Preston, my 3 year old!

Well, this post is a tad late. Preston turned 3 years old on Groundhog Day (Feb 2nd). We spoiled him rotten, of course. Joel took the day off and we started the day at Bob Evans for breakfast. After a nice meal...

We went to Build-A-Bear! Or, in our case, Build-An-Owl and Build-A-Puppy. Preston made a cute dog, which he named....Rocket! Yes, he is obsessed with Little Einsteins. Aidan made an owl, named Hedwig, demonstrating that my children watch too much television. :)

On the following Saturday, Preston had a birthday party with our family. We decided on a Little Einsteins theme, so of course I made a cake shaped like Rocket.

We did a treasure hunt for musical instruments, which the kids played when the hunt was over. They did a craft, played together, and it even ended with their cousins spending the night!

I cannot believe my baby is 3!!!

A stolen quiet moment...

The boys and I played a few rounds of Candy Land while Greg napped and then they decided to get on their costumes and play Harry Potter. They are casting spells on one another in the other room. I have a minute to myself!

So, I have definitely adjusted to having little Greg around. He is a good baby, doesn't cry much, and the boys get excited when he comes. I think this will definitely work out! Slowly, but surely, our debt will be g-o-n-e. Then we can save up and move to Chapel Hill in a few years!

I have been considering the summer lately...what part-time camps to put Aidan in and whether or not to homeschool year round. I will (of course) give him a break in the spring and in the summer, but 3 months off? I don't think that is the best idea. He wants to do soccer camp and I am going to sign him up for a wilderness camp (hiking, fishing, etc), and perhaps a VBS. I don't know if we should just continue on with math and reading, or with everything. I don't want him to be burned out but I don't want him to forget things either. I would like a nice balance.
We will definitely have lazy days and a lot of time on our gigantic waterslide in the backyard, but 3 months seems a bit endless for doing nothing. :)

Tired, tired, tired...

Today was interesting and exhausting... I decided I would make some extra money for our family by taking in another child. I watched a 9 month old today. It is amazing how much it altered our day. He crawled everywhere, put everything in his mouth, and needed to be watched like a hawk. While he was a good baby and didn't cry much, the boys were definitely affected. Preston closed himself in his room, said he was sad and said that the baby couldn't come in. Aidan told me in the evening that he was upset that I didn't pay attention to him like I did to the baby. While he took 2 naps, those naps were used to do homeschooling. We did not have time to play while he was here. After he left at 4, the boys and I sat down and played a game of Harry Potter Clue. Then, time for dinner and a trip to the grocery store.

What I realized today is that homeschooling is so much work and I really probably cannot take on more responsibility. With housework, cooking, homeschooling, errands, doctors and dentists and various appointments, my schedule is crammed full. Perhaps a summer gig with an older child will work, but I don't have a lot of free time as it is. And, when I had him on my hip, Preston was on the floor. It is still his hip. Silly? Perhaps... but, he is my baby until I get pregnant. I don't want another person's baby to usurp that position.
I will give it a good solid week- until next Friday- and see how I feel.

Need to pull out that denim jumper...

So, I am attending my very first homeschool event today. I do not know many homeschoolers who are normal, save for my high school friend, Barbie. I know there are many who are still cool, but whenever I meet one they seem to be a bit off.
When we went to Gymboree last week, I met a homeschooling woman with her five kids...wearing- a bonnet and a prairie type dress. So, needless to say I am a bit curious to see if I will fit in. I do not own a denim jumper or a modest...anything. Nor will I. EVER.
It is like high school all over again, although I don't even know if I want to fit into the crowd. I am going for Aidan, not for myself. It just seems a bit surreal... I always thought of myself as someone who would drop her children off at school, grab a Starbucks, and have a bit of a break at home or at a job.
Now, my days are nothing like that. They are NEVER quiet. Preston has decided napping is no longer for him and likes to make as much noise as possible as I try to teach Aidan about space, Hammurabi, and how to become a better reader. I wake up, spend all day with them, and then crash after they go to sleep.
I often wonder how much I am helping versus how much I am losing my mind. I KNOW that our public school is not the answer, but sometimes as my patience is wearing thin I question my decision.
I miss going to school, having a life, having conversations with people. Now I talk to my children, sometimes my mom, my husband, and my sis. I do not know a lot of people, do not get out often enough, and have become Mommy. Not Eva....just Mommy. Mommy. MOMMMY!!!! He took my toy, MOMMMMMY!
Don't get me wrong, I have good and bad moments. When I see the boys play nicely, when I experience them having fun, learning, being silly I love it. I guess some days I am so tired. I miss being Eva.
Unfortunately, making any friends at a homeschool group won't cure that. There, I will just be Aidan and Preston's Mommy. Perhaps I'll grab a Starbucks on the way. And some earplugs.

New Year, New Resolutions...

So, it is a new year once again. Happy 2010! It is the time to make resolutions, although whether or not one will be able to maintain the resolution after the first week is a different story. So, I am attempting to make and keep some resolutions, because we should all strive to become better people. So, here are mine:
1.) Get organized!!! I feel as though I do not have a firm grasp on paperwork, books, and the nursery. The rest of the house is not too bad, but I need a better system. This includes organizing the hundreds and thousands of pictures I have. Daunting, yes. Rewarding? Definitely.
2.) Be on time. This is hard. I seem to always arrive 10 minutes late, at least, wherever I go.
3.) Walk my dogs every day. Since we have a fence, it is so easy to let them use the backyard, let them in, and forget they need to use their muscles. I will start with at least once a day and move up to twice once the habit is formed. Right now, I walk them but not daily.

So, these are the main ones. If I can think of more, I'll add to my list. Wish me luck!

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The crazy month of December!

This month is half over and it has flown by. Our 7 year anniversary was on the 7th, Aidan's birthday is the 17th, and my mom and stepdad have bdays during December was well. With homeschooling, Christmas shopping, basketball practice and games, and family events, I am wondering where this month has gone! My sister told me to update my blog, and I must admit I have let it slide. It seems that every moment of every day is filled with something.

So, let's see... my little baby is turning 6 years old tomorrow! We had a Star Wars birthday party for him. I spent a good portion of that Friday morning constructing a lightsaber cake. He loved it! I guess those 2 cake decorating classes were worth it, to make my little man happy. :)

His cousins, Kaitlyn and Ryan, and his best friend, Nathan, slept over. It was chaotic having 5 kids in the house, but fun! They stayed up until midnight with Joel, watching...Star Wars, of course! Here is a pic of them, camped out in the playroom.

The next day, after a fun morning of playing in the house, we met up with my dad and stepmom at the roller rink. We all went roller skating- even little Preston!

So, there is only a few days until Christmas. I have now spent too much time updating thisblog. :) I have Christmas wrapping to do, candy to make, and kids to teach. Ahhh!

Taking Facebook too far

Lately I have been thinking about how much I hate Facebook. What? HATE Facebook? But, you think to yourself, you are ON Facebook! Yes, yes- I am. I don't hate Facebook per se... I hate the people who seem to make their lives exist entirely on Facebook.

Lets call them... The Facebook Freaks.

I see the updates- I know when you are buying a purple virtual cow to live on your virtual farm, I see how often you have won a bejeweled game (and I note that you have been on facebook all day playing this to get the highest score), I have received your virtual hugs, kisses, and even your virtual martini. If you want to buy me a drink, please make it something I can enjoy!

This facebook freak also supports every cause- lets save the rainforests, reduce toxic waste, lets save the whole freakin planet from our computer! If you would just join me in my plight by clicking a button, we can save the world! Woooo!!!

Why do these people live entirely online? When did living on facebook become acceptable socially? Will these people get married online? Post their vows on their walls?

I would apologize to the person whom this offends, but frankly if you are offended- well, just send me a virtual butt kicking. I can take it.