My Bucket List...

This summer has been one of some changes for my family, with more changes on the horizon. This got me thinking about things I hope to do with the life I have left. Sort of like in the movie "The Bucket List".... but hopefully with more time allotted to me than those guys had. *fingers crossed*
My list, in no particular order (save that first one)--to be amended as needed...

-raise our kids to be the truest, kindest, most confident, most well-rounded, most outside-the-box-thinking, most grounded, happiest versions of themselves
-learn to grow our own fruit and veggies
-become fluent in at least one other language
-participate in a "Thriller" flashmob
-live a consistently healthier lifestyle
-write a children's book
-have love and peace be so much a part of me that my thoughts, words, and actions genuinely and consistently come from that core
-learn to knit and sew
-go parasailing

-learn to be virtually impervious to negativity
-become a philanthropist
-visit Paris

Admittedly, there's nothing particularly mind-blowing there. But it represents what I hope to do in my little corner of the universe.

Peace ღ Love ღ Homeschool

We've begun our fourth year of homeschooling this week!
Another interesting factoid: I began my former career as a public school teacher 20 years ago this month. When I started teaching, fresh-faced, 23-year old me would never have imagined that I'd someday homeschool my own kids. I taught in one capacity or another for 13 years and loved it. Ummm, okay--I did not love the bureaucracy or the testing craze or the ever-increasing amount of redundant and mostly pointless paperwork. But I felt great joy in working with students and their families to (hopefully) assist those little ones in growing into the best versions of themselves.

I feel so amazingly privileged to have the opportunity to do the same with our own children. My heart is thankful every day for a spouse who doesn't mind being the "breadwinner" because we share the same priorities and vision for our kids: to help them grow into the most confident, most well-rounded, most centered and grounded, most amazing versions of themselves. We are so fortunate to have our family who support, encourage, and often partake in our learning, and to have a group of new, like-minded homeschooling friends with who we can share learning adventures. I look forward to where we are and where we'll go with an open and jubilant heart.
So, Homeschooling Year #4--Allons-y!

They Say It's Your Birthdays...

We've spent the last couple of weeks preparing for and celebrating birthdays. Our kids' birthdays and the 21st birthday of their uncle, my youngest brother. It's been busy and fun and lots of blissful family togetherness. This realization hit me the other day: our youngest child is now the age that my youngest brother and third youngest brother were when my hubby and I married. Mind. Blown.

Time flies. Rattles, teething toys and picture books (for which we snuggle to read together) give way to action figures, dolls, and chapter books (which they'll read more independently). Some of those fun preoccupations will eventually succumb to music that I may or may not be with-it enough to listen to and make-up and (dare I say it?) first cars and jobs. I try to live in the moment, to be ecstatic and present in where we are right now. But I know that day is coming. I know it will be here in the blink of an eye, because it seems like just a blink since my youngest brothers were the ages our children are now.

While I do sometimes miss the younger versions of our kids, I revel in who our beloved Bebes are and who they are becoming. They are loving and kind, smart and funny, observant and imaginative. I am consistently aware, with every atom that is me, that the greatest gifts of my life are these two, stunning little people. How wondrous that I get to share in their journey... and that I have the humbling privilege of them calling me "Mom".