Posted in Life in the Crazy House

Hello Blog Readers!!!

I just wanted to tell you that my prayer for all of you is to have a wonderful and productive 2009.

I'm sorry that I haven't had much time to blog lately, aside from all of my product reviews, but we have been enjoying lots and lots of nasty, germy sickness here at The Crazy House.  It's been crazier than ever with all the boogers and vomit oozing around here.  How's that for a visual?  Well, trust me, it's been a real challenge just to get by.  Thankfully, we were all spared on Christmas day and were able to enjoy it at home with our family.  The puking didn't start until 2:30 a.m. on the 26th.

Here's a quick glance at this year's highlights:

First Born got his first job, first car and driver's license, and took his first college class where he got an A.  He won 2nd place in a media contest and got $200.  He also was an assitant coach for the homeschool basketball clinic, volunteered at library for the summer reading program, made get out the vote calls for the presidential race, and was a stage hand for "The Gospel According to Scrooge."  In his spare time he did a lot of skateboarding and practiced guitar.

Renaissance Man also took his first college class and got an A.  He won 1st place in the media contest, earning $300 for his computer animation.  He also did an animation for a local FIRST robotics team. Not being just a nerd, Renaissance man also participated in the homeschool basketball clinic, played first base on a local baseball team, and spent hours on his skateboard.  He also volunteered this summer at the library and as a stage hand for "Scrooge." Lately, he has been practicing his bass.

Mr. Personality also participated in the homeschool basketball clinic.  He also ran for, and won, his first political office, and is now the president of the Teen Advisory Board at the local library.  He attends as many meetings and programs there as possible.  He also volunteered there this summer and particated in the summer reading program.  Mr. Personality volunteered for the presidential campaign too and worked as a stage hand for "Scrooge." 

Woggit also participated in the basketball clinic and played baseball with Renaissance Man this summer. He loves to be on the computer and is teaching himself 3D modeling.  His life's goal is to get his own lap top.  He participated in the summer reading program and read over 100 hours. Lately he has been spending a lot of time on the phone talking to his friend Nicky. 

Princess participated in homeschool gym this year and also in the homeschool American Girls club.  She also read around 100 hours for the summer reading program.  She is doing really well with her crocheting, and this year she has taught herself to play the recorder.  She loves to rollerblade, write, draw, and play with her sister, her friends, and sometime even her brothers, in her spare time. 

Dode Man participated in homeschool gym and read lots of books for the summer reading program too.  He also gets on the computer every chance he gets.  He loves to play outside with his brothers, sisters and friends and looks forward to spring.

Bear did homeschool gym, American Girls and the library program too.  This is the first year she read the books herself.  She loves to draw and cuddle with her stuffed animals.  She also loves playing outside with her siblings and friends.  This year she learned to make pot holders to give as Christmas gifts.

Baber did homeschool gym too, though sometimes he just wanted to sit with me.  He also did the summer reading program.  He had to be read to this year, but he's learning to read now, so maybe by next summer he'll be reading all by himself!  Baber loves to play with his siblings, and he is also making lots of friends around the neighborhood.  He loves to draw and create.  He LOVES tape. 

God willing, Sane Man still works as an engineer.  He has been "temporarily" laid off for the last seven weeks.  We are just hoping that when he goes back to work, he isn't told to turn around a go back home.  Have you heard?  The automotive companies are having a bit of trouble lately. Right now he is remodeling the basement.  Well, really just cleaning it up and moving a wall and finishing up some stuff he started long ago.  The hope is to have a little more space and a little more sanity.  Don't worry, though, we'll still be The Crazy House.  It would take more than a finished basement to change that!!!

As for me, I am just trying to survive!  Being The Crazy Mom ain't easy.  Sometimes I think I am going to really go nuts around here with all the noise and commotion.   Of course, as you know if you read this blog, I am working, well, volunteering really, as a reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Crew.  I have been getting all kids of homeschool products, most of them really great, to review and blog about.  It's the perfect fit for me because I get things to try for free, my favorite price, and I get to blog about them to all of you.  Because I love to write, I can have a little something to do "for me" and still be benefitting my family, hopefully the product vendors, and all of you our there who homeschool.  It's a win, win, win, win situation. 

Of course I can't end this list of highlights without mentioning our big vacation!  We all packed ourselves into a motorhome, along with my in-laws and the dog, and visited Pike's Peak, the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, Hollywood, Yosemite, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore.  It was three weeks of fun and insanity, the Crazy Fam way.  We drove through flat country, the desert, up mountains, in the fog, the wind, the sun and snow.  We even rode through Vegas, Reno and down Rodeo Drive.  We spent most of our nights in Wal*Mart parking lots and ate a lot of sandwiches.  We saw a lot, did a lot, and spent a lot on gas.  I can tell you what, though, I could go a long time without another vacation!  It's too much like work!  LOL

Hope to spend lots of time with you all out here in the blogosphere in '09.  Until then, God Bless you all!!!