Somebody asked where I have been~ and told me that she missed me.  Too sweet!  It's so nice to feel missed (and loved)!  I really am still here~ I just don't have nearly as much time for blogging lately.  What have I been up to? you ask.  Well, here are a few things that have been on my mind, my heart, or my to-do list........

First of all, TOS has  been keeping me WAY busy.  But, that's ok.  I'm loving it!  I love that magazine and I love homeschooling, and I prayed for a long time for a job to come along that I could truly do from my own home.  This is the answer to my prayers!  Gotta love that!

Second, it's finally spring here in PA!  We waited and waited (not so patiently, I might add).  And, now that it's here, the kids want to be outside (at least, the two younger ones).  Fortunately, we will soon be finished with school.  We thought we'd be done on May 22nd, but on closer look, we should be done closer to the 10th.  Here's the dilemma, though (maybe someone else who has to turn in a portfolio to their school district can help me here): 

We have 12 field trips in, so we really only need to get to day 168.  We filled in our planners yesterday to see when we'll be finished with our textbooks, and we should have them ALL done by day 164.  Now, that's 4 days short of 180.  SO, what do we do?  Fill in 4 days with other things, or be done at that?  Because, correct me if I'm wrong here, but public schools rarely finish a full textbook in 180 days.  I think completing 80% of a textbook is enough to consider yourself "finished".  Anyway, I'd love to here YOUR thoughts on this one.  Taking 4 more field trips is definitely not out of the question!    We're homeschoolers~ we do what we gotta do, right?!

I have a confession to make......I've never really cared much for dirt.  I don't like to get dirty, and I don't really like my kids to be dirty.  So far, it hasn't been a problem.  Enter Ian.  Let's face it, he's a boy.  He's different from my girls.  Gracie can dig in a pile of dirt for hours and not get her clothes dirty.  Ian just looks at that pile of dirt and his c lothes are ruined forever!  LOL  May it just be said that he played outside the past 2 afternoons and got crusty dirty and I didn't have a fit.  I'm so proud of myself.  This mothering boys thing is really working for me.  Who knew?!  (Actually, it could just be that I'm mellowing in my old age!)

Then, there's this "other thing" I'd really like to hear your opinion on.......Our church is hosting a big youth event this weekend (it's a district thing, so churches from all over will be attending).  There was a committee of 4 youth (called a "cabinet") who helped to plan the event (really, I don't know what they actually did, as our church did most of the planning).  Anyway, we were to set up the housing arrangements, and I had a list of people who would provide housing for these kids, but I never got a list of kids.  The other day, someone contacted me from the district and said that she would do the housing assignments.  Nice of her, I guess, but it turned into a back-and-forth "that won't work" or "that family asked for x amount of girls, not boys" etc.  Anyway, what I'm upset about is the fact that she is insistent upon keeping this cabinet together~ it's 3 girls and 1 boy.  And she's sending them all to the same house, despite my voicing my opinion that I don't think that's appropriate.  So, am I just old fashioned here?  All the other homes have either all girls or all boys.  So, why is there an exception being made in this one case?  And, the comment was made "I'll ask --------what he wants to do, he's in charge".  Hello!  He's a teenage boy!  Feedback?!  Thoughts?!

OK, so that's what I've been up to this week.  If you haven't checked out my Little Piddles contest, please do!  Quick!  The contest ends tomorrow, when we'll draw and annouce the winner of the $25 gift certificate.

Share Your Thoughts

Apr. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by kympossible

Just had to comment - it is NOT appropriate for teen boys and girls to stay together in the same house in that situation. You are not being old-fashioned by objecting. You are being wise and protective of all involved.

Blessings,
Kym

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Apr. 17, 2008 - Remember..

Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

we are to be the salt.. and sometimes that may be 'spicey' for people.. but stick with your convictions..

I SOOO agree with you!!

Sounds like you have been busy!! Hope things calm down a little for ya!

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Apr. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by quietcajun

First on the boy/girl thing... absolutely NO freakin' way I would allow them to sleep in the same house! That is just dumb!

OKay, I will calm down now! LOL

As to the four extra days, how about a four day project... plan an event (a party, a special meal, etc. We are currently doing a Passover Seder!)
learn about it,
plan it,
make lists of supplies needed,
gather supplies owned and purchase what is needed,
prepare and host event!

We do this several times a year for bdays and holidays.

We also do two big baking days a year and occasional planning and prep of a meal to take to someone with a new baby, etc.

I count these as extra school days!

And we finish all of our books! :)

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Apr. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Felicity

Whew, you have been busy! I'd been wondering what you and the family were up to. Lucky you for finishing school so early! You can use me as a data point: I finish my textbook in about 168 days, +/- 2. My classes test at different times but will finish in the same week. I'm so looking forward to the end; summer vacation can't get here soon enough!

Good luck sorting out the housing situation. I would not want to be in your position. I guess I'm decidedly "modern" because I don't have a major problem with coed housing in this situation. Are their parents okay with it? They'd know the kids better than anyone. If the kids are "just friends", no problem. If any of them are/were dating each other then I'd split them up. Sleeping at a strangers house can be, well, strange. Regardless of gender, I'd want to be with people I knew. Good luck!

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Apr. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by blessedwith2angels

I think that any teenage boy is going to jump at the chance to spend the night with three teenage girls. I think that this woman doesn't sound like she is listening to your objections.
Pam

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Apr. 17, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Morning Rose

I think it's best to keep the boys and girls separate, so there is no appearance of evil.

Four field trip days sound good to me, though our state does not require that we turn in a portfolio.

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Apr. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SandBetweenMyToes

I wouldn't want the boy in with the girls. I don't know that there wouldn't ever be an exception, such as with strict parental supervision, and very distanced rooms, but generally, I would say no.

Do you have to give an account of how you spend every day? If not, I wouldn't worry about it at all. You finished the material. And, you're right that most do not. When we were at Dollywood Friday, there were at least 4 different schools with classes there being "educated". Of course, we weren't "schooling" that day either, but the point is they don't do book study every school day either. If you do have to account, what about home ec~make dinner together, bake cookies; I can guarantee that both of your girls have done "child care" this year. I bet if you think about it, you can easily come up with education that you already do that you haven't counted. Creatvie writing, reading, nature exploring......
You make me feel blessed to live in a state where we don't have to report what we do!
I don't like dirt either, and my 2 little ones seem to thrive off of it!! Definitely something I'm still trying to get used to.

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