Yep, things are a-changin!

Well, as previously posted, we have decided that home school is the route for our family. Well, last night, after doing some research, I made another big choice that may surprise those who have known me for a long time. I have decided that with my Konnor boy we are going to try extended nursing. I want to nurse until he is AT LEAST 18 months. This is a pretty big deal, because, for the most part, nursing past 12 months is taboo in our society. I am very blessed though, because my husband is very supportive!
In my research, I found a lot of things I did not know. For instance, it is often believed that after 6 months, there is no nutritional value to nursing. This isn't true, besides the continued awesomeness of a bond beyond comprehension, nursing past 6 months and into the second year is beneficial to the stomach. I also thought that extended nursing would create an entirely dependent child, but studies show that it ultimately makes a child more independent and more SECURE in that independence!
I know I will face social scrutiny for my decision, and quite frankly I do not care. I wil continue to do what I feel is best for my children. I love them...

Blayke!

Tomorrow our Blayke boy turns 3!! Wow! He is so special to us!! Just a few things about him to honor his special day: he has 2 blankets, his 'spider-man' and his 'ball' that he can't sleep without! He can say his entire alphabet, and recognizes the capital letters! He loves the book Pajama Time. He loves hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. He can count to 15. And to 5 in Spanish. He knows the basic shapes and colors. He loves loves loves to sing and dance. He is an awesome brother to Cierra and Konnor. He is totally a Momma's Boy! We sure love ya Blaykers!

So...

I have spent the entire day online, looking up free resources for homeschooling. (For one: I am cheap..There is an abundance of free help out there, and I am determined to use it! For two: until I KNOW what I am doing, I am trying to save as much as possible.) I have also looked at countless Homeschooling moms blogs!! HOLY CRAP, if you EVER want to feel inadequate, look at these...These moms are organized, prepare each meal from scratch, cloth diaper their kids, homeschool 8 kids, (this may be a slight exaggeration) and they sew all of their kids clothes..(also a slight exaggeration). But, seriously, I have researched different styles of curriculum to the point my head hurts, and NOT one of them scream at me, "THIS IS IT!" I feel like I want to take a little bit of everything and do my own thing...So that is what I will do. Hopefully, the fact that I don't sew my kids' clothes, make each meal from scratch, and, from time to time, let the television be a babysitter wont screw my kids up too bad.
I enter this journey armed only with my love for my children and my hope that I will do what's right..Even if that means I steal a little bit of everything from everyone...

The funny, cute sweet things my kids say and do *1-5*

In my 6 years as a mom, I have experienced some of the funniest, most entertaining moments of my life. My kids are HILARIOUS! Just for the heck of it, and because all 3 kids are being so good right now, I wanted to share some of the kidisms I have experienced:

1. By far my favorite: When Cierra was 2, she followed EVERYONE into the bathroom. Well, shortly after Woody and I got married, she followed him in one day, and I heard him kicking her out. I went back to see what she had done, and she looked at me, wide-eyed, and said, "MOM! Dad pees from a tiny tail!" I know, maybe slightly inappropriate, but HILARIOUS!

2. This one is from the Blayker boy: We were sitting at the table, the kids were eating a piece of baloney, which I, by the way, HATE, and Blayke starts methodically tearing his apart. He scoots the pile toward me, and says, "Mom, it's humpty dumpty! I put him together again?" And starts piecing it back together like a puzzle!

3. Me: Cierra, go outside and play Cierra: What if there is a tornado? Me: There isn't a tornado. Cierra: The birds are flying, so there must be something!

4. Me: Blayke, why are you taking off your pants? Blayke: MOM! I POOPY! GOOD GRIEF!

5. Blayke 15 minutes from Idaho: Mom, I go to Idaho to pick up chics!


I am sure there are many more, but the baby is fussing! I will add more "parts" to this as they happen or as I remember them! =) Hope you all enjoyed these few!!

"I will neveralways when I have kids!"

I was talking to someone who is pregnant with her first child today. In the midst of our conversation she started telling me her neveralways list. You know, the list of things you will never/always do that you had before you had kids... The one you think about NOW and laugh! Before I had kids of my own I worked at a daycare. It was so easy to pick the parents apart and 'neveralways' them. I would NEVER let my 2 year-old go out in a dirty shirt.... I would ALWAYS be the "fun mom".. My 4 year-old would NEVER throw a fit in the store after being told no....And, of course, I would NEVER sound like my parents!
Well, in my 6 years as a mother I have: taken my child in public in a dirty shirt, I am, more often than not, not all that fun,especially when they have thrown a fit in the store! And
alas, last week I caught myself telling Cierra and Blayke, "if you two don't quit fighting, I'll turn this car around..." ***sigh***
But the thing is, being a mom I have a new set of neveralways's. (I know... Nice grammar!) I ALWAYS hug, kiss and tell my children I love them. I NEVER hurt them. (intentionally.. They have all been dropped, smashed or bonked accidentally) I ALWAYS cherish them. So, when I was finishing my conversation with the above mentioned girl I told her, "Before kids, I had no experience and ALL the answers... Now, I have some experience and only 1 answer: love. Love that sweet baby, and you will do just fine!".

THE PLAN

Cierra's first day of school is August 30th, 2010, and WOW am I nervous. BUT! I have a PLAN! Do I know if this plan will work?? Nope. But I sure am hopeful...The one thing I have decided for sure, is that if it doesn't work, I will just figure something else out, I will NOT see it as a failure on mine or Cierras part. We have researched curriculum to a point my head is spinning! Seriously. Go to Google, type in "homeschool curriculum" and you will see what I mean!! No one type of homeschool or curriculum has really "struck my fancy". To me, they all have good and bad..And with enough love and care, I strongly believe most of them could produce the same result: Awesome adults who are independent, respectful and, of course, smart. I like the idea of having the 'basics' taken care of to a point. So, we are starting out with something called Time 4 Learning. I have read and read, and looked at their lessons. They look fun, and educational. They have a Language arts extentions that has lessons on things like pollution. You are able to pick what level you feel your child should be on for each course of study. They keep track of records for you, all you have to do is print them. So, that takes care of that part. I also like the idea of unit studies. Now, I don't know that I will be doing this the way they are intended or whatever, but this is what I have in mind. Each month, we have a topic, we read about it, research it on the internet, color pictures about it, etc...We have a folder that we will keep all of our information in for that study. Along with T4L and the studies, I have found some free handwriting worksheets on line for her to practice. We will also have a journal that she will spend a little bit of time each day writing in, and once a week, she will read aloud from it. Once a month I would like to do a simple science experiment. Nothing too extravagent, but something out of our normal routine. I know that as I go through this learning process, I will change how I do things. But for now, this is THE PLAN!

By the way, my children are doing awesome! Konnor is growing like crazy, and so are Blayke and Cierra. I am soo glad that I have the opportunity to raise these amazing children!

time..

I have been feeling lately, that time is my enemy! It is going way too quickly! My baby is 4 months already, my boy will be 3 at the end of the month, and the princess will turn 7 in April. I am scared to blink, because when I do, it will go from toys to cars to college and so on. Bedtime hugs and kisses will become a distant memory, as will singing silly songs and dancing together. I am working much harder to make the most of every day of my children being children, because we all know it will pass all too quickly!!

And the final decision is..

So, a while back, I posted that we had made the decision to home school Cierra... Wellllll.. Shortly after that post, I got scared... Terrified really... My insecurities were winning out! Who was I to teach my child?? I had nothing more than my high school diploma... And it had been 8 years since I got that!! What if I missed something? What if I royally messed up my precious childrens future?? So I expressed these fears to my husband, and being the wonderfully supportive man he is, said that he would support whatever I decided. So, we decided: back to Watford City Elementary it was... Back into the class of 20 with a teacher who, while I am sure she would care about my daughter, she never could or would know and LOVE Cierra like I do. Surely, though, she was more "qualified" than I to teach my child.. More qualified to shape her fragile mind.. I justified my decision to myself, and I was starting to convince myself that I had made the right decision.. And on a Sunday evening, my phone rang. A member of The Church had Konnor's blessing certificate, and wanted to bring it by. We got to visiting with him, and found out that he and his wife had homeschooled their children for 7 years.. And they had FIVE children!! (one of my fears was there was no way I could do it with
my 3 children.) I still wasn't convinced. They invited us to dinner.. Not to discuss homeschool but to be able to get to know each other. The night of dinner, I noticed how well-behaved their children were. The older ones were helpful, they were all very polite. I mentioned how impressed I was. Her secret? Homeschool. Huh. We visited about a lot of things that night, but our conversation about the why's of homeschooling rang so true to me. I wouldn't admit it to myself, but I left that night a "convert". However, there were still so many unknowns, so many fears and insecurities. My husband and I talked
more, I met with a group of ladies who all homeschooled, and the final decision was made! We are going to homeschool our children. In fact, this morning, I mailed my letter of intent. I am still scared, I am still full of insecurities, but I know I am making the right choice for my family. I want to share my reasons for this decision! 1. I like to be with my kids. I felt sad and a little bit guilty every day of kindergarten. I hated making her go! 2. I want to be my Childrens greatest influence. 3. I want my children. To be able to move at their pace. Not the pace of 20+ other children. 4.I don't want my children ideas and opinions of themselves formed by 20 children who don't know or love them. (thank you, Audra) 5.I like the flexibility home sschool offers. These are a few of the reasons. I want to be in charge of what my children know, and when. Well, thank you for letting me share.And
thank you, Heavenly Father for making it clear that this is the road my family is supposed to be on!