As I reflect back on all of the events that took place in 2011 I can't help but feel fortunate. It was definitely a year full of many changes. Life changes. Big decisions were made & different paths were chosen.
In 2011 Kyle turned 7 yrs old & entered the 2nd Grade. We're in our second year of homeschooling & it's going amazingly well! We feel 100% confident in our decision to continue homeschooling. If there was even a shred of doubt in our minds before it is completely gone now. Kyle is, without a doubt, thriving. He is an excellent reader & a whiz at math. He loves learning about history, science & health. He tackles 5 subjects per day..in under 2 hours..& yet he is almost a full year ahead of the public school curriculum. One of the greatest things about homeschooling Kyle is that it enables him to be a kid. He's not sitting at a desk for 6+ hours per day & then coming home with more than an hours worth of homework. He's not under any time restraints or pressure. He's able to play & spend quality time with both of his parents. The longer we homeschool the more we realize just how beneficial it is. So many people have fallen into the trap of believing in the myths about homeschooling, such as that your kid will have socialization issues. If you've ever spent even 20 seconds with Kyle then you know that he clearly doesn't have ANY socialization issues. In the past people have said to me "What are you going to do when he won't listen to you anymore? When he won't do his work? There's a difference between being a parent & being a teacher. It's different when it's your own kid". My response? To be a parent is to be a teacher. Teach your child respect & you won't have to worry about whether or not he will listen to you or do as his work. From the moment we decided to homeschool we took on a "zero tolerance" policy. Do your work, when you're told, without complaint. Get it done & move on with the rest of your day. Homeschooling may not work for everyone, but it works for us & we sure are happy about that!
Kyle continues to rank up in Karate. In a couple of weeks he will be testing for his green belt stripe - this is the last belt before the brown belt!
He also really enjoys going to Cub Scouts. He has fun doing the activities, such as building a wooden birdhouse, making a bird feeder & soon he will be building his pinewood derby car which will be entered into a state-wide competition! Fun!
He continues to spend much of his time working side-by-side with Jim. He's learning "the tricks of the trade" at a young age & in many ways he is smarter than most of us when it comes to mechanics & home improvements! Jim is an excellent, patient teacher & it really helps that Kyle LOVES to learn!!
When he's not "working", whether it be with Jim or with school work!, he's busy being a kid. He spends a lot of time playing with his friends & even though he doesn't get to see them on a daily basis he probably knows them better than most of their own classmates do! One of his most favorite friends is a *few* years older than he is..."Mr. Mike". I've mentioned Mike & Joan before - our wonderful neighbors. Kyle LOVES to spend time with Mike! Mike cheers him on at Karate twice a week & he also joins us for Cub Scouts every Monday night. They have a really special friendship, one that is sure to last a lifetime!
Kyle continues to enjoy building with Lego's & loves to play with Star Wars action figures & Transformers. He also loves to play video games, although we limit them. He spends a lot of time drawing pictures & reading - he LOVES to read! Right now his two favorite books are "How Things Work" & "The World's Most Amazing Science Facts". He loves to do Science Experiments. For Christmas someone got him a neat kit that combines magic with science - brilliant! He made a "wizard" hat out of construction paper & stickers & he wears it whenever he's experimenting! He even made a wand that has crystals built into it. He likes to build & paint model cars & has an impressive display of them on a shelf in his room. He also has a pretty big display of Lego things that he's built, from firetrucks to ships & everything inbetween! He's still very much into "imaginative play", too. He likes to get dressed up in his old halloween costumes & pretend that he's an army guy or a Star Wars character. Pretend swords, guns & weapons -- yeah, he has them & yeah, he loves them! He enjoys watching science programs on television & is fascinated by space. He loves to learn about planets, stars, space shuttles, astronauts etc!
In 2011 Isabella turned 2 yrs old & officially entered the scary, exhausting, demanding, tantrum-throwing "toddler years". She's a handful. A BIG handful! She's got the most vivid, colorful personality EVER. And we love her so much for it! She loves to "color-color" (as she calls it!) & paint. She also enjoys putting together simple puzzles. She REALLY loves books & is constantly asking us to read to her..which we do...several times a day! She spends much of her time playing with her baby dolls & stuffed animals..pushing them around in the carriages, feeding them & giving them naps. Santa brought her a new doll carriage, swing & playpen set. What a hit! She's definitely into "pretend play" & like her big brother she often gets lost in her own little world of imagination! Whether she's pretending to be a mommy, serving tea, baking cupcakes, hosting picnics or being a train conductor this is one little girl who is constantly BUSY! When Kyle is home she is his shadow (and vice versa!) - they have become such great playmates (for the most part) & spend a lot of time keeping each other entertained. She will play just about anything he wants to play - he'll get her all dressed up in costumes that don't fit him anymore & they will run around the house chasing the "bad guys" etc.
Bella is probably one of the most strong-willed children I've ever known. She requires things done in a specific manner & if they aren't done to her liking WATCH OUT! If heads could spin hers would be going 'round & 'round on an hourly basis! I spend much of my day picking & choosing my battles with her. I set my limits, she sets hers & usually we meet in the middle. So if she wants to give her doll a bath in the sink, sure! Giving the doll a bath in the toilet, no. Pasta & corn for breakfast, sure! Kit Kat for breakfast, no. Getting a cup of water from the sink all by herself, sure! Getting a cup of water from the dog's water bowl, no. I spend so much of my time making compromises with this child..it's actually really funny! But I do set boundries..however, that's not to say that she doesn't test the boundries every chance she gets! (We've had to put childproof locks all over the house ..something we never needed to do when Kyle was a toddler!)
Lately she enjoys taking her nap on the floor in her room. I put a blanket on top of the carpet, along with her pillow & stuffed animals & she curls up & naps. I'm not sure why she wants to sleep on the floor but I'm guessing it's because she probably thought I wouldn't let her, hah! And she knows that she's only allowed to nap on the floor during the day. At night the rule is that she has to sleep in her bed.
She counts, she identifies colors, she sings, she dances. Her moods change in a split second but hey, at least she can't be accused of being boring!
In 2011 we welcomed our 3rd child, Savannah, into the world.
In the beginning she cried...all-the-time. Seriously, she cried 'round the clock. Whether she was being held or put down made no difference at all. Her pediatrician ruled out any serious medical problems, put her on a formula made for babies who are allergic to milk proteins, suggested we invest in some rather expensive "gas-free" bottles & said to me "She has colic. Good luck". For as long as I can remember My Mom, Dad & Aunts often tell of the stories of when I was an infant & how I, too, suffered from colic. If anyone made eye contact with me I would cry. If anyone held me I would cry. I cried..and cried..and cried. Well...pay back is a bitch sometimes, ain't it?! For 3 1/2 months we owned the loudest, fussiest baby EVER. I couldn't take her anywhere. I couldn't go anywhere. I was a prisoner in my own home! Looking back, I'm not quite sure how I survived? Perhaps it was because she slept through the night so early on. Or maybe it was because I was on a "caffiene" high all the time. In any event, she turned the corner around 3 1/2 months of age & became the happiest - baby - ever. Go figure! She has a huge, gorgeous smile & the cutest laugh to go with it! She has Cinderella's beautiful blue eyes (for now) & Snow White's pale, white skin. She's absolutely beautiful!! She's my "early morning" baby who often requests to be fed sometime between 5-6a. While everyone in the house is asleep, Savannah & I sit on the couch & bond. She snuggles against me & baby talks for the longest time.
It's too early to tell what kind of a personality she'll end up with. Will she be laid back like her big brother or will she be demanding like her big sister? I'm betting she'll be somewhat of a mixture between them. In any event, she's destined to be just as perfect to me as her siblings are.
I have to admit that I really wasn't prepared for all of the work that's involved with having 3 small children. Going from 2 kids to 3 kids was indeed life changing! Sometimes I can't believe how busy I am, ALL THE TIME, now. But somehow everything gets done & for the most part everyone is kept happy.
In 2011, just a few months after we purchased our very first "brand new off the lot" caravan & only a few weeks before Savannah was born, I became unemployed. For the first time since I was 12 yrs old I was without a job. The timing of it all really sucked but everything happens for a reason. Life changes. Decisions have to be made. And in the end, everything has led me to where I am right now.
We've entered 2012 with more bills & less money.. But we've gone from being a family of 4 to being a family of 5 so we have an extra boat load of love that we're carrying with us. The economy we're forced to live in may suck but I refuse to let it take away the happiness that comes from my family. In my opinion my family is worth way more than any dollar amount. We may struggle to pay our bills but we never, ever, ever have to struggle to find our smiles. Our days continue to be full of love & laughter & really, isn't that what life is all about anyways?
I can only hope that 2012 is as good to me as 2011 was, and I hope it's just as good for all of you, too! Happy New Year! Enjoy the pictures below!
Isabella loves to play with her dolls. Here she is seen having a picnic, and a tea party!, with her stuffed friends:
Kyle built this Lego Transformer's Ambulance all by himself! Apparently he can use the same pieces to make an actual Transformer figure out of it. Neat!! :
Mike & Joan arrived the day after Christmas with PLENTY of gifts for everyone! They spoiled us rotten:
Kyle built this birdhouse for Mike & Joan:
The picture below really shows what a sweet, caring big brother Kyle is. Savannah was suffering from a terrible cold & as a result was much more grumpy & sad than usual. I needed to put Isabella to bed, but every time I would try to put Savannah down she would cry, so Kyle suggested that I make her a warm bottle so he could feed her to keep her calm & quiet:
This is Savannah's "Yeah, I'm sitting up like a big girl & I'm cute!" look:
Could her smile get any bigger? Her eyes any brighter?:
Here Savannah is having a little chat with Jim:
Nothing like a bed full of kids!:
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