GOING PRIVATE!!!!!

Ok, I'm going to follow the trend and go private on my blog. I really would just like to know who's reading this-I'm very curious! So, please leave your email address if you'd like continue reading (by Friday). Thanks!!!
Nikki

To homeschool or not to homeschool?

That is the question I have been pondering a lot lately. There are many reasons why I should homeschool Lucia:
1) So as not to put her in a new school mid-year (we are moving out of the area in about a month)
2) The charter school allows the parent to chose the curriculum.
3) The charter school gives you $1500 per year for supplies and books and for extra activities like dance or music lessons.
4) The charter school offers mini classes like art and science where they get to meet with other kids.
5) Lucia would get one on one concentrated instruction.
6) We'd have a more flexible schedule.
7) We'd have more time to do things like visit museums and go to play groups.

The reasons I shouldn't do homeschool:
1) Lucia and I butt heads a lot of the time-she doesn't listen to me very well.
2) Marco and Sylvie might get in the way and/or neglected.

So do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Halloween Part 2

I'm glad it's finally over! I love Halloween, but it's been going on for over a week now. This year was actually the first year I've gone trick-or-treating with the kids. Julio has taken them in the past. It was so fun! We first went to Gina and Josh's house next door and then tried the court around the corner-no luck. So, we went further down the street and found some great houses! Some were decorated really spooky and the kids thought they were cool. Marco was terrified of two people dressed in what looked like a horse and a bull mascot costumes and freaked out every time he saw them. Never the less, when we went into a "haunted house" where a grumpy old troll opened the door-he wasn't quite as scared. We went to quite a few houses until Lucia started complaining that her feet hurt.


Oops posted these backwards! Here the kids are checking out their stash!

One of the not-so-spooky, but spirited houses.

Another cool looking house.

The black lit, haunted porch with the grumpy old troll. The house was pitch dark and he opened the door very slowly and crept out. It scared me! Marco started to cry, so he took off his mask-he looked like Colonel Sanders! It was pretty funny.

The happy children pre-trick-or-treating.

So nice

Julio started his new job today. He decided to switch firms and it was a great move! He no longer has to be at work at 7:30 am and stay until 7:30 pm. He doesn't have to wing it anymore. He gets to learn from a 30 year experienced bankruptcy expert. He's in a low stress environment. He doesn't have to push sales. He gets to do quality vs. quantity. He has a 10 min. commute instead of a 30 min. commute. He doesn't have to bring files home to work on. And the best part is... he was home for dinner tonight! I think I'm gonna like this.

Halloween Part 1

Aargh, don't touch me loot!

Lucia and her best friend-two pretty princesses.

Hello fellow fairy!

Trunk-or-Treat

Let the Spooky Season begin! Last night was the Ward (our church) Halloween Party complete with a chili dogs and nachos, cupcake walk, carnival games and lots of cool costumes (including a Mormon Che Guevara!) Marco was scared to death of the clowns and the Easter Bunny. Lucia was one of a million princesses, and Sylvie was running around in her ballerina/fairy costume like a wild child. I also got into the Halloween spirit in my witch costume. To end the night, we did "Trunk-or-Treat" in the parking lot. Now we are overflowing with sugar in our house, and this is only the beginning! We have numerous Halloween activities next week....

This week: dinner, doctor's appts, house update

This week: (sorry I don't take pictures of food!)
Mon: Spaghetti with pancetta, escarole and garlic chips-cucumber salad
Tues: Chicken quesadillas, spanish rice, carrotts sticks
Wed: Tuscan Potato Soup, cheesy garlic biscuits, broccolli
Thurs: Crab cakes, rice, green beans
Fri: Homemade pizza and some veggie

Doctor's appts this week: Sylvie had her 12 month check-up (even though she's almost 14 months) and she is healthy but tiny. The doctor recommended I up her calorie and fat intake and she been seen again in 2 months. Marco has had hearing tests which were normal and a speech evaluation. He has been recommended for speech therapy. Another thing on my list of things to do!

House update: Our closing date is Nov. 20th. We met with one contractor this week, but there are certain repairs he's not licensed to do, so will have to meet with another one. We were scolded by our realtor saying we are not allowed in the house unless with the contractor and we notify the bank ahead of time! So why did they give us the access code??!! So we will probably move in Dec. We are super anxious and ready for more space and something to call our OWN.

I guess that is all for now. Wow! So much blogging this week! Gotta go make dinner.

A Must-Do Fall Activity

So there are many reasons we love going up to Apple Hill. The beautiful scenery and fall colors. The delicious food-The Forester Pub and Grill, the Fudge Factory, the homemade apple pie, fresh apples. The hay maze, the farm animals, the pumpkin patches. There is one reason we don't like Apple Hill: the crowds and traffic! But, it's something you've just got to do in the fall-it's such a festive place. That's why everyone in the Sacramento region goes there, including us!


Waiting for food at the Forester Pub and Grill.

One of many pumpkin patches on Apple Hill.

Look! It's a goat!

Fun running into the Finks!

The crowd!