Birthdays and Gotcha days and Court dates, oh my!

Did you just hear me exhale? Yep...have been holding my breath for like two weeks here. It is really not quite so terrible, but lately there has been a LOT on our plates. It seemed like everyday there was something fairly large and time-consuming to accomplish. Today, is the first day I could actually say...ahhhhh...and relax while scrubbing my floors, dusting the house, and generally getting things in order. Why would cleaning be a way to relax? Well....because it meant that I didn't have to be anywhere else.

Since Sept. 12th we have repeatedly visited the dentist, the orthodontist, I was called to jury duty (again for literally like the 10th time in my life...every two years since turning 18), Big C finished community service (woo-hoo! Loved supervising all that baking for the homeless...but 18 dozen brownies, 7 loaves of banana bread, 5 loaves of Amish white bread, and 2 dozen cookies later...I think our electric bill will definitely go down!),  fixed numerous "are you kiddings?" on the house, hosted out of town family, celebrated Big C's 15th birthday, celebrated Big C's 7 year "gotcha day", and had our final appointment with Juvenile Arbitration. Just look at how photogenic Big C always is- and that hair! Seriously, it is almost legendary...I mean, isn't there a Pantene commercial or something in his future???

So you see why today I am finally exhaling. The most exciting thing on my calendar for the next two weeks is a conference with Little C's teacher. A conference that I am not stressing over (yaay!), since Little C is right on target in this second go-round of 1st grade. The fridge at our house is sporting a 5/5 spelling test and a 100% math test, taken all on his own. That is so much of a halleluia, I can almost hear the angels singing!

Big C loves home-school, and home-school co-op. He is really having so much fun. If Big C was in regular HS he would be rising at about 5 am, running out the door to catch the bus at about 6...when the rooster is still snoozing. Now, he can play soccer with the other home-school neighbors until 9:30 or 10, come in totally whipped, shower and sleep until 8 or so. He finishes school in 2.5-4 hours, it all depends and is really understanding what he is learning. On Friday's he goes to co-op with the neighbors, has made friends, and comes home happy. I think the biggest lesson he is learning would involve boundaries, that they do exist and that they were a bit skewed for him before.

I really do enjoy being home for my family. I love dropping off and picking Little C up from school, having a clean kitchen (most of the time), and generally taking better care of myself. That involves making time to get by backside on the treadmill (but that is for another post)...

Looking forward to a peaceful week, full of organizing, laundry and time spent enjoying the precious family God has given me.

With Love,
The Amateur Mama

Bye, Bye summer...

How did so much time pass? I am just not sure, but life has surely been happening to us around here. Between preparing for school, colds, volunteering, visitors, and tutoring...well, we have been kind of busy. This mama will now be getting back on track with the blog. I would call this last month an adjustment period...Big C is adjusting to home school, Little C is really enjoying school, and it is just a blessing, period. Right now we are allowing the Lord to meet our needs financially and spiritually, and He does not disappoint. Here is a photo tribute to summer...

Go Carting

Fishing and Camping

 Swim Lessons

Time with Friends

Goggles...oh those goggles!

It was a great summer...very relaxing...the first time we have not been on a big trip in a long time. We took things easy, and enjoyed one another. It was a time to realign our focus, and make some huge decisions. Next up...home-school adventures.