School has Started!

We were counting down...

Now here's where reality comes in! I took these on day 3 because the chalkboard wall had to sit a couple days before we wrote on it ;)

Shane and I put lots of finishing touches on the school room on Sunday night so it was exciting for all the kids to come down and see. Exploring our new room on the first morning...

Our room. We still need to do some things (including get different chairs and a cabinet that closes up so I can hide away all the madness on the silver shelf that's to the right of the chalkboard wall). 

Some things that have been fun about school: 1) We spend a lot of our time right here...

2) You can have a play store to learn about money and wear your new Halloween costume that just came in the mail if you want...

And 3) After taking a field trip down to the creek with Daddy, your clothes might get all wet so you can just come back in to finish handwriting only wearing your Angry Birds slippers...

Today is only day 4. So there is a lot more to learn and a lot more to process. But I have to say, through tears this morning, that homeschool is saving me. Our move this summer was hard. It's been a long and lonely transition. Most people I talk to say they think I am crazy for homeschooling. And there were days I thought maybe I was.

But 3 days in, I am thankful for one space where I don't doubt God is working.  I am so grateful. 

And in a lighter way, I am grateful for Shane, who let me and helped me make the room so fun to be in. 

Last Year/This Year

Vacationing

One of the joys of vacation is that you can fall asleep poolside at 2:00 in the afternoon on day 2. 

I always love how hard our kids play when we're here. We came to the same place last year and this year is even better so far. I declared this morning that we may need to come back here for the next ten years. It's just a perfect spot for our family. 

I can't believe I am sitting here with Blaise asleep. He hasn't fallen asleep with me holding him in a long time. Just going with it and not worrying about routine is one of my favorite things about vacation. Dinner was after 7 last night, we have thrown out any food rules, had s'mores at a bonfire yesterday, and stayed up way late to watch a movie by the pool. It's great!

Road Trippin'

Seven and a half hours in the car yesterday.  The theme was movies, snacks, and iced coffee for me!  Ha!  The kids did awesome and we only stopped twice. 

One of my favorite parts of the trip was when Blaise asked me to play tigers with him. I reached back and we imagined his tigers eating and swinging and going through little daily routines. Not easy to do when you're driving, but still fun. 

Lieren and Sim were quietly happy in the back. They snuggled their blankets and held on to treasures they brought in their backpacks. 

Silas was a huge help, handing out snacks and setting a general happy heart attitude the whole time. 

And unlike the couple who leaned over to me during lunch to reassure me that "they do grow up, you know", I kinda had a day where I hope they don't.