Loving this!

     We did everything again today!  Evie is getting a little jealous of the boys' books.  LOL.  She wants to have separate books for each subject just like them.  The boys however are doing really well.  In general, I don't know if this works for everyone, we are having less melt downs and less fighting!  I don't know if it's because their little minds are busy thinking or what but they are amazing me.  We did all their school work in about 2 hours and we'll still be reading more and if it doesn't rain we'll go to the park.  We were able to do all their work, go to Costco for cereal and crackers, and go to the Library.  The kids all signed up for the summer reading program at the library and we got their first audio book for the car, Nate the Great.  Lately we've been listening to a lot of Laurie Berkner Band(Nathanael's favorite), so a change will be nice.
      They also helped me clean up after our cats after school.  Sometimes I think teaching kids to help, isn't helpful!  :p  But it is teaching them about responsibility.  One other really interesting thing I've noticed with them is that they haven't wanted to watch almost ANY tv at all!  Yesterday they didn't want to watch it at all, and today they only want to watch the shows they got at the library.  LOL.  I love that they'd rather play and use their imaginations.  It's already after 4pm and it hasn't been on yet today.  Today was one of the only days I can think of that the kids were really good for me when we were out, and honestly, even with a few disappearances at the library they were still really good.  Two of them sat down and did puzzles for a little while after they found books to take home.  I've seen changes in attitudes, willingness to help, and overall positiveness(is that a word?!).  I wasn't excepting to see things like this just from having their minds filled with learning.  I just expected them to learn and that be the only change in our days.  That we would be doing school at home.  I didn't expect THEM to change.  Most specifically Nathanael.  He's...ADHD on the crazy climbing, impulsive side.  Never would I have thought that doing school with him for a few hours a day would help him choose better choices.  To listen when I say hold hands, instead of running into the street.  To sit still for a few minutes, to decide to do as I asked instead of time out.  I think this was needed for them, and me.  I love watching them learn.  I love reviewing what we talked about over a snack and them thinking we're just hanging out.  They love the attention and the positive reinforcement and talk about how well they did on their work for the day.  When I started thinking about doing this with them, I never in a million years would have thought it would have been good for anything other than their education.  It's amazing for our FAMILY!  It's amazing for our RELATIONSHIPS! 
     I know God has the best plan for us if we listen to what he has to say.  I'm so grateful for this next year in my life with my kids.  Being able to teach them as they teach me.  To relearn through their eyes and be able to be the mom I was always meant to be.  Yes, I may still get too loud, but those times are getting less and less.  We're having more and more fun.  Everyone is happier and everyone is having better days.  I'm not saying I'm not tired!  I think I went up to bed at 8pm late night and read for an hour.  But is that really so bad?!  Who needs to sit and stare at a tv when you can read and enjoy your comfortable bed?  It was great.  This is what I thought being a mom would feel like, and I think I'm finally there.  For me, and for them, this is where we need to be.