At Considerable Cost

All three of my children started school this year.   All three.   Thomas is now a proud kindergartner.   Clare is in second grade.   Emmeline began intermediate school which means a locker and schedule to remember.   My house is nearly silent during the day and it feels very empty and lonely.   I have to stop here and step off any pity train, though.   Every school day, I climb into my car and get to pick up my babies from school.   Then, I get to spend the rest of the evening with them, along with the weekends and holidays.   My house is not always empty.   It's not the same as the seven years we waited for the sounds of children to fill our home.   The idea of returning to homeschooling has been very appealing to me recently.   It's been appealing because I want my children with me all the time.   I honestly miss them.   My head soon takes over for my heart, though, and I am reminded of the reality of homeschooling for our family.   It did not work.   That is not to

 We had such a relaxing Christmas.   The kids woke up at a reasonable hour (an added bonus of Midnight Mass) and they enjoyed each of their gifts.   Our only negative was Joey didn't feel all that well most of the day.     I love the excitement of watching the kids open their stockings.   I think  they look forward to that as much or more than the other presents.   I was the same way.      A puffy coat! He "shaves" every day:) Her very own copy Pete the Cat! We left the mess until the next day.   I loved it.   I always liked the aftermath when I was a little girl and Mama would leave it for an hour or so until she couldn't stand it any longer.   The kids just played so well and we had a simple meal, so there was no need to hurry about. My heart was so happy, as during the day I saw my children playing.   Thomas was a pro on his roller blades after the first try and back indoors,

Our elementary school holds Grandparents' Day on the last day of school before Thanksgiving break.   It is a kindergarten tradition to put on a Thanksgiving show in each classroom.   Thomas was so excited about the performance and his guest, my Aunt Betty, his great aunt.   She is my mama's older sister and we love it when she can visit!      

  Avoiding all Halloween décor in favor for only harvest items?    Nevermore...   http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/all-hallows-eve-or-Halloween   ...but that's a whole other post.   Our Poe little display (technically, those aren't ravens, I know) Poe, but proud.   I'll stop now. Pumpkin Patch Pictures First Kindergarten Field Trip:  Oil Ranch Thomas woke us up at 6:00 that morning, dressed and ready to go.   He was so excited and I am so very thankful I was able to chaperone.   It's the first field trip I've ever been able to attend as a parent, since I always had Thomas home with me for the girls' trips.   As his smile shows, he had a fantastic time! Kindergarten Dress-Up Day & Pumpkin Party!   I love his teacher's classroom parties.   The children attend fun stations with games, snack-making, arts & crafts, etc... and then they get to enjoy their treats.   They have a blast and