) that I wouldn't want to be with my children. I love seeing their eyes light up when they 'get' something. I love being the one who is teaching them so much. And as long as the Lord will provide for me to stay at home and to teach my children why wouldn't I? I do believe that we all have to do what is best for our families and I believe this is best for mine. Yes, it does make us different but we are okay with that.

Someday, I will get some pictures up of the kids. Really, I will. We have taken some great pics this summer.

Oh wow, so much has been going on. In mid May we bought a wii game system. We are having so much fun as a family. The kids really like the bowling. We play against each other. Emmalee and Eoin are doing quite well with their scores. Tonight they both bowled over 200. Emmalee bowled 215 and Eoin bowled 207. They each had five strikes in a row. I bowled a measly 139. I can't even compete with them. But, I am glad to see them having so much fun with it.

Emmalee had her dance recital last weekend. It went well. I was very proud of her. I will post some pics later after we get them off the camera and camcorder.

Eoin Funnies

Eoin has been quite the little ham today.

First, he was playing 'news anchor'. He was sitting behind a chair pretending it was a desk. He was 'reading' some stories and then went to the weather. He said it was going to be sunny, rainy and cloudy today. (It was sunny this morning, now it is rainy and cloudy.) The temperature was going to be 'warm'. It is warm here today. After the weather he said " Now I am going to smile and then I am done." He turned to the 'camera' and smiled just like you see the anchors do and said "I'm done." It was one of those moments I wish I had my video camera out so I could have captured it.

Second, he ran into a chair and hit his head. He bounced back and looked at me and said "sweeeet".

Some days I wonder if I should just go get a job and not be around them. I wonder if I am doing the right thing. Then things like this happen and I know that I am doing the right thing by staying at home and homeschooling them. Why would I turn these wonderful moments over to someone else? I would miss so much.

Where is spring?

I was wondering if anyone could please tell me where spring is? I know the calendar says it is officially spring but after another four inches of snow, I am seriously beginning to wonder if we are ever going to thaw out. I know that I live in Michigan and I should expect snow. But it is almost April people. This winter seems so long to me. The kids are begging to go outside to play and I am ready for them to go out to play. I am ready to start spring cleaning and to open the windows to allow fresh air in. I am ready for sunny days. The kids are ready too. They ask every day if it is hot or cold. When I say cold and they need to wear long sleeves and pants, they ask if it is ever going to warm up so they can wear shorts and tee shirts. I tell them it will as God's light (sun) is on longer and longer each day. I know that on Memorial Day it can either be 90 degrees or it can be 40 degrees. It doesn't help that Easter was so early this year. On Good Friday we had 6 inches of snow. It was gone by Tuesday. At least the snow is disappearing quickly these days when it does come.

Okay, enough complaining. I am very blessed in the fact that I have a roof over my head, food on my table consistently and a nice vehicle to drive and clothes for my family. Many families in this area of Michigan are struggling right now to have a roof over their families heads. Many families don't have enough food. The auto industry that supports this area is really hurting. The families of those in the auto industry are really hurting. My husband has a great job with great benefits. God has been very good to us. He has provides many things for us and I am ever so thankful for those things. Even when I don't want to be. Like this weather. I am thankful for it even though I complain about it. I know that eventually spring will be here and we will be able to go outside and enjoy the creation God made. We will get to see the flowers and the trees start to bud and bloom and the grass turn from brown to green. It will happen. I know it will.

Emmalee is 6 and Eoin is 4

Wow, it has been a while since I have been here. It has been so busy the last year. We started homeschooling both of the kids in September. Emmalee is in kindergarten and Eoin is in preschool. Eoin sits with us or is at least listening while I help Emmalee. He is catching on to so much stuff. He read a book the other night by sounding out words. Mike and I were both shocked. He is catching on to addition as well. When I do flashcards with Emmalee, he yells the answer faster than her at times. Both of them have a passion for learning for I am grateful as their mother and teacher.

Emmalee turned 6 in February. How do I have a six year old? It doesn't seem possible. Oh, how I wish I could relive some of those early times with her. She is starting to grow into a little girl and grow out of the preschooler stage. Her face is looking older now. She has till not lost any teeth and she is okay with that.

Eoin turned 4 in October. Again, how can that be? It seems like just yesterday I was holding him as a tiny little baby. He is now officially a preschooler and growing up to be a little boy and eventually a man. I wish I could go back and relive some of his younger moments too. He can be very stubborn but then turn around and be so delightful.

Homeschooling both of them has been a great experience for me. I love it. I love watching them learn and seeing how proud of themselves they are. I love everything about it even though it is hard.

Both of them have been my "velcro" children lately. They have been stuck to me like glue lately. They do not want me out of their site for more than a few minutes. That is fine for now because it won't be long until they are thinking mom is 'icky'. However, I do need a small break from them every so often. I love 'rest' time.

Mike and I are teaching Awana Cubbies again this year. It has been a great year. However, Mike wants to return to school himself in the fall and I think we will not be able to teach next year. That is okay. It will give me a few hours once a week of kid free time. It will also take some pressure off of me and I will be able to do some planning for homeschool during that time.

Well there you have a quick review of the last year.