Apr. 27, 2008 - Stressful Vacation
Every April and May I am busy helping my dancer ready for her recital, planning summer camps/activities, purchasing next year's curriculum, selling our used books, reviewing what worked or didn't this year, and probably taking care of a few other things my jumbled brain can't remember at this wonderful hour. I always feel as if we need a vacation after all of the chaos. Well, maybe I'll finally get my wish. It looks like we will be out of debt in a few months (yay!), so this year I've added the formidable task of planning our first ever real family vacation. This puts a ton of pressure on me as I don't want to blow the one chance we may have to do this. I don't want to come home and think "That's it? We've waited 13 years for that?" I will do most of the research on my own since my husband works long hours and I want to surprise him with some of the destinations. We have a small budget, but I think it's enough to create some very special memories. There might be a few issues to overcome for it to be a smooth trip such as our cramped car, pet care, and flying with a child that's deathly allergic to peanuts... Okay, that's it; I need a vacation.
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Apr. 27, 2008 - What Difference Does a Year Make?
Wow! I did not realize how long it's been since I started this blog and posted an entry until I was threatened by a Homeschool Blogger email that my precious journal would be destroyed if I didn't log in like any normal blogger would do. I guess I should do a quick overview of where things currently stand.
We are still a family of five.
I still get overwhelmed with responsibility.
My youngest still blurts out great sayings that entertain us all.
My husband and I are at peace with the fact that now is not the time for adding to our gang.
My oldest two have hit puberty.
I've lost 20 pounds (don't be too excited; there's 80 more to go).
We have a new dog.
It's all worth it.
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Dec. 28, 2006 - Me With A Quiver Full?
I admire families that let their size grow naturally. I would love more children, but always have conditions with that statement: when we have more money, when we have a larger vehicle, when all our house repairs are done, when we have a totally peaceful household... I am also fearful of having a child past age 30 (I'm 29) due to the increase in birth defects and the fact that my mother passed away at age 40. I have always wanted to adopt, but am afraid a home study would find us not quite up to par, due to our not always tidy home and not always perfectly functioning family. What if, as our household grows, we cannot afford for each child to have extracurricular instruction, like my current dancer and soccer players? How can I look at my kids knowing I made what seems like a selfish decision to have another baby, rather than pay for those field trips and other activities? Does God really want me to throw caution to the wind and forgo the control in this current world? I am torn between the longing to hold another child to my breast and common sense saying we just cannot afford this.
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Oct. 29, 2006 - Leisure Reading
Before I had children, I used to spend some of my free time reading, often completing a book in one sitting. Since the arrival of my 3 kids, it's been tough to sit down, let alone read, but recently I have found a way to make it happen. I keep my book in the restroom 
and read a little every time I go in there. I have found that, in this manner, I can finish reading a book by the time I have to return it to the library, almost without realizing it. The kids have no idea why it's been taking me a little longer in there lately. 
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Oct. 26, 2006 - My 3-Year-Old's Quote of the Day
My kids were discussing superheroes rescuing people and my 3-year-old said "There are no superheroes". After contemplating her statement for a second, she said "I bet in Mexican there is". 
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Oct. 26, 2006 - I'd Rather Be Fishing
I have been home schooling my precious children since 1998 and, after many ups and downs, I know it is the right thing for our family. However, lately, the overwhelming responsibilities that come with being a wife, mother, and teacher, have led me to a place where I often wish I could hang up a "Gone Fishin'" sign. I have always wanted to be a mom and wife, so how did I end up here? I find it impossible to be the loving, nurturing woman I long to be while keeping up the home, taxiing children, paying bills, looking after pets, tackling health issues, and taking care of the many other tasks that pop up each day. Of course, the obvious solution was to start a blog! Follow me on my journey to restore peace to my soul and my family.
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Oct. 26, 2006 - Five of Hearts
Reasons We Are Five of Hearts:
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we are a family of five
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all of our names begin with the same letter
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we all believe in the Creator
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we are united in terms of our faith, our family, and our home schooling
We are a Texas home schooling family with a dh (works full time), me (sahm), ds age 12 (1995), dd age 11 (1996), dd age 5 (2002), 1 dog, 4 cats, 1 gerbil, and 1 hamster. 
Our kids have been learning at home since they were born, with the exception of one year that I let the two oldest try public school (3rd and 4th grade).
