Oct. 24, 2006 - Long Time No See

Well life has once again gotten in the way. Bob is considering taking a position (a promotion) in PA so we may soon be moving. The house is up for sale  which no matter how you feel about moving is always a little sad. I have seen my children grow so much here. Our marriage has really grown since living here and it is a little sad to think of the plans we made for our home never solidify. We are both excited about the possibility of moving back up North though so everything will be fine I am sure. He flies up for an interview on 11/1.

 

Rite of Welcome at church is Sunday. Never even seen one so it is a little scary to be part of one.

 

The kids have auditions for the Christmas play on Saturday, Emma even thinks she is going to try out. I hope they all get the part that is right for them.

 

We are trying to get ready for Science Fair on 11/3. The experiments are done but the reports and boards are not.

 

We've been without a dishwasher for nearly three weeks. Can I tell you how much I hate handwashing dishes? The old one was leaking, they got us a new one, that one leaked worse, then we finally got down to get a third and we decided to sell so we are keeping the $1,000 dishwasher in its packaging and we went and bought a $150 one to put in the kitchen. It is still in the back of my jeep. Hopefully it will go in tomorrow.

 

If you are the praying kind, pray our house sells, that we find a new one we can afford (cost of living in PA is much higher than here) and that somehow everything comes together the way it should.

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Sep. 23, 2006 - Medieval Times field trip

 

Dinner theatre, jousting and educational skits on clothing and weapons from the Middle Ages. The kids had a blast and were still beaming from it this morning. It was wonderful!! They announced J's birthday and Emma got a flower from a knight. She was dressed up and being so young got a lot of attention.

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Sep. 16, 2006 - They Won!!

Everything they entered won. Emmas both won 2nd place, Jessicas won two first place, two second place and one third place.

 

I will post pics later!

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Sep. 14, 2006 - A baby step

We met with Leo from church to start Bobs annulment from his first wife. Bob seems pleased but guarded with my decision to start attending a Catholic church (he was born into Catholicism, I was not). It was a baby step for me in this long process of becoming Catholic but a huge step for him. I am proud of him for going.

 

He got called into work so I cleaned the garage and vacuumed the pool. Sophie has a vet appt at 2:20 because she is limping and crying on the leg that was broken when she was a pup. Praying big prayers she is fine. She is the baby in the house.

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Sep. 13, 2006 - Chilly

After a very warm summer, August temps loomed around 100 it is today only 72 degrees, damp and rainy. The kids are playing in the rain, the dogs are playing in the rain and I am wearing a jacket watching from the warm house.

 

I signed Jessica up for a writing workshop that meets each Saturday in October. I think she will enjoy it.

 

I am taking over our homeschooling groups spelling bee, they wanted a parent whose children won't be in so there is no conflict and I volunteered. Hopefully I figure out how to do everything..lol.

 

I dropped off the kids entries at the fair and they were judged yesterday. We are going to see them Thursday or Friday evening and find out how they did.

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Sep. 10, 2006 - Been a while

Things have been busy and my blog has been ignored. I have started watching a little girl everyday from 3:30-5:30 who has mitochondrial disease and she is an absolute joy. She is very happy and pleasant.

 

The kids are doing great. Loving co-ops and so is their Mom. I went to our kick off meeting last night by myself and it was wonderful to be in  a room of such like minded women who are paddling the same canoe.

 

Church is going great. We have started attending a local Catholic church and jumped in feet first. The kids are doing great and like their religion classes a lot.

 

Tomorrow we drop off the kids entries for the county fair. They look great. J is entering photography and E is entering art work.

 

I need to get more organized with my paperwork but other then that I am really happy with how things are going.

 

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Aug. 18, 2006 - I am throwing Saxon Math out the window~

Well not literally but it is being replaced. I tried, I really did. I wanted to like it, it comes so highly recomended that I wanted to make it work. But it has not worked, she hates it, I hate it and she just isn't grasping it.

 

After reading about every Math curriculum on this side of the Sun I have decided on......drum roll.......Rod and Staff. I got it yesterday, it looks great. I am looking forward to something different.

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Aug. 18, 2006 - Not Back To School Party

That was our day. It was a pool party and it was HOT. The kids lasted three hours. Mom didn't. I wilted but stayed for them. Came home for a quiet afternoon and did a little food shopping. I ran to a bagel place for a splurge and got a dozen bagels that smell like heaven. Life is too short to eat refrigerated bagels. The fresh ones remind me of NY so it is a double pleasure.

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Aug. 15, 2006 - Routine...I think I am going to die

ok not really, I know I will survive. We started back officially with our new school year yesterday and the activities are piling up. Here is our schedule teaching 3, it will get easier, it will get easier, it will get easier (convinced?, nah, me neither)

 

Daily Monday-Thursday

Journal writing

Math

Language

Presidents, learning about each president in order

Geography, map skills and capitals

Spanish

Latin

Spelling

Tales Alive

 

Twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday)

History and Science

 

Fridays:

morning spelling test and then afternoon co-ops for PE, Science and Art

 

Monday nights:

Boy Scouts and Heritage Girls

 

Tuesday:

AM kids art lessons

PM my painting class

 

Wednesday:

J's has religion at 7pm

 

Thursday:

NOTHING, how could that be?

 

Friday: Nothing after co-ops

 

Saturday:

craft class at Michaels

Mass at 5 if not going to make it Sunday

 

Sunday:

Gabe religion at 9:15

Mass at 10:30 Emma in religion at same time

11:45 OCIA religion class for me

 

Now all of the above is not too bad but add in yard work, house work, laundry, cooking, taking care of the kidlets, caring for dogs, time for me (hahaha) it seems to be darn near impossible.

Yup, I am going to die.

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Aug. 11, 2006 - First Day of Co-Ops

It was a little chaotic being the first day but it went well over all. The kids liked it, enjoyed meeting other kids who are in the same boat. This session has PE, Science and Art. It runs until December.

 

Next Friday is our not going back to school party. It is at a subdivision swimming pool not far from us so we will go.

 

This is my first time really being active in a homeschooling group so I am still wondering if it will be part of our routine in the long run but it seems to be starting off as a positive experience.

 

Now if everyone would just stop asking what church I go to.....sigh

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Aug. 8, 2006 - Extra Curricular Activities and Balance

I think this is the most challenging thing I face as a homeschooling Mom. I want to give my children social opportunities and the chance to learn as much as they possibly can but where is the balance.

 

So far we have the possibility of:

flute or piano

drama

art lessons

craft classes

sewing classes

boy scouts

heritage girls or girl scouts

co-op classes (Art, science, PE)

field trips with the co-op

 

and a ton of other things I cannot even think of right now. Of course to do all of these things would take too much time and money. I have pretty much ruled out girl scouts because heritage girls meets at the same time and place as boy scouts so that would save me time and gas money. Art lessons is a monthly thing and I love the teacher so we will keep that. Craft classes are fun and relatively inexpensive.

 

I suppose it will all work out and we will cut back as needed.

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Aug. 8, 2006 - Neighbors and Gossip

Uggggh! Nothing else to say.

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Aug. 5, 2006 - Craft class, art exhibits and paddle boats

That was our Saturday. We woke, got a bite to eat and out we went. The kids went to Michaels kids craft class and made a flower in a pot. We bought a few odds and ends that we 'needed'. Next stop was an art exhibit. Our community art center was doing a grand re-opening after being closed for renovations so we went there and walked around to see what there was to see. It was a lovely outing. Next stop was the state park to rent a paddle boat. The kids loved it, I had forgotten how hard it is, especially with kids because there are not two adults to paddle.

 

After making it home I felt refreshed by their company, we had a great day together.

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Aug. 4, 2006 - Co-ops start next Friday

Sign up was Wednesday, all classes are full so hopefully the kids will meet lots of other homeschooled kids. They also start private art lessons this week. I took a painting class last Tuesday and man was it fun. It was nice to get out and do something for me.

 

The co-op registration was at Ft Yargo state park which is minutes from our home but I had never been in there until Wednesday. While there I got an annual parking pass so I can take the kids there. We have been missing out, it seems like a wonderful park.

 

The kids got to see their first IMAX movies this week. Monster House and Ant Bully. They loved them.

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Jul. 26, 2006 - No words

There are no words to express the sorrow felt over the news we received today. Jennifer Ewing a homeschool Mom in Cobb county GA was found dead after being reported missing. Her death is believed to be a homicide.

 

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/0726missing.html

 

I woke up to the news that she was missing and the within an hour news that her body had been found. My thoughts are with her family at what must be a most difficult time.

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Jul. 26, 2006 - Planning

Years past when my littles were little I did not do much planning ahead, we just did what was next in the text books, read a lot and just flew by the seat of our pants. This year however with a rising 5th grader goals are becoming more important and I have decided to plan ahead, add that to the fact that I am really teaching three this year. I have tried paper, I have tried homeschool tracker and I am not sure which will stick. I tend to be a paper person and like planning in planners where I can write. My husband on the other hand is more of a computer program guy and would like me to use homeschool tracker so I am trying. I will keep enquiring minds posted as to how it goes.

 

I am trying to figure out a workable daily schedule and get stuck not knowing about times for art lessons, flute lessons, drama rehersals and things like that. So I am in limbo. Hopefully it will all work out. We are breaking for the next couple of weeks for planning and I am watching a little girl until school starts for her on 8/14. After that we should settle into our school routine and hopefully a longer term childcare position.

 

So as my eyes glaze over reviewing chapters of curriculum, doing weekly menus, chore charts for the year I am hoping it pays off.

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Jul. 21, 2006 - Classroom Before

 

Here is the before photo. It was an infinshed space behind our attached garage that the previous owners used for storage.

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Jul. 21, 2006 - Classroom

 

Here is a photo from in front of the window. The other side of the room has a couch, loveseat and bookcases in it. The kids love to read in there. It is wall to wall windows. 

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Jul. 21, 2006 - Classroom

These shelves hold the things we use often. Outside the window we have a bird feeder that the kids love to watch the birds while doing work.

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Jul. 21, 2006 - Classroom

 

These cabinets hold are supplies. This is also very close to the back door which explains the soaker hoses in the picture.

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