Well at long last, summer is finally ending. After 2 solid months of 100+ degree weather with the heat index ( that means with the humidity- I didn't know that until I read about it in the paper), we're finally getting some cooler days which are in the 90's instead and a little rain now and again. Most of the kids around here have started school again, so the two elementary schools across the street and the junior high a block away are busy, busy.
In August, I went to a Homeschooling Convention for the first time, and although it was small as there aren't as many Homeschooling families in this area, or maybe they just didn't sign up to go, it was excellent to browse hands-on the materials that were brought to display by the few vendors present. It certainly gave me a better idea of what providers offered and what I think I may like best. Last year I was clueless, and with moving and looking for a home and work, and being entirely new to the Homeschooling scene, I totally missed out on everything and ended up going last minute with an all-in-one workbook from Barnes and Noble that wasn't what I'd call adequate, but was something atleast. So now that I've seen and learned a bunch about the in's and out's I'm ready to start the kids on a new school year! I'm super excited and can't wait to get them going. While we wait for their materials to come in that I've ordered, I have started the kids doing worksheets I printed off from various websites. It has jump started them on refreshing their memory with math, handwriting, etc after a summer off. As I write this, they are doing their worksheets right now and Aislinn has decided that she will NOT be left out of the fun. She gets herself a pencil, tries to sharpen it in the battery-powered sharpener, and demands a paper to work on. Then she's copied them calling to me, "Mom will you help me?" everytime they do. So on her own little scrap paper she has scribbled with a pencil and I have had to draw her shapes and various little critters to satisfy her desire to do what her big brother and sister are.
I have big plans for this school year. I found out at the Homeschooling convention that parents with a "home educators id card" can go to various museums, parks, and office supply stores and get discounts just as public school teachers do. That really boosts my visions of taking the kids to do a variety of activities within our local area as field trips and fun activities. We have battlefields with yearly re-enactments, museums of native american history, museums of civil war history, and lots of parks, lakes, rivers, etc. We also have lots of factories where we could probaly tour and let the kids see how things are made. Everyone in our house will be going to school, with the exception of Aislinn who is kind of preschooling.... Matthew started classes at our local college on Monday, finally after a whole year of waiting to get all the required processes done. He had to jump through alot of hoops and go back and forth to get everything lined up, which was extremely frustrating, but at last he's gotten going and hopefully in 2 or 3 years he'll be finished and on his way to the career he has chosen. I'm going back to school online, taking some non-credit courses through a website affiliated with our local library. During my last years of high school while homeschooling, I ended up moving 3 times and never completed my education, so I'm getting my GED done finally which I have put off for far too long, and then going on from there to take all the courses I've wanted to just for my own interests. Things such as photography, flower arranging, basics in computers, herbal remedies, etc. I'm excited beyond description to be able to do this. Limited finances as well as choosing to be home with my children as a priority when possible, has made it IMpossible for me before, but not any longer!
Aislinn turned 2 and Corbin turned 11 this summer. It never ceases to amaze me at how my children are suddenly so big and so old so fast. It's hard to believe that in one year my son will move from the child stage to the teenage stage. What will I do then?! And my toddler is hardly a baby anymore, even if we all call her baby. But fairly soon, she wont be the youngest anymore as we're expecting #4 in January. But more on that later.
Corbin moves into Young Mens at church when he turns 12- the teenage boy group. He'll be old enough to compete in athletics through the public school systems here, he'll be old enough to hold the Aaronic Priesthood at church and pass the sacrament. He wont be a little boy anymore. Hoping to tease and maybe scare him a little, I mentioned all of this during his birthday breakfast and the only reaction I got was a shrug and natural acceptance. I was disappointed, yet surprised and pleased. I've known many a child who was moving on into the teenage stage that was extremely apprehensive about going to Middle School or into the Young Mens/Young Womens at church. Celeste, being present during the conversation, showed the anxiety instead and told me flat out that she didn't want to stop going to the Primary Class at church. But I reassured her that she will have 4 more years of Primary, so not to worry. By then I she will have learned of all the benefits and priviledges that go along with moving up and I'm sure she'll be ready to jump into it just as she always is for new and exciting things. It's just hard for me to believe that my son is growing up so fast! Before I know it he'll be driving, dating, going to college, and going on a mission! Scary thought.
Aislinn may not be about to turn into a teenager just yet, but she's certainly been developing by leaps and bounds. She's been learning to eat foods she previously didn't like, working on manners and potty training, as well as sleeping in her OWN bed, not climbing into bed with Mom & Dad 3 or 4 times every night. I've had a hard time enforcing this as I love cuddling with her, but she's getting bigger and ends up side-ways in bed before I know it, so it's too crowded and time for her to move to the next stage. She's learning her colors, shapes, and counting, and working on her social skills. She LOVES story time and often will bring either me or Daddy a book to read and snuggle in to listen. Often I will see her sitting by herself looking at a book and singing or reading to herself as she looks at the pictures. She's learned how to play independently, thank goodness! which gives me a welcome break while I try to catch up on things. She always wants to do what her big brother and sister are doing and tries to follow them everywhere. Thankfully, they are pretty patient with her and play with her alot, especially Celeste. Sometimes I let her "help" me when I am putting something together to bake. It keeps her entertained, and if I supervise her carefully, she doesn't make too much of a mess. Yesterday was NOT one of those days.... Celeste was learning how to make cookie dough by herself, and while I wasn't looking Aislinn decided to pour out the baking soda into a measuring up and all over the table. Fortunately, I was able to scoop most of it up and back into the box. I couldn't be mad at her for sure, she wants to be involved, but she definately needs a close eye on her! I've decided that I need to keep a small journal of all the cute things she does and says and of her new achievements. It's a daily thing with her and I feel that writing in my Journal once a week, there's no way I can catch even a fraction of this and I want to be able to remember it later on. I've known people who kept journals for their children from birth until they were old enough to write on their own, but to me I think from the toddler years on to kindergarten is what I want to remember the most.
Traditionally, in our household for birthdays, the birthday person gets the priviledge of requesting whatever they want for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I make it for them. They also get to tell me what flavor of cake and frosting they want as well. We've had a busy summer with 3 birthdays, which has meant lots of cake! I normally don't make desserts more than once or twice a month, but recently we've had far more than the norm and I'm surprised I haven't gained an extra arm or leg in weight from all the sweets. Fortunately, I can play it off as baby weight!
For Corbin's birthday we tried to wake him up with pots and pans and all the noise we could, but he was unluckily already awake, and half dressed, which thankfully he was atleast wearing a shirt and undies! Oh well, it's a good idea for the next birthday- Celeste's in January. He got to look at his baby photo album and baby book while we had breakfast. Then he had his best bud, Ethan over for the whole day while Ethan's mom and I excused ourselves to the Homeschool convention. He picked eggs-in-a-nest, ham, and a smoothie for breakfast; hamburgers and fries for lunch; and hawaiian pizza with all the sides for dinner. A week later we had his party so he had a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and I made him a stawberry shortcake for later since the strawberries had to be used up earlier in the week and I hadn't time to get them for the strawberry cake he wanted.
Aislinn had scrambled eggs and ham with a smoothie, corndogs, and macaroni and cheese for her birthday meals. She also had a strawberry cake. We didn't throw her a party since she's so young still, we just showered her with love.
It amuses me greatly the mixed reactions I get from family and friends, my own children, and of course anyone at all that I have met when it comes to having more children. Some are quite excited for us, while others, including the Nurse-Practitioner, have asked me how many children are we going to have??? and some just take it all in quietly, minding their own and keeping whatever opinions they may have to themselves. Corbin, who was great with Aislinn as an infant, but has not really been all that interested in her as she got older, not to mention not that fond of toddler tantrums, and bad manners, is excited for a new baby. He would like a little brother, but has stated that he'll be ok with another sister too. Celeste, who has been very involved with Aislinn and Aislinn is very close to her because of it, has expressed apprehension and just flat out doesn't want any more siblings. I've taken the time to explain to her the reasons for having more children- they bring joy into our home, we grow to love them even if we weren't wanting to have them before, it gives that child a chance to be in a good home where they can be taught the Gospel and be loved, rather than having to go to a home that may not treat them very well, and gives those little Spirits the body that they so badly need and have waited upon. Even after all this, she's still not very thrilled, but alas, not everyone is always going to be. I always go through a panic stage myself of wondering what in the world am I doing and what was I thinking??? And also a stage of wondering how any child could add any more to how wonderful the children I already have are, but then I am amazed at the neat little person I find I've been blessed with and so grateful I have that child, I can't imagine life without him or her. It's interesting to me the different perspectives there are in society on how many children a couple should have. Oft times I have found these points of view to be religion-based. I remember people at my work when I was pregnant with Aislinn who acted as if I'd lost my mind wanting to have a third child when I already had a boy and a girl at home. I come from a middle-to-large family of 6 kids myself, so I've always planned on having several children, and maybe adopting when I don't want to go through the pregnancy part myself anymore. To me, this is only halfway there, if that. My husband grew up in a smaller family of just him and a brother, so he had no such notions. 2 or 3 was fine with him. As a compromise I told him we'd have to have 4 as that's in between 2 and 6. Once the children started coming along though and he fell in love with our babies, all such inhibitions on his part fell away and he has come around to my side of thinking- many is good.
It's great to know others who share my feelings about family sizes, almost as if reaffirming my personal belief and boosting my resolve. There aren't many I know who have more than 5 children, and few who plan or planned to, even if they were unable to due to complications. I find it a little strange that even within my own church, where we believe that Families are Forever, and that it is our duty to bring children, many children, into this world and rear them in love and righteousness, that there large families are a minor percentage now compared to what they had been so many years ago.
To me it shows how much the ways of the world and society's perspectives on things has influenced us all, and will control our lives and ways of thinking if we don't guard ourselves carefully. I know of many families with the means to support probaly 10 or 12 children, have only 2 to 4, which is the commonly accepted number of children to have. Most of the families I know with a large number of children are those of more modest means and live in much more simple homes. Why is that truly? I have made a promise to the Lord that I will have as many children as He wants me to have if he will give me the means to support them. He has kept his end of the bargain, even if we aren't well off, we have enough, and so I am keeping my end as well. Enough is enough for me.
Last week a good friend of mine lost her husband very suddenly. It has been a hard shock to all of us. It's hard to believe and express what an expected loss it has been. While I was writing her a card, Corbin came in and asked me what was wrong. I explained to him what had happened. He was immediately sorrowful and even though he had never really been close to any of their children, he was moved with compassion for their family. He expressed to me a desire to help and stated that maybe if we gave them some money, that might help them a little. He promptly went into his room, got his wallet, and brought out his birthday money he'd been saving for a game he really wanted. He handed me his $11 in cash that he had and asked me to give it to them. As my child, I didn't want him to be giving away his money, but I knew that he really wanted to do some good. Not wanting to discourage him and thus teach him NOT to help people when moved upon to do so, I double- and even triple-checked to be certain this was what he wanted, then accepted his donation. $11 may not be alot to most, but to him it was and it said alot to me about the kind of person he is and is becoming. There are alot of people in this world that need our compassion and generosity, and I don't want him to become desensitized to it, turning a blind eye, as is so easy to do. I find even I sometimes turn away from the plight of others, saying... what can I do?? I have so little. But it's not the amount as much as the intent. He also taught me a lesson about love, even if you don't like some of the people you may know, they still sometimes need our help and we have to be open to listening to the Spirit of the Lord to guide us to do so. We never know the difference our small endeavors might make.
So, summer is now nearly over and I'm looking forward to fall. I'm ready for the school year, the cooler weather, and lots of fun time with my kids. I'm planning our Halloween party, and planning for the garden I want to have next year. I've given myself some goals, and trying to add a new thing or two or three to improve upon every month or two so that I don't feel stuck in a rut, and I'm really looking forward to this new baby that is coming soon. In all, I'm just excited about life!
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