Homeschooling

Part one: The Decision

I (we, although ultimately it had to be my decision) have decide to give homeschooling a go around. This has not been a decision I have entered into lightly, quite the opposite actually. For that reason, I wanted to post my thoughts on this decision for myself and for others.

For the past month and a half I have searched endlessly for the right schooling option (and in the past when we have made changes). This searching has included dragging my husband to multiple school open houses, endless internet searching and chatting with a great homeschooling family. At every school there were piece I loved and pieces I didn’t. I had honestly thought I found the right school with Coastal Christian. It had strong Christian values, a good feel, the school had goals it was working on and the teaching staff seemed on the ball. All the while though my heart was being tugged in a different direction . . . homeschooling.

I would constantly talk about the option of homeschooling when discussing our schooling option with everyone around me. Most people would grin and say something polite about it, but no one was truly supportive of the idea (at least in my mind). So I kept telling myself I couldn’t do it, but my mind and my heart kept coming back to it over and over again. Since Serafina was born, Matt and I have discussed home school and that we believed it would be a great option for our kids. But then life situations changed and we rolled with our ever changing situation and that landed us educating our children outside the home which included private and public education with Sam. None of which have worked out to what we expected. Every time we came to a cross road we discussed homeschooling, but I turned the other direction and went a different way. This time around I tried desperately to get Matt to make the decision on schooling; I knew his first choice was homeschooling and hoped if he made the decision I wouldn’t have to make the choice. I wanted everyone on board and everyone was not on board. Matt kept telling me I had to make the final choice. He would, of course support me 100%, but in the end I would be home day in and day out.

So I continued to fill out application after application for different schools and finally had convinced myself that Coastal Christian was the right school and would please everyone. It was decided, and I would turn in the Coastal Christian application with the non-refundable $600.00.

Then I went to Church. Our pastor was speaking on Genesis 15:6 Abram believed in the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. To be honest the first part my head was else were (most likely thinking about schools) but then the Pastor went into how we use this verse and my brain turned on. He was discussing the wrong places to find/measure your righteousness, for example you can’t find righteousness in your family or children, or your work. But then he touched momentarily on the way others measure your righteousness apart from Christ. He said we are people pleasers, and we allow others to tell us where we stand: his example was that of a treadmill that other people set for us and we are running on it trying to keep up but eventually we will fall off. I realized then that this was what I was doing. I was allowing other to determine my choices. For the last month I have been running on their treadmills and not stopping and listening to what God has planned for my family or what is in my heart. I believe He (GOD) has put homeschooling in my heart. My husband made a great point in an e-mail to me today that we must take this year as a trail and we may fail but that is fine because my righteousness is not tied to my family or homeschooling success! What a great thought, and it made me happy that our minds were on the same track that the Pastor set them on.

So the day came to turn in the application, and I couldn't. I could not lay down the non-refundable money for spots in a school I was not ready to full except, and that made me realize that I am ready to fully except homeschooling. Not a commitment forever but a commitment for a year. When I made a list of things important to me and my family they all seem to fall inline with homeschooling. Not to mention, now that I have made the commitment to take on this life changing challenge I am filled with relief and excited about the adventure ahead. I haven't given a second thought to the other choices.

Still this is pushing my comfort zones because I normally go with the crowd and I know most people in my life don’t believe I am ready to take on such a challenge or think it is the right choice. These are all people I have always relied on to help guide my decisions and this is probably the first time I will be going against their thoughts. I have to trust in God, my husband, and myself that we are making the correct decision. Over the next year we will discover if this will work or not and can re-evaluate this time next year. I may crash and burn and end up putting them all in school the following year with a big told you so from those around me but at least I can say I gave it my best and not always wonder what if.

Stay tuned for our plans on how we are going to home school: support, curriculum, etc. I am so excited to share all that I have learned and will be learning!

Play Dough

I don't know about other mom's out there but Play-Doh play dough drives me nuts. The way it crumbs and dries out. It gets in the cracks and carpet.

It flat out annoys me.

But I have found the solution and it is wonderful. It is a play dough recipe my mom used with her preschool classes and then for Trevor and I. It has a great texture, it doesn't crumb and it picks up easily. The kids love to help make it (which extends the active a little longer and can be nice when your trying to kill time). Also it will last for quite awhile if you store it in an air tight container! Because this is so wonderful I thought I would post the recipe so others can enjoy the fun of a mess free play dough experience.


Play Dough

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2T alum (Vons carries this, normally with spices, it is used when canning things)

Mix in a saucepan and add:

1 cup water
2tsp of desired food coloring
1 T of vegetable oil

(you can also add some type of extract to give it a great smell)

Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes while stirring. It will separate from the sides of the pan and form into a lumpy mass. Turn it out of the pan and knead with more flour until you get a soft dough. Store in an airtight container.


Hope you enjoy, here are pictures of the kids enjoying a new yellow batch this morning.

Baby Blues

I am 35 wk and ready for this baby

I am pretty sure AJ doesn't like the fetal position.

He is head down and there is so much movement down below I can barely walk.

AND at the same time there is so much action under my ribs I can't get a breath.

This is not the Ritz AJ...please curl up like a good little baby and hug thy knees.

The Proud Parent

Let me take a moment to be the proud beaming parent.

First:

My Samuel: The sweetest kid with the biggest heart. Has been struggling in math this year. Many a tear has been shed over math. About 3-4 wk ago we hired a good friend Janice to help tutor him and just this week got a beaming e-mail from the teacher about what a positive change she has seen in Sam. He is paying better attention and is actively participating in class and answering questions. I just couldn't be happier for the little guy he is finally experiencing the great joy of learning and understanding. Then today I went on a field trip with his class and again my heart beamed with pride. Sam was the picture of a perfect Angel on the trip. He was polite, listened to the Docent, asked questions (appropriate ones) and answered them. While on the other hand I wanted to medicate a few of the other boys (if you know what I mean). We have had so may struggles in the past and to get a chance to see him excelling and growing up is just such a wonderful thing. He is becoming such a great little Man!

Second:

My Serafina: The most active, non-stop four-year-old has been loving gymnastics. And well as a gymnast who quit at 10 and regretted it as a 16-20yr old. I try not hard not to live vicariously through her. But this week the coach approached me and said Serafina is ready to move up to the next class and would like her to be evaluated for the instructor approval class instead of just putting her in recreational gymnastics. I really...really tried hard not to be over excited about this. She tried the class on Wednesday and well she was approved. Again...I told myself be calm this is Serafina's life. And to my under happiness Serafina too loved the class and wants to go with, I know she is four but it feels great to have your kid do well in something they love. Now don't get worried about me I don't have her signed up for the 2020 or 2024 Olympics or anything ......but you never know (I am allowed to have my fingers crossed behind my back right?)

Now I am done bragging about my kids......

Sorry Matteo, the only news on him was he started hitting in his toddler class. I can't brag about that, next time bud!

*Update*

Our good friend Rob (owner of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad) made such a good point on my face book page that I had to add it to this blog post, enjoy:

Rob Himoto Hey Tracy, just read your blog, there is a lot to be proud of Matteo this week. He recognizes boxcars on sidings, as an engineer knows how to negotiate meets on single track, understands railroading is a 24 hour a day job as he wants to keep working on his trains past his bedtime, and as a major shareholder had to take care of some of the kids in his toddler class that want to make bike paths on our railroad right of way!

Weekend Fun

This weekend the boys had a great time at Matt's M'Ower. A M'Ower is a man's baby shower and of course they had to go all out and make it a full 2 days of debauchery. You have to go to my dad's website to see all the pictures and get the whole story. Click Here


As for us girls and kiddos we had a nice a quite weekend at home. We hardly left the house and the kids had a great time enjoy the beautiful weather outside. The most hysterical part of our weekend was this silly fly cow:


On Friday night Matteo insisted on bring this bad boy home from his Noni's house (I am under the impression it was a gift from his dairyman great grandfather) Well this cow did everything with us all weekend. He slept with the cow, the cow went to the gym, the cow went to Starbucks. This now a very well traveled cow. And yes the wings are battery powered and flap up and down. It is down right hysterical.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Awana and School

Nothing changes around here we are still busy just managing life. The good news is that the remodel is finishing up. The kids are now all in there own rooms and the playroom is functioning. There are still minor clean up things here and there and a lot of organization to do but the end is in the near future. (When all is said and done I will do a post with pictures...I know you cant wait).

For now, to keep my faithful readers entertained I just have a few thoughts to share.

First I would liek to share about Awana's.

This is a program for children ages 3 and up where they meet to study the bible, learn verses, and just have fun in fellowship playing games and learning. For about a year or more good friends have been telling me about the program and to sign the kids up. About a month ago we made move to a new (to us) church in SLO called Grace, they have an Awana's program so I signed the kids up to help get them involed.

OH MY...it is the BEST.

I would recomended this program to anyone. My kids LOVE it, they come home pumped and excited about the bible story they learned. They are memorizing verses like crazy. Serafina can ramble off about 5 verses now and Sam knows about 6 or more (we have been doing this program for 3wk). They love the other kids and the fellowship, the conversation it brings at home and in the car are fabulous! In short if you have a local Awana's group, sign your kids up, you will not regreat it.

Second, the true reason behind not blogging as often: School.

I hate to say it.

We are looking, again, into new schooling options.

I never thought that school would be discussed as often as it is in our house. I honesty thought my kids would enter kindergarden at the local public school and graduate from the local high school. I was public educated my husband was...but oh my are times different. Here in California I can not imagine putting my child in public education. The changes this past year are amazing and now they are talking about 40-50 childern in upper grade class and 30 -40 in lower. WHAT?!? How can a teacher possiblly teacher. We did give the public school a try and then quickly moved the kids to private school.

Disscion done....or so we thought.

A few weeks ago we recieved the re-enrollment forms for our kids with a nice little note about a tuition raise.....no big deal....I was thinking 3-4%.

I was wrong....

17%.....YES 17% Sam and Serafina's tuition went up 17%

Matteo (he was going 2 days so I could help with mom's chemo etc.) His went up 40+%.....again 40+%

I about fell out of my chair. There is no way to affoard that. (not to mention if we could that it is rediculous.)

So we are once again looking into school options. AGHH We think we have it narrowed it down to two choices. One being another local private school and the other being homeschooling. Serafina has been tested for the kindergarden program and we are waiting to hear if she is accepted, if she is then all our kids are in. While we wait for that we are also looking into homeschooling. I have a great friend whom is helping figure out the ins and outs of it and different options avalible, including her helping me out a few days a week to make sure we are on track!

I am personally excited about either options so I have no idea which way we will go next year. I am hoping that God will give us a clear sign on which option is best for our family because I sure don't know!

That is were we are at. Sorry if this post went on and on, I never really just share thoughts! Something new.

Hope you are all having a great day!

Head Stiches

There is nothing like a a few head stitches to make a Wednesday exciting.

Yes head stitches.

I had just laid Matteo and Serafina down for a little nap and was getting started with a few household chores when my cell rings.....then the house phone rings....huh....

Retrieve the message only to find the school nurse reporting that Sam has a head injury that needs should be looked at by a doctor. Of course.

Call back the school..find out it is a cut they think might need stitches so he is just working in the office till I get there.

Call Noni..."please watch my little children so that I can take Sam to the doctor." Noni -"No problem I am having Lunch at Cafe Roma just drop them off there and they can run errands with me and Robob." (Oh yes it is raining.) What do you give a Noni who is willing to run errands in the rain with 2 small children and my 80yr old grandfather!!

Pick up Sam and oh my gosh....two inch long gash in the side of head.

Call our pediatrician he says come on in.... an hour later Sam has 5 stitches in his head. The pediatrician said it was quite the gash but not to worry he saw the bone and there are no cracks! That was reassuring.

All in all it turned out great. Sam got out of school a little early and a huge cookie so I don't think he is to bummed. He was also a very brave guy, hardly shed a tear.

My only last thought for the day was....

We are going to have THREE boys!!

The boy, his cookie and his stitches (on Sam's left the bloody area of hair.) Please note the blood on the shirt! Oh my gosh...(and yes I am pointing it out to the world!)

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

For those of you who are unaware today is Dr. Seuss's Birthday. This is a big deal in a lot of schools around here. I know Sam's class is having a little reading party and my mom's whole school gets in on the fun by reading books all day and having the kids all wear their pajamas. With the help of Uncle Jon (whom attends Dartmoth College, the college in which Dr. Seuss graduated from) we manged to outfit all the kids in "Oh the places you will go" shirts. (Serafina opted out of the grey shirt with green lettering, she didnt think it was proper party attire so she went for a dress.) So kick up your heals today and have fun reading to celebrate!

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess