Lightning McQueen birthday cake. It turned out so cute and I am absurdly proud. Gabe absolutely loved it.
Blowing out the candles.
Presents!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Gabe's 3rd Birthday
So hard to believe that my baby boy turned 3 last week. This birthday was so much fun because it was the first time that he understood what his birthday meant. He was so happy all day and just loved being the centre of attention. Here are some snaps of his birthday party on Saturday.
Lightning McQueen birthday cake. It turned out so cute and I am absurdly proud. Gabe absolutely loved it.
Blowing out the candles.
Presents!
Lightning McQueen birthday cake. It turned out so cute and I am absurdly proud. Gabe absolutely loved it.
Blowing out the candles.
Presents!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Life is GOOD
So I've had all these unmoderated comments sitting in my inbox. I finally decided to stop procrastinating and visit my blogger dashboard and publish the comments. One thing led to another and here I am writing again.
The past four months have seen a lot of changes in our family, but I gotta say, life is GOOD! Life is more than good. Life rocks. I love it.
*Kiddos are in public school and it has been an amazing journey. They have wonderful teachers. Honestly, I couldn't have hoped for better teachers. These two are the cream of the crop. Because of the high percentage of homeschoolers in our area, the school is used to dealing with homeschooling families. The transition was so easy that it's almost hard to believe. Emily and Josiah didn't have any problems academically or socially. They're popular, have tons and fun and are just really loving the whole school experience.
*Levi turned 5 last month and Gabe just turned 3 on Monday. These two are growing so quickly! We decided to keep Levi home for another year. His birthday is on Dec. 26, and the school board said that at that age they often recommend that parents wait a year, though hit depends entirely on the child. I'm so happy with our decision! I've been really enjoying having more time with him and Gabe. Having had the other two at home all the time, plus homeschooling, alone time with my two littles isn't something I've ever had.
*Me - I started university online and I start a part-time job at a local restaurant tomorrow. When I say part-time, I mean very part-time. It's only a couple of times a week on weekends or in the evenings. I'm really looking forward to getting out and doing something on my own. Jeremy will be home with the littles, so I don't have to worry about that. School is amazing!! I always told myself that it was something I would do and I love it that I'm actually doing it, not just talking about it. Taking some time out for me has been so great, not just for me, but for our whole family. I feel more balance in our whole situation, and it's not just me. Jeremy feels the same way.
So, life is good. I make no promises about regular posting, but maybe I'll be around a little now and again. Hope to visit some of your blogs soon!
The past four months have seen a lot of changes in our family, but I gotta say, life is GOOD! Life is more than good. Life rocks. I love it.
*Kiddos are in public school and it has been an amazing journey. They have wonderful teachers. Honestly, I couldn't have hoped for better teachers. These two are the cream of the crop. Because of the high percentage of homeschoolers in our area, the school is used to dealing with homeschooling families. The transition was so easy that it's almost hard to believe. Emily and Josiah didn't have any problems academically or socially. They're popular, have tons and fun and are just really loving the whole school experience.
*Levi turned 5 last month and Gabe just turned 3 on Monday. These two are growing so quickly! We decided to keep Levi home for another year. His birthday is on Dec. 26, and the school board said that at that age they often recommend that parents wait a year, though hit depends entirely on the child. I'm so happy with our decision! I've been really enjoying having more time with him and Gabe. Having had the other two at home all the time, plus homeschooling, alone time with my two littles isn't something I've ever had.
*Me - I started university online and I start a part-time job at a local restaurant tomorrow. When I say part-time, I mean very part-time. It's only a couple of times a week on weekends or in the evenings. I'm really looking forward to getting out and doing something on my own. Jeremy will be home with the littles, so I don't have to worry about that. School is amazing!! I always told myself that it was something I would do and I love it that I'm actually doing it, not just talking about it. Taking some time out for me has been so great, not just for me, but for our whole family. I feel more balance in our whole situation, and it's not just me. Jeremy feels the same way.
So, life is good. I make no promises about regular posting, but maybe I'll be around a little now and again. Hope to visit some of your blogs soon!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Goodbye
For the past couple of years, blogging has been a fun and therapeutic adventure for me. I've contemplated stopping, and even tried to several times, but somehow I always ended back here.
For a lot of varied reasons though, I have decided to delete this blog. Over the next couple of days I will be archiving my past posts, and then it will be deleted.
I've enjoyed getting to know so many of you via blogger, and maybe I'll pop in now and again to say hello.
I hope you all live well, laugh often, and love much!!
Rachelle
For a lot of varied reasons though, I have decided to delete this blog. Over the next couple of days I will be archiving my past posts, and then it will be deleted.
I've enjoyed getting to know so many of you via blogger, and maybe I'll pop in now and again to say hello.
I hope you all live well, laugh often, and love much!!
Rachelle
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The right decision
After an insanely busy and whirlwind of a week, we are finally reading to leave for holidays this morning. Jeremy and I are off to a wedding in a city about 8 hours away. My in-laws live about halfway between us and there, and they are going to watch the kids for the weekend, so Jer and I get a whole weekend alone! After that, we'll pick the kids up and head up to a lake house that we rented for a week. That's my idea of camping...private beach, private dock, sauna, dishwasher, washer and dryer...
On the school front, thank you all so much for your comments. I've had so much to think about. Jeremy and I have talked and prayed and spoke to the school division. We reached a decision and registered the kids for school yesterday.
When we get back from holidays, the kids will start a short evaluation process to get an idea of where they are at academically. This will also be the time when we decide whether Levi will start preschool or kindergarten. His birthday is Dec. 26, so he could go either way, or just stay home with me for another year if we so choose.
Because of the high percentage of homeschoolers in our area, the schools are fully prepared to deal with homeschooled kids. They told me that they have systems to help children who are further behind their peers, but they also have systems to help children who are years ahead.
Also, I know I've mentioned in the past that we live in a predominantly Mennonite area, but I think I failed to mention how much this community has managed to affect our public school system. A lot of concerns have been expressed about immoral or "ungodly" teaching, and quite honestly, I am very much not concerned about that. Each year, parents in the area petition to have "religious exercises" in school. This means that each day starts with a Bible reading or story, and a prayer. There is a short explanation of how we can implement that moral truth into our life. Now this is still the public school, so kids are instructed to go to their parents with any questions they might have...but they are instructed that those are things to learn at home!!! That is so wonderful! I'm sure there will be stuff in the curriculum that we'll want to discuss, if we stick to our current decision. But that doesn't scare me. I'm not afraid of discussing other people's beliefs and ideas with my children. In fact, we already do. We've studied different religions and beliefs and ideas with the kids for a couple of years now. Maybe this public school system is one more way that I am learning to leave fear-based religion in the past. (I'm speaking from my own experiences and not implying that all homeschoolers are afraid. I very much understand that that is not true).
I don't have time to get into everything right now because we leave in an hour, but suffice it to say that both Jeremy and I are at peace with our decision. There are times when I feel a little emotional, and I'm sure there will be plenty more. But I think we made the right decision. So now I'm looking forward to enjoying every moment of our holidays together.
Bonne vacances!!
On the school front, thank you all so much for your comments. I've had so much to think about. Jeremy and I have talked and prayed and spoke to the school division. We reached a decision and registered the kids for school yesterday.
When we get back from holidays, the kids will start a short evaluation process to get an idea of where they are at academically. This will also be the time when we decide whether Levi will start preschool or kindergarten. His birthday is Dec. 26, so he could go either way, or just stay home with me for another year if we so choose.
Because of the high percentage of homeschoolers in our area, the schools are fully prepared to deal with homeschooled kids. They told me that they have systems to help children who are further behind their peers, but they also have systems to help children who are years ahead.
Also, I know I've mentioned in the past that we live in a predominantly Mennonite area, but I think I failed to mention how much this community has managed to affect our public school system. A lot of concerns have been expressed about immoral or "ungodly" teaching, and quite honestly, I am very much not concerned about that. Each year, parents in the area petition to have "religious exercises" in school. This means that each day starts with a Bible reading or story, and a prayer. There is a short explanation of how we can implement that moral truth into our life. Now this is still the public school, so kids are instructed to go to their parents with any questions they might have...but they are instructed that those are things to learn at home!!! That is so wonderful! I'm sure there will be stuff in the curriculum that we'll want to discuss, if we stick to our current decision. But that doesn't scare me. I'm not afraid of discussing other people's beliefs and ideas with my children. In fact, we already do. We've studied different religions and beliefs and ideas with the kids for a couple of years now. Maybe this public school system is one more way that I am learning to leave fear-based religion in the past. (I'm speaking from my own experiences and not implying that all homeschoolers are afraid. I very much understand that that is not true).
I don't have time to get into everything right now because we leave in an hour, but suffice it to say that both Jeremy and I are at peace with our decision. There are times when I feel a little emotional, and I'm sure there will be plenty more. But I think we made the right decision. So now I'm looking forward to enjoying every moment of our holidays together.
Bonne vacances!!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Kicking and Screaming
Several months ago I wrote this. In a nutshell, homeschooling had worn me down. I was feeling tired and burned out.
At that time, my husband and I talked and prayed, and talked, and I cried and went through all kinds of emotional upheaval. In the end, we decided to finish up the year and re-evaluate things in the summer. As spring came, a lot of my winter blues left and I felt a lot better about life. Things were better, but not perfect.
Now summertime is here and it's time to start planning for the start of school in just one month.
Jeremy and I have opened up the conversation again and he firmly believes that we need to look into putting the kids in school on a trial basis. Having said that, neither Jeremy nor I would ideally like to have our children in public school. In our perfect world, homeschooling runs flawlessly and everybody's happy. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. If it was, we would live in a 500-year old farmhouse on a vineyard in France for 6 months out of the year and spend the other 6 months sailing around the world on our catamaran.
So today, I called the school division and left a message with some guy who I hope will return my phone call after he returns from holidays and before we leave for ours.
I realize I am opening a can of worms here. No matter what conclusion I come to someone will be disappointed...so please be gentle with your comments. :-)
I am torn. There is a part of me that realizes that perhaps I need a break. Maybe I am taking on too much, particularly with starting university courses in the fall. That part of me recognizes that when I put aside my emotions and guilt there is potentially a lot of good that could come of this. Maybe this is something that our family needs right now. I also realize that this decision is not absolute...if things don't work out, we can always change our minds and bring them home again, or move and find a suitable private school somewhere.
The other part of me is kicking and screaming. The other part of me laid awake until 3:30 last night, unable to sleep and sick to my stomach. That part of me is revolting at the thought some stranger educating my littles for 8 hours a day. That part of me is already missing our hours reading together and seeing their little faces light up when they understand a new idea. That part of me is willing to let the other things slide, because I love teaching them. I really do.
The thing is, that it's not their education that's suffering. When we first started homeschooling we both said that if we ever came to a place where our kids education was suffering, we would not hesitate to put them into school. Now I find myself in a place where their education is not the problem. My kids are far ahead of the p.s curve. They love homeschooling and I love teaching them. The problems lie in other areas of our life...little things that have been neglected because my time is so divided, and now those little things are big things.
I feel like I'm failing myself and my family and our values. I feel inadquate because I can't seem to do it all. I feel like I'm letting go of something that we hold very dear.
On the other hand, this is just a trial and neither Jeremy nor I are totally sold on the idea that the school system is really what our family needs.
But what if it is???????
At that time, my husband and I talked and prayed, and talked, and I cried and went through all kinds of emotional upheaval. In the end, we decided to finish up the year and re-evaluate things in the summer. As spring came, a lot of my winter blues left and I felt a lot better about life. Things were better, but not perfect.
Now summertime is here and it's time to start planning for the start of school in just one month.
Jeremy and I have opened up the conversation again and he firmly believes that we need to look into putting the kids in school on a trial basis. Having said that, neither Jeremy nor I would ideally like to have our children in public school. In our perfect world, homeschooling runs flawlessly and everybody's happy. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. If it was, we would live in a 500-year old farmhouse on a vineyard in France for 6 months out of the year and spend the other 6 months sailing around the world on our catamaran.
So today, I called the school division and left a message with some guy who I hope will return my phone call after he returns from holidays and before we leave for ours.
I realize I am opening a can of worms here. No matter what conclusion I come to someone will be disappointed...so please be gentle with your comments. :-)
I am torn. There is a part of me that realizes that perhaps I need a break. Maybe I am taking on too much, particularly with starting university courses in the fall. That part of me recognizes that when I put aside my emotions and guilt there is potentially a lot of good that could come of this. Maybe this is something that our family needs right now. I also realize that this decision is not absolute...if things don't work out, we can always change our minds and bring them home again, or move and find a suitable private school somewhere.
The other part of me is kicking and screaming. The other part of me laid awake until 3:30 last night, unable to sleep and sick to my stomach. That part of me is revolting at the thought some stranger educating my littles for 8 hours a day. That part of me is already missing our hours reading together and seeing their little faces light up when they understand a new idea. That part of me is willing to let the other things slide, because I love teaching them. I really do.
The thing is, that it's not their education that's suffering. When we first started homeschooling we both said that if we ever came to a place where our kids education was suffering, we would not hesitate to put them into school. Now I find myself in a place where their education is not the problem. My kids are far ahead of the p.s curve. They love homeschooling and I love teaching them. The problems lie in other areas of our life...little things that have been neglected because my time is so divided, and now those little things are big things.
I feel like I'm failing myself and my family and our values. I feel inadquate because I can't seem to do it all. I feel like I'm letting go of something that we hold very dear.
On the other hand, this is just a trial and neither Jeremy nor I are totally sold on the idea that the school system is really what our family needs.
But what if it is???????
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
because my muse has left me and I have no idea what to blog about
Most of our close friends know that in a couple of years, when our kids are a little bit older, Jeremy and I plan to travel all over Europe. In our perfect world, we move to Europe for at least several years and let our kids experience social studies, geography, history, languages, art, religious studies and whatever else we can find and have tons of fun doing it. So I took this quiz, that I'm sure is totally accurate, and here are the results.
You Belong in Paris
You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris.
You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.
Sounds good to me!! When do we leave?
PS - If you find yourself bored and don't know what to blog about, the quiz can be found here.
You Belong in Paris
You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris.
You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.
Sounds good to me!! When do we leave?
PS - If you find yourself bored and don't know what to blog about, the quiz can be found here.
Friday, July 11, 2008
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