Lights & Homeschool

We went to Temple Square for FFD the other night. We really enjoyed it outside of nearly freezing to death.
Isn't this picture of the two headed daddy cute in a creepy kind of way?
Just trying to keep his girl warm.
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In other news --we're getting all geared up for homeschooling. Just one more full day of school for all of my kids. Then we've got Christmas vacay, then Jonah and Celeste will be home with me for mind-filling fun.
Now that we are just about ready for the whole ordeal, we're getting excited. Even me. We've got the "classroom" set up, the books all on their way, the schedule typed up, the lesson plan figured out, and all that jazz ready.

People are asking me why I'm homeschooling. I decided I'll give that explanation here. Despite my best efforts, I imagine it will get long. So this is just for those really curious people that have too much time on their hands.

The story starts long ago, but I'll just pick up where it gets more interesting.
Jonah has been having such a hard time in 4th grade at our school. They switch classes around between a few teachers and he hates that. None of the teachers he feels very comfortable with. The whole environment is very stressful for him. His teacher is sweet but just doesn't know how to handle him when he has a meltdown. Working with a bipolar child is challenging and she often just seems to not know what to do and throw her hands up in the air so to speak. A few times I've been at the school and witnessed her inability to help him properly or I've been called from home to try and somehow salvage a messy situation. In one particular instance when I was called to the school, I felt heartbroken for my little boy who just wasn't getting the love and care that he needed at school. I haven't been mad at the school and I understand they can't be expected to leave the 99 for my 1 special boy. I think they are giving it an ok effort under the circumstances, but it just isn't enough for him.
It finally hit me. The thing is, as a parent it is MY responsibility and duty to see to it that my child gets a good education. And I think that it is perfectly fine to delegate that responsibility to a school. There is nothing wrong with that. In many cases the school can do a great job. In fact I think the school and teachers are doing a great job with Eden and Becca. Especially Becca's teacher who I think is doing way way better than I could do for her!
However, if the school fails to give my child what they need then it isn't them who will be held accountable. It will be me. And when I realized this, I realized I needed to pull Jonah out.
So a couple of months ago after school, I sat all my kids down to have a talk. I told them I felt like I needed to homeschool. I asked them if they were interested in doing that. Jonah was thrilled and had this huge sigh of relief and almost cried as he thanked me. Celeste got super excited too and said she would LOVE that! Eden said she would rather stay at school. So I said that would be just fine with me. Becca was kind of indifferent. She's gone back and forth. But I felt like her teacher was doing so well with her, that I didn't want to interrupt a good thing.
Now here's the deal.
To be honest I am a bit nervous. I worry I wont be that great of a teacher. I worry it's going to be too much time and work and I will have no time for myself. I worry about my kids social life. I don't want them being all weirded out. The first worry, I'm just going to deal with. We'll see how that works out.
The second worry I've tried to work on by setting up time with peers. Jonah has a great friend I'm trying to get regular dates set up with to hang out. Celeste also has some good friends. I've set up a little ballet class that I'll be teaching for just her and her friends once a week. I've also set up regular play dates with a friend who she really likes. They'll still be doing scouts, dance, activity days and so forth. So I think that will all be fine for them. And maybe I'll occasionally take them to a rated R movie or something so they can stay on top of all the bad stuff they could be missing at public school. (Kidding there.)
I'm not sure how long we'll do this. For now I'm only planning to do it for 1 semester. As we start homeschooling, I'll get a better idea of how it will work for us and we'll take it from there. We may love it and do it forever. We may think it's ok. We may hate it. But either way I love my kids so much and feel like my concern for their welfare and desires to see them succeed will give me the motivation to make sure they get a good quality education. And if despite that all, I still fail to do a great job, then we can put them back in school in the Fall (Jonah will be out of the 4th grade issues at this school,) and we can move on. But I'm hoping it will be a success and we love it.
There you go.

Classic Repost

You know, it's a pretty dull month in Bloggety Land. And you know what? I just don't know what to blog about. True, lots is going on, but you all don't want to hear about that. Or do you? If there's something you do want to hear about? Please let me know. I need ideas. So I thought I'd repost a classic from close to a year ago. Enjoy. This was at the beginning of my pregnancy with Charity so she's not here, *except for being a tiny morsel in my belly* but I'm thinking about making a new video if I can find the time.

*Stick around for everyone's carefully choreographed solos. Steve's is my fave.

SWS

Sorry I'm being a bit lazy here & not making it bigger. ^^^ But if you'd like to read the details on these flyers I made, just click it.

Just thought I'd use my blog to help advertise for this. A few ladies in my neighborhood & I are starting up this group for kids called Serving With Smiles. There's already a group about 20 minutes away that is doing it and it is amazing! I've taken my kids to it a couple times and was blown away. Such a special experience for my kids and I! Now we're starting a group for our area.

Anyhow, to any of my nearby friends: Think about joining us. I don't think you'll be disappointed; or your kids!

St. George

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I forgot the camera and only got a few cell phone pictures that turned out ok.
It was the best trip!!! I had so much fun hanging out with my family. I got to see my nephew Jesse poop on the potty. He's been doing it since he was 5 months old. Now he's almost 11 months.
We ate at Golden Coral for Thanksgiving dinner.
We all stayed in the same Motel. 9 rooms~ 39 of us. We all hung out in the same room as much as possible.
On Black Friday we got to go to the Temple. We had babysitters arranged for all the kids. All the adults went to a session at the Temple. It was Molly & Scott's first time through. My parents, all my living Grandparents, all of my siblings and their spouses -except Sam who is 18 were there. It was amazing.
After the session, Molly and Scott were sealed for all Eternity as husband and wife. My Grandpa Waite sealed them. It was the perfect day.

* Perfect trip *
Wish it weren't over.

Lists

So I've had this wallpaper on the floor of my bedroom, still wrapped up and ready to hang for over a month now. I finally broke into it the other day and hung about 1/8th of it. My room looks like a construction zone with that, the furniture moved around, and the ladder still sitting out. I decided I just don't like wallpapering. I don't want to do it. Only problem is, I've got to now that I started. What should I do? I could be working on it right now, but I decided I could blog instead. Give me advice on how to get myself to just do it. Thanks.

In the meantime, I will procrastinate a bit more by writing a meaningless post about things that bug me and Things that make me happy.

Bug- Reminder calls from doctors offices.
Delight- Dogs in cars.
Bug- Loud cereal or popcorn eating.
Delight- Lotion caked on my feet.
Bug- The little bit of grub that gets stuck in the corner on the floor under the cabinet, that I can't get the broom to catch.
Delight- Getting flowers or candy
Bug- People reading over my shoulder
Delight- Snuggling
Bug- Telemarketers/door to door salesmen
Delight- Seeing men shopping at the grocery store with kids
Bug- People who are impatient with kids or judgemental of their parents
Delight- Lists

Well now Charity is screaming. So I can end this and procrastinate more by just comforting her. See ya.

Ready for this?

The night before last we had a slumber party with mostly cousins. (Last Sunday we had some friends over for dinner and ended up inviting their two kids as well.) We had 12 kids here- including our 5 of course. It was wild. If you don't believe me, check out a couple of "aftermath" photos I took-
Yep. It was fun. It really was! The only un-fun part I guess was putting the house back together, but it was worth it. We'd do it again.
Charity turned 3 months old this week! She's doing really well and is still the best baby.
I found this old picture of my dad and my mom's dog that they gave to Tucker while they were here last. They loved this dog. I mean, I don't even dress up my girls as cute as they dressed up this dog.
Finally, I've got to give you warning that this next picture is not for the faint of heart!!!!
It's a picture of this lady's foot that is seriously injured. I've been helping her out a lot the past few weeks. This woman has been through so much and her story is just heartbreaking! And I'm not even referring to her foot.
You wouldn't believe it, but she actually stepped on glass and it got seriously infected. She waited too long to go to a doctor because she didn't have insurance. By the time she went in to the hospital, it was to the point where she needed surgery. She's had several on this foot now and they aren't sure if they will be able to save it. She will likely have to get it amputated. But she really wants to fight it and keep her foot. So please keep her in your prayers! Her name is Tammie.

Ramblings

I have tried to post each Sunday and missed it this time around. I just was dry and am still dry on ideas.

Today I just felt like writing about stupid things. Hope you're cool with that.

Two questions I've had on my mind lately:

1- The 3 Nephites that are still alive today. Did they get to have their families live forever with them? Or did they watch them all grow up and die :( then marry again...and again... or just all lonesome or what?

2- That lame Meatloaf song "I will do anything for love, but I won't do that". What exactly is "that"? I really want to know.

Things that I don't care about as much these days:

1- How fat my butt is.

2- TV. I've never really been big on TV, but now I'm feeling even less big on it.

Things that are making me feel great these days:

1- Steve. I am so happy to be his wife and how great our relationship is. Plus that super cute love note he left me this morning written on toilet paper. Yeah, toilet paper.

2- Charity. Babies are seriously the best things ever. She's currently snuggled up on my chest sleeping. Bestest feeling ever.

Things that annoy the heck out of me these days:

1- My chronically messy basement.

2- MICE. (We've got at least one more mouse in the house. We caught one. We've spotted another three times. Can't seem to catch it. I am afraid it's too smart to get caught. What's worse than nasty mice running free in your house? Smart, nasty mice. I know what you're thinking: "You could have seen 3 mice, not 1 mice 3x's" and to that I say "Shush!" I have enough mice nightmares as it is.)

Anyhow, besides ^^ I am happy and feeling good about life in general.

Big Announcement

Two actually.


Last night my sister Anna, a few of her buddies and I went to see So You Think You Can Dance live!!!It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! My eyes were literally filling with tears a few times during the show. Happy tears. I have never seen such amazing dancing live before and was just blown away. It was hard to stay in my seat and not get up and move. Truly. And Anna's friends were so much fun to be with too.

****

Ok. To my 2nd big announcement. I was thinking before that I wouldn't announce this for at least a few more months, but changed my mind. Mostly because a few people know and I decided I wanted to be the one to break the news to people, not anyone else.
So here it is.
Steve and I have decided to adopt. Yep. Here's a slew of questions and answers I'm sure you're asking:

Q- Are you nuts?
A- Yes.

Q- Where are you adopting from?
A- Ethiopia.

Q- What kind of kid?
A- A boy between the ages of 3 and 6.

Q- How long have you been thinking about this?
A- Over a year.

Q- How serious are you about it?
A- Very. We've prayed about it for a long time, gone to the temple a couple of times, fasted a few times about it and so on. We've done a lot of research as we've started to think it was right. And yep, it's right.
We're so serious that we have picked out an agency (based in Atlanta), and submitted our application along with the hefty application fee that made it all feel much more real.

Q- How long until you get the child?
A- I'm thinking it will be about a year till we bring him home. Could be less time, but more likely a little more.

Those are probably the most likely questions you're all asking. But if you have any more, go ahead and ask.

A special day

The woman of the hour
All the wonderful people who came out for the event
The ties

Charity with Grandma Bishop, Grandma Waite and Great Grandma Gene

The happy couple

New Kitchen and FFD

Here's what our kitchen looked like before
And how it looks now
Please ignore the table, chairs, stools and fridge that stick out like a sore thumb. I can't buy all new stuff only for looks when they are perfectly functional. That's what I tell myself to feel better anyhow.
And I still need to put photos in that frame and I have an idea for decor on top of the cabinets, but you get the idea at least.
***
On another note: Here are some photos from yesterdays' Family Fun Day


Steve looking mighty cool on that ice. (Celeste did not want to be pictured. Charity and I just hung out on dry ground.)

She did it

She's two months old today and weighs 10 lbs 10 oz. (4 lbs. 11 oz. gain since birth!) She's also smiling these days. She's such a good baby. I'm nuts about her.

New Living Room

This is what I was busy with this week...and last week too. (I decided to forgo the boring "before" pictures.) Newly decorated entry. ^ Archway with cool oversized clock shown below.
Finally got something put in that spot over the stairs. That was a life threatening task. Ladders and stairs are not a good mix.

Re-textured and colored the entry and two main living room walls. Pain in the buttocks!

10 working days mind you to slap that stuff on. Pictures aren't even making it look worth it. But in person I'm thinking it was worth it. It kind of reminds me of childbirth. You are dying while it's happening, but when it's all over, you're happy with the result.

I still want to put up some valances over the three living room windows on the other wall (not shown in these photos), but I've already gone over budge this month...

Run down

I'm hoping this is my last post with terrible cell phone pictures. We finally ordered a new camera and are anxiously awaiting its' arrival.

So here's a quick overview of the last couple weeks in our family.
Celeste started taking ballet. She took when she was 5 but got pretty burned out on it. She's finally got the desire to be a ballerina again and that of course is cool to me. I took her to her first class and watched. I got to talking to the owner while Celeste was there and by the time the class was over I was officially the assistant teacher to her class. I didn't plan on teaching ballet again, but am pretty happy about having the chance to be Celeste's teacher. We went to class together this past week and it was really fun being in there again and with my little girl. I could barely squeeze into my ballet clothes. Actually, I couldn't fit into the tights, but Celeste could. She's wearing them in this photo. I had to put on sweatpants instead. So help me, if it's the last thing I do, I'm gonna shed 20 lbs! Look what a cute ballerina she is. Last weekend we had the most fun going to St. George to see Emily run her first marathon! She did awesome and it got me wanting to run a bit more. It was so cute watching my Dad run along side her for a bit. That's him with his arms up like he's the one crossing the finish line. We were so proud of Emily!

Yesterday we all ran a 5K together. This was my first time running a 5k this year and it showed in my time. But at least I ran it all, if you can call it running.

I finished first in the family, (33 minutes), but only because Steve was pushing Charity in the stroller. Otherwise he would have whooped me. Steve, Charity and Celeste finished next.

Then Jonah finished,

Can you even see him there?^^
Eden finished next, and on her scooter :)

And after a long, long wait, Becca finally got her short little legs across that finish line feeling mighty proud of herself. The pride on her face was so adorable! This was Becca and Eden's first races.

Today we were able to hang out with a lot of the Bishop family. Tyler got ordained a Deacon today! It's always nice when Steve's parents come to town.

This week I'm gonna try and finish decorating my living room. I've worked on the painting for 3 days and probably need another couple. I guess It's a bit more than painting. It's really plastering a texture on that is colored. So far, so good. It's just time consuming.

That's all for now.

An Odd Anniversary

*If you are of a different faith, let me explain before you read this story. A "blessing" is when a Priesthood holder places his hands on your head and pronounces certain blessings upon you. Quite similar to Christ in his day. In our church, all worthy men are able to hold this Priesthood. My husband has it among many of my male friends and family.  I have complete faith in the power of the Priesthood.*

It was Conference Sunday last year that I had a life changing experience. I have told very few people about this and hesitate to write about it even a year later. But I believe it's time.
Many people may not get it, believe it or care. I write this for the rest of the people who may take something from my experience or just take interest in the intimate happenings of my life.


I'll have to start from the beginning though.
Growing up I was moody. When High School hit, I imagine I seemed to have exaggerated moodiness. When College came around it got much worse. When I was 18 and living in Philadelphia (very far from home,) I went totally nuts. I was fully psychotic. I've related to many people the funny and scary things that occurred during that experience so I wont repeat it here. I was sent to a psychiatrist by a friend who was caring enough to tell me I needed help. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. That was 13 years ago.


For 11 years I'd been off and on various medications and trying to live as normally as I could. But it was super hard! My emotions could change on a dime and would be so intense and out of control. I had lots of ups and downs, but having Steve as my husband helped settle me more than you could imagine. The depression episodes were ugly. Countless times I wanted to die. I would have an incredible sense of self loathing that would overcome me to the point where I wished I could end it. And it's no secret that I almost accomplished that once. In that case, Steve literally saved my life. I hit rock bottom more times than I can remember.


Ok. So fast forward to a year ago.
I was really depressed. Again.
I was lying on the couch speechless and motionless with sorrow. Steve said he wanted to give me a blessing. Many times I'd been given blessings, but they usually only afforded me much needed peace and comfort temporarily. I had long since given up even the thought of being cured of Bipolar. He placed his hands on my head and gave me an incredible blessing. He told me that I would no longer be afflicted with Bipolar Disorder. I went from lying there limp, both physically and emotionally, to perking right up with shock. When he was done, I looked at him in disbelief and asked him, "Did you really say that I will no longer have bipolar?!" And he said he did, and knew it was true. It soon became evident to me as well that it was true.


You may be wondering how the last year has been for me. I am happy to report that this has been the best year of my life. You got it. The best. Not because the best things happened to me. Although plenty of good things have happened. It's just that I have been able to really feel what it is like to feel normal. Before I always felt like a mess on the inside and tried to appear normal on the outside. I still get emotional, but it's not the same. Before, something very trivial could happen that could propel me to such feelings of despair, that I'd want to die. Or worse, nothing would happen and I would just feel that way. I still can be sad like everyone does at times, but the way I handle it is still in the realm of reason and rationality. This is the first time that I have had a baby and didn't have to get myself going on a nice dose of antidepressants to prevent me from going suicidal with post-partum depression. I didn't have any of that this time around! I've been off all medications for a couple years now and feel better and stronger as time passes. Some may say it was just all in mind. But I know it isn't.

I feel so grateful to God that I was able to have such a blessing and for my husband who gave it to me. It truly was a miracle.

Our Week

Bowling for FFD yesterday was a hit. I think the bowling shoes are super cool. I want a pair to wear around town.

Now for the action photos.

Eden standing back to see what happens.

Jonah was awesome! He got a few strikes.

Celeste bowled with style.

***

Also this week, Jonah finally got all those Scout awards he earned way back when. His Bear badge, Religious Knot, Outdoors Activity Badge, Leave No Trace Badge, a Gold Arrow Point, two Silver Arrow Points, Progress beads, BB Gun Belt Loop and Archery Belt Loop.

He was so proud of himself! So proud in fact that when it was time to leave for Brigg's football game he told me to hold on a minute. The rest of us got in the car and waited. He came out wearing his Scout shirt all pimped out. He said he wanted everyone to see how awesome he is.

Brigg's game was great too! He is in High School Football. He got a few tackles and blocked a punt kick too. He is amazing. And we enjoyed the view from the stadium.

***

Also this week, I got to go to lunch with a couple of old high school buddies. It was great catching up!

***

Finally, I've got a problem... My garage is giving me anxiety and bugging me big time. I am almost ready to get rid of everything in it. I can't park in it. I can hardly walk in it for that matter. When we moved here all these boxes got sloppily packed and thrown in there and the organization overwhelmed me. Not to mention I felt too crummy when I was pregnant to deal with it. Now that I'm not pregnant, I keep having a hard time getting myself out there to face it.
I've got to buckle down and get it done. After a few pressure tactics on Steve, he's starting to be willing to help out with it. He actually worked on it most of the day yesterday. I was so grateful! But you still can't park in there. And it's still really bad.

I've decided that starting tomorrow, I will only allow myself 15 minutes of computer time each day until that garage is done. That gives me enough time to get a quick check on the outside world, but takes away my temptation to put off the garage doing something more fun. Like spying on all of your blogs and facebook. Cause you guys are much more pleasant than my garage that looks like it was hit by Hurricane Katrina.

But if I am being realistic with myself, I think this is gonna take a minimum of 16 hours to do. Since I don't get large blocks of time to work, this may take a couple of weeks or so. So I'll let myself play on the computer longer on Sundays since I'll take those days off from work anyhow.