?

There is a big decision that needs to be made by September, preferably sooner.  It is seriously eating me apart.  Come September, Aurora will be able to attend Kindergarten at Margaret Scott.  I would be lying if I said this whole home-school thing has been easy.  I am having a hard time with time management.  Not only do I have 3 little ones to look after, I have a house that needs to be cleaned, dishes that need to be washed, laundry that needs to be done and 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and a dinner for 6 that need to be made.  It is time consuming to the point that I haven't had much, if any time, to "teach" in the formal sense.  Aurora still is learning, but we are using alternative methods, like helping me cook, watching LeapFrog videos and teaching her brothers how to count and identify colors.  We haven't set down for a formal lesson in months and that right there has me re-thinking this whole home-school thing.  If I can't find time for it now, will I be able to give my children the attention they need?  Am I taking on too much?  Am I freaking crazy? :)  I literally go back and forth with a decision and then something will change my mind.  I have prayed and prayed and prayed for an answer, but I haven't gotten one yet. Russ has left the decision up to me, so I feel all the weight on my shoulders.  It also hasn't helped that the comments and suggestions I have been receiving about home-schooling have been on the negative side.  But honestly these people haven't liked one decision I have ever made in my life, so why start now? 
I just feel so lost.  I feel like this could be the most important decision that I ever make and my kids are counting on me to make the right one for them.  I understand that legally kids don't need to be enrolled in school until they are 7, so I could take a few more years to make the decision, but what if she gets so far behind?  What is the harm in letting her "try" school for a year, especially since it is half-days?  I don't know, all I know is that the decision will be made, eventually. 

Bowling!

Yesterday, Russ took Aurora bowling.  It was her first time ever and she had a blast.  I don't have any pictures but we have free passes all summer long, so I am sure we will get a few photos.  She did really good and only had one "Aurora moment."  I guess she tried to kick the ball once and Russ told her not to do it and she pouted and said she wanted to go home, but other then that she had a great time.  I also signed her up for swimming lessons yesterday.  It starts next Tuesday evening.  I'm not sure if she will get in the pool, but we are sure going to give it a shot.  I am also thinking of signing her up for a basic soccer class for the summer.  So she will be busy, busy! 

The Grass Is Always Greener

Everyone here in the Portland area knows how much this weather sucks.  It is kind of depressing to say the least.  Russ had an opportunity to apply for a job at Boyd's in Denver, Colorado.  I would say that I am 90% sure that he would have had the job if he applied.  It wasn't something that we were interested in.  But as the rain fell yesterday I was curious to see what the weather was like in Denver.  68 degrees and sunny!  I was ready to pack my bags and head out the door. :)

The Phone Call

I received a phone call from my parents yesterday afternoon.  It started with "Aurora is in big trouble."  All sorts of things flashed into my head.  She got some scissors out of a drawer and decided to give herself a haircut.  My dad said she looks like Landon now.  So of course I am thinking she totally chopped off her hair and was going to have to shave her head and wait for the hair to grow back.  She got on the phone and asked me if I was mad.  I laughed and told her I wasn't mad that she cut her hair, but I was very upset that she was playing with scissors without asking.  So she came home last night and I was bracing for the worse and it actually wasn't that bad.  It actually looks like we meant to cut her hair like that and she got it pretty even.  So maybe we have a hair-dresser in our midst? 

Music To My Ears

We love to laugh around here!!  It truly is the best medicine.  It is also very contagious.  You will probably have to watch the video twice, focusing on each one.  I hope this brings a little laughter, or at the very least a smile to your face.  Have a great day!

Yay Me!

I posted the letters on the previous post.  I just wanted to brag because I figured out a way to actually post them and I feel smart. :)  It is pretty sad when our 2 year olds, and even our 1 year old can pick up something super fast and I am left saying huh? 

A Window To Heaven

Today I got a wild hair and started going through boxes in our room.  We had a few good laughs when we read a few notes from when we were younger.  Then I found the letters that my sister got when she was at outdoor school in the 6th grade.  I was 6 and I wrote her a letter and it would seem that all I wanted to know about was the food, go figure! :)  My parents wrote her a letter but she actually wrote "return to sender" on the letter and sent it back.  That's my sister for ya!  I could totally see Aurora doing that some day.  The last letter I read was from my Grandma.  She wrote about how she misses seeing Amber walking home from school from her bedroom window.  She did that for all of us that went to Margaret Scott.  She wrote about how anxious she was to see her every day and that some kids aren't so lucky, that they went home to empty houses.  Then she told her to not forget her "Dear God" which is a special bedtime prayer that my Grandma taught all of us kids.  As I read this I felt like I was looking in a window to Heaven.  I imagined the reunion they must have had the day my Grandma died and I cried happy tears.  It truly is an amazing feeling, knowing that I will be reunited with them one day!