School went great today and after lunch we did some art projects. Jimmy made a paper snowman, a pig and a nursery rhymes mobile while Taylor's project was pretty big, so she only did one, a cornucopia. After they were done with curriculum art, I wrote their names on construction paper and had them decorate it by draw things that they like all over the page. Jimmy decided to make his an ocean with a sun and him swimming while Taylor drew all sorts of things on hers (math problems, clothes, "I love Zac", and so on). What a wonderful start after such a long vacation and both kids did great.

Back to School

Today is our first day back to school after a long Christmas holiday. Taylor and Jimmy are both very excited and ready to get started. We only have 3 months left before school is over, I can't believe how fast the school year flies by. It seems that this year I have found more and more people who are very interested in homeschooling and how to get started and I am happy to talk with them and explain the advantages, but I also let them know that it's a lot of work and it takes a lot of patience as well. Another misconception of homeschooling your children is that it is cheaper than sending your child to public school, I thought this before starting and boy was I wrong, when the year is said and done you are looking at about $3,000 in just books and supplies, that's not counting lunches and snacks throughout the day or any type of field trip. It's all worth it to us, but if Eric didn't have the job that he has there is no way we could afford this. I am very fortunate to be able to do this for my children and I am proud of both of them for their cooperation with me, both of the children are very bright and love to learn.

Jimmy has blown me away this year with learning to write his letters, I know I have stated this before, but I have been a teacher in a preschool and have never come across a child that can pick up a pencil and write a letter perfectly the first time you show him. I don't even have to guide his hand, he just looks at what I have written and copies it, it's amazing.

Taylor is amazing when it comes to her studies and the one thing that gets me with her is division, she loves it. You have to understand, I went through school with a calculator and never learned how to do division by using my head, I am learning this with her. No calculators are allowed in my school, so every math problem Taylor does has to be her own brain at work and not something battery operated. I can't wait for her year end assessment test because I know she is ready for it.

If I stick with the A Beka school program, my children will have a scholarship in a Christian collage when they graduate. Yes, home schooled children have a graduation just like any other school. Some states very, but most states have picked up a graduation program so children don't have to get GED's when 12Th grade is over. We have high hopes for our children and collage is a must.

I will keep updates on their progress for the rest of the year.

Eric's Birthday Dinner

The kids and I took Eric to eat at a seafood restaurant downtown called Harry's Seafood Grill and it was great.The kids received Mardi Gras beads when we walked in and they are displaying them in the pictures. We ordered our dinner but when we noticed the table behind us ordered a shrimp and scallop pasta we added that onto our order so we all could try it, it was delicious. After dinner we took the kids for a walk in the park and we were able to snap a few pictures.

Happy Birthday Eric

Eric turned 34 today and has been spending his birthday lounging, he has to return to work tomorrow. I made him Sit Pan for dinner New Year's Eve so tonight he just wants me to make my breakfast casserole. Between him and Taylor, I seem to make this casserole all the time, it used to be a Christmas morning thing and they they both wants it at least once a month. He decided not to do anything today but watch as many movies as he can.

Happy Birthday Eric! I have enjoyed our week together and hate to see it end. I hope you have a wonderful year and stop counting down to the BIG 40. Love you bunches!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone! The kids actually made it to midnight and toasted Daddy and me to 2007. We spent the day with Rich and Olga and their two kids, Bianca and Remo. It was great to be around a traditional Sicilian family and the kids played well. Rich is Eric's regional manager and a very good friend of his. Rich is always inviting Eric on trips around Florida with him and their are some trips that Eric will be gone a week. He will accompany Eric to Philly next month and they are already making their plans on where they will be heading after all the meeting. We had a great turkey dinner and Bianca made confetti that we made our New Year's resolution and threw the confetti. It was a long day and the kids were beat afterwards.

A Couple Christmas Pics

We shot a couple pictures the other day of the Christmas decor in town. I took the one with the palm trees at the park and I find it funning to see wreaths next to the trees and having 80 degree weather in December. Eric took this picture of Santa and his reindeer peeking over a building that same night as we were driving through town.

A Day at the Park

After a stop at Subway for sandwiches, Eric and I took the kids to one of the new parks in Lakeland. We had a nice picnic lunch before the kids ran off to play. This park actually is also a water park and it was running the day we were there but I didn't feel comfortable letting the kids run through water in December. They had a lot of fun and we had a lot of fun watching them.

We never made it to the zoo because Eric had to go into work for a couple hours to wrap up the end of the month. We joined him and Jimmy ran straight for "Trix" the forklift and spent most of his time playing on that. Afterwards we took the kids to the park for a picnic, so the day didn't turn out bad at all.

We have decided to take the kids to Lowry Zoo tomorrow and I will take plenty of pictures to post. This will be our first trip to this zoo and we are all excited to try it out. Today was a pretty lazy day for us and we enjoyed every second of it. Check back tomorrow night to view our adventure.

Eric and I took the kids shopping so they could buy the things that they didn't receive for Christmas and I ended up giving into Taylor and she was able to get that iPOD and Jimmy bought a TV and DVD player and some accessories for his new Leapster and more Cars vehicles. The kids made out great for their Christmas and both are very happy with all that they received. I have not been able to hardly get Taylor out of her new roller blades since yesterday, I would say that is probably one of her favorite gifts. For those that do not know this yet, Taylor has graduated to my shoe size, a size 7 adult and she is only 9. She is very proud of this and cannot wait to surpass me in shoes. I have a hard time keeping her out of mine, if I can't find them I now know to look in Tay's bedroom and there I usually find them.

I posted some more pictures of the kids on Christmas and the last photo is a picture of Jimmy relaxing in his chair watching Ice Age: The Meltdown in his room. He kicked his feet up and Eric told me to grab the camera. I loves his new chair, what a great Nani these kids have, she gets them what makes them so happy.

Taylor and Jimmy are so excited for summer so they can go stay with Nani and Grandpa Ky-Ky. Taylor was asking me today how much longer it was going to be. The kids seem so excited to leave me behind (sniff, sniff) but I know they will have a great time. Eric and I are flying Steph out here in February and Mom mentioned she may come as well, so we will see. Eric will be in Philly for a week and I would rather have someone here with me and who better than my family.

I have really enjoyed Eric home this week and everything has been going great. He is going to hate going back next Wednesday after being off for so long, but we love him here with us. Jimmy and Daddy have been having a lot of fun playing with his new train set and Jimmy taught his daddy how to play his new video game. I am so glad that Jimmy has warmed up to Eric the way he has, I was worried there for awhile, but they have made great progress and I am glad Jimmy has someone to turn to other than me. Taylor and Eric have always had a very good relationship, so he has been very happy about getting some attention from Jimmy.

More Pics

Jimmy's Christmas

This is the first Christmas Jimmy really understood that Santa was coming. He knew about Santa last year but didn't really understand, but this year, he remembered what happened last year and he was so excited Christmas morning the poor child could not sleep.

Jimmy's List

Santa- Leapster TV, Leapste Dora the Explorer game, Leapster The Backyardigans game, 4 Hot Wheels cars, 2 Disney Cars vehicles, Disney's Romone's House of Body Art playset, coloring book, crayons, Ice Age: The Meltdown DVD, toothbrush kit, jump rope, Dodge Viper die cast car, silly putty

Daddy and Mommy- Dora the Explorer TV game, Bob the Builder western playset, Tow Mater talking vehicle, Disney Cars wall clock, Tow Mater light switch plate, memory game, picture Rhymes game, Blue's Pajama Party book, sounds book

Grandpa Ky-Ky and Nani- Bob the Builder outfit, Disney's Cars chair, Superman jammies, Thomas and Friends Steam Train Set, $20.00

Auntie Ste- Lightning McQueen plush toy

Uncle Nick- 2 Disney's Cars vehicle

Poppa and Nani- Disney's Cars wallies, Mack truck

Maw-Maw- Hot Wheels vehicle set

Uncle Matt and Auntie Angie- Tow Mater t-shirt

Teresa and Isaiah- Bob the Builder TV game

Gannon, Pam, Josh and Nick- Avatar figurine

Grandpa and Grandma- $50.00