Fall dress up fun!!

Victoria as a leopard/tiger or something! :)

Alanta just dressed for extreme school spirit day at her school! Colors were purple and silver, so she wore a vikings jersey! :)

Annabel as a cat!

Samuel with a tiger face!

Bryce...well don't really know what he is...he just wanted to wear all this :)

Alemu as a bat!

Kids at School in their costumes! They all march around the round-a-bout in front of their school, so everyone could see each others costumes. I spend some time in each of their classrooms for their parties also. It was fun! What a blessing children are!!!

Carving Pumpkins...

JoAnne in the crown her daughter Alemitu made her! Happy Birthday JoAnne, your a AWESOME sister!

Yummmy....chocolate pumpkin muffins

JoAnne had us over for some fall fun, Saturday! We carved pumpkins, had hot chocolate, apple cider, pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin breads! It was a lot of fun, and much easier then doing it in the house, the kids also really enjoyed the company of friends! It was also JoAnne's birthday that day!! Thanks JoAnne for the fun!!

Alemu and Samuel...A.C.E Students!!

Life without kids at home....(for most of the day)

Its been real nice with the kids going to public school now! Although I feel like I want to get so much done while they're gone that I don't get much done....time flies when your having fun...then their home. I have managed to go out for lunch with my mom and sister, we used to do it a lot before I home schooled. I also cleaned a house with my mom for Eric's company and plan to do more when they are available. Besides cleaning my own house, I've also built a couple bunny cages (we have two bunnies now...and I'm in love with them). I also can leave whenever I want, or just sit in my house with out several kids needing my attention at the same time...now I just have one who seems to talk non-stop :) Those are some of the benefit's of public school, for me, now here are few for the kids...they have a social life beyond me, they have friends their age, they have extra activities like band, soccer, and other sport options at school, and more. The only thing that makes me sad is I feel they are not getting as good of an education as before. They also get the bad language and behavior from some kids at school. Not to mention, most importantly, the christian based learning and bible class they had in DVD school. But I'm starting "Adventures in Theology" bible study with the kids, and weekly bible memory verses also this week. My prayer is that they can be a light to the kids at school and maybe even the teachers. Thinking of that, Alanta has been learning some questionable things at school lately. First in History she is learning all about Mohammad and his religion, having to draw some vase that has to do with that too...I doubt they will study Christianity. Then in Science they had to do a report on climate change, and he preferred it to be done off Obama's speech in the paper, but we had her do it on "Global Warming," a scientific and biblical expose' of climate change. Which is good if anyone wants to get it, its a DVD, by coral ridge ministries.



Bryce and Alemu have been playing soccer for their school now. They love it!! Alemu is the best player on his team, he almost gets all the goals! I haven't got to see Bryce play yet, but I'm sure he's doing great too, he has a game today that I'll get to see. Alemu and Samuel are going to be rewarded the ACE award tomorrow from school for being such great students, so that awesome!! I guess they choose kids at the end of each month. Victoria is learning to play flute in band and is loving it also!!



So that's my update on how things are going here lately!! I'm enjoying every minute of my free time, and thanking God for this day that He has made!!!

First Day of School...

Annabel...after a long day at school...

All the NEW kids at the school...

The elementry kids ready for the bus...

Alanta ready for school...a little nervous

Well the kids had their first day of school today! This morning was a little hectic, but went well. Alanta's bus for some reason drove right by us as the driver smiled and waved...hoping tomorrow they stop!! Was a little nervous Annabel was going to get scared and refuse to get on the bus, she started to but her sweet sister Victoria comforted her saying she could sit by her on the bus, so she went happily! Then I met them at school and she said she was scared but she quickly went on with her class. No tears....amazing!!! They all came home talking all at once, excited about school and loving it!! I was SO relieved they had a great day...what a blessing!! Then when tonight rolled around Alanta (the one who so desperately wanted to go to school) started to cry. She was over whelmed by all the rules, scared she was going to be tardy or do something wrong. She was convinced she wanted to go back to homeschooling after one day!!! It's so sad to see your child full of fear, but knowing that its the best thing for her right now. I had a long talk with her and she calmed down. It is a lot to be thrown into from homeschooling to Jr. high, but after a week or two she'll be fine...I hope!

The kids all made friends, and Alanta's friend is moving into a house right across the road from our house! It is so amazing how God works things out that way!! The boys all got to know the three brothers of Alanta's friend too, and are excited to have them move in. There are no kids currently living next to us, so this is answered prayer...three boys all around my boys ages and a twelve year old girl...what more could I ask for??

Today after the kids left I got a little giddy....FREEDOM!! It is such a strange feeling...kids can actually go to school for several hours and I can have a break??? I took full advantage of Eric taking Blayd to work and got my hair done...something I haven't done for a long time! Enjoyed taking care of some errands...without having to figure out who will watch the kids...or having to wait until Eric gets home to go. I could get used to this! Don't get me wrong, homeschooling is GREAT, but for my situation right now Eric and I feel this is best for the kids and me, this year at least.

Praying tomorrow goes good and no one gets too scared. I really think this school is GREAT, seems to be a perfect match for my children! Thank you God for your provision!!!

Public School???

Well yesterday I made it to the public school and registered my kids!! Yeah, that's right, public school!! I sat for almost two hours at the elementary school filling out papers until my hand was cramping, then I had to go to the Jr. high school and fill out papers for Alanta (can't believe she's in Jr. high). I Can't believe they are no longer going to be at home with me everyday!! I don't know what I'll do with myself, with just Blayd at home. It's been three years of home school with kids home everyday. Last year, at times, it was a little much with all the kids home. I think it will be good for both me and the kids that they go to school this year. I also found out that the school they will be going to is very small and personal. Only 15-20 kids in a class! I think the kids will do great and have fun. One thing they will miss is the Bible being integrated in everything they learn. So I decided we will do devotions, and memory verses each week, and try to get them into church programs as much as possible. I am thankful that I was able to home school them as long as we did, I think it was especially good for Alemu and Samuel for the first year they were here with us. Now that I know they are all going to school I can't wait until they start, they are getting restless and ready for it to start too!

Compliments from a 3 year old...

Blayd comes out of his room one day with the sweetest smile on his face! "Mom" he says excitedly "you are the most Beautiful girl in the whole world!!!" Wow, I think to myself, what a sweetie!! So I grab him in my arms and give him a big kiss. "Thanks, buddy" I say. Then he tells me why he thinks I'm SO beautiful, "you made my bed SO awesome!!!" Ohhhh....that's why he complimented me, I had put some different blankets on his bed for Sisay (who was spending the night) to sleep on! Sadly I had to tell my ecstatic 3yr. old son that it wasn't for him that I put new blankets on his bed....thankfully he took it well, and it didn't bother him too much!