Ha! I feel like it has been ages since we got together to have a chat! The time keeps sneaking away from me y’all.
How has your winter been treating you? Getting Spring fever yet? Can you spare a few minutes to chat and grab a Latte? And who am I kidding. Let’s get a scone to go with it. YOLO and all that #amIright?
Yup looks like rain is back again. We had a tiny little gift of sunshine for a second there but seriously, California might float away at any moment with all the rain we have had this year. I am considering making an Ark as my next big DIY at the rate we are going.
What has been happening with you? Any fun news? How are the kids? Keeping you super busy I bet. Do you have any little softball players? Did I tell you my nine year old is trying softball this year? So fun! I am really excited. I have never played baseball and honestly couldn’t care less about the game (shhhh… my husband just died a little on the inside) but she is so darn cute with all her gear on. Soccer has gotten a bit intense as the kids get older and so softball is a really nice change of pace. I can truly just be a fan and not bite my lip trying not to coach. 😉
Speaking of soccer. We had two that went through try outs for comp programs this month. Fortunately they both got on teams but what a roller coaster! I know I have grey hairs from the experience- can you please share how you always seem so calm about everything? I need to start meditating or something. It sounds ridiculous to worry over little kids but the stress of it all! The tryouts really are brutal. One thing I have come to realize with children’s sports is that the children are often the adults and the adults are often the children.
Have you done one of those painting and wine classes yet popping up all over the place? My friend Sara arranged one for my birthday and it was so fun! We went back later and did one with our girls and they both loved it as well. It really is a fun activity with friends or family or to spend time with the kids. In our case we ignored the kids and just chatted away and our girls had a blast painting together. We should totally go soon too!
Ok so on to what I am loving these days. Seriously we get together for coffee and I just talk your ear off….
Have you seen these new Lily Pulitzer water bottles for Starbucks? Apparently it is a special limited release thing and only at select locations- not online quite yet. So I have to start popping into Starbucks locations in my city because I need this. Clearly.
Can I tell you about my other new favorite thing? I just bought this Crane Fireplace heater and I can’t even tell you how much I love it. I have it at my feet at the moment and both dogs are stretched out on either side. The kids like to lay in front of it too for reading – worth every penny.
I am halfway into this book, We Were the Lucky Ones, and I can not put it down. Completely recommend this one.
And that is about it for Feb. The kids are off of school this week and I have about 10 blog projects I am working on at once. We started home schooling a few weeks ago and I am really trying to use this time to get ahead so wish me luck! Thanks so much for spending time with me today. I always love to see you and catch up a bit.
Melanie says
Homeschooling???? I thought your kids went to private school. Is this a big change you will be blogging about?? If so welcome to the club!
Amy B says
Next month I want to hear all about the girls are doing with the transition to homeschool and why you choose to do and how it’s working for you. I’ll buy the latte and scone next month!
Aubree says
Home Schooling?? You brave soul!!! I miss Ca..rain and all!:)
Mrs S says
Give yourself (and kiddos) lots of grace! And the trick to being calm… fake it until you make it. The book “The mask of command” is extremely good for parenting (it’s for military leaders, but great similarities ). I balance a disabled spouse, a kiddo with special needs, and everything else–grace is key. I don’t really have it all together, but practice makes it easier. …and I only have a few grey hairs!
Charlene says
lol just through the end of the year Aubree 🙂 Can you believe all the schools are full in the area? Crazy- hoping they get spots next year.
Charlene says
lol you are on Amy! It has been almost a month now and there are pros and cons. My little one really likes the structure of her very scheduled school so I have had to adapt to her a bit. 🙂 Math always before recess and that kind of thing. She misses her friends and her teacher but she is otherwise doing great. My big girl is adapting really well. She is having a good time but she misses her friends too. It is a lot of work though- finding curriculum for 2nd grade and 4th takes a lot of time and energy. Last week we finished Black History month and my little one did a presentation on Ruby Bridges and we made beignets. That was fun. We are planning to put them in public school next year but what we discovered is all the schools are full in the area. Stupid me for not knowing that I suppose. We are taking advantage of the flexible schedule to plan a few family vacations though.
Charlene says
Hi Melanie,
yes they did. We haven’t been super excited about the school for awhile and at the beginning of last year we were praying to get back into a charter school we really liked instead. We didn’t get in so this year we had already sort of checked out and the cons seemed to be outweighing the pros. We finally decided to pull them out assuming they could get into a local public school we really liked and then I discovered the public school was too full and won’t accept new students. Bah. So anyway, I am embracing it and enjoying it but definitely have a new level of respect for home schoolers. This is certainly a lot of organization, planning and work. 🙂
Jessie says
Now I’m curious what made you choose to HS. We HS and are also in Placer County. We are with Inspire and absolutely love them!
Charlene says
Hi Jessie, we have been in private school and haven’t been happy with it for the last two years. It is very expensive to pay that bill each month when you don’t feel like you are getting the quality you pay for. My 4th grader basically does workbook pages all day for every subject and was falling behind in comprehension and they just keep moving forward with endless workbook pages. For two years her teachers have not been motivated or enthusiastic or energized to put it politely. 😉 My 2nd grader just comes home with stacks and stacks of workbook pages that are all 90% and above. So we just felt one needed extra help and one needed a little extra challenge and neither were getting what they needed. So we researched all the public schools in the area and decided on one and I foolishly assumed we would be able to place them there. We decided to pull them out of school rather than pay another month of tuition and I discovered right after that all the schools in the area are full and they literally gave us one school out of probably 20 with space. 😉 So I decided to homeschool as a temporary solution and then we are crossing our fingers for one of two public schools or the charter school to open spots for next year.
There was a lot of great things about private school and great teachers and both kids for sure miss school but again to pay top dollar month after month and get a lackluster result was incredibly frustrating.
Khadija says
Hi Charlene,
That’s why you were not posting so often !!! Kudos to you for home schooling your kids! I bet they have the creative bug like you do!
Charlene says
Urg that Khadija and there just hasn’t been much to post 🙁 So slow lately. Hoping Spring brings interesting things. And yes! Good heavens we did a Black History month report with one kid as Ruby Bridges and one as Nelson Mandela and you would not believe the preparations that went into that…. They dressed up, made a podium to give the report…. My oldest made a costume like a US Marshall to escort Ruby into the room. Lol. Have to refocus back on the actual content and not just the creative side.
Khadija says
Wow!! That sounds so interesting. The kids are so particular in detail. I was missing your posts on DIY’s. I always loved how you used your silhouette to personalize stuff and I have bought a cricut myself! Looking forward to more DIY stuff! Take care and best wishes!