Welcome Home Harper!

Merry Christmas to my Husband, Hope you enjoy your christmas present.




She is a 9 week old Border Collie/Lab mix I adopted from the local humane society. The girls and I went out and picked her out. They did such a good job keeping her a secret.
Daddy loves her and she has been alot of fun and a great addition to the family.

Homemade Christmas

This year I decided to slow things down in the gift-giving department. Seems like financially we cannot keep up with our normal holiday budget. So with three daughters and my love for sewing and crafts we have decided that the majority of the gifts will be mommy made. This year that has been a huge success. Lots of late nights for mom, but even above the stress I have enjoyed each and every project. Here is what they are getting from mom/dad this year.

*I made them each a shepra/faux winter jackets
* DS travel cases
* PJ sets with American girl matching pjs and sleep masks
* covered bulletin boards
* sock monkeys
* bike baskets
* soft cover books and a blanket for the baby
* winter hats
* Holiday dresses
* magnetic doll dress ups

There was SO much more I wanted to make them this year, but after seeing all these gifts x3 daughters, the tree is very plentiful already.

Homeschool adventure.

Homechooling Adventure.
We are 7 whole weeks into the homeschooling adventure here.
After a hard time with the public school system here in El Paso, I have been forced to make the call. Continue them in the schools and catch them up in the summers, or just make the call and take the plunge.
Not that it has been the easiest transition, however I can see that given the crappy public school option here in this sub-par city--I have noticed a huge change.
One I have seen where they are and are-not when it comes to national standards. Having a mother that has been a teacher for over 40 years is also an amazing help. I have noticed that they are learned so very much in the last 7 weeks. Not only learned it, but know it well.
I get a little attitude from my 3rd grader. Mostly cause school was a cake-walk for her and now I am challenging her to push herself, esp in math skills.
My little ADD 1st grader has been the most adjustment in the curriculum. As her reading is soo far behind where it could be, yet she is so much farther ahead in her math, Using reward charts and anything set to music she has been making amazing strides.
The biggest adjustment has been for me, mom....my daily doings has been completely uprooted. But for the sake of my wonderful daughters it is well worth the late night housework.
Even the toddler gets into the spirit....We have her at the table with us and I work on colors, shapes, ect with her. For her, this is "big-girl" stuff and right up her alley.
In a nutshell I am overjoyed with the choice we made. It may not be forever, but at least till we get out of this duty station.