We Started Kindergarten

We started Kindergarten this week. I say "we", because we made the decision to Home school, and it definitely takes all of us to pull it off. I was home schooled for all 12 grades and wanted the blessing of being the one to teach my daughter to read. Maybe a bit selfish, but experiencing the joys and frustrations of that first year is something that I wanted to do right along side of her, and missing it wasn't something I could live with.

 My Mom is letting me use her Phonics curriculum, which we are loving so far, and I'm using Bob Jones for Math. I don't have a specific curriculum for History, Science or Bible since I didn't want to be tied to books for that part of it. Those subjects will involve trips to the library and lots of hands on, fun projects. Next week we start with the days of creation which will get us History, Bible and Science in one fell swoop. We'll take our time to do one day per week, so we can work on art projects and study the different aspects of each day. I'm really excited about this part of school this year!

 Anyway.

 The night before Kindergarten started, it really hit me. A new chapter in our lives was beginning the very next morning, and I of course felt very sentimental about it, thinking of when we brought her home from the hospital and I cried thinking of sending her to Kindergarten.

 So, yeah. I had the baby blues just a little. 

 "Tomorrow you start school for the next 13 years!" I told Brooklynne, and Nate and I laughed because it's kind of crazy to think about. We lingered at bed time a little longer, sensing the change that was going to take place soon.

 She woke up so excited, as does any 5 year old on the first day of school. I felt excited, but a little nervous, because at the same time she became a Kindergartner, I was becoming a teacher and that brings a lot of responsibility.
 She dressed herself, cleaned her room and brushed her teeth and completed a few more simple chores, a simple routine we'll be following every day.

(Insert--wouldn't it have been disappointing  if I took less than 7,000 pictures on her first day? I didn't disappoint, friends.)

 We started school with the Pledge of Allegiance ( I totally googled a flag image) and the days of the week song. Her work the first day was very simple--tracing lines and shapes and coloring.

 Joe felt very left out and wanted to be very close to either me or Brooke. He always wanted me to "help him" with his book, so I tried to make him feel included as much as I could.

Buddy needed to be very close at all times as well.

 After our whole 40 minutes of school was completed :), we pulled out lunch and had our lunch break. I saw an idea once from a Home School Mom that packs her kids lunches. It eliminates lunch mess during the day and I loved the idea, so that's what we're going to try to do. We're on day 4 at this point and I love it. I pack my own lunch the night before, too. There is no messy kitchen in the middle of the day and because of this, I've been able to get a lot more done around the house during the day than I thought I would! I've gotten a lot of fun ideas online about kids lunches, so I'll do a post of those later on.

After lunch, we went to the park for a while, until it was too hot and everyone was grouchy and sweaty. Came home for naps/quiet time/cleaning/dinner prep. The day went way better than I ever thought!

In the meantime, this little man (or not so little man) is about to turn 6 months and charming us more and more each day. He is happy, content and quiet. He never demands attention, but one look at his smiley little face and I can't resist picking him up for hugs and kisses.

At this point he's not a thumb-sucker (he loves his paci) but one day I found him like this. Too cute for words! 

Well, it's Friday and we made it through the first week. We celebrated today with a trip to the library ("Mommy are there trains here? Mommy, are we gonna play?" I need to take my kids to the library more often, ehem.) and a trip to the doughnut shop for $1.58 worth of celebratory doughnuts. 5 days down, 175 to go!

 Happy weekend!

Wedding Bells!

Ashley and I have known each other since we were 2 years old and been besties pretty much the whole time. That means 23 years of friendship and going strong. She's been through a lot over the years and I've watched in amazement as she's stayed faithful to God and submissive to authority, even when she wanted to throw in the towel. Peter and her got together last summer and it was quickly evident that God had brought them together and nothing would tear them apart. I don't know what else to say, except that they are perfect for each other and I am immensely happy for them! It was a privilege to be her Matron of Honor and it was such a fun, memorable day that I will never forget!

Our day started out right with food! :) A close friend let all of us use her beautiful house to get ready for the wedding and prepared an amazing luncheon for us.

My sister's little bump at 12 weeks

I don't know of anyone who has a friendship like ours. I don't know what I would do without these girls!

Their first kiss!

Mr. and Mrs.! 

After the ceremony, she had a cake and brownie reception that was relaxed and fun!

Oldest and Youngest

My seven sisters and I!

Back, L to R: Julia, Claire, Anna, Me, Deborah, Mary

Front, L to R: Nicolea and Lydia

There is nothing in the entire world like family, and these girls are my heart and soul.

Claire, her husband Greg and their beautiful baby boy, Michael

It was so special to all be part of our friend's wedding!

  

After the cake reception and pictures, we attended the dinner reception that we all set up and decorated before the previous day. Ashley is a master mind and everything looked magnificent!

And they lived happily ever after! 

It's a Clan, it's a tribe, It's Family

I'm not sure when living long distance from family is supposed to get easier. I guess in a way the pain dulls after a while because you settle into your own routine and lives, but the awareness of the void in your heart only grows stronger as the years go on.

I'm so happy where I live, I really am. But that doesn't mean that I don't miss my family like crazy when I'm not around them. My youngest sister was 1 when I got married, which means I've missed out on most of her life. I've missed 3 out of 4 siblings High School Graduations, years of birthdays and lots of hugs and kisses.

My kids are just starting to know and love their great grandparents, which I'm thankful for, but also sad that they won't really ever appreciate them like I do. I'm blessed that I still have almost all of my grandparents living but I know they won't be around forever and I'm sad for the years I've missed living so far away.

If I focused on what I've missed instead of what I've experienced with my family in the past 6 years, I would be sad and depressed most of the time. Instead I've learned to accept and love my life a few thousand miles away from home and whole-heartedly enjoy the moments we do spend together.

 The "Preach-a-ria"

 Remembering hilarious bloopers while singing over the years. When my sisters and I laugh, we really laugh. It's more like screaming and it's the best feeling ever.

 Baking Cake with Nonnie

My kids know their grandparents and love them to death. They know and love their Aunts, Uncles and cousin, and we get to spend so much more time with them than most long distance families that I could never complain.

 Digging for worms to go fishing

 I grew up fishing here, right in my parents back yard. We always caught so many little fish!

We've all heard it over and over again--family remains when friends leave--and I've seen it over and over again. I have a very small group of friends that has been the same since I was young, but other than that, friends have been in and out of my life since I can remember. People change, lives change, standards change, and while we don't want to grow apart from people, we do.
 But family? Family is always there, eating cake and ice cream and wearing cone shaped hats at all our birthday parties, wishing us the best at our graduations, clinking glasses at our weddings. The same people who bounced me on their lap are now bouncing my kids. They love us, they care for us like their own children and we feel the same way about them.

My life is so different now from 6 years ago, but it's better. Despite the 1700 miles that separate us, my family and I are closer now than ever before. Our hearts are knit and nothing can come between us. Besides the last piece of dad's pizza, of course.