Everything Under the Son

I just thought I would take a quick minute to update you all on the homeschooling front.  I am homeschooling Levi for Pre-K this year and we are LOVING. IT.  We are both having a great time as we laugh and learn together every day.  We are working on lots of things...alphabet, numbers, simple math, patterns, charts, colors, fine motor skills, sequencing, matching, writing, some basic spelling, manners, art, phonics, mazes, folder games, parts of the body...the list could go on and on.  It has been so much fun to spend time with Levi, teaching him and watching his little face as he masters new things, and shows off the things he already knows.  We are spending about 2 - 3 hours every day working together.  It sounds like a long time, and yes we cover LOTS of material in that time, but it goes quickly.  When you work one-on-one, you can move pretty quickly through things.  We pack it in, but it is fun, and I never push him beyond what he wants to do.  If he wants a break, we take five minutes.  If he wants a drink, I power him up with some milk.

Homeschooling has been a huge blessing for both of us so far...I am loving it!

There isn't a single day that goes by that I don't spend time thinking about Carson.  It's healing for me to have him always in my thoughts...after all, a mother's worst nightmare is that her children are forgotten, and never spoken of. 

As summer winds down and children go back to school, I can't help but think about him.  This year, Carson would be going to Kindergarten.  Seriously.  Can it really be that he would be five years old, wearing a backpack and heading to school? 

I try not to dwell on the what-ifs of life...after all, there are enough other things to dwell on/think about/focus on.  But when it comes to Carson, I can't help it.  I think about what life would be like with him here, and what he would look like.  I wonder if he would like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in his lunch like Levi, or if he would prefer turkey-wrapped baby dill pickles like Natalie.  I wonder about lots of things...the what-ifs.

I can smile now, knowing he is in Heaven which is HOME.  It is the HOME we are all looking towards.  It's okay to miss him because he isn't in my home with me right now, and it's even okay for me to cry.  I smile when I think about the fun he is having.  I have no idea if there is school in Heaven, but I guarantee there are no bullies.  Everyone gets straight A's, and the food in the cafeteria is awesome every single day!  He's happy.

Kindergarten.  That's where Carson would be.  It's unbelievable that five years have passed since my son entered the world and went to Heaven.

Tomorrow, this girl will head out the door to her first day of second grade.  It's hard to believe that Natalie is already in the second grade, since it seems like only yesterday that Nathaniel was bringing her into the recovery room after my c-section/surgery for me to lay eyes on my beautiful girl!  How can seven years have passed already?

 


This little guy will be spending the day with me.  We will learn a little and laugh a lot!  I'm so excited about homeschooling the little man this year.  I think God is going to bless our time together.




Isn't he adorable in his "cowboy clothes"?  He dressed himself from head to toe, and couldn't be more proud of himself :)  He's so funny!

Hopefully I'll have time this week to update you all on the first official day of school!  Until then, have a great week.

I know I said I wanted to update soon on the happenings around here.  Sorry that sooner turned into later.  But you know what they say, better late than never!

I have lots of pictures to share, and unfortunately, they may not come in chronological order.  I just don't have the brain power today to remember what came first!


We have been super busy........

Picking peaches.  Here is Natalie picking peaches.  She loved it!  You'll notice she is wearing NO SHOES!  It was so muddy the day we went that you couldn't walk without sinking several inches in the mud.  We did what smart southern women do...we went barefooted.  We didn't want to mess up our shoes :)


We picked a bushel and a half of peaches...that is LOTS of peaches!  We brought them home to sort and prep.  Check out my dining table



After MUCH sorting and washing and slicing and dicing, boiling and stirring and stirring and pouring, we had several jars of this






Delicious!  We have eaten several jars already because I make pop-overs using the jam and crescent rolls.  Yum-Yum!



We have also made a twist on smores!  It's been way too hot to camp or build a fire, so we made an indoor version that is super tasty.  Simply crush graham crackers finely, melt some chocolate chips or use dipping chocolate, and gather marshmallows and toothpicks.  Stick a toothpick in the marshmallow, dip in chocolate, roll in graham cracker crumbs, and eat!  They are as much fun to make as they are to eat.  Just look:




For the Fourth of July, I made the kids t-shirts.  Natalie's had a fun flower, and Levi's was adorned with a big neck-tie.  They were cute if I must say so myself.  The kids were not cooperative for pictures, but you can get the idea:







Here is a picture of me and my honey!  Isn't he handsome!





Out of time for now...more to come!

I'm hoping to update soon with some of the happenings around here.  We are soaking up the last bits of summer since Natalie only has one week until school starts.


I am waiting for Nathaniel to send me the pictures from his phone so the post will have some visuals!