These are the thoughts and musings of a scared homeschooler. I say scared because I live in a constant state of fear that I'm ruining my kids' future! I say that somewhat tongue in cheek, because I am sure God has lead us to educate our kids at home, but at the same time I have a great deal of insecurity in what I'm doing. I'm working on this with the help of a sweet husband and Great God. I am looking forward to gleaning much from other homeschoolers. I have been living in the U.S. for about 18years but was born and raised in the beautiful country of Scotland You will also read much about my Astros on this blog too and I hope I don't bore you too much with that, but I can't hide my love for the Houston team. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:27:00 -0500 Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:27:00 -0500 I have realized my computer has somewhat moved into the same category as my car; can't live without it, but man they're a major pain when they break.  Not only that, only a select few have the ability to fix them.  I hate that! My computer (and car) is actually funtioning fine right now, though I'm not holding my breath, but it is literally falling apart.  My screen is coming off of the board ( it's a lap top).  One of the hinges is totally busted - do you like that Oxford English I just employed?  Boy my kids are so fortunate to have a teacher like me!  Anyway, seems to me like it's only a matter of time before the whole thing falls off or will be unabe to stand upright.  I would think it's a bit of a challenge to use a laptop with the screen lying flat on its back - we shall see because it may come to that! Needless to say the last thing I want (or need) right now is to have to buy a computer.  Believe me the list of things on the needing-to-buy list is waaaaay too long for that!  On top of it, only half of our tax refund came in and we're 'fighting' the IRS for the other half - what are our odds, do you think?  Also no sign of that incentive check yet -- anyone else still waiting or is it just us? Sooo I do believe God must have something up His divine sleeve 'cuz He knows I can't be spending hours and hours on the phone contacting people that would take me half a minute using email.  I realize that too was a really bad sentence, but obviously I'm just not feeling it today. Ho hum - since Joe has been out of town this week - we've managed to video chat every morning,but for some reason his little face has not shown up on the little box on the computer.  I'm hoping he's out shopping for me and nothing negative is happening that has prevented our daily chat  :)  Ok so the "out shopping for me" is not happening, but the point is that I'm concerned something has come up, that is not a good thing, to have stopped him for checking in.  Or, it could just be that his computer battery has run out again (he forgot to take his power cord and has been borrowing his traveling companion's) I'm sensing this post is begining to rambling - so I'll bid you all adieu and good day! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/546053/ Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:27:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/546053/ I always like the little questionnaire thingsAmanda does, so I'm stealing hers again What I was doing 10 years ago: I vividly remember the summer of '98.  I was thirty.... uuuhhh somethin' and very pregnant with Pete.  We had not long before acquired our first building as a church (we're still there) but inside it looked like an empty grocery store.  So Joe was put in charge of the build-outs with a team of volunteers.   He was working an average of 12-16 hour days, 7 days a week!  I basically didn't see him the whole summer.  Unfortunately I went into preterm labor at 32 weeks and had to go on bed rest ,or house arrest is more accurate!  We moved into out first home in May of that year (we're still there too!)  I was thrilled with that and loved our house - funny how 10 years and many repairs needing to be done can make your love grow cold ... hhmmm.  Anyway - it was pretty rough ... being alone most of the day (friends would take Danie for me - so thankful for that) and I would read all day.  I did love that!  Anyway, Pete was born on August 28th and the building had been ready to move in just a few weeks before that.  So although it was very trying and tiring, it had a good ending :) 5 things on my list to do today: 1. Video chat with my hubby, I hope!  He's out of town 2. Go to church of course 3. Watch the game 4. Study for a Bible study I'm doing 5. Hang out with the kids Things I would do if I were a billionaire: 1. Buy all family members their dream home. 2. Pay off the church debt 3. Give to many worthy causes I wish I could help right now 4. Take an extended trip to Scotland and many other parts of Europe. 5. Pray for wisdom about the rest! 3 of my bad habits: 1. This could get personal - I don't even want to mention most of them 2. Let my imagination run wild - not in a good way 3. Critical thoughts and words. 5 Places I’ve lived: 1. Wishaw, Scotland 2. Edinburgh, Scotland 3. Whittier, CA 4. Seabrook, TX 5. Webster, TX 5 Jobs I’ve had: 1. Worked in 2 different toy stores, first when I was 13! 2. Nursing Asst. in geriatric psych. ward - yes it was as bad as you think! 3. In a camp ground in France for a summer 4. Many positions for local government in housing depts in Scotland 5. Travel agent ticket courier I had several more summer jobs as a student, including working in a hospital kitchen and worked in a frozen food grocery store. How about you?   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/544569/ Sun, 8 Jun 2008 10:43:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/544569/ IF YOU CAME TO MY HOUSE Taken from Amanda  again! If you came to my House: You would see: Our dog, Sniff, first.  He would be checking you out to see how much attention you would give him.  If you give him enough he wouldn't leave your side the whole evening. If you ignore him he'll go sleep on his bed.  My advice: ignore him, unless you want to be covered in lots of dog hair. We’d probably feed you: Fajitas, Steak or enchiladas And offer you this to drink: A bottle of water or fresh brewed iced tea We’d undoubtedly ask if you’d read: About the latest bad news for the Astros. We’d want to play this music for you: Depends who gets to the CD player first.  If me, perhaps Mozart, Dani would play Jason Castro and Joe - the first CD he could get his hands on - probably Chris Tomlin or someone like that. We’d want to tell you the latest about: The Astros, the church building, American Idol (if the season was running - that'd be Dani ... do you see a pattern here?) We’d probably suggest a game of: Yahtzee, Pass the Pigs, Monopoly We might show off:  Dani's camera and some pics she's taken We might get on the computer and show you: Some stupid youtube a certain staff member at church has discovered, or some of Dani's pics If it was a long enough visit, we might watch: An Astros game! I'm thinking you'll avoid coming over at all costs now!  What would a visit to your house be like?   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/543795/ Fri, 6 Jun 2008 09:07:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/543795/ Me?  Not so much.  My husband?  Well read on and you decide... When we first moved into our first real buidling that we could call our own as a church we immediately began doing VBS as an outreach to the community and it was a big hit right off the bat.  There were many reasons for that, not the least of which (in my humble opinion) was the creative mind of one goofy worship leader. It was his decision that in order to engage the kids during a communal worship time at the beginning that the worship leader guy (him) should take on an alter ego, and so birthed a long line of sometimes weird, sometimes --- uuuhhh scary?, but always entertaining characters.  in order to introduce these characters he also decided a short promo of who they were and how they got to "host' VBS was in order.  I'm not quite sure where all those archives are and I don't think I'm entirely ready to share all of those in any case. Here is a list - to the best of my memory of these misfits: Alligator Dan - think hill billy meets Louisiana out-doors man who's never met a dentist! Beach bum Bob - old California surfer dude, who really can't surf Okie Dokie Jones - bad impression of Indiana Jones (but a great promo bit) Guitar - zan ... this is where it gets scary.  Think muscle suit and curly wig Rocko Balbaloney - let's just say my hubby loves the Rocky movies (oy vey) And being the huge baseball fans that we are the church came up with a whole baseball theme on their own one year and Joe was... Homer Run ....  old baseball player from the 30's .  This was a very fun year for us because Lance Berkman (yes the best baseball player on the planet) came to the church to speak to the kids.  Adam Everett also dropped by. Joe since retired - at my urging.  Surprisingly it took a great deal of time.  He did however revive one character this year for the promo - though I don't think he's making a full appearance at VBS.  Beach Bum Bob has transformed into Darth Bum Bob and is urging the new host of VBS, Duke Waverider to leave VBS and come to the "dark side". So my intention is to try to find the YouTube for you to enjoy (or not!).  OK so right now I can't find it - but I'll keep trying.  NEVER COULD FIND IT SO YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO USE YOUR IMAGINATION - SORRY! Does your church do special things like that for VBS - so share! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/542044/ Mon, 2 Jun 2008 21:00:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/542044/ First off, I always thought the spelling for bullet points differed from the spelling of bullets shot from a gun. But wanted to make sure I was correct and so I checked an on-line dictionary; it is listed as the same spelling.  There ya go! I'm craving Fish Tacos from Berryhill Either that or the deluxe chicken enchiladas from Chuys I'm feeling fat! Went to the beach yesterday - yuck.  I have never seen so much sea weed - gross! Pete has a Plantar Wart on his foot which we are going to a dermatologist to have treated.  Have you any idea how difficult and painful it is to get rid of those things? The dermatologist prescribed a cream to use between visits (it'll take 2 or 3 visits).  She casually warns us the cream will be expensive ... so how much do you think? Would you imagine $650!!!!  It's a WART!  Fortunately our insurance covered it.  Pharmaceutical companies - grrrrr... Our Pastor's Wife came out of hiding to teach our women's study Tuesday.  She's not really hiding, just avoiding germs due to her bone marrow transplant.  She's amazing and looks fabulous! Did I say I feel fat?  Blah - I need to exercise! School's out for summer - yeah! Got to go grocery shopping - what should I cook for dinner.  Any ideas? Me either! Astros play Cardinals tonight.  Rubber game - we won first, they won last night.  Go Astros! Any one have exciting summer plans - can I live vicariously through you? bye bye http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/539958/ Thu, 29 May 2008 13:04:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/539958/ I don't quickly recommend products, but I'm quite excited about this one.  I do have to give a possible Too Much Infomation warning before you go any further!! Let me explain.... I don't sweat a WHOLE lot.  I'm not one of those poor creatures you see as soon as it hits 70 degrees that has beads of perspiration all over their face, and huge sweat marks under their arm-pits in a matter of minutes.  However, I do, for some reason, have trouble when I wear anything sleeveless.  I went shopping (oh I hate to shop so this is a miracle in itself) with my birthday money and managed to find several very cute, inexpensive tops.  Ever single one was sleeveless. I had to teach the Women's Bible Study, several weeks ago, because, as you may know, our sweet Pastor's Wife was under-going a bone marrow transplant.  So I wore my new tops (one in the morning, one in the evening).  I couldn't even raise my hands in worship because I was just pouring sweat under my arms and the odor wasn't exactly pleasant.  What is a girl to do?  I was determined to find something that helps, if not entirely eliminates the problem. I had seen those "clinical strength" products out there but was not convinced and did not relish the idea of spending $6 on deodorant!.  I'm not one to get pedicures and manicures every month or go to the salon several times a year.  I generally make do with a cut a couple of times a year and pedi. once or twice a summer.  However, I couldn't take it any longer, and armed with a $2 coupon I decided to take the plunge.  Ladies, I will NEVER go back!  I bought the Dove version pictured below.  It was strange at first because it is a cream not a stick, and although it didn't entirely dry me up I'd have to say it's at least 5 times better.  This is a small luxury I cannot change. So if you're wondering if it's worth the extra $3 or so - I say I don't think you'll be sorry you tried it! OK - I just noticed - dufus that I am .. this is a pic of Degree, but they're probably the same thing!  Just needed to clarify. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/533810/ Sat, 17 May 2008 15:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/533810/ There's a very sweet family at our church who are about to leave our church .  After finding the home they've always wanted about an hour's drive they've decided they can no longer keep making that trip several times a week. We've never been extremely close with them but they're the kind of family you just enjoy hanging out with and we're very sad to see them go.  As the wife and I were talking the other day she was sharing about their "church shopping" experiences.  As they visit a church they get in the car afterwards and share their impressions.  One of the sons is close to Pete's age and have known each other but were never extremely close, so what she told me next surprised and tickled me.  Of course you know when I share this I have changed our last name and their names to protect the not-so-innocent. My friend Anne:  So guys what did you think of church this morning? Everyone: It was fine Her son Kevin: Yeah... it was fun, but you know what Mom?  Church just isn't the same without Pete Loza - big sigh!! Ah - yes my son ... ever the mister popular!  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/533433/ Fri, 16 May 2008 16:36:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/533433/ After my last post where I shared the thoughtful and lovely gifts my sweet husband got for me for my birthday and Mother's Day, I began to put my thinking cap on for this upcoming Father's Day and his birthday, which isn't till November so surely I can come up with something before then. At the Women's Bible study last night I was asking the same question.  What can you get your man that he'll just be so thrilled with?  One answer I don't think should be repeated on this G rated blog    .Joe is a pretty simple guy but for that reason he's pretty hard to please or come up with something original.  He used to collect baseball hats so that was an easy choice every year.  But that fad faded.  Once of the best gifts I ever got him was the 12 DVD box set of Ken Burn's Baseball ~ it didn't hurt that I loved it too!  Last birthday I took him to a Rockets game, so I don't want to do that again.  He's a musician and loves music but has every CD he just about could ever want.  He does love LOST but we are currently watching the show so buying him season 4 in November would seem pointless since he'll have seen it. So... ladies - any thoughts??  I don't go over board for Father's Day so something small is warranted for that.  His birthday sometimes falls on Thanksgiving so I do like to make it special for him because he can get overlooked around that Holiday. Any suggestions?  This could help you out too you know! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/532240/ Wed, 14 May 2008 14:22:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/532240/ ALERT!!!  THIS IS LOOOOONNNG!!! So Joe went back to work today after being off all last week.  I don't have a whole lot to report but in some ways that's really good.  It was one of those stay-at-home, be lazy and do what you want, when you want kind of vacations.  I think we all benefitted. So here's a bit of a run down of how things went. The weekend prior was actually crazy and deserves a post all on its own.  I am NOT one of those Moms who has her kids in every activity under the sun for two reasons; 1) don't have the money for that 2) I'm a home-body so my kids have to be too, oh here's a third reason ... I do not want a repeat of last weekend.  On saturday afternoon I literally spent about 4 hours in the car driving kids back and forth and all around and didn't go outside of about an 8 mile radius of my house!!  Sunday wasn't much better.  I don't know how you Moms with more than 2 kids, and they're all doing something, can do it. Anyway - I digress... back to vacation which officially started Monday: Monday:  Were supposed to meet up with the Contenders group at Putt-Putt for Pete's 'golf' badge, but it rained.  So instead we lazed around in the morning and then went to a movie in the P.M.  Can't even remember what we saw -- that memorable! OK it'll come to me! Ah - I had to ask Danie - it was Nim's Island and I actually quite liked it Tuesday: Went downtown to buy Astros tickets for my birthday date with Joe.  Ended up not getting the tickets Joe was hoping for and he was really bummed about that.  They still ended up being good seats.  More on that later.  Went over to the Galleria area and ate at Chuys.  Chuys has become our all-time favorite Mexican restaurant - have you  tried their jalapeno ranch dip?  It's stinkin' awesome!  Then we went to The Chocolate Bar!  Oh yea... all chocolate!  We all had our own type of chocolate ice cream concoctions, then went next door to Candilicious!  Yes it is what you think - amazing candy store.  The kids were in heaven.  While the kids and I were in there, unbeknowns to me Joe was getting me something from the Chocolate Bar for Mother's Day - will share later.  I just reread this and realized I missed a couple of things.  We were really busy - we also drove over to IKEA and bought a TV stand.  It's a long story as to why we needed a new TV stand and I'll spare you the details.  I really like it, but not necessarily the huge monstrosity of a TV which is now on top of it. Oh then we happened upon a Farmer's Market.  As a side note I thought Farmer's Markets were supposed to be cheap.  Not this one -maybe because it is in artsy fartsy Rice Village where the rich folks live?  Anyway, we did get really good organic coffee, fresh home-made Indian Tandoori paste and a coriander dip - yummo and some other expensive stuff.  But like we always say on vacation, "oh well... it's vacation!'  Wednesday: Went toKemah which is a board walk area on the Galveston Bay, which has restaurants and carnival rides etc.  We specifically went to ride the new old fashioned wooden roller coaster.  I thought I would love it because I'm totally a roller coaster girl.  But I screamed from start to finish and it was for real, I couldn't get off of that thing fast enough.  I must be getting old!  Then we decided to go to the Mall.  When Joe responded enthusiastically to that idea I knew he had to be up to something, which he was - again more to come on that. Thursday: Stayed home all day.  Went and rented movies and got dinner for the kids because Joe and I were going out on my birthday date (which was actually Friday).  So we got to the Ball Park in plenty of time to get the give-away (an Astros tote -very stylish).  Just as we got in they started opening the roof!!!  Grrrr... I was so mad!  It was 93 deg. outside!  What was Drayton Mcclane thinking?  I know what he was thinking - his seats are in the shade and doesn't care about us poor plebs in the direct sunlight!  Fortunately by game time it was pretty much gone.  OK so the 'stros lost.  The only game they've lost in ages!!  They're playing amazing right now - but they lost the game we were at :(  Oh well! Friday: My birthday!  Joe remembered to get cards!  Yeah!  And he had sneaked into Brighton while I was shopping with Danie at the Mall and got me a very nice necklace, bracelet and earrings all to match!  I love it!  We stayed home most of the day, then had to go to the Contenders Banquet for Pete and on the way to that had to stop in at the homeschool co-op open house.  After the banquet we dropped Pete off at yet another birthday party. Saturday: Joe picked up Pete so they could go to Galveston with a group from church to fish.  He caught two baby hammer head sharks - will try to get pics later.  Didn't do much the rest of the day Sunday: Mother's Day.  Since church is also work we decided not to go!  Please understand - we love our church but if Joe goes on a day off then it's really not a day off.  So we took advantage of being our first Mother's Day morning together in forever and he made me breakfast.  Then gave me my gift from The Chocolate Bar.  I thought it was going to be chocolate covered coffee beans (one of my faves) but no, it was in fact a chocolate brick!  That's right!  It's yummy though especially with the great strawberries that are out right now.  Then we went to Joe's sister's house who lives right on the water and relaxed and had burgers.  Came home and watched the game and then Mr. Magoria's Wonder Emporia, which I  thought was kind of  boring. So as you can see we had a very nice relaxed family time. Now back to the grind....   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/531053/ Mon, 12 May 2008 13:51:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/531053/ I actually have a couple of things to post about so I thought I'd better get to it before the feelin' is gone.  I have several pics to show and even a couple of family ones!  I know I know, I said I wouldn't post my fam. but I thought these were cute and I'm not going to do it often. None of the pics are very clear because as I've stated before I'm at the mercy of my photographer daughter to get them uploaded so I finally went to her Flickr account and saved them from there, but didn't get the best results. So first up... just now got this pic. of Carlos Lee at the game we were at and just thought it was too good not to post.  He seems like such a fun loving guy: And here is my little Astros' fan:   OK - so last week we had a very interesting and fun family field trip.  A gentleman at church works for Continental maintaining and repairing the planes.  Continental has a hangar (actually several) at Hobby Airport and every 3 weeks or so they bring a plane in to be worked on.  What I found very enlightening is that they have a much more in depth regular maintenance program than I thought.  Every two years there's a general inspection with the 4th and 6 th year being more detailed but on the 8th year they completely strip the plane down and literally inspect every nut and bolt.  So our friend invited us out to the hangar while they had one stripped down.  This is a 737.  We had many pics but I'm only sharing a few. First my cutey Pete and I as we wait to go in... Here we all are sitting on an engine!  You can't see the back but it was completely open to see all the amazing intricacies of it.  Did you know these engines are not jet engines , but are powered by compressed air!! Here is the inside of the cabin all stripped down.  It felt much smaller inside than I would have imagined. Here's the cockpit.  All the red tags say - do not operate!  yah!   So that was a really great memory.  Then yesterday we went to Pompeii!!! No really!  Actually the Fine Arts Museum has the Pompeii exhibit right now.  Unfortunately, no photgraphy was allowed so can't show and tell there.  However, we did go walk around the rest of the museum.  This is what Pete and his little friend thought of that. I wanted to show this.  It's an original early Picasso, painted around 1910, called The Rower.  I thought the colors were very subdued for him and I really liked it.  Thought it would be amazing in my living room - anyone have several million dollars to spare? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/526205/ Fri, 2 May 2008 16:28:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/scotschooler/526205/