WAYYYYY behind in my blogging

Well, I am back....I hope. I started working again in July and I have been sooo busy with everything that blogging has been last on my list.

Anyway, our school year has been going great. I have been concentrating on reading, reading comprehension and parts of speech with the kids. I have noticed recently that there are quite a few kids who don't know much about the english language or how to write properly and it's been bothering me. I am not the perfect writer nor do I claim to be, (Dan is actually much better than I am), but I want to teach my children the proper way to write.  So here is what we did today...



Booger loved this lesson, he says it will help him with one of his favorite games, MadLibs.

Hopefully I will be able to blog again soon. The kids are all doing so great and learning so many new things (I have been doing a few new things too). So until I blog again...

Working Mom and Homeschooling

Work?! Well, yes I am working again. It's hard but I will admit that I love my co-workers and I love being out of the house. I also like contributing again, (in a monetary fashion). I do NOT however like being tired, or being away from my kids. But you do what you have to do. And that means that I have to work. The company I work for is very well known and always super busy. I like that part too, time flys at work and makes it easier for me to be away from my kiddos.

One day, hopefully soon. I will be able to actually be home with the kids and not have to go back to work. That's my goal. So, this year, I am going to be frugal, and I mean SUPER frugal. (it's one of my goals, not resolutions for the new year.) I am trying out a new menu planning system, a new/old cleaning system, and a new shopping system. Here's to hoping and praying 2012 is my last year as a working mom. Lord knows that Homeschooling is getting way more involved and I need to focus my time on that, not making people their morning lattes.

Your how old?

For those of you who don't know, yes I am a very young mom. I just celebrated my birthday on Monday (Happy Birthday to me) some of the people at work were blown away to know that I am only 27. Since you are probably doing some math in your head right now, I was only 18 when I had my sweet little Booger. Anyway, that aside. I consistantly get a puzzled look when I tell people my age. I guess that having 3 kids and being a homeschooling mom people think that I should be older, and rightly so. Now I come to the reason for this blog. I don't mind the puzzled looks or the questions, but I do mind when people find out my age and then assume that I am not capable to school my children. (Usually my blog isn't a complaining blog but today....sorry.) I have in the past, far and near, been criticized for my decision to homeschool only after someone heard my age. Which I don't think is fair at all. If anything, and no offense to you slightly more mature in age moms than I, I have a ton of energy and love every minute I spend with my crazy kids!! My kids are doing great, we are about to start, I can't believe I am saying this, our 4TH year of homeschooling, and we love it.

God laid this on my heart almost 5 years ago now, it was the first time that I heard that still small voice. At first I resisted but when I came to my senses and listened to the Lord about this, I am so glad about my choice and God's calling on my life. I wouldn't have it any other way. So, yes I am 27, my children are 8, 5, and 2, and I am great mom and teacher and we are going to have another great school year. Thanks for listening to me vent a little :)

Tomorrow is kind of a sad day....

Joyful, happy, sad, astonished. Just a few of the emotions I have been feeling today as I realize that tomorrow my sweet little beanie will be 2!! Where has the time gone? I know that all parents say that, but really. She is in a toddler bed, almost completely potty trained and I am depressed. You know I thought I would be elated when the "baby" stage was done, I am not. I miss the cuddling and the sweet baby smell. I miss breast-feeding....sorry I know thats a bit much for the guys...but I do. I miss all of it and I am kinda tearing up just thinking about it.

Children are so hard to raise but so much fun, challenging but joyful, and I love every minute of it.

Beanie has been a wonderful addition to our family. She is funny, smart and the cutest little thing. She is definitely the baby of the family. Everyone gives her everything and she just soaks it all up. It's hard to believe that 2 years ago she wasn't even a part of our family and now life would feel wrong without her. Everyday, I look forward to seeing her and receiving all of her hugs and kisses. Because while I am trying to enjoy every minute, I am also fully aware that time keeps ticking.

So for a moment go back with me....

Happy Birthday Sweet Beanie!! I love you so much. God has truly blessed our family with you and I can't imagine my life with out you!!

She should've been sleeping....

My sweet peanut. She is a night owl, she gets it from me. Last night I saw her sneak out of her room and lay something on the dining room floor. When I got closer this is what I saw....

She had left me a folded up piece of paper, I went a little closer and saw that it was addressed to me.

I honestly started to giggle at this point, because I knew I needed to discipline her for being out of bed, but this was going to be good.

 This is what she was doing when she should've been sleeping. By the time I had taken the pictures and went in to talk to her this is what I found...

My sweet little peanut. She is such a mommy's girl, and I love it. And for all those times when she is pushing my buttons and being rotten, these moments remind me of what a great child she is. Thank you Lord for our little peanut, our lives would be quite dull without her.

Kids and Messes and Laundry ....Oh My!!

This is my house today....a little crazy....

Lunch, Mac n' cheese with grapes and pretzels

The living room as of 11:30AM!!

Self Explanatory

Anyone wanna join me?

Camping Trip with my son, Hubby and a few great friends.

We got up ready to start our trip, we packed the car, loaded the bikes, and left, only 2 hours later than I wanted to. In the midst of the packing I am pretty sure that Booger asked about 700 times when we were leaving. I don't think he has ever been more excited, a camping trip without his sisters, what boy wouldn't be? We picked up a great friend on the way out, and headed to Garrett County for the long weekend.

THE CAR RIDE.....
The Car ride was sooooo much fun, we sang songs, listened to Booger play the harmonica I bought him at Cracker Barrell (sorry Summ!), played a few hilarious games of Mad Libs and even slept a little. Booger only asked what time it was and if we were there yet about 750 times, so really not to bad for a 7 year old who is more excited than he has ever been in his life!!!!!

WEDNESDAY....
Wednesday was mostly a day to set up camp and enjoy a great dinner of Tacos made by yours truly. Booger helped a good bit to set up the tent but mostly played with a good friend "Z" who also went along on the trip with us. We did get to take a small hike around the falls, with the whole group of 8 which was very nice. Once it was dark we started the fire and had Smore's...I think between Adam and Z they ate about 10 smores.....a side note, my best friend of 19 years Stephen, planned this trip, he was super organized and super prepared, and I am super grateful because given the recent events with our family vehicle I was in desperate need of some time away where I wasn't the one in charge. So thanks Steve!!

THURSDAY......
Tut tut it looks like rain.....for about 30 minutes.....but enough to deter us from going on our bike trip which was planned for the day. Instead we decided to head to place called Smiley's and make a ton of memories. Smiley's is a fantastic little place that has Go Karts, putt putt, bumper boats, bumper cars, laser tag and a small arcade....a 7 year olds dream!!! Booger had so much fun, even though he was a bit small to ride the Go Karts alone he loved being able to ride along with all of the adults and cheer us on. My Good friend Summ and I had a fantastic and absolutely hilarious time on the bumper boats and when told by the attendant that we drove the bumper boats worse than a 3 year old couldn't stop laughing. Thursday ended with some of the best Ice Cream I have EVER had in my LIFE, Card games, more Mad Libs and teaching Booger how to play Sudoku, (which he is actually very good at).

FRIDAY.....
tut tut looks like rain.....again.....and it's cold....oh well, 5.5mi bike ride through the woods here we come!!! So we start off on the "bike" trail. Which I later learn is not actually a bike trail, but rather a hiking trail, on which if you choose to torture yourself you may ride your bike. Even though the "bike" trail was extremely hard, Booger and his friend "Z" who is 10, did a fantastic job, though they did walk some of it (we all walked some of it).  What a beautiful ride through God's creation, and what a sense of accomplishment at the end. I was exhausted and ready to call it quits for the day after lunch, when my energizer bunny convinced me to take him and Z out onto the lake in a scanoe. For 8$ and a smile on my boys face I couldn't say no. But I had to convince the hubby, who looked more tired than I did.  Of course he agreed, but once out on the lake we could both feel the tiredness start to set in, I am a little sad to say that we even though we paid for a ful hour we only spent about 30 minutes in the scanoe, before calling it quits. Our friends however enjoyed the full hour and came back to the docks happily singing,  screaming "row, row your boat", We ended Friday around the fire tired and worn out. What a great day!!

SATURDAY....
Our LAST full day....We split up the group, the 5 friends we came with us enjoyed an afternoon of horseback riding, while we enjoyed a long hike through the woods to admire the falls. We saw unique mushrooms, amazing trees, a beautiful beaver dam, and some gorgeous rock walls. Dan, Booger and I got to spend a great 3-4 hours together hiking through the woods and simply enjoying Gods beautiful creation together. I couldn't have asked for a better time on the last day of our trip. When we returned to the camp site, our friends were waiting. We went and had some more AMAZING ice cream and saw a movie together to finish out the last day of our trip. Then we sat around the fire till 12:30am planning our next trip and talking about how much fun we had in our short 4 days together.

SUNDAY.....
Do we really have to go home? Packing wasn't to hard, we were leaving the camp site by 11:30 and we had some lunch together before heading back to cell phones, computers, TV and chaos. I so enjoyed the quiet, the talking, the jokes (and there were many!!), not being able to use technology. It was great. Booger has already talked about the scrapbook he wants to put together to remember our trip. I can't wait to start it with him.

A little side story for Sunday......
Booger had been catching frogs and Toads and other creatures all weekend. We asked him NOT to bring any of them home with him, however being a boy and being my son....hardheaded...he did not listen. As we were packing Booger caught another friend. He repeatedly tried to hide the toad in the car, and we repeatedly asked him not too. He then got a brilliant idea, "I will put the toad in my pocket." and he did. Through lunch at the restaurant our little friend, later named Trevor, sat in Booger's pocket. Once we were back in the car and headed for home, Booger decided to quietly take the toad out and put him into a side compartment on the insdie of the car door. Trevor must not have liked it there, because he made his way up front and up the pants leg of my husband, yes I did say "up the pants leg". When we stopped for gas Dan noticed that there was something wet on his leg....yes you guessed it....little Trevor. Adam immediately confessed that he brought the toad home and told us the story. TOOO CUTE. Trevor is now living in our back yard in the play house...I am pretty sure he is happy there, although Adam thinks he misses his family.

REMEMBERING THE JOKES.....
I know that most of you won't get this, but my friends who joined us will.
ALLEN!!! STEVE!!!!
YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!!!
Batmoth.
That's what she said.
More movie quotes than I could ever type...Here's one though.....WHOA!! Dream Big!!
"Moments" together.
Dylan singing.




MONDAY......
It was great sleeping in my bed, but I miss my friends. I did miss my Beanie and Peanut immensely. But I am ready to pack up my family and friends, girls included this time and go back. It was ALL so simple. We had what needed and nothing more. Life was what it should be if only for 4 days. Who wants to come?


Thanks to Hubby, Steve, Summerly, Dustin, Dylan, Z, and Booger for an amazing camping trip. I can't wait to go again.