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I am thinking of switching over to myspace for my blog because it is so easy to keep connected to family and friends that way. My link is http://blog.myspace.com/mondaville
I will keep this one going for a while before I switch all the way. |
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We are all looking forward to the start of the new school year. My middle son (age 10) is the most excited by far. He and I have communications challenges, but when it comes to school, we work well together.
My little guy (age 4 1/2) will start K work this year.
I started back to school myself last week. The class is called The American Political Process. So far it is very interesting, and the teacher is very approachable. There are one or two other students in the class that seem to be lost in Red Neck Bumpkin Ville
No progress on the weight loss. I just kinda lost momentum a month or so ago. Hoping to get back on that track soon. I does feel so nice to feel you clothes getting losserand fitting better! |
I think that positive interaction really helps our relationship and is a big part of why he looks forward to school starting so much.
I don't think we will focus much on handwriting, but more math, phonics, and then he will join in the other general subjects with his older brothers. We can do this, because we are doing a unit study (Konos) that allows multi age teaching (which I think is great). 
, but, what can you do. It takes a little tunnel vision to keep things interesting I guess.|
Well, thanks to my Mother In Law, we have our language arts and math nailed down.
Because of budget issues, I have decided to go with Konos for the rest of our subjects (still not decided on my oldest sons high school science). Konos probably won't be any less expensive than Winter Promise would have been in the long run, but initially it will save us some money. Aside from that, I really feel like my youngest son would thrive with Konos as he gets older, so now is as good a time as any to introduce the program to our family and see what happened. |
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I must say, the search for the perfect, affordable home school program is making me pull my hair out this year!
My second choice is Konos for the younger boys and maybe Konos for my High Schooler too, but it requires a lot of independent work and also a separate science program (something I am acutely considering a public school hybrid program to provide
We do have our Math, Language arts, and Foreign Language squared away so that is good! |
I found what I wanted (Winter Promise) but it is not in our budget at this time, even with their payment plan.
). I know it will all work out, and even if we don't have all our materials right at the start of the year that is ok... but my oh my, do I spend a lot of time thinking about it.
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Well, maybe not perfect, but pretty great. We went to a local lake. The weather (despite weeks over 100 degree bologna) was pleasant both days. There were very few people at the camp ground (probably due in part to the weird and clingy camp host
My mother in law and nephew joined us. Family dynamics, as usual, became a challenge.
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) so we had the lake nearly to ourselves. The boys spent hours jumping off the docks and fishing. 
(In truth I need to learn to ignore more stuff!). But all in all, things were nice.To top it off, my mother in law pitched in and bought the boys math and language arts materials for next year. What a blessing. I still need to order for my little guy, and our core materials from Winter Promise.|
What is up with this heat
I had a CASA court date today. Nothing big, though there is a two day hearing coming up next week. It is an interesting process. It takes a lot out of me, because I don't do it often enough to feel totally confident. I do what I am supposed to and so I am fine... I am just amazed at the people who work in the courts everyday. How mundane it becomes for them and yet, for others involved, the decisions will impact thier lives for years, and sometimes forever. |
I see on the news it is everywhere. It is supposed to be 104 here in the Pacific North West tomorrow! Insane. It is going to be 95 and humid in Seattle. That is really hot for that area.
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I took my boys, as well as our little cousin, to go see the play Peter Pan
The play was fun and funny, and I do consider myself a fan of musical theater, but I notice that with almost every musical I watch, (live or on film) there are always parts where I find myself saying, "OK, not one more slow song, lets get on with it"
For example, Greese, one of my favorite musical films, has this song called Hopelessly Devoted to You. I fast forward it every time, to me is seems dull and drug out.
On the upside, the kids seemed to enjoy the plan. It was one of my boys first time seeing a live performance... That was nice to do with him.
Today my oldest son turned 14! |
yesterday. The tickets were a gift from the program I do some volunteer work for, so it was such a blessing.
. I wonder if that means I am not a true musical lover? |
Below is a link to some items I have on sale. The include a HS planner, sonlight, and Easy Grammar products.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZdaisychaincreations
I am looking for Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1, CLE Language Arts for grades 6 and 9. The Pearables Personal Help for Boys. |
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It is amazing how busy a "lazy" Summer can be! I know I have to admit I am the one in the house who makes it that way... swimming lessons, VBS martial arts classes, library trips. Honestly, I think if we lived in a more rural area we would do less running around because it would be more tranquil and enjoyable at home. But, since we don't live in a rural area, instead we live on one of the busiest streets in Spokane with road dust creeping in through ever window that is kept open to make of for the lace of AC.
Oh well, I am thankful for what we have, but man! I can't wait until we get a place with a little more space. |
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Things are going a little better around here.
I am getting ready to resister for my fall classes. I have two years to go. That seems like a long time, but I enjoy school and am so thankful to be able to go to college full time! It is a 100% blessing.
The boys are enjoying summer to it's fullest. They are busy with their martial arts and planning for an upcoming camping trip. Boys are nice, they entertain themselves so well when it comes to finding good outdoor things to do.
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(wish it was going faster, but it is better than gaining).
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For no apparent reason, I have been down in the dumps this week
We are done with school for the year...I have my final in my class next week, then I get a month off myself... that will be nice. Robert took the boys fishing on the Snake river, so it is just me and the dogs here at the house... weird and quiet. |
. Normally I am able to step away from focusing on negative stuff (unless it is a big thing, but there is no big thing going on right now)... This week, however, I just am not shaking it. My Mom says my diet may have something to do with it... switching over to burning fat not food can be a hard adjustment for a body I suppose, esp when you have been overweight for a long time. Also, I am used to using food as entertainment and now, that is not an option. I have lost a little over 5lbs so far... I had a few bad days last week and now have to make up for that..but not gaining is a good thing. 
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This has been a pretty good week. My husband finished up the painting job he was working on so now he gets to rest a bit and get off his injured knee. I lost 4.5 lbs! That is a great start to a new diet... I hope to keep the progress going. My boys passed their martial arts test and are now yellow belts.
My youngest (age 4) is still working with his HeadSprout Reading Basics program and just read the second book. I like the program because it minimizes frustration and keeps him interested. The hard part is not butting in while he works since it is set up to teach him and I am supposed to stick to praise, encouragement and flash card work. Oh well, it is good for me to step back and just watch how he learns from a well developed program.
We are basically done with school for the year. Both the older boys are going to do some language arts over the summer to keep them fresh and ready to start at grade level next year, Nick has one writing assignment to finish up to meet the requirements of our state then we are done!
This is our second year and I am so glad we decided to HS. |
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I know, not a very Earth shattering title but it sure feels that way. And I am just at the beginning, the "easy part when fat is just supposed to melt off if I just make a few healthy changes.
I have not been at this even a whole week yet, so I am not sure about melting fat...but I do feel a little hungry when I go to bed. I did skip the .99 A &W floats last night when we were celebrating the boys success at their martial arts test :). Instead I munched on semi-yummy cheddar soy chips
I will get there this time, it is an emergency that I do. All that is left if I don't is to get less healthy and even less mobile. That is not ok. My goals is to be down to an attractive healthy weight by my next birthday. |
from nutrisystem. 
That gives me a little less than a year. I will keep you posted on how it goes.|
It is strange to wrap up a homeschooling year for us. I think it would be less so if we used formal grade level curriculum for every subject, but because we mix and match, I often find myself at this last month going...hmmmm what should we wrap up, and what needs a few more lessons.
for example, we are finished with Math, and almost done with language arts (the two subjects we have graded formal materials for ) but writing and reading and history (which we use books for) is not so tidy. So I find myself thinking of a few final lessons to be sure.
It makes me wonder if maybe I should use grade level materials for every subject, it would certainly make things simpler. |
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Things are going fine at our house. Our tax refund came in! |
My hubby has started the supervision of a large painting job. Not something he loves, but since he has been stuck off his feet for months, it makes him feel good to be back to official work. My boys are looking forward to an upcoming martial arts test. They are both hoping to move up to yellow belt.
I have 4 more weeks of school before my own summer break, 
and we should be finished with our homeschool by next week. I like a nice tidy package I must say!|
This week has been a fun and busy one for us. My 29th birthday was yesterday
Yesterday my little homeschool group had it's first in face meeting at a local children's museum, that was fun, even if a bit disorganized
I finished up my two finals and now have only one class to go before my summer break. It seems to be an interesting class so far (Social Intervention Strategies) so it will be fine.
My youngest (age 4) read his first little book this week
That is it from our little tribe for now. |
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I know I have not updated in some time. I have been finishing up some finals and we have a lot of other family stuff going on. For now I will say I am ok, so are the rest of the family. We are trooping along.
More at a later date, I promise. |
I plan to be done with our school year the first week in June I think. My birthday (my 29th) is this month! Wow, the last Birthday I will ever have, that is quite and occasion. Blah Blah, just wanted to post that I have not forget, I just don't have the organization of mind, or any good material to make for an interesting post right now.
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Do you ever wonder why you like the things you do? I think about it from time to time. I suspect exposure is the main influence. After all, if you don't try a live grasshopper, how will you ever come to like it.
My sister has/had a roommate from France and she was appalled by what we call bread in the US. She didn't like the way it stuck to her teeth and balled up in her stomach. She was used to hearty bread with meal, and oats, and other things resembling real grains. Our bread was not her own. To her, it was a different creature all to get her. Lack of exposure.
I have always loved all things 50's. When I was younger I didn't differentiate between tacky retro remakes or the real thing.. now I find I am drawn to new items with the style and quality of 50's products (there is a table fan on sale at Lowest right now that screams, or should I say whispers my name). On the other hand, my sister loves the 60's and 70's styles. Purple and green mixed geometric shapes. Pants suits and long strait hair. It is simply her and always has been.
How do we develop our tastes, especially in the glut of choices provided to us by our society? |
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The other day at school a woman said to me that God must trust me very much. It was an odd statement and I asked her what she meant. She said that I have three boys The conversation moved on, but it has stuck with me. Children are so big! I mean it, they are a big thing. I think often of how the things I do today will lay on them as they grow. I struggle with the conflict of making them behave now, but wanting them to make themselves behave later. Then I meet people who don't make their kids behave at all, and I am not talking about the ones who don't know how, I am talking about the parents who think it is best to just let kids be It is often said we learn it from our parents, but then their are those folks who do things the opposite extreme from their parents.
Ponder Ponder.
In the end, trust is the word. Whether God trusts me, or parents trust their kids, or I trust God. Trust is still the center of the wheel when it comes to parenting. |
, boys who will lead families
someday, and God must trust me very much to have given them to me so young. I laughed and reminded her of the methed
out 14 year olds giving birth as we speak.