Out my window: 60s and cloudy. My children are reading/ playing/ fighting out there. And drinking tea. Because we are classy like that.
Clothing myself in: New jeans, ankle boots and black lace trimmed tank top. I've lost weight (yay!) so I had to get new jeans. The brand I bought employs "vanity sizing", which kind of makes me roll my eyes, but whatever. They fit and are cute, so it's fine.
Around the house: Not much :) Joe steam cleaned the carpet a couple of weeks ago. I've been trying to keep up the Critter fur since then with intermittent success. Need to figure out a wood supply for our wood stove before too long here. Luckily, it isn't the only source of heat for our home, but it is more reliable.
Life with Kids: George started preschool a couple of weeks ago. So far, so good. He likes it very much and from what his teachers tell me, is doing very well listening, following instructions, paying attention. He gets a little beasty when he is here in the afternoon sometimes. I think it is just a lot for him to be on his best behavior so that sometimes means acting out when he gets home. I have told him several times that I would like him to give me the same cooperation he gives Ms. Allison, which sometimes works. It'll be interesting to see how the year progresses.
The other kids are enjoying the Homeschool Enrichment Academy and I've been enjoying the break. They are riding the bus, so it gives me a lovely, quiet morning alone and then I get to spend the afternoon with George. They love the art, science, PE, music, getting to be with other kids. We were going to do the online school through the district as well, but it was a bit of a fiasco with the curriculum "revamping" and it kind of sucking, so we withdrew after a week. Apparently, I wasn't the only one to complain because they are actually offering their "legacy" courses now because of the negative response. They offered to let me do the legacy courses, but I already built a solid curriculum for the kids in the meantime, so I declined. That is probably what I should have done in the first place, but live and learn, right?
But I am excited about the year. Adelle seems to really be getting into reading and writing, which is always exciting. It is super nice to have George at preschool so we can do some schooling in peace in the morning. Love it.
The older kids (mostly the boys) have decided they want to raise chickens. I have mentioned it before and they have friends that have raised chickens, and it's been a topic of discussion several times. Joe isn't wild about the idea. I told them yesterday that if they wanted to do it, they needed to do their research- how much chicks cost, feed, how to build a hen house and run, how much those materials would cost, how to bear-proof it. They spent some time compiling a list of costs and figuring out what kind of house to build. We will see if they follow through. And if they can convince Joe but their responsibility ;)
In the kitchen: Pork loin tonight, other things on the menu that I cannot recall. Oh, meatball subs for George's birthday on Sunday (!) With the arrival of fall to the mountains, I foresee a lot of soup in our future.
Crafting: Um, mostly nope. I started on a scarf, but haven't gotten very far with it.
Bringing me joy: Ridiculously quiet Wednesday mornings while the kids are at school, how much the love the enrichment program, the way George gets excited about showing his teacher something, hints of fall in the air, beginning of changing leaves.
I am so crazy blessed to live here. Truly. Most days I take George to school and pick him up from school and everytime I drive the highway and see the mountains, I am in awe of the beauty. It never gets old- it's different every time; no leaves, green leaves, yellow leaves, no flowers, some flowers, yellow and purple flowers. It is amazing.
Thinking about: Busy. I have always been averse to busy. Maybe I am lazy? Or let's just call me a homebody. At any rate, I find busy exhausting and kind of anxiety inducing. But since summer started, life picked up pace crazy rapidly. And I lied to myself at the beginning of August, saying once school started, things would slow down, but no, not really. Isaac and Liam are in Cub Scouts, I am hoping to sign up Adelle for dance and George for gymnastics and we are still trying to find Issy's thing. We have never really done "activities" but I want them to have at least one thing they like to do and find motivating.
We have chosen to start really participating in the life of the parish. But with so many great activities and ways to serve comes the need to be discerning so that we are not over-committed.
With all that, I am also working, very diligently, on completing the requirements for my Birth Boot Camp educator training in October. It's a lot of work! I love the subject matter so it isn't drudgery, but I am truly not used to having to juggle so many things and having to carve out time. It's slightly overwhelming.
I am praying to find a balance so that everyone is involved in the community in a way that they find satisfying but all the while not jeopardizing our core unit- our family
