Home's Cool

Why we have decided to home school our children...

1-leisurely mornings.
2-Plenty of park play.
3-Individualized education plans .
4-lots of time to develop personal interests, goals and hobbies.
5-Opportunity through cub scouts, primary, home school groups, clubs and lessons for positive socialization and to build friendships.
6-Lots of time available to spend on religious studies and character building.
7-Freed time for service work.
8- Museums.
9-Snow days...in May...
10-Warm lunches.
11-Vacations and overnight trips during the week!
12-More time as a family
13-Unit studies that end with parties, or trips (space center?! France?! The Beech?!...)
14-We can know how our children are growing, developing and how to help them specifically in whatever areas they need a boost in.
15- Lots of active time for busy boys
16-There are no nuts at our "school".
17- There are no bad grades, only extra time to learn in.
18- Puzzles...
19- Science experiments...
20-Building projects...
21-Daddy days...
22-Lounge around in our pajamas and make cookies days...
23- Books...
24- Books...
25-...Books...
26- Did I mention the books I can't wait to read with them???
27- Opportunities for Mommy and Daddy to learn about new things along side our children.
28-Because Daddy can do Math and Mommy can do English...
29-We will get to know our children on a deeper level as we watch them develop daily into the men we are so proud to know they will be.
30- Because I am blessed to be able to stay at home and be a full time Mother.
31- And I have the desire to educate them in the way that would be best for each child uniquely.
32- Because Daddy is so smart and can teach them so much.
33- They can spend the largest part of their day with someone who loves them, delights in them, cares for them, protects them, hugs them, kisses them, talks with them, hears them, adores them, wants so much for them, will do whatever it takes for them.
34-because that will matter to them...
35- In their self esteem, their self confidence and their self worth.
36- They will have more chances to succeed.
37- And opportunities to work harder.
38- They can listen to the music they want to.
39- Study in the way that best suits them.
40- learn about things that interest them NOW.
41- They can come back to something if the time isn't right now.
42- I won't "fail" them.
43- They will have the highest of expectations on them.
44- Every opportunity in front of them.
45- And the tools they need to get there.
46- More time to PLAY.
47- They can be free to be themselves.
48- They can learn to manage their day
49- And be responsible for what they accomplish in it.
50- They can save the tougher lessons of life for later
51- When they can stand firm in who they are
52- And be unwavering when faced with difficult choices.
53- They can develop a closer relationship as Brothers.
54a- Because we know home schooled children who are extroverted, leaders, intelligent and fit in just fine wherever they go.
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54b-We know kids that attend public school who are a little unusual, don't make friends easily and are difficult to relate to.
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55- So we are confident that it is not educating children at home that makes them "weird and unsocial".
56- Jon and I have attended public and private formal schooling for a combined total of 34 years. I think we might know a thing or two about a thing or two that we could pass on.
57- Because after being educated at home for one and three years, respectively we have two amazing, bright, funny, polite, respectful children who love to learn, soak up knowledge and are doing wonderfully. Right here.
58- So we don't want to fix what isn't broken.
59- We want to do this because it is right for us.
60- Because we understand and agree that it isn't right for many other families
61- And not a choice that everyone can or wants to make for their children.
62- Because lots of people think we are crazy
63- and we agree.
64- But more than anything we are excited!

So there! Now our plans have been revealed (this isn't new, we talked about this on our honeymoon...before any babies...but have just grown more certain as the years have gone by and the babies are here!). Maybe one day the principal will find two wide eyes little boys sitting outside his office with a Mother who has only left a trail of smoke behind her as she floored it to the day spa and then to the padded room, in that order. But for now, for this year, this feels really right.
I wanted to announce this in a sense because this space is going to fill up quickly with our adventures and come September my "8" loyal followers may wonder "hey shouldn't that kid be in school?!" Well...now you know, don't call the truancy officer just yet but registration day came and went at the old kindergarten...I did not join all the other teary eyed Moms but I did join 2 home school groups locally and was amazed at the amount of families who are doing the same...I also went and looked at curriculum. That stuff is addictive! I can't decide what to use yet... I am torn between...20. Hmmmm I wonder if Jon will agree to get a laminator...and a photocopier..and a Cricut...

Buds

Ben and Jacob are playing better and better each day. It makes me so happy to see them loving one another so much. Granted it usually ends with Jacob in tears because Ben just wants to wrestle with him sooooo badly.

I have a feeling one of these days our little marathon eater (I think he is up to,what? 17 meals a day now?) is going to trump him in size and Ben is going to wish he did not teach him the joy of lunging yourself on top of someone half your size...

Something I said?

Uh Spring? Anytime you are ready....we are!

We woke up to a winter wonderland of a blizzard last night. I shut the curtains on it today (except for the part where Ben was trying to dig himself to Gramma's house...that was too funny to miss!)

I suppose there is always next week...

It's Coming!

Oh Spring...the signs are coming more and more everyday! The winter blah's are melting away with the ice on the pond...Mother and Father duck were by the other day to check out the conditions. We should have our little baby ducks wobbling around in no time.
Only in Canada could I look out the window at dark trees, muddy sidewalks, mucky yellow grass and garbage strewn everywhere, accumulated under layers of snow and think happy thoughts. This winter has felt...long. I am glad for a change.

The Plan

We have this plan...crazy as it is...to...save money.

Ew.
That sounds like no fun at ALL. It means you have to say "No". To yourself.

Delaying gratification has never been a strong point with me. Ask Jon, he will tell you. Actually please don't ask him.

We want to pay off our house, and save money for retirement and educate our kids and all kinds of other worthwhile stuff... but the problem is that I forget all that stuff when I am in a store...or on the internet or when someone at playgroup has a new stroller or some talented Mama on Etsy has bow ties for sale and I know two of the most perfect necks to done them.

Yes. It is a problem.

For example. Yesterday I was in a store to RETURN something. That is to reclaim money. I was confident in my trip when I entered and felt myself wavering as I walked through the isles of spring displays. I talked myself in and then out of everything I came across. Until I saw it.

The little black green house.

(pick it up)

I have been growing my little baby seedlings (you should see the beans...they are precious) in ugly disposable trays. Not pretty on my mantle at all. My little baby peppers are probably cringing at the thin plastic around them and that is what is stunting their growth.

(Put it down)

Oh no! My little peppy's are failing to thrive because I have surrounded them in ugliness. How could I expect them to grow in such conditions?!

(pick it up)

This glass and rod iron house on the other hand. This is a house that would hold in not only warmth but expectation of success. I could almost hear it's beauty coaxing the little sprouts up into it's generous airy arch. But I can't.

(Put it down)

But it would be perfect on my sofa table. The morning sun pours in that window. And really the money we are saving in growing out own food (GROWING OUR OWN FOOD!) this summer should surely contribute to such a renewable investment. I would use this greenhouse every year and save more money on the flowers and plants I could start in there. Do you KNOW how much greenhouse plants cost?! This is a money saving investment. AND I would be motivated to start lots of seeds, we could even expand our garden to accommodate all my plants. Our house would be "the beautiful house with all the garden's". We could enter the home and garden tour and MAKE money from our garden's.

(Pick it up...and walk (quickly) to the cash register)

"Okay Ma'am (when did I become Ma'am???) with your credit of $14.60 deducted from the bill you still owe $XXX.XXX".

Um okay.

So I still have some work to do. I am trying to not think of the Excalibur dehydrator stair carpet trampoline built in bookshelves baby jogger city mini double stroller matching Easter outfits powder room vanity garage flooring counter top back splash wading pool spring coat Mellisa and Doug building blocks jujubee bag and tripp trapp chair. Not at all. In fact I could barely even remember that list of things I don't want.

Because we have a plan.

Kiss Me!

I am (half...) Irish!

Unfortunately my generic dollar store calender does not have the holidays of the year written on it and thus I missed the memo that today was St Patricks day. So we missed the Irish dancers that make my feet tap in the city center until I saw just a glimpse of the news and all the university kids in the background with green beer (oddly many of them were the little known Asian and African-Irish (?) and I felt badly that I neglected to bake shamrock cookies today and go looking for a rainbow with the boys...with some strategically planted cold coins as was my plan. But Jake had a green avocado for a snack when he woke up...so until next year...Happy St patty's day (do we even know what that is? Is it a real THING? Does anyone seriously celebrate it for a purpose other than to get cab rides and green food dye sales up? Does Ireland even acknowledge it?...I am off to Wikipedia...)

A Visit From Great Nanny

My Grandmother is, in a word... fancy! As a child I remember watching her get ready for the day on our summer holidays in Nova Scotia. I watched her with interest, do her make- up and admired each piece of carefully selected jewelry she always wore. Her heels were high, her hair just right and her outfit always pressed. I am happy to say, even so many years later, I found her to be fancy! I am still taken with her poise, humor and charm. A darling my Nanny is! I was so glad for Ben and Jacob to be able to spend time with her on her recent visit. They took to her right away and Ben asked if could please see his Great Nanny again soon. I am happy to share her genes and hopefully will have inherited, among other attributes, her ability to be traveling the country and vacationing in Florida when I reach her phase of life as well. I have also been inspired to be a little more fancy...like my Nanny!
We so enjoyed her visit!

Delicious

With just a small dollup of ketchup I could eat them right up!