Last night Mike took the boys to Toys R Us so they could use their own saved money to buy themselves something they've wanted for weeks called Ripstiks. They're like skateboards, only they have a space for each foot, they only have 2 wheels, and they twist. Luckily it was a beautiful day, because Zach and Drew have been outside every spare second of an already busy schedule, cramming ripstiking in between schoolwork, chores, service work at church (helping set tables for a missionary banquet), errands, and actually attending the banquet.
Drew especially is pretty good at it!
Sue
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Oct. 13, 2008 A Couple Cute Pictures and an Ah-ha Moment
For some reason this struck me as a nice picture. Here's Zach, Drew, and their friend Alex ignoring the X-Box 360 just a few feet away and instead having a great time with the cat.
Alex is the boy who accepted Christ into his life at VBS this summer, and now he's coming to Awana with us every Wednesday. He's such a nice kid. He and Drew are both in the 5th grade.
Today Baylee made butter by shaking a cup of heavy cream for ages. It was something mentioned in her Social Studies that she really wanted to try even though I warned her it's a ton of work. As I expected, she got sick of it before the butter formed, but Zach came to her rescue and finished the job. Here she is eating her homemade creation with crackers.
So those were the pictures; now I want to discuss my "ah-ha" moment. Zach has been seriously clumsy lately. A few minutes ago he was talking to me, he took a step backwards, and he fell over his own feet and landed on his back on the floor. Last night he dumped an entire mug of hot chocolate directly into a wicker basket full of library books. No, I'm not kidding, he really did that. He was on the couch having a warm drink, then suddenly he wasn't. Hot chocolate was dripping down the side of the couch, spattered on the wall, soaked into several books we don't own, and pooled on the floor. I had to have the boy leave the room for his own safety as I tried to assess the damage and clean up.
Today it suddenly hit me: This kid is going through THE STAGE. I don't know why I didn't see it before! How could I not notice something that, when I went through it myself, scarred me for life? You know THE STAGE, right? It's that period in life from about 12-14 when a person is made of nothing but a head, a neck, some really gangly arms and legs, and two huge feet, none of which he has any control over.
I remember one time when I was 12 my mom was taking my brother and me to piano lessons. It was winter and there happened to be an invisible patch of ice right outside the door to the music store. Now, my mom and brother navigated the ice without a single problem, but when I stepped on it? Bam. I was on my back in two seconds flat. That would've been bad enough, but I could not for the life of me get up. I'd try and boom! On my stomach. Bang! On my butt. Blam! On my knees. It took me finally having to army crawl to the edge of the patch. Meanwhile, my mom (My own mother who bore me and loved me dearly!) was laughing so hard so was crying.
Then there was the time I was at my grandparents' house just rocking in a rocking chair, minding my own business, not even pushing the chair especially hard, when for no reason whatsoever the whole thing tipped over backwards and dumped me on the floor.
The ultimate, though, happened when I was 13 and walking home from school with a huge backpack full of books on my back. I stepped on yet another patch of ice and fell forward. This time, however, the weight of the books in the backpack lurched upwards in such a way that it pulled me into a complete forward flip. Yes! I mean, granted, I probably weighed 90 pounds soaking wet at the time, but still! What are the chances of doing a flip in the air? It probably looked pretty cool, but it wasn't a perfect 10. I didn't stick my landing.
So I get it. Zach's entering THE STAGE and I have to try very hard to understand that his body has been taken over by aliens and he has no control over it. Still, I think I'll keep the hot chocolate hidden for the next couple years.
Sue
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Oct. 9, 2008 Memories of My Grandpa
Today's been one of those days. Actually this whole week has been one of those weeks. The kids and I have been sick with colds and coughs....nothing terrible, just enough to bug us and keep us up at night. The washing machine broke AGAIN and once again we find ourselves waiting on parts. (When will GE just admit that our machine is a dud and we need a brand new one?) We went to the dentist yesterday and found out that Baylee has a traumatized molar. I've been worried about this tooth for awhile now because it's discolored. I didn't know what to think, though, since it didn't seem to bother her at all. Come to find out it was hurt at some point in its development, whether by something systemic like a high fever or by being bumped really hard. We'll probably never know what went wrong, but now it's going to need a filling to strengthen it and probably more work down the road as it grows.
Despite that stuff, life is good. Today Baylee finally finished memorizing the 23rd Psalm, and listening to her say it made me realize what a wonderful family I've grown up in. Specifically, listening to Baylee say those verses brought to mind my grandpa and the legacy he left all his grandchildren. My grandpa was the pastor of a small country church and a pig farmer. He loved studying the Bible, working outdoors, swimming, singing, and talking to people about what Christ did for them on the cross. To this day I can't hear someone say "Amen!" in a church service, I can't listen to old hymns sung passionately, and I can't watch children memorize long passages of scripture without thinking of him.
Which brings me to why he was on my mind this morning. He used to pay us grandkids to do things for him. I remember one time he had my brother, my cousin, and me working our tails off all day in the barn because he said he'd pay us. After hours of sweaty labor doing who knows what anymore, he gave us each a dollar and told us to buy ourselves an ice cream cone. We weren't that old at the time, be we were old enough to know grandpa was seriously behind the inflation curve! It was a different story, however, if one of his grandkids learned a portion of the Bible by heart. Then he was Mr. Moneybags. One time he told me he'd give me $50 if I'd learn a chapter of Romans. You better believe I did it!
He would've loved seeing Baylee say the 23rd Psalm. He would've listened in rapt attention, then said, "Well, my dear girl, that deserves a reward!" and he would've reached into his pocket for her. He was a man with priorities.
I miss him.
Sue |
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Okay, it was touch and go, but I finally decided to not be immature and send our neighbor banana bread. It was so tempting, though!
Sigh. Oh well. I guess there's worse things to be than a Stepford wife.
Sue |
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Oct. 3, 2008 Oh No She Didn't
A couple days ago I found out that a mom down the street has been referring to us as "the Stepfords." She asked her son, who's a friend of Zach and Drew, "Why don't you go play with the Stepfords?" Then he, being totally oblivious to her true meaning, turned around and told Zach, who's also oblivious, and they got a big laugh out of how his mom "got our last name wrong." Of course, they had to let me in on the hilarity, and that's how I found out.
It's ridiculous, because anyone who knows me knows I'm about the very farthest thing from a Stepford wife. I mean, seriously?! A Stepford wife??? I haven't read the book or even seen the movie, but from what I understand wouldn't that involve some level of, like, perfection? Or even proficiency? She's obviously never been in my house during the school day. Or seen me naked.
Okay, I get that I'm a stay-at-home mom who homeschools and makes family dinners. I get that the last time she was here looking for her son our house smelled of pot roast. Still. Is that any reason to resort to cranky jibes?
Anyway, I know just how to handle this. I'm going to bake her a nice loaf of banana bread, wrap it up in pretty cellophane and curly ribbons, and attach a flowery pink card to the top which reads, "From: The Stepfords."
Sue |
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Sep. 29, 2008 Mt. Saint Helens
This past weekend Mike and Zach finally did the big hike that they and their group of friends have been building up to for three months. They hiked all the way to the very summit of Mt. Saint Helens, which is a four mile trek. Here are the pictures. When you get to the video in the middle of the montage, that's the group at the top, looking over the edge into the volcano's crater. It's just gritty dust and ash. Remember, in 1980 the mountain erupted, and that crater is all that's left of its top. In the picture below you can see it clearly. Also, the small pictures in the corners are before and after shots.
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Sep. 29, 2008 I Think Webster Needs to be Notified Immediately
Zach came up with a new word. Condescentimental: Having warm feelings for someone you look down on.
I for one plan on using this from now on.
Sue
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Sep. 28, 2008 Small Update
Baylee got the part!!!! Remember I posted a couple weeks ago that she was going to try out for a speaking part in the musical her children's choir is putting on? She did it! She got the part of Stew in the musical "Joseph: From the Pit to the Palace." I know I've said this before, but I'm seriously as excited for her as I ever was for myself, and I've been in a lot of plays over the years. This is better than any of that.
Also I think Drew's going to be in the chorus! He got sort of dragged to children's choir a few weeks ago by his friend Rory, and he hasn't quit yet. I'm surprised and pleased!
Sue |
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Sep. 26, 2008 Pocketful of Disclaimers
One of the things about having a blog is that family and friends, sometimes ones I didn't even know were reading, come to me with their thoughts on something I've said or questions they have. Okay, mostly questions they have. Questions like, "What the heck were you talking about?" or "Why in the world would you put that on there?" Don't get me wrong; I'm actually really glad of this. Anyone who knows me at all knows a second set of eyes couldn't possibly hurt. But I just had someone else ask me about something this morning, and that's when I realized I've been gathering, in the back of my mind, a fairly sizable collection of things I've said that people misunderstood. So without further ado here's my pocketful of disclaimers.
1. A couple entries ago, when the woman I was talking to said, "I could never see myself doing that" and I replied, "Me, neither," I meant that I can't see myself doing it either. Not that I can't see her doing it. I'm not quite THAT rude for Pete's sake! LOL
2. In the post before that when I shared the ridiculous video of the boys being robots with lisps, that wasn't really part of our homeschool curriculum.
3. This one's more serious. Zach was given the "Student of the Summer" award at the clinic, but that doesn't mean his time there is finished. He still goes once a week.
4. This one's for Mike: Last time they went hiking it was to Church Mountain, not Mount Church. Tom-a-toes, tom-ah-toes.
5. This one's also for Mike: When I made my own costume for VBS, I made it out of Tyvek, not Tyvex. Pot-a-toes, pot-ah-toes.
6. When I wrote that Hab-a-kook comment on my old professor's blog and then had second thoughts and wondered if it "got past the filter," I meant my imaginary mental filter, not a real filter.
7. And last, the 100 year old lady lighting her cigarette with the candles on her birthday cake is not my grandma. It's just a funny picture I found online.
There! I think that about covers it!
Sue |
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Sep. 25, 2008 Pics of This and That
No, seriously. Make yourself comfortable.
Baylee and Genna at Genna's sixth birthday party. Genna cut her own hair, which explains the whole bangs down to the scalp look.
Posing with wax lips.
I love walking into a room and seeing my kids interacting nicely together. It really does warm my heart. Here's Drew and Baylee playing Clue, Jr. Of course, right after this Baylee had a meltdown because she figured out Drew totally cheated. But whatever. That part doesn't count because I didn't capture it on film.
Zach and Drew started their guitar class and seem to enjoy it so far! I'd love for them to actually develop some skill, because ability with a guitar is something that can be useful throughout life. My ability to play the clarinet, on the other hand, hasn't come up all that often. Surprisingly.
Here's Baylee doing school. I just like the picture.
Sue
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You know how some people seem to thrive on always being busy? That's not me. I love being home. I adore days where absolutely nothing is going on and the car stays parked in exactly the same spot from morning until night. Unfortunately, the older the kids get the fewer days I have like that.
These last few days have been filled with church functions, a birthday party, a session for Zach at the clinic, a guitar lesson for the boys, karate for Drew, a repair man coming to try to fix the washing machine for the umteenth time, and Mike working a ton of long hours, not to mention school and housework and meals. It's been crazy and I've been tired and cranky. There is one good thing about it all, though. It led me to an epiphany.
One of the events we had going on a couple days ago was a church potluck. It was actually fun, but it was squeezed between the church service and having to leave early to take the kids to a family birthday party an hour and a half away, so it was one of those things where I couldn't completely relax. Anyway, I found myself sitting next to a new family with five young children. The mom and I started talking and of course the conversation came around to what school district my kids are in. I told her we homeschool and she said what I've heard literally dozens of times by now:
"Oh, wow! That's great! But I can't see myself doing it."
I always hate when people say that or any of the following popular variations:
"I don't have the patience for homeschooling."
"I'm not smart enough to homeschool."
"I couldn't handle being with [insert name here], my strong-willed child, all day."
I mean, I get it. Homeschooling is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It's a commitment on a huge scale and I can totally understand why someone might feel it's not for them. The reason I hate when people say those things to me is there's no "right" reply. What can a person really say in response? "Yeah, you'd be terrible at it." "Don't quit your day job." "Luckily I have the patience of a saint." "I was blessed with geniuses." "My kids are all disciplined." Or we can smile and sort of mumble something equally lame, like, "Thanks. It can be challenging..."
But this particular time sitting in the church gymnasium with my green bean casserole and au gratin potatoes I was inspired by my own exhaustion, and when she said, "I can never see myself doing that," I simply replied, "Yeah, me neither." I wasn't expecting to say that. It came out of the blue and made me laugh at myself. Another homeschooling family happened to be sitting on the other side of me and they laughed, too. Why? Because it's so true! Who really can picture themself homeschooling??? Who pictures themself spending YEARS huddled away with often thankless, naughty kids? If I see myself doing anything it's hiding in the bathroom with chocolate. But I do it anyway. I homeschool and I run my kids all over creation to these different activities because God can see it. He already knows the big picture, so I don't have to. Man, what a relief.
Sue |
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Sep. 19, 2008 In my defense... Sep. 15, 2008 When Ants Took Over
In his current chapter of "Literature and Creative Writing" Drew's been learning about anecdotes, and today he had to write one of his own. I think it's hilarious.
When Ants Took Over
One time when I was a little boy I was hungry and wanted a snack. I asked my mom for some food and she got out a big box of raisins. When she opened it ants came out like crazy. There was a tidal wave of ants tumbling across the table, probably the biggest one ever in the world. My mom vacuumed the ants up. When she was done I said, "Can I have those raisins?"
PS: This is a true story that happened when Drew was three years old. The rest of us were completely freaking out and he was sitting there calm as could be. When all the ants were vacuumed and the box was wrapped in three or four garbage bags and tossed outside, his exact words were, "Don't tell me you threw away the raisins, too!"
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Sep. 12, 2008 You Know The Economy Is Bad When...
Today Baylee was playing with her Loving Family dollhouse out in the living room. At one point she had the little dollhouse Mom tell her kids, "No, we can't buy a car! We spent all our money on this huge house!"
That made me chuckle.
Sue
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Sep. 9, 2008 It's Acting Time Again!
The children's choir Baylee is in is starting up practice for their annual musical again. This time they're doing a show called Joseph: From the Pit to the Palace. They've been working on the music part of it for a month or so now, but this past week they finally handed out scripts so the kids can try out for speaking parts and solos. Baylee really wants the part of a character named "Stew," so this week as part of her school she's been practicing with me. She has to go into the tryout with selected lines memorized, and so far she's learned about half of what she needs to know. It's been so fun working with her on it! Like I said before, it's more fun watching her perform than it is doing it myself.
Here's a little video of what she knows so far. There are some kinks to work out, but I think she's doing great!
Sue |
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Sep. 6, 2008 What Could Go Wrong, Indeed
This evening we went to a barbecue at Mike's boss Steve and his wife Jen's house. It started out great. There were tons of people there from Mike's work and lots of delicious food. There was also a Caribbean theme with music and decorations. Good times, right? It was going to be fun, and it was all geared toward a big announcement Steve was going to make about a company trip to the Bahamas that people could possibly win.
So. Not long after we arrived Zach mentioned that he didn't feel great. Both Mike and I thought maybe he was just hungry, so we told him to drink some punch and grab some hors d'oeuvres and he'd be fine. Do you have any inkling where this is going yet? Zach drank some punch, but then came back saying he still didn't feel right, and now he looked very pale. I helped him lay down on a couch in a quiet, out of the way spot while I figured out what to do. On the one hand I wanted to take him home, but on the other I didn't want to be rude and "eat and run." Besides, Mike had to be a part of this presentation that was going to take place. It was a tough call, but finally I made a decision to stay after Zach told me he was starting to feel a bit better. I figured, okay, he seems fine for now and at least he's away from the crowd and resting. What could go wrong?
I got my first really bad feeling when Steve started rounding up all the adults and herding them into the living room...the same room in which Zach was resting. I went in first and quickly told him that he'd better move upstairs to one of the bedrooms, but he insisted he was a lot better and could sit up, which he did. By now other people were filling the room, so I took a seat, too.
Finally everyone was situated and Steve took his place in front of the crowd. He thanked everyone for coming and he began the whole grand unveiling of the Bahamas trip. Just as he turned around to fire up the power point, Zach leapt up, whipped his hands toward his mouth to try to hold back the inevitable, and then hurled. And I mean HURLED. There were waves and waves of vomit. It was everywhere and it just kept coming. And did I mention the vomit was red from the punch and now it was all over their carpet? You know those "time stood still" moments? I had one. I was basically paralyzed. Oh, I stood up only a fraction of a second after Zach, but I was rooted to spot, only capable of saying, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Finally I snapped out of it and started moving him toward the nearest bathroom, which was not nearly near enough. He left a trail. A red trail.
When it was all over and it was just the two of us in that little bathroom, Zach looked up at me from his position next to the toilet and said, "I feel so much better! I could really go for one of those steaks now!" No, I didn't give the kid a steak. I wasn't an idiot through the entire evening, just the part that mattered. What I did do was take the poor kid home, armed with plastic grocery bags in case he wasn't done (He wasn't.), and put him to bed. But every cloud has a silver lining, as they say. In this case it was Steve and Jen's Teflon carpet protector. May I go on record right now as saying: It really works!
Sue |
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Sep. 5, 2008 Some Pictures from Today...
...to make up for yesterday's lameness.
Zach working on Teaching Textbooks math. He's really doing great with this so far.
Baylee taking an online typing lesson. All the kids are having a lot of success with this. So far they've learned the entire home row, and e,r, u, and i.
Drew doing spelling up in the schoolroom.
Drew and Baylee working at their desks. They're finally old enough to work quietly without bugging each other, even if I leave the room.
The proper seating position police are going to catch up with her someday.
Zach did a science experiment today on density. He poured oil, water, and maple syrup in a glass, then floated stuff in it. The liquids all divided themselves into layers, then a rock sank to the bottom, a grape sat on top of the maple syrup, and an ice cube sat on top of the water. It was cool, and showed him first hand the concept that some atoms are more thickly compacted than others. PS: Ignore the messy kitchen.
Here's how it looked before he started floating things in it. Pretty, huh?
Sue
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Sep. 4, 2008 School, A Couple Days In
Well, I'm lame this year. I didn't take pictures on our first day or anything. But we are off to a good start! I'm happy with what I chose and feel only minimally ready to tear my hair out. lol It's always a little difficult right at first, when things aren't quite comfortable and flowing, but I think we're doing great.
Highlights:
I love the literature program Zach's doing this year! It's called Learning to Love Literature and it's put out by Weaver. It can be used with a student anywhere from 7th grade to 12th, with modification. The program starts by having the student do some reading and thinking about...well...reading. Especially how reading compares to watching TV, and how as a nation of television watchers we're in trouble intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. It's even giving me some good food for thought!
I also love Teaching Textbook math. It's very conversational and easy to understand for a non-mathie.
The ACE curriculum that Drew and Baylee are using has been wonderful as usual. Both kids are accomplishing a lot, but in manageable chunks. Drew has an interesting science project due already. He has to make a display of several elements using everyday household items. For example, he might have the word "sodium" underneath a little vial of salt. Or "mercury" underneath one of those new style lightbulbs. (Because they contain trace amounts of mercury.) I'll try to remember to get a picture of it all when he finishes.
Baylee is studying "communication" in this chapter of her social studies and it includes a section on Helen Keller, so I checked out a kid's book about Helen Keller for her from the library. I think she'll enjoy that. Later on in the year she'll be learning about butterflies in science, and I was thinking that while she's studying that it would be a ton of fun for her to have a butterfly house. That's one of the things I love about ACE. You can add extras if you want, but it's a complete program without it.
So...so far so good!
Sue
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Sep. 2, 2008 Wow, where did this summer go?
I can't believe we're starting school tomorrow. This summer was strange for me in a way, because for the first time ever I wasn't super excited to start up a new school year. Usually I'm chomping at the bit, hardly able to stand the suspense, but this year? Eh. Not so much. I think it's a combination of "been there, done that" syndrome (This is my 9th year, after all.), fear of the unknown (How's this going to work homeschooling a child with dyslexia with all new methods?), dread (I hated the thought of sorting through all that WAVA crap stuff and mailing it back to them. Ugh. And I wasn't wrong. That job really stunk.), and simply being happy and busy with other things.
We finished off the summer with a bang, though. Mike and the boys spent Labor Day weekend at his Dad Danny's house doing guy stuff. From what I understand it involved chopping wood and messing around with motorcycles. Baylee and I stayed home and did fun girlie things. I took her to the cheap theater and we saw Kung Fu Panda. I didn't have high expectations, but that movie surprised me. It was cute! (Ahem...that's not to say I wasn't glad it was the cheap theater.) We also went out for ice cream at Baskin Robbins. I love that place! Also this weekend Zach hurt his wrist and I'm hoping it's not broken. He slipped on wet grass running down a hill at Grandpa's house. There's slight swelling, but no discoloration. Here's hoping it's a sprain. Sigh. If he's still not using it tomorrow I'm afraid we'll have to have x-rays done.
Today the kids and I met another homeschooling family at the skate park for a picnic lunch. The kids all had fun skateboarding and scootering, while Marcie and I talked each other's ears off. That was really nice. Sometimes I'm so shy about stuff like that, but this is the second time I've gotten together with Marcie and both times it's been really enjoyable. She's an intelligent, fun person.
So that's the latest. I'll probably report back tomorrow after we've completed our first day of the 2008-09 school year. I know you're all on the edge of your seats. *grin*
Sue |
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Aug. 30, 2008 The Little Things
When I was younger I counseled at a camp and someone there had a book. I think it was called 14,000 Things To Be Happy About. I'm not quite sure that's the same book I saw way back when, but I googled a description of it and that's the book that came up. It does look sort of familiar. Anyway, it's a very long list of, well, things to be happy about. Things like flannel sheets, tobogganing, and sun burning off the morning fog.
Today I've got my own little list of random things to be happy about, because today I'm feeling very content.
1. Being all set up for the new school year. All of last year's schoolwork has been sorted and put into portfolios, desks were scrubbed, and new supplies were put into place. Everyone even got their own scissors.
2. A husband who comes home with surprises. Yesterday Mike got me Eclipse, by Stephanie Meyer. It's the third book in the Twilight series, which I'm LOVING! Reading these books is a reason to be happy all by itself. I was number 170 of a 600 person waiting list at the library, and now I have my very own copy. Bliss.
3. A boy who's so cute you can hardly stand it, and who's going through a baseball cap wearing stage.
4. Kids that on their own decided to decorate the school room for a "back to school celebration."
5. The movie The Wizard of Oz. I mean the old one with Judy Garland. We watched it as a family the other day and I smiled pretty much the whole way through just remembering how much I adored it as a child and how special it was because it only came on TV once a year. It was an event paralleled only by the once a year appearance of The Sound of Music.
6. Little girls with tousled hair, still in pajamas, who call their grandmas and smile.
Incidentally, as I was downloading pictures from our camera I found something that doesn't make it into my personal happiness book:
Huge hairy spiders walking across kitchen floors like they own the place.
Sue
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About Me
I'm Sue and I'm happily married to my best friend in the world, Mike. We have three children: Zach (13), Drew (10), and Baylee (7). This blog will be about our homeschooling experiences and just life in general.
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