A Day in the Life... - Homeschool Blogger

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 15:42:00 -0600

For Today.... November 2, 2009

Outside My Window...beautiful autumn sunshine and not too cold weather as I had first thought this morning. It's perfect outside!

I am thinking...I am frustrated with a lot of things right now and am trying not to be bitter.

I am thankful for...my daughters. They are a daily blessing to me. I get to hear their laughter and giggles, play with them and talk with them. They are my daily companions and joy.

I am wearing...jeans, my Woodchuck t-shirt, ankle socks and my tennis shoes. Comfy!!

I am remembering...things from autumns past..activities with friends and memories made.

In the kitchen...nuttin' right now, but am planning on gf pizza for tonight.

I am reading...several things: college stuff, my TOS magazine, as well as medical stuff for myself to address with my endo in December. Ugh.

I am hoping...for me to cheer up sometime soon.

I am hearing...the dogs barking next door and my girls playing out in the backyard.

Around the house...are many things to be done. More on my 'unfinished' list. lol!

One of my favorite things...sunshine..any time of the year! But I love to see the colors of the trees this time of year and try to hang on to it as long as I can, before the barreness comes for winter.

Plans for the rest of the week...homeschool, continuing with my workouts, Awanas, and possibly homeschool gym.

A picture thought I am sharing.... the picture says it all. Beautiful.

Soccer Season Has Begun (and other cool weather fun!)

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:25:00 -0500

My daughters have had soccer practices for the last couple of weeks...always the signaling of the end of summer and beginning of fall. Ugh. Hate that. I want summer to last forever...I LOVE warm weather!!! Anywhooo...my eldest two had their first games this past weekend. One lost the other won. We also had a bonfire...another sign of fall, since my hubby doesn't like to sit around a fire unless it's cool outside. And it was definitely chillin here Saturday night. We had a blast just goofin' and sittin' around talking politics and life. lol! Here is a parade of photos from Saturday's events...soccer games and our bonfire.

My 11 yr old running during her game.

Her going after the ball.

She's taking it down the field.

Celebrating her assist with a goal!

The beautiful clouds moving toward the field.

My eldest sitting with her teamates on the sidelines during one of the quarters (she has the tinted glasses).

She's waiting for the ball to make its way back down to her end of the field. She played fullback.

Running to cut off the play.

Watching as others nearby have the ball.

More waiting for them to approach her end of the field.

A view of the playing field out at The Barn.

Later that evening......our bonfire.

My twin upon her arrival to our festivities.

My hubby hiding from the camera. lol!!

My eldest two daughters opposite the fire from me.

My 11 yr old smiling by firelight.

Her being goofy when the flash is on. rofl!

The men folk around the fire. (L-R, my hubby, my twin's hubby, and our neighbor).

Everyone (except me..ha ha ha) around the fire.

The three stooges. Ha ha ha!!

More goofin' with their aunt.

Cheesin' it! Ahhhh...gotta love bonfire fun!!

My Summer So Far

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:32:00 -0500

I haven't blogged in a number of days, so thought I'd sit down and do just that this morning. My youngest is the only one up with me right now. My other girls are still in bed. It's 8:30...I've been up for an hour and a half though I still feel groggy. Ugh. I am soooo not a morning person!! lol!! Anywhoooo...on with my blog post I guess.

This summer hasn't gone exactly as I had planned, as far as continuing with homeschooling. We've only gotten a little done. (sigh) Seems summer is definitely NOT a good time to doing any catching up. So many things have just gotten in the way...camp, the girls wanting to go to the pool (on the days that have been warm enough), their lil girlfriends (who public school and normally aren't home til late in the day during the year and are now home ALL day) wanting to play all day with them, my oldest mowing lawns, running hubby to work each day (while he's been on second shift) so I can have our vehicle if needed and various other interruptions to my plans. lol! I can't justify denying them their summer, but really wanted to make up for all the time we lost this past year with my lack of energy and seemingly constant need for sleep. I felt like a momma bear (hibernating) more than a regular homeschooling mom. Granted, I am much better off now but we lost a lot of time/school over the year. I actually have tossed around throughout this summer the idea of not continuing in my homeschooling of my girls. I really want to continue, but I truly feel so inadequate to the job.

To make it worse, I feel 'alone' in this endeavor. Yes, I know many homeschoolers in the area, but none that I 'talk' to on a regular basis except for the occasional facebook update,etc. I love that I know they are there though (every lil bit helps)...but again...I feel quite alone. My hubby has pretty much left the homeschooling up to me...completely. There is no input, advice, etc. but he is 'on board' with me doing it. I ask for curriculum suggestions,etc and get 'Whatever you think is okay, hon" in response. I also, seemingly, alienated some fellow homeschool friends this year. I still see them, but they don't really talk to me anymore, except for the cordial 'hello/how are you'. I'm unsure as to what exactly I did/said to cause it so I am left to guess what it was. I'm guessing that it was possibly due to two posts on my blog here...one regarding 'church' and the other 'charter schools'. I had no idea how many of the homeschoolers I know are using public charter schools. It's their choice and I'm not condemning anyone for it...I merely stated my views (on my blog) that they are indeed public schools. Public charter schools work for some people, but they just didn't work for my family (yes, we tried a public charter school when first starting 'homeschooling' on our own!). I was told by an old friend (she homeschools too) that there are two things you cannot discuss with homeschool moms...1) parenting styles and ...2) homeschool curriculum choices. She said homeschool moms tend to get overly defensive about both and I have found that to be very true..especially this past year. I stuck my foot in my mouth (unintentionally) on several occasions(with different people) by stating that I dislike public charter schools (not knowing the person I was talking to was in fact using one!). Granted, I was talking about my own personal experience, but it didn't seem to matter. I was shunned afterwards. I have since learned to just shut my mouth about it altogether and let whoever it is talk and not state my opinion on it else lose another homeschool friend.

The other possibility is a post about MY view/experiences on church. It was based solely on things I've experienced at churches. I guess some took offense. Oh well. (sigh) But all of this has played into my thoughts on if I should continue to homeschool or not. It's a hard journey to do on your own, with noone to really talk to..truly talk to, about it. I have one friend that homeschools that I am very close to, but she lives in FL and I have an aversion to telephones. I definitely have to get over that dislike/discomfort with phones I guess. (I'm sorry Christy!!! Love ya chica!!! ) Her and I talk regularly via email though, but it isn't the same is it? I wish she lived next door...that'd be awesome!! Hugs whenever we need it!! lol!

There have been many days this past year I have cried over how bad I feel that I am messing up. All I can do is cry sometimes. It's my childrens' future and I think about it often. With all of it on me, it's a heavy burden and consumes my thoughts (and fears) often. Am I screwing it all up for them? There is noone near me to talk to that KNOWS me AND homeschools. Yes, I have acquaintances and people I see regularly that homeschool...but none truly know me as a person. I have tried, though I am not as extroverted as my twin sis. I have struck up conversations but have struck out and don't seem to fit in. I have kept trying though. At first I kept telling myself it was my own perception that I don't fit in. But it's been two years now and I still don't fit in anywhere. I am convinced I am going to have to make myself at peace with the way things are now. It will take time. It's times like these that I truly, truly wish my FL friend lived close by. She truly knows me and homeschools as well. I need an uplifting hug and know she does a lot of times as well.

I have, after much thinking and considering over the summer (for my girls' situations/conditions) decided to continue homeschooling though. I know it's going to be hard (emotionally)...probably very hard, but it's the best route for my girls. Two of my girls wouldn't do very well in a public school setting at all due to learning difficulties, and all of them have Celiac Disease, which would make it VERY hard (if not impossible) meal-wise in a public school. So, we will continue along at snail-pace it seems, doing our school work. Obviously, I'm not going to catch up this summer...but we'll just keep continuing with our work til we start our next year's curriculum.

I have also decided to continue going to our homeschool co-op, which offers my girls some friendships with other homeschool kids. A lot of things have changed with it, for the better, that will make it a better experience for all of us. I and the girls are looking forward to it.

This morning, I got an email update from TOS like usual. I clicked on the link and I saw a WeE-book they offer. It's called "Why Does My Child Hate To Write?" This immediately caught my attention, since I have one that absolutely hates to write and I struggle with her daily in school. I pretty much chucked writing out the window this year, with her, since it is such a struggle for her. Nothing I do seems to help her and I was in desperate need of ideas. The We-Ebook was only $.99 so I thought I'd purchase it and read it. So, that's what I've done this morning...read through it. It wasn't long at all. It had some terrific ideas that I plan on trying with her. One of them...using a tape recorder, will have to wait til I have the cash to buy one. But it sounds like a great idea! The others require no special equipment, so I'll do those first. I like the idea of her 'telling' me what she wants to write and ME writing it for her. She can already write legibly and knows cursive as well. It just seems to truly be a struggle for her to write anything...even simply answering questions on paper. However, she can answer these same questions when I pose them to her verbally. This isn't good for keeping 'paperwork' proof of work, but at least I know she can answer the questions if asked. She is one of those children that presses very hard on her pencil and writes very slowly. She also struggles with thoughts on paper, in general. (all of these were addressed in the e-book) I have only given her a limited amount of written work this year..period. But you should hear some of the 'make believe' stuff she comes up while playing with her sisters! She's terrific at it! So, I will probably try the verbal story writing and write for her. She can also type...slowly, but accurately. She is improving with this endeavor and may be an asset to her 'writing'. I will try having her type out a story or something to see if that helps her. Like the WeE-book stated, she has a big sister that can do just about any kind of work put in front of her. This is quite intimidating to her, as I have seen her watch her sister with both longing and admiration on her face...probably wishing she could do the same. She usually ends in frustration and comparing herself to her sister. I have on purposely NEVER verbally compared the two to each other. She is unique and different from her sister and know that she doesn't learn the same. I don't want her thinking that I expect her to be the same when she may not be capable of the same because of those differences. That's okay with me too. Each of my girls are different in personality so why not with learning? lol!

Well, I've got laundry to finish so I'll stop here. I'll hop on here again soon, hopefully. Hope all yours' summer is going great!!

Blog Background Changes

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 18:58:00 -0500

I have been working yesterday and today on changing my girls' blogs for them. They wanted a lil something different, so I went in search of 'free blog backgrounds' online, since I don't really know how to code them myself. So, I found a site that had a number of free ones that didn't look too shabby and used them. The only trick was finding where in the template coding to place the html code for the backgrounds...I had no clue! lol!! So, with a bit of trial and error I was able to put it in the correct place...or at least a 'workable' place that did the trick. Both of their blogs look very different from before but still have some of the basic layout in tact. I like them. They each suit their personalities very much! lol!! You can check out their blogs at www.homeschoolblogger.com/summersgirl and at www.homeschoolblogger.com/orcaprincess . Be sure to let them know what you think of their new blog looks, as they picked the backgrounds out themselves!!

The Homeschool Toolbar

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:44:00 -0500

Okay...I was on my facebook page earlier and saw an ad in the sidebar for 'The Homeschool Toolbar". It looked rather interesting, so I clicked on the link. Low and behold it took me to a page that explained that it was an actual toolbar for my internet browser with links/tabs to all kinds of nifty homeschool stuff!! Neato!!! So, I have posted the Homeschool Toolbar button here on my blog and also wanted to make a post about it to pass on the news!! I clicked on the 'HS Resources" tab that it made on my toolbar and was totally blown away with all the stuff offered on that tab alone! They have a 'blogs' tab, a 'children' tab with stuff for them, a "HS Feeds" tab, and "Alerts" tab, a "To Do" tab, "Email notifier" tab, along with news, Facebook, and Twitter tabs! lol!! Yep..I'm taken with it already and have only had it about a half an hour! lol! So, check it out and enjoy!

Last Week of Camp for the Summer

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:43:00 -0500

Well, our third daughter is now at camp for the week. We dropped her off around 3pm this afternoon, after getting her settled into her cabin. She literally got the last bed available. lol! But she was very excited to start her first week of camp and a little nervous too. We were introduced to her counselor and a cabin mate or two. Then, we proceeded to drive her to the shelter on the hill to make her tie-dyed bandana for her team. That is where we parted ways for the week. She was very brave about it. She looked like she might tear up once, but then she smiled and waved good-bye and assured us she'd have fun this week. I must admit, I'm still wondering how she's doing and if she's homesick at all. I hope she makes some good friends while there. Guess I'll find out when I pick her up on Thursday. I have to go write her a letter now so she can get 'mail' at camp. lol!! I can't wait til she comes home...it's too quiet here even with the other three still here.

Here she is in front of her camp bunk (her bunk is on top).

I'm Going to Camp!

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:42:00 -0500

It's official...I'm going to camp next week!! I will be going to cook gluten-free meals for my third daughter while she is at church camp, as well as being a 'volunteer mom' for the week. So, after 16 years of not attending a church camp, I will get to go once again...but in a different capacity. lol!! I'm sure I'll still enjoy it though. It was kind of a last minute idea, due to the fact that my third daughter isn't tolerating the digestive enzymes that usually helps them with the gluten while at camp and at other 'glutenated' events. It is not a 'cure' for celiac disease (there is no cure), but merely makes the eating of gluten more tolerable, without the painful gastro effects. Honestly, we're not supposed to have ANY gluten. I have allowed them to take the enzymes to let them go to friends' bday parties, awana events that have gluten foods, camp each summer, and sometimes when going out to eat. It has allowed them to feel somewhat 'normal' still when eating around others . My third daughter had the enzymes on the 4th of July and broke out in blisters and other not-so-nice side effects of ingesting gluten. So, she will need gf meals while at camp...no doubt about it. The enzymes will not help her. It is her first year for camp, and I wanted her to enjoy it as much as possible without having to worry about gluten and its nasty effects on her. The nearest gluten-free camp is in northern Michigan and costs twice the price of the camp they attend now. So the girls' usual church camp has graciously accepted my idea of going to cook for her and are letting me stay with the other volunteer moms and help with them as well during camp. I am very thankful for the camp's director letting me do this too. He's a very nice and understanding man.

Also, after waiting for a couple of weeks for my daughters' next school book to arrive at the library, it's finally here! I will get to pick that up today and start in on our next set of lessons!! I love the fact that the library is free (for now...no thanks to Ohio's governor), but the wait time is horrendous for a book anymore! I requested three copies (all from different libraries) in hopes of at least getting one sooner than later. Nope...we waited, and waited and waited some more. Ugh. Finally, I will get to start on their lessons again. I had hopes of catching up in our school over the summer, but between activities, camps, and library waits it hasn't been as ideal as I had hoped. We've gotten some things done, but not the things I truly wanted to do. I will keep pressing on and see how far we can get before the fall. But no biggie...school is still school...just keep going and we'll be fine. We'll just start next year's stuff whenever we finish this one's. lol!

This weekend is our Appleseed shoot. My eldest two daughters will be accompanying me to this event. We will all learn rifleman skills along with a dose of our nation's founding history!! The event is full, so we will be learning alongside many other local patriots! I'll be back on here to post how the weekend's event went!!

UPDATE:

I just found out today (Friday, July 24th) that our plans for my going to camp this coming week (26th -30th) with our third daughter fell through. I will not be attending camp as planned, and she will have to try to attend with just her enzymes...though they will probably do her no good. We'll have to see. We are taking other precautionary measures now to prevent any undesirable side effects from affecting her week. I hope they work. I am already putting plans into motion for next year (if we are able to send them again) to prevent this kind of situation from happening again. Please pray that our daughter has an enjoyable first year at church camp though this year! I want it to truly be a blessing for her.

A Teenager In the House!

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:23:00 -0500

My eldest turns 13 today!! My how time flies!! It seems that just yesterday I held her in my arms at the hospital, wrapped in a fuzzy pink blanket, as a newborn. The years go by way too quickly. I have cherished them all so far and will continue to do so. She may be 13, but she's still my baby.

Parental Rights Under Attack

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 13:51:00 -0500

I know that a good deal of homeschoolers are aware of the threat the UNCRC poses to us American parents since HSLDA sends many of you updates regularly. However, I want to share a video to help get the word out, since some of you may not know that your parental freedoms are under attack. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), if ratified by the United States, will supercede the Constitution on anything regarding children...how they are raised, educated, disciplined, etc. Even if you have a different view on how your children should be raised/educated, if the government thinks otherwise then they will be able to step in and change it under the UNCRC and you will have NO CONTROL over it. Please watch this video and share it with as many people as possible. We must get the word out! ( remember to stop the sound on my playlist before viewing!)

Camp Time Again!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:37:00 -0500

My eldest two daughters went off to church camp yesterday afternoon. I can't believe it's been a year already!! Wow, how time sure does fly. Since it was my second eldest's first time at the older camp, I requested they be in the same cabin this year. My eldest was a little nervous...wondering if any of her friends from last year would be there. She (and her friends too) had the option of staying in the same camp or moving on to the oldest camp. They had all agreed to stay one more year in the camp they are in now. She was just hoping that they stayed with the plan is all. lol!! Once we arrived at their cabin, they picked out their beds. While we were getting them settled in, our eldest's friends walked into the cabin!! They were in the SAME cabin again!! She was SOOO happy!! It was all laughter and giggles from there on out. At the beginning of camp each year, they do some tie dying of headbands (for each team, which they are assigned to) up at the shelter on the hill. Then, they go down to the lake for their swim test...if they choose to take it...to determine if they will be allowed in the deeper end of the lake. Well, I asked the girls if they wished us to drive them to the shelter on our way out or if they were going to walk. My eldest replied that they were walking with their friends and that I was free to leave for home. I started to laugh at my 'veteran camper' in front of me, shewing me out the door. She went from timid and shy at last year's camp to my brave lil camper running off with her friends!! My second eldest was fitting in just fine too, which I had worried about. I don't know how many of her friends from last year have moved up to the older camp, but she was quickly making friends with our eldest's friends too. I'm sure they are having a blast even as I type. lol!! I miss them a lot, but I know they are having the time of their lives and making memories, all the while learning about God. An awesome time for any kid! I can't wait to hear about all of their adventures when they get home on Friday! I'm sure they will have plenty of pics and video as well (they took one of my cameras)!