First Day of School 2015-2016

The new School year is upon us! 

This year we have 1 in Elem , 1 in Middle School and 1 in High school. 3different school, 3 different bus schedules and 3 very different homework schedules. 

It's going to be an interesting year! 

The first day has gone off without an issue, second day is okay and we will see about the rest of the week. 

How has your first week of school going? Smoothly or not? 

Bullying and Homeschooling...Choices We Make....

Today will not be a Decorating post. It's a Life post, another new chapter in our lives.

One that we hope will be for the best and help our Daughter out in so many ways. 

 So yesterday started off at 11:00 with 3 texts from our oldest in 8th grade middle school for me to come now and pick her up at school because of 4 girls that were wanting to fight her at lunch, same girls that has caused us much tears this year due to Drama, I go to the school and talk to daughters advisor only to learn that there is nothing they can do other than have daughter write out a statement about the threats to her and the girls will be "interviewed". Long story short today was the "straw that broke the camels back" and both Husband and I were on the same page on pulling her out today. Our daughter has cried and her attitude has changed for the worst over this ever since the beginning of school this year. This is not the worst case of Bullying I have seen/heard of but we do feel like it is a form of Bullying and we are very upset that the school has Shrugged our concerns off. Our first step tomorrow is to call the FL Virtual School and start the process of Virtual School and see how Daughter does. Our other 2 kids will stay in Public till we get oldest settled with this. We are starting the paperwork for Virtual School, which is classes on-line from the comfort of our home. We will get incontact with a Homeschooling group here in our town and go to the events and Hopefully we will see a change in oldest daughters behavior. Part of me is excited to start this new chapter and see how we do but part of me is also nervous about if I can even do this and if we have made the right choice for our daughter's future...So much to think on.. 

 Do any of you Homeschool, Please share your story with me here or feel free to Private Message me.

~~Happy Homemaker Monday 2-24-14~~

I thought I would try something new this morning while tank lays on the couch. We just got back from the DR's, he has an ear infection and has to stay home for 2 days on meds. Poor guy is running a fever and watching G.I. Joe on Netflixs.

As I look outside my window:::
I am sitting here at our kitchen table looking out the sliding doors and watching about 25-35 robins playing in our backyard, they just appeared this weekend. I'm listening to my wind-chime and thinking I need to replace it since it broke in the storm this past weekend.

Right now I am::: 
drinking my Skinny Salted Caramel coffee from 7-11 that I got while gassing up to take Tank to the DR's this morning.

Thinking and pondering:::
I'm thinking about how our 3 kids are doing in school right now and what we can do to make it easier on them, we are stumped as to why this year is so hard for our oldest Crystal. Poor girl is struggling so much, I'm calling around for Tutors later today.

On my bedside table:::
I'm reading the Book Thief and have really begun to enjoy it, it was slow to me in the beginning.
2 random magazines that came in the mail on Saturday.

On my tv tonight:::
I really haven't watched anything here in the past few days other that Youtube, my little obsession as of late.

Listening to:::
The sounds of G.I Joe in the living room, brings back memories of when I'd watch it before school when I was little.

On the menu for this week:::
We are having pork tenderloin tonight with mixed veggies but so far that is all I have decided on, I'm in a cooking slump.

On my to do list:::
Pick up Tanks meds
take Abby to Tutoring after school
pick up Crystal from school late
call about Abby's braces

Happening this week:::
Lots of laundry and making sure Tank is feeling better enough to go back to school on Wed.
Take car in so they can put my trunk handle back on tight.

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Sadly I haven't stitched anything in a very long time, life has just gotten away from us in a bad way. I need to work on this.

My simple pleasure:::
Grabbing my first cup of coffee out of my new Keurig, I love this Keurig!!

Lesson learned the past week::: 
No matter how bad we think we have it at this moment, our worst moments may be someones else's good days.

Looking around the house:::
I see a huge mess that I need to work on around my little boy with an earache today. With 2 of Crystal's friends staying all weekend with us my house is a mess.

From the camera:::
nothing as of yet

Prayer List:::
My Husband as he tries to deal with the stress of work
Crystal as she battles 8th grade, her grades are so bad

OH, To Be Organized....

This School year I really would like to be more Organized and have our weeks planned out so we don't miss a single thing and we all know what's happening every day. We are getting closer to the Holidays and with that comes Band concerts and School Plays. 

I went to Staples and found this pretty light blue Day-Timer Planner along with a few Martha Stewart hanging pockets ( I hung mine on our fridge), I also printed out someWeekly Menu Planners. I like how I'm setting up my Planner so far, every Sunday I sit down and fill it up for the upcoming week with our School/work activities. I do wish there was more space on the Weekly pages, with 3 kids each day gets filled up very fast.

 How Organized are you this School year, I would love to have some feedback and extra ideas that could help me. I'm not a very Organized person by nature and I find myself having to work very hard at it and with a family of 5, that's a Feat!

I'm joining in on these Blog Parties:
A Stroll Thru Life

Last of the Band Concerts for the Year

We are so proud of Crystal!

The Auditorium was packed tonight for the last Band concert of the year! They have all worked so hard this year and nailed the ending theme from "Bat Man". Many hours of practice there!

Next year will bring new hurdles to jump thru but the end of this year has past without a hitch!

The other 2 are doing great, more of them in another post. Tonight is Crystals big night!

I'm Hired!!

I'm so Excited to share with you that I have started a Part-Time job working in a small Vets office.

After about 10 years of being a SAHM and with all 3 in school full time it was time to slowly "fly the coup" so to speak during the day.

I'm learning so much and having a great time doing it!

It is harder than I thought to get used to the schedule, work then come home to help with homework and dinner then bed..

Any helpful hints to make it easier/smoother during the evenings?

Crystal's Science Project: The Plant Cell

Happy MLK Day! 

The kids are home from school and we had a sleepover last night with some of their friends so today all 3 seem kinda sleepy...mmm Big surprise there! LOL

Last week Crystal had a Science project due on the Plant Cell. Daddy and she really got into it and I'm really loving the finished results!

A short video with Crystal explaining her project.

Great start to the week so far, the windows are opened and the house is airing out and laundry is getting done! 

Enjoy your day!

Crystal's Christmas Band Concert

Last night Crystal had her Christmas Band Concert.  She did really well, She brought home her Saxophone and practiced Jingle Bells many nights.

She gets her musical talents from her Dad, not from me..lol..

We are very proud of her!

Lil Guy's Kindergarten Graduation

This morning was lil guys Kindergarten Graduation!

Afterwards we went back to his classroom for cupcakes and gifts

These are the pics that came out on my old camera which hopefully Santa will take pity on  me this Christmas and bring me a new one (hint,hint)

Busy Running with Kids

I hope you had a great 3 day weekend, We had a great pool/bbq day. Just an easy day with family that stopped in.

I've been very busy catching up with my book reviews, sorry to post so many in one shot but with moving and getting settled I was so behind. Do you enjoy reading the reviews or skip them?

I've been re-arranging the living room and I think I have it the way I like until we can buy one huge wall unit. I'm still looking for a pic for above the T.V.

 

We have had Richards Kindergarten class play and he was a Ladybug...so cute!

This little guy slowly made his way thru our backyard thankfully while the kids were in school and the dogs were inside..lol..

Last but not least we ran back up to the farmhouse in OH to grab the last of our stuff, that whole ride was a trip as the tire on the trailer we rented from U-haul had a flat on the side of the mountain in W. Virginia which cut us back 3 hours on travel time...then the transmission in my car overheated because of the trailer just 5 mins from our house...unpacked, car is fine, everything is getting settled.

I'm ready for Summer just so the kids and I can catch our breath, really concentrate on setting up the bedrooms how they want them and no schedules!! Hopefully meet some kids our age and maybe a Mom or two for me to chat with.

What are your plans for the Summer? Staycation or some traveling involved?

Lice, Why Visit When I Don't Have the Time?

It happened at the worse time, unpacking and setting up house and I had a great picture filled post to share but tonight we are washing and combing hair...

Be back with lots to share soon....

Christmas Band Concert 2010

Crystal is in Band this year and learning how to play the Sax. Lots of practicing and last night was their Christmas concert. She was so very nervous but looked so pretty in her new dress we found at Kohl's. She was sitting behind the piano so we couldn't see her play the Sax, but we know she did great for only a few months of practicing!

The video is rather shaky, I have to work on that but Please enjoy the Festive singing!

New School Year 2010

It's a new school year and this past Tuesday was our first day!!

Crystal grade 5
Abigail grade 2
Richard grade K

This is as dressed up as they wanted, pick my battles right...there was no tears from Richard getting on the bus and leaving me for the whole day, he waved to us with a huge smile on his face sitting with his Sisters as the bus drove away.

All day long the house was to quiet and I felt like there was something I was forgetting...Any helpful tips to get used to this empty house feeling?

Memories in the Making.....

Tonight is the Father/Daughter dance tonight.

First one for the girls and Daddy, all was excited!

I'm watching some Netflicks and eating ice cream with the lil guy.

Happy Friday night sweet friends.

Back to School Sale Over at My Book Blog

This week I'm offering Back to School Sale..Buy one of my Hand-Stitched craft items and pick a book free over at my book blog, see side bar.

Please leave a Comment on the Craft item you wish to "Adopt" and I'll e-mail you a invoice.

Happy Browsing!

Preschool Sites and Ideas for Lil Guy?

I'm going to try to get started on Preschool for lil guy..He is 4 now and showing interest when his sister's are doing their homework. Any ideas on sites where I can print off pages for numbers and ABC's..What has worked for you?

On another note..We are having trouble with the school and Crystal..I'm so upset that I can hardly put into words my thoughts...They have recommended that we put Crystal on meds for ADD even though we have seen no signs of this in our home..She is struggling in 2 subjects in school but making good grades in the other subjects...After doing some on-line research we (DH and I ) have decided to remove the TV's in the house (It has been studied that in kids watching TV and ADD go together)..We are leaving one TV in the basement to use as a reward to watch DVD's on but we have total control over what they watch. I'm having Crystal start reading out loud to me this summer, 1 chapter a night.

We might pull Crystal out of the public school and into a Christian school.

I'll post more after I calm down.

Whatcha Working on Wednesday

This week has been busy with C's 3rd grade State project, in between I have gotten a few lil projects done.



I have picked this up at GW and thought it looked alittle dated so I dusted it and spray painted it to match my Rooster.



We (mainly DH) has helped our 3rd grader with her State project and we safely turned it in this morning! Along the way we learned alot about the state of Alabama!


I had this lonely napkin so I stitched and lightly stained it, I have to iron it still but It would look so cute sticking out of a basket.

A Christmas Play~2008

On Tuesday night was the girls Christmas Play...Both girls were singing in it this year! The first pic is of Abigail's Kindergarten class..Abigail is in the first row with the jean dress, white tights and black headband..

then the 3rd graders sang, this is the whole 3rd graders in the school..Crystal is barley visible in this pic..

I love how small our school is and that we are beginning to know everyone.

DH is sick with a nasty bug and yesterday I was busy helping our lil guy, he was sick too...tons of laundry for me today!

Fall Decorating ~part 2

I finished this yesterday, I love the White pumpkin on top of my buffet, It's a soup bowl but I think this year I shall stuff it with candy..LOL.. I added a mix of fake and real guards. Last night I pulled out my Gooseberry patch book for Fall..I just learned that there is a new Fall Gooseberry book out and it's on my list to grab up soon.


Today is Abigail's second day of school, she was so happy to ride the bus again with Sissy..She is now starting her full schedule of EVERY other day..I just wish it was every day..she gets sad on her days off...so far! Since it's just the lil man and I ...we are going to go visit G'ma today.

Enjoy your Fri :)

Abigail's first Day of School!

Yesterday was Abigail's first day of K and first day on the bus! It was a rainy gross day but she still wanted to wear her new skirt. We got her on the bus and Crystal is watching over her, I'm a nervous ninny about Abby on the bus and didn't go to far from the phone in case something happened at school. While the kids were at school Tankers and I played blocks, cleaned his room and played with his cars..watched boomerang and I had a relaxing time stitching while he sat next to me. I have to say that he has such a different personality than Abigail..not loud and so far not very demanding...I think he missed his Sissy too!


Tonight we go to the school and have Open House, thank goodness they split it up in 1/2 hour intervals for those of us that have multiple kids.

It's still rainy and cloudy..I'm making home-made beef stew today and will let it simmer all day.