Today, Today

Today was an up and down day. Good, bad, and in between. We have started a new schedule at home because, well , we didn't have much of one for a while. With my schooling, remodeling , and vacation, our schedule has flown out the window. So, Monday we were all up at 7pm and have been doing so every morning this week. It is an adjustment but it is great for us.

July 25th, 2013

So, things seem to be moving along as usual. Nothing too fantastic happening. Rex just got back from a short business trip to Idaho Falls. He took some beautiful pictures of the temple and the falls. He even had some time last night to go to the visitor's center. I am glad he got to have that time.

We are almost all set and ready to start school. Organize and prepare!! It is fun. Ben is very excited to start his official Kindergarten work. It should be a great year in the school of mama!

I am heading to the doctor again soon. I am just not finding the umph that I once had. Evelyn is sleeping through the night, I have been eating healthy and exercising, and doing all the things I should be doing, but I still have no energy. I get completely exhausted and have had a hard time even functioning on some days. My iron is somewhat low, but not in the anemic zone. They next thing they are looking at is my thyroid. We will see how it goes.

The garden is growing like crazy. I don't have as much time as I would like to put towards it, but it is surviving and I will have plenty to can and eat! My apple and pear trees are packed full too.

Until another day!

Moments

I love "those" moments. Yesterday, we started off our morning with a devotional as usual. When we started our school season off, we began to read the Old Testament. Bit by bit, verse by verse, we have not made it very far, but the main point is that the boys are understanding it. We were reviewing what we had read the previous day about Cain and Able, then I was about to begin where we had left off and then .. it happened. THE MOMENT. All three boys started asking questions. Why did Cain kill Able, why did Heavenly Father respond the way he did, and my favorite was Benji's comment, "Cain did not makes very good decisions, did he?" Ahh, it was amazing. They were involved and motivated and yearning to hear more. It was very very nice.
 Today was a different kind of day. There were no "moments", at least not the good kind of moments. Instead we had melt down at Walmart moments, and talk your head off and make mommy go crazy moments. Here is hoping tomorrow is better!
 So, my grandma is in the hospital with pneumonia, and it is not looking good at all. They boys are going to a friends house tomorrow and I am going to go visit her. I am kinda scared, but she has been asking for me. I really hope she pulls through. I selfishly cannot fathom losing her.
 Updates to follow tomorrow! 

Who Knew?

Is it too good to be true? Home schooling in week one is going SO well. It is almost scary! We have had meltdowns and power struggles, but over all, I am so pleased with how natural the whole process is! The boys love it, and are day by day learning to love learning, teach each other, teach themselves and reach out a bitter farther on their abilities. We start our day with breakfast, getting dressed, and brushing teeth. Then we have a morning prayer, devotional, scripture study ( we are in the Old Testament right now), plan out study goals, plan our day and then we have family work time. We turn on fun music and do chores, clean up and get our day rolling. After that we start studies which usually takes about an hour to two hours, then we have lunch, then reading time.. then we are done. It is so odd to be done with everything by about 1pm. If the boys want to research things more, or want to do more work they are welcome to. It is so nice. We have a cooperative school that meets at the library once a week that I help teach and the boys take part in that is amazing. They boys also start home school PE this week which will be awesome! I keep worrying about our decision to home school to only get daily confirmation that this is what we are suppose to be doing. It is just perfect.

First Day!

Our first day of home school was a success. I know with all my heart, we made the right decision. Heavenly Father gave me these children, and they are mine to care for, nurture and to educate.

On another note, we are taking the blog private. So in about 2 weeks we will take the blog off of a public setting and you will have to give me your email to let you have access.

Gearin' Up!

Cha cha cha cha changes! Life seems to be flipping things around some more. The change is all in the best way and it will be good. I will be able to go into more detail soon, but I have to wait out for some things to be finalized. It seems to be that the older I get, the more things change lately. Maybe I am just noticing more!

My lesson planning has started and it is going to be a full year! We are actually starting our projects and some things this weekend. It is going to be awesome.

True Peace of Mind

So, it just hit me. We don't have to go buy school clothes this year! I am not buying school supplies until after the "back to school" season is over. I have picked up a few things here and there, but man, my school supply bill is going to be so much cheaper!!! I for once feel so so much better about the boys starting "school" this fall than I ever have before. I have not set curriculum, in fact, we are more or less set on what the boys want to learn in 3 month blocks. I have set things they are going to review and practice, but other than that it is what they are interested in and letting their learning go from there. The gospel will be first and for most before the 3 R's, that is our main goal. I am so so excited to do this for our boys. Yes, excited. even after the past 2 weeks which have been nerve shredding with my darling children and a lot of crying, whining, arguing and so on. This is what we need, and we need to learn to get along with each other as a family.

 I am all registered for school and I feel that I will be very refreshed and ready for this semester after my nice long break! I have awesome classes and a only 2 teachers out of 5 classes! Woo hoo!

Life is good! 

Pictures! And Updates

 So, it's been a while since we have added some actual pictures! Here is Mr. Benji! 

 Trenton FINALLY learned how to ride a bike! 

Two days later, so did Joe! 

We have been seeing Nana lots. We sure love her!

We went to Centennial Park once evening for Mutual and it was just amazing. I love having a wonderful canyon in our area. 

 For mothers day we built birdhouses and squirrel feeders. Here is Rex and Andrea (one of the Yong Women from church---who stays with us on the weekends) building a house for her mom.

 

 A bit cadywompous but that is what we were going for. 

 This is the squirrel feeder we made for Nana. It took a lot of time, but it was great fun! 

The roof lifts up on the side to put the peanuts in. I have to say, my hubby sure is creative! He thought of this idea Friday and we had it finished by Sunday.



So, pictures aside, things have been well here. Rex is up for a new job this coming week. We are pretty sure he has it, but I wont go into detail until he does.

I am done with school for the semester. That being said, we have had a lot of changes happen since school ended.

#1- I am changing my major. I really, truly, honestly do not want to teach and feel as if I went into the major for the sake of other people. I was only fooling myself.  I want to be home with my kidos, and I want to be a mom. I am changing my major to English, which I can have done by next spring.

#2- After this school year, the boys will be home schooled. This is something I have always toiled with and contemplated, and the time has come. It is scary, but very exciting.

I love when life turns upside down and everything feels new! It is scary, but exciting!

Onward

School starts for me next week. I am kind of excited.. I suppose. I was less than 2 points away from getting the grade I needed to move onto my next math class. So, I am re-taking the class again, but with a different teachers. ::sigh:: I have one actual in class, class and that is speech. I am excited about that class, I like speaking and don't mind speaking in front of others. If I take summer school ((yuck)) again, I will graduate next spring... or should. I am not pushing myself, and whatever happens happens.
 I am looking at the different options I will have with my degree, besides teaching in a public school. So far, I am leaning towards specialized tutoring, assisting families in homeschooling, college teaching (which would require more schooling)  book writing, or special ed. developmental skills (which would require a major change) But we will see what comes to me.
 Rex and I are still toiling with homeschooling as things just get crazier at the boys' school. Hmmmmm.
That is all I have to say about that.
The boys have had a cold since Christmas, now I have it... I am dead to world.

Snow, Reading, School, and Stuff!

We awoke to a dry fall morning at 6am. But that soon changed around 7:30 when snow started coming down like crazy!! I wish it would have picked a different day to snow, but I welcome it all the same! I am excited to see snow and start my holiday planning!
Trenton is starting a reading buddy program at school today. The 3rd graders read to the 1st graders. I think he will like it. It is every Thursday from now until May!
I get to go to a reading workshop tonight and meet up with some of the church ladies. Should be very fun!
Joe and I are starting home school pre school today as well. I think he will like it. The old chalk board is making its way out along with all my school decor.
Ben is hitting the screamer stage. The 3rd child always finds a way to get noticed! He is talking more and more so hopefully the screaming will stop soon!
Rex is a crazy man and is working 16 hours today plus 3 hours travel time. Hooray..... NOT The paycheck will be nice, but I miss him, plus he is really sick right now and needs some rest!
Well, that is all for now. I am off to do visiting teaching and hunting for Trenton's glasses. Should be an interesting day!