Nearly 2 years is a good time...

to make a fresh start.

It's been a long time since I used my blog, but I'd like to chronicle our first year of homeschooling so I can look back and see where God has taken us. This year, we'll have Drew doing mostly 1st grade work, Ben starting preschool, and Sam hopefully playing along nicely.

Our journey begins fairly cheaply. We were generously given so much curriculum and resources. So much so, that I sought out a pantry-style cabinet. And Freecycle delivered!! It was fabulous to pray for that cabinet and within a day one was posted and I got it. I got the desks for Drew and Ben 2 years ago, before we even were certain we would one day homeschool. $5 got us 2 desks and chairs. I recently got a smaller desk that is the perfect size for Sam for free as well, and now all 3 are lined up in our classroom ready to go!!

Our classroom is fairly simple. I took about 1/3 of our playroom, blocked it off a bit, and set everything up there. Pictures will come once the play side is re-organized and clean! We got a huge whiteboard from the church tag sale. We'll be using Abeka for our curriculum for the most part, with some other stuff thrown in as needed. Aaron's work schedule really works well for us too. Such benefits of a 4 on/3 off/3 on/4 off schedule!!

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. But when Ben eagerly sat down at his desk and begged me to start school with him today, I just couldn't resist. We did a few fun things, and it just all flowed together. Sam naturally wants to be a part of everything we do, so I'll have to be sure I have "work" for him to do at his little desk. That was started tonight as well, when Harris Teeter had Crayola's Tadoodles on clearance! Crayons and markers, in a little boat carry case that will fit perfectly on his desk. I'll just have to keep some paper there for him. He's really interested in the flashcards, trying to learn new words. Who knows, maybe school this year will be what finally gets him talking!!

Announcing the arrival of....

Samuel Joseph Ludwig!!!

He was born at 11:41 this morning, weighing 9lbs 10oz and 21 1/2" long. He's beautiful (says biased mommy), looking just like his brothers. This c-section was fabulous, and certainly the easiest I ever experienced. Sam is doing great.

We're in!!

Ahh, the worst of the move is over. There is still stuff at the old house, but not much. Hopefully we'll get it all this weekend and be completely done there.

12 days and counting til we meet our new baby!!

Another 2 months gone by, so another post

LOL

We'll be moving this weekend! If you didn't get my email with the new address, please email me for it.

Little man is scheduled to arrive on December 2nd. I don't know that he'll wait that long, but we hope so. There is a lot of work to be done before he gets here!! I'm doing well, just very easily exhausted. I guess that's par for the course at 37 weeks.

The boys are doing great. They are excited to meet their new little brother and to move to their new house.

It's September???

Man, time really flies.

We are actually having fall here in VA this year. Mid-70's in the day, low 50's at night. It's quite refreshing for this hugely pregnant mama!! Just over 2 months left before we meet our little man. The boys are getting anxious. Not to have their brother here necessarily, but so that mom can run and wrestle with them again!

Drew is loving his 2nd year of preschool. He "graduated" to the upstairs classroom, and so he is one very happy boy. He taught himself to read this summer, and has been doing a great job with it. He's growing like crazy too. He's up about an inch and 2 lbs since the beginning of summer. We've started to hear "I'll eat new foods when I'm 5" promises from him as well. Anyone recall the "I'll eat new foods when I'm 4" promises last year? Yeah, none of those panned out either, so we're not holding our breath.

Ben is simply Ben. He is going to Little Gym for a class this fall to hopefully burn a bit of his energy and fulfill his desperate need for physical activity. He's a rough and tumble boy for sure!! He's rapidly gaining in size, closing in on Drew (much to Drew's dismay!). He's about 5" shorter and 7 lbs lighter than Drew, and it's quite obvious that it won't take long for him to catch up. Maybe that is Drew's motivation to try new food at 5???

My pregnancy is going well. We'll be making delivery decisions in the coming weeks, and we'll keep you posted!!

Baby update

We had to repeat the level 2 ultrasound because there were concerns about the baby's bladder. I had a MUCH better tech this time, and it was actually a fun ultrasound. He was very, very active the whole time. I got to see hiccups, and even a big yawn towards the end. His bladder looked good in this scan, but we'll see what the dr says when she sees the results and calls back.

We're working hard on a name. But you all know...we save that for when he's here since nothing is a surprise with my kids. You know what we're having, and since it's scheduled you'll even know when! It's the only secret I get to keep.

My every few months post...

Sorry for anyone who still tries to check in here. I know I am horrible at this.

The summer is in full swing here. The boys are having a great time playing outside, getting in their pool when they can, and just being home together. We're going to start more of a schedule soon though, because they're getting crabby with too much free time.

Drew will be in 3-day preschool in the fall, and is starting to look forward to it. Ben will still be too young, but hopefully we'll find something he can do as well. Maybe Little Gym or something if it works with Drew's school schedule.

The newest little man Ludwig is due to arrive somewhere between November 25 and December 5, depending what ultrasound you go by. Aaron is about to be the proud big papa of 3 boys...what is this mama going to do??? I'm going to have to start saving now for the grocery bills when they hit their tween/teen years!!