The End of an Era...and the beginning of another?

I realized today that this week of my life is momentous - not sure if that's the word I'm looking for, but it will do. Steven makes fun of me for my nostalgia, but I couldn't help but shed a few tears today as I nursed Mary Jo for possibly the last time. Unless the Lord overrules medicine she is our last baby, and after a collective 64 months of nursing - and just over 8 years straight being nursing OR pregnant (sometimes both), part of me cant believe its over. It's been such a sweet time, an exhausting, rewarding, snuggly, tearful, but absolutely wonderful time. I count it as such a blessing that I could birth these 4 babies and spend countless hours nurturing them at my breast. But I'm also ready, in a way, to end that era - because hopefully, I started a new one this week.     

I started homeschooling Sadie and Eli on Monday, and it has been quite the adventure. I was prepared as I could be, but I still didn't know what to expect. My Mom was here the first two days and I tried to tell my Dad that I needed her as my assistant, but it didn't work. She went home Wednesday and I was on my own. Eli, surprisngly, did great. He seems to love his work, especially playing with the math manipulatives.

David thinks he's one of the students, which is great. He usually sits there and colors while I'm teaching, and for the most part has handled the transition well.

Part of me couldn't believe they were sitting there doing their work - I just had to take pictures!

Mary Jo has mastered making the biggest mess possible at my feet- my housekeeping has definitely taken a hit this week. The kids are participating more in the daily chores but simply being here more, all together, makes it messier than when we are gone most of the day. 

Thankfully we can run out for some recess when needed.

And most, well some, of the week they were fully clothed.

We had some pool time,

dress up time

a little rebellion here and there....but overall I am thankful to be able to try this new venture, as overwhelming as it is at times, it has already shown some sweet rewarding moments. Sadie was the most excited about homeschooling, maybe a little too much, because there was nowhere to go but to be disappointed. She told me Monday night that I was mean - I reminded her that one of her teachers that she had was once called mean, too, but ended up being a great teacher. She responded with "You're NOT great." I took the punch fairly well and realized that she will take some time to see me as her teacher, not just her Mom, even if I'm never "great" :) 

So as I close the pregnancy and nursing chapter of my life I am opening a new one - I thought nothing could be more exhausting or fulfilling than those years but I've been sleeping pretty hard at night - and I'm seeing some promise that these years will be ones I'll cherish just as much. As for Mary Jo, she seems to have changed her drink preference, anyways :) 

Water, Play dates, and "Reawy Big Fishies"

Well my Mary Jo has taken a turn for the better - she now loves the water! While we were at the lake with my parents she just flipped the switch - which was a little scary because she suddenly didn't want any help wading in chest deep lake water...warranting a life jacket despite her protest. Speaking of the lake - we had such a relaxing few days, Church Branch will always hold a special place in my heart and I'm thrilled that my kids are making their own memories there!

 Last week I had strep, Steven taught VBS all week, I killed the car battery one night by leaving the keys in the ignitioin all day (it had been awhile, I was due for a blonde moment involving cars), but by the weekend we were all recovered and ready to play. This week has been much better - we had many fun playdates. 

Here we are at a Splash Park with some friends - I love these places - no one can drown, it's free, and a good excuse to pack a lunch and eat outside! The kids loved it, too. :)

The next day we packed a lunch again and went to see a sweet friend of mine - we've been friends since we were our children's ages, and it's always immediately comfortable hanging out with her. She is due any day with her 3rd so we had plenty to talk about - and the kids had a blast at her neighborhood pool.

My Eli isn't quite the social butterfly Sadie is, he likes other kids but takes quite a while to warm up - whereas Sadie is pretty much instantaneous with her friendships. We've hung out with another family that's going to be in the same homeschool co-op and Eli certainly likes the little boy but they just kinda play next to each other. It will come, I guess! He so sweet, so it makes up for it. 

Sadie is Ms. Social, as you can see. She's pumped because she's had a little friend her age on the street this week - once again they're immediate friends. Below is her favorite school friend, one that we plan to keep up with even though Sadie's not going back. We made quite the painting mess, and probably picked my "fanciest room" to paint in - but it was worth it to see them having fun!

Somehow I don't have any cute pictures of David this time - but tonight I had the cutest conversation. I told him we were going to camp tomorrow after church, so he said "I don't want to go to church" (I used to be shocked and upset when my kids said things like this - now I just take a deep breath and pray this is just childhood honesty). I said "Well buddy, we go to church because we love the Lord Jesus, so we're going to worship Him"

D - "Yeah...because God made me" 

A few minutes later he said "Did God make that light?"

I said "Yes" (Again, in the past I've tried to explain how God made the things we need, then gave us the brains and abilities to make things like lights, but that would be wasted on a three year old mind, so I said simply "Yes, buddy")

D- "Did God make a fishin pole?"

Me "Yes"

D- " Did He make the fishies?"

Me - "Yes, sweetheart"

D - " Did He make the reawy big fishies?"

I tried to divert the conversation at this point because he's had an irrational fear of sharks lately so I didn't want his thoughts to go there right before bed. He's at such a sweet stage and I love to see his little mind working, and hopefully some tiny seeds of faith taking root! On that note I'm heading to bed, its an early morning for me tomorrow with church, followed by a week of camp.....