I want another squeeze!

Cal is having to adjust to me being back at work.  After spending weeks home with him all day, I'm missing him big time!  I miss the girls and Mike too, but they entertain themselves just fine when I'm gone. 

I leave the house in the mornings before anyone else is awake.  This morning Mia woke up, came to give me a squeeze and then went back to bed.  Such a sweetheart!  Tonight after praying with Cal, he gave me kisses and hugs and we said our usual love you's.  About 5 minutes later he calls me, "MOMMY!  I need another squeeze!"  How do I resist that?!  But when I went to hug him, he wouldn't let go.  He said, "Mommy, I just want you to sleep in my bed with me cause I'll miss you while I'm sleeping."  :'(

Yea, back to work is tough.  But being away from my kids is harder.  It's tougher on the heart.  I don't like that part.  I'm back to living for the weekends!

Fifth Grade....grrrrr

I'm all for homework.  I think it is great practice for kids to reinforce what they've learned that day in school.  It teaches them responsibility.  We all have homework in our lives.  It may not be math problems, but it's work done at home non-the-less.

What I don't like, is busy work.  Juliet has to write a paragraph every other week.  She's given a topic, writes a rough draft one week and a final draft the next week.  Something she needs extra practice at, so it's all good.  BUT she has to write the final draft in cursive and in PEN.  Seriously?  I mean, come on now, we all make mistakes but a student practicing her cursive in PEN?  UGH.  Jules has never been known for neatness.  Her cursive is pretty neat, but it takes many attempts to get a whole paragraph mistake free!  You ask her to make a 10 slide powerpoint and she can whip that out no prob!  But cursive in ink....makes for tough Thursday nights in the Honsal Home.

Transforming a box

I ordered a large piece of furniture for my classroom and brought the box home for some fun.  Cal was having a blast in his "Rocket ship".  So we decided to paint it.  It became a family affair.

The girls are in school

So we have some time to ourselves.  What do we like to do?

Play Army Men!

SOCCER!

It's going to be an interesting season for us this year.  All three kids are playing!  Juliet plays on one field, while Mia and Cal play on another....all on Saturday mornings.  Fortunately, the U6 don't have practices during the week cause I don't know when that would fit in.  We're already out 4 nights a week between both girls practices and piano lessons.  I was going to put piano on hold until soccer was over, but they are doing so well at piano and they love it more than I ever thought they would.  I just didn't want to risk losing our spot with the wonderful teacher that they have.

So, Here we go...the beginning of the season kicked off with only the U6 today.  Opening day ceremonies will be next weekend.
*click on any pic to enlarge*

He'd still rather talk!  Go figure!

Got some advice from Daddy and...

YES!  GOOAAAALLLLL!!!!

We're off to a great start of a crazy season!

UGH

Tonight, Mike and I received sad news regarding co-workers.  We each got notification within moments of each other.  I learned that a fellow teacher, who was 37 weeks pregnant, had to deliver her baby boy lifeless tonight.  Mike learned that a barista he has been ministering to showed up to work drunk, a fire-able offense for sure.  We both feel a blow to our hearts.  We are saddened and hold burdens to pray for both.  What more is there that we can do?  Nothing is more powerful than prayer, but in times like this, from the sidelines it doesn't seem like enough.

Mind Boggling

What makes an almost 10 year old act ungrateful and selfish?  It's beyond me.  She has been raised in an atmosphere of gratefulness as well as every Fruit of the Spirit.  It's talked about and examples are played out constantly.  They are drawn out plain and simple.  There is no question as to how one should behave in our family.  Yet, the attitude is still there.  Where does it come from?  Satan. 
But is the answer that simple?  How come the solution is so much harder.  And what is the solution?  Boarding school. The School of Hard Knocks, I guess.  Only I don't have the manual for that.  We've just been making it up as we go.

We're THAT family

"I've heard all about YOU and your family!  All good things!"

Guess we're labeled!  As a teacher, there are the families that you hope you get to have in your class.  And there are those families who you hope you don't have.  I sure hope that we're one of the good families!  Mia's teacher told us this this morning.  Didn't say anything about our names, or our kids, just I've heard about your family!  So many things are running through my mind.  

• You'll get free Starbucks from them
• She's a teacher, watch out!
• They are over-bearing
• You'll have field trip chaperones!
• They are obnoxious!

Wonder which things she's heard. Hmmmm....