With Every Season....

With every season there comes the exhausting job of sifting through last years clothes and finding out how much I need to still buy for my kids!  I am sure other mothers out there can relate to this task.  It seems that every year I  have to buy all new clothes for my oldest, and my youngest has less and less to wear because his older brothers wore everything out.  The only safe bet in my house is my middle child, he always get hand-me-downs.  Thankfully, he still thinks this is cool and doesn't feel like he is getting cheated!  
As I sat down last night to write my list of what I need to buy, I realized that my paltry budget of $150 was not going to cut it, try $250!  Add to this the sudden cold snap and I am feeling the pressure to go shopping!  Normally I love shopping, but with kids clothes I get so consumed with finding the best deal, that I just freeze and come home with nothing.  I don't have that luxury this time, I even told my husband that I need this Saturday to go to the mall BY MYSELF, to get the boys something to wear!  My poor oldest son only has one pair of jeans that are huge (they were a hand-me-down from a cousin) and shirts that are too small.  I just hope that I picked the right weekend to find some sales!!

Help?

I am finally going to enter the world of the slow cooker but as much as I love to cook, I have NO experience with these appliances.  I hear they are great, and with how busy life is now, I could use some help with dinner.  Does anyone have any suggestions...help please???  Which options are worth paying for, and which aren't useful?

How Did I End Up Here?

So, I have two degrees in Business Management and Social Work......how did I end up teaching, not only my kids but other peoples'?!  
Homeschooling and co-op are kicking my butt this year.  I honestly think if I ever get to heaven it will be because of these 2 years that I have been homeschooling my boys!  I am so grateful that we have a cooperative where the boys can be in a classroom setting, have friends at school and that allows me to to socialize with other moms.  I never thought I would be teaching Religion to 2nd and 3rd graders, English, Composition and Poetry to 5th graders and Beginning Latin???!!! Ha!  Are you kidding me?  I didn't know ANY Latin before teaching last year.  But hey "Veni, vidi, vici!"  I guess you are never too old to learn right?  
It does take a lot of time to prep and get the lesson plans ready, but I do enjoy the break from teaching my own kids.  I am holding on, trying to get through this year, but it's tough and I hope I make it! 

Is it that time already?

So as of Saturday I am 11 weeks pregnant and I am embarrassed to admit that I had to wear maternity pants to Church yesterday.  I know it is not unusual to get bigger faster with every pregnancy, but 11 weeks?? Seriously?!  
I wore my normal "big" pants to a baby shower on Saturday and was so uncomfortable...I almost unbuttoned the top button!! So I decided the next day to take the leap and wear some maternity dress pants, but they were huge.  
Today I am just wearing a t-shirt and basketball shorts because I hate standing in the closet trying to figure out which section to choose from....regular or maternity.  Do I want to look pudgy in my normal shirts or wear a maternity shirt that is 3 times too big? I hate this in-between time when you don't look pregnant, just fat and bloated.  Does this happen to anyone else?

Number Four on Its Way!

I am assuming everyone who reads my blog is also a friend on Facebook, so this is old news, but we are expecting again!

I am just amazed at how different I feel during every pregnancy.  I fully expect this one to be the toughest, considering I have three boys to chase around.  I have already had many more symptoms than before and it has been hard, especially with homeschooling.
Everyone always says, still trying for a girl?  Truthfully, even if we didn't have three boys, we would be having at least four kids.  I have always wanted a big family, although as I get older and experience the reality of parenting, the number keeps shrinking!  
Of course I would love a girl, but I'm not holding my breath!  I will be happy and blessed with whatever God gives us.
I am just thankful that I get to have another winter pregnancy.  I get to go into hibernation and wear sweaters and appear with a baby in the spring!