Birthday parties

Birthday parties, who needs 'em? I know kids love them but as a mom, I can really do without them. Now I would like to make it clear that I don't have a problem with a family celebrating the birthday of a family member. I even think it's fun to invite some family friends for cake and ice cream. The thing I really don't care for are the parties my kids get invited to year after year for the same kid. Do kids really need friend birthday parties every year? I say, no they don't. If you can afford it and want to have a party go ahead, but every year? Am I the only one who can't afford birthday presents for the same kids year in and year out? I have taken to making most of the gifts we give at parties. Something simple and inexpensive. I am also finding it very freeing to just say, I'm so sorry we just won't be able to make it this year. I for one know that my kids don't need any more crap to store in the middle of their floor. So from now on I am going to ask kids to please bring a donation to give to some other family or service that actually needs things. Because after all it's the party that IS the present, time with friends, crafts, games and cake. Maybe it's time we started giving our kids less, less crap and stuff, less material expectations, less want for material things and more time with family uninterrupted, more service to others, more looking outside themselves, even on their birthday. Please tell me I'm not the only parent who thinks this way. I can't possibly be. I would rather spend the day doing something fun that will build memories rather than using the money to buy more stuff that we don't have room for. Our kids don't go into public naked, they have shoes, they eat us out of house and home, they have books and toys a plenty. So why not spend time at an art gallery or an armory museum or an insect house, or going for a hike or to a clothing museum and a fabric store (it might surprise you to know that this one is a huge hit around here). All of my kids would love to go to the Boston public library and walk around the public gardens. So here is to a year of no gifts, instead we are using that money to make  a memory or help someone else. All those who wish to join us say, aye!

My yearly vacation

This past April I was able to attend the Masshope homeschool conference. I look forward to conference every year. It is a time when I can learn, be renewed, encouraged, strengthened and see thousands of other people who are as crazy as I am. It is also a time when I can see first hand the tender mercies of the Lord. I am always amazed at how He answers my prayer for my kids. I have been learning and studying about the
Charlotte Mason style of education the past few years. I have found that it works really well with my girls and especially with Kiah. This year I was able to attend many classes about this style of learning and all of its how too's. My favorite speaker was Sonya Shafer. She has used this method for many years and I was able to learn quite a bit from her. I was also able to ask her some specific questions I had. If you are interested in finding out more about what I'm talking about you can visit Mrs. Shafer's website at  http://www.simplycharlottemason.com/. I have watched many of her video's and have employ many of her methods into our homeschool. Both the girls and I love it. It has really helped to make learning enjoyable. I am grateful to a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayer and is concerned with what some would call trivial matters. And since I'm talking about it, I also loved the five days of staying in a hotel and eating out and the long quite walk in the art museum. Of course in true homeschool mom fashion, I spend the whole time taking notes and pictures so I could show the girls when I got home. The phrase, they would love this, came out of my mouth a lot. I think the art museum in Worcester is at the top of our to do list. Becuase they really would love it. I also love spending time with my friend, who found an amazing mexician resturant that we ate at. I love guacamole and they make the best I have had in a very long time, maybe ever. They made this devine mix of guacamole with pepper honey and dark chocolate. Yes you read that right. Dark cholocate. It truly was the best guacamole I have ever eaten and the entree was good too.