HOWDY =)

Hello to all my pleo friends. Long time, no see.
Yes....I have been converted to Facebook, and many of you are on there, but I thought I would ramble a bit on here, and post a few pictures. =)

Life is busy here. School is quickly drawing to a close. Only 22 more days of school~ woo-hoo! Clayton will be graduating from the 5th grade; I can't wait until his ceremony. Logan is finishing up the 3rd, and Audrey the 2nd.

Both Logan and Ella's birthdays are next month, and I am planning a combo birthday party at the county park. We will be grilling hot dogs and having lots of fun games for all the kids. My little Logie is not so little anymore; he will be 9! He loves to play basketball and shoot his bb gun.
I can't believe my baby girl is going to be 2. She is so precious, but I don't believe there ever was a more mischievous child! She gets into more stuff and makes more messes than the other three ever did, combined! She sounds so cute, talking now.

Audrey is playing softball for the Rec department, and was able to get back on her old team. We are the Dirt Dolls, once again! She is one of only two girls that can throw the ball from one base to another. You wouldn't think she would have an arm like that, with her being so petite, but she does! Audrey is still taking piano lessons, and just this past Sunday, had a recital. I have put the video of her one here, for your viewing pleasure. She recently had 10.5 inches cut off her hair, and we donated it to Locks of Love. She looks so cute with her new "do"!

Clayton is practicing for an upcoming Guitar Hero tournament at school. It is only for 5th graders, and the music teacher is setting up brackets. He said it teaches hand/eye coordination as well as keeping the beat, rhythm, etc... Sounds pretty fun to me! He recently participated in an All District Choral Concert. Bless his heart, he had to sing alto, because with all the girls, there was already enough soprano. He was one of three boys, I believe, that was in the chorus. He had lots of fun with it.

As far as myself, I have been enrolled in college 3/4 time this past semester. I was going for my teaching certificate, but I think I have changed my mind on that. I will be glad when this semester is over. One class ends this Friday, one on May 6th and one on May 11th. I will end with a 4.0 though, so I am pleased with that. I am also babysitting three children full time. Their ages are 13 months, 4months, and 3 months! Seriously though, they are all such good babies, it has been just fine. I also have been in the process of giving the boy's room a makeover. They had been using my furniture, that I got when I was 12 or 13. That furniture had been through the ringer...plus, not to mention the brass knobs were not too masculine! So, I painted the furniture blue. They got new bunk beds, too. It looks so different in their room; I am loving it! I still have their desk to finish up.

We have a few trips planned for this summer. The kids are getting to visit with their cousins for a week, up on Field's Mountain. In July, we are going camping with my cousin and her family, in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. I will be looking forward to some very fresh crab and shrimp! My kids have never seen the ocean either, so I am really looking forward to this. Later on that month, Clayton and Logan are attending Camp Appalachia with their cousin. I am glad that their Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Becky will be there to watch over them. Audrey is going to attend a local horse camp that same week. It's just a day camp, but she is beyond thrilled. Riding horses, taking care of other farm animals, hayrides, picnics...who wouldn't be?!

Well, I guess I have saved the biggest news for last. =)

I have made the decision to home school the kids, beginning next school year (this fall). I have been thinking about this for a long time, prayerfully. Everything just seemed to say that this was the right decision for our family. I am BEYOND thrilled and the kids are looking forward to it as well. I made my decision more so because of all the wonderful benefits of home schooling, not so much the cons of public schooling. My children have had no problems academically nor socially. I am just excited about spending the whole day with my children, and getting to know them even better. I can custom fit their education to them, and there are no worries about harmful outside influences. Needless to say, I have been researching different curriculum, like a mad woman! There is so much out there. I am having six home schooling families over in early June, for us to collaborate and share ideas, curricula, etc... I am blessed to have a wonderful support group, as there are already five homeschooling families within the church I am a member of.

Please keep our family in your prayers!
Now, here are the pictures.