Homeschooling Day One

Today was the first day of Kindergarten for Micah.  It was also my first day back as his teacher.  We did preschool at home last year too so its not completely new for us.  However, this year we are officially supposed to be learning things, and we added a second kid (Caleb) to the mix.


Since I was a teacher pre-kids, I have some knowledge to go on.  I get to use some creative teacher ideas and nerdy stuff like curriculum really interests me.  So up to this point I have loved it.  But my fear was that once school started and we actually had to implement the brightly colored curriculum, it wouldn't be so pretty.  And I don't know the answer to that yet, but today was fun.


Both the boys were so excited.  They were lapping up each activity, and asking for more.  That made this mommy/teacher very happy.


Here are my favorite moments of the day...


Bible Time - we start all together and do the calendar and our Bible stuff.  It was absolutely precious to me to see my three kiddos gathered around talking about our Bible verse.  Hearing their little voices recite Matthew 5:9 after me was so sweet.


Math - Micah and I are doing Math U See this year which is a Math program that uses manipulatives to teach concepts.  Today, we were basically playing games with the manipulatives (Micah thought they were Legos) and yet learning place value at the same time.  To work one on one with Micah is a treasure that I have now that I know won't last.


Playing Outside - After lunch I took the kids outside since we had been in the house all morning.  Think recess.  And as I sat in my chair watching all three play happily with their bikes and scooters, it made me think back to my teaching days.  I remember standing out on the blacktop talking with the other teachers thankful for a break from the kids.  But instead today, I sat watching my children happily play and enjoy each other.  And I realized I enjoy being with my kids.  


I am so thankful for this opportunity to fulfill the role of their teacher.  I don't know how long we'll do it, but right now I am enjoying the extra time I get with my kids.  It's a lot of work, but its all worth it!

Blog Life Crisis

So recently I have found myself so lost and confused and just not motivated when it comes to my blog.  I love reading other blogs but sometimes it just takes so much work for me to do mine.  I know I have family members waiting to see pictures of our kids and hear the latest of what's going on.  But sometimes I'm lazy.  Sometimes I've got nothing.  Sometimes I have no direction and so why bother.  


I've realized recently that keeping a blog is really a priority that I want to keep.  A large part of it is that it is a journal in a sense our our life happenings.  Some sort of record of the things we do as a family, the things the kids accomplish, my journey in this crazy role called "mom", and how our kids are growing and changing.  I try and find things or think up of things to blog about but the reality is I need to just blog about our life.  I know that is the most basic comment ever, but a concept I'm learning.  


And something God has been working in me for a while now is not comparing myself to others.  Some people are really good writers, I am not.  Some people are really creative, I am not.  And I could go on and on.  But God has placed me in a specific role and place for a reason.  I am learning to use my gifts for the place he has me.  And hopefully that will come out on my blog because my hope is that our blog will just be a true reflection of who we really are.


It is easy in the blog world to concentrate on what we are not doing or where we fall short.  The reality is that we can easily fall into the trap of feeling defeated.  We are not as good as ________.  We don't have as many followers or comments as _________.  We aren't as creative as _________.  But that's not the way it has to be.


I am learning to use blogs as a resource to help me get ideas for the areas I need help in.  I'm also beginning to see how they can be such a source of encouragement for me.  They can never replace my time in the Word, but they do help encourage me in my relationship with Christ and as a mom and wife.


Anyway, its good every once in a while to evaluate whether what you are doing is really worth it, and if the impact it is making on your life is beneficial or not.

Not Me Monday

I've never done one of these before, so I thought I'd take a stab at it.  Who knows if it will stick?!




I always use sunscreen.


I always use at least a SPF 30 and always a 50 on my kids.  I apply it at least 30 minutes before and always reapply when needed.  


So, I would never just apply it once, and think I'm fine for the whole day.  


Nope, not me.


I mean, I'm a responsible adult.  I know that sunscreen is crucial in not getting burned.
And if my dear husband warned me that I was getting red, I would definitely not say, "I know, I just don't feel like getting up to get it."


Nope, definitely not me.


And because I am a responsible adult, I would never consider covering up with a towel was good enough, completely forgetting about my face.


Then I would never come home and realize that I did not in fact have a burn on my face that revealed a perfect sunglasses tan.  


And my dear family would never make fun of me for it because they love me dearly and only use words to build others up.


No way, not me and not my family.


To make matters worse or not worse, I would never wake up two days later to find out my entire forehead was in fact swollen from the said sunburn.  I mean really.  Who would allow the burn to get that bad!?  And who would whine all day long about a swollen head while applying aloe and ice to it ALL. DAY. LONG.?


That would most definitely not be me!

You got the time?

This is Ed. I just had to write a quick story from today.

Since Katie and I led our youth to serve at a Special Needs camp called Camp Barnabas (see last post), physical and developmental disabilities have been common topics in conversation so Micah and Caleb have picked up much of it along the way. This is not the easiest thing to explain to little ones but it is cool to see them grasping it and understanding God in it all...(though this story has nothing to do with God :)

Today Micah and I were taking a walk/adventure and a couple stopped us and asked me what time it was (since I'm still wearing my incredibly nerdy Walmart $7 watch which I got for Camp). I told them the time and then Micah turned to me and asked "do they have some disability where they can't tell time?"
Love that kid. If only he had said it to their face.  

Camp Barnabas

Well we are back and somewhat rested from an amazing trip to Camp Barnabas.  We came home exhausted, but excited to see our kids again.  Both of our parents did such a great job with the kids.  The boys came back with lots of stories of things they did.  


Barnabas was an amazing opportunity.  I highly recommend it to any youth group or college student.  Our students were paired up with a special needs camper for the week.  They had to help them walk through camp for the week.  Our students were challenged in every way, and many of them really learned what it is like to actually depend on the Lord.  This was not really something they could do on their own.


We shared yesterday in church, and so here is a video that Ed made for our week at Camp Barnabas.

Quotable Kids

Micah Edition:


8:00PM - putting boys to bed
(i just lied about that bedtime.  It was really 7:15 because ed was gone and I was sick!)

Micah: Mom! Have you felt my muscles recently?
(need I go on?)


Me:  No Micah I haven't.


Micah:  Well you should.  They are HUGE!!


We are working on pride.