The kids are registered for public school

This feels so strange, like suddenly I'm someone that I don't recognize.

Dh made this call, but I do agree with him that it's the right decision. Our kids deserve a good education, and they're not getting it right now.

Getting them registered was relatively painless. Thankfully, I could easily lay my hands on their birth certificates and immunization exemption forms. I wrote a letter to the principal explaining our concern that our kids' lack of reading skills will make it difficult for them to be in their age-appropriate grade levels, but left that call to them. I did request that our twins be put into the same classroom, so hopefully they'll do that.

The elementary schools in this area are year-round, so classes were in session today for B, C, and D tracks. Classes end for them in two weeks. Most of the month of July is summer break, and then A, B, and C tracks start back on July 28. I've requested that they not be on the D track, just so they can start sooner rather than later. My preference is B track, but I'll take A, B, or C and be content.

The school itself seems nice. The office staff were kind and helpful, both on the phone and while were were in the office. And the stack of handouts I grabbed look engaging.

I'm trying hard to be enthusiastic when talking about this with the kids. They have lots of questions, as you can imagine. I've been reassuring them that I LOVED school when I was their age--and I did. Junior high and parts of high school sucked, but elementary was mostly a good experience for me. They are excited and nervous, but we have over a month before they'll start, so I'm sure we'll have some ups and downs.

My 7yodsC has already told me a couple of times that he'll really miss me. I am glad that they're bigger, now, and not little 5yos. I can't imagine sending my 4yod to school in another year, even though he'd technically be the right age for Kindergarten.

This is all really overwhelming. We had talked about this in the past as a possibility, but dh very suddenly decided this last night. I'm still feeling somewhat whiplashed.

I was told to expect a letter from the school sometime next week, telling us what track and teachers our kids have. So I guess until then we'll just have to be patient.

Failure

Tomorrow I'm calling the school district and registering our three bigs for school.

This isn't how it was supposed to go, but homeschooling and my chronic inability to follow through aren't a good mix.

Dh and I both survived public school. Hopefully our children will fare better.

One Word Meme

Got this from Keer!

Rules:You can only use one word and it's not as easy as you might think. Now copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers.

Here's mine:
1. Where is your cell phone? desk

2. Where is your significant other? garage

3. Your hair? annoying

4. Your mother? doula

5. Your father? pastor

6. Your favorite thing? Jesus

7. Your dream last night? sleep

8. Your dream/goal? harmony

9. The room you're in? kitchen

10. Your fear? SIDS

11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? diaper-free

12. Where were you last night? home

13. What you're not? well-rested

14. Muffins? blueberry

15. One of your wish list items? maid

16. Where you grew up? Oregon

17. The last thing you did? eat

18. What are you wearing? skirt

19. Your TV? dvr

20. Your pet? kitties

21. Your computer? slow

22 Your life? crazy-busy

23. Your mood? crabby

24. Missing someone? yes

25. Your car? minivan

26. Something you're not wearing? shoes

27. Your summer? school

28. Your favorite color? red

29. When is the last time you laughed? church

30. Last time you cried? today

Father's Day prep

I was suprised when I looked on the calendar today and confirmed that this Sunday really is Father's Day. It crept up on me this year.

Since we have less than a week, and limited funds, I'm focusing on some attainable goals: good food, thoughtful gifts, low-stress projects.

I'll make certain to have some meat marinading on Sunday, so dh can get his grill on. I'll likely do a no-sugar version of a marinade rightly famous among our family and friends: Bob's Teriyaki, named in honor of my half-Japanese former youth leader and the pastor who married dh and I. I haven't yet attempted a sugar-free version, so this will likely be the first of several attempts to get the balance of flavors right. How we will suffer in our pursuit of perfection!

I'm going to put together a collage of photos for dh's new office space in our basement. And I'm also going to choose photos of each child and have them printed in a wallet size, and get together a new photo insert for his wallet. He's been asking for that for some time, and I just haven't gotten it together, yet.

Third Day's new album won't be released until the end of next month, so my original plan to give him that won't work. I'll have to see if anyone else has some good music out lately. Any thoughts?