Back to School!

So I know the kids have been back to school a few weeks now, sadly I am just finding the time to write about it. They actually started the day after we returned from Ethiopia and are going great.

Blake is now the middle man being in 7th grade and loves everything about it but the homework. No more of those nerves like in 6th grade. His favorite subject so far, Advanced Technology where he gets to learn how to play with animation on the computer. Blake is changing so much both physically and mentally, but still has the kindest heart. No bad attitude is coming with all the growth so far.

Reagan now in 3rd grade seems to have matured overnight. He loves his teacher, who used to be a first grade teacher when he was in first grade. He is the big man on campus at Canyon Ridge Elementary since he is the oldest of our children there. He loves the idea of watching over Caitlin and showing her the ropes. It is pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Caitlin, my little dumplin, is in Kindergarten. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was giving birth to her. Now she is one of the kids running the halls at Elementary. She really likes her teacher, but thinks the full day of school is just too too long. I kinda agree! But she is handling it like a champ. I have just noticed in the evenings, from shear exhaustion she tends to break down quite a bit over anything. In fact last night, it was the mere idea that I had made mash potatoes for dinner and she doesn't like them. To her it was as if I was saying I don't love her any more. She is a little extra sensitive with our newest additions we have noticed as well. She has wanted me to pick her up and hold her more lately and curl up in my lap a little more. With how many big changes have taken place in her world lately I completely understand and am happy to comply.

With trying to adjust to having 5 kids, which is going pretty well so far, I have down sized our extra curricular activities, so we now have Reagan, Sof and Caitlin taking gymnastics on Wednesday afternoons together. They are getting exercise, gaining coordination and having fun to top it off!!! All 3 in 1 shot- BIG BONUS for mom!! For Blake, he is still in Boy Scouts and loving it. Since he is older he is much more independent which makes it do able for us. I unfortunately had to give up being our cub scout den leader for now, but hopefully next year I will be able to return. Blake is still taking violin and in fact has now progressed up to chamber at his school. We are so proud of him and his commitment!!

Homeschooling Sofonyas wow, now that is way more difficult than I had anticipated. For some reason I had it in my head I was going to be teaching him all the academics of 2nd grade. NOT!! It is like having to go back and start with the language of a 2 year old as well as throw in some kinder through 1 grade academic concepts. He is so smart, he just doesn't like to exercise his brain as much as his body. If he had his way we would be on the bike or swimming all day long. Adding to our already complicated school lesson is little miss Helena, being 2 doesn't make it easy to work with him any other time than when she is down for her nap. Unfortunately, by mid day Sof is not in the mood for school. So I am trying to break it into to segments. Writing in the morning with discussing language, obedience, manners, and rules etc throughout the day and then some reading exercises and math in the afternoon. We have our good days and bad days, but overall it is going well.

I just wish I was more of an expert on teaching the fundamentals of the English language for him. I am trying to read up on it in my spare time, which is proving to be very little these days. By the time I get all the kids to bed, it is light's out for me as well. I am learning to take it just one day at a time and praying for God's amazing grace to cover the rest.

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].