Kenson's DIY photo shoot

These pictures really don't need an explanation, but this would not be a blog if I didn't give one, now would it?

Kenson found my camera and used it on his favorite subject... himself.

First day of school

I quit.

Just kidding, but it did not go well.

What's really important?

I finally received all of the boys' curriculum so the first day of school will be this Monday, Sept. 13th. Yesterday, I was making sure I had everything prepared. Sharpening pencils, trying to organize all of their books and muddling through the teachers' manual took up most of my day. Knowing that today was Sunday and I consider Sunday to be my day "off" (no laundry; no housework), I went ahead and wrote some assignments on our dry erase board. Later in the evening the boys asks if they could add something to the list. My parents had come over for dinner and we were saying our goodbye's and I never noticed what the boys had added to their assignments. This morning I took a picture to show you their addition.

Apparently "Bake cookies" is a very important task that I had neglected to include in their academics.

A new mascot

I love this Cat. I saw him the other day and quickly added him to my computer. He's my new mascot.

Do you think I could have a t-shirt made with him on it?

A bumper sticker?

A flag flown proudly outside my home?

Maybe just a coffee cup.

I think the reason I like him so much is that he so appropriately expresses my feelings on a plethora of subjects.

Me as a homeschooling mom

Gray hair

Potty training

Housework

Fat-free mayonnaise

Dieting

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

Angry kitty will be visiting the Pettis blog often in the future.

Kohen's most recent photo shoot

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones

Karter 1, Mom 0

Karter has been a serial sleep stalker for the past few years. I can't really pin point when this started, but it has gone on way too long. He'll come and get into our bed numerous times throughout the night even though we take him and put back in his bed. We actually have counted, and between the two us we have put him back in his bed up to 5 times in one night.

This is very frustrating.

He grinds his teeth. He throws his legs over my head. He pins me to the bed by rolling over on my hair.

Did I say this is very frustrating?

The other night we had this conversation when he crawled into our bed:

Me: "What are you doing?"

Karter: "I want to sleep in your bed."

Me: "No. You need to sleep in your own bed."

Karter: no reply. He just continues to crawl into my bed.

Suddenly, I get a bright idea.

Me: "Karter, you're going to be 7 soon and you can't sleep with your mom and dad when you're 7.

Score!

He gathers his pillow and starts to go into his room.

Yes! Victory is sweet!

But wait... He stops and turns...

Karter: "Mama?"

Me: "Yes?"

Karter: "Can I just sleep in here tonight? For the last time?"

Blam!! Straight to the heart!

The last time? The last time?

Suddenly his life flashes before my eyes. The day he was born; getting his first tooth; loosing his first tooth; his first day of school; learning to ride his bike.

These past seven years have flown by.

Where did they go?

I now see vision of his future: singing in the youth choir; getting his drivers license; graduating from high school; driving off into the sunset with his red headed girlfriend and forgetting about his poor momma who grew him in her womb.

Me: "Ok, you can sleep with us."

Me: "But you have to cuddle with me. And grind your teeth. And throw your legs across my head. But don't pin me to the bed by my hair. That is really frustrating."

Funny

What do you call it when a home school mom is caught talking to herself?