The days are long, the hours speed by quick, and memories and time are etched in stone. Our week was another busy fun-filled week filled with our normal routines as well as some fun thrown in the mix. The exciting thing for the boys and I, was that Daddy flew home for 3 days to end the week. We were all missing him and were excited to have him home with us.
Homeschool days are trucking right along. There are good days and there are super hard days. We experienced both of them this week. Sometimes it is a hard adjustment (still) to separate home fun and play with home work and school. I am thankful that they are learning, showing improvements in their studies, and showing grace with the constant state of limbo that is our life.
I joined a bootcamp class at my gym this week. Well, rather I popped in to the group class as it started. The instructor set up stations to rotate through for the duration for the class. Each station was 90 seconds of pure heart pumping, calorie burning, sweat inducing pain. It was great! It was so much more fun than the traditional group strength class.
The boys finally painted their pumpkins that we picked at the pumpkin patch last weekend. I don’t carve pumpkins, that is a Daddy thing. I let them be creative (and messy) with the painting of the pumpkins. Amazingly enough we had 3 unique and colorful pumpkins … with a common theme of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
I love reading books and have had a few books in my cart for weeks. I finally pushed the order button on a few books that I have been wanting. I am excited to read these books with my boys as well as two books in my quiet time (when I have the time to read). Ha! I will say that the order of the books is kind of funny, as a friend pointed it out to me on facebook. “Dare you to open this book. Let it go. Am I messing up my kids? It will be okay!” You can giggle at my expense, as this has been my inner monologue lately too!
With Daddy home, we wanted to do something fun as a family together. We had our heart set on going up the mountain to Apple Hill… but the rain cancelled that fun idea. Instead we headed to hike around and learn about nature at the Davis Arboretum trail. We learned a lot about local (and foreign) trees, redwoods, herbs, and more. It was a super fun, easy (2 miles), flat, paved hike.
After our hike, as we headed back through the city of Sacramento, we decided to eat dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack. While waiting for our table to be ready, we enjoyed some free entertainment of watching a train go by, the bridge going up to let a pirate ship pass through! We also say an amazing rainbow from our table during dinner. It was a great end to a super fun day!
I really enjoy taking photos from our week and sharing it with you. I am a mom who is trying to juggle and find balance with life, fitness, family, faith and more.
Jenn says
Wow it would be so cool to see a pirate ship come through!
Colleen says
Your dinner sounds amazing. I have a thing for rainbows. I’m also interested to see how the pumpkins turned out.
Raijean says
Looks like you guys had a busy week, I’m looking forward to next week.
Jill Will Run says
We carve pumpkins… but we have learned the hard way that we can’t carve them any earlier than Halloween day else they rot here in Vegas. 🙁
HilLesha says
It looks like you had a busy, yet amazing week!
Emily says
I’m a horrible mom. We don’t even have pumpkins yet, and we only carved them when K was a baby. I hate the mess and they get nasty here so quickly. I think we will paint them this year. That would be fun for both boys!
Emily says
Also – looks like you had a wonderful week!
Jessie says
Sounds like a fun weekend. Great to hear homeschooling has been going well. If you don’t mind me asking, how long has it been since you started? Did your children have to adjust from public school life to home school life? If so, how have they managed. I know may Aunt & Uncle have done the same w/ their children & things couldn’t be better.
Rachel says
Hi Jessie! I have been homeschooling my boys for 2 years now. I pulled my oldest out mid-way during his 1st grade. The transition for us to homeschool from public school life was an adjustment. Their toys are here. Their best friends (brothers) are here. MY chores are here. There is always distractions and something to do. BUT homeschooling gives us the freedom and flexibility to go and do things at any time that traditional school doesn’t give. Midweek hiking trip to the coast!? Yes, please. 🙂
That being said… I do feel that our calling to homeschool my boys is coming to an end. It is growing increasingly difficult (personalities, multitasking three different brains and lessons, and more). It is hard. But it is worth it. 🙂
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
Oh my kids would be all over the pirate ship! We carved our pumpkins yesterday. Actually Ron did the brunt of it since the kids had huge artistic demands of what they wanted. He’s the creative one!
Rachel says
The funny thing is, that when we spotted the pirate ship crossing under the bridge (that went up to let it pass)… you couldn’t tell who was more excited, ME or my husband!! LOL The boys were like, eh… a big ship! HA!
CARLA says
NOTHING to add but Im glad yer in my world xoxo
Rachel says
Thanks, friend. I am glad you are in my world too. 🙂
Kelly says
We don’t do anything with pumpkins (#momfail), but we do let B pick them out and then decorate our front porch!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
I have never painted a pumpkin but now I want to! How fun there was a pirate ship out and about!
Angela says
I love painted pumpkins more than carving them. We have a couple to paint in the next couple of days.
Tammy says
I remember those days of homeschooling, the tough days, but they’re so worth it. Now that our daughter is at college, I even miss those hard days 🙂 I’ve been busy starting the holiday baking already. I figure if I do a bit each week and then freeze it, when the holidays roll around I won’t be so overwhelmed 😉
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
We’ll probably carve our pumpkins tonight. in Florida you can’t do it too soon.
vanessa: thequeenofswag says
Looks like you had a very good week. Hopefully the next one will be just as great.
Theresa @ Faith and Family Reviews says
Looks like you had an amazing week! We were pretty much homebodies. Our girls are taking care of our neighbor’s chickens and that is about the extent of excitement around here! 😉
Crystal says
It looks like you had such a great week. We carved 3 of our pumpkins (we went a little overboard at the pumpkin patch). The remaining pumpkins are going to turn into fun DIY projects.
Ty says
My husband has been wanting to go to Joe’s Crab Shack for awhile now but I heard it’s kind of expensive. I might go next weekend.
Marcie W. says
So much fun! I also love finding new classes at my gym.