School Update

I still call myself the most reluctant homeschooler...EVER. Here I am, though, 2.5 years in to this gig: something draws me back day after day.  

Turner is doing well reading, though I need to challenge him a bit more. He's working on "rule breakers" and learning about the nuances of the English language. Mostly, he's still in his Miquon books but I'm hoping to switch to Singapore Math (probably the US version) in January. He truly needs to be switched up often so math is not "boring" to him. The Story of the World and R.E.A.L Science Odyssey are still some favorites! 

Eli really thrives on art! It is rather amazing. He can come up with some intricate plans or a simple drawing and I feel like Jackson Pollack lives in my house. I really think if there is one child that really benefits from being home, it's him. I know Turner does, but he's such a rule follower that he'd go along with anything. Eli, on the other hand, is a rule breaker! He really, truly, belongs home for these years. As crazy as his crafting and creating can make me...

Deacon is pretty sure he's 4. Just ask him! He's reciting things and trying hard to keep up with his big brothers. 

Eli, counting. 

Turner working on some Miquon a while ago. 

Deacon, "working." 

Where Did We Leave Off?

 I'm not going to bother with a catch-up post because so much life occurs in just a little bit of time. There was a deployment home coming, a vacation, lots of fun school stuff, time with friends, melt-downs and crafts. 

I have fallen prey to the instant gratification that our technology saturated world offers. I was an Instagram-aholic. The filters and blurs and seemingly endless edit options. I could easily put up a quick picture I didn't really want to share with the Facebook world, add a caption and bam. No blog post, no stream of comments and "likes" -just a picture, worth a thousand words. 

A few days ago I found out that Instagram (purchased and probably run by Facebook) decided it was going to change it's privacy policy. As of January 16, 2013 they can sell any of my pictures without notifying me (or compensating). My kids sweet faces could be anywhere in the world, without my knowledge or consent (rare, but possible). 

I immediately deleted my account and then I realized: I haven't blogged BECAUSE Instagram is just right at my finger tips (so is Blogger, by the way, because I have an app on my phone). I can still share pictures and stories without having to post on Facebook AND I can continue to chronicle our life story...when I remember to do it! 

Here we are, in December. Everyone is healthy and happy and waiting on Christmas! 

Big boys, decorating the tree. 

The Jolly Men. 

The boys' ginger bread houses and a picture of one my Father In Law's creations. 

Eli and his Grandpa's house. 

The Wall

I've hit the wall. The last 162 days have gone really well. I really don't feel like I've said to myself "deployment really freaking sucks" (ok, maybe when Eli was saying John was dead was a little hard) but today it happened. 

I hit the wall. 

I'm exhausted, done, and over this one. As a parent, you're expected to take a certain number of tantrums, "I don't like this" and those days when your children doubt themselves. I can't take any more of them. 

I have two races coming up before he comes home and I'm really, seriously, thinking about just quitting. Quitting it all and just doing the necessary until my birthday. 

I'm that tired. 

The First Few Weeks of School

So far, we've started the new school year strong. Honestly, I wasn't sure how things were going to go during deployment. The kids were ready for routine and I was ready to get started to we could have 6 weeks under our belt before we took a week of vacation to relax with John. 

My big 1st grader! 

Preschooler doing more Kindergarten work, but at his
own pace.

Teeny tiny tot school graduate, moving on to Tot School. 

Turner is doing very well and finally actually ready to write. We are using Handwriting Without Tears in addition to writing notes and letters to people. He still works on fine motor skills by participating in anything Eli does for PK work. 

Working out of his Handwriting Without Tears book.

Eli is MUCH more willing to sit and work on things that aren't just manipulatives, or toys/blocks. He's taken a huge interest in learning his letter sounds and really would rather learn to write the letters. 

Stamping the letter C.

Diligently working away at his Tot School work. 

They boys have inherited John's love of history so I decided to go with The Story of the World and the activity book. The boys have enjoyed everything so far! 

Learning a bit about archaeology with a fake dig. 

Eli loves his crafts! 

SOTW coloring sheet. Do you know what a shaduf is?!? I didn't! 

Montessori inspired Tot work.

Just making cave paintings on a rainy morning!

We took a trip to DC (that totally counts as school work!)

Eli asked to do some handwriting like Brother. 

Deacon has been obsessed with lining up cars so this was the
perfect 10 minute distraction. 

Separating capital and lower case letters.

No day is complete without a little technology! 

These our our basics for now (I don't have any pictures of Turner with his Miquon Math and the accompanying rods. He will start Math in Focus or Singapore Math around November). We will incorporate our co-op, science (R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey) and a few other things at the end of September. I wasn't in a hurry to start all at once: I wanted guaranteed success for a few weeks!

The Lamest Excuse(s)

A few months back, I started having trouble uploading pictures here, facebook and snapfish. It was more annoying than anything, but I stopped uploading everything! Totally lame and I feel terrible for my sweet husband whom I promised I'd keep updated while he was deployed.

After two months or so of trying to figure it all out, I finally fixed it with a simple drag and drop. Mac is sometimes SO simple, I over look the obvious!

 Training for a triathlon and various other races really kicked my butt, too! Not to mention the homeschooling and general child-rearing. I'd throw house cleaning on the list, but I hired someone to come help me out weekly and it's been life changing (hello, keeping up with laundry since someone else mopped the floors!).

Enough excuses in one post!

We are well and three weeks in to school now. I can't believe it's been three consistent weeks with an almost 6, 4 and 2 year old. Last year it was so hard to do much of anything since Deacon needed to nurse and Eli wasn't interested in much aside from gross motor skills games.

I think from now on, I'll post a bit about school here instead of on a separate blog - maybe I will be able to keep up with both while doing all those other things in life.

Me & My Gang

Happy Birthday, Eli!

I am a few weeks late here, but...

HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY, ELIAS! 

From the day you were born, you wanted to be seen and heard! You were a total shock to the system and you constantly push me to be a better, gentler, more calm mother (because if we all lived in your world...). I know, without a doubt, that without you I'd never know what it was like to be pushed to the brink -but for the better! 

One day you are going to be an AMAZING leader (like your father!) and teach people that they can push past boundaries and dig deep. 

Your charisma and charm are going to win people over left and right as you grow and I can only pray I'm giving you the tools you need to put that to GOOD use! 

Two days old. Newport, RI. 

3 months old. Somewhere in Maine. 

One year. Jacksonville, FL.

My almost two year old. Atlantic Beach,  FL. 

I think it's hilarious that he still makes this face!

My almost three year old! Chesapeake, VA. 

No childhood is complete without a broken bone. Eli's motto in life:
Go big or go home!

Last day of THREE. Three years, three duty stations...

You have a heart of gold, my son. You are fierce, loyal, intense, imaginative and loving. I cannot imagine the world with out an Elias Jonathan Baggett! 

In The Hamster Wheel of Life

...I am the hamster and my kids are the wheel...

I have several posts waiting to be uploaded but I've just been so tired lately! I can't seem to get everything done and it's wearing me out.