The Daily Log by Mom - Homeschool Blogger

Last Entry

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:32:00 -0500

No, I'm not dying and I'm not going to stop blogging! I'm moving to Blogger. I really like it so far and I've needed a change anyway.

So here is the new address. http://libertyacademyanaheim.blogspot.com/

I'm going to leave this up here for awhile and then shut it down.

Thanks for reading!

My Eldest Boy

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:49:00 -0500

I'm writing this while Tom takes a bath. He is finally in after a ten minute battle. I have to go into the details of this to make it right in my mind. I'm a pretty relaxed Mom. I let my kids do as they please as long as they aren't hurting themselves or those around them, or stepping on anyone else's right to peace. The past six months have been pretty rough between Tom and I. He is very particular about things and does not like to make decisions. Let me give a few examples. I let them dress themselves at a young age, like two. If they were big enough to express an opinion, I generally accepted it. Food went the same way. I always give them the choices I have available and they pick from that. Lately, Tom can't decide. He will either freak out that the choices aren't to his liking, or he will want all of the above, cry, and have a melt down. This starts at breakfast and goes on through the day. Most days he doesn't like his pants, especially if I have asked him to get dressed to go somewhere. We argue about everything. And I'm not talking what to do or not to do. I'm talking about moving his feet so I can vacuum under him. Please don't beat on your brother because he won't give you something. Please don't hold the dogs down and get them fighting. Please don't leave food all over the table. Please answer your brother when he is talking to you. Please answer me! I mean seriously!

Tonight it was about the bath. They want to take a bath/shower every other day so I have to get them up there to do it. If I don't harass Tom about getting up off the couch and in the bathroom, he will decide at 10pm that he HAS to have a shower because he isn't comfortable. I would just let him do this, but we all sleep in a very small space with a bathroom in the middle. My husband and step-daughter get up very early to go to work and school. I have to get up to take her to school. We would like to get some sleep. So the drill is dinner, showers, Dad reads to them and then goes to bed, I read in the doorway until they go to sleep (lately that has changed to, I read in the doorway until Jake goes to sleep and then lay down next to Tom because I can't stay awake anymore). Tom will lay there completely still and quiet until 11pm sometimes, usually 10 is the latest I can stay awake. We've tried relaxing, music, tea, melatonin. The kid is just a night owl, much like I would be if I didn't have to get up at 5:30 for Nikki.

So here I am ranting and raving. Tom is a very sweet boy. It isn't that he is trying to make me nuts. He actually feels bad when I explain how completely crazy his is making me. Tonight I told him that he needs to do things for himself if he wants them done a certain way. He understands that. He made his own bath tonight. He told me he doesn't like showers because he is scared when he closes his eyes in the shower. Understandable. But if he had just explained this before I got angry about his refusal to take a shower, maybe things would have been nicer.

Yikes! I hope we both get through this phase without scars!!

San Diego Train Trip

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:20:00 -0500

We went on an awesome trip to San Diego on the train today! A homeschool friend set up a group ticket for us all and that makes the cost so good that you just HAVE to go. We had to get up at 6am and leave at 6:45 to get to the Irvine train station. That was fine for Jake and I, but dragging Tom out of bed and out the door that early is darn near impossible and can be hazardous to your health. After much coaxing and bribing with donuts we got him to the truck with a blanket and pillow and he was awake enough by the time we got there.

On the train was great. We had some friends we already know well and made some new ones. I love taking the train because I get to sit and relax (well maybe not that much) and talk to my friends instead of concentrating on getting there.

When we got there we walked to the Maritime Museum at the Star of India. Our friends didn't want to see it but the boys did, so we parted ways and planned on meeting them for lunch later. The boys and I shopped for awhile at the gift shop and bought a cool book called “By The Great Horn Spoon”. Then we checked out the museum on the old steam boat. We spent almost an hour in there and then looked around the Medea (I think). There was a lot of stuff about sailing and how they navigated in different eras. And a whole section about fishing for tuna that just fascinated Tom. He wants to go on a fishing trip now.

Then we went over to the Surprise. It used to be called the Rose and it was used in the movie Master and Commander. We have to see it now. A guy was working on the boat and asked if we wanted a tour. He took us all over the ship and explained all about it and showed us the things that were just for the movie. A lot of it was just made so that it looked like a real old ship but it didn't actually work. Then he told us that he was in the movie as an extra and showed us some cool pictures. He told us all about making the movie. He said he was so impressed with the boys questions and how much they knew about boating and war. He said he was getting ready to go home for the day and thought he might do something fun so he offered a tour to the kids. He was really nice and the boys were just so impressed by him.

After that, we went over to the Star of India. We didn't spend much time there because it was already 1:30 and we were hungry! We never did meet up with our friends until we got back to the train! I just couldn't pull them away from the ships. We walked down to the Shoreline mall place and had lunch, listened to a South American band (that Tom loved) and bought some trinkets to take home. We got ice cream cones and walked back to the train station.

The ride home was loud and exciting. All the kids were wound up. We were all yelling back and forth and playing and being silly. It was a long day. On the way back to the car, Jake went a little too far in the keep-a-way game they were playing and Tom had a complete melt down. Funny thing is, I knew it was coming. I just took him by the wrist and dragged him to the truck. A few minutes later he was holding my hand and saying sorry. I so wish we could avoid those types of things, but what can you do.

We're home now, relaxing. My throat hurts from talking and laughing all day! Jake is back at the Force Unleashed and Tom is checking out RuneScape because Cameron told him to. We're going to bed when I finish writing this because I'm exhausted!! It's 8:30!

Tom's 8th Birthday Party

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 22:05:00 -0500

This comes a few days late because I was getting frustrated with downloading pictures so I quit, but then didn't find the time to get back to it until tonight. Really, I want to get my pictures of our train trip. If I put those up before the birthday, I will lose interest in them and never get back to it. And you just HAVE to see the Candy Mountain Cake!

Birthday party accomplished! What a day! There were kids everywhere! I never realized that when you have kids their party guests get bigger and bigger too and they make more noise and run around a LOT more! I do have a large group of great friends though. Not to mention an awesome family! Tom was spoiled rotten. We had a “Charlie the Unicorn” theme this year. If you have no idea what that is, you are not alone. Search for it on YouTube.

Blatant Political Post

Tue, 7 Oct 2008 22:02:00 -0500

Watching what is going on in our country is quite literally scaring me. I'm afraid of what will be left for our children and grandchildren. To watch this debate tonight was mind numbing. It was like a high school election with each candidate offering the public another something that they don't have the power to give, just to get a vote. It wasn't about how this country can be turned around, it was about who can offer you the most money or better benefits.

It all comes down to education really and the basics of our constitution. We have strayed so far from what the federal government was supposed to control that I can't see it ever going back. We might as well just write a new constitution with either candidate.

I was a Ron Paul supporter, still am. He made sense. Watching him debate with these people made me so angry because they really didn't bother to ask him a question at all. It is as if our candidates can only come from a certain class of citizens and it certainly isn't OUR class!

For the first time in my life I am writing to all my friends, PLEASE take a look at the other candidates. Not just R & D. They are out there. If we can all get behind someone else, maybe we can make something of this mess we are in. I've been following Chuck Baldwin very closely. Please check out his website and read about his stance on many issues. We need to vote on the issues we are all facing, not what the government can do FOR us. We need to take back our responsibility for our lives the way we are doing it for our children's education.

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams

And a Video!

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 09:01:00 -0500

They're Back!

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 23:06:00 -0500

The boys got home from Old Dale around 3pm and they were all very happy. Last night Dan called to say they had made it and then this afternoon Tom called to say that they were on their way home and they had all their fingers. Both times I did not hear the phone! Tom was in charge of photography, so there are plenty of pictures.

This morning I had my orientation for OC Parks. I can't wait to get started. I'm going to be helping at the Interpretive Center at Irvine Park, among other things. I can't believe that I am actually volunteering. I've always been too busy with the boys and the house. They want to come and volunteer too, but I told them they have to wait until I get my bearings there and then I will get them signed up as well.

I'm still playing with this Facebook thing! I found some old friends and it is really cool to see what everyone is up to. I really lost touch with people when I stopped working. What really worries me is that I have forgotten so many names! Yikes! I must be getting old! Dan says it isn't that I'm old, it is that I don't use that information anymore so I've replaced it with new stuff. Well...we'll see. Does this mean if I remember the names of my old friends that I will forget my kids' names?

Happy Birthday to Tom!

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 21:05:00 -0500

My baby is eight years old today! I can't believe I have been a mom for 8 years. You can really see him struggling to be grown up lately. Are we celebrating with going out to dinner or making a cake? Nope. I'm all alone here at the house. Dan took the boys out to the desert today and they are going to come back tomorrow night. They just took the truck and some blankets. I packed them a cooler full of food and waved them goodbye! Tom was very worried about spending the night out there without me, but when he saw Dad get the fireworks out, he completely forgot his worries! Crazy kid.

So here I am, all alone for 24 hours. Well, not ALL alone. My Mother-In-Law is here and so is my Whiskey dog. Kiara went with the boys. She loves the desert too! What have I done all afternoon? Clean! Tom's birthday party is on Sunday and I have plenty to get ready for. I like having all this time to clean and straighten things without having to stop for arguments, games, and feeding! It sounds strange, but I can't think of a better vacation for just myself. I am really enjoying myself.

The Reason I Home Educate?

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:25:00 -0500

Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening. The average American [should be] content with their humble role in life, because they're not tempted to think about any other role.
— William T. Harris, U.S. Commissioner of Education, 1889

THAT'S ONE REASON!

Today went so well, I just had to share. I got up and got my chores done and did my exercise. I lost 4 pounds! Yay!! We had lunch and then I had an appointment to get my fingerprints taken and the Sheriff's Department. I'm volunteering at OC Parks and they make you do it. I took the boys with me and they found it fascinating. The tech let them do their fingerprints, too. Tom asked about a thousand questions. And I, for the first time ever, got the big question, “There's no school today?” I said no, we homeschool and they are in class right now, FIELD TRIP! Then Tom asked if the red dots on the screen meant that the computer couldn't read there. She said yes. And then he watch a couple more and said, “Oh, I get it, if there are too many red dots the computer makes you do the print again.” She was obviously impressed. Heck, so was I! We also learned an new phrase, forensic science. Both the boys wanted to know why the building was so cold and echo-y. We got to talk about what an architect is and how you can make a room warm and inviting or cold and sterile. Fun stuff.

Grandma Ann took us to the movies when we got home. We saw Igor. THAT is a funny movie. I really enjoyed it. Now we are back to video games and email.

The Saga Continues

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:08:00 -0500

I know you are all desparately addicted to the telling of our daily adventures, so here is another installment.

Yesterday we went to see a man that performs as Thomas Jefferson and talks about his life and answers questions. We found it through a group called Bixby Educational Events. The whole time I kept thinking that I could organize things like this! He was good. The boys enjoyed it. I couldn't help but wonder what Mr. Jefferson would really think about our current situation in the US. I had an epiphany on the way home and I just have to write it here, so bear with me.

I keep thinking on the all the laws and regulations we have and how they are increasing every day. These laws seem overkill in many ways, but I kept thinking that the people that push these new laws are crazy. Don't they see how socialist they are? Can't they see that we shouldn't protect everyone from everything? That is how dictators rise. But then I realized something. Our population is so uneducated about the economy and banking (not to mention history) that they cannot take care of themselves anymore. We can't “let buyer beware” anymore because so many people and several generations are so ignorant of basic economics and math that they are easily duped. So what am I trying to say? I'm trying to say that the problem is in the past and the way we have educated everyone in the country to be good worker bees and not leaders. We have made a fine mess for ourselves. We are now fat and happy and ready to be dominated over by whoever feels the need to take over. I fear for our country. I fear for my children's future. I'm scared.

On a better note, the boys and I went to Knott's today. It was so stinkin' hot! Yikes! We took a ride on the Galloping Goose (google that one) and the boys asked the engineer lots of questions about how to drive the thing. We went on the log ride a couple times and Tom got a glimpse of one of the monsters from Haunt and is now happy not to go for MANY years. We were accosted by some midway guy telling us how to win tickets to other parks if we entered his contest. After several no's and trying to walk away and having him follow us, I went to the Information booth and wrote out a complaint. The woman there said they have had many complaints about them lately. We got a bucket of Knott's Chicken for dinner and brought it home to Dad.

The boys and I are still using the Wii Fit. I love that thing! We like working out on it. :)