Well, another year has slipped by. I grew up hearing adults comment on how fast time goes and thought they were CRAZY. I am now one of those adults =) Every year when Christmas rolls around it seems so unreal that it's the end of another year. Oh, well. All I can do now is hope that I'm doing all I can to make the days count.
I'll start with an update about our school year. It seems weird being in year 2 of home-schooling. I feel like this is what we've always done. We have our system down and for the most part it works very well. Ethan is in the 5th grade and doing great in all his subjects. He LOVES science and has a distaste for English, although he hardly ever needs my help with it. His math is coming right along as he's learning lots of new skill sets. He seems to be grasping them quickly. He's still taking piano and has a natural ability to understand what;s asked of him. He has great rhythm and I ask him to play for me almost every day.
Levi is also showing promise with math. He's skipping right along with his division. He's in 3rd grade and, like Ethan, has a distaste for English. I think it has something to do with all the writing that's asked of them. History is maybe his most liked subject because we read the stories together and talk about what it would have been like to live in that time. Fun for me =) Levi is also taking piano. Not as quick to catch on as Ethan but doing very well. He also has an ear for rhythm. They get that from their dad. I have no rhythm. Levi is also taking gymnastics. He almost has his back handspring down with no help. Aside from Evan, he's the only boy in his class. Somehow, I don't think he minds.
Katie...my one and only daughter. She is something else. When she was in kindergarten I was a tad concerned about her reading skills. Now, she can read almost anything you put in front of her. And her math skills amaze me. Along with math, she likes science. And if she doesn't have to write a short story she enjoys English. She's taking gymnastics and loves it. She not really built like a gymnast but she can do almost anything that's asked of her. She's getting close to do an unassisted back handspring, too. I can't wait to see what 2015 holds for her.
And now to Evan. He's a pistol. That boy can make me laugh so hard and then in minutes make me so mad.He is such a funny kid but so stubborn and strong willed. We started him doing small amounts of 'school' last year. And it was my plan to send him to pre-k this year. However, the school we were going to send him to changed their policy and went from a half day program to a full day. And they were going to charge for it. So, no school away from home for Evan. He's done amazing! He can do simple addition and he's starting to read. Not sure what we'll do about a curriculum for him next year but that's months away. He's in gymnastics as well. And as much as he likes it and he is certainly got the gymnast build, I think we're going to try karate. Might be a better fit. He's a tiny little guy with about 100% too much attitude =)
I'm hanging in there. Aaron is still on second shift at American and that means I do bedtime alone 5 nights a week. It's not always easy and sometimes I wish I could have a do over but it's our life and we've adjusted. God is doing amazing things in all of us. I've gotten into running a bit. As a way to keep me healthy and relieve stress. My goal for 2014 was to run 300 miles. I ended up running 456 miles. So, for this year I plan on putting in 500. I'll be training to run a half marathon with my brother so that will help me with my goal. The kids and I run with a cross country club and really enjoy it. Levi will compete with them in the fall. He's been running some 5k's with me and has done awesome. This past Oct. he ran his fastest time at 25.39. I love the time with him.
We've taken some trips this year. Made it to St. Louis in April
and camped Bull Shoals in June.We took my niece with us on that trip and had a great time.
In Oct. we camped Mt. Magazine with the big boys.Came across a fairly good sized rattlesnake on one of our hikes. Lola was off her leash and I freaked out. That caused the boys to freak a little. We calmed down and got a few good picture and a video. When you come across nature like that it needs to be documented. Just a note...the snake did not move except to rattle it's tail. If it had so much as hinted that it was going to uncoil we would have been out of there! Lola did great and hiked about 13 miles over 2 days with us. It wore her out and she crashed for a good nap.
This coming May, in 112 days, we're headed to the beach!!! Aaron's entire family is going to celebrate his parents 40th anniversary. I AM STOKED! I will certainly be posting about that.
Ok, this has turned out to be a little more lengthy than I intended. And tomorrow is my first born's 11th birthday. I have presents to wrap....
