twenty four.

Our first week back to homeschooling was successful! This year we've decided to go with a curriculum instead of unschooling. I think the older girls need the structure. They seem to do much better when they know what is expected of them. We gave unschooling a shot last year, however, our girls seem to like their printed out charts of assignments, earning stickers, and overall having a schedule, of sorts. 

For Big Mak and Mess I'm using a curriculum called My Fathers World. We'll be doing their Exploring Countries and Cultures this school year. I actually bought the curriculum in early April and planned on beginning our school year then, but that didn't exactly work out. We did start and complete weeks 1 and 2 before I was out of commission and our schedules became incredibly busy. So, this week was really just a review week for them and next week will be too. 

Little Love is doing a Letter of the Week PreK curriculum.

twenty three.

So, it's been a few months since I updated. Yeah, I'm an awesome blogger. I'll start with the Whole 30. I didn't finish the full 30 days. I made it to day 20 and couldn't continue. I couldn't continue because I was having the worst morning sickness I could have ever imagined. I could barely eat or drink anything much less even think about eating a piece of meat or a vegetable.

As most of you know we are expecting Baby #4.

thirteen.

My husband has a great way of putting things into perspective for me. I might moan and groan about a certain thing but he always has a way for me to see things more clearly. He helps me see through my emotions, and sometimes, even my tears and fears. Things cannot always go the way I want or even hope. There are times where I can't see how fortunate I've been and he'll open my eyes. W is incredibly intuitive with me. He almost knows me better than I know myself. He is my better half. He knows how to make me feel strong when I'm feeling weak. He knows how to calm me down when I'm riled up. He is my everything and I'm blessed woman to know I'm also his. 

twelve.

It has been a whirlwind of a month! We had Mess's birthday party, our 5 year wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving followed by a weekend of holiday activities.

In mid-November Mess turned 11 years old. The day before her birthday she decided now that she was going to be 11 she was “too old” to share a room with her sisters. So, before her friends came over for her party we moved her across the hall from her sisters into her own room, again. She seems to be happy there...although she will admit, occasionally, to miss sleeping in a room with her sisters. For the 3 of them it seems to be a comfort thing. In fact, today, they all three were begging for me to let them all share a room with W and I. I about laughed my butt off followed with a big “NO WAY!” Sweet thought and I'm glad they love us that much, however, they're crazy if they think that'll ever happen.

Mess's new room

Mess wanted to camp out in the backyard with her friends for her birthday.