– is that the question?

Drum roll pleeeeease…

blalalalalablalaldadddaddaddda *drum roll noises*

After much thought and prayer over the years, and even more of late, I’ve decided to HOMESCHOOL!

Debra was a wonderful resource with her big ol’ box of curriculum books and big ol’ mind of insights and experience. I realized the time commitment could be just right for my workload, and I have officially committed myself to pre-k through K. Lil’ E has begun so many things at this age, and has been asking me to teach him to read, and I just know he will thrive in a curriculum geared to his interest and intellectual level. So I’m back to the making learning boards and have ordered some of the books for this year (thanks, nana!) and will share my journey with ya’ll readers from time to time

I plan to start Jan-April and take some time off for the first two months that Verity is born (one of the beauties of homeschooling, I’ve learned, is that “summer” is whatever time of year works for your family!)

These are the books that have to get started on the basics:
“Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers” Bobby Lynn Maslen
“Janice VanCleave’s Play and Find Out about Nature: Easy Experiments for Young Children”
“Janice VanCleave’s Science Around the Year” Janice VanCleave
“The 100+ Series Math Activities for the 100th Day (100+)” School Specialty Publishing
“Games for Reading: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Read” Peggy Kaye

And I use some good Waldorf books, kids “learning spanish” books and cd’s, arts and craft project ideas and kids encyclopedia’s we already own and love. If you’re interested in which one’s, I’d be happy to share.

I anticipated this decision to be one that required *a bit* (ha!) of extra discipline and productivity on my part, and working 25 hours per week minimum was a stretch to my budget AND the daily rhythm I wrote out (and let’s not forget about nina nueva in less than FOUR MONTHS!). No sooner did I concede about that difficulty, I found out some great, GREAT news: I got a rate increase! A GOOD one! One that might mean I only need to work for one client and everything else I can freelance in my “free” time. How awesome is that?! It always seems to work this way, doesn’t it? I don’t see the “way” perfectly, but I make the decision I know is best, and sure enough, the money or whatever else kinda falls into place. (OR, lol, I DON’T do what my heart is telling me, go with my head, try to be practical and NEVER seem to get anywhere!!!)

Ok, back to work, coffee and croquignoles (cajun doughnuts! recipe below) and waiting for the ball to drop! Welcome, 2009! (psst… we’ve been reading books about the ball dropping to Ethan, and he really, really wanted to see it himself… sooooo we staged it! He took a late nap, stayed up like he was having dinner and doughnuts and waiting for it, and then we showed him a youtube version of last year’s! He was duped, too – counted down, made lots of noise on his instruments, screamed Happy New Year and kissed us, lol. Too cute. Went to bed at 8pm )

(p.s. Hubby is hilarious- in honor of new year’s he celebrated with a peruvian tradition: run around the block with a suitcase. Yeah, I know. I’m surprised he wasn’t mugged too.)

Croquignoles

FROM: Cajun Cuisine

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring
3 eggs
1 cup milk
4 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
4 cups flour
Oil for frying
Granulated or powdered sugar

Beat butter until soft; add sugar gradually and beat until mixture is light and fluffy.

Add vanilla or almond flavoring and the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add milk and mix well.

Mix baking powder, salt and flour together and add to the dry mixture, mixing well.

Place dough on a well-floured board and roll to 1/2-inch thickness; cut into rounds with a donut cutter.

Fry in oil at 375 degrees until lightly brown, turning to brown both sides. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with granulated or powdered sugar.

Makes about 3 dozen