days gone by...

It's that time again...school is staring up soon. The time of year where I feel that tug at my heart knowing how busy I have normally been this time each year prepping for new students in my classroom. :) 

I have minor struggles ALL the time with this. After all, I worked really hard and for a long time to get my degree and I was so proud of myself and had a great sense of accomplishment for that. Who isn't glad about that when they put so much effort into something? I loved saying that I was a teacher because I was proud of my profession. I still say it. It just rolls off my tongue...and I know I still am teaching my kiddos at home...just not in the setting of a traditional classroom. I think it is just still a part of me because it is still who I am!! I LOVE teaching. I think if you are once a teacher, you are always a teacher. You just become good at taking in information and then giving it back out in a fun, creative way. And...I like that. I like making learning fun. 

I loved the people I worked with. I loved how hard they worked. I loved how we collaborated together and helped each other out. I loved talking to them and having some good friends to see everyday. :)

I still catch myself finding cute little things all the time when I'm out shopping that I could use in the classroom...or with my kiddos. And...with the new addition of Pinterest in my life...well, you can just imagine! :) The options are endless.

So, while I do love that aspect of my life, I love, love, love that I am able to (mostly) be home with my little munchkins. I 100% totally feel that it is the best decision for our family. I feel like this is where God has us in this season, and I don't have a peace right now with anything else...because, yes...I have entertained it sometimes. :)

While there are MANY fond memories of my teaching experience, I also had a stress level that wasn't healthy! Ha! Much stress came along with all the responsibility. The fact was I felt that there was never enough of me to go around, never enough time in a day, and just the pull at my heart when I was away from my kids. I love being a mom...more than anything...more than teaching, and while I have the absolute GREATEST respect for teachers that can spin all those plates, I can't. I know I'm not called to that right now.

I am never happy with a mediocre way of doing things. I always want to SOAR and be the best I can be...and that is just hard in that profession. I constantly struggled with whether it was enough or not. I felt like I needed to put more time in at both home and work...and I couldn't. I was stressed! Let's not even talk about the days I was observed or the crazy random walk-throughs. I was a walking heart attack waiting to happen! I don't know why...because I never did anything different than if I was on my own. It just always made me super nervous. So...when I think about the thought of not having that in my life, I smile. I know that God just has me in a season of simplicity...if I can call this that at all...doesn't really feel like it. :)

So............while I'm not teaching in a corporation or school building this year, I am just CRAZY excited about what I WILL be doing with my kids. We are going to be part of a co-op group with some amazing, 'crazy talented' people this year and doing a new curriculum that I'm stoked about. I feel such a peace and excitement about it. We'll meet once a week for the whole day and the kiddos will have different classes that they go to. As my contribution to the group (as we all have to play a part), I will be teaching Geography to some middle and high school students. We will be 'mapping the world by heart' by the end of the year...literally...or so I hope! :) I took this course when I was in 7th or 8th grade and here I am going to be teaching it. And...our final was literally drawing the entire world, labeling all countries, major rivers, mountain ranges, etc....all from memory. And...I remember doing it. I hope that goes well. Just thankful that God is directing my steps.

All of that to say, there are many things I miss about teaching. But I know that God's plan for me in the past and present season was to be home with my kids...know that beyond a doubt.

When I worked/taught in the classroom, I was all in. And now that I am teaching at home and being a Momma, I am all in, too. It doesn't mean it is always easy to be home....not. at. all. There are days I wish I could go to work with all the craziness at home!! ;) And...whoever thinks that sorta staying home, working a part time job, home-schooling, doing photography gigs on the side with tons of editing afterwards, renovating a house from top to bottom.....was easy...or that it left me time to sit around and eat bon bons...should come over and watch my days! Whew! Sometimes a full time job sounds peachy. :)  

Gotta love the different seasons that God walks you through. And who knows what may be down the road. Luckily, I only need to focus on my DAILY BREAD and not what may or could be ahead. Because, I love where I'm at. 

It's a good place. 

It's a 'God place' and I want to enjoy every second of it. 

Hubers...last 'fun' before the move

Keith's Grandpa, being the sweetest most generous man, allowed us to stay at his home while we renovated the new homestead. That was a God-send for us. We were able to live in an entire house instead of just bunking up with someone. I didn't realize how important that really was. We got to keep life as normal as we could for the kids and us. We tried to enjoy the peace while we were there, knowing the the 'CRAZY' would hit as soon as we got possession of the new house. (Crazy might be an understatement, but we will leave it at that for now.)

Our last 'hoorah' for us was going to Hubers for day...as a family...just to chill. It was great as always and the kiddos had a blast.

Here we are mining for gold and minerals....such a neat thing for them.

 

 

 Kaden was lovin' it.

 Seeing the loot!

 Payton just enjoyed playing in the running water.

 

Kaden was saving the 'goods' he got.

  Then...it was on to feeding the animals!!

 Unfortunately, Addison was the only one who was brave enough. :)

 

 

 

 Love the baby deer.

 Then on to some playground fun....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch Time for these fella's!

 

Loved the bike/tricycle track.

 Even I took a round with it.

 

 

 The BIG slides!!!!!!!

 

 Also loved these little tractors...so fun for the kids.

 

 

  We ended our day with some ice cream from the Ice Cream Parlor. Thankful for my family and the enjoyment of the day. Sweet times!

kaden's 3rd birthday

One of the last things...seriously...one of the last things we did at our old house, was celebrate Kaden's birthday. I had already packed up most of our stuff, had taken all the pictures down, and had boxes sitting everywhere. But...I wasn't going to let the craziness take away from celebrating our little man. Once I told him that we were going to be having his (small) birthday, he was soooooo excited. And made me feel guilty about wondering if we could really fit it in. We had some family over on a Thursday night to celebrate, and I'm so so glad we did.

Kaden loves his drums he got for Christmas as well as his guitar...so I just went with it. Ashley worked her magic and made him a cake...he requested a 'boo a-tar cake'...blue guitar cake...and that's what he got. :)

 

 

 

 Kaden put on a little pre-party show for some of his fans. I think his face says it all. We set the drums up so he could 'jam out.' :)

 

 

 Some play/hang out time.

 

 Cora got a little ride around the yard...she loved it. And Addison did too.

 

 The happy Birthday Boy!!!

 

 

 Gram with some of her favorite men. ;)

 

 

 Looks like a serious conversation. :)

 Uncle Jason had to get back to work so Kaden had to open his present first.

 Showing Daddy.

 

 Excitement!

 And...his favorite present of all...

 A WATCH! And a blue one at that. He had been asking for one for weeks and weeks before...probably should have just given it to him, but we waited. He hasn't stopped wearing it. And...it had to be blue. It is always "free o'clock"...3 o'clock. :)

 

 He always wanted to play with Addison's umbrella so we got him one of his own. 

 Chels and Eric got him a new backpack.

 And...I think he liked it!

 He didn't want to take it off...even took it to bed with him.

 Pay Pay with Aunt Ash...probably should have bought her one too...to save the peace. 

 Thanking Great Grandpa for his money.

 Daddy got the candles all lit for the Happy Birthday tune.

 

Love that this little boy is mine! We so badly wanted a boy when we found out we were pregnant and were delighted when we found out for sure! The last 3 years are so special to me. He has grown and matured into such a sweet, sweet boy. He is always saying how much he loves us and we couldn't love him more!

Kaden Alan Broady...what a gift we received from Heaven on May 29th, 2009! 

We are so proud of the little boy you have become.