Homeschooling Is A Big Task

{This is in the morning when we do our Studying God's Word Devotional, Tristan insisted that she sit with him in his chair}

If you would have asked me 2 years ago if I would be interested in homeschooling my kids, my answer would have been no.  Tristan went to a private preschool which we LOVED, Little Lambs.  Tristan went for 100 days to a public elementary school, which we loved.  We loved the teachers and the administration, we loved their dedication and focus.  But about 1/2 way through the year the Lord laid it heavy on my heart that he wanted me to bring Tristan home and focus more on teaching Tristan the love that the Lord has for him.  John and I prayed about this.  Honestly I struggled with it, because I wasn't interested in spending that much time a day with my kids and I am NOT a teacher!  But I felt it was really what God was asking us to do and we chose to be obedient.

{Yes, she is naked, she usually is.  More importantly, this is a photo of Tristan doing his morning reading to Piper, who loves listening to him read!}

I am so grateful that we chose to listen to the Lord.  I am getting to know Tristan on a level I didn't know possible, I am watching the light bulb click on as he learns to read and do math.  He is just finishing up his first grade curriculum {we use a combination of Abeka, A Reason for..., and Studying God's Word}, he is reading really well and we get to hang out, go on field trips {Seattle on the Train, Apple Orchards, Beach Day and a hundred other things}, we play outside together every day and we have a ton of play dates with friends from public school and our co-op.

I won't lie, I don't LOVE it every day!  Some days we don't do school because Tris is struggling, or I am too cranky, or we just want to do something else {which we can do because we can double up the next day}!  But most days, I think it is awesome that I have this opportunity!  I saw this on Confessions of a Homeschooling Mom's Blog the other day:

I'm not saying I'll homeschool him forever, but I will until he feels ready to go to public school and at that point John and I will pray for guidance!  For now, I am enjoying this season of life and preparing for it to change dramatically in September when we start doing preschool with Piper and add a 3rd little person to our home!

{Our 2nd Grade Curriculum}

Leading by Example

The other morning, I was reminded of how important all the little things we do in our day are and how the little things are the things that really shape our kids.

John and I were getting ready and the kids were playing in the living room.  John was brushing his teeth and Piper walked in our room, looked at him and walked out.  30 seconds later she walked back in and stood next to John (still brushing his teeth) and began brushing hers.

I realized that in the way I talk to my husband, the way I love my kids, the way I teach school and interact with others is playing a vital role in how my kids do all of these things.  She hadn't brushed her teeth that day, but she adores her daddy and saw him doing it so she did it too.

How important is that!  Everything we do they watch, they mimic, they record in their little minds as ok.  It was a good reminder of how important our role as moms and dads is.

I'm always proud that that I married a man who takes his role of father, husband and Spiritual leader so seriously!  He does a great job of modeling how important it is to lead by example!

On the same note, I saw this on Pinterest the other day and it totally fits:

{Obviously I just borrowed this off of Pinterest as my name is not Crystal and I didn't get married on May 15th, ha ha ha}

TV: Friend or Enemy?

Oh the TV and I have a love hate relationship!

We don't get any channels on our TV, we just have netflix.  The kids get an hour a day.  Usually before school starts {Tristan seems to need it in order wake up}.  But we have big restrictions on what the kids can watch, mainly my qualifications are: it has to teach you something positive & you have to be able to tell me what that is if I ask.  I used to laugh at those kids whose parents wouldn't let them watch Simpsons and other shows like that but now as a parent, I get it.  I am in charge of making sure my kids minds stay pure.  The important things in life that they need to learn are not taught by watching SpongeBob.  But I know how darn easy it is to let the TV babysit, especially when you have important things to do like check FB, Pinterest and pee by yourself!!!

How do you handle TV time?

Sometimes Mama Just Needs A Break!

Being 32 weeks pregnant with #3, having a busy little girl and a busier little boy makes life fun!  But sometimes mama needs a break.  I've had guilty feelings in the past about how often my kids go to someone elses house to play and I get a break.  This month, I have made a concentrated effort to make sure I do a few things for myself while still making sure I am spending quality time with my crazies, I mean kids.

I make sure I start my day out in the Word.  I would like to say I get up before my kids but I don't.  While they are waking up, eating breakfast and getting ready I am reading the Bible and spending time talking to the Lord just asking for guidance for my day, and patience, I am always asking for patience.  Ha ha!

I drink a ton of water, I find that it really helps me feel better about me, lessens the water weight that I am retaining and fills me up!

When I start to feel frustrated that Tristan has asked me the same question 14 times in the last 32 seconds, I take a deep breath and remind myself he isn't asking me to annoy me, he is asking me because he needs to know the answer.

I am a busy body!  I move quickly, do a lot of things and really really don't sit still well!  I know this about myself which is allowing me to be directional about making sure I slow down.  I say directional and not intentional because I have can great intentions and still not do anything that leads me in the right direction, but if I am directional, I am making choices to get me where I want to go.  Does that make sense?

So daily I am slowing down, spending time as a family with friends or family.  I am working on getting away from sticking so strictly to my "to do" list and making sure that while I am caring for my home and getting my "chores" done that I am also making sure I am making memories for my children that don't include Fred Meyers and Winco.

But we all need a break, slow down mamas.  Give yourself some grace, enjoy your kids, get the rest you need to be the mom you were created to be!

7 weeks and counting

{32 weeks}

When I was pregnant with Tristan and with Piper, I felt like my pregnancies drug on and on and on.  I couldn't wait to meet them, kiss them, dress them, lose weight etc!  With baby #3, I know it is our last, I have to have a c section because of the abdominal surgery I had last fall and so when she does the c-section she will also tie my tubes.  Knowing this is it, makes me enjoy each little {or big} kick and roll, it makes me slow down and enjoy the pregnancy and every little {or big} pound I put on.  I'm not in a hurry and yet, here I am, 7 weeks away from meeting this little person.

I don't need anything.  We have cloth diapers, we have clothes, we have a bassinet, I am going to breast feed so I don't need bottles.  We are set.  But it feels like I have a zillion things to do.  Clean Piper's closet so there is room for baby's clothes, get a new double jogger because while 4 wheeling it with our 6 year old in it, John broke the front of it, the same day we got it!   LOL!  Finish Tristan's 1st grade curriculum, plan for 2nd grade so I am not trying to do that after baby gets here and probably 100 other things.

Ok that's really it, but nesting isn't kicking in and I think I'm going to turn around and have an infant at home before I know it!

I had my last little ultra sound the other day and the guy who did it randomly showed be a 3d image of baby's face!  It was so weird, I've never seen a 3d image of either of the kids so it shocked me!  From what I can tell this one doesn't look like Piper or Tristan!

{Baby was in the middle of yawning}

I'm super super bummed that I have to have a C-section, I wanted a water birth.  My Dr said it was my decision but that her thought if I have a vaginal delivery is that I will most likely tear up high where they can't reach and I will end up in emergency surgery.  I'm not in it to be a hero, I'd rather play it safe than sorry.  But I'm still bummed!  Have any of you had c-sections?  What was your experience?  What about those of you who had plans of a natural delivery only to end up with a c-section, how did you handle it?

Homeschool, baby wiggles & spirited little girls

I totally forgot I was even running this blog {just being honest!}, Life has been so busy in the last month.

We began homeschooling Tristan, the baby in my belly likes to move {a lot!}, Piper is talking a ton.  Suffice to say, it is NEVER quiet in this house.

Homeschooling is amazing and I can't believe I ever said that I would never be a mom that homeschooled.  We have so much fun and watching him learn is amazing!  We do field trips {we went to Seattle on the train, Twin Rocks Camp, got to see the Reptile Man, The Ag Fest etc}, we go to Sandy First Class {co-op} each week and hang out with other kids, go swimming etc.  He never misses out on time with friends he had at public school and is making new friends left and right!

When he first came home he wasn't reading easily, he just finished a 90 page book.  We started him with 1st grade curriculum to see how he would fare and he is doing great; adding, subtracting, fractions, spelling, reading (even compound words).  This is in no way, shape or form a knock on the public school system.  In fact, Tristan's Kindergarten teacher is probably one of the kindest people I have ever met.  This was just a very personal decision we felt we needed to make to make sure Tristan thrived.  And he is!

We are 24 weeks along now, baby #3 is a move and a shaker, mainly in the middle of the night when I am laying down.  It may move more during the day but we are so busy I really haven't noticed.  We can't wait to meet this little pumpkin and begin life as a family of 5 {FIVE!!!}

Piper, is insane.  I mean spirited, enthusiastic, dramatic, determined, kind, sweet and full of life!  She keeps us on our toes.  Her desire to find a way to do whatever she wants will never {and I do mean never} cease to amaze me!  I was struggling for a while to figure out how to parent this little soul, she is quite different than Tristan.  My friend Bethany told me about a book called Raising Your Spirited Child.  It has changed how I view Piper and how I teach, love on and raise her.  It's a little "worldly" {if that is even the right word} for me, but like any book, you have to take what you can from it!  I have loved reading this book and have found the patience I needed with Piper {through the book and a TON of prayer!}  So if you have a little on who challenges you, this is an easy read and may help!!

What have you been up to?

Simply Amazing!

I've discovered something amazing.  Are you ready for this?  Monthly meal planning!  Do you do this?  I never think beyond the week I am in.  Every Wednesday I sit down and plan my weeks dinners and make my grocery list and then on Thursday we hit the grocery stores.

But no more!  I subscribe to Confessions Of A Homeschooler and last week she sent out an email about her monthly meal plan (you can see it at the link above).  I thought, 'I'll give this a try', and I sat down and customized her meal plan for our family to include breakfasts, snacks (am & pm), lunch & dinner for an ENTIRE month for all 4 of us.  Then I wrote out weekly grocery lists (a separate sheet for each week).  On my first week of the month grocery list I included things I could buy for the whole month (meat & bread, that I can freeze, frozen fruit, pre packaged snacks etc), that means I could go to Costco and shop my heart out!

I keep my weekly grocery lists up on my clipboard by my computer so if anyone in the house thinks of something they can't live without they can put it on the list for the applicable week.

I was super impressed, I got a months worth of meat, snacks, frozen fruit & bread for $221 and that means I'll most likely be spending about $30 a week on veggies, milk & fruit.  I'm quite happy with this as it should lower our grocery bill from $600 a month to about $450!  Not only will I save money but I will be spending a lot less time preparing my weeks food and shopping!

Seriously check out her blog on Monthly Meal Planning, it will change your life!!