Homeschooling

I have NEVER thought about homeschooling my kids. It just wasn't something I was ever going to do. To be completely honest, I thought those moms that home schooled were a bit off their rocker. That opinion came from complete ignorance on how homeschooling work and what the advantages were. I focused completely on the 'cons' which made my decision to NEVER home school a very easy one. Well......first I'd like to apologize to all my friends that home school for thinking that you were all a bit strange and off your rocker! I'M SORRY!!! I have done TONS of research about it because of the problems we have been having with Jaed at school that I feel like it is the right thing to do. I have found a great curriculum for them (Washington Virtual Academy) that is very structured. They even assign you a virtual teacher that you work closely with so that your kids are progressing and receiving the things they need. I have joined a local Homeschooling group (so that my kids don't turn out socially retarded) and plan to do many fun things with them.

I went to their school today to tell them that Jaed and Josie will not be returning after today. Josie's teacher was not pleased. She even said, "Josie is doing so well, why would you pull her?". Well she obviously isn't aware that Josie has been in school two weeks, and has brought homework home twice unable to do it because it wasn't explained to her. The first time it happened, I spoke to her teacher and she said, "Oh, I just assumed Josie knew how to do it. It was simple things she should have known.". WELL SHE DIDN'T KNOW IT! Josie needs the one on one attention in her school work so that she's not left behind like she has been. Jaed's teacher seemed alright with it (not like their opinions count!). My concern with Jaed is that he is not challenged enough in school. He needs to be able to go at his own pace and not be halted because the other kids in the class need more explaining. When that happens, he becomes bored and starts to do naughty things which gets him in trouble and sent to the Principal's office.

I didn't want to pull either of them unless they were ok with it. But the first time I mentioned that it was a possibility they both begged me to do it. Indi, on the other hand, said "NO WAY!". She waited to long to go to school that she's not going to stop now! I don't know if I could ever home school her because she is such a HUGE social butterfly that not going to school for the social atmosphere would be detrimental.

So, the Warner School starts tomorrow! Wish me luck and throw prayers my way!

Cakes with Dad

At the kid's school they had an open house and asked that the kids make cakes with only their dads and bring them in to be judged for awards. I helped Thayne find some simple cakes he could do with the three oldest and I think he did a great job! He's such a great Dad to be willing to participate in that stuff and the kids LOVE to be able to do things with just him. They each had a turn with him and enjoyed every minute of it! Unfortunately, the kids didn't win any prizes but they were thrilled to just have entered the contest. We decided that after the contest the kids would give their cakes to their teachers (because I did not want three cakes at home begging me to eat them!). Jaed's teacher decided to save the cake for the next day and let the class have it as a snack. He was so excited!!

Here's Jaed and Thayne making a LEGO cake!


























































Here's Indi and Thayne making a Rainbow cake!!














































Here's Josie and Thayne making a present cake!

NO PRETTY!

One of the best things about having girls is to do their hair. I have convinced Josie and Indi that doing their hair is a must and often tell them that it hurts to be beautiful (or pretty) to get them to stop whining and crying during the hair-do process. Of course, they want to be pretty because princesses are pretty so that usually quiets them down. Well, the story is not the same with Kai. When it's time to do her hair, she hides, yells "No" or just completely ignores me. Does she actually think that she will win this battle?? NEVER!!

Her new thing is to say, "I NO WANT TO BE PRETTY!". Even when I say that she can't be a princess if she's not pretty she simply responds, "Ok" and thinks that means her hair doesn't have to be done. This morning when I was doing all of their hair I called her in first but she yelled back, "Josie and Indi first, Momma!". Like that's going to give her enough time to either think of another excuse or find a really good hiding spot! Where does this 2 year old get this kind of attitude and how is she so dang smart? The smarts OBVIOUSLY come from me and the attitude must come from her Dad.

I told her one time that if she is not going to be a princess and get her hair done then she has to be witch with ugly hair. She instantly informed me that she wants to be a witch!

When I was editing these pictures, Kaia was standing right by me and she said, "Oh, momma, I so pretty!". As you can see, this is without her hair combed and the same hair-do she had yesterday!

First Day of School

Josie and Jaed started school today. Indiya doesn't start Kindergarten until Monday. Josie and Jaed were so excited last night that they had a very hard time getting to sleep. When Thayne and I finally pulled ourselves out of bed this morning, those two were dressed, wearing their backpacks, and watching T.V.. I told them to take off their backpacks so they could have breakfast and Jaed told me that he didn't need breakfast he just wanted to go to school. He's such a funny kid and always thinks he knows what is best for him. They both ended up having cereal and then bugged Thayne until he was ready to take them. I think I even heard Thayne tell Josie to quit bossing him around.

They got to ride the bus home and they were all smiles coming down from the bus. Jaed told me some names of friends he made and Josie said she made friends but couldn't remember any of their names (not unusual for her. She still calls some of her cousins different names because she can't remember!). They can't wait to go again tomorrow. They'll probably want to sleep in their school clothes tonight!

Now little Indi did not have such a great day. She was so sad to see her brother and sister go to school without her. She wouldn't smile all morning until I told her I would do anything she wanted for the next little bit. We played games, read books, colored and even cleaned :). She is so ready for school to start. I'm even a little sad for her that it's only half day, but it will give her something to look forward to next year. She is thrilled that she gets to ride the bus home with Jaed and Josie!

That grin doesn't show even a little bit of his excitement! He even asked Josie why she wasn't acting excited to go to school and we all thought she was. I guess she wasn't as excited as Jaed thought she should be!



























This is a different outfit she had on when Thayne and I woke up. I think she just grabbed the first outfit she could find. I had to override it and chose this one instead.



























Now Jaed's 'Mister Cool'! This is as close to his little sister as he wanted to get.
























Poor Indi...her life was falling apart. She was just in here watching me crop the pictures and said, "Momma when did you take that picture of me?". What a funny kid. In her mind, she was never that said looking.

Crafting here I come!!

So my craft room is organized and is ready for me every time I walk in it! I can hear my desk, my stamps and all my other fun stuff calling my name every time I get close to the room. I really could go in there, shut the door, and not come out all day. Making stuff with paper relaxes so much. I think i would be an even happier mom if I could have 5 hours a day to craft.....ok......5 hours is a lot but wouldn't that be HEAVEN!

I have decided to become a Close To My Heart Consultant (which means I sell stuff out of their GREAT catalog) so that I can hang out with other crafty women and make a little money to support my hobby! I plan to have at least 2 stamping clubs that meet once a month at house and each club will have 10 members. So if any of you want to come to my house (plane tickets are going down, you know) once a month to participate in my clubs just let me know!!!

So, anyway head on over to my craft blog by clicking on the link just to the left of this post called "My Inspiring Creations" and check it out! If you get a wild hair and want to support my crafting habit go to my consulting page: http://stamping.myctmh.com and order something or just check it out :)>.

Mom and Daughter Date

The town we live in is quite a hick town and once a year they have this HUGE Rodeo (along with a fair and a 3 HOUR parade!). Rodeo's remind me of my Dad. He was kinda a hick himself and would have loved to come to our house this weekend to go to the rodeo if he was alive. So, in his honor, Indiya and I went to the rodeo. It was no cheap date but it was worth it! We watch some horse bucking, calf tying, silly clowns, and team tying.

I know very little about rodeo's so the people around me were flooded with questions by me. Good thing they welcomed them and were even telling me things when I wasn't asking. Indi was enjoying herself as well as the popcorn, soda and chips. She never asked once if it was time to go. She got upset a couple of times when they were doing the calf rope tying. One calf was hurt pretty bad and a animal ambulance had to come out in the arena and take him away. After that, Indi was not a fan of that sport! She told me several times that she loves baby cows and that their moms were going to be mad if any of them get hurt. Then she looked around and asked, "Momma, where are the baby cow's mommas?". Like I know....but I pretended that I did and told her I was sure they were waiting around back for them to give them kisses. She smiled and relaxed a bit.

Playdates

As we have started to really settle in and gotten to know our neighbors, other than the cranky old ones, we have met a family two houses down that have two boys. Well, one couple has an 8 year old boy and then there is a mother and her 8 year old son that lives there with them. It's a bit non-traditional but they seem normal......I guess. Thayne took Jaed over there last weekend to meet the boys and their parents. The boys seem to get along well and Thayne said that the parents seemed ok, but we both are so paranoid that we don't know what to do from here. We told Jaed that he wasn't allowed to go in their house for a while and that if he wanted to play with the boys, they had to come to our house or ride their bikes. The boys have come to our house twice and have enjoyed themselves but now they are asking Jaed to come to their house. Thayne and I talked about it and decided that he could go over there for 30 minutes and then had to come home and check in. He leaves the house with his friends and both Thayne and I say a silent prayer that nothing will happen.

Before I had Jaed and worked with files of Juvenile sex offenders and learned all about their situations and how they were abused as children themselves. So much can happen in such a short period of time that you almost don't want your kids leaving your sight (or your home) for even a second. But, that obviously isn't possible so we prepare them and ourselves as much as possible. We are constantly talking to the kids about strangers and the other important stuff and hope and pray that nothing happens to them and if something does then we hope and pray that they will tell us right away. Unfortunately, pediphials come in all different types and you can't identify them by sight and behavior. This is when you rely on God to help you know if situations are safe for your children or not and follow any feelings you have. But it is so hard (at least for me!) to distinguish between paranoia and promptings sometimes.

Parenting is so hard and we make mistakes all the time but this is one situation I don't want to make a mistake in.!