Moving along...

We’ve had lots going on lately but that’s pretty normal for us. Syd had her preschool Valentine’s Day party on Thursday and I was allowed to help out which was awesome. The kids had ice cream sundaes and got tons of treat bags and little trinkets. The teacher even had a yoga session at the end of the class- I am still sore from briefly participating! Luckily, Charlotte will be attending the preschool next year so I will have more chances to volunteer for things.
John and I have been going back and forth on whether to send Jackson and Sydney to public school next year or to continue with the homeschooling. There’s lots of pros and cons involved but I’m definitely leaning towards the public school option. I think I would be able to get a part-time job at the school as a substitute teacher, aide or something similar. We could really use the money and John’s mom offered to watch Charlotte Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after preschool. I think it’s best for everyone that we get them all in school although I’m having a hard time admitting it. I’m not quite burnout but it’s been exhausting trying to fit academics in and still making time for socializing. Also, it’s very expensive with all of this school curriculum, museum visits, sports and extra classes. It’s just kind of sad that our society doesn’t really mesh with homeschooling too well...at least around here.
So I have kindergarten paperwork to fill out for Sydney’s orientation (even though she could probably skip to first...another thing we are wrestling with) and I will have to contact personnel about Jackson enrolling in second (or third?!) grade. After researching this topic to death I’m thinking that I’d rather have them remain the oldest in their class instead of the youngest...summer birthdays make everything complicated! They already know a bunch of the kids in their prospective grades so transition should be smooth. I just hope I can accept these changes with grace and it works out for our family.
So other than school news, things are crawling along. Winter still has a firm grip on this part of the world for now. Supposedly we will have an early spring (thanks Phil and El Niño!) which will be welcome. John has been working in our woods every weekend trying to clear out all of the brush, poison ivy and thorns. We have a burn pile almost as high as our house that won’t ignite until things dry out some. The kids can finally play back there and maybe there won’t be so many ticks and critters in the area. We still plan on spraying pesticides and even getting the new Lyme vaccine (which will be available soon God willing).
I have to ask John to help build an arbor for my grapes and also get my vegetable garden in shape. I bought tons of seeds but still need to get onion and potato sets. I seriously can’t wait to get my hands back in the dirt! Keep warm everyone!