Twas the night before homeschooling . . .

Months of preparation - researching, buying curriculum, finding the right community group, curriculum training, buying supplies, writing lesson plans, laminating and more laminating - and HERE I AM.

The night before it begins.

Will this totally flop?
Will I love it?
Will my kids excel in this environment?
I wonder.
I am going into this with the expectation that this is our new way of life - with no end in sight.  But maybe God just has us doing this for a year.

I really do hope it goes well.

This place is CRAZY Big

Hubby and I are at the Florida Homeschool convention in Orlando.  (Oh, our 10th wedding anniversary is this weekend, too.)  The convention is at the Gaylord Palms - a hotel I've not been to previously.

I am in shock!!!!  The number of Florida homeschool families is mind boggling.  I had NO idea there were this many homeschoolers - and quite a few look normal.  Again, shock!!!

The sessions have been very informative - actually, inspiring.

Brad and I have split up - he's going to the sessions focused on the legal issues behind homeschooling and why families need to educate their children on US history.  I'm going to the sessions focused on how to educate your children at home.

The EXPO hall with all the curriculum vendors has to be 20,000 square feet.  No joke.  Quite overwhelming.  I'm glad I've come with an idea of the curriculum I want to purchase.  Otherwise, I'd fall at the threshold of the EXPO hall - end up in the fetal position, crying, sucking my thumb.

I've been advised prior to coming to this convention to take up the motto, "Don't overbuy."  Yea - cause I NEVER do that.

This is truly a wonderful experience.

Picture of me and my mister relaxing at the pool after 2 very long days at "Convention" . . .

Tomorrow - Happy Tenth Wedding Anniversary!!!!!!!

Now, I know why

I often wonder why God laid it on my heart to homeschool.

Simply because I told Him, "Never"?  Maybe.

Because He knew that today our beloved Classical school would close?  Maybe.

It really doesn't matter to me.  I'm going to choose the path He calls me to take.

But that said, I am sad.  The sweet school that my son has been a part of has closed its doors today.  

His sweet friends.  His amazing teachers.  His outstanding educational experience.  His wise Headmaster.  The kind relationships I've been afforded the opportunity to make.  The hope of a place to send my daughter.  All no more.

I am grateful for these 2 years he has had in a Classical school.

I am also grateful that God laid it on my heart to homeschool.

I've got a Nagging Feeling

The tune to "You've got that Lovin' Feelin" is playing in my head.  The lyrics are much different.  More like, "I've got a Naggin' Feelin".

For several weeks - I've had this increasing loud voice in my head (known as God the Spirit).

At first it was a quiet thought . . . "homeschool".

It increased . . . "homeschool".

Then I entertained the thought and spoke the thought out loud.  My husband, to whom I spoke the crazy thought to, did not freak.  In fact, I would describe his reaction as 'interested'.

Then that thought turned to a voice that began keeping me awake at night . . . "homeschool".

Then that voice was waking me up from a perfectly good sleep . . . "HOMESCHOOL".
       Now, for me . . . that's where I draw the line.

Once I got it through my thick skull that God was leading our family down a path that I SWORE I would never take - then submitted to His path - then, and only then, did the 'Naggin Feelin' subside.

And now . . . I sleep.

Because I am certain that the journey ahead will be full of plenty of sleepless nights.

New Phase of Life

We took Madelyn to school a couple weeks ago. It was weird to drop her off at preschool because she seems so young to me. Yes, she is. However, I'm comparing her to my memory of William when I took him to school. I remember feeling like he was a 'big boy'. But, now with my second, she doesn't seem to be a 'big girl' like I remember thinking William was. Why is that? Was he really more mature? Was it because he was in big boy underwear and she refuses to stop pottying in her pull ups? Maybe because she's our last? I don't know. It just seems like their maturity at the same age is drastically different.

Anyway . . . I thoroughly made the most out of my 'last days' with William before the dreaded beginning of Kindergarten. Before I turn my first born over to another adult to invest in him more waking hours - than me. Ugh. I gave William some choices on what we could do while Madelyn was in school. His choice . . . the Aquarium.

The Aquarium holds sweet memories for me and William. The countless 'play dates' with his buddies, his excitement when he touches the stingrays, his third birthday party on the outdoor spray ground, his eyes lighting up when he'd spot a moray eel. Many memories from his toddler/preschool years. It seems like an appropriate spot to mark the end of one phase as we look forward to a new phase . . . Kindergarten.

Some funny stuff.

Madelyn, "That's okay mommy, I didn't need it anyway." In response to me throwing away her play-doh b/c she wouldn't keep it on the table. Most importantly, off the red carpet. She began to scream and cry when I took it, but after I tossed it in the trash she quickly changed her tune. Age 2.

Madelyn, "Mommy, I like hot sauce." In response to me threatening hot sauce if she didn't quit screaming at the dinner table. Age 2.

William, "PopPop you get the food. I'll get the table." At McDonald's when PopPop and William walked in one morning for breakfast. circa Age 3.

William, "You've got to be kidding me!" In response to someone when he thinks they are pulling his leg. Age 5.

San Francisco today. Napa tomorrow.

Long time comin'

Since my last blog . . .
* Christmas came and went. I'll attach some highlights.
* Floors are finally finished. Yea! And we have our kitchen back.

William's first Christmas Tree Lot experience.
William trying to control Madelyn. Must come from the Hertenstein genes.
Brad with his kiddos shopping for a tree.

Found a tree and got it up.
Now it's time to decorate with lights.
Brad thought that should apply to Maximus too.
William making decorations to hang on the tree.
William methodically placing his hand crafted ornaments.
William and Santa. Unfortunately, this Santa blew up the week after Christmas, so our idea of seeing how William 'measures up' to Santa each year won't work.


Festival of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
"Snow" falls during the Dancing Lights. It's really soap bubbles, but for our Florida boy - he thinks it's really cool.
Maddie dancing in the street while the lights "dance".

Pajama party at Dan & Steph's. MiMi and PopPop bought the kids matching/coordinating Christmas pajamas. We decided to do a movie night and let the kids have popcorn in their PJs. We were hoping for a perfect picture. Hmmm. Not so much.


Christmas Eve service. The kids are invited on stage for the telling of the Christmas story. William was quite eager to answer Ms. Helen's question.
Kids' Christmas outfits.

Christmas Morning. William overwhelmed by the gifts.

Maddie new exactly what to do when she saw her baby accessories.
Sunglasses.

William loves his 'shooting' truck from Uncle Steve & Aunt Debbie.
Maddie and her blocks.

Family gift exchange on Christmas night. Uncle Dan and Maddie are hanging.

Cute Sofia.
MiMi and her boy.
Maddie.

Me with William, Sofia, and Madelyn.

Family photo.

Progress

It can be hard to see progress in the midst of it. It can be hard to see it when it moves so slowly.
When William was a baby, it felt like his progress moved slowly. I'm sure part of it was my longing to do more things with him. Being able to have him repeat words. Then saying full sentences. Then having his own thoughts and expressing them. He just couldn't get bigger quick enough. I will say, I'm perfectly content with where he is now. I've told him plenty of times, "Don't get any bigger!"
With Madelyn, I have not wanted her to progress. I've said, "You don't need to crawl. You're just fine sitting right there." When my grandmother was trying to get her to walk, I said, "She doesn't need to walk. She's just fine crawling."
With kids, progress happens. You can't stop it. And I'm relatively convinced, you can't really speed it up. They're going to go at the speed that God intended.
Now, home repairs. There is one that can stop. It can come to a freekin' halt. As I have discovered, Brad can do something to speed it up. Sometimes with sugar. Sometimes with vinegar.
Mid-November, our damaged hard wood floors along with the kitchen cabinets and granite and pantry items were removed. Fans and dehumidifiers were installed. And then, it felt as though all progress stopped.
I understand that we couldn't see the slab drying out. Which is what it was doing. But it took weeks.
Then . . . it happened. They were dry. And a very exciting step to the entire process occurred. They laid the floors down.
Then we waited.
20 days.
And the lacquer was added. Well, the first coat.
By the end of this weekend, all the coats will have been added.
And we'll wait.
Again.
For them to dry.

Here are the guys adding the lacquer.



Progress.

Hookie

We played hookie last Sunday. Neither Brad nor I had to serve at church, so we totally loaded the kids up first thing in the morning and went to Disney.
It was such a great day. We rode the new Toy Story Mania. The line to get on the ride winds thru oversized toys and games. 5 foot tall crayons, Candy Land covering the walls and floors, 9 foot Lincoln Log cabin, and interactive talking Mister Potato Head. The linking monkeys hang from the ceiling and the Shoots and Ladders game board is on the ceiling. It was visually interesting to Madelyn. Good thing. We waited 40 minutes.

William in line at Toy Story Mania. Oversize dominos and playing cards.

Maddie and daddy.

The ride is 3D which is the explanation for the glasses. The tongue sticking out? Don't know.

Madelyn enjoyed the 3D fun. She took a different spin on the glasses.

Maddie & mommy.

She understood what to do on the ride. Pull the string. Her aim was just a little off.

There is a playground where kids can let loose. It is designed as an oversized ant colony or bug something or other. Madelyn thoroughly enjoyed the 2 foot slide and crawling through the little spaces. She was playing peek-a-boo with Brad here.

Pouty lips.

Madelyn eating her first madeleine (cookie in France).

This is the best.
"Mommy I love you soooo much." Then he planted a big kiss on my cheek.
William is a very ACTIVE boy. However, so loving.

. . . . . . . . . is PREGNANT

Before anyone freaks out - I asked a dear friend if I could blog about their incredibly exciting news.
She said yes.
So here it goes . . .

Abby & Patrick are expecting!!!!

WooHooo!

I can't tell you how exciting this is.
In fact, I am more excited for them than I was when I found out Brad & I were expecting. Not that I wasn't excited to have a life growing inside me - but nausea and food aversions did put a damper on my ever expanding belly.

Seeing the sonogram of 'Baby S' waving brings tears to my eyes. Life is so precious and I am so excited that our dear friends are finally experiencing this new life for themselves. They are going to be great parents.

My heart races as I think about what lies ahead for mommy-to-be and daddy-to-be. Feeling 'Baby S' kicking. Finding out whether the baby will be wearing a jersey next football season or a cheerleading outfit. (Steph is predicting a girl :)
Decorating the nursery. Ohhh - all the shopping to get ready for baby. That precious first time they hold their child in their arms. Tears. Introducing their new addition to their incredibly excited friends and family that will be pounding on the hospital door to be let in to hold their tiny gift. Heart racing. The day they dedicate 'Baby S' to the Lord who has blessed them so. Tears. Raising our kids together!

Ahhh - your time is here! June is right around the corner. How awesome!

Lunchtime at the Aquarium

We renewed our passes to the Florida Aquarium after not having them for a year. I'm so glad we did renew. The weather has been so nice lately, a cool breeze but a warm sun, so sitting outside while the kids enjoy the playground is pleasant.
Here are pics of the kids at the sand pit.

The boys tried constructing a pyramid.

Still working on the pyramid.

William and his friend enjoying an ice cream sandwich.

Hello Mr Turkey. How are you?

William's school Thanksgiving performance was Monday. We all went to see him on stage and have a good laugh.

Sofia & Maddie riding the big yellow school bus to the school.

Brad & Maddie patiently waiting for William's class.

And here they come . . .
I guess I'm not too surprised that he was the "line leader". He is constantly telling me he wants to be the line leader. It doesn't matter if he doesn't know where we're going. He just wants to be in front.

"Hello Mr Turkey, how are you? Hello Mr Turkey, how are you?"

"With a Gobble, Gobble, Gobble. And a Wobble, Wobble, Wobble. Hello Mr. Turkey, how are you?"

MiMi & PopPop with the girls.

After the performance, we joined W and his classmates for a Thanksgiving feast in his room. He really liked the cornbread muffins.