More Than a Perfect House Mom

So I finally, finally, finally got my children's homeschool books in the mail.  I've been waiting for so long it seems.  I truly thought I'd be excited to have the whole summer off but I was so bored!  I discovered how much I like a solid but some room for a fun schedule.  We decided to get off the internet schooling bit and try some books.  It's nice for a change.  :)  I want to see how the kids do getting to pick where they work on their books.  Who knew I couldn't imagine sending away my kids to school every day?  I miss them when they are away at their enrichment classes twice a week.  My husband had to talk me into that one because two days was too many for me.  Ladies ask me at times why I would want my kids home all day with me.  My answer?   Because one day they'll move away and I'll wish them to be home.  I don't know what next year holds but for now, my babies are home.  ;)



Silly pic!

I still remember when Charles sat me down one day and told me that although he liked how clean the house was, he wondered how well I knew my kids.  At first I was offended but I listened.  He wanted me to worry less about a perfect house and more about our kids likes and dislikes. More than flavor of syrup.  Deeper stuff.  I promised him I would try.  I have to clarify I'm extremely far from being a perfectionist.  That doesn't mean I never tried to have a decent house.  I worked very hard at being a good housewife. I left out being a really good mom though.  A mom is more than someone who bathes, diapers, and feeds. She feeds the soul, learns the heart, and solves issues.  She prays to be a discerning mom who knows what's being said in between the lines.  I wasn't that mom but because Charles pointed it out, risked offending me, I figured out how to aim towards it.  My first kid is now a teen.  EEK!!!  I seriously need God's wisdom.  I may not have hit any rough patches but that doesn't mean I'm naïve enough to think none will come.  I DO remember my teen years and I'm praying God's grace runs deep, deep.  Heh heh.

Sleeping At The Office-Exhausting days

It's been a tough week.  My husband has been working almost 24 hours a day.  No joke.  It's 1am, we are at the office and we're not leaving anytime soon.  As soon as I get home in the wee hours I have to pack up for the guys to go camping. Thankfully since Charles is having a father/son camping trip he gets time off.  He planned for it so it's gonna happen for sure. His office hired a new designer to help out but he isn't coming till September.  My poor husband has been taking naps in his office, only an hour at a time.  It's just crazy.  We come with him at night to keep company and the little kids find spots to rest in sleeping bags.  I'm usually up with him and get a little rest later but since I have to pack them up for camping, I won't get any sleep today. 

The girls first day of enrichment classes are today.  It's school for them and they are so excited!  Since they homeschool, I sign them up for some classes twice a week.  It's a school only open to homeschool kids and you pick the day you want them to go.  You wouldn't believe how amazing the kids are.  It's the most polite playground you will ever see compared to homeschool kids.  Non of that crazy, negative peer pressure stuff I was so used to.  I took the girls school shopping  yesterday and they were so excited!  This is Ashley's first year.  I got them backpacks, clothes, and shoes.  They even slipped in a couple of Hello Kitty hats.  The girls will giggling all day today trying on their new outfits.  It's so hard taking girls shopping because they want everything in sight.  It's so different when I take my boys. They're like, "this'll do."

I still haven't decided on which homeschool program I want to go with this year.  Very undecided.  If I ever go on Facebook and ask for some ideas I get overloaded by a 100 different opinions.  I'm sure they're all valid, I just think everyone has different tastes.  Makes it hard for me to decide.  Sigh.  Just goes to show you there is no perfect ONE homeschool.  So many people I know mix and match from different resources.  I need one that is a good fit for a large family.  I am excited because at their enrichment school, I picked some subjects I didn't want to worry about teaching at home.  I usually like them to learn science in a lab rather than at home.  I'm so incredibly blessed they have a school that offers these classes for homeschooled kids.  Wow!

When Husband is Home We Play

Does anyone find it difficult to do your housework and other duties when your husband is home?  In the past when my husband would have a day off from work it was for playtime and fun.  Now that he is home every day we just want to play and hang out.  I get behind on my housework and laundry.  Either he is just THAT much fun to be around or it's a switch in my brain that I can't work around.  I like having daddy home and so do the kids.

Well, as much as I love having my husband home he does have another job interview tomorrow.  This is my dilemma... Charles had a job offer last week for a really, really good company. The problem is they are slow to hire but then people stay there for a lifetime.  It's SUCH a good company to work for.  Well, they won't give Charles an answer for 2-3 weeks.  The office really works together on who to hire and they have meetings about it.  Since some are on vacation, they have to wait till everyone is together to decide. Where does that leave us for 2-3 weeks?  Still no income till they decide.  However, he has a job interview tomorrow that sounds really interested and could be an immediate hire.  The only problem is that it's only a contract job and it will run out after awhile.  Do we just take the job because it's an immediate hire or wait for the other?  What if we wait and the other doesn't end up hiring?  Sigh.  If we had the money we would wait but the way the economy is right now you have to just take what you can get.  I prayed last night that God's will would be done.  I prayed that God would just shut the doors that would need to be shut and open doors where He would want them opened.  That took some relief off my tortured mind about this.

Juliet has been smiling a lot and is just a happy baby.  She rarely fusses and only does when she's hungry.  Ivy was deemed her "buddy" so she is happy to get stuff for her when needed.  Caleb is Ryan's buddy and Kyle is Chaz's buddy.  It works out good say when we are in public and one has to go to the bathroom then they aren't alone.  :)  Chaz took this picture of Juliet.