The Homeschool Mother's Journal - December 28

In my life this week…we hosted my husband's family celebration on Christmas Eve with a Mexican feast. We're still eating leftovers and I am loving that! Christmas Day we spent with my family eating crepes for brunch and prime rib for dinner. Then I got sick which really irritates me because I haven't quite kicked my previous sick. On the upside, I did wait to get sick until after the holidays so I'm trying to focus on that. I've also taken the time to write up my New Year's Resolutions. DH and I are in uncharted territory with our relationship. We've lived with congestive heart failure [CHF] as our foundation for so long that it is odd to be living without it. About a week after his transplant, we glimpsed the changes ahead for us when we realized he was talking about the future which we also realized he hadn't been doing. I had thought we needed to dig out all the ways we interact that are rooted in CHF, but I realized how impossible that task is. Instead we need to be intentional about relating and acting differently. To that end, one of my resolutions is 26 dates with DH this year. We've never had a date night set aside and have been lucky to get 3-4 in a year. Another resolution is health related. I have been trying the last couple years to lose weight and have failed and been utterly discouraged. Each attempt I have learned something, so I am trying to see that as helpful. My resolution is not related to losing XX number of pounds. My resolution is to workout [and I defined that] 5-6 times/week for at least 41 weeks [80% of the weeks in a year]. This getting healthy resolution is something DH and I are pursuing together because we both need it, and he's finally off the medication that complicated his weight loss.

Photos to share…

My 3 children posing nicely for Mom

My 3 children in their more natural state!

Last week I was sorted into Ravenclaw on Pottermore.com so ODD made my Christmas gift be Raveclaw themed!

ODD and YDD were given Book of Spells for our PS3. Apparently YDD approves!

I love this picture! I gave my husband the same thing [a gaming pad] we gave my son and DH opened his first. His expression is "OH NO YOU GAVE ME DS'S GIFT!!!"

Still not quite believing his good luck!

DS so very very happy he got one, too.

Yes the boy is cuddling his new gaming pad!

On December 23, ODD told me in the car how she really really hoped someone got her a new Superchick CD. I just smiled.

ODD holding her cousins

YDD and the other cousin

 In our homeschool this week… this is our 2nd week of Christmas Break. I am really loving the power/ability to plan our break to best suit our schedule. I am appreciating that perk of homeschool this week.

I am inspired by… all the kitchen tools I got for Christmas.

My favorite thing this week was… the relaxation. Yes we hosted 14 people at our house on Christmas Eve and then spent the entire Christmas Day at my parents which is lots of going and socializing for us. But we did it in a relaxed fashion and I love that.

Questions/thoughts I have… I got a Smash Book for Christmas and I am pondering how I want to use it. If I want an over-riding plan/vision or if I just want to do whatever I feel on each page.

I’m thankful for… getting sick AFTER our Christmas celebrations; OTC cold medicine; my humidifier; new homeschool friends I have met this year; the chance to take control of my health; the chance to plan the future with my husband.