Boys' School

We have been back at school for a few weeks now, and while I worried about how it all might work, so far it's been great!  It adds a bit more routine to the day.  The fall was successful with Carter. Honestly, this homeschooling (yes, I know he's just in kindergarten, and there will be more intense years ahead) has been so much better than expected.  As much as I knew I wanted to try homeschooling, I was really afraid it would not work.

I know it might not always look like this, and there will be days/months/years that are more difficult than others.  But, so far, I've been so thankful for this time with them.  Carter finished his math for the year right after Christmas, and he's pretty far ahead in almost all areas, so we have to figure out the best way to finish out the year.  It's a great problem to have, and he's been a dream to teach!

I was worried most about teaching him to read.  I didn't know that I could do it - such a big burden to shoulder, I feel.  But, he's started to sound out a few words, and read very beginning readers, and he is so proud.  I am, too!  As many said, seeing your child read, and knowing you helped him/her get there, is so rewarding.  

Everyone else likes to be right where we are when we're schooling, so we've found ways to make it work at the dining room table, and we've also found ways to power through the distractions.  

Peter's favorite thing is drawing and practicing his letters.  He's really good at it, and I'm anxious for him to get more involved next year and find what makes him tick!

John Paul prefers to cut...and glue!  He likes to draw a little bit but always claims he isn't good at it. In time! 

The girls were with my mom this particular morning, but Sophie is usually right with us, and Genevieve is often taking her morning nap.  Some days are louder/more distracting than others. Some days the boys spend the morning working with their dad.   I've tried to create as much of a routine as possible with the flexibility of doing things on the ranch.  I know that routine will change over time, but it is what has worked this first year.

I'm anxious to see what this semester brings, and I'm so thankful for the time we've been able to share thus far!

John Paul-y Turns Four

On the 8th, John Paul turned four.  BUT, he told everyone who asked that he was still three...until he blew out the candles on the cake that evening.  

The candles on the monkey bread were just a trial run.  

And, he topped it off with his current favorite...hot chocolate.

Right alongside Miss Bedhead.

And, the one who may have dumped half a box of Rice Krispies on the floor.

John Paul was born on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so we're always treated to Mass on his birthday.  After naps, we had a little party with a few things I thought were a bit John Paul-ish: fedoras, crazy teeth, funny glasses and mustaches.

Plus, he wanted the favorite around here...strawberry cake.

Rarely is this kiddo unhappy...or too serious.

In fact, when I wasn't looking, I saw him get a second (huge!) piece of cake right out of the middle like it was no big deal.  Yes, I let him eat it.

Then came the mug shots...

 John Paul was too busy, and this one was wasn't too happy.

But, he had a great birthday!  When you're four, that birthday can be made a little sour by a well-check with three shots.  Jeremy had to take him this time, and when I asked how it went, the conversation went something like this:

Me: Well, how did it go?

Jeremy: It's a little tough to take the pants off of a kid who is screaming and running in place.

John Paul: And, you have to watch out or you might get your finger bit!

Me: John Paul, did you bite Daddy?

John Paul: Nah, I just scratched him this time.

I died laughing.

John Paul is our firecracker.  He...

...loves to make others laugh.

...takes the best care of his little siblings, and claims this next one is all his.

...has a sensitive little soul.

...seems to never get tired.

...is in the 50th percentile for height and 75th for weight for his age.

...weighs 38 pounds.

...loves to help out.

...is rarely quiet.

...has the cutest little chuckle.

...loves the color blue, bubble gum, his giraffe blanket and "just one more piece" of candy.

...runs like the wind.

...brightens any room.

...and is sheer joy.

Happy birthday, sweet boy.

NYC with the Hubs

A little over a week ago, Jeremy and I left the kiddos with my parents and headed to New Jersey to photograph a wedding.  I think it was in April that I received an email from a young lady who was a blog reader, asking if I'd like to photograph her wedding the coming November.  When I first received the email, I didn't think there was any way I could make it happen (thinking I might have been pregnant plus the logistics of leaving the kids, blah blah blah).  But, plans started to unfold, and we made it work.  Our originals plans were to spend an extra 3-4 days in the city and the West Point area (where Jeremy went to undergrad) as a belated 40th birthday celebration.  But, as the dates drew near, a few things came up, and we were only to have 48 hours between coming and going flights.

So, we nixed plans to even go into the city, thinking we'd head south to the wedding site instead. Well, as we were walking off our plane in Newark, we both looked at each other and said, "We have to go into the city!"

So, we did.  For three hours, we packed it in.  Eating pizza at a great restaurant in the theatre district, grabbing a few gifts for the kids, seeing the beginnings of Christmas decorations going up on some of the major storefronts, lighting a few candles in St. Patrick's Cathedral, and grabbing a handful of M&Ms from the giant store, it was so much fun!  We did everything as fast as out little (or big, pregnant, swollen) feet would carry us, and then we left knowing we had made the very most of those few hours.

Jeremy lovingly carried my camera bag everywhere, because I always feel like I'm going to take a million photos, and I end up taking maybe ten, ha!

Fresh ice...

We then went to Montclair, NJ for some amazing Cuban food and only wish we would have shown up earlier - talk about the best little town!  So many fun shops to explore!

The next day was spent photographing the most beautiful, holy wedding (and it was so great to have Jeremy by my side)!  The minute we stepped out of our car to knock on the door of the unknown young lady who had emailed me months before, her family greeted us with the most loving, welcoming hugs, and from that moment on began one of beautiful days we've witnessed...as outsiders who left feeling like family.

The next morning at the crack of dawn, we boarded a plane back to New Mexico and the little ones. Such a quick trip, and so worth it, even as hard as it was leaving them to begin with (Carter started crying and said he would just "pray all weekend that our guardian angels protected us from being hurt" - talk about making it hard to walk away).

NYC/NJ - you were fun.  We'll be back!