Hurrah! It's the First Day of Homeschool!

Yesterday was our first day of homeschool.  Emma is now in first grade, and Cubby is in kindergarten.  

This day has been a long day coming!   I have been fretting about this day for about three months now.   My husband and I experienced a lot of anxiety and indecision all summer regarding our plans for schooling the girls this year.  We have flipped back and forth between choosing to homeschool our girls versus sending them to private school versus sending them to public school.  It has been quite a time of serious deliberation.

Now you may know that I homeschooled Emma last year, so what's all this anxiety about?  Well, first,  we thought that last year was just a one year deal, plus we used any and all resources at the Imperial Valley Home School Academy, which definitely eased the transition from public school to homeschooling. 

So how did we decide to homeschool this year?  Over the course of last spring and this summer, I shared my concerns and thoughts with many of my friends and family, but I still didn't have a clear vision of what we should do for school.  Finally, after all of my fingernails had been chewed, and it was do or die time, Danny and I left it up to (duh!) God to guide our hearts on this very tough and important decision.  Why we didn't leave it up to Him in the first place, I don't know.  Probably pride or control or whatever makes us want to do things our own way and on our own time.  He had already answered with homeschool as the solution for our family a year ago, and His answer remained true now.  Our moments of anxiety and stress were all for nothing, the decision was already clear.  

We are thrilled with this new season of life that includes two young children to homeschool and another two children two guide through the pre-school years.  I really look forward to teaching the children Biblical principles along with their academic lessons.  Once school time is over, the girls have many extracurricular activities to attend, including singing class, church group, piano lessons, and hopefully many more, as the year gets rolling.  

Today, I just feel very thankful to God that we were able to teach our children in this way, and at this time in their lives.  

So, the day before the first day of school, (pre-1st-day-of-school), which would be Sunday, Danny and I focused on building the girls up for their new school experience at home.  I made a special breakfast of french toast, sausage and fruit which the kids gobbled up frighteningly rapidly.  Then we had home church at our house, since three out of six of us had a cold, which begins by Danny leading the group in a good old fashioned sing-along.  He then taught a Bible lesson on being brave when being faced with a new or scary event (first day of school!), then we learned our new memory verse for the week.  After we prayed together as a family for bravery in face of great fear, I handed the girls their first day of school bags, which had all kinds of fun new school supplies, a new binder, and a new first day of school outfit. It was a great moment.   I know I had tears in my eyes.  

Needless to say, the girls were pretty pumped up about their first day of school.  So that Monday morning, they awoke bright and early, made their beds, got dressed, and brushed their hair, all before 7:30 AM, and we didn't need to leave the house for IVHSA until 8:30 AM.  No matter, we ate our breakfast, and had our morning lesson in our new classroom located in our family room.  I had decorated our new classroom with posters, an ABC chart across the top, a new snazzy bookshelf filled with their books and cubbies for their loot, and a white board with "Welcome to School!" written on it.  I am a former high school teacher, so all this cool primary  grade stuff is awesome!!!!  

Anyway, now to the really good stuff, the pictures!  Check out Cubby and Emma in their new duds, ready to leave for IVHSA on that first day of school:

Sweet Cubby has the hands-down cutest kindergarten smile of any kid on the planet.  With not a top front tooth in sight, she has kinder written all over her.  

And here's first grader, Emma, who is the old pro at all things school related.  She couldn't stop giving her little sister pieces of advice all evening the night before, or that morning at breakfast, or on the way over in the car....

Once we arrived at the academy that morning, we headed over to a larger classroom, since the number of kids enrolled in the program has doubled since last year, yay!  All the kids made personalized posters to present to the group so that we could have a chance to get to know them better.

Cubby was very proud of her poster, but a little too nervous to go up in front, so I had to go with her, and help explain the pictures.  Once she got to the front of the room, I was useless, as she courageously and quite illustriously explained every detail of every picture on the page. 

Emma described every picture on her poster page.

Yay for you, big kindergartener!!

And woo-hoo, way to go 1st grader!!

What can I say?  I love my kids.  Maybe we had to have all that anxiety leading up to the first day, so that we would really appreciate the wonderful blessing of a perfect day to start our new journey with our four sweet children.

Giddy Up!

My girls love horses.  This is not by accident.  Their infatuation is the result of yet another highly orchestrated plan on my part for them to share the same hobbies and interests as me.  I am open for other interests, of course, but I do a little steering toward my intended directions as well.  

The girls have ridden on the pony ride at the fair a couple of times, but that's about the extent of their horse riding experiences. I take that back.  My sister, Ayron, queen of all party entertaining, hired a gal to bring a pony and a donkey to her hubby's birthday party one year.  Cubby rode that pony for about an hour straight.  Since she and E were the main riders, they got all the chances they wanted, and Cubby felt quite at home atop that tiny saddle.  Watching her up there, I was in heaven.  

So, when we changed our plans to a vacation in the mountains, I immediately called the local stables.  One stable provided a trail ride for kids.  The small horses are led by hand through shady, winding trails, while the kids hang on and enjoy the scenery.  

I located the stables, made the appointment, and we were off.  Minus the proper riding gear.  Oh well.  I didn't bring jeans or boots (since I don't own any boots for the kids) to summer vacation!

The girls seemed to feel a little unsure at first.  

But once on top of the horse, they did just fine.  E's horse was named Angel, which made E very happy.

Cubby's horse was a little Arabian named Medallion.  I made Cubby say that name a thousand times, she said it so dang cute!

Once the girls felt comfortable, it was time to start the trail ride.  I tagged along on foot to make sure they were OK, plus somebody had to take pictures!  

It started to feel a lot longer than a 30 minute trail ride.

I sort of fell behind at one point.  

Then I caught up to take this picturesque shot.  

E was very happy riding Angel.  She told me later that she was pretending to be a princess taking a ride through the forest.  Somehow, I already knew that.

At last we made it back to the stables.  E had a great ride.  She confidently rode Angel, asked questions of the owner, and gripped that saddle horn with a vengeance!  Once she had dismounted she informed me that her new hobby is horseback riding.  As soon as she said that, my heart did a little pitter-patter.  Imagine that!  

Cubby didn't want to dismount.  Ever.  She felt completely at home and comfortable with Medallion.  She could have ridden off into the sunset if it hadn't been for her pesky mom dragging her off the saddle.  

My two junior horsewomen proved brave enough to ride on horseback for close to an hour.  I heard no complaints, whines, or cries.  As we left, I asked the owner if she had any horses for sale.  To Danny's relief, she didn't, but I've got my feelers out there for a sweet, kid friendly horse for my girls to get started on a lifelong love of horses.   Giddy Up!!

Wrapping It Up

This has been one of the busiest, happiest, and most eventful weeks of my life with young children.  Wrapping up the school year has become a week that is packed solid with programs, graduations and the long-awaited recital!  And I only have two of my four kids enrolled in school!  I can only imagine when Danny and I will get to attend the dance recital, and watch as all three of our girls dance their way around the stage to beautiful music.  J.D. will probably be sitting beside his dad, banging on the bleachers with his play hammer, wearing a bored look on his face, but hey, at least three are in one program, right?!

We have so many events going on at the end of the year, that I literally send out an events email to all of our family members.  The events are listed chronologically, and the dates and times are highlighted so no one can feign confusion.  As if I would let that happen!  I also throw in a little mom/relative guilt, like, "We hope you can make it to at least one...," knowing that now they feel they have to attend most.  It's part of being a mom of four, I will do anything to show my kids' sweet on-stage skills off to the world! 

So it all started with Mrs. Green's Kiddie Pre-School End of the Year Program. 

Mrs. Green is retiring this year after many years as a beloved pre-school teacher.  She has a high, sing-song voice that the kids follow with a dazed look on their face.  And that dazed look is most definitely love and infatuation.  She is magical.  Here is Cubby receiving her "diploma" for graduating from her first year in pre-school. 

Look out, E, it's a wild, ferocious tiger!  Wild animals was the theme this year, and as you can see, the entire outfit had to fit the part. 

Mrs K. (see No Peas, Please) decorated Cubby's cape since I have zero time, and less skill in this department.  It is super snazzy! 

The guys called each other before the event.  "So, what are you wearing, Jim?"  They were very pleased with themselves.

My girls are experiencing absolute and utter fantastical bliss right now.  Are their faces shining with an inner light, or is it just me? 

Next came E's Kindergarten graduation.

Classic Kinder. Love it!

E walked away with a certificate and a classic photo of a five year old in a graduation cap and gown.  Those kinder teachers know how to bring every parent and grandparent to tears. 

Speaking of grandparents in tears, Grandma D was definitely hiding some behind those glasses.  When the kids all started singing/yelling "You're a Grand Old Flag" in unison while doing smart little hand motions, my eyes welled up too. 

Grandma S and Grandpa J gave their support, and fully enjoyed the program.

I was so thrilled to capture this shot of E with her grandpa.  This is the real deal, folks.

Next we attended E and Cubby's Ooh La La Dance Recital.

Lovely.

They've learned to pose like little dancers. 

Uncle C & Aunt C stopped by to give the girls some roses.  E immediately went over to the sink to start snipping the ends to place them in some water.  She arranged them beautifully.  Cubby walked around with her roses for a good while before giving them up to me to be watered. 

Cousin Ellie wasn't about to miss an opportunity to don a tutu!

I am awfully proud of this bun. 

Finally we attended Cubby's last performance, her second pre-school end of the year program. 

I love the contrast of their stoic faces with their bright, colorful outfits.  Are they 4 or what?

Some kids really got into the program. Shake it!

Ahhh.... there's a smile! 

And here's another classic Walker family photo.  Danny's eyes are closed.  E and Cubby are super happy.  G is distracted and about to make a run for it.  J.D. is making a run for it, but is being held back by his unperturbed big sis.  

Clearly, G had seen a more desirable location.  Next to Grandma D with a donut hole is pretty much her idea of heaven.  I have to admit, sometimes that's mine, too.

The girls learn the Cubby's pre-school promotion is pretty serious business from Grandma S! 

Punch + Donut Holes = HUGE SMILES!

And here are my lovely ladies.  This was Cubby's first official year in pre-school, and she couldn't have enjoyed herself more.  E finished up her year in kindergarten, and has become quite the young lady.  Time is ticking by quickly now, just like all of my fellow parents with older children tell me it will.  This week, however, I will look back and say that it was a busy time, but a time when I was really living, enjoying, and loving my life with four kids under five.

Haircut

This house remodel has been a little tough on everyone.  Things that would have normally been a priority have been let go.  I have forgotten to pay bills, feed the dog, put food back in the fridge, and condition my hair. 

Sadly, the kids have suffered as well.  They have gone days without eating a green vegetable, since most healthy veggies require washing, cutting, and cooking.  Our go-to vegetables are carrot sticks, since they don't have to be washed or cut.  Bob Evans macaroni and cheese is a weekly staple, and the crackers, chips, and cookies are overflowing from the shelves.  I hate to have them eat this way, but ease of use completely trumps health at this point.

Another arena in which I have let my poor kids down is in the hair department.  Prior to our house being torn apart, I would get their hair cut regularly.  The girls have bangs, so those have to be cut all the time.  Even though hair care is almost totally unrelated to a kitchen remodel, for some reason, all appointments, including those for haircuts, got thrown out the window.  

Danny was the first to give in and demand a haircut.  He even dragged out a little stool into the middle of our backyard one day, plugged in our pathetic trimmers, and begged me to shave away.  So I did.  And he was very happy.

Emma was the next to complain about her hair.  Her bangs were so busy shading her eyes she was having trouble reading!  She asked me to cut her bangs one afternoon while the babies were napping.  She's a smart girl.  She knows we can't possibly work with sharp things with J.D. conscious and trolling the rooms for tools.  So I chopped her bangs.  And she was very happy.

Cubby is last in the long line of hairy haircare heroes.  Sorry, it's late, and I'm getting a little silly.  Anyway, her hair had gotten OUT OF CONTROL.  Check it:

Oh, my beloved second born daughter.  I love you so much.  I love the stringy hair in your eyes, the chocolate sauce dripping from your face, and more than anything, the look of sheer bliss on your face.  You are most assuredly my child. 

So I walked into the sweet Wal-Mart salon the other day with Cubby and the twins in tow.  The lady looked our way, scanned all four of us for unruly hair.  When her eyes landed on Cubby, she pursed her lips and began wordlessly searching for a pair of scissors.  She quickly piled up cushions on the swiveling, pumped up, hair-cutting chair, ensconced Cubby on her throne, covered her in a jazzy drape, and cut away all the stringy madness. 

Now just look at this happy child.

Oh yeah, I should have warned you, she's silly.

Very silly.

But do not laugh at her. She gets ticked.  This is a mean face.  I know!  It's hard to believe this is a mean face when her new haircut is smiling and saying, "I'm not mean, I am completely wonderful, shiny, and sweet!"

This is her, "Who me?" coy, flirty face.

She's going to be a heartbreaker....haircut or not!

Celebrating Four Years with Cubby

My second daughter, Cubby, celebrated her fourth birthday this weekend.

It's hard for me to believe that she is four years old! Four years old is a milestone in my extremely short parenting book. At four, my oldest daughter officially changed from a whiny, tantrum throwing brat to a civilized sweetheart. I remember the change being so drastic, that I would comment on it to friends. "Just hang on through the two's and three's. That fourth birthday is life changing," I'd say.

This is not going to be the case with my second daughter, Cubby. She has always been a sweetheart. She loves cuddling, reading, singing, curling up with her blanket, and hanging out with Emma or one of the Grandmas. She skipped the terrible two stage. I mean, she has thrown a handful of tantrums, but usually she's just overtired and needs a nap.

When Cubby was born, our oldest, Huggy, was only 17 months old. Yep, we found out I was pregnant with the #2 child when our #1 child was only eight months old. Eight months old and barely crawling.

God smiled on me that day when Cubby was born. After a short and and complication free labor and delivery, I gazed lovingly at my little red-headed angel. From day one she was the sweetest, most wonderful, content, quiet little baby on the planet. She took easily to nursing, slept through the night at six weeks old, and enjoyed all the attention of her boisterous toddling older sister. What more could an overwhelmed mother of two baby girls want?

Here are a few of my favorite birthday memories of my sweet number two daughter, Cubby.

APRIL 2006 - CUBBY'S BIRTH DAY

Cubby clearly had red hair from the moment she was born. Arriving at 2:00 AM that morning, she looked at us with dark, clear eyes.

What a blessed moment for us as parents of another beautiful baby girl!

Little 17 month old Huggy didn't know quite what to think of her new baby sister. She looked at her momentarily, then reached for grandma's lap and a sippy cup. It would take her a while to warm up to our family's addition.

Grandma Susie is all pride and joy. Another grandbaby to love!

Home at last, and we quickly slipped into our new routine as a family of four.

One year later.....

APRIL 2007 - CUBBY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

The girls have grown and are becoming fast friends.

I remember it was tough on this first birthday for big sis to allow little sis all the attention. But I don't think little Cubby minded too much.

And the sugar coma sets in for my one year old.

The proud grandparents....

....and the proud daddy celebrate one year with Cubby. What a trooper she is for keeping that hat on her little head!

After a party, sometimes this happens. I don't know what causes it. The sugar? The gifts? The knowledge that you've made it one year and you can hardly stand it? No clue.

APRIL 2008 - CUBBY'S 2ND BIRTHDAY

The girls became buddies this year. Cubby turned two, Huggy turned three, and they all of a sudden realized how awesome the other was. Actually, Cubby always thought her older sis was pretty much amazing, but it took a couple of years for Huggy to figure it out.

And Cubby made the cutest face on the planet. I will treasure this photo always.

What do you do with a couple of little girls who are obsessed with Cinderella and their mom is pregnant with twins and their lives are about to change forever?

You go to Disneyland, of course!!!!!

APRIL 2009 - CUBBY'S 3RD BIRTHDAY

A third birthday party means pizza, cake, ice cream, family, friends....

....and a gigantic Mickey Mouse pinata that none of the kids can break so Daddy has to get the metal bat and whack it a few times so the kids will stop crying and get some candy. Cubby tried her best, but she was no match for the fully reinforced metal innards of this innocent looking paper mouse.

This is my gorgeous little three year old. She's going to break some hearts.

This is our little family last year at this exact time. Huggy is four, Cubby is three, and the babies are 10 months. I have no memory of this year. I have to rely on pictures to recall any event in this time period.

APRIL 2010 - CUBBY'S 4TH BIRTHDAY

And here we are just two days ago. The cake blow,

the gifts, the smiles,

and our family all added up to a perfect afternoon.

I can't wait to read this book!

And then, in typical Walker family tradition,

the kids all took a crack at an enormous, super strong, well reinforced pinata.

Those little kids tried their very best,

but it took a very determined young lady to take that princess pinata down.

The cool thing about this particular party was that all my kids were able to enjoy themselves, with very little adult supervision.

J.D. was thrilled about being given this whole balloon bouquet. It made his day.

Actually, maybe the bubble machine made his day. G and J.D. live for bubbles. J.D. now has eight words in his vocabulary, and "Buh-bow" is one of them.

You two WILL be best friends!

Look at this four year old. My mom asked her the other day if she could stay three years old a little while longer, and she promptly replied, "No, I'm turning four." It broke my heart for some reason to hear her say that. These kids change so incredibly fast, I wish I could press pause once in a while. Such a cliche, but I must remember to enjoy this time in my life with my wealth of young, healthy, wonderful children.

On this fourth birthday of my second daughter, I want to thank God for giving her to me. I feel so blessed to have this little person in my life. She is one of those people I would love to know, and she is my daughter, forever and ever. She holds my heart. I love you Cubby, and happy birthday!!!

Want more Cubby? Check out her birthday interview below!