Giving Myself Grace

So we got through our first week!! I learned quite a few things in the process but the most important thing came as quite a surprise (NOT)! I figured out that I CAN'T do it all!?

I have had to give myself grace and let a few things go. I tend to think that I CAN do it all and I should. This belief usually brings me a lot of anxiety and that does not go well with teaching children. To help eliminate some of that anxiety I have decided to just focus on the important things.... school, meals, work, and sleep. :)

Molly learned something as well.... mom's attention is not all hers. However we are adjusting. She and Joshua have a great time together while I am helping Olivia and luckily she still naps. This is the best time to get our reading in and help Joshua with his more difficult assignments.

She loves to color "Melmo" (Elmo).

Other than balancing time with Molly and letting a few things go there is just one other little issue we are working on.

Joshua seriously does NOT like to write.... and sometimes just really doesn't want to read aloud either!?

Big part of school for a second grader right? This second week seems to be getting a bit better but still easily distracted and lots of whining!

Working on some new ideas to motivate.

Discovered one very awesome idea today.... will take pictures and fill you in later! :)

Turning over a New Leaf... or two!

Well... let's just forget the fact that it has been over a YEAR since I last updated this blog!! I have a renewed motivation for keeping this blog up to date. I would love to have a record of this new journey we are about to begin... tomorrow will be DAY 1 of homeschooling in the Marler house! I am excited and anxious and nervous and overwhelmed all at the same time!

I am thankful that Joshua is not yet feeling like he is "missing out" on going to school. He seems to be quite content to be at home in "his world" here. I am looking forward to the fact that he won't be forced to sit still and focus for hours on end as this is just not his personality or his maturity level right now. We are using a curriculum called "Sonlight" that teaches History and Literature with a Biblical focus; not to mention lots of good reading time together. And the other really neat thing about this is that Olivia will be able to follow the same curriculum on her level. I have to say that right now I am most excited about the reading... I love to read and I pray that my kids learn that love as well.

I am also planning to begin teaching Olivia early reading and writing skills using "My Father's World" curriculum. This is a creation based curriculum that introduces these skills through different topics with a scriptural emphasis as well as more really great children's books on each topic. She would not technically be ready for kindergarten until next year but she wants so badly to "do school" too and she seems to catch on to things so quickly. If it takes us 2 years to get through kindergarten that is fine with me. I just decided it would be good to have something of her own for us to do together.

My biggest concern is balancing all of this with my sweetest little learner, Molly. She is so curious and active right now; I'm not really sure how this is all going to play out but I will surely keep you posted! :)

Molly 6 months

It just keeps flying! It's so hard to believe that 6 months have come and gone already. This sweet little girl is so very much fun! She giggles at just about anything, wakes up with a smile and is the most easy going little lady. She LOVES the pool, which is lucky for her since we are there almost every day! Not so much into eating yet however she actually ate an entire banana in one setting after which I discovered that wasn't conducive to her staying "regular", so we have replaced the banana this week with a little apple and prune juice... still waiting for the desired result:) But seriously, it is hard to remember what life was like 6 months ago without her.

I absolutely love these pictures our dear friend and talented photographer Molly took for us!

Thunderstorms

For some reason Olivia continues to be so sensitive to noises... for a while she would wake up crying when she heard the train go by. It seems that she finally got used to that and is now just crazily afraid of thunder. Even the smallest rumble and she clamps her hands down on her ears and just cries and shakes. These pictures were taken during one of our recent thunderstorms. She is only smiling here because she was allowed to get up and be with the "big people" at 11 pm until the storm quieted. Even though the crying stopped, she still would not take her hands off her ears. We finally did figure out that we could distract her with princess games on the computer and that seemed to make the experience so much less traumatic! We owe that very important discovery to her smart daddy!

Dedication

On June 14th, we dedicated all three of our children back to the Lord. We have been so blessed with these wonderful lives. Our desire is to raise them up showing them the right way to live and entrusting them to His care. It is such a scary and sometimes overwhelming job, I am so thankful there is Someone bigger in control. Pastor Phil married Ora and I 12 years ago! It meant a lot to have him dedicate our children.

Birthday Cake and Party Masks

Ora turned the BIG 38 last month so the kids and I made him his favorite.... chocolate cake! They love frosting the cake the most. I should say they love licking the knife after frosting the cake the most! The masks were made by their Aunt TT. She is so creative and has such patience. They were very cool! Ora and I celebrated his birthday by spending 3 hours at Dave and Barry's playing arcade games like a couple of kids. Contrary to what he may think... I did enjoy it.

Not the pool

So what does a 6 year old and a 3 year old do on one of the few days they can't spend the afternoon at the pool? Why, paint pine cones of course. The things little minds are entertained by never ceases to amaze me. This little project was self directed and used up at least 1 hour of the long afternoon of indoor activities. They were so proud of their "masterpieces". And I'm sure you are wondering what I did with these "trophies".... I admired them for all of that afternoon and then deposited them for safe keeping in the T-R-A-S-H when they weren't looking. When I first became a mom I thought I would save absolutely everything until I started getting fun little gifts like these and dandylions and rocks.... If your'e a mom, you know quite well my predicament. It's funny how they don't even miss them.