chomping at the bit...

[holyhart]

and a bit nervous...

to start school this year!!!

We will be using Bigger with my oldest dd and LHFHG with my ds. I can't wait to get into Bigger as it looks like so much fun and I just adored LHFHG. However, I am due with baby number 4 in about 2 weeks so we will hold off until mid-September. SOOOO with a newborn and a just turned 2 year old, I am questioning how our day will really look. I will be doing LHFHG slowly with my ds as he is a bit on the younger side so that might help.

Plus we are going to be moving. Some of you may remember a prayer request that I posted back in January/February about my husband getting laid off. We he did eventually get another job, but it was straight commission and hasn't always gone well (ironically it is doing loan modifications to help folks keep their house), and we ended up way behind on our mortgage and our mortgage company refused to work with us or except any late payments (we could have paid all arearage minus the attorney fees they tacked on), so our house has gone into foreclosure. I think we have to be out by Oct. 1st so that will also put a kink in our start of school as we will be in the midst of moving AND a newborn while attempting to start up school. As of yet, we are not even sure where we will be moving too!

I know that God will provide and make a way for us.

Any thoughts of how to make our day productive and flow smoothly through all this would be quite welcome! (So would prayers!)

[my3sons]

I've thought of you often, holyhart! It's so good to hear from you. I have prayed for dh, for your move, and for your sweet babe on the way. I know it doesn't make sense to start school now, but one thing that helps me is to figure out the littles' routine before we start school. Basically, I can't be busy with the littles the whole morning, or school doesn't get done. So, even though you're not starting school, I would start to train sweet Evelyn to have an independent playtime with Lillian Rose, and I'd also begin to train little Joshua to have an independent playtime with Lillian Rose as well, probably in a different place to change it up. I set the timer, and start with smaller increments of time (like around 15-20 minutes), and work up to 30-40 minutes.

My oldest did well with this, and quickly moved from 20 minutes of time to 40 minutes of time with our toddler. My middle ds took longer to be able to do this (because he's younger). He had to be closer to me with toddler, and start with just 20 minutes. We gated off an area for them to play near us but not right by us. I added snack time to the independent playtime, and wah-lah - they could play 30 minutes happily together. I also trained my toddler to be in a gated area watching a 30-40 minute educational video. He has a special chair, stuffed animal, and a blanket for this time. He can see us as we leave the door open, but the gate is up and we're just a room over from him (close enough to give him comfort, but far enough away to give us a more quiet work environment - plus my olders end up watching the video otherwise too - too tempting). You could also work on a blanket of toys time for toddler, or a playpen time. He could also have a low kitchen cupboard of special toys he pulls out for a 15-20 minute playtime. Getting the toddler's schedule down first has saved me!!! Here's my last year's schedule that shows how this helped me out:


HTH, and as it comes time for planning out a school schedule, we can kick around ideas for that too!

In Christ,
Julie

[3boysandagirl]

We are in a very similar situation, my husband actually took a more stable position to get away from commission only. It was a paycut but provided so much in the way of benefits and stability. In the process we have become behind on our mortgage payments and couldn't catch up even if we wanted to. We have decided to go ahead and lose our house to the foreclosure process and move our family to a better area. We are excited and scared to move, but look at it as a fresh start. We are moving in about 2 weeks, so even though I am anxious to get started, it is probably best that RTR isn't shipping for another week or so. I couldn't get started if I wanted to.

I don't have much advice for you, but just wanted to let you know I will be lifting your precious family up in prayer. Praying that God leads you to a great new home and allows you peace in every situation. Maybe getting the older started in Bigger and work on little things with the other 2, they'll have plenty of time to catch up once you get settled in your new home.

[Mumkins]

Wow, were quite similar, only for me, I've got a 4th 2 years ahead of the pack, and you've got the 4th coming. But all our other kids are born in the same year and we're doing Bigger as well. We're moving too. The end of this month. I can't wait to get started! But it'll be Sept 13th. I was going to start the week prior, but DH has the Monday off and I just got word this morning that the IL's are taking the kids for grandkids day on the 9th, so I guess it's better to just hold off til the next week.

If possible, get the bulk of the schooling done while your 2yo is napping, assuming he still naps. And then, as Julie said, get the other kids to entertain themselves. Has you heard of ziploc bags? You premake large ziploc bags with preschool crafts. Everything they need is in the bag and they can do it by themselves. Have a box of the bags ready and the kids can pick their own activities and play quietly while you work with another.

[Kathleen]

Kelly,

I've been thinking of you and praying for you, too. Especially this past month! I knew we were due close together...but wasn't sure if your little baby was here yet or not. Sounds like we're due almost at exactly the same time! 2 weeks from tomorrow for me, too.

I think you'll have a wonderful time with Bigger & LHFHG. You'll need time to adjust to all your "excitement" that's soon to come, but I know for us HOD is the happiest part of our day. You're used to how it works, and I know that your kids love doing school with you, so I'm guessing that will hold true for you, too. Julie always has great ideas for making school possible & HAPPY. Everything that I've tried that she has suggested has been wonderful in our house!

You can do it! And I can't wait to hear about your new arrival!!
Kathleen

[holyhart]

Julie, thank you for sharing the scedule and ideas and prayers. I think it is a great idea to start the older two with "playtime" with Lillian to be able to get a little one-on-one time with the other child. That won't be so hard with Evelyn, but Joshua might not be so easy. It will be very good for him though! He is having a hard time adjusting to Lillian getting into his stuff lately since that is a newer phase in the house. He doesn't mind sharing his stuff with her as long as he isn't using it already. It's when he is building his train tracks or lincoln logs etc., and she "doesn't play right", taking things apart on him that he gets very upset. Unfortunately, it has turned into him not wanting her around when he plays unless the three of them are playing some sort of "family" game (usually Little House on the Prairie...they even have all the dress up clothes for this! Too cute!)) and Lillian is the baby (baby Carrie ). It will take some adustment but I think it will be good for them and myself.

I will work on figuring a new schedule (using yours as a guide as well as the schedule I had when Lillian was born) and come back if I need help tweaking it! I most likely will need the help in the area of what work Evelyn should be able to do more independtly and what areas she will need me right there for.

Thank you 3girlsandaboy for your words and prayers. I will be praying for your situation too. Was the house market hit hard in your area? It was here in NH and that is why our mortgage company wouldn't work with us. The house was too upside down, we bought when the market was really high and with the drop, our house dropped hard (about a third of what is owed). While when it first was coming about, I was extreemly upset, I am now looking forward to a fresh start. Our house really is too small for us. It is a 1000sq foot, 2 bedroom ranch. It was fine when we bought it with just one 4 month old baby, but we have definately outgrown it. However, with the market dropping we would have been stuck here trying to make the space work and figure out where to fit everyone. Currently all three are sharing a 9'x11' bedroom and the baby will sleep in our bedroom. We might be able to rent a house from some friends of ours who just moved to FL and haven't been able to sell their house up here. They just have to finish out the contract they have with the real estate agent which should be up soon. It would be good for us and them as they are taking a loss at the asking price right now (due to the market). The house is 3 bedrooms, 1800sq ft., I even have a nook picked out just for school! Great yard for the kids to play in. And they could wait out the market to make back their $ without the house sitting empty. I'm praying that works out, but either way GOD IS GOOD and has a plan. Praying for your "fresh start" too!

Mumkins, I would love to hear more about what to put into the ziplock bags. I have seen activity boxes at Walmart for $7 each, but thought I could definately make some boxes (bags) cheaper I'm sure! I would love to have things for all three age groups if I could. I would love to hear ideas! Lillian does still take a nap. She actually just switched from two a day to one a day. I know I got SOOO much longer out of her than most people get. Joshua still takes one every afternoon as well. He is a bear without his sleep....gets that from me I think.

Kathelen, I've been wondering about and praying for you too! Do you know yet if you are having a boy or girl? Or do you opt for a surprise? We are having a boy. Caleb Charles. That will be a lot of birthdays for us in August! Lillian is the 7th and my husband is the 31st. I keep telling my midwife that a little early on the 19th would be great. 12 days after Lillian and 12 days before hubby. Bur he will come when God tells him to come I guess. I can't wait to see some pics of your little one! Praying for a safe, and wonderful labor and delivery.

[Mumkins]

I purchased Preschool Activity Bags 1 and 2. They have science kits, math kits and reading kits too. They're really awesome. You can get lots of free ones if you google. I'll come back later and post some of my favorites.

[holyhart]

I found LOTS of ideas on the web for the activty bags. What a great idea! Plus, I think I will keep some toys up on shelves that I know keep her occupied for a while, but don't want her to get so used to that she gets board easily with them.

Now I just need a trip to the dollar store for some of the supplies!