...1...Look at what I found just yesterday. I could hardly believe my eyes! Our tulips are up!!
...2...
I was having another pregnancy-induced sobby day today and I felt like I needed to try to do something for a cheer-up. I called my new-mom friend (who lives an hour and a half away) and we were able to connect and talk for a half an hour. I'm so thankful that we were able to talk and I'm so thankful to have her as my friend. Just being able to talk with her, be flatly honest (and cry), and have her relate to how I was feeling made a really big difference. I absolutely cherish the good friends that I do have.
...3...
Tonight my aunt came and stayed with the boys for a little while so that my husband and I could go van test driving! In roughly two months (ah!! I can't believe that!) we're going to have to squeeze three carseats into a vehicle, and I just don't see that happening with our Focus! So we decided it's about time to get serious with the van shopping again. We'll see how it goes; the only foreseeable hangup is the fact that there is still a difference of opinion which vehicle we should trade in (focus vs. blazer). Hey, feel free to weigh in (and I won't even attempt to bias you with my opinion)!
...4...
Here they are, the finished product. At long last! My boys love to play Mass so my husband planted the idea in the children's heads that I could sew priest vestments for them. So finally I began the project and then had trouble with motivation to finish when the bulk of it was hemming. (I mostly despise hemming.) So I solicited my husband's help (it was his idea, after all) and we finished it together! At which point he informed me that he also did not like hemming AT ALL. :) heh heh. But I did get to have fun with the decorating and the boys have been enjoying the finished product!
...5...
So I already somewhat alluded to this in the van-shopping post, but we'll be 30 weeks along in a couple of days! In some ways it seems to have been quite a long, slow pregnancy. Most likely because being pregnant and, for the most part, stuck inside all winter has been an entirely different experience for me. My other two were born in fall and winter so I'm much more used to summer pregnancies. But overall, even though I've taken my share of grouchiness and not-ideal conditions with this pregnancy (progesterone tests and injections, daily lovenox injections, low iron issues and pills, depression, and normal big belly/small frame issues, pain, and frustration), today I was able to realize it will be over soon and we'll be holding our precious newborn. I was actually able to reflect on this baby and the experience of carrying it until birth as a joy and I AM truly grateful for it.
...6...
I was also thinking today how much I enjoy all of your writings and comments and being able to share mine with all of you. Thanks for introducing me to such a great community of moms!
...7...
Every time I think about how my eldest son is quickly approaching school age I freak out. It just stresses me out so much to have to think about sending him to school, selecting a school, deciding what's best for his education, what will work best for us as a family, what we could possibly afford, etc. There is so much involved and, at this point, I don't feel like there is one best choice. At this point, though, as far as schools go, my husband and I are favoring a Catholic charter school that has daily Mass. They also wear uniforms, learn Latin, and are taught using a classic curriculum. Otherwise, homeschooling is on the top of the list to consider.
It kept coming up in my mind and so for my sanity's sake I was really happy when I came up with an idea to possibly help in the decision-making process. My husband and I had decided to visit the charter school and to learn a little more about it, but I've been thinking that in the mean time I could look into and acquire a pre-school/kindergarten homeschool curriculum and give it a try to see how it goes for us. What do you think??
More Quick Takes at Jen's site!
Homeschooling is at the top of my list, too. Hubby and I don't know that we could afford Catholic school, and I would love to be so directly involved with our children's educations. Thankfully, we still have time to discuss it before we decide.
ReplyDeleteNice Quick Takes! You are definitely catching onto this blog thing! ;)
ReplyDeleteWe send our children to our local parish school. We are extremely lucky; the tuition is $100 per student per year + $50 book fee. Our pastor diverts most of the parish's budget to the elementary school. I knew with the colicky baby (now a toddler) that there was no way I could homeschool efficiently and I was also very comfortable sending my children to the parish school. The teachers and staff are excellent. Also, several of my children's cousins go to school there and my friends' children as well. We love our school.
I have great admiration for homeschoolers but it's not for us. I do miss my first grader who is gone all day every day. This will make the summer feel sweeter! :)
First, I want to tell you YAY on the Quick Takes! ;)
ReplyDeleteWe bought a Kia Sedona when we had our third, and I really like it. Two years later, we are having our fourth and this will actually already make us "outgrow" the van if we have anymore family members, since it only seats 6. We were talking about how much we need Adam to finish his degree and get that raise, so we can afford a big new van in a couple ofmore years if/when baby five arrives. :)
As far as homeschooling goes, you probably are well aware that's what we do for our children. I was SO against homeschooling (due to misunderstandings and poor examples growing up) that Adam and I would actually have some pretty nasty fights over the idea as our firstapproached school age. There was no way we could afford tuition for Catholic school in our area... the cheapest we found was $3995/year plus $250 registration fees and hundreds on books and uniform fees too. The only way I could do it was to go back to work, and I was being hired for the preschool teacher position at the closest Catholic school with a 50% tuition discount for my kids when I was 7 months pregnant... and one day, broke down in tears saying I could never leave Bella with a nanny. That was the end of that... I withdrew my resume and tearfully rejected the job offer! Boy am I ever glad I did.
I felt helpless, resigned to work nights and weekends and try to deal with the idea I would never see my oldest daughter once she began school.
I credit Adam's prayer and the workings of the Holy Spirit for completely changing my heart on the issue. Reading lots of Catholic homeschooling books and articles and discussions... one day I woke up and felt complete peace that this was what I was being called to. No more tears! I recommend reading "Homeward Bound" by Kimberly Hahn, "A mother's Rule of Life" by Holly Pierlot, "Haystack Full of Needles" by Alice Gunther, and "Catholic Homeschool Companion" by Maureen Wittman. Those were life changing reads for me as I prayerfully discerned what to do.
Good luck with your decisions! I am hugely supportive of homeschooling, now that I have completely made a "180" on the issue and have found so much joy in it! I don't, however, believe it is for everyone and if there is affordable, appropriate Catholic Education in your area, you should definitely research it too. :)