Year Four ~ Jigger
Our Island Story by H.E. Marshall
Language of God, Level C from Catholic Heritage Curriculum
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura M. Berquist
The Cay by Theodore Tayler
A Child's History of the World by V.M. Hillyer
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb
Jesus Our Guide: Faith and Life 4 with Activity Book
A High Sea Adventure by Jim Davis
The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit
The First Christians by Marigold Hunt
Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick
My Catholic Speller, Level C by Catholic Heritage Curricula
Human Anatomy Study
Latina Christiana I by Cheryl Lowe
Rummy Roots
57 Stories of Saints by Anne Eileen Heffernan, FSP
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Year Eight ~ Piper
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura M. Berquist
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Century for Young People by Peter Jennings
Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
Language of God Grammar from Catholic Heritage Curriculum
Latina Christiana I by Cheryl Lowe
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Rummy Roots
The Time and Space of Uncle Albert by Russell Stannard
Prove It! Prayer by Amy Welborn
Our Life in the Church by Faith & Life Series #8 & Activity Guide
Life of Fred: Advanced Algebra by Stanley Schmidt, Ph.D.
Human Anatomy Study
The Scarlett Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Padre Pio
The Sinking of the Titanic by Logan Marshall
National Geographic Magazine
Popular Mechanics Magazine
Smithosonian Magazine
Okay, so this morning Robyn posted a little video on YouTube, and once I had it going, I discovered someone lurking in my midst (keep in mind I'm alone all week while the boys are away on holiday [say the part in italics in a haughty, British accent, it's fun!], so the discovery of someone lurking about was surprising, to say the least). I discovered someone I thought long gone: rocker-80s-girl-with-the-huge-hair-and-bad-fashion-sense. Not kidding.
Where did *she* come from??!?
Well, since I am alone.... why not enjoy some other (loud) hits of theirs and hum (scream) along while reorganizing the library with Mary? (Okay, I'll interject here to clarify, with all honesty, that Mary: I haven't actually began cleaning yet. *sigh* I know, I'm disappointed [not really] in me too. In my defense, though, I *am* all alone.....)
Anyway, (can't say the title didn't warn you, and this is me without caffeine, ladies - aren't you glad I usually sensor myself??) - *Anyway* - imagine my shock upon discovering a duet much like caviar and Gatorade. Enjoy - I actually did. I'm off to spray/blow dry/ tease my hair to see if I can still get it to stick straight out from the side of my head right over my left ear - c'mon, you *know* you did it too!!!!
So here it is Thursday, and I am sitting at my husband's desk at 7:47 in the morning, still in my pajamas. This is highly unusual for me. My children are still sleeping, which is highly unusual for them. My to-do list before tomorrow at 1 p. is ridiculously long and untouched - again highly unusual. And yet, here I sit, visiting in bloggy-land and ruminating on life. And I am not stressed about any of it. No, I'm not on drugs, and even if I were, I wouldn't share something this good, lol!! I think I have hit my "wall." This past week, in truth, the past few months, have been one 'hit' after another, and after so many, the best you can do is to sit back and pretend none of it happened. I'm not kidding. Or at least ignore everything outside of your home, focus on what's truly important, and try to reclaim your mind. Have any of you experienced this? Is almost like a gentle trance, or hypnotic - you *know* that things untoward are happening all around you, but the reality you choose has none of those things in it. At some point, we all must choose - forces outside our homes, or forces within. I choose within, and let go of the rest. I can't control others' thoughts, reactions, or actions, even family, so as long as what we do is not done maliciously, then it is what it is. I'm telling you, I'm in the 'zone.' Zen-like. So, on to more important things.
Tomorrow marks the end of a chapter, and the beginning of another. My baby, my oldest, graduates 8th grade tomorrow night in a statewide ceremony. He's looking forward to it, and I just want to rewind time. I'm not ready for high school. I'm not ready for him to be going-on-15. But he is, and so time marches forward. What a wonderful life we have been blessed with.
Now, to the rejoicing: Piper has officially finished his school year!! We did a little happy jig yesterday afternoon, with Jigger looking on in disgust, because a) he's got one more day to do (at his own laziness), and b) we apparently can't Jig properly . No matter. He's done, and what a relief that is!!!
That's about all I have for this morning. If inspiration hits me, I may hit you with something else later, but considering the aforementioned untouched list, I wouldn't hold my breath. Have a lovely day, and I expect to be bombarded with comments full of sage advice and mutual rejoicing. Carry on.
Well, here we are at the close of another week. Is it me or do they slip by more quickly lately? Anyway, in spite of half the day at the pool yesterday, I feel like climbing to the top of the highest building (no mean feat as I'm terrified of heights) and screaming: "I HAVE FINISHED MY CURRICULUM CHOICES FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR!!!" I choose not to dwell on the actual lesson planning of it once the chosen items begin arriving, but instead revel in the fact that I AM DONE. It's funny, but I have this adrenaline rush that has sustained me throughout the past couple of months (courtesy of unlimited M&M's and frozen cappuccinos from the QT - oh yeah, Robyn), and it's still swirling about. Should I funnel all of this energy into productive chores around my home, possibly catching up on all the housework that has come in second this last week in my bid to FINISH MY LIST BEFORE THE CONFERENCE tomorrow? Should I wow the husband and children with my supermom capabilities? (Hey, I'm not bragging, it's what my vitamins call me.)
Naaahhhhh!!! I'd much rather catch up with you all! So, until my children drag me off this thing and force me to get my groceries done and supervise their schooling, I'm going to be bopping around visiting you all! I love my bloggy friends! :)
Tomorrow is my first ever home educating conference. I am so excited, and my husband has said he's really looking forward to it as well (falling over). He's a wonderful man, but because of the amount of varied things I've had to drag him to over the years, I just never know what or when he'll be amenable to attending. Maybe it's just a day alone with me without children (thank you, Robyn!). I think I'll go with that one, yeah. Back to the conference... my list is ready, the checkbook is in my hot little hands, and hubby and I have come to a semi-truce on the budget for this year.
About the budget. (warning: rabbit trail here)
Every year since we began home educating, I would place a large (but incomplete) order at the beginning of the 'school year.' These books would include our spines for the year (history, math, grammar, etc.), and the literature selections for each subject for the first term. Near the end of term one, I would order the literature selections for each subject for term two. Near the end of term two, I would order the literature selections for each subject for term three. (as much as you are tired of reading that, I am of typing it) Needless to say, 'extra' books snuck in with each and every order, and the chaos of it all was driving me to drink (see the QT reference above). Not to mention that I had thought I had purchased a book only to go to the shelf and NOT find it. Then I would scramble to order it, pay too much, and get testy when a 12-week book only had 10 weeks in which to be read because I WAS NOT PREPARED. Well, NO MORE. I have cried, I have stomped, I have mastered avoidance techniques I was unaware of, but I AM PREPARED for the next school year. So why this edgy tone to my tome? (see, Robyn, there I go cracking me up again)
Because, now that the order is finalized, I have a total. Of money that will be going OUT. Enter HUSBAND.
"It's HOW much??!?!"
"No, absolutely not. Cut something out."
"But that's a LOT of money!!"
"We have never spent THAT much on their schooling before!!! You just spent a couple hundred a couple of months ago!!!"
Whoa - hold the phone - slam on the brakes, Hoss!!! We have spent all that and MORE on books in the past years - just NOT ALL AT ONCE.
"oh."
"What about the money a couple of months ago???"
You mean to FINISH this year out??
"oh."
End scene.
Okay, trying to remember where I was going with this (if you are still reading this, oh my gosh - either I owe you an apology, or you need to find new bloggy friends)... Ah, yes - ...But no more!! THIS year, I am going to be PREPARED (I really think that in my life, that word has been a swear word - but no longer! I am scaling the mountain of procrastination, and I like the view!). I'm even going to have my lesson plans done for the ENTIRE YEAR by the time we begin. So. What do you think about THAT? I'm thinking I'm doing a little book-boogie right now. Because, in the end, after I shopped around and dropped our total bill by about $125, you know what will happen, right? Same thing that happens in your household. The husband will come through. Why? Because the education of his children is paramount?
Nope.
He'll come through because our gratitude elevates him to HERO status, and he just laps that up. And there he will be until Christmas shopping rolls around.
I've been sitting here for a few days, waiting for inspiration to strike. Waiting for the 'perfect' blog topic to come up, being witty and enlightening, and thus raining down the comments upon me. Well, inspiration has left me sadly dangling at the end of my rope, and so you'll just have to read about the ho-hum, hum-drum activities around here lately.
(whistling)
(twiddling thumbs)
(exaggerated eyeroll)
Yep, that's it. All that and then some. I am so UNinspired lately that if I don't do something quickly, I may just melt under the door and out into the storm drain. I don't feel like de-cluttering, I don't feel like cooking, I don't even much feel like planning for next school year (gasp!). I know, I know! Heretical, isn't it?? The Ho-hum-drums have struck. My Christmas gifts lie unfinished, my garage remains a mess, and school is barely getting eked out for these last four weeks and one day of our current year. Projects, deadlines, holidays and trips loom ever-present and ever-closer, but do I care? Apparently not even one whit. So.
If you have any inspiration for me - and don't point me to some mom who is "doing it all" with 14 children, 12 farm animals, 3 in-laws, and a befuddled husband in tow - then lay it on me, sisters. Because I'm tapped. Stick a fork in me - I'm done.
Is anyone else in the throes of planning next year's school year? With their first year of HIGH SCHOOL? My eyes are bleeding, I swear they are! I find that it's difficult to focus, and every question my wonderful husband asks me gets a mumbled, absent response having to do with curriculum. For instance, "What's for dinner, honey?" begets this: "Warriner's Grammar and Eats Shoots and Leaves would be a good foundation for...." (it becomes unintelligible at this point). I feel like Chicken Little, running around screeching "the sky is falling" without actually accomplishing anything.
I am reading a murder mystery for my 'down time' enjoyment (translation: when my brain crashes from sorting through far too many curriculum choices). We are schooling in earnest, as we have only 6 weeks left of school (yes, we are still schooling). I'm de-cluttering my home. I'm trying to sew myself a skirt or two. Jigger has a request in for a summer robe. I'm working on Christmas presents. We have a birthday and Father's Day this week. Life is full. God is good.
Meanwhile, the avalanche of curriculum catalogs is teetering precariously over my head. Yes, Chicken Little, the sky IS falling.
"The thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their Blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with."
I've been bestowed a great honor from Mary, a.k.a. Canadagirl. She has awarded me a recipient of the Smiling Bloggers Award! I consider this a great honor, as it is always my intention to make people smile, think, and be entertained, and apparently I have. Thank you, Mary!! If you hadn't already received it, I would be passing it on to you. :)
I don't know how many people I should be passing this along to, so I'll pick five. Please check out these wonderful blogs, as their owners have had the gift of making me smile, laugh, or outright howl before. Enjoy!
Today is Sunday. I have run from making a large Sunday-morning-breakfast (which I love to bless my family with every few weeks or so) to cleaning up the kitchen to planning dinner to lesson planning for the boys for the week. It's Sunday. The supposed Day of Rest. Where's mine? In a fit of pique, I pushed away from my desk, turned off the lights, and trod down the stairs muttering "I quit" under my breath. My husband looked at me only half interested, moved a pillow away from his side, and patted the couch. I stalked over to the sofa, plopped down, and wondered at the fact that life doesn't seem to have any natural down time any longer. Where did it go?
For years, we have been hopping from one check-list item to another, with a seemingly never-ending supply of items at hand. Where is our time for leisure, for holding hands on the front porch while watching the boys play with the neighborhood children? Where is our time for snuggling in to watch a good movie with our sweetie, lying under a quilt in each other's arms? Where is our time to pick up a book and laze away an afternoon in a hammock, lightly swinging our feet off the side as the minutes slide away in a hum of birds and wind? Are those days glory days of the past? Are they dreams of what-might-have-beens? Memories of an ancient time where the clock simply gave information instead of counting out loud in its condemning tick-tock fashion?
Do you ever sit and wonder if we're too busy living to experience life? Too busy rushing to work, to school, to practice, to meetings, to social obligations, to extended family obligations, to everything and anything we 'ought probably' attend to? What about the ebb and flow of our days, where what gets done in a day isn't held in measure against each precious, poisonous second, but instead what crosses our path? What if we had a life? What would it be like to rise according to our body's schedule, break our fast, plan our dinner, and then plan our day, with the knowledge that at any time it could be interrupted by our husband, our children, our Life, and seamlessly flow from one project to another as it presents itself to us, instead of racing the clock to fit everything in today, because tomorrow has its own problems that won't give way for today's spillover. What if we could breathe?
I vow to try to breathe. I don't know how, but there must be a way. I want to have a life, not a living.
Here's a little known and useless fact about me: I notice vehicles. Manufacturers, models, makes, colors, options, you name it, I see it. It's completely and totally useless, but it's a sickness habit of mine, so there you have it.
Okay, so I'm barrelling driving down the freeway today, and what should I see but a Mercedes Benz in front of me. As I pass it, I do a double take when I see that it is a STATION WAGON.
I am in such a joyously spring mood that I thought I'd redecorate my blog to reflect this. Thank you to 40winkzzz, who already has noticed my new look and complimented me on it. It was fun! I think there are one or two other things I'd like to add and a couple of things to be editted, but for tonight I'm satisfied.
Been busy this past week, as usual, and am looking forward to more of the same in the week to come. I'm going to try to make a more concerted effort to post, however, but I'm not holding my breath and neither should you, lol!
Palm Sunday already tomorrow! Where has Lent gone? I truly feel as though life is flying by with little notice or input from me. The boys' schooling is being accomplished, but without the interaction I'm hoping for. Time to take a good hard look at what to change, and where to go from here.
Well, I'm off to eat dinner and enjoy a movie with mo Chroi. Have a wonderful Sunday, and an uneventful and satisfying week!
Just wanted to drop by quickly to say Thank You! to all of you for the wonderful birthday wishes for Jigger. It has been a wonderful week, and though the calendar has passed March 17th for another year, in spirit it is still St. Patty's Day for us in the Irish 'biz.' Jigger has a performance this afternoon, and another on Saturday, and then we're done with our Irish holiday for another year. Sunday we're granting Jigger's birthday wish to attend the AZ Renaissance Festival, and hopefully by Monday I can look at the week ahead and take a breath, knowing that we'll be home for most of it.
So, all this to say that I am most definitely going to ATTEMPT to put pictures on here and tell you all about our wonderful holiday, but it's going to have to wait a few more days. As an aside, as I'm getting ready to wrap this up and get moving on my day, it's thundering here!!! Can't tell you the last time I heard that.
Welcome to our home! Within you will find an assortment of ramblings having to do with home educating, books, homemaking, being a wife and mother, crafts, Catholicism ~ in general, our life at home, where our hearts truly lie.
Happy at Home
Mo Chroi~ Wonderful Husband who makes me laugh and is crazy about me and our kids
Me (Celtic Mom)~ Happily married to My Heart, mother of two wonderful sons, and passionate about many things, among them being teaching, making our house a home, and exploring my Creative Well
Piper~ Eldest son who loves being home educated and playing the bagpipes with the local Scottish Pipe Band
Jigger~ Youngest son who loves keeping up with his brother, and going further with his Irish Step Dancing
The Tea Shop Mysteries by Laura Childs
For the Love of Literature by Maureen Whittmann
The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think and What We Can do About It by Jane Healy
Catholic Homeschooling Companion by Maureen Whittmann and Rachel Mackson
Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid
Please Don't Drink the Holy Water! by Susie Lloyd
