It's been a while since I last blogged, because I have been BUSY! That, and any free time I've had since Sunday night I have used on my one and only hubby, who is home again. YAY! My world is so much better when he is here. I am complete again.
Updates. Let's see, Jacob is still enjoying public school immensely, and, though I still don't see a lot of improvement in the math he's been bringing home, I have noticed an interesting increase in vocabulary usage the past few days. He's coming out with interesting words and phrases that I assume are coming from his teachers. He also sparks with interest and life, which is really what I hoped he would experience. I can give him a good education, but he seems like he's missed out on so much life, if you know what I mean. For example, yesterday's big thing was the DDR room that his class was able to go to at recess. It stands for Disco Dance Room, and it incorporates those dancing video game things that you stand on. As the music plays, you have to dance and move according to the arrows on a big screen. Anyway, he came home raving about how fun dancing is and what good exercise it was. "I was dripping sweat like a rain storm!" he exclaimed happily. How neat! He has always liked to dance at home, but now he really REALLY likes it. And he's not afraid to do it in front of the other kids, either. Now that's living a fuller life.
Joshua also experienced a new musical outlet yesterday. I have signed him up for a homeschooler's chorus I just discovered that meets at our church every Tuesday afternoon. He really enjoyed singing and learning new songs, although his favorite part by far was being with the other kids. I am very thankful to find another opportunity to give him some socialization time.
Actually, this year is shaping up to be a lot more social for all of us. Why, just the simple act of walking to the bus stop each morning and afternoon forces us to interact and converse with the variety of parents and children there. Picking up Jacob occasionally from school has caused me to run into a few mothers I don't get to see very often, too. And then I get to interact with other homeschoolers when I bring Josh to stuff, and through e-mails as well. I'm kind of getting the best of both worlds right now. For someone who tends to hide miserly in her own little realm, this is all very stretching. I'm actually rather enjoying it.
Another interesting development of late is my physical activity level. I have long despised practically any and all physical activity. It's not that I'm horrendously weak or fat or anything, but I'm just rather lazy. I generally don't see the point and therefor don't bother. But this year I have found myself taking hikes with the family, on purpose, just for the sake of hiking. Previously, the extent of my hiking has been around the mall or, when forced by my husband, around our little neighborhood.
Another example: On Monday, we went to Jacob's soccer practice, which is right next to a little road that is closed off whenever school is not in session, and I spent the entire practice walking up and down the road with Julia. No, I didn't sit in one of those cute fold up chairs all of us soccer moms bring everywhere. I was actually exercising the whole time! For fun! You have no idea how shocked last-year-me would be to see that. But it was nice! I think having Julia has changed me in ways even I didn't realize. Somehow, I'm becoming a healthier person as I try to make sure she's becoming a healthy person. I don't know why it didn't happen when the boys were babies. Probably because I didn't have any reason to get out of the house at all. So it's the combination of the boys' activities getting me out and about and Julia prodding me to get up and go while I'm out there. See, kids are good for you in soooo many ways!
So, right now we're all being stretched to live fuller, healthier, more interesting lives. Afterall, each day is a gift from God, and, though we might not all have the opportunity to do something amazing and profound each day, that is no excuse for not making the most of everything we can do. Being a mom may not make the world ooh and aah, but it is my life, and it's a good one.
