What a difference a day...er...a YEAR makes!

It's been a good long year since I posted an update about my family here. And the year couldn't have been much crazier. :oP '

I suppose the biggest change has been that I am now working full time outside the home. Yep! After 17 wonderful years of either working from home as an entrepreneur, or not working at all, I am now leaving my kids 40 hours a week. :o( It's been difficult to do, but we just didn't have a choice. My 17yos now attends public school, which he had actually decided to do before I went back to work, so he could play football. But I'm still trying to homeschool my 15yod and 10yos. This has proven to be quite a challenge.

For one thing, my mother is trying to keep the hsing kids on track with some basics while I get used to a new work schedule. When I started working in Feb. I was on a day shift, but now I work 12-hour shifts three or four nights a week. So me being in bed until noon several days a week is pretty common. But Mom does her best to make sure the kids are getting some basics done each day...or close to each day. ;o)

The sleep schedule is really tough, though. For example, everyone's in bed as I type this at 2:23am, except me. ;o) I probably won't go to sleep until at least 4am. Just can't do it. Then, when everyone's up in the morning...I'll be dead to the world. :o( I've been toying with the idea of letting the kids stay up almost as late as I do now...so we'd wake together, but there's no way my mom could do that, and I really need her awake to keep the home fires from burning out of control. LOL

And I'm also considering using a "box" curriculum with the kids this year. Generally speaking, I hate the whole 'textbook-workbook-regurgitation' method of learning, and instead, we use unit studies. The kids enjoy them, too...not just me. ;o) But having lessons all planned out and easy to track right now...that sounds very appealing. :o/ Still thinking about that one. And, my 15yod is definitely getting a reading tutor this year...something my job can pay for. At least it's good for somethin.' ;o)

Well, off to work on the kitchen...yes, at 2:30am.

See ya soon!

Can't believe how long it's been since I posted on my blog.

I'm not sure how many people even visit my blog, to be honest with ya. But I'm very interested in making sure I stay more on top of this thing. It's been over a year since I've been here and made my presence known. I'm so inspired by all of you hsing moms who keep us all informed about what's going on in your lives with your blogs. In fact,...inspired may not be the word. JEALOUS! Yep...jealous is definitely the word. LOL!

I've got a new laptop and have to transfer my photo files over from the old one, then you'll be able to see what's going on in our lives these days. ;o)

Promise!