Life at Oak Grove

Once again!   During the summer my father-in-law had repaired it but this time it smell smoke...  So the washer is unplugged and we are seriously debating about buying a new washer or buying a new pair of washer/dryer... Front load or upload?   Mmmmm!   Will we move or not?   That's the question really.  And if we move, when?   In a year, two years or more?

Our dream would be a buy some land and then build by design our own house.    Round around porch with rockers on it...  A dream of mine.   School room with bookcases - lots of them.   4 bedrooms upstairs with 2 bathrooms...   Basement finished with a pool table maybe?   Kitchen a bit bigger than the one we have with an island that has electrical plugs on it...   Lots of cabinets...   Big driveway for the trailer for sure.  And maybe a pool in the backyard?  And the woods for the kids to play in it.   A wood fireplace for sure...  Hardwood floors...

Hey it doesn't cost anything to dream right?    

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

On December 19th, I went in to the hospital to have my c-section...  and we met our daughter for the first time...   After debating between two name, we finally picked Jasmine...  And to be honest, it fits her perfectly.   She is a sweet little one who doesn't wake up a lot and let mommy sleeps a night.

 Some of you might want to take a peek to our new angel.   Here's some pictures...

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

The big is finally there!!!   Tomorrow at 8:30am EST the c-section will be on its way and the baby will be born soon after that.

Pray for guidance for the doctor and all the people in the OR, peace of heart for us, fast healing and no side effect (including sciatic pain...) and so on.

I will keep you posted on how it went and to present you our new little one.

God bless.

Blizzard day here!   TONS of snow fell on the ground and it is not finished but we need to clear the driveway so hubby is outside with the snowblower and removing that white stuff from the ground...   Unbelievable how much snow is on the ground so far and we are not even in winter yet!!!

The snow banks are pretty high already.  What will it be by the end of winter?

I just caught my eldest trying to go over the fence to go play with the kids neighbor....  I wouldn't be surprise that by February they might be able to just go over it... He is already able to come to the living room window to say high... Mind you he is pretty tall but still... It has been ages since we had that much snow.

People on the street are having trouble driving so hubby went to help them.   We need gas for the snowblower as well.  Somehow our containers ended up in the shed so we have to borrow the neighbor's.  Thanks goodness for a1 good neighbor.

Now I have to go... the kids are back in and they are snowed up!!!

 

Next week on Wednesday my c-section will happen...  So far I am the only scheduled one which means I will be more than likely done in the morning (hopefully early morning).   So next week on Thursday baby will be 1 day old already...  WoW!

My blood pressure seems to be controlled.   Yesterday it was fine.  But this morning I do have abit of a headache... so I will take it slow again.   Did a bit too much last afternoon and night.   But I had a great time with my hubby during supper at Red Lobster.   Delicious!

Got myself some new boots too!  Very warm and comfy...   I needed some to be honest since I discovered this year that my shoe/boot size was not adequate...   Got some orthotics as well and got my feet measured by specialists so that's how I know.  Go figure...  You go for years with a certain size of shoe thinking you are okay but really you are not.   Ah!    However, for boots that's another story... Boots are bigger and more bulky so my size is slightly similar that my previous size of shoes...   I got Salomon boots and believe me they are worth it!!!  

How many children do you have / homeschool?

We have currently 3 children and I homeschool my oldest.   My 3 year old is also interested in school and sometimes he would sit with us to work in his preschool book.   We are expecting child #4 with a c-section schedule for Dec 19th.

How long have you been homeschooling?

I started homeschool during the summer of 2007.   This is our first year and we enjoy it very much.

Have they always been homeschooled, or did they ever go to public/private school?

My oldest son has been in French Catholic school for 2 years before we decided to homeschool.  He did his junior and senior kindergarden at that school.

Do you plan on homeschooling until graduation?

Hopefully yes but I am taking it on a day to day basis.   So far so good... We are planning to continue next year!

Do you belong to a co-op?

No.   I want to take it easy for the first year and not put too much on our schedule.   There was one in my area but I think it is not meeting anymore as most of the families had teenagers...

Do you school all year long, or use some other schedule?

I would see it is sort of year long but we do take some time off.  For example, right now we are taking it slow with the coming of the baby and me having high blood pressure...  We are doing minimum schooling in the morning.  Also, we will take a break during Christmas time as well as most probably February.

Do you use textbooks only, or do you like to supplement with other materials?

We do have textbooks but we also complete with other things like computer software as well as devotions and outside activities.   This past Fall, we had swimming and gymnastics.   For Winter, it will be mostly playing outside and getting adjusted with the new baby.

Are field trips included in your school plans, or are they just family time?

I would say both - in September the homeschool association organized a field trip to Upper Canada Village and we had a good time.  We also go to museums in the area as we have a membership with three museums in our city.  This membership allows us to access other museums for free when we travel - which we take advantage!   Our trip to Toronto allowed us to go to the Ontario Science Centre for free...

Do you and your kids do crafty stuff together for school time?

No much... We will do something this week for Christmas decoration and we plan to do a Gingerbread Nativity Kit as well.   However, I am planning to introduce more crafts and sciences in 2008.

Would you consider everyday household life stuff ‘home ec’?

We already do!   There is cooking classes in a grocery store for the kids and we do cook with them at home too!   My oldest helped his dad to install Windows Server the other day and they learn how to take care of the household with both of us... They help with folding the laundry, emptying the dishwasher, putting the dirty dishes on the counter...etc.

Do you have any advice for new homeschoolers?

I would say to start slow with the basic to be covered and then when you feel comfortable to add more things in your planning.   Don't get discourage and take some days off.   It is a family affair and it takes adjustment for sure!  Investigate before diving in the homeschool...  We had about 10 families in my church and I've sent an e-mail to each moms to ask them questions.   A friend even sat down with me to show me how she schedule her day.   She took the time to encourage me.   Go to a homeschool conference before making your final decision.   Get connected with homeschoolers and don't hesitate to ask questions.   Read books on homeschooling - it was a great help too!   Be realistic...  some days are harder than others.... 

Do you have advice for homeschoolers with little ones under foot?

Encourage them to play by themselves but if it doesn't work take out the playdoh, the crayons and paper, educational toys related to their age, or even a video which they can watch without disturbing the older siblings...

Yesterday I went to visit my OB - regular appointment....  but I had the surprise to learn that I had a bit of high blood pressure which I never had the other three pregnancies.  However, it is no critical to the point that I need bed rest or be admitted at the hospital or be on medication.   So praise God!   But I still need to slow down, don't do too much and relax...  MMmmmM!   So no running around anymore...  No doing too much either I guess.

So if you read this, I would appreciate some prayers to control this and for me to learn to slow down.   We have decided to slow a bit the pace for homeschool since we have the feeling that Alexandre is a bit in advance... and I want to keep things until May or June.  He is more than half-way in his MathUSee and half way the second book for the reading program in French.... Can't go in book 3 yet since it is for grade 2...  So it won't hurt him to have a few days off - or weeks off I guess.   I will do a couple of things in the morning but not as much as before.

Gymnastics is finished for the Fall.   Winter session starts in January but since I can't drive for 5-6 weeks... well I decided it would be better not to overdo it.  So hopefully there will be space in the Spring session...

WoW!   My tree is up... First day, we put the tree up and then the christmas lights.  As usual I tested the lights before putting them in the tree and they were working fine.   Once up in the tree though... one set had the green lights not working.   Solution?  We decided to remove one green light from the other set.   Now our tree has only blue and red lights but to be honest I don't really care this year.   I don't feel like figuring out what went wrong with the set of lights.

The next day, we put the decorations in the tree.   It all starts with the memories ornaments - Halmark and Carlton Cards ones...  and also the photo balls...   and the regular ornaments.   Then I was thinking of putting the other Christmas balls in the tree - the ones we made with glass ornaments and paint but Jérémy kept playing with them and broke one.  So we have a couple in there tucked inside the tree in a way but not too much.   Somehow I feel my tree is missing something but hey... for the safety of my exploring child, I prefer not to put too many balls this year.  

Last step is to put the star at the top of the tree which is my husband job every year.  

I think the kids love it...   I do - even if it is missing some balls in there...  

I do have a few more ornaments to put in but the kids needs to decorate them with glitter glue.   I bought some felt ornaments at Micheal's and we will do them sometime this week.    Oh and there is the baby first christmas 2007 ornament that needs to be put in but I want to wait until the baby is born.   And I  know that this child will have a grandchild ornament as well... 

Some ornaments we possess are Super-Heroes ones...  I suddenly realized that we do not own the Wonder Woman ornament - and that there is one at Halmart this year.   I've send it to hubby but I am not sure if he will get it for me or not...   We shall see!   It is not his thing to be honest.

Next step: I want to do a Nativity gingerbread kit with the kids.   That will be something interesting to do...  I will give you more details on that one soon...

My friend Heidi at Reviews By Heidi is having a contest to win a copy of For Parents Only by Shaunti Feldhahn.  You might have heard of her previous books; For Men Only and For Women Only...

To participate you just have to leave a comment on her blog...  You can access the specific page of the contest here....

Blessings!

Well...  Three more weeks to go - three weeks where I sure hope I can sleep well at night.   Right now, there is only one side I am comfortable and after a while my leg hurt.  So I switch sides and since the baby is mostly on that side it hurts even more so back on the original side...  ARG!   Back is out of question obviously...

I do have a body pillow... but somehow it is not doing the comfy part this time.   So I take the sleep I have and pray that I will go through my day - homeschooling included!

Another issue we have is figuring out what to do for when my mom will come down.   We lost our guest room since Jérémy is in there...  So we thought to put the three boys together but I am wondering if this is wise...   We need to go borrow a single bed at my in-laws - Alexandre will sleep on this one directly on the floor and mom will take his bed.   Dominic's bed we can move easily...

Talking of bed - I was away for the week-end at a leadership training with a bunch of other women from my church.   My dear husband decided to vacuum under our bed which means removing the mattress than the splitted boxspring.   Problem is the footboard broke.  Oh he fixed it all right but now we need to glue some wood and color it...   I guess there was not enough screws holding it!   Oh well... It is just furniture after all...

Jérémy is turning two today!  

A two year old who likes to follow his big brother.   A sweet little boy who is our little birdy since he makes his nest when he goes to bed.   A gentle little boy who takes cares of the baby dolls at Sunday School.

He is growing so fast.   He is a little sponge trying to learn a lot.   He likes to repeat after us and to makes us laugh...

I love you my son and I pray that God will guide you all your life.

 

This morning, I'm up early somehow... 530am.

I go downstairs and see white through the windows of the main door.   But I am unsure if it is really white or not.

So I get in my office and look through the windows.   What do I see?   A picture from God - literally.

In front of my house there is a small tree which is in the same family as a lilac tree.   There is snow everywhere (first snow!) and beside the tree a wild rabbit just sitting there.   Oh I wish I was equipped to take a picture of this magnificient picture.   It's still dark outside... but the settings is just perfect!

I thank the creator for this postcard just for me...  I can't wait to tell my husband about it!

Like I mentioned earlier I went to the Toy Warehouse Sale in my city.  A first here!!!  Here's the deals I've found...

- Graco Travel System for 155$

- Narnia book for 10$ an edition that would have cost 40$ when it came out a year ago...

- DK readers books 10 books for 10$   I got the level 1 and level 2

- Mr Dressup activity books 1$ each

- Rescue Heroes books 1$ each

- Giant puzzle

- 3D paper construction  looks fun to do for 3$

- Another DK book about Explorers for less than 5$

As you can see, there was good deals... Lots of things for little girls too!   but since there is no niece in the family yet...

I am glad and hope that this sale will be back next year.   I was able to get something for one of my nephew.   Then we went to ToysRUs and found something else for another nephew...  Now I just have to covered one other nephew (hey what can I say only boys in the family) and I will be done for the boys...

Only thing left is husband (birthday and Christmas), my mom and my in-laws...

We have this new warehouse sale in my city until the end of the month.  So this morning, I am going with my in-laws and hope to be able to finish my christmas shopping for my nephews and a little bit of stocking for my own kids.

I've heard good things about the sale.   Many friends and told me to go...   I already planned to go but was waiting for our monthly payroll to drive there.

For example, they have the Narnia books in a signature edition for 10$ instead of 44$ (canadian that is).  Still I think it is a good price.  There is a few things I want to check out... but I saw the ad on TV the other night and it is HUGE!

So to be honest I don't know what to expect.   I might be surprised...  We shall see!

This morning, I am joining my husband to the last half-day of the church planting conference Imagine.   Hubby has been involved in putting this conference together for months.  It started last Wednesday and finishes today.   I couldn't go the last two days because I didn't find a babysitter, besides there was gymnastics on Wednesday and my OB appointment yesterday.

But looks like I missed some good talks about church planting.  Oh well...   At least I was able to do school a bit... on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Made Alexandre watch his lesson 12 of MathUSee last night and he will bring his book to do at grand-maman today.   I added a few little things for him just in case.   Hard to ask my mother-in-law to do school really but he could do things by himself.

His reading has improved a lot which is exciting to be honest.  Now he takes books and read to his little brothers.  Fun!  It saves my own voice (ha ha ha).   I do continue to do read aloud though as they loves to snuggle next to me and listen.

Tomorrow, I am going to a Toy Warehouse Sale with my in-laws (NO KIDS!).   I am hoping to find gifts for my nephews and a little a stocking for my own kids.

Boy am I a mess this morning.   Woke up in the middle of the night because it hurt just to breath...  I had to sleep with two pillows on top of each other to be able to breath properly!   This morning I feel as though I have sand paper in my throat and bronchos...  

I really hope that the medication will kick in fast.  I will try very hard not to speak too much...   hard to do when you homeschool no?   So it might be Math U See, Rosetta Stone and Typing Tutor this morning.  

The sinuses are painful too!  Why in the world do I get everything worse than anyone???  

The way my breathing is I can understand the trouble Jérémy had last week.  Poor kid!  If it was like I am this morning... I can see why his coughing made his bleed a bit.

Will drink a lot today and take some honey...  Might be good for the throat!

After three kids and the husband it is now my turn to be sick... bronchitis and sinusitis...  GREAT!

But there is a scripture that says in everything we need to be thankful... so here's what I am thankful for:

- that even though I waited two hours at the hospital to get checked it took less than 5 minutes to get the prescription!

- that I wasn't sick for the event on Friday... it would have been a bummer to miss it!

- that it is nothing in fact to have bronchitis and sinusitis... it could be worse!

- that it wasn't pneumonia....

- that I am able to determine right away when it is bronchitis... Good thing I know myself!

- that I had my Old Schoolhouse magazine with me to kill the time while waiting!

- that my husband volunteered to go get my prescription - wht a sweetheart!

- that I could drive to go to the hospital and not walk for hours...

- that we are free in my country (after all it is rememberance day!)

- that my kids are obedient when it is bedtime... like right now!

- that I have a roof over my head and that even though I have some discomfort during the night I have a bed... a real bed!

- that I have children to greet me when I get back home!   Oh the joy to hear your joy when they see me!

Yes even though I am sick, I am thankful....

Good morning...

Tonight we are having our first event.  So please pray for this.  We did some advertizing - on the christian radio in town, on a secular radio (a university one) and some posters at the dorms of a university.   We don't know what to expect.    A group from the National House of Prayer will be there to pray during the event.   A youth group from Maniwaki will show up...   Many seems excited about it... which is cool.

However, there is sickness in the team.  We go hit pretty bad during the last week or so.   Us as a family but others too!   Last night Rob wasn't feeling much and I was a bit depressed.... and stressed for the two of us.  This morning I feel dizzy...

Check out our website H.E.A.T. Worship House.

Obviously it won't be attractive to many people but we are trying to reach a specific group.   We got comments on our facebook page about not doing this for a broader group of the population.  

We got told that where we live, it is harder to start something new than any other city in Canada for some reasons. 

So please pray that everything goes well tonight.   We are excited but a bit nervous about it.

Homeschooling is better this week.   Got a lot done last week.   Alexandre is better than me at typing...   Should I start doing Typing Tutor as well???   Mmmm!  Something to consider!

Jérémy's croup turned into bronchitis.  The poor little one had some rough nights...  Now he is on medication and he has a pump to help him breath.   Need to keep track of this.    So I made little sqares on the calendar to make sure I am not missing a treatment.   When done I checked the sqare off.   Medication is 3 times a day - pump twice a day.   OUF!

Last swimming course was last night.   I was disappointed because my kids didn't pass...  But with the problems we had with Dominic I shouldn't be surprised.   Alexandre however missed only a few things...  Bummer.   So we need to practice his crawl and his back swimming.  Then he will pass.   But it was his first time with swimmer 2 which is harder than what he used to do.  Besides he was the youngest one in the class from what I could see.

So we still have gymnastics for a few weeks...   Now I need to decide what we will do for January.  Husband thinks we should postpone until Spring but I would really like for them to do something in the phys ed department.   So I need to see my options...   But deep down it might not be wise with the c-section planned for Dec 19th.

Today I will homeschool again and do some referee work if needed between my young ones... Oh the joy of staying at home with your kids...

... bookkeeping it is... This week-end was mostly spent doing the year-end stuff for the business.   Not my forte but it has to be done.   I don't particularly enjoy it... no wonder I switched from accounting to information technology when I was in University.  To top it off, I found some errors in the quarter payments... which means I need to adjust for this year.   Not impressed with myself whatsoever!

But it is done!   FINALLY...  A bit late this year I must be honest with myself.   I really need to organize myself and not procrastinate.   But with 3 kids and homeschooling... plus being pregnant I had little energy when afternoons came.   So I had to find a time where hubby would take care of the kids and I doing the accounting.

Not easy when you know your little one - that's Jérémy - is having a bad case of croup...  Since Thursday night... poor kid.   Wakes him up in the middle of the night but he doesn't cry - just cough.  Barking sound is almost all gone... but still I feel for him.

I also organized my files for the bookkeeping for 2007-2008.   Now I just have to keep up-to-date and organized the tons of paperwork to file in the filing cabinet.   PWEEH!   A never ending job it seems...

Well, I should go... The kids will be up any time soon and I need a shower!

Trick or Treat.  Smell my feet.  Give me something good to eat.   Not too big.  Not too small.  Just the size of Montreal.

Yes.  This is the little things my kids were saying while walking the roads last nigt!

 Aren't they cute?

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

You must be wondering what the heck I am talking about in my title...

Last night - Halloween...  Warm night to be honest...  Surprising!  We walked a few streets, the kids went to bed later than usual...  I walked with them since Daddy wasn't feeling so hot himself.   Result?   My back is killing me this morning with a tiny bit of sciatic pain going down one side.    I didn't sleep much somehow - too much exercices maybe?   Anyhow, I was awake at 430am and then decided to get up at 530am...  Couldn't sleep so go up...  Should have stayed down though.   I'm a grump...

This morning I had an appointment with OB.   Dear doctor moved his practice so it took us about 45 minutes to get there... while usually is was 30 minutes.  Oh well, I am at the end of the pregnancy three appointments before the baby is there and then one 6 weeks later.  Got a date too!   19 of December is the c-section date but since he switched hospital as well... well there is a new routine to go through.  The hospital will call after week 32 and I will have to go for a blood test the day before my c-section.   Crumb!   Oh and since it is my 4th c-section well it will be a vertical cut to avoid problems while they sew my back.   Double crumb!   But the bright side is that we will have the baby before Christmas.  I should be back home on the 22nd of December.

Oh last night also, we had a record trick or treaters somehow...   Husband decided to put one of the disco ball outside and it was spinning round and round with bright colors.   Usually, people would just walk past us...  This time, not so.   Dominic wanted to go to the bathroom at one point and we stopped home.   Emptied their bags.  Well daddy had to give some of their stash to keep up with the demand.  Our neighbor ran out as well and ended up giving some $ at the end...   Next year, my husband is planning something bigger with fog machine and many disco lights (all the ones we got for H.E.A.T.) and so on.   It was a big success!

Wishing an Happy Halloween to all my friends on the net and in town...

You might be wondering why I am not updating my blog often anymore...   The reason is simple: I am out of time... When I have a minute to myself, I take a nap (which is well deserved by the way!). 

Alexandre is doing well with school... MathUSee completed with other math books, French in books and Rosetta Stone, Typing Tutor, even English.   He takes the time to read more and more even at church during worship and the words being on the screen.   I'm proud of him.   I'm proud of myself... even though there was some days where I was REALLY discouraged.   Last week was hard.  Trying to motivate him while he wasn't feeling too good.   Fortunately, I had some good friends who encouraged me.  

Gymnastics was good last week.  Both of the boys loved them.   It is kind of tricky to keep Jérémy busy for more than one hour but it is feasable... Swimming is almost done... two more lessons to go.   Both Dominic is Jérémy are doing good lately.   Prayers are powerful let me tell you!   Whatever was the problem before seemed to be gone.   Go figure...

I am preparing slowly but surely for the arrival of child #4.   I removed all the games that were in Jérémy's wardrobe (only the puzzles left now!) and even think of potty training him...   At least he is used to sit on the potty or the big toilet even though it is quite rare that he does his pee there.  I want to be done my Christmas shopping before the end of November as I won't have the energy or motivation to do it after that...  If only we could find a good desk for Jérémy's room so that I can put back the one in the baby's room so I can organize the baby clothes.

Alexandre is also doing chores more and more...  This morning, he even took care of the breakfast of his brothers while I was dealing with something else with my husband.   Impressive! 

This week is take it slow week...  Alexandre has croup somehow but he still can go to gymnastics today.  He is really excited about it.

So we are taking it slow.  Yesterday he was not feeling too good so we did only a lesson of Math U See Alpha.   We filled the humidifier for the night and today he is doing better.  Still coughing though but better than yesterday.  So we did some more maths today but this time in his Reader Rabbit book and we revised shapes but 2D and 3D ones.  

This afternoon is gymnastics so Jérémy is having his nap this morning.   I woke them up at 630am this morning, we had breakfast then off to the chiro and Wal-Mart to complete our boxes for Operation Christmas Child.   Life lesson this week is about blessings the poor.   We are making 6 boxes this year as we will be 6 in the family by the time Christmas arrives.   Yep!   It looks like my c-section will be before Christmas so baby will be with us at home on Christmas day.   I should have a confirmation on the date next week when I see my ob (which by the way has the same first name and last name as my husband... no kidding!).  

Right now, Alexandre and Dominic are doing puzzles and playing with a game that has shapes to fill in some pictures.   As I said, we are taking it slow since Alexandre is not feeling top shape...   When he speaks it is as though he will loose his voice.

So this is the week so far.   Amazingly, I am not stressed about the fact that we are not advancing as fast as I would have liked.   After all there is other more important in life...

... We already have swimming on Thursday nights.   Now we will have gymnastics on Wednesday afternoons.

Just learned about it two days ago...  It started early October so we missed three lessons but we got a prorated price because of this.   It is organized through the homeschool association in my area.   Somehow, I didn't get the e-mail back in September to announce this.  Got it on Tuesday night.   I was very disappointed so I contacted them.

Good news is that there is still some places.  So I can register both Alexandre and Dominic.  Oh fun!   I wish I had this kind of activity when I was younger.   Since it is not the regular classes but recreational, we don't have to buy a uniform and there won't be badges and no report cards.  But they will be with otehr kids and socialize as well as having fun doing exercises...  

So starting next Wednesday we are having a new schedule!!!

We got the glasses!!!!   Dominic is all happy about it.   Here's what he looks like.  It doesn't show much but the glasses are blue and the side of them are brown.

Slide shows, scrapbooks, photo ecards, and more

I figured it out!   Hear this out...

 Click here to hear the radio ad for H.E.A.T. Worship House Event!

 

 

Wondering what I am talking about?    H.E.A.T. Worship House is having it's first event.   See the poster we got made by our graphic designer...

We are quite excited about it...  We also have a christian radio passing an Ad for the event.   I am trying to figure out how to incorporate this mp3 in my blog so that you can listen to it... not sure I will figure it out but hey it's worth trying...

Check out the website:  www.heatworshiphouse.com !

Okay, here's an update on Dominic...   I think I had mentioned that we will have to go see an eye specialist for him because his left eye was going inward at times...  if not, well here you go...

We had the appointment last Friday.  Took nearly 3 hours 30 minutes to complete the whole appointment.   Alexandre and Dominic were good.  Thanks to mother-in-law, Jérémy was with her during that time...  Not sure he would have had the patience...

Anyhow, we met the specialist  a gentle man who explained to us that Dominic had strabismus but that it didn't affected his vision so no patches...  Two options: glasses or surgery.   His strabismus is not very bad... only 1.75 on both eyes while there is cases worst than him.   So we are going for glasses for now at his recommendation and then check if it helps.   Last resort would be the surgery...   I pray that we avoid this option as much as possible but I know he is in good hands.

So we got a price for glasses at the clinic but we wanted to shop around.   There is would have been 226$ for one pair of glasses.   We went at two other places.   First one was about the same price... so this was not an option.   Then we went to Costco.   They didn't have a lot of choices but there was one pair that seemed to be nice on him.   To top it off, there was a coupon that week for when you get another pair of glasses it would be 60$ rebate on it.   So we got two pairs for 140$ believe it or not...   If one pair breaks then we have a spare right away...  Same model... no fluffy thing for a little 3 year old.

Now when we get them, we will have to make sure he wears them as much as possible...   which means training.   He needs to understand that glasses are fragile.  I promise to post a picture when we get them!!!

...being judge about something that you know is totally untrue?   How have you reacted?

I am asking because it happened to me recently and I am still fuming inside...  I think it is totally unjust from someone to pass comments on things of your life when that person don't even know either your past or how dedicated you are....

It frustrates me like there is no words for it. 

I want God to always remind me how I felt so that I will not this to someone else.

This week is a slow week in homeschool...    First we had a trip to visit my mom on Monday.  It has been ages since we went down.   It took some convincing to be able to go down but I think we had a good time.

Yesterday, husband and I had a meeting during the morning so my mother-in-law came over to look after the kids.   Alexandre had the duty to do some Rosetta Stone and some Typing Tutor which he did.   They also went for a walk and got some Timbits thanks to grand-ma...

Today is homeschooling...  We did some French reading and I am pleased to say that Alexandre is doing well in this area.  We also did some Maths.    And they did some K*Nex construction after lunch.  Right now, Alexandre is helping Dominic with the computer...   Dominic loves to play with it too!

Tomorrow, we will do homeschool again but then on Friday we will do what we can because we have an appointment for Dominic with an eye specialist.   The poor kid has a lazy eye which goes inward.   So we will know what we need to do to correct this on Friday.   Will he have glasses or a patch???  

Right now I am letting the bread machine preparing the dough for pizza...  Pizza!  Homemade....   Mmmm!  Delicious!

I admit I am a little bit late but hey I was not on my PC for the last couple of days...  So since Monday was our Canadian Thanksgiving, here's what I am thankful for:

• My God and My Saviour


• My husband who is devoted to his family


• My boys who knows how to keep mom busy...


• The new baby


• My mom


• My in-laws


• Living in a free country


• Being able to homeschool


• That everyone is healthy in the family


• My friends wherever they are located at this moment


• The contracts for the business


• Having a roof above our head and food in the fridge


• My three sponsored kids from Compassion


• ...

During the week-end we had supper at my in-laws and we went down to see my mom on Monday.   The day was good I think...  But we shall see in a week or two how it will come back... We never know.

Last week, I went for my sugar test... hi hi  actually it was the gestational diabetes test.   So I drank the sweet drink and waited 1 hour...

Later that day - I had a big down of sugar.   Boy did I felt weird...  

Last night, my OB called and I need to redo a test... My husband talk to his wife and they are sending me a new requisition.   Problem is I have no clue if I need to redo the whole test or just the urine one...

I don't feel good this morning... Dizzy and bizarre.   Headache too!  

With Jérémy I was borderline when I did this test...  Maybe this time I am over!

Last week-end we decided to surprise the kids!   It was homeschool week-end in a way since we went to two field trips in Toronto...  First stop the zoo!   All that time they thought we were lost to get to the trailer (ha ha)... when we got to the zoo at 9am on Saturday oh boy! what joy they had.    It was a great time...  if only Jérémy would fall asleep when he is tired though...  but no this little one want to see everything.   After a day at the zoo we surprised them once again by bringing them to Chuck E Cheese.  A first in our family but oh FUN FUN FUN!   We will go back for sure.  The kids loved it especially our oldest...   Now I am wondering if this is a christian company because they passed a Veggie Tales song on the screen.  Anyone knows???

The next day, we drove back home but before we went to the Ontario Science Centre to spend a couple of hours there.   We were able to go free because we are members of some museums in our area which are part of a network around Canada and the States.   It was fun again and the kids were able to explore different things. 

Check out some of our highlights of the week-end below!!!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

You must think that I am crazy but I am so excited about the fact that we can pull our RV with the Suburban that I am actually thinking about next summer vacation.   We want to go on the road this time...  for at least two weeks...

Our options:

1) Prince-Edouard Island and New Brunswick

2) Pennsylvania

Now with the baby being 6 months old by then... I wonder what would be the best option.  Not to mention that I would prefer having the birth certificate in hands and the passport of the little one... (need the birth certificate to apply for the passport... and since it can take a while to get the birth certificate well...)

Our best bet would be East Coast it seems...  but just to be safe and to educate myself, I've ordered the travel guides of all the places above this morning.   I really want to go to Pennsylvania in a near future.  But it has been ages since I went to the East Coast (I was maybe 2 year old when I went... ouf!).

So I am planning - my little fun here...

Why or why do I need to deal with some things sometimes???   I am frustrated about a couple of things nothing related to homeschooling fortunately.  But other stuff...  I don't want to go into details because I don't believe that a blog should be a place to vent about people but I do need prayer in this area.

I trust that God can guide others to pray for me.   So you will understand why I am not giving more details here.   I just needed to ask for prayers.

Apart from that, the day is good...   Husband went to meet with two clients (one in the morning, one in the afternoon).  We need to bring some stuff at Value Village a second-hand store to empty the garage...  Alexandre is doing his maths right now, Dominic is bring very nice with Jérémy and Jérémy is over his temper tantrum of this morning.   OUF!   Already I am a bit tired but I will go with the flow trusting that God will give me strength, patience and understanding for the other stuff.

In Him...

It is going well... I must say that I am impressed.   Yes there is some days where the younger ones are a bit a pain in the butt and there is some days where I don't feel like it but I can see the benefits of homeschooling...

• Alexandre do not have to be rushed out of the house in the morning to catch his bus at 7:35am.


• No lunch to do in the morning....


• I can sleep a bit more in the morning...


• Alexandre is not chewing his nails and skin around the nails.  He is more calm.


• No bad influences, or bad TV shows or any other things I didn't like from last year.


• Having fun with my boys


• Being flexible in our time... if we want to go out we can.

And so much more...

Now I have to think about incorporating sciences, field trips, arts, and introducing piano somehow...

Swimming is going well...   Math U See primer book is almost done.   He just completed the first book of Je lis... J'écris... which is a reading program in French I bought.  

So I am satisfied.   Not worried anymore.   Not stressed about it anymore.   At peace with my decision more and more every day.

Like today, I need to pack for camping and we will go to the trailer for the week-end.    We might even leave in the afternoon - talk about freedom!

Wondering what I am talking about?

Some of you know we had problems with the van.  Motor died on us while on our way to visit my mom...

So we considered our options for a little while.  Had only a vehicle for that time.   A dealer lented us a Suburban for the field trip we did two weeks ago.  Nice gesture!

We decided to go ahead with changing the motor but a used one... cheaper that at the dealer believe me!   Then we still considered our options...  Got the van back last Thursday.   But the motor didn't seemed to run as smootly as before.  Was it just me?  

We had a serious discussion about our options the following day and decided to go check out a vehicle in our city.   We tried it...  We loved it... We got a quote for the van...  We bought it...  We got it yesterday!

So here's our new wheels!

It's a 2007 Suburban which can pull our RV.   Now we can plan vacation outside of our province...   Rest of Canada and USA, here we come! (in the future that is! One of the first place I want to go for sure is Pennsylvania....  Heidi, I can't wait to see you again!)

I taught Alexandre to tie his shoes today...   It took him about 15-20 minutes to get it!   I am so proud of him....   Should have done it a long time ago...  He needs practice to go faster but he can do it himself now!

My brother-in-law and his wife would like to adopt a little girl.   They had learned that there will be a pre-trial next week and that there is a possibility that the judge will make a final decision regarding this case at the pre-trial...

They really hope to have that little girl.   Even their son is quite attached to her.  Actually, everyone in both families like her a lot.

Please pray that we will have good news...   Personally I would like a niece in the family as we have a bunch of boys.   Don't take me wrong, I love the boys in the family but some feminine touch is missing...

This is a wonderful recipe... We got it at the kids cooking course last year.   Just made a batch and I had to share it with everyone...

Ooey Gooey Chocolate Brownies

Makes 12 large brownies or 24 small

Ingredients:

• 1 package chocolate cake mix


• 1/2 cup melted butter


• 1/3 cup milk


• 2 eggs


• 1/3 Caramel Sundae Syrup


• 3/4 cup chocolate chips


• 3/4 cup SKOR toffee baking bits

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9x13 inch pan.


2. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, melted butter, milk and eggs.  Stir with a wooden spoon until well blended.  Press half of the mixture or a little bit more evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.   It will just cover the bottom of the pan.   Bake for 6 minutes in the preheated oven.


3. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips and toffee bits over the top.  Drizzle the caramel sauce across the top.  Spread the remaining brownie dough over the top. Return to the oven fo an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or just until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clear.  Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Hint:  Spray your knife with cooking spray to make it easier to spread the batter.  It will be very sticky...

This afternoon, we decided to attack the basment!   In more than 4 years living here (not counting the 4 previous years before that) let me tell you that we had a bunch of junk and other stuff to get rid of.   So a lot will go to Mr. Garbage Man and a bunch will go to a second hand store...

Now, another section has to be done but for today I am quite happy with the results...  

Why in the world have we waited SO long to do this?????

We are getting the van back today... hopefully if someone comes and pick up my husband to go get it that is... It is amazing how much you realize how nice your vehicule is even though it is an older model...

But the motor has been changed...  ended up changing other stuff too but they did not called about that before hand.  So we told them that usually you should call before changing anything else...  as if!   So they removed one hour of labour because of that...

Got a call from the contract we have been waiting for...  Technically, the boys can start next Monday.  Which is good news but we want the contract in hand before we go in.  

Now we need to pray seriously about what to do with that truck we are looking at...  Black Suburban... really nice too!   We were waiting for that contract to come in to decide...  So we will talk about it later.

 

" Don't feel totally, personally, irrevocable responsible for everything.  That's my job.  Signed, God."

Since I've started the year, I am taking the habit of doing daily devotions in the morning...   There are days where it is harder than others but most of the time I am doing good.

This morning though, while reading the part called "Readings for reflection" which was about poor people, it made me think...

It sort of said that poor people are often more patient in trials, rich in hope and strong in adversity.   They bear witness every day that God is present in their lives...   Remember Luke 12:27-31?   This is what we should not forget...  God do take care of us even when we don't see the end of the tunnel.

To be honest, we learned this important fact this year.   In North America, we tend to forget that God is taking care of us in ALL circumstances.  We have it easy really...   2007 was a year of trust in our family.   Trusting that the LORD will take care of us... and He did indeed.   And He continues.  

I give thanks for what He has done so far and what He will do in the future.   May I ever forget how He took care of us during a harder time in our life.

Hallelu Yah!  (which means Praise the LORD!)

Ever thought that you have not accomplished all you wanted to do?   This is what I feel right now...

Even though we did devotion, a whole lesson in French reading, writing, Maths and a cooking lesson with the Pumpkin Chip Muffins... mmmm! good!

Still I feel as though we should have done more than that... 

Alexandre was very helpful at one point since I had something to deal with and he took care of his little brothers by playing with them.

So I guess it wasn't that bad after all....   Just need to work on my expectations!  

On Saturday,  I had to go with my eldest at the children hospital because he was playing "Monkey jumping from the bed...".   Really we have told tell numerous times not to jump from the bed but they were still  doing it.   Well, on Saturday it happened.  He jumped and then fell on the bed of hisbrother Dominic and opened his left check under the eye.  He was very fortunate to not catch the eye....

It wasn't very big but it was opening and bleeding...  At first I thought it was just a bump so I told my husband to put ice on it... That's when he told me "No I think you will have to go to the hospital for this..."  I turned around and saw the bleeding and dear husband opened the wound to show me...   The cut was kind of curvy not straight...

So at the hospital they applied some glue and put on some tape to hold it.   Tape will fell by itself... as for the glue, well no water in the face for 48 hours...  

The worse part is the next day he was jumping from his little brother Jérémy's bed...   I guess he hasn't learn the lesson yet....

Poor child, looks like he is more prone to accidents like his mom...   Broken arm last year, a cut this year... what will it be next.   Always thought my second would be the one like that as he is my risk taker...   I guess he is a risk taker but a careful one... ha ha ha!

As promised, here's some pictures of our first official field trip at Upper Canada Village with a bunch of homeschoolers...

We had a great time even though it was very hot and humid...

A machine that holds new wool.

Inspecting the weight at the mill

Installing a new shoe on the horse...

Quilting time!

Broom making... very interesting!

Preparing for the fair - they are seying dried flowers to make a special design on the moss...

with the homeschooling organization in town...

We went to Upper Canada Village today!   Very hot and humid but so instructive.   We were blessed to have my in-laws with us as well and grand-papa did told how things worked to the boys... well the two older one anyway!

Upper Canada Village is a re-enacted village life from the 1860s.   It was so interesting to see people working at the mill, the broommaker, the shoemaker, the blacksmith, the bakery and so on...   I promise to post pictures soon but right now I need to relax and figure out supper!

This morning when I woke up, I had this strange feeling about the vehicule.  So I told my dear husband what I thought we should do before buying this old motor...

I think he needs to go to our regular dealer (the one we have been dealing with the last few vehicules) and get an idea of prices that they offer either for a used or a new vehicule.

Then, we will be in a more comfortable position to make a wise decision...   He told me he had the same feeling so we might do that.

...from God???

Yep!  You read it right.   After debating all day what we would do with our vehicule... Should we buy a new one or even a used one? (difficult decision to make since no contracts have been coming in since a few months), Should we replace the motor? (is it worth it?), Should we just live with our little ECHO? (another hard decision to make since we can have three kinds in that one...), Should we get rid of both vehicules to get a new one? (again money wise, not the best decision...)...  we finally arrived to a decision... AND NO we are not getting a new vehicule and we are NOT staying with the ECHO only...  Oh we are NOT going to buy a used one either...

We will change the motor... however, we are not going to the dealer which charge a fortune for the replacement only...  We learned during the day that some scrapyard do replace motor from other vehicules they have... (thanks to my brother-in-law's boss!).   So we called around to ask for prices...   We got a good price for a motor with labour and taxes.   This "new" motor will have 74000KM on it but to be honest, it is better that getting a new loan on a new vehicule for our finances right now.

So we decide that, and funny enough we got two calls for contracts we had been waiting since forever to hear from... BOTH should start next week or so.  UNBELIEVABLE!!!  Rob and two of our guys will be busy.   When that happened, I looked at my husband and said: "God has a funny sense of humor don't you think?".

No really...   After all the stress I had today only... and believe me I had stress (Yes Anita, I had stress!!!  seemed calm in my previous post but believe me inside it was a tornado!!!).   The news of these two contracts finally coming through is a great relief.   We felt like Job in a way (that's my husband saying) as if God was testing us all this time...   Now I trust Him but couldn't He had done it a bit earlier???   I know... I know... God's timing is not ours...  

I think I will fully relax when the guys start on the contracts.  Thank you LORD for taking care of us! 

.... yes you read it right.   We were on our way to visit my mom yesterday when a bizarre noise seemed to be coming from the motor... oh oh!  So we pulled on the side of the highway (fortunately we were only 40 minutes from home) and check it out.   A provincial police came and asked us if we had a problem.   He took information about our vehicule to let his co-workers know we were turning back and might have some problems on the way back.   He was very nice.   Thanks OPP!

On the way back... we were hoping and praying to be able to get back home.  Unfortunately, it was not the case.  The motor let go three times.  However, we were able to get back to our exit and to a gas station there.    We called CAA!  Thanks goodness we had a card!    Called my in-laws as well to come pick up the kids and I.   CAA arrived before the in-laws...   and we had been told it might took 2 hours.

Got the van towed to our car dealer... the one with a brother in christ from our church there.   It got checked out this morning....  Motor is a goner.  LITERALLY!   Should we replace the motor... 4000$ job or get a new vehicule or wait... with only a little car that can't have three kids in there?   Decisions, decisions to be made...

Husband went to see used vehicules at the dealer...  There is a 2007 Suburban there.    It can pull our RV no problem.   Now if we can get a good price on it...   We never know.

Right now, I am speechless about the whole situation.   Never thought that after getting our van go through the whole inspection and repairs last month that the motor would die on us.    I wonder if God has plans that we don't know off...

It's a calm morning right now... Everyone is sleeping, husband went to a prayer meeting early (530am) and I am waiting for our employees to show up...  

We had a great evening last night, surprising my in-laws for their upcoming 40th anniversary (on Sept 16th).   We gave them a memory book with old pictures of them and wishes from most of their brothers and sisters as well as us.   Also included was a gift certificate to have a brunch on the steam train in the region on their anniversary.   I also made the cake that everyone seemed to enjoy.   My two sister-in-laws took care of the supper (salads and main course).   It was delicious...

Only thing that happened is that one of my brother-in-law had to go to the hospital because a piece of something went into his eye while he was cutting it (he works in construction).   The miracle is that he didn't damaged his eye to the point to loose it.   God protected him...  However, everyone told him to wear his safety glasses next time...  but he doesn't like them.   I think he knows now how important it is.

Our pastor did an error like that not too long ago...  He had removed the safety guard on a chainsaw and he ended up cutting his leg...  Pretty bad cut on his thigh.  Ouch!   Now he is okay... but still why risking it???

My dear friend is back from hospital.   Last week, she got operated for a knee replacement.  She is in pain from what it looks like.   I really need to go see her...   Must find the time somehow next week...   I will try to call her amidst my many things to do today!

... while I was at cooking class with Dominic and Jérémy, Alexandre did some typing with the Typing Tutor and some Rosetta Stone.  We had done 1 hour of French reading and writing.   It was hard at times because he takes it personally when he can't do it.  So I cut the word in pieces and he can do it.

Anyhow, while I was at the class, the school called asking why Alexandre was not in school this morning.   I've sent the letter about two weeks ago believe it or not but they did not open the mail since then... NO COMMENTS HERE!!!

So I had to call back to tell them when I have sent the letter.  When I talked to one of the secretaries, I asked her if I will get some sort of official notification about this.   She told me she didn't know how it works since it was the first time they were seeing something like that....  from a French Catholic School.   I guess homeschooling in Ontario is mostly for English parents somehow...  Why isn't it  more popular in the French community I wonder.

Talking to one aunt of my husband last night, she told me she would have liked doing this but since she didn't have an university degree, she couldn't.   I told her that you don't have to have an university degree to do this.  She seemed surprised and said "Isn't the government verify?"  I told her that no, they don't.   In Ontario it is pretty flexible... not like other provinces or states or countries around the globe.   Anyhow, she encouraged me and told me she was supporting my decision.   That was nice.   I know it won't be easy at times and when the baby will be there, it might be quite busy but I am hoping that Alexandre will be able to read a bit by then... and read the instructions by himself.

Today is the day were the French Catholic School Board is officially starting school.  The bus stop is literally in front of my house...  and I was checking the two kids who were going to take the bus this morning thinking how glad I was my son wouldn't have to be rushed out of the house to take the bus.  You see the bus arrives at 7:35am and school starts at 8:10am or so.   Alexandre had breakfast and we did his devotion this morning.   After my breakfast and feeding the baby, we sat at the dining table and started school.   This morning reading and writing in French.   Then while I go to a cooking course with the two younger ones, he will stay home with dad and do Rosetta Stone and practicing his typing with the Typing Tutor.   He loves it.  

So far so good.   We are doing well.  Missed it last week when he was at VBS at a church in our city...  So I guess it is a good sign right?

... on jeans (and in nature don't take me wrong)... 

I had my ultrasound this week.  After verifying four times, the technicians said it looks like it is a GIRL!   But she wouldn't said it with a lot of affirmation.  I was wondering why and asked my OB the next morning.  He said that a couple got told that they would have a certain sex but when they gave birth surprise, it was the other sex...  So now it is possible that they will sued because the things that they got was for what they had been told to get.   

As for us, having a girl would be nice... and different.  At least I won't be the one woman in the house.   Anyhow, we got a little PJ at Costco and we showed that PJ to tell the family (well the ones we saw anyway).   When husband told his brother, he got told that he had a dream about us having a girl...  And believe me, dreams coming from my brother-in-law are powerful.  Would you believe that way before I came in my husband life, he had a dream about me...  well not me as seeing me but husband presented his wife-to-be to him and the lady had a jean jacket (which represented the tough side of me - yah right! and at the same time was soft....).   He looked at his brother and said Oh ya I know her...   Bizarre would you say, well I did meet my brother-in-law before meeting my future husband and I do have a jean jacket with had a little bunny clipped on it.   Anyway.   His dreams are always interesting.  So we shall see when I have my c-section in December right?  For now, we won't splurge on girly clothes and pink toys.   

Even though I am dying to shop pink and purple and butterflies and dragonflies and ladybugs and tinkerbell and princesses...  A few more months to wait...  Patience is a virtue.

These days I feel like staying in bed.   Alexandre and Dominic are at day camp - one being full day and the otehr half day.  Still I wish I could just be by myself.   Anyone felt like that before?

Today was very hard on me somehow...   I was a bit snappy with the kids this morning.   Wish I wasn't feeling like this.  Hate it to be honest.

I feel as though my whole schedule for homeschooling is off the chart...   I will have to get back into routine next week.   Arg!

A field trip to Upper Canada Village is coming.   Good I need this...  Hopefully hubby will be able to come.

A trip to Toronto on Sept. 1st is a possibility.  If we can't find a babysitter then husband will go by himself.  He wants to check out Sound Ministry which is described as " unlike any club, unlike any church, we combine prayer, worship, spoken word and community with dance, creativity and modern styles of electronic music."   Sounds a bit like H.E.A.T. our church plant to be honest...

... and I got the usual comments about homeschooling...

You must be wondering what the heck I am talking about...

I just called my mom. Asked her if she heard about homeschooling... oh boy!!! She told me that she thinks the only people who could do that should be people who had an education in teaching... Bottom line, I don't think she approves...

She got very emotional at one point and talked about the famous "SOCIALIZATION"... I was expecting this. I told her that Alexandre will be having contact with other children via other activities... swimming, Sunday school and hopefully the co-op. If co-op do not work, I will look into something else that is weekly... which reminds me I need to e-mail a friend about a christian club going on in the city. Can't remember the name...

Anyhow, next week, there will be lots of socialization with the SonForce vbs at a local church. No worries about this. Alexandre loves to be with others.

She also asked me if he had any say in the decision. Which we did told him and he wanted to do it.

Know what? Alexandre is not as stressed about school as he was going to school. He does not chew his nails these days. As a matter of fact, I had to cut his nails today because they were long. He won't learn about the fact that a man can marry another man via other kids, he won't spend a lot of time watching television, he won't be unsupervised in his classroom, he won't have to fight for the attention of the teacher... My letters are mailed now. He loves MathUSee and the other things we do. Now that we are doing well with these things, I feel more confident to incorporate a bit more of art or field trips. I needed some time to get adjusted... now I am more confident. Even Dominic is learning a bit. I am relieved now... no more hiding - everyone in our family knows...

A small prayer request for my friends.

Dominic's has a lazy eye (left side). What is a lazy eye? you might asked. Well it has a tendency to go inward (ie toward the nose). So we need to see a specialist for this and I won't get an appointment until mid-october. My family doctor said it could be either glasses or a patch. We shall see. In the meantime, I pray that it will correct itself or at least not get worse.

Thanks for praying for him!

I've been pondering about a name for our school....

I like Oak Grove Academy. My husband prefers Testosterone School. No comments here.

Who knows what will be the sex of the new baby. If it's a boy - then maybe testosterone school might be a better fit... but still I don't see a school named like this.

Oak Grove... An oak is a strong tree that comes from a small nut. It is able to go through storms with no problems, unless it is a tornado mind you... but it is still a strong tree. Grove is a small wooded are or plantation. My children ar emy small plantation... I tend to them, I guide them to grow strong and I teach them.

For these reasons, I like Oak Grove Academy. Sounds good don't you think? I want to print an offical page and frame it at the side of my office where I keep all the schooling supplies. We officially do school in the dining room though. So the frame will be in between the office and the dining room.

So welcome to Oak Grove Academy.

We wrote the letter, it got revised bu HSLDA Canada, we printed it, we signed it... it is now in an envelop waiting to be mailed... Along with an official copy to HSLDA Canada and another one for the school board!

Homeschooling is going well. Alexandre is zipping through MathUSee these days. He wants to do two lessons per day. I need to control it... But with Phonics and French, we are busy. I am at peace. No doubts in my mind. Still have to officially tell my mom though but these days I don't care about her reaction.

I realized that Alexandre is happy, he doesn't eat his nails anymore (something he was doing while at school), so it is a good thing. Dominic is learning some letters and numbers - printing and counting. It is nice. It is a bit hard to keep Jérémy busy but at times he goes play with blocks and then come to draw. Dominic's attention is not as big as Alexandre's but when he is tired, he takes off and go play with his little brother. Life is good so far...

... and I got the usual comments about homeschooling...

You must be wondering what the heck I am talking about...

I just called my mom.   Asked her if she heard about homeschooling... oh boy!!!   She told me that she thinks the only people who could do that should be people who had an education in teaching...  Bottom line, I don't think she approves...

She got very emotional at one point and talked about the famous "SOCIALIZATION"...   I was expecting this.   I told her that Alexandre will be having contact with other children via other activities... swimming, Sunday school and hopefully the co-op.   If co-op do not work, I will look into something else that is weekly... which reminds me I need to e-mail a friend about a christian club going on in the city.  Can't remember the name...

Anyhow, next week, there will be lots of socialization with the SonForce vbs at a local church.  No worries about this.  Alexandre loves to be with others.

She also asked me if he had any say in the decision.  Which we did told him and he wanted to do it.

Know what?  Alexandre is not as stressed about school as he was going to school.   He does not chew his nails these days.  As a matter of  fact, I had to cut his nails today because they were long.   He won't learn about the fact that a man can marry another man via other kids, he won't spend a lot of time watching television, he won't be unsupervised in his classroom, he won't have to fight for the attention of the teacher...   My letters are mailed now.   He loves MathUSee and the other things we do.   Now that we are doing well with these things, I feel more confident to incorporate a bit more of art or field trips.   I needed some time to get adjusted... now I am more confident.   Even Dominic is learning a bit.   I am relieved now...  no more hiding - everyone in our family knows...

I've been pondering about a name for our school....

I like Oak Grove Academy.   My husband prefers Testosterone School.  No comments here.

Who knows what will be the sex of the new baby.   If it's a boy - then maybe testosterone school might be a better fit... but still I don't see a school named like this.

Oak Grove...  An oak is a strong tree that comes from a small nut.    It is able to go through storms with no problems, unless it is a tornado mind you... but it is still a strong tree.   Grove is a small wooded are or plantation.    My children ar emy small plantation... I tend to them, I guide them to grow strong and I teach them.

For these reasons, I like Oak Grove Academy.   Sounds good don't you think?   I want to print an offical page and frame it at the side of my office where I keep all the schooling supplies.   We officially do school in the dining room though.   So the frame will be in between the office and the dining room.

So welcome to Oak Grove Academy.

A small prayer request for my friends.

Dominic's has a lazy eye (left side).  What is a lazy eye? you might asked.  Well it has a tendency to go inward (ie toward the nose).  So we need to see a specialist for this and I won't get an appointment until mid-october.   My family doctor said it could be either glasses or a patch.   We shall see.   In the meantime, I pray that it will correct itself or at least not get worse.

Thanks for praying for him!

We wrote the letter, it got revised bu HSLDA Canada, we printed it, we signed it... it is now in an envelop waiting to be mailed...   Along with an official copy to HSLDA Canada and another one for the school board!

Homeschooling is going well.  Alexandre is zipping through MathUSee these days.  He wants to do two lessons per day.   I need to control it...   But with Phonics and French, we are busy.   I am at peace.  No doubts in my mind.   Still have to officially tell my mom though but these days I don't care about her reaction.  

I realized that Alexandre is happy, he doesn't eat his nails anymore (something he was doing while at school), so it is a good thing.   Dominic is learning some letters and numbers - printing and counting.   It is nice.   It is a bit hard to keep Jérémy busy but at times he goes play with blocks and then come to draw.   Dominic's attention is not as big as Alexandre's but when he is tired, he takes off and go play with his little brother.   Life is good so far...

Due to financial tighteness (we are waiting for contracts for the business which seems to take forever to come in...), I had to call this morning to cancelled Alexandre's registration to a VBS at a local church next week. It took a lot of effort from me to do that. We were willing to bring Dominic to it since he didn't participate to anything this summer and his was only half-day but a full day with that was too much.

We had talked to Alexandre the night before and at first he was upset about it but then he was okay with the idea of being with my alone to homeschool. So I called this morning as soon as I came back from the chiropractor.

I got the children's pastor on the phone. I explained our situation and asked her if we could put the deposit of Alexandre on Dominic's registration and then pay only the 10$ left. Dominic being the only one to attend camp this year. She was so sorry about it and said they could do that no problem. Then somehow she proposed that they subsidize Alexandre's registration so that he could come too!... She took me off guard. I wasn't expecting this whatsoever... Tears started to come down and a lump formed in my throat. As hard it was to call and cancel Alexandre's registration, I found myself to be humble enough to tell her that it very generous and that we usually don't take advantage of these things since we can pay... She said she understood and that everyone goes through stages in life and this is only a bad stage for us right now, that they would be really happy to do this and that they would like to have him at camp next week.

Even as I write this, I have tears in my eyes. I never imagine how poor people could feel sometimes when accepting charity or opportunities like this. I don't want to forget this. After talking to my husband, he was blow away and said that someday we will return the favor to someone else. Yes indeed, it is a blessing for us, a marvelous surprise and we will make sure never to forget about it.

Husband went to a client today to try to complete the only contract we have. He also talked to another client who said that more than likely there will be something in place by the end of the week for one of our employees. Now if only the two other potential contracts could come in.... that would be better as we are in great need these days. If nothing comes... well I better not think about it. Stress is not too good for me these days!

So I pray that contracts do start pouring our way soon... In the meantime, I am thankful of God's provision for the VBS and for what we have right now.

Due to financial tighteness (we are waiting for contracts for the business which seems to take forever to come in...), I had to call this morning to cancelled Alexandre's registration to a VBS at a local church next week.   It took a lot of effort from me to do that.   We were willing to bring Dominic to it since he didn't participate to anything this summer and his was only half-day but a full day with that was too much.

We had talked to Alexandre the night before and at first he was upset about it but then he was okay with the idea of being with my alone to homeschool.   So I called this morning as soon as I came back from the chiropractor.

I got the children's pastor on the phone.   I explained our situation and asked her if we could put the deposit of Alexandre on Dominic's registration and then pay only the 10$ left.   Dominic being the only one to attend camp this year.   She was so sorry about it and said they could do that no problem.  Then somehow she proposed that they subsidize Alexandre's registration so that he could come too!...   She took me off guard.   I wasn't expecting this whatsoever...   Tears started to come down and a lump formed in my throat.    As hard it was to call and cancel Alexandre's registration, I found myself to be humble enough to tell her that it very generous and that we usually don't take advantage of these things since we can pay...  She said she understood and that everyone goes through stages in life and this is only a bad stage for us right now, that they would be really happy to do this and that they would like to have him at camp next week.   

Even as I write this, I have tears in my eyes.   I never imagine how poor people could feel sometimes when accepting charity or opportunities like this.   I don't want to forget this.   After talking to my husband, he was blow away and said that someday we will return the favor to someone else.   Yes indeed, it is a blessing for us, a marvelous surprise and we will make sure never to forget about it.

Husband went to a client today to try to complete the only contract we have.   He also talked to another client who said that more than likely there will be something in place by the end of the week for one of our employees.   Now if only the two other potential contracts could come in....  that would be better as we are in great need these days.  If nothing comes...  well I better not think about it.   Stress is not too good for me these days!

So I pray that contracts do start pouring our way soon...  In the meantime, I am thankful of God's provision for the VBS and for what we have right now.