Arizona vacation!!! ONLY 6 MONTHS LATE

We landed Monday at 10 pm we had a hotel so we didn't have to drive an hour and half to Tuscon that late but after getting to the hotel we choose to drive to tucson and sleep on my parents hotel sofa rather that risk bed bugs we arrived at 2 am (5am eastern). Great start right?!?

Sunny park play with cousins

Walks in the beautiful sun

Visits with great grandparents Hankey

Snuggles with grandma and papa

Hugs and giggles with great aunt and uncle

Zoo

Party pizza 28 inches and frozen night

Air museum

Prime rib dinner made by Earl and Retha

Lost tooth (Millie)

Time at the pool

Dinner at the favorite Mexican restaurant all 17 of us!

Private shopping trip to the toy store

Doughnuts

Brunch in a pioneer town

Cave exploring 

Sonoran hotdogs

Waterpark

Something amazing happened this trip as we were flying back Ryan and I looked at each other as the kids silently amused themselves and realized we were on a plane relaxing talking to each other, when we went to dinner we carried on conversations with other adult family members. We sat talking in my grandparents apartment for 2 hours with only the briefest interruptions. We ate an extended 2 hour brunch outside in the beautiful sunshine. At the waterpark everyone rode the water slides and splashed in the wave pool (plus no swim diapers) . With both relief and sadness as we looked at each other on the plane with no child demanding our attention we realized that after almost 10 years the traveling with baby years are behind us.

May 4 - 10 weekly wrap up

After a long winter this was the first week that truly resembled spring. It made doing school that much harder. Both the kids and I were not very motivated. However after some creative planning we did manage to accomplish school and enjoy time in the sun!




Millie and Emmett started swim lesson on Hanscom this week! It was fun to watch Ryan in the pool with Emmett as they participated in the parent tot class. Millie really took to the water (much to my surprise after my trying for 5 years)

Summer started on the Hanscom track team a fun activity for her during the spring. She also logged some crazy hours in the gym this week preparing for states (ill keep you posted. on how that goes!)

It was the lat academic week for Voyagers our coop this week. that along with all our new activities have really given us the feel of the closing school year!

We played at the park multiple times spent hours lounging in the sun and took walks around the pond, participated in a base family walk!

To be honest I feel like for 6 months we were inside fighting against the cold and sickness that winter brings I am seriously contemplating reducing our school load to 1/2 time while we enjoy what we now know is a very short spring!



Here is an extra. this is how E wakes up from his naps... just a tad grumpy!

A day in the life.... Homeschooling a 9, 5 and 2 year old

A day in the life.... Homeschooling a 9, 5 and 2 year old

A blog I like did this and I thought what a great way to start blogging more...

Most of our homeschool days are similar while the subjects change day to day the routine stays the same. We do school at home 4 days a week and 1 day we are at coop.

5am to 6 am my early riser wakes and demands food. (I would prefer to wake before the kids but my early riser is also a light sleeper so the earlier I wake the earlier he wakes.

6am I finally give into the whining and stumble down the stairs. I get Emmett a morning snack which he eats while I workout. (Some mornings I skip the workout because I can not seem to get enough sleep anymore)

7-830 we eat breakfast, clean the kitchen and have screen time.

830-10 get dressed, showered and do morning chores.

10am we start school. The girls get out independent work which includes journaling, form drawing, art and handwriting. Emmett colors or destroys the house. I review the plans for the day/week and help where needed. On Thursdays we do what I call preschool. Summer helps me as we read picture books nursery rhymes sing songs and do seasonal crafts.

11 am the kids continue independent work and I start lunch

1130 eat then free time

1230 Emmett goes down for nap and the girls and I lay down and listen to an audiobook together the girls can do a knitting, sewing or looming project I close my eyes and listen. This week Caddie Woodlawn last week was Pride and prejudice

1 or so.  Start the daily subjects. We rotate between subjects daily choosing longer lesson 2 or 3 times a week verses shorter lessons everyday. The kids prefer this and so do I!

    Each child has a subject that they need me next to them for. Math for one and reading for the other. I give each child 30 minutes uninterrupted one on one time daily in that subject.

3pm I wake up Emmett and for 15 to 30 minutes I do whatever he wants some times he wants to play Legos some days snuggle while I read to him. The girls at this time are finishing up any unfinished assignments.

330 snack!!!! Then free time until dinner or gymnastics. (on Thursdays we eat dinner at gymnastics)

5 Both of the girls are learning to cook so once a week for each they cook dinner with me.

When Ryan comes home we eat then spend an hour together as a family then I disappear to be honest I usually climb into bed.

800 the kids go to bed probably twice a week Ryan reads to them the other nights they do their recreational reading. ( even Emmett and Millie who both can not read look at books)

900 lights out and to be honest I'm usually asleep.

1159pm Ryan comes to bed after submitting his homework

5 or 6 hours later it starts all over again!!!


I keep trying to improve the schedule so that I am not so tired but no matter the changes I make I am still tired. So I am convinced its just the season of life right now!!!

We are here...

Hello New Year!

 I was going to write this 30 days ago but the New Years gave us a big kick. Any new years resolutions or goals have trickled away already to a new less glamorous goal. I may be setting the bar low but here it is

Surviving

Now I am not talking about just getting through but getting through it happily. Maybe a better way to say it is

Thriving while surviving.

So to January

In the death of our neighbor you showed Ryan and I what truly matters in the end. We saw the family this man left behind and the strength that came from the strong, happy and funny father that had lead them for years. We saw the tears break way to small smiles and laughs as they remembered and mourned him. We are thankful for the strengthening of friendship that this event has caused.

In the sickness that has rocked this house we have been forced to slow down. to hug more and hurry less. It forced us to finally talk about and get creative with solid family time during the week.

So there you go January not only did we survive but I think we even thrived!
Next post some of the high points from this month!

Trip to Oklahoma

On December 25 we packed up the car and drove to the airport. We hopped on a plane and landed in Oklahoma.

Returning home is always chaotic because well it is not "home" anymore but there is still an emotional pull to the place.

The week was packed full! I was so busy doing things that the pictures are scarce.

We exchanged gifts.

ate tex-mex

went to the zoo

snuggled with grandma and grandpa

looked at the tornado damage with my aunt

wrestled with cousins

stayed away from said cousin who came down with the flu.

had our own tummy aches.

went to an OU women's basketball game

rented a movie and ate pizza in our hotel room

had a new years fondue lunch

Rang in the New Year with a friend from high school

snuggled on gram and grump

watched frozen ( I laughed, I cried, I LOVED it)

shopped with grandma (I got $600 of Columbia gear for $160 oh yeah)

snuggled on Everett

ate at a German restaurant

and soooo sooo much more all in 7 days!

(Rock paper scissor, Spock)

Gulp

It is done.

The semester is over.

My final paper was a little short, the stack of laundry on my bed is huge, there are dishes in my sink, my floors have not been mopped since who knows when and I have gained almost 10 pounds.

For the last 8 weeks I can say that nothing was getting my 100%.

Not of my attention. Not my effort.

Nothing was getting what it deserved.

Its for that reason that I am not returning next semester to school.

I will return to school but only when my kids are much older for now my dear masters degree I have...

a two year old to potty train

a 5 year old to snuggle

a 9 year old to read with

a husband to laugh with

there are places to go

friendships to build

hikes to go on

books to read

yoga to practice...

6 weeks review- early fall

(One of our 3 hikes this month)

School Schedule - 6 weeks on 1 off.

As I type the kids are cuddled up in their PJs watching TV enjoying this week of leisure. Monday Ryan took the day off and joined in the our week of rest. I LOVE this schedule it is just what I need sizable chunks of time to focus on school and a time when deep cleaning, sorting and approved lazy days are had with out guilt.

(Emmett's hair cut)

Curriculum- Oak meadow
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Our weeks are running smoothly, the children are happy, I am happy and relaxed during the week! Thank you oak meadow!

(raspberry picking)

Schedule- coop
The coop is going great. My kids love going to "school" once a week. The are thriving and building friendships. Just what this clan needed. Emmett naps at school for 2 hours so I get to sit on the couch and enjoy coffee and chocolates will the girls are in class!

(Millie blood systems science project)

 

Extra curricular- Gymnastics

Summer has begun learning her routines for her first competition in January. This month she has mastered her back hip circle and front walkover. (google it I had to!)

Millie- is totally rocking the handstands and is becoming quiet the little powerhouse on the bars!

Me.

School is going great. I am getting good grades so far and am able to keep up with my course load. I do however spend one day a week at a museum this was unexpected. I knew I would have to go once or twice but every week wow. I also spend hours a week watching Nazi propaganda I realized the other day Millie was watch over my shoulder. Yes I win mom of the year my 5 year old has been exposed to Nazi propaganda.