Oh boy!!

Again, I know I said at the beginning of the year that I was going to dedicate more of myself to my blog.

I mean, How can I really expect it to become a successful blog with only one post every 1-2 weeks.

Lame. I know.

But I do have a few things planned that I am getting ready to share.

This winter has really kicked my butt in terms of not feeling like myself.

Every time I think I'm getting better, I get worse again...it's been like this since Thanksgiving.

I partially blame the weird weather we've been having!

And lack of sleep! It's hard to let your body rest with 5 kids...especially since two of them are teething!!

So, like I said, I'm working on a few posts...and hope to have them up soon.

Mom peeks around the corner...

BUSTED!!

"I'm not doing anything, Mama...Look, I'm just playing with my dinosaur."

"Oh...you don't believe that? O well, You can't see me!!!"

"Okay, okay...I'll put them back..."

"Am I in trouble Mama??"

"Just look at this face!"

A 5-minute peek into the life of Leo.

Times this by about 100 and that's my typical day with this boy!

Always have to be on my toes!

Is it nap time yet?

I know that I promised to be an active blogger this year, but ever since the year has started it seems that all I've been able to accomplish is this...

We have all been sick off and on since Thanksgiving...as soon as we start to feel better we end up with something else.  I will be so happy when we go back to homeschooling and my kids are not exposed to so many germs.

Speaking of homeschooling...it looks like we'll be getting a few practice sessions in.

ISATS are coming up the first couple weeks of March and to make sure Riley's as ready as possible they're doubling up his reading...which means he'll be missing science.  Which means he gets to do all his science work at home.

Another reason I'll be glad to go back to homeschooling.

No testing.

This is a very stressful time for my 10 year old child.

The school is pushing and pushing him because they're a very well awarded school for academic success, and it only takes one kid to knock the median scores down for the whole school's 'report card'.

It saddens me that in order to get the funding they need they have to worry more about test scores than the children.

I want my children to love learning, and to be passionate about what they learn about...not just being forced to comply with how to get the best test scores.

So, that's basically what we've been up to.  Sickness and school issues...seems to be the usual lately.

Zombie Week

It's been a few days since I've posted, so I thought I'd better get to it and make a quick update.

I don't really have much to say...last week was 'zombie week'.

You know, that week after Christmas break when the kids go back to school after having spent the past two weeks staying up way too late and sleeping in too late as well.

I've nicknamed it zombie week because, well, that's what I feel like...a zombie, lol.

Staying up until midnight or later waiting for all the kids to go to sleep and waking up at 6 am to start getting everyone ready...I'm one tired momma.

I'm happy to say that we're starting to get back into the swing of things.

And my house is starting to look 'normal' again.

Other than that, there isn't much to say...I've just been fighting to get through the days and trying to catch up on housework...and drinking lots of caffeine.  Lots and lots of caffeine, lol.

Random Feel Good Pic #1

Here's a random pic to brighten your day!

This boy loves his ribs!

(Who doesn't like ribs?)

New Years Resolutions

I have quite an extensive list this year...

(I usually don't do resolutions, by the way.)

1. I want to stop saying the word 'no' to my kids.  Such a wide vocabularly, yet it seems like that's my most spoken word. It's time to find alternatives.

2. I want to get healthy.  Lose weight? Sure, that would be great...but that's not the mission.  Lower blood pressure, lower risk of diabetes, managing chronic pain issues...just focusing on healthy.  

3.  I want to get off my butt more.  Seriously...I sit...a lot.  I need to 'move' more. Lots more.

4. I want this to be the year of focusing on my home and family.  Pinterest...you will have to wait. I really need to make more time for my kids...soak them in while they're still little.  They won't be little forever.

5. I want to spend more time with God.  When I devote more attention to Him, He seems to devote more of His attention to me.  I used to be in that 'place'...I need to get back there.

Generally, I just want to live a better life.  It's so easy to get caught up in our fast paced world.  I want to slow down and focus on what is really important.

I've started this blog time and time again...each time with some big idea in my head.

This time...there's no big idea, just a need for a place to babble on about my day-to-day life, among other things.

I'm starting this new year fresh in many aspects of my life.

2013 is going to be great!

And my only resolution?

To blog about it ALL!

So grab a cup of green tea with lemon [or coffee, if that's your thing] and follow me on my journey to turn all the tin foil in my life into big, beautiful roses.