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Aude Sapere Academy
Sep. 29, 2006
Aude Sapere is officially Pre-K only.
We did it. We made the big step. B is in public school --- and you know what? HE LOVES IT! It had become clear to us that we were being directed to put him in after much prayer and too much struggling and not listening to the subtle promptings.
Basically, I was beyond the end of my rope dealing with his behavior - suspected Aspie - and completely overwhelmed between that and my other two children. We had a meeting with the principal (I was beyond impressed how she treated my son) and toured the school. It's a small school, only 18 students in B's class. His teacher is just right. Patient, gentle, yet strict and challenging. She's young, and really a good fit for B.
His first day, thursday was a half day - and he was so bummed school was over. He commented on how much easier (HA!) it was than homeschooling and he was having a lot of fun. Today was his first full day, and his best friend from soccer is in the same grade, different class, but they were able to eat lunch and play at recess together. All he could talk about was how much he loved it.
I am totally at peace. My house is QUIET during the day, I get stuff done ~ I get to spend one on one time with my younger two, and just the weight off my shoulders is incredible. I am so glad he is happy, his behavior has changed 200& just in the last 2 days and I feel like we made the right decision - and should have been listening to God more carefully prior to this.
Anyway, I am only homeschooling P now, and she will attend K next year - she was so excited when she saw the K classrooms that she asked me to sign her up right away! I don't know what I'm going to do with myself with only one child at home! It's going to be a lot different. Both of the kids deserve their own time and they get that at school ~ then they get positive attention from me when they get home. I am so not stressed out to the max and yelling or just giving up any hope that they listen.
I also want to chime in that PS isn't as bad as I thought. I had a huge chip on my shoulder and now I see both sides. I really think my children can have a great experience there.
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Sep. 17, 2006
I did it!
I DID IT I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lost 10 pounds and made my goal! I am soooooo proud of myself for keeping with it for a whole month! I have 10 lbs left that I'd like to lose to fit in my size 2's again.....so I am starting that journey today. I'm hoping to have it gone by Halloween.
Shameless brag......:)
Off to a birthday party and out to dinner with friends! Tonight is gonna be a blast!
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Sep. 14, 2006
It's been busy. And confusing.
We've been soooo busy this week. I am so sad that my sister left early, I could have really used the help this week.
Yesterday was B's therapy appt. I had to drop him off alone because C fell down the patio and split his head open on a piece of flagstone. So I went next door to the urgent care for his stitches. Ahhh. The joys of being 2. C is always into something trying to keep up with the olders. So back to B's therapy - it was, well, ??? interesting? I am seriously considering putting him in public school, I just can't deal with his lack of respect or behavior any longer. I know that he won't necessarily improve if he's at school, but I am at the point now that I don't want to deal with it anymore. I just want him to stop.
P has also had attitude lately. She's only preK so I am not forcing her to do school, but she's definitely argumentative and disrespectful lately. What is going on? Are they growing? Are they just being difficult on purpose?!
I am feeling so overwhelmed lately with my household duties and parenting duties. It seems that my dh works a lot and I take the brunt of everything going on around here myself. It's really hard to keep up and I almost feel that pub school would be time for me to actually accomplish what I am struggling to do.
Those are just thoughts - I don't know what to do as of now. Just helps talking it all out.
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Sep. 10, 2006
I love legos.
Sep. 9, 2006
Random Thoughts
I cried last night. I gave in and watched United 93. Oh boy. I have been avoiding that movie for a lonnnnnng time. I couldn't even bear to watch the previews on tv. I am still extremely upset by the events of September 11, 2001 - I am dreading this coming monday, it's been five years since I lost dear friends and flying partners.
If you don't know my story, it's nothing spectacular compared to many. But it helps me to share it. I flew into NYC on Sept. 9, 2001 and went to my hotel. I always loved getting layovers in NYC because there is so much to do there! (Oh, if you don't remember, I was a United Airlines flight attendant until 3 years ago.) Anyway, after a good nights sleep I woke up on Monday, Sept. 10th and went out for the day to Times Square, and hit all the shops inbetween. I stopped at Rockefeller Plaza, the Empire State building, and had "real" pizza for lunch. I went back for a short nap and to get ready for work, I was flying a redeye to Denver that night. On the ride to the airport I called K from the tunnel - and looked over the city and was telling K how he had to come here with me next time. I got to LaGuardia, and went to the crew domicile to check my computer messages, schedule, etc....got the flight paperwork and went to my gate to meet the other f/a's and get on board the plane when it arrived. About 5 minutes later, the gate agent let us know that our flight had been cancelled due to a mechanical in Chicage (where the plane was coming from). Back to the domicile I go! The crew desk called to let me know that I would be staying another night in NYC and flying out of JFK or EWR (Newark) in the morning. No biggie! On my way out, the crew desk called again and asked if I'd be willing to take a flight to Miami that night, as the crew that was going to work it was majorly delayed with the broken airplane in Chicago. As much as I wanted to stay in NYC that night, I said "sure", turned around and found my new gate assignment and aircraft.
It was about midnight on Sept 10/11 when we got all the passengers on board. I was working the "A" position, or Purser, meaning I was the lead flight attendant who sat up front and worked First Class and ran all the audio/video equipment. I was also responsible for all announcements and services during that flight. There was a pretty nasty lightning storm right over the airport, people were getting restless just sitting on the plane wondering when it was going to be safe to take off. We had about 4 people get freaked out and get off the plane, and FINALLY we were able to get buttoned down and take off. The flight was pretty uneventful until the last 40 minutes or so. It was about 2 am and we were almost to Miami when I went into the back of the plane to check on my fellow crewmembers. On my way back up the aisle, I tripped....tripped over someone who was laying in the aisle. Um HELLO, why would someone think it would be a good idea to LAY in the aisle? Anyway, I fell and hit my elbow on the arm rest of a seat, and it instantly bruised up and was extremely swollen. We got out the first aid kit, applied ice and a sling because I couldn't move it....and I went up into the flight deck where the pilots called EMS to meet the flight and one of them gave me their tie to tie up my arm different.
We arrive in Miami safely, and as the passengers were deplaning, EMS was checking my arm out recommending that they take me in an ambulance to the nearest hospital (Um, no!) - so instead of going to the hotel with the rest of the crew, I headed by taxi to a downtown Miami hospital. The emergency room was crowded, but I got in and got exrays, the doctor set my arm, put a temporary cast on and recommended that I see an orthopedic surgeon ASAP. I got out of the hospital around 6am, got a taxi right back to the airport and reported to the crew desk. They got me flights home through Denver, and I'd be home by 2pm that afternoon. Of course, being me, 2pm wasn't soon enough, so I had them reroute me through Chicago and I hopped on the next departure to Chicago. At the time, I noticed a few things, but didn't think much of them with the circumstances being what they were. I was on a 767, in business class, seated next to a man of Arab descent. I didn't anything of it until he kept bumping me with his twitching leg. He was constantly looking around the cabin, and a few times I caught him making eye contact with others of the same descent, and just the TWITCHING! It was driving me batty. I thought that maybe he was afraid of flying or had too much coffee....but then again, it didn't strike me as odd at the time and I went to sleep. I woke up in Chicago, when the gentleman seated next to me offered to get my suitcase out of the overhead bin when he glanced at my arm.
I smiled and deplaned, went straight to the next gate, and checked in for my flight to Portland. Moments later, the agent announced a 1 hour ground stop delay, people started moaning and groaning. I set off for a magazine and ran into some friends that I went to training with who were based out of Boston. They told me that one of our flights was missing....and that some American ones were too. We were freaked. My sister then called, frantic to get through, wondering where I was and told me that planes had crashed into the WTC. OMG. I was DEVASTATED. When they figured out it was hijacking, I didn't know what to think. We train for it, but the likelihood of it ever happening was soooo slim, or so we thought. At my departure gate, people were starting to say how awful UAL was and that the delay was unacceptable - they had no idea that there were 4 hijacked flights out there, and could have been more if the FAA didn't shut down air traffic. After the flight cancelled I went to the crew domicile.
They were out of hotel rooms in Chicago, I was stuck. The TV's were on, hundreds of pilots and flight attendants were hugging, crying and shaking their heads in disbelief. We do this everyday. We put our lives on the line everyday. Just to work, as a job - and to die a horrible death like that is so, so....cruel!
I just couldn't calm down, I was so scared. I constantly kept trying to get through to K or my mom, cause they knew I was in NY and didn't know that I left last minute for Miami. I finally got through to K and he was on the phone with Amtrak getting me the last seat on a train to Portland the next day. I didn't want that. I wanted him to drive to Chicago and pick me up. I wanted to rent a car and drive home NOW. Another flight attendant overheard my situation with my arm etc, and offered to let me stay with him at his apt and take me to the train station in the morning. I was so grateful. I went to his house and pretty much collapsed from grief and lack of sleep. I had nightmares all night about the Sears Tower and my flying partners and what it was like flying into a building and exploding....I am still shaken by the horror.
I got on the 4 day train ride the next day, and during my trip tried to stay in touch w/ my family by cell phone. It went dead in S. Dakota, right at the time there was a train crash in Utah. My mom was convinced I was aboard the train that crashed and got a message to me through Amtrak. I arrived home to my son and husband 2 days later, and I was so glad to be there. I didn't stop shaking until a few weeks later and I still have nightmares to this day.
I got pregnant with my dd shortly after, and quit after my maternity leave was over at the end of 2003. I miss flying, I miss my flying partners, I am so deeply saddened that people who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time had to suffer and die. I can't imagine the evil - - - I will never get over Sept. 11, and I hope that maybe these next five years will ease the pain.
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Sep. 5, 2006
It's so quiet around here
Without all the neighborhood kids out and about! Public school started today and we're going to celebrate "Not-back-to-school Day" by getting frosties at Wendy's.
This week we've had a lot of fun making fall leaves - I'll add pics soon. We decorated foam leaves with jewels! On friday we'll be making leaf rubbings to go with our unit on "fall." The kids also spent 2 hours making paper chains and making medieval puches to store their belongnings! They are really getting into art this year.
September we are also going to work on our Nutrition unit, and build parts of our food pyramid every week. It's so exciting to delve into things that we've never studied before. B has retained soooo much more than I thought from SL Core K that we are combining preK and K into one year. P is keeping up wonderfully. I am really impressed at her abilities!
Next year the plan is Winterpromise American Story 1. B will be in 2nd grade, P in K. I think they will be able to handle it beautifully. That is of course if I don't lose my patience and end up sending B to ps! Lately it's been a drama around here.
We were busy this weekend redecorating our downstairs. I repainted the kitchen and dining room from a light tan color to a dark brown/gray color, and accented it with the opposite walls being an antique white. It looks awesome. I also painted the "big" wall in our family room a dark dark red. It looks great too! We hung dark red curtains on the 4 windows and got red and tan accent pillows for the dk brown leather couches - oh and the rug! It's sooooo pretty! We got the tv hung up on the wall and some pretty accessories for the table - I almost can't believe that I live here! lol
My momma also came to visit this weekend and the kids had so much fun with her. C cried and cried when she left a little while ago. They love their Bugga.
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Sep. 2, 2006
Aug. 28, 2006
The beginning of a fun week!
We're starting week 4 of our 06-07 school year and it's gearing up to be a fun week! Besides recent field trips to the zoo and aquarium, B has made a really neat new friend (and his mom is pretty cool too!) at soccer! P has enjoyed playing with the neighbor girls and the pets outside, C is happy to be climbing on anything!
So the kids are on a huge Junie B Jones kick, and P loves to hear B read them aloud (which is great!!) They are reading Junie B Jones and her Big, Fat Mouth. It's almost hard to hear B read with all the laughter inbetween. They are also really working on their art skills. We have a really great curriculum from Rod and Staff called "Developing Motor Skills Through Art." Today they learned about shading and colored some very realistic pictures! I was pretty impressed. One of these days I'll get out the camera and take some photos of their work and the newly decorated classroom.
We're all enjoying the new furniture we got yesterday! It was time to retire the couch and chairs to other rooms, and get leather furniture. We got a couch, loveseat, chair and big square ottoman. It makes the room look bigger, it's much nicer and WON'T STAIN! Whoo hoo! Next on the list is a new entertainment center and plasma or lcd TV. Oh, I would like to get a new rug too. Anyone have any idea where I could sell this stuff other than ebay?
Tonight we have an extra tkd practice, we are going to be in the Puyallup fair in September and we are going over the order, what exactly we'll be doing etc. All three of us will be in it ~ B has been in the Clark county fair with his last tkd team. Swimming starts up again soon, and B will be learning how to dive now that he can swim.
Oh, I almost forgot - I've got to figure out what I'm going to do for C's 2nd birthday! Both of the other kiddos had a huge party, so we're going to do the same. I can't decide between an Elmo theme or tractor theme (he loves Elmo and Tractor Tom)
That's it for today!
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Aug. 25, 2006
Is it almost September already?
How does time just disappear right before my eyes?! We've had another busy week and lots to report!
Week 3 is now behind us and after next week we'll have been schooling for a month already!
This week P began her ballet and tap with the same teacher she had last year. I can't believe how CUTE it was watching her "shuffle-step".....
C is starting to say new words nearly every day now - his latest is "fart"....yah, don't ask. I can't believe what he learns from the kids and in the amount of time that he does it! It's insane!
B had a rough week at tkd - getting pushups for disobeying class rules. Of course it ended up resulting in a grounding because he got kicked out of class because of his defiance - which is a major no-no!
I'm a little burnt out ~ just too much this week on my plate. As tired as I am, there isn't a job in the world I would trade this for. Seeing my kids grow everyday is more than I could ever ask for and means more than a paycheck would bring. I am so humbled by motherhood and so grateful that I am able to be a stay at home mom.
Have a great weekend!
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Aug. 23, 2006
In the Midst of it All.
It's crazy around here! Ackkkkk! I get this huge idea that I'm going to blog and post pics and then I get too busy to even turn on the computer!
This week has been a transition week in that some of the kids' activities have ended and others are starting. We are trying to adjust to the new schedule and keep on track the best we possibly can.
P's last soccer game was monday, she did a fantastic job dancing around the field and generally not paying attention. ???? What can I say, the girl is obviously not interested, but she wanted to give soccer a try so we said ok! She starts back up in ballet and tap tomorrow - which is so much more her forte. She ended swimming last week and passed into the next class. We didn't sign her up for the next session because of conflict with taekwondo! She's doing very well in taekwondo, and had a private lesson yesterday. She will be performing on the demo team with me and B at the local fair in a few weeks. P's schooling is going well. I think she's advanced for her age. Her motor skills are coming along nicely and I'm hoping that she'll be really reading by the end of the year. Right now she's sounding out 2-3 letter words in 100EZ, and knows all letters/sounds etc, but it's a strain iykwim.
B is busy too. Two soccer practices plus one soccer game a week, three taekwondo practices and two swimming lessons. *insert breath here* He's so fast in soccer that he's down the field scoring a goal before you know that he's gone! He's made a great friend on his team and I'm so proud! He went from not putting his head under water to swimming on his own in 3 lessons, and is really psyched about it (hence keeping him in lessons!) and is progessing nicely in tkd too. He'll test for his next belt in a few months I suppose. He'll also be at the demo with us and competing in two tournaments with me this fall. School is fun this year. He loves 1st grade most of the time. I can't wait to start WP next year and get out of the "heaviness" we seem to feel with SL.
Yesterday we were gone most of the day - we had a therapy appt for B (he always has the WORST behavior after?!?!?) and had to hit Costco since it's out the same way. B had no less than 4 people comment on how handsome he looked (he was still in his school uniform - I know I was asking for trouble!) He kindly replied that it was his school uniform and luckily no one asked where he went to school. I probably would have popped in and said "private school" - cause really our homeschool is VERY private. Only my family members get in! lol. By the time we got home, it was time for taekwondo. Got the kids changed and during P's class, B did his phonics and reading, then it was time for B's class. During B's class, P and I went to the grocery store for some last minute items and picked him up on the way home. At home I made a quick dinner and I left for tkd. C was with my sister the entire day (I felt soooo horrible) but was happy to have me home an hour later. DH got home super late and suggested we go to Applebee's to connect - not great on my food list - but we went and had a great conversation and some alone time after the kids were in bed and sis was here watching them.
Today is going well, we're almost done with school and the daily grind will begin. We're heading to the library today and then cleaning out closets. How does time go by so fast during the day?!
Hope you all have a great day!
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Aug. 20, 2006
Getting Ready for Week 3
As I am gearing up for our third week into this school year, I feel like we are getting into a groove. There is definitely a pattern on how we do things.
This weekend B had homework - a short 5 sentence narration on a reader of his choice, he chose Cars. This proved to be a little more difficult than first expected. We've been doing narrations for over a year, but this was the first time he was required to write it on his own. Um, no. So I let him dictate to me, and then copy it. He's the type to "hurry and get it done" so his penmanship has never been anything to write home about. So, my plan for week 3 and beyond is to beef up his handwriting in order to improve it.
Before:
HWT 1 pg 3x a week
ETC 6 pgs 1x a week
RS Phonics 2pgs 5x a week
RS Reading 2pg 5x a week
RS Spelling 1pn 5x a week
From now on:
All of the above PLUS
Writing spelling words 3x each 1x a week
Name and/or verse writing 1x a week
Extra practice on struggling letters.
I really want him to have nice printing before we start cursive next year. Don't get me wrong, it's legible - but not as nice as it could be.
The plan for P is the same, with a little added letter writing practice as well. Today she was crafty girl and made a bunch of different paper crafts including her name out of marshmallows, a fan and various coloring pages.
This week we'll complete RS grade 1, Unit 4 Lessons 9-12 in phonics and reading, RS Spelling grade 2, lesson 3, RS Arithmetic grade 1, lessons 102-106, and learn about respecting property, shading and colors, why Tigers have stripes, and all about the Romans - their food, clothing, transportation and housing. P will be dabbling in her HWT and GRFTC book as well.
That's it for today - we just got back from walking the dog and discussing why fish have swim bladders (yes, P brought that up!) We're off to start dinner and read, we're doing the Classroom cares project to donate 100 books to kids in need and we have about 85 books to go!
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Aug. 20, 2006
A neat perspective
I just viewed a link I saw on Steph's blog - thought it was a really cool perspective on kids and their educational experience. Hope you don't mind if I post the link!
http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/wp-content/themes/179/aschool.html
Check it out and let me know what you think.
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Aug. 19, 2006
Welcome to our little corner of the Blogosphere!
It's about time that I started a blog for our school, Aude Sapere Academy. For those of you who are not fluent in Latin, Aude Sapere translates to "Dare to Know." The idea for our school name came from a curriculum website that suggested taking a cool meaning and teaming it up with another language to create the name. We found this phrase, and it stuck!
We are an eclectic homeschooling family, I like to mix things up and keep the kids on their toes. I can't say that we lean one way or the other when it comes to classical education or unschooling, but we do whatever works for the moment and have been successful in maintaining a "love to learn" atmosphere.
On the plate this year is my first year homeschooling TWO children instead of one. B is my FIRST GRADER, P is my PRESCHOOLER and C is my disaster specialist. Curriculum this year is set for B, while P is tagging along with the gravy (science, history, etc), but has her own meat and potatoes (reading, writing and math.)
FIRST GRADE:
Rod and Staff Phonics and Reading Levels 1 & 2
Explode the Code books 2, 2.5 and 3
Rod and Staff Arithmetic 1 & 2
Sonlight Core History - Intro to World Cultures
Sonlight Science - Intro to General Science
Developing Motor Skill through Art 1 & 2
Handwriting Without Tears Printing Power
Bible
Extra Currics: Taekwondo, soccer, swimming
PRESCHOOL:
Get Ready, Set, Go for the Code 1-3
Rod and Staff PreK workbooks
Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numbers for Me
Sonlight PreK Core
Developing Motor Skills through Art
Bible
Sonlight Sci/Core with B
It's actually gone a lot smoother than expected and I am happy with the level I am combining them at. We also do many read alouds, and are currently enjoying some Junie B. Jones and My Father's Dragon.
Many think it's crazy, but my kids wear uniforms during school time. Clothing is always a struggle here, B wanting to wear whatever is on the floor that he wore 4 days ago, and P, the clothes horse needing to dress up. Uniforms get the kids in school mode and get them dressed quickly and downstairs to the classroom. Once school is over, play clothes are put on and we enjoy the rest of our activities and the day!
It's the weekend, so we're off to the soccer field.
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