It is sad when I can't remember how to log into the blog, right? I’m long, long overdue in an update. I had intended on updating as soon as we moved into our new house but that was a busy time and I never got around to it. And then I intended to update with pictures of our “pool demolition” but again…time got away from me! I still do intend on posting pictures of our new house and pool demo. However, my desktop computer is awaiting a new hard drive and until my overwhelmed-school-attending husband has time, I’m stuck with my laptop. Which has no pictures!

Life is busier than I’d like it to be. Hannah started kindergarten this year, which has been a big adjustment for us all. With that comes Monday nights at church, so one more night we’re out and about. Plus there is the addition of homework into our evening schedule. Who ever heard of homework in kindergarten?

We joined an new small group that only meets every-other week, but somehow it still feels like we meet all the time! We just finished up a class working through the book "Shepherding a Child's Heart" on Monday nights. I'm also involved in a mom's Bible study Thursday mornings. I really enjoy this most of the time, so I'm glad I do it despite the time involved in the "homework". And in addition to all that I signed up for two separate mentoring groups. The idea being that it would be nice to have some company and support while Eric is chin-deep in classes. And that has been true, but at the same time I will be glad when they are over in January. Not because I haven't enjoyed them, but just because it will be nice to have less obligations.

Eric is still in school and is wrapping up this semester. He will be done in May and then we won’t know what to do with ourselves. He has been in school since Hannah was just a baby, so it is literally all she has ever known. I, for one, am just looking forward to being able to have consistent help with the dishes and maybe, fingers crossed, the laundry!

Grace and Elaina are doing fine having just each other to play with while Hannah's off at school. I was surprised at how easily that transition was. Grace and Hannah are inseparable and the types of games they play are definitely more “pretend” and use of imagination. Elaina isn’t there yet. But Grace manages quite fine with Elaina, and just seems to enjoy having her around. I often hear her calling Elaina “sweetie pie” or similar things. Just this morning Elaina woke Grace up by hoisting herself up into Grace's bed and proceeding to kiss her and tell her to "go play". Definitely warms this Mommy's heart.

The biggest discussion around here lately is homeschooling. It is a big “to do” or “not to do” debate. It would probably be a lot easier if we had a definite reason for wanting to do it…like Hannah was being bullied or they were teaching her inappropriate things. As it is we got thinking about it when we noticed a change in her demeanor (and during that time she asked me if she could be homeschooled). But that has since improved. And actually the school is just fine and is, in fact, part of the reason we insisted on staying in De Pere while house hunting. The school is well known for being good.

But public school, so far, just hasn’t been a great fit for our family. Although Hannah goes to school without complaint and even seems to enjoy herself most days, she doesn't anticipate it like I think a kindergartner ought to. Part of the issue may be that she is frustrated. She loves to draw (in great detail apparently) and her teacher said that she takes too long to complete her pictures, assignments, etc. and needs to learn to work faster and keep up. Hannah has also said that if she doesn't finish her picture her teacher makes her finish it during free choice time, so essentially takes away her recess to finish her work. And Hannah is so detail orientated, she won't stop short of a masterpiece. She's constantly frustrated that she doesn't have time to finish. The teacher said that it just takes longer for Hannah when you compare it to the rest of the class drawing stick figures...And that her teacher's solution was simply for Hannah to "go faster" did not go over well with me. It seems to me that if they had their way they would hold Hannah's talent back until she was no better than any of the rest of the kids, essentially making them all the same. How is a child supposed to shine if that's the way it works?

I do find it interesting that I am here, considering this, at all. Eric initially brought up homeschooling before we even had kids. My response was immediate rejection. No, that would require too much patience. Too much time. I would have kids in my house forever! When would I ever have “me” time? And talk about the pressure…I’m not a teacher! How would I get my kids to actually learn from me?!

So I’m a bit surprised to be here, now, seriously considering it. With no “real” reason. Other than that I don’t like having Hannah gone all day and that what we are doing now just doesn't feel right. I feel like the few hours I see her in a day are just not enough. Our time with our kids(before they grow up and leave!!) is so limited in the scope of life and I feel like I am wasting it with her being gone all day. I feel like I am missing so much of her life and have no idea what information is being put into her head...and to be honest, the vast majority of things that she chooses to dwell upon (and ask questions about) are not things that she has learned at school. But things that she has brought up and discussed with us. Like "why does the moon glow?" and "why do geese fly in v's?" And I love those conversations, and the fact that she retains that information and thinks about it!

Anyway, that's the "big news" from our family lately. No decision has been made. We are going to "interview" some families in the next few weeks and try to make a decision. We need lots of prayers!

Now that I've written a novel...I'll have to come back with a few pictures and updates of our past activities soon!