Another new post, 2 in 2 days!

This is for all my friends who think I don't post often enough on my blog! I could write you a list of excueses, like good grief I homeschool don't you think I have enough to do, or I am so busy cleaning up after my dog eating everything in the house that I don't have time, but the truth is, sometimes I just don't have anything to write I think others would enjoy reading. I know that was a very long run-on sentance, Andrea, but this is how I talk, and I want reading my blog to be like having a conversation with me.

I am going to a mom's slumber party tonight, and am super excited. I got new glasses yesterday. It was really cool...the girls got to help make them. Oh...I know, I could post about my new diet, but that would just be me whining because going dairy and wheat free is HARD!!!!

So, I am going to attempt to set up a poll about what you most want to hear about...I'll let you know how that works.

Later! Heidi

Things Thor has eaten this month:

1. The zipper to my new olive/sage green hoodie.

2. Emma's new ballet slipper.

3. 3 sleeping bag zippers.

4. My Liz Claiborne purse.

5. A whole roll of toilet paper.

6. A small cabbage patch doll that was on my 5th Birthday cake (yes, almost 25 years ago)

7. Doll house furniture.

8. His collar.

9. Unidentified plastic doohicky.

10. Un-numbered q-tips

11. Board books.

12. Ballerina magnetic dolls.

13. Zippers from both Emma's and Livie's coats.

14. Not his chew toys.

Anyone want a Yorkshire Terrier cheap?

December 2008

Wow, December is gone? I'll share our highlights of the month with you!
EMMA's CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
Emma was an angel in the preschool's Christmas program this year. Olivia was the special guest Inn Keeper. Everyone sang so nicely, the angels got a little carried away with Go Tell It On The Mountain and teacher Teresa had to cut them off...but it was cute.

FAMILY VACATION TO MISSOURI
For Christmas this year, we drove to Missouri to surprise Mike's dad at his sisters house. We had a blast. Getting there took two days in icy, wintery weather. We finally arrived at dinner time only to find Mike's dad had already gone to the hotel for the night. We decided to go ahead and save the surprise for the morning. Boy was Grandpa shocked to see us! We had a great time together.

The first night, Emma and Olivia slept in the living room and for 20 minutes, Emma kept saying "Night, Night". Denise would tell her "Night Night, Emma" and it would continue back and forth. So cute.

Christmas was great. All Emma asked for was Barbie panties, and after 3 different wal marts in 2 different states, Santa finally found them...2 sizes too big. Emma didn't care how big they were, she was happy anyway. Olivia and Emma each got each other Barbie cars (and told each other what they bought!). Mike was surprised to get me a pair of shoes for CHristmas!

Olivia got an early Birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa....she got her ears pierced! She is such a big girl now.

The drive home took 3 days. We stopped by Wall Drug for the best coffee in the world, and only 5 cents a cup....such a deal! We drove by Mt. Rushmore and then spent 2 hours at The Reptile Museum. For pictures of all this...check out Facebook!

NEW YEARS EVE
We got home Tuesday teh 30th...just in time for an 80's New Years Eve party the next day! The girls and I got all dressed up 80's style and rang in the new year at the Smith house. We had tons of fun!

That's all I can think of now, and it feels pretty fragmented to me, and I need to go do math with Livie....so more later!

Emma's Preschool

Olivia and I went to preschool with Emma yesterday. It was really fun, and I learned a lot. Last year, I subbed for Teresa when she or baby Gracie was sick and Kelly couldn't sub, so I'm pretty familiar with the school, what I learned was about Emma. The following are things I honestly didn't know about my "baby":

1. She can go potty without help
2. She can sit still long enough to listen to a story
3. She does know how to share toys
4. She can speak clearly enough for other adults to understand her
5. She can trace her name beautifully (won't do it at home)
6. She can count to ten (at home she goes 1 2 3 8 9 10)
7. She does know how to pick up toys
8. She can make it 3 hours without whining (who woulda thought)
9. She can be outgoing (she has a shy nature)
10. She really is a big girl, not a baby anymore

Poor Emma, now that I know these things her free ride is over! I think she gets away with more because I know she is my last baby. Well, she is three now, time to buck up and face the music. You do have to pick up after yourself, you are expected to listen the first time. She was playing dumb with me and I believed her! Not again, sister!

I really did suspect most the things on the list and make her do them occasionally, but seeing her with other kids and another adult in charge for three hours showed me she is old enough to do all those things consistently. Pray for me as I enter this battle. One thing I have always known about her, she is as stubborn as her father and smarter than her mother!

Should I Go Back to College?

Ok, as if life isn't busy enough or I don't have enough to do, I am now contemplating going back to college. When Mike and I got married, I quit school so I could work full-time so we could afford to live. The plan was always for me to finish college when the kids were in school. Fast forward 9 years, and we've decide to home school, which makes attending classes practically impossible. However, in this day and age, I could attend college online and not have to go anywhere.

I do want to finish my teaching degree just in case something happens to Mike, I would be able to support the girls and myself while still feeling like I had adequate time to be a mom. It would also be beneficial in the event that Montana decides homeschoolers need a teaching credential. Many states require the mom to have a teaching certificate or be monitored every three months by the state. So far, the only regulation in Montana is that I notify the superintendents office and agree to teach a curriculum comparable to what is taught in public school and keep attendance records. I want to protect my right to home school, and right now getting my degree and teachers certificate seems the most practical way to do so.

Please pray for this decision. We don't have the finances to do this, so I would either have to have grants, scholarships or student loans. I am not wanting to go into debt for this.