To homeschool or not to homeschool?

THAT my friends, is the question. I have been going back and forth with this for the last year. I know my kids are both still very young and have a few years before they start school. But, I really want to make the right decision with this. I started thinking about it this last summer after staying with my SIL Sarah and her fam. She homeschools her kids and they are all doing great. A lot of people worry about the socialization that homeschooled kids miss out on. But the more I learn about it, I see that they get plenty of socialization. While we were staying with them, we took our kids to the park and it was amazing to see how easily her kids made friends. We were probably there 15 minutes or so before Dalton had gathered a whole group of kids to play pirates and star wars with him.

I have several concerns with sending my kids to public school. In the passed year I've learned more about things kids have been exposed to in some states that I don't think they should at such a young age. But that's for a different post. That's a debate I don't want to get into with this post.


I heard on the news this morning about two 10 year old kids getting busted for selling pot at school. 10 YEARS OLD! That's what, 5th grade? ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PEOPLE!!



I've talked to a few other people who homeschool and eased some of my worries about it. Such as my worries that I would suck at teaching my kids things like math and science. But much like cloth diapering, it has gotten a lot easier over the years. With all the different programs they have available to homeschoolers now, it takes a lot of that stress away.



My main concern right now is Jacob. That kid NEEDS structure, and I can't help but think he'd get more of it in a classroom. I'm not a structured person. However, I am getting better.



Also, with Mike in the military, we will be moving around a lot. Jacob does not deal well with change and it takes him extra time to adjust. I can just see the struggle we would deal with each time he started at a new school. I cringe to think about it.


Anyhoo...like I said I still have a few years to think about it before I decide one way or the other. It will be interesting to see if I really do it or not. haha.

That's some expensive pizza!!

As I've been going through all our junk and throwing stuff away, I've found some fun, fun memories. haha. Most of you who knew me before I was married, probably know how horrible I was at finances. At one point I think I paid $100 or so in over draft fees. It could have been higher, but I can't recall clearly. One of those things I try to block out. :) This one though, I think takes the cake.

You may have to look close, but this here is a bill for a $106.09 for 3 Little Ceasar hot and ready pizzas. Yes, that's right, 106 buckeroos for PIZZA. You may remember this Jolynn. I think I bought them for you guys. haha.

All this talk about pizza is making me hungry. Hmmm...I'm thinking pizza for dinner. :)

4/20

Happy pot smoking day!!! haahaha. What will YOU be doing at 4:20 today? Hopefully not really smoking pot!! However, Mike is convinced that there would be fewer car accidents if more people smoked pot instead of consuming alcohol. He explained it to me once and it made sense. Not that we're fans of either. I'm just sayin'... :)

Why is it...

that it's easier to clean someone elses house than your own? I was pondering this today as I was cleaning my own house. I woke up this morning and had the sudden urge to clean everything in sight. By the time I finished loading the dishwasher I was over it. I have no desire to finish cleaning up around here. But, I would have no problems going and cleaning someone elses house (minus the bathroom anyways). So, I got to thinking, why don't we all swap houses for a day and clean. Then, we could all return home to a clean house that we didn't clean!! It would be like going to work and coming home to a house that magically cleaned itself. Wouldn't that be glorious?! And that folks, is my random thought for the day.

Easter Pics of the Kids

Usually we do our Easter egg stuff on Saturday, but for some reason it just didn't work out that way this year. We ended up coloring Easter eggs on Saturday, which ended up...interesting. I boiled about 9 eggs. One of them exploded while boiling and after the rest had cooked and cooled I set them on the table next to Jacob and started making the dye. Well, I turned around and found that Jacob had crushed 3 of them. So we ended up with a total of 5 eggs. It was still fun. Jacob had fun coloring on the eggs with a crayon before I dipped them in the dye. He was so excited to see them change colors. It was cute.

I was sick for some of the weekend, including Sunday, but I bucked up and after Mike got back from church we had lunch and then had an Easter egg hunt. We had to do it inside since it rained all day Sunday. Jacob LOVED it. He got right to finding all those eggs and toys. I helped Lizzie. She found one egg and was done. It was all colorful and she was mesmerized by it. I stuck a couple more eggs in her bucket just so Jacob wouldn't get them ALL. Then I helped her find a few toys that I hid especially for her. Here she is with that first egg.

Here's Jacob with his Easter bucket, finding all sorts of eggs.



While Jacob was off gathering up the rest of the goods, Lou Lou settled on the couch and checked out some of her stuff.


One of the things I got specifically for Jacob was a Madagascar sticker and sticker album. I am glad he found it last, because once he saw it, it was all over. That is all he cared about. He just stared at it. He LOVES Madagascar 2. He calls it "The lion movie" and he could watch it all day if I let him. We watch it EVERY DAY. Sometimes twice a day.

Here they are on the couch with their buckets.

He had fun finding the eggs, but then he discovered that there was actually stuff inside of them. He thought that was even cooler.


Lizzie preferred the chocolate while Jacob ended up liking the jellybeans more.

All that candy makes a kid THIRSTY!

Lizzie sorting through her loot.

MY EGGS!! Back off!!

Lizzie and her sweet butterfly shades.

Jacob needed his shades too. When he puts his on he says, "Coo dude". It's very cute.

Then he decided he wanted to try on the sweet butterfly shades. Come on...they are pretty stylin'.
I think they had fun. While they were eating their candy we had a short lesson on the meaning of Easter. I don't know how well it took. :) Next year we will go back to our regular Easter schedule. My friend Aubrey says her Mom always told her, "Saturday is for the Easter Bunny and Sunday is for Jesus". We grew up the same way, but I just liked the way she put it. :) I personally like having the two separated. So, next year, that is how it will be.

Happy Easter

Mike's Cake

Mary reminded me that I have neglected to once again display my magnificent cake making abilities and post a picture of Mikes b-day cake. We unintentionally ended up with a Wii theme. I ordered a game for his birthday a few months ago and kinda last minute he decided he wanted to have people over and play Wii games. I figured why not go with a Wii cake. We came up with this idea the day of.


If I'd had a few more days to think about it I think they would have turned out a little better, but I thought they looked pretty good. :)