I Will Survive....

(Homeschooling Song)

I received this in an email today.

Too funny, I totally loved this!! 

I wish I had the time to find the music to the original "I Will Survive". 

It would have made it that much funnier.

I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling OR ANOTHER YEAR!)
Originally written and produced by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris
Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor
Mercilessly altered with apologies by Natalie Criss

First I was afraid
I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never teach
'Cause I'm not certified.
But we spent so many nights
Reteaching homework that was wrong.
I grew strong,
so now I teach my kids at home!
We study math
and outer space.
I just kept on despite the fear
with a big smile across my face.
I bought a set of Base Ten blocks.
I bought books with answer keys.
My parents think we're nuts,
but they don't even bother me
Come on, let's go walk out the door.
We're on the road now,
'cause we're not home much anymore
My friends would laugh and say we'd be unsocialized.
I heard one mumble
that I'd give up by July.
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to read
I know we'll be alright.
I've got all my life to learn.
I've got energy to burn.
and I'll survive.
I will survive.
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart.
Decided to attend
a play date at the local park,
and I met oh so many moms
who offered eagerly to help.
They used to cry.
Now they hold their heads up high,
and so do we!
My kids are cool!
They're not those chained up little people
stuck inside at school.
So if you feel like dropping by
and just expect us to be free
you'd better call ahead first
'cause we're probably busy!

We Are Exploring Our New Surroundings!

Well I'm finally feeling better and getting a little more sleep.  My children and I have even started exploring our new surroundings.  In the woods adjacent to my backyard we have found wild red raspberries.  We also found something that we have never seen before, but are very curious and would like to know what it is.  Can anyone out there help us?

What is this?:

Here is a close up view:

As we explored today, our little Leilani takes a nap:

 (Please note I am not exposing myself, but wearing a brown tank top under my white shirt.  You could barely see it under Leilani's head.  I just want to make sure you guys don't think you're seeing something else under her head )

We are so happy here.  Everything is so beautiful and peaceful.  It is a little weird on how slow things are here.  In Florida it seemed everyone was always rushing.  My dh and dc were discussing the other day that it feels like we are on vacation. LOL!  Besides the slower pace, the scenery is so beautiful.  When driving thru the mountains and all the trees it feels like I am in a picture.  I am so excited to see what it will look like in the winter.

Children Are Such A Blessing!

Yesterday I had my two week appointment.  I was almost two weeks late.  I forgot what life is like with a newborn.    I don't remember what a good nights sleep feels like.  I had to keep rescheduling my appointment.  I finally made it!  LOL! 

Leilani will be one month old on July 25.  It is so hard to believe!  Time is really flying by.  It seems like just yesterday I was praying for a safe delivery.  I love staring at her face and (when her eyes are open) into her eyes.  I am so in love with her.  I remember wondering how my mother (mother of 8) could have  enough love for all her children.  As I look at my children, I now understand.  I love them so much and each individually.  They are so different and I can't imagine my life without one of them.  My dh and I are even thinking of having another.  I know we sound crazy......we just had one!  It's just a strong feeling we have.  We want another.  Our new joke when one of our children misbehaves (yes...my children are not perfect) is, "Are you sure you want another one of those?".   

As I prepare the down stairs area with our school stuff I can't help to think of how Blessed we are.  I thank our Lord for placing me on this path of being a SAHM Homeschooling my children.  I can't think of a better way of spending my time/life.  They will grow up so fast and soon be out of our nest, most likely with families of their own.  I want to savor every bit of time I have them as children.  The other day I was reading a post by my dear friend Belinda at With A Taste Of Chocolate.  I had to laugh.  It is so true that most of the world now in this day and age we are in do not understand why we prefer to stay home and care for our family.  It reminded me of the time I used to work outside of my home.  I missed out on so much of my children's years.  Last year was my first year homeschooling and we had so much fun.  I feel like I rebonded with my children.  Not to mention having enough energy to pay attention to my husband.  When we both worked and came home to cook, clean, and do homework there was no energy left to even have a conversation with him.  Now we are all so much closer as a family should be.  I give God all the Glory for setting me on the right path.  As I was praying about this last night and thanking God for my family I was reminded of Psalm 127:3-5.  It reassured me that there is nothing wrong with us wanting a large family, being a housewife, and homeschooling my children.

³Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

   ⁴As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

   ⁵Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~PSALM 127:3-5

Chocolate Attack!

I opened my email this morning to find a message stating Rick at Organized Doodles left a message on my other blog.  I did not recognize this person, so I decided to take a look at his blog.  I laughed so hard thinking, "Yeah, this is exactly how AnaMaria and I act.  Especially around certain times of the month."

 R.I.P. Camilito and Welcome into our lives Leilani Rain!

On June 1, 2008 we finally made the move of our dreams.  DH and I have lived in FL all of our lives.  I personally have never seen snow.  Neither have our children.  My DH received a job offer and we gladly made the move from sunny Florida to Maryland.  We were ready for a change.  I was 35 weeks pregnant. 

On the afternoon of June 24, 2008 I received the horrible phone call telling me my sweet nephew passed away:

 We are a very close knit family, so you can understand how devastating this news was for me.  Especially since I was so far from home and being 38 1/2 weeks pregnant there was no way I could go and be with my family.  I was thrown into a fog of despair.  This started my labour.  By the early morning (6:50am to be exact) of June 25, 2008 my beautiful daughter, Leilani Rain Lopez, made her entrance into this world weighing 8 lb 14 oz:

It was bitter sweet.  I prayed so much to be able to have a VBA3C and the Lord blessed me with a beautiful, natural birth at home.  I couldn't believe it!  After having 3 C-Sections, I finally had an all natural birth v*ginally at home.

My daughter is now 2 weeks old and I still have that bitter sweet feeling.  I feel so much joy that my daughter is here and that her birth was so beautiful.  Everything I dreamed it could and should be!  At the same time I feel so heart broken that such a huge part of my family is gone.  He was so young and still had so much to live for.