M-I-C-K-E-Y Jake is 3

Oh today we celebrated my little

guys 3rd Birthday...hard to believe...

We celebrated in Nana's backyard with treat bags, mickey mouse

cupcake, a water balloon launcher and t-shirt craft...it was a blast!

Homeschooling at the park

Today we packed up and did our lesson plans outside at the park...the alphabet, storytime, numbers, colors, The 4th and 5th creation day subtraction, addition, etc...all taught outside...it was great! So this is why I am loving Homeschooling...this is how we learned subtraction and God's creation:

IT"S GONNA EAT ME...

So Jacob has this new saying where he runs and yells "It's gonna eat me" to pretty much anything God created besides humans. It all began with the poor innocent lab's at my Aunt Brenda's that just wanted to play. He yells so much that I have began to stop responding...after my heart raced as he screamed that a fly was crawling up his leg the other day I just learned to ignore.

Today in the car coming home from our Homeschooling field trip to the Park Jake screams in this gut wrenching scream...It's gonna eat me! I'm like Jake...no screaming...Ben says Jake stop...then I hear Ben go "umm mom this is serious...I mean very very scary...there is a huge spider going up Jacob's shorts" So...I again don't respond because Ben has the tendency to exaggerate (I have no idea where he gets that ;) ) Jake continues to scream and say It's eating me...so I pull over and get out ready to beat him (just a figure of speech not literally folks) and there is a monster spider climbing up his leg that looked kind of like this...

I killed it and SAVED THE DAY! Then kissed my lovebug and apologized for not believing him...

Some photos of our week

After only 15 minutes of instruction Ben can play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the keyboard...slowly but accurately...way to go Ben

Evan is sleeping lots...not sure why...he just is...I would say he is awake less than 5 hours a day...anyone have any input on that...he wakes up to eat and I've tried playing with him...he just seems sleepy...for now unless other problems arise I'm going to just watch him and count the blessings of a schedule that seems to be working...

Here are the beautiful flowers growing in front of the building...part of the boys science predictions and observations on Monday

Move in week...social survival...and higher learning

Ok it's Tuesday...I know things may get tougher but for now I am loving this home school; stay at home mom life...I can guarantee you I work harder than I ever imagined I would.

Today we experienced an earthquake...I didn't feel a thing...seriously...not a thing. I was so busy trying to get my "mommy chores" done in my 1/2 hour of free time that I just missed it.

One thing I do miss is my Honey...Shawn I miss you so much...shout out to my hubby right now...he has worked and worked and worked getting ready for the school year.

Every August my wonderful husband rushes around to prepare the campus for some 600 students that invade this quiet town. The students change from year to year and have ranged from a bunch of sweeties some years to the nasty hoodlyms (my own word) you could ever meet. It's so interesting to watch them all come in...the social scientist in me just gets tons of entertainment out of it...here are my latest observations (please don't take offense...just the funniness of it all)...yes I said funniness...

You can always tell the rich kids from the poor kids...why? When their parents move them in they park wherever they darn well please even if it's blocking a fire route, street, driveway, sidewalk or access to pretty much anything...they just don't care. This year three very expensive SUV's parked immediately blocking all of University Drive (the only access through campus) I just watched from the sidewalk as my boys played...they sat there watching folks drive over sidewalks just to get through talking on their bluetooth headphones and screaming at their children to hurry up and get their "crap". It's amazing to me how it seems the more you have the less you appreciate (obviously there are a few exceptions to this rule)

I love watching the college students as we come in the cafeteria...they kid of just stare like what is a family of five doing in here for every meal....my boys they always find a couple "friends" and it is imperative that at every meal they point and shout "there's my friend" upon their arrival and throw them air fives, air kisses, peace signs and whatever "street" stuff these kids have taught them...:)

It seems that the most beautiful girls on campus...stunning girls...walk around with their head looking down...I wonder why? I just want to run up to them lift their heads and say "you are so beautiful God loves you hold your head high"...instead I try to influence little by little as to not cause my hubby to lose his job and therefore the roof over his head.

Although high school was last year these students come in as if they are still in high school...they immediately form little clicks and start the gossip...oh how I could show them that these things will pass might as well be real and kind to everyone!

Is it a defense mechanism to keep them safe in their minds (less opportunity to get hurt while you are part of a "herd") I'm not sure...what I do know is this year I am determined that even if it's only done through a smile or encouraging word I'm gonna love on these students especially the outcast...there should be NO OUTCASTS anywhere let alone an institution of higher learning...oh and I've been told my punctuation on this blog sucks...oh well I type as I think and the "..." works for me...:)

Magic Eraser oh how I love thee

Ok so may I just shout out to magic eraser...I have had the worst time with our bedroom shower...it looks so yucky all the time...ick! Even when I clean with bleach, kaboom, etc. I just cleaned half of our shower and I'd post a pic if it wasn't so embarrassing...it is SHINING!

My thoughts on homeschooling...proceed with caution

"Children are born persons. They are not born good or bad, but with possibilities for good and evil." Susan Macaulay

I never realized what home school parents go through when it's time to discuss back to school. At the supermarket...around campus...in our day to day activities there is always someone ready to ask Ben if he is getting ready for school. "Are you ready for school?" they say..."How's mommy doing with you `going away' to school?" In which Ben usually replies mommy is teaching me at home. Immediately 8 out of 10 times the conversation ends abruptly and the conversation changed to something else...as if the first day of school is much more exciting for a student attending school. I just never realized the bias...and maybe I have participated in it in the past; I'm just not sure. Indeed, I do not plan to home school Ben forever; unless of course I go through and teach myself most of what I learned in grade school. I am sure that although I am an intelligent person and have earned a bachelor's degree I have forgot the important things I would need to teach him and in about three years he would outsmart me...maybe I will spend the summers learning all the basics again before I teach it to him...not sure...what I am sure of though is this:

My son is excited to home school. He is not doing this against his wishes; he wants to home school. I believe I can provide as equal; actually I might dare to say a better education than what he would receive in public school and teach him principles of the bible.

Something else that has crossed my mind...am I indoctrinating Ben by teaching him the word of God and our beliefs on the world...ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I seriously thought about this...maybe schooling Ben at home and teaching the word of God would cause him to walk away from everything when he becomes at an age to make his mind up on whether he will serve God or not. The more I think about this concept the more I conclude Ben is going to make a decision (unless God comes back before Ben is at that age)...and he is going to learn from someone how to understand his world...for me...I believe God wants that someone to be me and his daddy.

I say all this not to upset parents who are opting for schooling their children in the public schools or private schools...I ABSOLUTELY am in TOTAL SUPPORT of the school system...I have a great deal of respect for teachers...I taught two years of school myself and know that they deserve a pay trade (similar to the game of life...switch salary cards) with all the pro athletes in the world...and I also believe there is so much socialization and advantages to school...so please don't take me wrong...just felt like sharing my beliefs...I print this blog out and I'm so interested to look back on this in 20 years and see if I still feel the same way...we'll just have to see!