Change of Plans

This past weekend was the cub scouts Fall Encampment Trip and though we had originally planned on all of us going, we eventually decided that just Brian and the older boys would go.

And let me be honest… I have been so excited for this weekend. A chance to do only what I wanted to do and nothing more or less. Sure I would still have one child, but any parent with multiple kids will tell you that going from 3 kids to 1 kid might as well be as if you were alone - one kid is E.A.S.Y., especially when that one kid still takes a mandatory 3-hour nap during the day and is easily entertained by cartoons and the iPad (don't judge me folks, I know y'all do it sometimes too!).

So as I anxiously waited for this dream weekend I mentally battled with all the possible things I could do with my "alone time." Finally organize the filing cabinet drawer with all the kids' drawings (a task that will probably involve throwing some things away, hence why it cannot be done with said kids around)? Perhaps pull out my sewing machine and half my craft closet and get busy with some projects? Hit up some garage sales, flea markets and antique craft shows with the girlfriends? All of the above? My Saturday night would end in refreshed satisfaction with a glass of cabernet on the couch and some chic flick on the Hallmark Channel.

Well, that isn't exactly how it went…

The boys did leave Friday night, riding together with our good friend and fellow scout father and his 3 boys, and as we are oh-so-familiar with in the military world, about halfway there our friend was recalled back to work. And since scouting rules state that a parent has to be with a scout on camping trips, that meant that his boys couldn't go (which would have been pretty devastating for our boys since they are all best buddies).

So of course the logical thing to do was move the camping trip to our back yard! This was what I woke up to Saturday morning (after a very short night since the boys didn't go to bed until about 1 am and were running through the house like hooligans at 6 am).

After breakfast, Brian loaded up the 5 boys and off they went back to the Encampment so the boys could participate in the events - shooting a BB gun, rolling down hills, eating hot dogs, and generally doing "boy" things. They were home by 6 pm, and with the crisis averted our good friend ended up NOT leaving so he and his wife come over with chili and the yummiest bread I've eaten in… well, ever! They also brought a fire pit and once the fire was roaring we roasted marshmallows and tried to keep little fingers safe from burns.

Our proudest moment was this morning when Brian and I rustled 6 little smelly, wild boys through showers, teeth brushing (and amazingly into clean clothes) and breakfast to get to church on time - and we did!

So what did I do yesterday? After cleaning up the trails of "camping boy" through the house and breakfast dishes, well I was pretty exhausted - so was Isaiah - and after putting him down for a nap (he slept over 4 hours!) laid on the couch and watched two chic flicks.

Not exactly what I had been dreaming about for the past month, but as I look back over the weekend, I wouldn't change it for anything!

Double Straight

Someone recently had a birthday in the Hannum Home… our oldest just got older! Jace starts off the round of birthdays each year and this one was the big ELEVEN. The child is getting so tall and grown up and I just want him to slow down. But I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

Of course on his actual birthday we had the traditional nacho dinner...

…and Jace's choice for cake - red velvet this year... 

Isn't this sweet? Jace wanted his brothers to help blow out his candles.

...followed by family gifts and cards. 

Then later that week we had a laser tag party with some pretty awesome friends.

I mustache you a question… Aren't they a cool-looking bunch?!

Happy Birthday my Jace Bug!!

Full Steam Ahead

We are surviving! These past couple days we've hit the books full speed ahead and both of us are still firmly holding on. Jace says some of the classes are harder, and some are easier. But one thing I've been reminded of many times a day, Jace is so very smart. Even when I ask some of the discussion questions and try to remember the answers myself, Jace without hesitation is rattling them off correctly!

His favorite class so far is Math… I suspect because it is an interactive computer course that requires no Mama over his shoulder. My favorite class is History. We are reading a book about a fictitious cabin boy aboard the Santa Maria as it made its historic journey across the uncharted Atlantic back in 1492.

The best part has been that when Brian gets home in the afternoon we are FREE to do as we please (or get done what we need to) rather than struggling over two hours of homework with Jace. It has greatly reduced the stress levels around here.

And less stress means more time to enjoy family time, like this night when we let Isaiah run around in the front yard without pants on, 'cause that's how we roll.

And more time to celebrate birthdays, like Jace's ELEVENTH Birthday today!

It truly is such a blessing and honor to be this young man's Mama. It's a blessing and privilege to be a Mama to all THREE of these little men. 

Hannum Hullabaloo School - Week 1

Our first week of homeschooling is complete.

I am so completely convinced this is God's plan for our family - mostly because I've been sick with an awful head cold all week! I rarely get sick, and usually after everyone else has gone through it, but I've been stuffy and sore since Sunday with no symptoms from anyone else. I've chalked it up to the enemy trying to thwart God's plan.

But guess what?

God wins.

Our new curriculum arrived Friday (yay!) and I picked myself up from the comfy recliner - still in my robe and eating cough drops by the barrel - to get all the new books put away. We chose a curriculum that is based in history and I'm really looking forward to rediscovering early American through a different perspective. 

Look at all those goodies!!

About 30 books later we were done and Jace was off while I put together the teaching guides. It was while I was looking through the schedule and plans that it really hit me that we were doing this, and that we COULD do this. 

So excited to start lessons Monday! 

Hannum Hullabaloo School - Day 1

We did it. After nearly 3 years of hemming, hawing, doubting, praying, researching and bugging all my homeschooling Mama-friends, we have taken that giant leap of Faith and started homeschooling Jace. Just Jace - and technically Isaiah since he's physically here too. Samuel is doing very well is school right now and has friends (and not as much "world" influence in 1st grade) so he's staying put for now. We will reevaluate at Christmas and decide if things should change.

Today is the first day and so far so good. Of course, we really didn't do any school work and are using the rest of this week to get our plan in place. I DO have a plan of course, but wanted Jace to be a part of putting one together so that he will be more likely to follow it if he is involved. It is more or less directing Jace to think he is coming up with my plan - sneaky no?  

We've put together a loose schedule of his lessons, gotten his library card, decided on the layout of the schoolroom, and eaten lunch. Now on to moving furniture and putting the rules on the walls. 

So why now? 

Brian and I realized a few weeks ago that the "world" was doing more teaching than we were, and that made us simultaneously sad and sick to our stomachs. We agreed to look into what it would take to homeschool and then make a decision the following week. We made it just 3 days into the week and both of us were reading scripture that was jumping out with God's directions.

So with hearts on fire for the Lord we jump into this new adventure with no delusions that it will be easy - but with God on our side, All Things Are Possible!