These (first) days...

These first pregnancy days of mine has been filled with walks, naps, and cravings. We are all very excited to meet baby. When we first told the kids, W only had one main concern, was he still going to be home schooled? After I reassured him that he will be, he felt a lot better and a lot more happier. He is definitely looking for a brother. J had always wanted another baby. She doesn't care if its a boy or a girl, just a baby to love and take care.

This time we are hoping to do a home birth with the help of a midwife if God willing. It will definitely be a leap of faith but I feel this is the door God opened for us. We are also exploring the possibility of cloth diapers and home made detergent as well as options for baby wearing. So if you have any advice regarding these kind of things, I'd love to hear it.

I'm also feeling lots of movement in my lower tummy; it seems like it's baby but everything I read says its too early to feel the baby move. Baby is already getting kisses and many touches from hubby and the kids.

We are of course still doing school and hope to until the baby comes.

importance of friends

This year, I can really see that friends have taken on a more important role in J's life.

This past Saturday, J's competitive dance team had a sleep over party at the studio. I didn't want J to sleep over but agreed she can stay there til about 9ish. We got there about 3:30pm so I feel it's good block of time. I gave her my cell phone to call just in case she wanted to come home earlier, but at 7:30ish, she called to asked me if she can spend the night and to say her friends are making her a bed with their sleeping bags. I said no since she is having a birthday slumber party this coming Friday. Then she asked if I can pick her up little later than 9, like 9:10? Ha,ha, negotiating already. She apparently had a great time.

Our next door neighbor's child has also been coming to hang out with J (and W) more in last few weeks to the delight of J.

W hangs with his boyscout friends once every week; he's always excited about that. Now we just need find a time to hook up with our cousins whom J and W dearly loves.

E. Orchard

This is from a while back, and I have just realized I never posted these. But it was a fun trip with our friends. Jumping on the haystack was all the kids' favorite. The apples we picked are not our favorite, but they did make great apple sauce. Now I understand why hubby asked if I wanted a apple peeler machine. :)

Insect study

For science this year, we are using Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying creatures of the Fifth Day by J Fulbright. It is a very in-depth study of flying creatures. We have been enjoying it.

Sometimes I wonder if it is too in-depth for the kids and perhaps too difficult for W. But when I ask them, they all say they like it and want to continue. They have also told me they want to study Human Body next year so we'll probably do that. I'm learning as much as the kids and feel I'm getting a new-education along with the kids, esp in regards with history and science.

When we notice things we have studied, it is very exciting.

Like this female dragon fly, do you see the "ovipositor", the spike on the end of its abdomen? This one is short and stout.
I love the pretty "membranous" wings of this dragon fly. I have yet to see the "ocelli"or simpile eyes, on an insect. We are hoping to catch or spot a praying mantis close up.
This grass hopper (male) as we have determined, has super strong legs. It can jump 20 times further than the length of its body and we have witness it. It took W by surprise at first. J has also been Google-ing to learn more the insects we catch.

Looks pretty brown, huh? Previously, I thought grass hoppers were green. Yet we learned, they can be green, brown or multicolored. They are def. very active and in the day.

J buying snack

I was surprised when I picked up J at dance, she had a little bag of fruity snack. And when I asked her about it, she says she took some money out the bottle piggy bank I gave her and brought it with her to dance so she can buy snacks for herself. Sneaky girl! :)

Remembering the parent

For a good part of this morning, the kids and I cleaned. Not what I had planned, but what I really needed. A clean, organized house really gives me peace of mind. And after a weekend of not feeling well and being on the sofa, getting the house in order was great.

J mopped the floor; she likes it, esp. the spraying part while I helped W "see". The places where there is stuff lying around and where things are out of place. I guess kids don't "see" like the adults do. So instead of telling him to do this, pick up this, I brought him over and asked him what he sees, what else do you see. We also talked about doing our best, like checking that the table is indeed wiped clean, chairs pushed in, etc. Vacuuming the house was my "morning exercise" of the day.

I'm also letting the kids to do more of their work independently, meaning I'll be around but not necessarily in the same room with them or sometimes they'll have to skip a part and wait. I found that to be a great time reliever. I'm sure veteran homeschooling mom or even newbies would say of course but that is just starting to occur to me.

We still managed to get most of our school done and had a play date which was great for both the kids and I. Great day in remembering the parents' need. In the end, when the parent's tank is full, we have more to give to our kids.

Leaf prints and tree identification

We learned a lot about different trees yesterday. The kids' favorite part was doing the leaf print craft. There were silver maple, tulip,dogwood, red bud, sweet gum,and elm leaves to paint and press.

There was also a hike in the woods to look at the trees and just enjoy the weather. This leaf is from the tulip tree.

A picture by the pumpkin before we go.