well this morning both kiddos didn't look so hot! they were laying around and lifeless which is rare! usually they are begging and pleading for breakfast before I even get out of bed at 7:30!! After a while they both came around and by mid afternoon they were back to fighting over coins and chasing each other! I kept Luke home again today, hopefully he'll be back to school tomorrow. We've had a really good time bumming around the house in our pj's. playing together and doing school work. I've enjoyed our time home this week. I felt like I caught up on housework (to a degree) actually enough to actally let go of it and just enjoy some good times w/ the kids. I felt like I was the mom I wanted to be this week.

Abby LOVES to do school work. She out does me, after a looooong time I was like.. Abby why don't you go play w/ your toys for a bit!! (that's why I love to teach now while they are so willing to learn!!!) I was kicking myself b/c she did really well w/ her numbers when we started today and I wished I had started earlier! She traced her 1, 2 and 3's. We worked on the letter "A" as well, but she had some trouble remembering where to start and where to cross. I think Luke had a much easier name to write.

Luke is very excited about counting money. so I was thrilled to find these "money" pages in the book Auntie Deb and Uncle Mark got him for Christmas?? was it?? anyways.. good stuff!!! we pulled out our abacus and I made him a "key" w/ real money and "equals" signs after each coin representing their value. He's doing much better counting by 5's and 10's.. but he forgets to stop and count by ones.. he'll try and count 43 beads quickly on the Abacus.. and he'll move beads saying 10, 20, 30, 40.... 50. 60. 70.. but if I stop and tell him 41, then he'll remember to finish the rest right. I've seen later in this book they count by 2's.. I think were still a far ways from that? b/c that requires more memorization!

I love working w/ the kids. and it's killing me to think about sending him to school next year. I am so divided on it. He LOVES preschool and I like how he learns from his teachers in different manners then I might teach him.. he's made good friends, and done activities in a group setting that I can't really do here at home.. but I am so scared to send him out in to the real world next year on a BUS that takes my baby away.. geezz.... I get scared when a friend or family member drives my kid, but a man I don't even know!!!! :( cry sob!!!! the whole, not getting to speak w/ the teachers daily and pick him up from his class is getting to me too. I want to know how he's doing and what's going on, I want to know the kids he's interacting w/ so I can help explain things to him, things the "Hostettler family" does and does not do.. .when it comes to following friends. As the clock ticks away and kindergarten gets closer and closer I am soooooo thankful to have had him back this one more year.

Here are some of the kids "homework" pages they did today"

I worked at Adventure Club tonight. We had a good night. I have enjoyed getting to know other people's kids. There is one little girl in particular who looks for me every week. She always makes eye contact right away and wants to tell me something. She generally sits by me and reminds me that she's "been there beside me" before. What a wonderful opportunity to spend time w/ these kids and be someone special in their lives. Today that little girl looked up at me and said "I like your voice"! while we were singing.. ah.. well I don't know any adult that would say that to me.. so it was very sweet, and I think that I am receiving maybe more then I am giving to these kids! I thank God for their loving little hearts.

well I gotta go watch American Idol.. I had Rich record it for me tonight b/c I miss it every Wednesday! :(

PS honestly I know how to make paragraphs but this thing doesn't do what I tell it too!!