This morning, John took Johanna and William with him to church for the worship conference going on there while I took Sam and Micah to Micah's soccer game.

Ours was one of the first games of the day: 9 a.m.  I had to laugh at some of the other soccer moms, although I'm sure I didn't look any more thrilling than they did.  Many had coffees in hand, glasses, no makeup, sweats, some still had pillow-rumpled hair, and some had yet to crack a smile for the day.  Some of us look that way every day, of course, but I had to chuckle at the lengths we moms go to to get our kids to their soccer games!  Some moms went with the pony-tail, ball cap, and sun glasses.  But that's cheating to pretend that under all that they really look good.  The rest of us just let it all hang out and we're better for it.  Right?  After all, honesty is the best policy.  Or not. 

The day was gorgeous - cloudless blue sky, brilliant sunshine - if a bit chilly for sitting around watching soccer.  Of course, Sam and I spent most of the time at the playground, so we managed to stay warm.  That boy wears me out trying to keep up with him.  But that's what two-year-old boys are supposed to do, so I'm happy. 

Good night, everyone!  Now, get to bed so you can go to church tomorrow! 

I have less than an hour to fit in another blog entry and keep my streak of blogging every day this week!  Trouble is, I'm tired.  Really just tuckered out.  So, no brilliant social commentary, or even any pithy remarks on child-rearing.  Sorry.  I will console you, though, with a picture of one of the handsomest children you could ever hope to see.

That's Friday down.  I'm going to bed! 

Sam, knowing full well a camera is aimed at him.

Goofy girl!

This is the face we get every time we make Micah eat something he doesn't like.  Which happens a lot.

The serious angler.

Just a little Thurthday thillineth!

Today is my big brother's birthday.  I'm really looking forward to his next birthday because that will be his 40th!  But I'll settle for celebrating 39 for now. 

We tease a lot and occasionally still complain to and about each other, but I am not ashamed to say, here and now, that I really do love my brother.  I could say a lot of really nice stuff about him, but if you know him, you already know that stuff, and if you don't know him, you probably don't care.  So, I'll just say how much I appreciate a brother who is - and has always been - there for me. 

I'll just give one example.  When I was in junior high and he was in high school, we both attended the same summer camp.  We rarely let our paths cross, which was difficult to manage on a small hilltop, and, if they did cross, we did our best to ignore each other.  That summer I happened to have a young swain who was buzzing around me with some persistence, but I was already mistress of the "come-hither-go-away" game and felt well able to handle said swain.  Well, one night at campfire, Tom left his group of friends to check in on me.  He had noticed my admirer and wanted to be sure that I was okay.  He even offered to break the guy's legs, if I so desired.  This offer was in jest, of course, but I have always appreciated knowing that he was there and watching out for me, even if we hadn't acknowledged each other's existence in a while. 

And now, Tom has won a permanent place in the hearts of my two eldest sons because he does cool things like build bunkbeds and take them fishing.  I think when they grow up, William and Micah will find jobs close to Uncle Tom so they can all hang out together.  And that's okay, as long as they still send us their monthly support checks.

So, happy birthday, big brother.  I love you!

A few years ago, I read "I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith, and just last week I got the movie from the library to watch.  It is a coming of age story about a girl, Cassandra, living in England in the time between the world wars.  Her family is full of quirky characters: a father who wrote a bestseller and has not been able to write a single word since, an artistic stepmother who likes to run naked in the rain, a beautiful older sister who is desperate to escape the poverty into which they have sunk, a servant who is not really a servant but is in love with Cassandra, and a brainy younger brother who seems to be the only sane member of the family other than the protagonist.  They live in a run-down old castle and, year after year, hope that the father will somehow manage to publish another bestseller.  Just when life seems most desolate, the castle acquires a new landlord, a young American and his younger brother.  Simon and Neil come, and life changes for everyone. 

You may think that you know the ending, but this story defies conventional expectations.  When I read the novel, I confess that I was dissatisfied with the ending, but I think that was only because it did not follow the time-tested plot elements of a "romance" and when that happened, I didn' t know what to think.  Now, I realize that it is a "romance" in the classic sense of the word and is a much better book for its defiance of convention.  I had to think beyond the usual boundaries, and that is why I can recommend it to you now. 

The movie was very good and I can recommend it as heartily as the novel.  There is a brief scene of the streaker step-mother, Topaz, so it is not for children, but if you can get past that, you'll enjoy the rest. 

If you have read the novel or watched the movie, tell me what you think.  If you have not, read and/or watch and tell me what you think!   

Today, my camera found Sam sitting on Daddy's lap using leftover wooden pieces from one of the boys' projects to build a "helicopter."  Then he was making a "building," then a "car," then a "guy."  He patiently put together the odd assortment of pieces to make his creations, not caring a bit that they looked nothing like what he was imagining!  So sweet to see him with his daddy and fun to see him using his fine motor skills and imagination.  Who would have guessed that we'd find as much wonder and delight in watching Child #4 as we did in watching Children #1-3?!

I won the contest with that short story!  To give some perspective, there were maybe eight contestants and I win "gift points" for the site (John calls them "imaginary points"), but still, I'm excited to win something with my writing.  (Pathetic?  Okay, probably, but I'm a middle child and I need lots of affirmation. )

In other news, we had 50+ people in church this morning and 38 tonight.  We try not to play the numbers game, but it is nice when the attendance numbers go in a northerly direction! 

Yesterday we all attended Micah's soccer game.  The weather was perfect for soccer: heavy, gray clouds; cold breeze; occasional spackles of rain - perfect!  I don't know who won the game because, of course, we don't keep score.  (But if you really want to know, I have the feeling John could tell you.) 

I apologize for the lack of photos on here lately.  My camera is sitting and gathering dust.  It's not that the kids don't do anything cute or picture-worthy, just that I don't have the time or energy to grab the camera while they're doing it!  This week I'm going to put it within easy reach and see what I capture.  Some things, I will avoid capturing, though, like the piles of dirty dishes and school books and laundry strewn liberally throughout the house.  And, even if one of these evils does manage to fall within the range of my camera lens, with the magic of photo editing, I can just crop out what I don't like and focus on the beautiful, angelic faces of my children.  This is my blog and I can portray my home and homeschool however I want, as I wish it was.  Too much reality is just depressing.

Well, it's late here and I must shuffle off to Buffalo.  Or bed.  Whichever I reach first. 

Last week, I wrote this short story for a small-scale contest.  The prompt was to write a story from the point of view of some listed inanimate object.  I thought the problems of a picnic table or a wheelchair in a nursing home were too obvious and I couldn't think of enough euphemisms to keep them from being stomach-churning.  A wedding bouquet and apple fallen from the tree have been done to death.  There were other options, but, for some reason, the compact appealed to me.  So, my story is written from the perspective of a compact with unusual ideas of what is beautiful. 

It is not for children, but neither is it offensive (I think), so please read and then tell me what you think.  Even if you have some criticism to offer.  I can handle it.  I think. 

Here are some of the variables which wreak havoc with our schedule.  That schedule with so much potential, so many orderly possibilities. 

Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to confess that I, even I, am the most unpredictable element in our schedule since sometimes I want to start with math and sometimes I want to start with history and some days I don't want to start at all!  (But I do!)

Then we add in violin lesson on Monday; piano lesson and church on Wednesday; soccer on Thursday; homeschool co-op on every other Thursday; group violin lessons on some Fridays; something inevitably social on Friday night; soccer on Saturday; golf lessons at various times; breakfasts, lunches and coffees for John at all times and all days; occasional hospital and nursing home visits; and, to top it off, a certain element of human error. 

As my mom wrote to me the other day, it's too bad that there are so many opportunities for ministry all at the same time! 

Even so, I am constantly mindful of the overwhelming blessings we enjoy.  The worst health crisis we can complain of is a cold currently making its rounds at our house.  Both vehicles are working fine.  Our house is cool in summer and warm in winter.  And if we could find a way to keep the bats from enjoying our winter hospitality, all would be peachy. 

And, of course, the greatest blessing, no matter how busy or bored, settling fights or wiping tears, highly motivated or dreaming of a long day in bed, is Christ's gift bought for us on the cross. 

This morning, I decided to add a phys. ed. class to our homeschool day.  The kids and I went for a bike ride.  It was a beautiful morning.  The sky was a clear, bright blue.  The sunshine was bright and friendly, not so hot yet that it made us uncomfortable.  The trees were in late summer green with a few leaves turning scarlet or yellow to remind us that fall is around the corner.  The air was sweet with the spice of nature, ripe with all its fruit.   

Sam rode in his little trailer behind me, taking in the scenery and humming snatches of a made-up tune as we sped along.  The other kids vascillated between joy in riding their bikes and whining about how tired their legs were.  You know, the usual. 

We rode past the kids in school at recess and, I don't know about my kids, but I was thankful that we have the right and the privilege to homeschool on such a beautiful day. 

Over a week since my last post already?  Well.  Time flies when you don't take time to breathe!

Among other things, we've been working hard in school. 

Home Ec is an integral part of any homeschool curriculum! 

As is "Occupy Little Brother So Mom Can Get Something Done!"

Each homeschool day is fraught with its little dramas, as on this day when writing the lower case letter "j" was simply an impossible task.  "I can't do it!" wailed the little scholar.

When it became painfully obvious that nothing fun was going to happen until the lower case letter "j" was fully exercised, the little scholar somehow found the strength to complete her Herculean task. 

And, oblivious to the fray, the littlest scholar sits and colors.  This day he was making "snakes" and "LarryBob."  Coloring is currently Sam's favorite pastime.  His other full-time mania is Thomas the Tank Engine. 

So, now, you've had a little glimpse into the tears and triumphs of a typical homeschool morning at the Shaw School for the Sort-of Gifted and Fairly Talented. 

The other night, Sam and Johanna (whom he calls "Sinny") were playing with one of the coonskin caps John brought home from a trip one time. 

You can't see the tail, so it looks more like a Russian hat!

What a goof! 

Last week, Johanna and I went raspberry picking in a friend's backyard.  It was slow, sweaty work but the rewards were sweet.  With some of the raspberries, I made this raspberry salsa.  I love sweet and savory together so it's right up my ally.  If you like spicier salsa, you could easily increase the amount of chili powder and minced jalapeno.  It makes a nice change from ordinary salsa and could be canned* and given as a unique gift. 

Raspberry Tomato Salsa

2 cups diced peeled fresh tomatoes

1 cup unsweetened raspberries, mashed

 3 Tbsp chopped green chilies

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp finely chopped onion

2 Tbsp grated carrot

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp minced jalapeno pepper

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp chili powder

Mix all ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Serve with tortilla chips.  Yield: 2 1/2 cups

*If you are of the hearty, pioneering sort who actually cans.  I do not.  Not on principle or from fear.  Just from laziness, really. 

It looks very pretty, too.

Go.  Make.  Eat.

I am currently trying to pull together a collection of famous speeches which will be appropriate for the 5th graders in my class to do for a speech meet.  I came across this speech, given by William Faulkner in 1950 upon the occasion of his receiving the Nobel Prize.  It's shameless humanism, but it is so beautifully written (spoken?) and contains so much truth that it is worth reading.  It is not very long, so click on the link above and read.  Okay?  Go ahead. 

Now, tell me what you think.  Use those Humanities brain cells and really think about it!  You go ahead, I'm going to bed.  No, seriously, I want to know.  I'm just too tired to think about it myself at the moment. 

I don't think I'll include it as an option for my students, but I'm glad I stumbled upon it.

Here is my tentative plan for an "ordinary" day.  Seems like we don't have too many of those, but this can be our default mode.   What do you think?

I adapted this from another blog but I can't remember which blog, so I apologize to whoever the original author may be! 

This post reveals the key to my most successful days of housekeeping, parenting and homeschooling.  It’s something I intend to read every time I’m tempted to over-complicate anything as a diversion from the job at hand. 

Don’t talk about it, don’t write about it, don’t think about it more and more and more… you’ve done that already.  Just DO it.

Don’t make a schedule, don’t find a workshop, don’t make more lists.  Just DO it.

No more excuses.  No more procrastination.  No more diversions.  Just DO it.

Talking won’t help, thinking won’t finish, whining won’t work.  Just DO it.

A building isn’t functional while it is still on paper.  An arrow looks lovely in a quiver but is useless unless you aim and shoot it.  Just DO it.

The time you waste not doing it can never be regained.  Just DO it.

I know you can’t fail if you don’t attempt but you can’t SUCCEED either.  Just DO it.

Your kids are growing up.  They aren’t waiting for you to grow up before they do.  Just DO it.

Throw away the charts.  Toss aside the schedules.  Eradicate the formulas and JUST DO IT.

Well, here it is, the middle of the first week of school and I'm still coherent enough to type full sentences with real words...sfiw elasoi hglaf ...well, mostly.  My tiredness on Monday (our first day of school) was compounded by our annual family trip to "The Great Minnesota Sweat-Together," aka the state fair.  The weather was, in fact, perfect, and we had a good time.  By the time we left, though, my entire body ached with exhaustion and I'm not sure I've recovered yet!

As for school, though, so far, so good.  My lesson plans are already way off of my original plans because, wowie, does time fly in there!  I have from 1:20 to 2:45 to do grammar, writing and literature and sure, that sounds like a long time, but when it takes some of them five full minutes to write a single sentence, what I think will take 20 minutes ends up taking 40!  I haven't even started the grammar yet! 

Classroom management is okay.  Mrs. Smith, the other teacher, has some great systems in place and I just ride her coattails there.  But I think I've been too friendly so far.  *sigh*  I'm going to have to hand out some "cards" to get the attention of a few of them.  I don't want to get too 'drill sargeant' on them, though, because a few of them, the new ones in particular, still look like wide-eyed lambs and I'm afraid of scaring them off completely! 

Many people have asked how William feels about having his mom hanging out at his school.  I'm happy to say that he's still young enough to enjoy the minor celebrity it brings him.  And, hopefully, he and I have a good enough relationship that he doesn't mind having me around.  In fact, yesterday, I was sitting in the classroom doing some work while all of the students were going to lunch.  Wm came back up and asked if I had eaten my lunch yet.  I replied that I had not but would probably just eat in the classroom.  He said, "Well, I wanted to eat lunch with you."  Of course, I quickly retrieved my lunch and sat with him and his friends during lunchtime.  I know that it won't be long before he'd rather die than have his mom sit with him and a group of his friends at lunch, so I am enjoying my boy while he's still young enough to think I'm cool. 

I'm off, now, to adjust lesson plans and prepare for tomorrow. 

Sam got a haircut!

He's sometimes very unphotogenic, but look at the hair, folks.  Focus on the hair.

From the back.  Still curly!

What a handsome guy!

I took him to a place called Kids' Hair which specializes in, you guessed it, cutting kids' hair.  They had TVs at each station - the one by Sam had the movie Cars on it, so he was transfixed from the moment we entered.  They had a truck for him to hold while she cut and a lollipop as reward afterward.  They even had coffee out for the grown-ups.  Sam was so distracted, he barely took note of the lady with the scissors standing behind him! 

Now, he's all trimmed up and his hair looks much better.  But he also looks not so much like my baby anymore!  *sniff*sniff*

No comments?  Really?  All those cute pictures of Sam and no comments? 

Remember this?"Cheeeeeese"  Okay, well, anyway...

I'll give y'all an update on our various pursuits in the world of academia.

Last week, I had three days of teacher meetings at Liberty.  Lots of it was quite mundane - procedures, etc., but some of it was teaching methods, etc. that make classical education distinctive and that was fun stuff.  It was also fun to get to know the other teachers and spend some time feeling like a part of the faculty. 

Last night was Back to School night where all of the parents and students come and we talk about the upcoming school year.  It all went well, I think.  This year, we will have eighteen boys and three girls!  Oh, my. 

William thinks it's cool to be a fifth grader.  Not only does he have the prestige of being one of the oldest students in the Lower School, but this year he's not all new to the school so he knows teachers and students, classroom and procedures.  He's on his own turf.  And, of course, he thinks it's cool that there are seventeen other boys in his class.   

Of course, Back to School night was preceded by many days of cleaning, sorting, moving, and even painting, in our classroom.  On Monday, Wm and I painted one wall of the classroom a beautiful sage green and it looks great, if I do say so myself.  It was worth the three days of sore muscles and stiff neck afterward! 

Now if there were such an easy solution to the inordinate amount of heat in our classroom, all would be well.  The classroom gets the sun in the windows all day long and by afternoon and evening, it is a sauna.  I can't wait to find out what it smells like in the afternoons after recess and gym class! 

So, with Back to School night over, we now set our sights on the First Day of School. 

The Shaw School for the Gifted and Talented will not start until after the first week of school at Liberty.  My pupils have kept in practice pretty well over the summer - amazing how school work so easily fills those long summer mornings.  I do need to do a bit more organizing and planning before the year starts, but I have all the books and feel relatively prepared to tackle our homeschool. 

If you are so inclined, please pray for us all in our educational pursuits, especially over these first several weeks as a new schedule always requires many adjustments and lots of patience from everyone involved.  And we're not always long on patience around here.