when God sends poop

Frayed. That is how I feel.  I looked up some synonyms and the results were:  worn, tattered, un ravelled.  Those are all good words too.

The week has been rough.  A 48 hour stomach bug crept it’s way into the house starting with Janna last weekend.  Sunday and Monday it wreaked havoc on my poor little sweet Janna.  Monday and Tuesday it came after Jesse.  Tuesday and Wednesday my defenses fell (although, thankfully, not with the same intensity as the kids) and Wednesday and Thursday Robyn joined in the fun.   The POOP!  The cleaning.  The laundry.  The tears.  The night time wakings.  What a stinky and dirty blurrrrr....

There have been a few fortunate things I must comment on.   Firstly, Dave took a half day off as a personal day and surprised me at noon.  I may or may not have called the school and burst into tears???  But, when he asked if he should come home, I said, “no” and meant it.  But, that he did made me feel sooooo loved.  He sent me to bed, and then out of the house for some fresh air while he cleaned and took a turn with the mess.

Secondly, the extra kids I keep, found alternate arrangements of care for the week.  So, I only had my brood to deal with.  One of the families even dropped off a casserole one night to lessen my work load.  How sweet is that?  Also, I had a neighbor take Jesse out for a few hours yesterday on her bus run.  He was happy to get out of the house and meet some new people and get a change in scenery.

That is the hard thing about sick and contagious kids.  Nobody wants to come near you.  Understandably.  And getting out of the house is, likewise, not the fairest to the world.  And, with this stomach bug, we really needed to be NEAR a bath and toilet at all times.   It got a bit lonely. Especially since Dave was away.   That was the main unfortunate thing,  Dave was away for 3 days on a teaching conference.  So, I really was bound to the house, with the full work load pressing hard and heavy.  And missing my partner in crime.  No- I could never call Dave a criminal.   My partner in love :)

The second of the unfortunates is that my house is FREEZING!  We called the townhouse people earlier in the week when we didn’t suspect the furnace was doing it’s job.   They came and inspected it, and replaced the filter.   After that, we felt more air pumping through the house, but still not warm.  SO COLD in fact, I thought maybe I was getting sick as I couldn't beat the chills. 

Well, today, after having the actual heating people here for most of the afternoon and into the evening, I was happy to have confirmed I’m not crazy or sick.  The furnace, was, just pumping out air: not heat.   After several hours of stomps through the house and banging and in and out and in and out, I was hoping for good news- especially since they totally wrecked my freshly mopped and sanitized floors.   Bad news.  The universal switch won’t work on the model of furnace we have.  They can’t get the part until Monday morning.  So.... a cold house for another few days.  Oh well.  We’ll save a few dollars on heating costs, right?  I’m digging deep here to be positive!

But!  Tomorrow, is a new day.  The kids all made it through the day with solid poos and happy tummies.  Robyn is a teething machine, currently, and so was a bit wrecked.   But, we have a full family back in the house tomorrow, plans to be made, cabin fever to beat, and HOPE.

Thanks so much for reading.  I’m out. 

Octover (That is how Jesse pronounces it)

It’s the middle of the month, and so it seems appropriate to squeeze in a few minutes before bed time to crank out a quick blog.  I have an extra 4 kids joining my crew for the rest of the week, and so I doubt there will be much time or energy after those days!  A colleague of Dave needed child care for his 3 kids whose normal provider is on vacation.  So, I thought to myself, 7 kids in the house...it will be crazy...but it could be fun... and it will help buy some Christmas presents!  I’ll do it.

Anyways, I am getting ahead of myself here.  October has been beautiful in Ottawa!  It’s been sunny and up in the high teens most days, and we’ve barely had any rain.  The kidlets and I have been spending as much time outside as possible.  Usually we do a morning walk and long play at the park, and then back out to the front yard to play after naps and snack in the afternoon.  I can’t believe in just a months time it could be TOO cold to play outside... 

We enjoyed a week long visit from Nana Vance, as well, and she was a great listening ear for Jesse who was her shadow all week.  He would literally follow her around wanting to help her with every single thing she did.  It became their routine for him to help her make her breakfast every morning.  He only burned his hand on the frying pan twice!  Then they would sit and he would color while she ate and then she’d join him for a picture.  Quite cute.  Sharon did my laundry while she was here, and she took one of the kids out of the house each morning, which was nice for the kids to get some one on one time with their Nana, and a bit off my load.   The nicest thing, was that she cooked a huge supper on the weekend, plus ordered pizza, PLUS had Rob bring up a lasagna as he drove in for the weekend to say hi and fix some things on Katie’s car.  So, we had leftovers for 4 nights after they left.    

We had a pretty good thanksgiving weekend.  It was a bit busy.  IT started off on Saturday morning with a 7 am grocery shopping trip while Dave watched the kids, followed by some house cleaning.  Dave was playing guitar for church which takes up some extra time with practicing on Saturday, and then my brother, his wife and 3 month old ADORABLE niece, Parker, came up for a visit and supper.  Our Sunday started with Sunday school, church, followed by naps, and then we hit up the Darrin, Leah, Cameron and Abby crew for dinner on Sunday.  It’s always great to see this family, as I nannied for them the first year I lived in Ottawa.  Their kids, then 3 and 5, are now 9 and 11!  They whisked Jesse and Janna down to the playroom and entertained them for most of the night while Dave and I actually got to have some grown up conversation while bobbing around an overtired Robyn.

Monday, I decided to cook my own turkey and ham feast, mostly because I wanted leftovers all week. I had gotten a taste of that the previous week with Sharon, and I must say it was INCREDIBLE not to have that task looming at 5 on week nights.  We had previously agreed that Dave would spend the morning marking, and the afternoon was slotted out to do our annual hike at the jack pine trail.  So, I tackled the whole meal WHILE watching all 3 kids, and had it on the table for 1pm.  It was quite the feat, and my list of when to start each component was what saved me!  Plus, some pretty great kids!   They did very well at entertaining themselves and playing with one another for most of the morning so I could work away in the kitchen.   Lunch was great, and all the leftovers filled my heart with joy as I filled up the fridge..

We met up with some friends at the jack pine trail after naps.  This is our 4^th year going there on the thanksgiving weekend.  It’s just the nicest little trail for a short hike for kids.  Colorful leaves on huge trunks, a little boardwalk over a marsh with ducks, and several birds waiting to eat right off your hands.  It’s beautiful, and one of my favorite little places tucked in  just a 5 minute drive from our house.  Each year, the trip has ended with somebody sobbing.  The first one was Jesse I think, the next one Janna, the next one BOTH o f them.  I remember trying to get to the exit last year and being 8 months pregnant with Robyn, having contractions, while Dave carried a sobbing Jesse and Janna out.  Our friends asked us, “ And so WHY do you like coming here every year?”  Anyways, it’s all just part of the fun now, and we fully anticipated somebody falling or getting tired by the end, and the question to be asked was simply, WHO?

Well, I was totally shocked.  Robyn is by far the most easy going and chill of my kids.  Hands down.  But, she was THE one!  The crying, fussing, pooping, get-me-outta-here one.  At one point we changed her bottom on the forest floor to see if it would help.  Nope.  I even hiked while nursing her for a while to see if it would help.  Nope.  She was just not having it.   Oh well, it was fun all the same, and I love watching the changes in the kids each year.  Jesse was climbing things this year, and Janna insisted on getting right in there and exploring TeePees and hopping off every rock we passed. 

Robyn has not been napping in the afternoons all week.  She has been doing her morning nap, fine, but just not sleeping during the afternoons.  I’m not sure what is up with that, but she is much too young to be morphing from the 2 to 1 nap... so I’ll just keep trying.  She has been a bit grouchier than usual, on account of that, but that doesn’t say too much.  She’s still QUITE pleasant.  She also, has been standing up without any help here and there over the weekend, and so who knows when she'll be walking!  Dave thinks in a month.  I hope NOT, and am hoping she holds off for at least a few more. 

Anyways, that is all for now.  I hope everyone enjoys the rest of this stunning yet cozy month.  I have Halloween costumes to get cracking on, and that is the next BIG and exciting thing Jesse is all geared up for.  Actually, he has been geared up since LAST Halloween and has spoken about it all year long.  So, I hope it’s not a disappointment!  He has chosen a clown costume, and so that should be cute and fun.  Thanks for reading. I’m out!

CHrissy  

and we're on our way....

So..... It’s almost the end of September, and time for a quick blog!  I was right in my assumption that I would have FAR less free time on my hands with watching the extra kids.  But, I have found myself with some spare time today.  Currently, Robyn is sleeping, and Jesse is having a snack beside me.  Dave is out getting new glasses with Janna (for himself NOT Janna).  We picked them out last night during our new weekly goal “Friday night date night.”  Oddly, the store didn’t have their optician in last night,  because she broke her ankle that afternoon, and nobody else was able to fill in.  So, we picked out the frames and lenses and got the process half way done, but he has to go back in this morning and do the final measurements with the optician and payment.   They are really nice glasses!  Totally different from his last pair.  More timeless looking as they are pretty tiny and rimless, and you can see his gorgeous blue eyes much more clearly than his current chunky black trendy (5 years ago) pair.  I can’t wait for them to arrive.     

I’m far too pooped to do much this morning, so typing seemed like a good activity.  The weekend seems like such a golden time compared to the craziness of the week these days, and I really feel like singing and dancing come 5pm on Friday. It’s been 6 weeks now that I have been providing childcare.  I feel like it took about that long to adjust! Jesse had the roughest initial start with the change in schedule and home life, I had a few hard weeks in the middle, and Janna saved her adjustment challenges for the past couple of week.   Robyn has been fine all along! Maybe hers is still to come??

Anyways, it took me some time to figure out a few things.  Getting to know the kids was one big thing.  I now know who I have to watch for what, and what works and doesn’t work for the different kids I have here.  Another big thing was that I had to tweak my daily routine a bit.  I found I had stuffed a bit too much into the day, and so I have adjusted a couple of things that seem to help a lot.   Nap time was another issue for one of the little ones, and finally, 6 weeks in, he isn’t screaming his head off during nap time. Getting those issues under my belt, and just accepting that my house isn’t going to be as clean as I want it, were key in helping me adjust.   Dave has also been really supportive and amazing. It took me a while, but I am at the point where I feel good about my decision, and am enjoying the days much more than I was at first.

My kids really like having the extra friends around.  On Thursdays, Jesse whines when he realizes that nobody extra is coming over for the day!  Although, he proceeds to fully enjoy the time with just mommy and his siblings.  He also just about cries every Saturday and Sundays when he asks to do homeschooling and I tell him we don’t do home school on the weekends.  That’s a good sign, right?  So, he seems to be at the point where he is embracing the new deal, and doing well with it all.  He and the 3.5 year old I watch Tuesdays and some Fridays have REALLY hit it off, and so it’s wonderful to see him developing such a great friendship. He starts skating lessons in a couple of weeks with Daddy, and is pretty pumped about that as WELL as Halloween.  He decided early on that he wanted to be a clown, and so we picked up a pattern a couple of days ago, and so there is NO going back now!

Janna, as I mentioned, has had the more recent struggles.  She has a love/hate relationship with the other 2 year old I have.  They love to play the same things, and sit and read books together, and can be very cute and silly together.  But, he likes to egg her on because she reacts so strongly, and she likes to scream at him, and then he likes to throw things in her face.   It has been good training ground I guess.  But she cries a lot on and off during the day for no apparent reason either than someone looked at her the wrong way!  As Dave says, “Oh Janna... you have emotions...”   We were talking last night about how scared we are for her teenage years.  One minute she is laughing and joking, and then the next scowling, then crying, then stoic... you just never know!  She tends to be a total angel one on one... and I feel guilty that she is experiencing some sort of middle child frustrations coupled with having to share mommy with extra kids.  Ah well... we’re working through it, and the golden age of 3 ( I LOVE 3!) is just around the corner.  For now, we try and see the funny and cute side in some of her struggles, and embrace all the snuggles and funny 2 year old antics.

Robyn is just steady old Robyn.  She is a fast crawler and cruiser, and plays so well on her own and with others.  Her and Janna have just started “fighting” over toys and such, and Robyn is so funny when she gets angry.  She just balls her fists up and shakes in anger while her face turns bright red for 2 seconds, then gets over it.  The size of her appetite is pretty epic, and she loves just about everything I feed her, except apples or apple sauce.  Actually, all 3 of the kids seem to be doubly hungry these days.  I feel like I might need to up the grocery budget a bit to keep up with their stomachs!

Speaking of stomachs, I’m hungry, so shall be off.  I hope everyone else has straightened out the bumps in their new fall times routines, and will enjoy all the October has to offer:  the weather, nature, Thanksgiving, Halloween fun, lots to look forward to.  Jesse’s nana is coming to Ottawa to visit for a week to kick off October, so he’s pretty excited for the month to arrive, as well.   Thanks for reading.  I’m out.  

BACK AT 'ER 2013

I had a wonderful back to school day, today!  My Tuesday brothers don’t start until next week, and so it was a relaxing and quiet (in comparison to 5) morning around here.

Anyways, my kids were all so happy and content and were so good just playing games, reading, and sharing with one another this morning.  Robyn started cruising along the furniture this morning, and so has had fun finding new things she can pull herself up to.  While she napped, the older kids and I got to work making a back to school cake together.  Janna was very serious about stirring in the vanilla, while Jesse was very serious about cleaning off the beaters

  After a quick trip into the store for icing and a few other odd groceries, we ate lunch, had story time, and everyone went down for their naps so happily and quietly. 

Jesse had quiet time for a bit over an hour, and then he came downstairs to do school with momma while the girls napped.  He was so excited he almost tripped down the stairs.  I had the materials we were working with today all out, and so we made a sign and took a picture to mark the start of the school year!

Jesse was SO good and serious about the whole thing.  We learned a memory verse today, sang a song, and talked about “attentiveness.”  We then did readings from 4 or 5 different books.    We talked about each of the readings and what was the same or different between the characters.  We did some “developing the early learner” activities in his work book, and started on pre-writing skills by introducing a bunch of large letter piece cut outs and playing with them together.   Big line, little line, Big curve, and little curve were quite the hit.  I loved spending this time with Jesse, and see him SO eager to learn and discuss and try new things.  It was really very special, and I hope that he continues to love this time each day J    I hope all you families today had some great moments during this memorable day of the year.  I’m sure there will be several ups and downs along the path, but kids are just so stinkin’ resilient, adaptable, and forgiving.  I’m amazed, daily.

Recently, several articles or blogs have been brought to my attention about how our kids love us, despite our imperfections.  That all moms and different, and nobody can be the perfect mom.  That while we often see in other moms WHERE they shine, everyone has weaknesses.   Sometimes we feel like we aren’t as good or got it together as others... or we can judge and tear down methods that aren’t our own.  It’s so true, and I’ve really just been inspired to try my best to accept my strengths and weaknesses.   While I can organize like a pro, and keep a ship sailing smoothly, I suck at other things.  I am horrible at laundry.  I don’t sort things and I don’t fold fresh out of the dryer.  I forget to spray and wash stuff.  Along with my kids having stained and faded clothes permanently, I am really bad at keeping them clean.  They usually have stuff on their faces or shirts when we are out in public and while I could just grab a wipe that is in my oober oorganized bag,  I just don’t care enough to do it.   I often forget to brush their teeth in the morning (thank goodness for Dave who makes sure they always get done at night), and I give them unhealthy treats at the grocery store to keep them happy.   On the health note, while I do aim for healthy meals and snacks, my kids probably eat frozen pizza or KD a few times a week.  These are just a few of the surface areas I struggle with, and that isn’t even the deep stuff. 

I mention all of this, in that I hope I never sound like I have it all together or know all the answers.  I want to be an encouragement to other moms.  I assume most of them are, at heart,  just as wiped, sticky, and depleted as I am.  I truly thank God for his daily grace and new mercies each morning.  I know He can give me all I need to make it though the days, and on top of that Joy.   I know he cares and lifts me through the rough days.   All the same, I know he works and speaks through others, and that our stories are intertwined.  And so, as a mom, as I encourage and uplift my kids, I hope that I can be an encouragement to other moms despite our differences in child rearing, priorities, and what we put on the table for supper.   I think it would be so great to put aside judgment and self-doubt, and speak love and encouragement into each other.   I’ve been writing out some fall goals for myself over the past few days, and that is one personal area I’m going to be working on this year. 

SO, enough about mommas.  Let’s talk about daddies.  Dave had a great day, as well, and we all enjoyed pizza for supper compliments of Nana Vance!   Dave got home to the kids playing in muddy water outside.  It started out as a science experiment.  Then an older neighborhood gal joined in and made it into some sort of game that involved certain ways of stirring or else you’d get “kicked out of the club.”  As Janna was breaking said rules, our neighbor exclaimed, “Janna will NEVER be kicked out of the club because she is such a little cutie” as she glared at Jesse and threatened to kick him out of the club. 

Dave and I have expressed some concern to one another about Janna getting a bit spoiled as people tip toe around her because she is so tiny and sweet (by times).  However, this morning, I had a bit of a reality check as my 3 kids were playing together.  They were all looking at books with me, and Jesse was tickling Robyn’s stomach and blathering on in baby talk to her, “ Oh you little cutie pie pie pie.  You are just so so sweet, you little girlie girlie.  I could NEVER EVER be mean to you!................. (long pause)  Just Janna.  But NEVER to you!”   Oh my land,  I had to try hard not to laugh.  Needless to say, Jesse will provide Janna’s dose of humbling material for her life, I think.

The kids continued to play the game, which  ended up with them all pretending to throw up into the bucket.  This produced INTENSE laughter, and then the spitting started.  It was here that I spoke up and asked the kids not to spit.  Our neighbor looked up at me with the saddest and more sincere eyes and said, “ But it’s for the customers!”  Kids say the funniest things.

Anyways, we got the kids in and cleaned and fed, AND enjoyed a homely, yet tasty back to school cake.  The kids were down and house tidied by 7:30, and now Dave sits at his computer putting in the necessary night time hours that are a teachers life.  

With that stunning photo, I shall be on my way.  I’m trying to get to bed nice and early when I have a full house the next day, so here I go.  Thanks for reading. I’m out.

New adventures

It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon, and Dave has the big kids on a bus/train trip across the city.  He had to return some library books to Carleton, and thought the kids would have a fun time doing the transfer from bus to bus to get there.  He is so courageous and adventurous... I would just take the van!

Robyn is scurrying around the main floor on all 4s.  She is crawling super fast now, and it is so much fun.  If she wants to come see me, she does! If she wants to be picked up, she’ll crawl over and start trying to scale my leg.  She is pretty good about not getting into things, yet.  She mostly crawls to the toys, sippy cups, kids or myself.  She continues to be able to play so independently, but loves a crowd around.  She is super wiggly, and doesn’t really like to be held for too long anymore.  Such a difference from Miss. Janna, who would stay in my arms all day if she could.

I have survived my first few weeks of watching other children along with my own.  The kids I had here, adjusted very quickly (aside from settling in for naps- but its getting better), and seem to love coming, so that is a huge blessing.  Janna and Robyn did great with the extra kids.  Jesse LOVED having visitors all day, but he was definitely the biggest challenge. He takes more time to adjust to things, and while he loves having people around, he really re energizes after time to himself.  So a shorter quiet time each day was a struggle for him.  Also, Jesse loves to talk talk talk.   He doesn’t quite realize that other kids are perhaps less conversational than he, and he can become easily frustrated when trying to have a conversation with somebody who would rather run around or just play.  But, it’s a good learning ground for him, and I’m sure with time, he’ll settle down a bit.

I have felt a strange mixture of joy and relief come 5 each day.  First off, I feel proud of myself.  That I not only fed and tended to 5 little ones, but that I managed to do art, story time, music time, and get them all to the splash pad and back in one happy piece!  It’s a ton of work, and that everyone ends their day mostly happy, fed, clean-ish, and with lots of playing and reading and an outing each day.... well, it’s a feeling of accomplishment.  Just my 3 kids, feel so easy to tend to once the extras leave.  And, the weekends feel so joyous and relaxed.

But, I also feel guilty.  A bit guilty that I don’t have quite as much time for each of the kids as before.  Dave keeps reminding me that it’s good for the kids to have other kids around but to be near their mom.  It’s good for them to learn they aren’t the center of the universe but still so loved.  That if they were in school or a commercial day care, they would get much less individual attention.  And he is right.  I think it’s just been a big adjustment going from the summer OFF with Dave, into watching 5 kids by myself.   I can’t believe that my mom, at one point, had over 17 kids in her care when she used to do day care when we were young (mind you- this was before licensing numbers, and some were just before or after school kids).    Maybe what I need to do is take on 17 kids for a couple of days, and then 5 will feel like nothing?! Please email me if you’d like to sign your kids up for this experiment ;) 

 I also feel guilty that Dave comes home to a less than bubbly wife, as I am just SO wiped by 5.  I feel so depleted of all energy and patience and think I look like a bit of a zombie.  I have actually had a few 8:00 bedtimes over the past few weeks.   Dave was so sweet, and the other night did a big pile of a laundry for me, and has been doing extra things around the house.  He has also given me his blessing to get out of the house if I need it once he gets home.  I know guilt is not a healthy thing, and so I’m trying to shake it, and just be grateful and know I’m doing my best, and that I might not be able to do all the extra things I did when I was on my mat leaves with just my kids.  And that is ok. 

Anyways, just a few things on my mind, so thought I’d shout them out there while I had a minute.  I’m looking forward to the official start of school next week, all the same.  We start on Jesse’s JK curriculum, it looks SO GREAT!  And will all enjoy our annual back to school cake on Tuesday as well.  I love how the nights are cooling off quicker these days, and the breeze is back in town.  These are nice evenings for after hour walks.  If any of you are interested in hanging out at my house while the kids sleep so Dave and I can get out for some much needed husband and wife time, you can also email me ;) and I can set that up for you! LOL.

Well, Robyn needs someone to play with.  I think she gets a bit bored when there aren’t a ton of little people running around to watch. SO, I should be on my way.  I hope everyone makes smooth transitions into your fall time routine.  I have no idea how I will make out with blogging this year, but will try and touch base a couple times a month.  Thanks for reading.  I’m out. 

Transitions. Child care. Homeschooling.

Well, Vance Tales is back in business, and I am officially relieving Dave of his summer blogging.  Dave decided to aim for one blog a week this summer, as one a day was too time consuming.  However, he found this approach really hard.  He likes to narrate details, and so looking at all the materials and pictures of ALL the family for a whole week was a bit overwhelming.  I think he decided that for NEXT summer he will go back to the daily format, but just do a “highlight of the day.”  I do believe, however, that he has one more post he is working on putting up by the end of the week.  It’s about our 2 week vacation back to the East Coast we returned from a week ago.

So, I won’t say a ton about it.  But, I will say a few things.  This year, I think we struck a good balance of catching up with people, spending time with family, doing activities, AND trying to relax.  We really could have just GONE GONE and GONE each day, but accepted that we wouldn’t be able to catch up with all our old friends each summer we are home.  Or DO all the activities on our list EACH summer.  So! For those darling people we would have REALLY liked to see and didn’t get a chance this summer: We’ll look YOU up next time J

I felt pretty sad about leaving NB this time around.  Even though the kids all seem to start to break down a bit approaching the 2 week mark, I just didn’t want to leave!  Most years I hit the point where I am ready for my own bed and house and to get back at things.... But, this year the open spaces, the piney breeze, the friendly smiles, and our dear families were just a pulling on my heart strings.  Anyways, it was a great 2 weeks, and we made some memories and had some great moments that I am sure will never fade from my aging brain.

So, we’ve been in Ottawa for a week now, and my time has been spent getting ready for the transition to fall.  It came a bit early as Dave went back to work on Tuesday, and I start watching children out of my home tomorrow!    I have one of my part timers start at 7:30 AM, along with his older sister.  She will just be joining us for a few weeks before her school starts, as well as a handful of PD days here and there over the school year.  This little guy will be with me Monday, Wednesdays and some Fridays.    Then, in September, I have 2 brothers starting with us on Tuesdays.  And then in October, one little guy who will be here one day a week...switching between Wednesdays and Fridays.  They are all wonderful kids from AMAZING families that are looking for a Happy and Christian Home with other kids to send their kids just a few times a week. 

So, this week, I have been putting into practice the fall routine with Jesse, Janna, and Robyn.  I waffled between many daily schedules and I am sure this will need to be tweaked, but here is the run down for the upcoming days.   It is all printed out and posted on each floor of the house, and I am interested in seeing how things will go!

DAILY SCHEDULE

7:00-7:30 Breakfast

7:30-7:45 Kids dressed/teeth/faces/diapers

7:45-8:15 Daily chores

8:15-9:15 Free Play: Basement Play Room 

   (Babies nap 9-10)

9:15-9:30 Organized game

9:30-10 Art

10:00-10:15 Snack

10:15-10:30 Bathroom break/diapers/Outdoor prep

 10:30-11:30 Daily Excursion (Park, Friends place, Library, Ikea?? It will depend on the weather and day, and kids moods, etc.  On the couple of days where there are 5 children, it will just be a close by park as we won’t all be able to squeeze into the van)

11:30-12 Wash up from outdoors- bathroom if needed- then TV Show while lunch is prepped

12-12:40 Lunch

12:40-12:50 Story Time

12:50-1 Bathroom/Diapers/Transition

1-3 NAPS (Older kids: Quiet time for the first hour- Second hour homeschooling for Jesse. Older children welcome to join in listening to books, etc)

3-3:15 Music, dance, exercise or sensory activity (will depend on the day and kids ages/ moods etc)

3:15-3:30 Light afternoon snack

3:30-3:45 Bathroom/Diapers/Transition

3:45-4:45 Outdoor Play front or back yard.  We will go out in all weather conditions EXCEPT for extreme heat/cold/winds etc.  In the case of severe weather we will play in the basement playroom for the last hour of the day

As you will notice, Jesse starts his more formal homeschooling soon!  His 40 pounds book box came Fed Exed on Tuesday, and he was SO excited.  It was adorable.  After lunch, the kids and I spent almost 2 hours poring over the books and a few activities contained in this magic box.  Here they are checking out the goods

.

I really wasn’t expecting such the fuss over my decision to homeschool our children from friends, family and strangers.  Most people have a fairly negative reaction, and, if positive, continue to question my methods, qualifications, and the social impact I am putting on my child.  In fact, the other day, in the parking lot to shoppers a woman made the comment about how busy I must be with the kids.  After asking the ages, she asked what school Jesse would be going to in the fall.  I told her I was homeschooling, and she engaged me in a 15 minute Q and A!  Are you qualified?  How does your curriculum match up with the provinces? How are your kids going to be socialized? How long does it take a day?   Will you be introducing letters?  Will you teach your kids to read?

WILL I TEACH MY KIDS TO READ?!?!  I wanted to say in a SUPER serious expression, “ I don’t believe in reading.  That’s why I am NOT sending my kids to school.”

Mostly, it’s kind of funny how people just don’t seem to understand AT ALL while on earth I would want to spend the whole day with my kids.  That I will go crazy.  Why wouldn’t I catch a break if I could?   While I don’t look down on the education system, or the majority of the population who DO send their kids to school, It’s just that I DO actually WANT to have more time to spend with them while they are so young, influential and mouldable.   I want to guide their moral and educational instruction.  I want to know their strengths and weaknesses and have the time and knowledge to guide them through these.   I want their days to be based around the home, starting with a leisurely and non rushed breakfast that does not involve them getting out the door by 7:30.  I want them to have hours outside each day to play. I want to teach them how to clean and cook and contribute to family chores. I want them to have unstructured time each day to be creative and learn how to use their imaginations and entertain themselves.  I want them to be able to go into their rooms and decompress each day during a quiet time.  I want to be able to welcome Daddy home with supper almost on the table and eager, rested kids.  I want them to have evenings free from homework, and time to spend with their dad.  I want to be able to take a beautiful sunny day off of school if we want and go for a hike.  I want to make birthdays “holidays.”  These are just a handful of things I will throw out there. 

So, I’m very excited to start up his curriculum come September.  It’s about an hour of instruction each day, and so the plan is to get it done during the second hour at nap time for the other kids.  As the woman at Shoppers said, “ Well.... I suppose.... in Kindergarten...by the time the teacher gets them all seated... and then lines everyone up.... and then .....and then..... they probably are only REALLY learning an hour of actual material.   It’s more about learning the way school works and socialization and everything.  But what about friends? ”     (and I must just interject here and say here: GOD BLESS Kindergarten teachers. You do a great job with all those kids and working in all your objectives.  I have GREAT respect for teachers of all ages and stages)

So, I may as well answer this question of socialization while I’m blogging.  Jesse will be put in group things.  There is swimming and soccer and Sunday school and Awana and play dates and his siblings!  He gets plenty of chances to interact with other kids, especially in our neighborhood as there is often a few, if not a dozen, kids running around.   Also, there is a fantastic homeschooling association in Ottawa.  Everyday there are other homeschooled kids who may together for a science experiment, or recess, to go skating.  There are even tons of group courses you can register for, where your child is dropped off for this or that for so many weeks to be taught by another parent in an area of expertise.  It could be a short lecture, gymnastics basics for 8 weeks, a science fair, a 12 week photography course.  Lots of things to do and chances to interact in larger groups.   There is a stereotype of the homeschooled kid who is socially awkward and may be ill at-ease in large groups. And sometimes that plays out, and sometimes it doesn’t.  But, honestly, my goals and hopes for my kids are NOT that they would “be cool” or “be great in a crowd”  There are far more important things I want to try and teach and demonstrate for them, that just wouldn’t be taught in school.  How to esteem others.  How to forgive.   How to be a peace maker.   Not that I will have a daily lesson and activity on such BIG heart issues...but I will have SO much opportunity with all those minutes spent with them over the days, playing, eating, working, and schooling to see where their heart it, and try to shepherd it in the way it should go.

So, a busy year ahead!   But, I feel so thankful that I am able to stay home with the kids.  That God has provided the kids to watch along with my crew so we can make ends meet financially, AND the kids have new faces to interact with each day.   So, wish me luck tomorrow.  A new adventure begins J

Summer lovin'

Dave is putting in a work day at the school today, and the kids are playing nicely with each other on the floor.  Janna and Jesse are building a lego tower and Robyn is sitting close by mesmerized by it all.   Dave has 4 papers to write for the course he took a few weeks back, and so he is working on paper 3 today.

I was thinking this morning that 2 of 6 vacation weeks are now complete!  It’s been so much fun doing things with the whole family and really trying to take advantage of the beautiful weather in the mornings, and then once we’re good and tired having more relaxed afternoons and evenings.  This morning Dave had the kids out to the park and splash pad shortly after 7:30 to get out some energy and have some fun.  The basement was in dire need of a clean- so I cleaned that, and got my kitchen work out of the way for the day.  It’s gonna be a real hot one again today!

With much more personal time on my hands than during the school year, there are a few things I have been really enjoying the past couple of weeks that I wanted to blog about.   

The first thing has been getting out for a run every morning around 7.  I’m not really a runner. I usually work my way up to 3k and then feel bored with it.  But, I decided to do interval training over the summer.  With such gorgeous weather, I decided just to go with interval running.  So, I SPRINT like a mad woman for a minute, then walk for one.  Then repeat this combo 9 more times.  It’s said to be the most effective in fat burning to rev up the heart and metabolism like mad, then bring it right down- over and over.  And I am quite enjoying it.  I get sort of bored of jogging or running after 5 minutes.  So, it’s fun to blast off as fast as I can until I feel like I’m gonna die, and then get a break.  It’s sort of like labor! You get these little rest times to mentally prepare you for the next contraction- and make it through each contraction knowing a break is right around the corner.  Except at the end of labor when they just don’t really stop- that part sucks.   And of course labor is MUCH more painful than just running...maybe not the best comparison... Anyways,    the temperature is perfect early in the morning.  The neighborhood is so green and quiet. And Dave made me a great (worship sort of?) running mix I can listen to if I want, that gets my heart started off in a thankful and joyful direction.

Having more time on my hands, I have also had more of a chance search out new and interesting recipes I want to try and meal plan accordingly.  Yesterday we had the most refreshing quesadillas for lunch! They had your traditional cheese, onion, garlic, and peppers in them.  But, they were stuffed full of shrimp and nectarines and chili flakes with some lime juice as well.  They were SOOOO yummy!  I love cooking, but during the year it sometimes feels like a chore with kids hanging off my legs and crunched for time at the end of a tiring Day.  But, having Dave home to watch the kids while I disappear in the kitchen for a while, makes it a totally different experience.  Later this weekend on the menu I have a peach, prosciutto and mozza salad.  A lemon seared TBone with a spicy kale and redpepper sauté.  And early into next week I am pumped to try out a curried quinoa and collard green wrap.  Chatelaine this month, had lots of recipes I wanted to try that were all seasonal, and so I have had NO problem finding most of the ingredients on sale somewhere.

The other day, Robyn needed breastfed, and I was trying to get supper on the table. I asked Dave if he could finish up the Cesar salad.  I had the lettuce all prepped, and the sauce/parm/lemon/bacon all together on the counter.  Anyways, he just about had a melt down from stress trying to “make the salad”  and after some poking fun of him, he declared that he needed to learn to cook.  He told me that next summer he is going to do ALL the cooking all summer long.  I don’t know how I feel about that, as I really enjoy cooking, ESPECIALLY in the summer, but I submitted to his authority and said ok.  It’s probably a useful skill, eh?

Thirdly, I have been scrapbooking again!  I have just a few pages left to go to finish my 2012 scrapbook.  I’m hoping to get it finished off before we leave for the East Coast in 10 days!!!  We have been taking it fairly easy thus far, but this coming week looks like it may be a bit busier.  We have a few bigger projects to get done this summer that I think we’ll tackle this coming week.  The living room is getting painted a new color.  The bedroom is getting an accent wall.   The storage room is getting a good purging and sorting through.  The dog needs a haircut.  On top of visitng my new niece in Toronto on Monday, and packing up for our trip to New Brunswick next weekend, we will be good and ready to hit the road!  It’s always so delightful (to not only catch up with our parents and family) but get a couple weeks off from house cleaning.  AND getting a bit of a cutback from the normal making of 3 full meals plus a couple of snacks each day. 

Speaking of snacks, we have cut snacking out of the kids diet!   We were having a super hard time getting Janna to eat any lunch or supper.  So, we cut back their usual LARGE morning snack to just the tiniest little thing.  And cut out their afternoon snack entirely.  And guess what? Janna is eating her supper!  Vegetables! Grains, and she even ate a whole bunch of chicken for the first time in like a year the other night!  We felt quite victorious.

Anyways, the kids probably won’t be playing too nicely together, for too much longer, so I should be on my way! Thanks for reading! I’m out.