Just when you thought you had it all figured out....

A big decision made at the Doty household this week....the kids are going back to school. Now the question comes, do I change the name of my blogsite? Obviously, when I chose the www.homeschoolmom2four.blogspot.com, I never intended to quit homeschooling. But, Life has a funny way of changing things up on you----Kirk and I got to assessing everything currently going on and decided that putting the kiddies in private school this year would be the best thing. The boys have actually been asking for awhile to go to school. Abby isn't really hopped up on the idea but is going along w/ it. We came to the conclusion that since we were going to be driving to the school anyways to take Hongru, it would be a good time to try it. (It also is a nice perk that the school is offering half off tuition this year to try to increase enrollment since the economy took a toll on them....) So, we just came to this decision 3 days ago and school starts Friday so I've been running around getting school clothes and supplies, taking kids to placement testing, getting haircuts (which was a little less drama filled than I had anticipated as Keaton was very fond of his hair and had to cut it to go to the school---probably the difference between Dad taking him to cut it and me doing it. He now has gone to spiking it into a mohawk and seems okay w/ the change) etc. etc. etc. So, we will see how this set up works for us around here. We debated as to whether or not to put Alexa in their preschool program but decided to go ahead and keep her home one last year since she will be in kindergarten next year--which is INSANE to think my baby will be in school full time next year! So, that's that story....
What else? Hongru comes in 4 short days so the next couple days w/ be more organizing and cleaning to prepare. We are also still working out details to possibly be purchasing a 15 passenger "bus" (ya know--like a shuttle bus type vehicle). We went and test drove it last week and really like it. Just waiting to hear back from our insurance dude to find out if the rates would be ridiculous or not.I had posted on facebook about what I want to do if we buy this thing. I thought it would be fun to paint it up like the Partridge Family bus and put "The Doty Family" down the side of it. When I told Kirk my idea, he liked it but his response was "Sounds like an expensive paint job". Always pinching pennies when you've got all these mouths to feed. Maybe I could pick up some overtime to foot the bill.... We do have the minivan still and it can seat 8 but it's pretty cramped. Since our house is usually full of other people's kids, if we have even one extra, we are taking 2 cars everywhere so the shuttle bus would be nice. The only not so nice part is that it gets like 10 miles to the gallon but whatcha gonna do? So, we will see on that one...Darn it! Now that stupid Partidge family theme song is going thru my brain again...."Hello world It's a Song that we're singing...come on get happy!"
So, that's pretty much the lastest from our household.....just thought I'd jot the update on the schooling subject. Part of me is kinda sad about giving up the homeschooling really. I love being w/ my kids. We have been together pretty much 24/7 for the most part for the last 4 years so maybe it will allow them to spread their wings a litlte bit, which isn't such a bad thing. We will see how this year goes and decide if school is for them or if we will go back to the homeschooling. Hope this school knows what they are in for! If not, they are about to find out....LOL.

Is 8 really enough?

Well, in the event you have not captured my excitement on my facebook, we are adding another family member to the Doty household in 9 short days---or 9 sleeps as Midge puts it. We are getting an exchange student from China. How about that for mixing things up around here? We all have our weaknesses---some people go the the grocery store and come come w/ bags of junk food, some people go to the pet store "to look" and come home with a puppy. Not us! We bring in other people's kids to live with us and experience the everyday antics of the Dotys and I love it! So, I will post his picture here (w/ his permission and the permission of his parents). I think he will be a very good fit. We have been emailing for about a week now--daily pretty much. His education is his priority and he just informed me that he is reading a 1000 page book currently about American History. My fear is that he is going to know more about my country than I do---which is highly likely. He will be going on our Disney trip w/ us, which should be fun. He tells me there is a Disneyland in Hong Kong and one being built in Shanghai, but he has been too busy studying to take time to go. I don't think my children will ever utter the words "I am too busy studying to go to Disney World". I have heard on several occasions that they are too busy playing video games to do their schoolwork---but somehow just not quite the same LOL. I am hoping some of his studious ways will rub off on them...here's to hoping. So, we are busy preparing---doing little projects around the house and such. I just purged 3 kitchen garbage bags of clothing in hopes of making some closet room for him. We've gotten some strange looks when we mention we are adding #6 to the gang and that's okay. My life isn't for everyone. We just happen to enjoy being a little different. What makes me shake my head ever time is when someone hears that Kirk and I do foster care and now getting the foreign exchange student--they might say, "Wow! You really have your hands full!". My response is usually "Well, better than empty!". I am kinda sick I think cuz I have gotten to where I actually kinda enjoy when people have a negative thing to say about our choice to open our home to other people's kids. Maybe because I work at a mental health facility, I think I'm a psychologist now but I like trying to figure out why people respond the way they do when they hear our story. Yeah, we could live in a bigger house rather than spend $1500 a month to feed our crew. Yeah, we could drive a nicer car than the 9 year old minivan I am currently cruising Jefferson Street in. Yeah, I could go out on the weekends with friends to fancy dinners and movies rather than ordering pizza and waiting for the movie to come out on DVD cuz going to the theater costs us a half a day's pay by the time I pay a sitter. But, that is not who we are and I'm good with it. It's not to say that things are always smooth sailing and tidy. The battle w/ the house is often and constant, and yes, I do even get grumpy at times.... But, we are doing what we feel called to do and that's it. I think everyone would agree that King Solomon is the wisest man who ever lived and I was reminded this week that his view on a large family are very similar to my own views....

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate

Psalm 127:3-5

So, having the same view as the wisest man that ever lived isn't such a bad thing, is it?

So, who knows what else, or rather WHO else, is going to come our way. All I know is that we are where we are suppose to be and the blessings are flowing!

I will try to keep this blog updated as we introduce Hongru to the not-so-typical American lives we lead.....