Notes from the Laundry Pile - Homeschool Blogger

Change of Address

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:05:00 -0500

I'm doing it.

I'm jumping ship.

I tried to blog earlier and couldn't log in...nor could I see anyone's blogs. I was frustrated. Now that I've had dinner...I'm not as frustrated. Which is rather funny - because I wasn't hungry when I was frustrated. *L* Just running short on Time.

I've promised the Professor that I would blog for 30 minutes and then he could play. So I'm on a deadline. *L* And today when i tried to log on - I was on a different kind of deadline.

So please change my blog address in your Bloglines - and please come visit my other Laundry Pile. Be sure to click "Other" when you leave a comment on my blog because you'll be able to enter your blog address and because I want to keep in touch. And because, of course, I want to get comments. Because, you know, I'm addicted -- as you can see here.

I seem to have an "And, because" theme going for me.

And, because, I want you to come see me - here's my new address. http://www.comfydenim.blogspot.com/.

See you there!

Bleach Free Blessings!!

Bloggity Brain Waves...

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 21:02:00 -0500

I was thinking today about all that I wanted to blog - which will, in all probability, lead to more than one posting in a day. (A "When it rains it pours" kind of thing.)

I think I need a notebook to have lying around - so when I get a bloggy idea I could just write it down. Oh - wait. I have one of those.

I call it a journal.
I crack me up.

I have had one of those days - where little foxes have been stealing my grapes.
It's getting quite annoying, too. And it started first thing and hasn't gotten any better as the day has progressed.

It started out with Mini-E biting The Professor on the shoulder when he was hugging her.

Then it didn't rain, like it was supposed to, so we had to water our new sunflower seeds. (That's what we did this weekend, should you want to know)

Then we had Mini-E meltdown and breakfast. or was it the other way around? A run to the pharmacy.

Mini-Me went out and to check the mail and found ants instead. Ick. Ants do not need to be reading my mail. They just don't. So Antspray and I went out to see what was up. The ants had made a home in the grass around the base of the mailbox post. Then they outgrew that and climbed up to the place wood crossed. And they out grew that - and started taking over the mail box. Ick. So Antspray doused them really well. Oddly, I felt no mercy. Mini-Me watched and tried to keep everyone back. Then she said, "I think you need to wipe out the mailbox so that the mail-lady doesn't get poisoned."

That's logical - even if it is wrong. I did wipe out the mail box - but mostly to keep the ants off my mail. Well, because, too, the thought of me sticking my hand in there and coming out with slimed ants just kind of creeped me out.

By lunch time, we'd only talked about school work. I felt like the parable of the foxes and the grapes. I felt there were tiny foxes stealing my grapes of productivity. Which would explain my Swiper picture...If I had only thought to say "Swiper no swiping, Swiper, no Swiping! Swiper, no swiping!" Aw, man... hindsight and all that.

We did manage to have the babies take naps. And we managed to do Math & Phonics. The Lord says it's time to shift and change - but I'm not exactly sure what it is that's supposed to shift and change. I'm praying and asking because I know He'll answer those who are desperate for Him. And I'm desperate.

I want this to work out for the good of my kids and for me - and for God's glory. I have a feeling that the shifting and changing is going to be in my heart. I'm so glad that God loves me - because I have a feeling this could be painful.

I'll blog about the other fox that was doing some stealing in a bit.

An entry - sort of..

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:12:00 -0500

I received much encouragement -- weeks ago -- at a church service on a Wednesday night. I've wanted to blog about it since then - and I finally got it done!!

Yippeee!!

The problem is - I tried to dual-post it here and at my Blogger Laundry Pile - and something in the formatting keeps changing -- and making it difficult to read. I'm still not sure I've got it fixed at blogger.

Am I taking the easy way out?? ---> I'm going to just link over and let you read what I wrote and hopefully it will be encouraging to you - or at least make you think - or laugh - or ... well... I don't want it make you cry. Here's the link:

"Only Today"

What can we do - Today?

Me? I'm going to do laundry.

Wow. 101 Entries.

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:17:00 -0500

I can't believe I've typed enough to come up with 101 entries!! For some reason, it sounds like more than it looks.

I know I started blogging on a whim. I think it was because Thoughtful Mom had such an interesting looking blog. I started on Yahoo!360 - and keep a blog there for family & a few friends that are there.

I also figured out something. I figured out that the reason I haven't completely switched from HSB to blogger is because I'm addicted to comments. That really sounds funny.. and looks funny, too. Is there a 12-step program?

I have to laugh -- both babies are fussing and J needs a diaper change (he will be potty trained as soon as it's warm enough - our babies are streakers when they potty train.) -- It's my 101st entry and this is all I can blog about??

Spring Reading Thing

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:13:00 -0500

I've been working and thinking of my book reading list - every since I saw that it was coming up on CoffeeMom's blog. Now let's see if I can get this reading done. I've not been very good about finishing things lately - great at starting - terrible about finishing.

Without further ado, my list is as follows:

When Your Child is 6 to 12 by John M. Drescher

Your Girl by Vicki Courtney

Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets

Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining and Bad Attitudes ... in you and your kids! by Scott Turansky & Joanne Miller

Optional:

ReOrdering your Day by Chuck Pierce

Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer (this will be a re-read)

So there you go.

The books I desire to read.

Click Here to see what everyone else is reading...

The Creativity of G

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:04:00 -0500

I uploaded pictures from my camera today and found some fun pictures from last month. It's a hoot. G decided to play a typing tutor. And J likes to push buttons (on the computer and off) so G built himself a jail.
So he used the dining room chairs. Now I have to admit that we've The Professor in Daddy Jail when he was doing an on-line training course. And then there was that one time he needed to destress - so into Daddyjail he went with his computer game.

So, really, G is protecting his typing tutor talents.... I mean baby gates come in all shapes and sizes.

What a funny day

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:47:00 -0500

Today is Thursday, isn't it? Definitely Thursday. Calendar says so. I went to church last night (on Wednesday). There were people there - so it had to be Wednesday. I mean, if I'd gone on a different night, I'm sure we would have been mostly alone.

This morning we went to get Mini-E's pictures taken at a Penney's portrait studio. My normally smiley child chose not to smile. My baby that loves to play with beads - did not want to play with the beads we took. She played a bit, we did manage to get a few good shots, but still it just wasn't normal for her. She's usually all smiles and jabbers - and giggles.

The look she gave the photographer was more of a "Yeah, you're nice. Now let me down." kind of look.

So we came home and had a late breakfast. We hung out for a bit until lunch time and at nap time, I was tired - and took a nap. Sometimes I just doze off with J while he's sleeping and wake up after a power nap. Today I was OUT. Until the doorbell rang. G ran in and said "Mom, there's a lady with a book at the door!"

Remember, I was OUT of it. I rarely sleep that hard when it's just me and the kids. "Do we know her?" "No." was his reply. Okay. I was confident in the fact that I had instructed the kids not to answer the door without my permission - or unless it's their grandparents. So I said -- "Then she can go away."

I never expected him to answer the door and tell the lady.
Now that I"ve pondered it all day - it is rather amusing. I have no idea if the lady was a sales person or trying to witness as to her beliefs. I may never know -- though I believe if it's important she'll come back.

So we had to have a discussion AGAIN. about NOT answering the door. Mini-me said "But G said that you said..." So he and I had a discussion about THAT...and after a while, Mini-Me told me "I feel like I've been tricked by a 6-year old."

That was really pretty amusing, considering she's 8.

So The Professor comes home from his training. And we talked about me making a run to the store for bottled water. He said "You've got something going tomorrow night, don't you?" and I looked at the calendar and saw that it said "Pics for E - 9am". So I looked at the next calendar day - I said "No - I have the church thing tomorrow"

He said, "You mean Saturday?"

Needless to say - I was early for my picture appointment. 24 hours early. I called to make sure they knew I wasn't coming in the morning - and the gal that answered the phone was the same gal who took E's pictures. I thanked her for not treating me like an idiot. *L* She said that she, herself, had just noticed what happened about 15 minutes prior to my call. Well, that's God for you. Apparently the people that were supposed to be there today, Thursday, didn't come. Maybe they'll come tomorrow, Friday, instead.

Today is Thursday. Today is Thursday. Thursday. Thursday. Thursday.

So Mini-Me and I went to the store (Sam's Club) and we found the new Backyardigan's DVD something about Volcano Sisters and bought the Professor "Casino Royale" (A very good Bond movie, BTW). And water and hamburger meat and few other sundries. On the way out of the store we apparently dropped The Volcano sisters. I thought maybe we'd left it in the store and we were going to go back in and ask.

A fellow came up to me while we were unloading our cart, "Excuse me, did you just buy a DVD?"

"Yes!! I said thinking he was in line behind me. "Can you describe it?" Odd question, but I said "It was something about 'Volcano Sisters'." He pulled it from behind him and gave it to me. It had fallen off our cart on the way out of the store.

I was so thrilled! I told Mini-Me, "See? God's watching out for us!" and the man, walking away, said "Yep."

Oh - A brief schooling update. We're still memorizing the months and days of the week - and learning about calendars and seasons - and the symbols of each month that KONOS has listed. And today I noticed that our tree was coming off the wall. Mini-E has been helping it, I believe. And I mentioned it to The Professor - and Mini-Me said, "I guess we need to finish the months quickly"

Today is Thursday. Tomorrow is Friday.

And God is still on The Throne and He loves me!!

So I guess- it doesn't matter what day it is - It's a good day!!

But should you see me and I have that perplexed look on my face, would you tell me what day it is?

Count me in!

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:02:00 -0500

Okay!! I have a stack of books that I can see the bookmarks sticking out from the pages. It's time to read them. :-)

I have time to narrow down the list because I need to be realistic. *L* Though, I'm even considering adding my scheduling to this "Thing".

So - I'm in. Care to join me?

Jump In

I should be sleeping...

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 22:49:00 -0500

...because I can't think of a catchier title. I'm title-less today.

I really don't want to whine - but I was able to log in - so I'm going to write about the day.

It was not pleasant.

Mini-E is teething hard. We know for sure the poor kids is getting 4 molars at once - but now we think we're seeing some 'Canines' poking starting to, as The Professor says, bubble up.

She got up at 3:30 this morning. She and The Professor can rock in the recliner and they can sleep. I can not and apparently, last night neither could MIni-E. She did everything in her power to stay awake. We don't tend to medicate the kids unnecessarily, so I never even considered giving her pain meds. (I will tonight, though) Anyway - I left her and the Prof. in the recliner and climbed back in bed with the instructions that he could come get me if she was still up in an hour or so. She never quieted down, she didn't go to sleep.

But when I hit the pillow, a "battlefield of the mind" hit me. With one forgotten memory. Goodness. I was shocked at the memory because it was recent, but for some reason hadn't remembered it. So I started to pray. But it was a tough battle.

I gave up on sleeping after Mini-E started crying again, but I was cranky. The "battle" had left me frustrated and cranky. Which is why, I do not think I gained victory in the battle. And poor Mini-E and I did not get along. She didn't want to sleep and I didn't just want to sit there. When she finally sat still on the floor and started falling asleep is when I tried to put her down. And then tried to sleep myself.

Needless to say, she's earned herself a trip to the pediatrician to make sure her ears are clear. We didn't do any schoolwork today, either. Which frustrates me, too. I want to be able to do it all. *LOL* How to homeschool with babies is something I need to reasearch more deeply, I guess. They can really throw a kink in your plans.

I'm much better mentally and spiritually than I was earlier in the day. I felt a change in the spiritual atmosphere (which sounds waaaaaay charismatic, I know) but after being under what seemed like a cloud all day, when it's gone, you feel the difference.

I certainly don't want to make the same mistakes I made today. And I love the fact that we never fail God's tests - we just get to have a do-over.

Insert witty title here

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 21:00:00 -0500

Howdy! from the Laundry Pile.

I'm still here - I'm still homeschooling and - occasionally, I even compute!! *LOL* And then there are those moments of "does not compute".

I just told myself a joke.

I've been reading blogs. Promise. I've been trying to keep up - but when I have the briefest of moments to comment on my friends' blogs - I can't log in. Several things happen. I either time out - which bums me beyond the norm because I have cable internet and ... well.. I have expectations, by golly! The other thing that happens is it just takes to long to load and I never get to the "Post comment."

So I'm not ignoring you - Promise. I've even thought about posting comments in my blog entry here - but does that go against "etiquette"? What is blog etiquette anyway? Would that be "Bletiquette"? or maybe "Blogiquette"?

Okay here go my updates of sorts:

Laundry Pile conditions: Wrinkled. -- We've been cracking the books and trying to get seasons and months memorized on top of that. :-) It seems that the names of the months & days of the week are very abstract things for my 6yo G to assimilate into his brain. I asked him what the first day of the week was and he said "January". At least he got the first part right....

Mini-Me is tackling "borrowing" in her subtraction problems and it's quite interesting to see how her brain works on the problems. We're also tackling an attitude. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm just being too sensitive - because I'm not figuring out how to train her in how to go in the other direction. I'm praying - but probably not nearly enough.

J is, well, almost 3. He had a week and a half of a nasty ear infection and we watched way too much TV and now we're trying to break the habit. :-)

Laundry Pile fun: I practiced face painting this weekend. And it was fun. I can manage to get a good looking design on myself -- but I'm really trying to figure out good patterns for boys. Most of the patterns you see on the internet are for girls. Unless you want Superman's big yellow "S". There are only so much of those I want to paint. I'll see about posting pictures. (gotta get 'em off the camera first)

Comfy's personal stuff: I've been writing. On paper. With a pen. It's a weird sensation. *L* I'd almost forgotten what it felt like. Granted - the dishes suffered, the laundry suffered - but it still felt good. Now if I can figure out how to get my plot from point a to point b, I'll be happy. But I've got lots of time...I've been writing since I was 12. *L* I'm in no hurry now.

Laundry Pile Blog issues: I've been frustrated with *here* that I've considered a move. I've got some pictures up and it's beginning to look like home... but I'm not sure I'm ready to officially move in, YET. Come in and take a look and tell me what you think?

Comfy's new Digs

And that's it from the Laundry Pile for now. I'm cutting it short because I want Rocky Road Ice Cream and The Professor wants to play "EverQuest".

By the way? Life is still good.

Bleach Free Blessings!