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Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell…

August 27, 2008

Yea! The cute UPS man did make it to our house with the rest of our books. I just love the smell of new books! School “officially” started back for us today. We’ve been on a little bit of a hiatus with our move and with summer. We were unschooling for awhile. But it feels great to be back into a routine.

There are lots of different educational categories you could try and fit homeschoolers into although I don’t think any of us fit perectly into any of them. We pull resources from lots of different places. I guess we’re considered eclectic but we also lean toward classical. At the beginning of the year we ‘re fairly structured but tend relax quite a bit toward the end.

Since this is our second full year of home education, I’m still looking for programs and materials that fit us. This year I went a little crazy and bought quite a few new products. One thing I love about homeschooling is that by working so closely with my kids, I discover what kind of learners they are and I’m able to personalize their program to fit them. If something isn’t working, I have the flexibility to toss it and start something better. What works for one may not be right for another.

So here’s our plan for this year:

Maddy:

Reading: Books from the library and from her literature program

Language Arts: Language Arts Through Literature (gray book)

Writing: Write Shop I

Math: Life of Fred- Decimals and Percentages & Life of Fred- Algebra I

Science: LifePacs 8th grade & Friday Co-op Chemistry class

History: Story of the World – Medieval Times & New Testament

Music: Piano

Art: Friday Co-op art class

Home Economics: Friday Co-op sewing class

PE: Middle School Volleyball & ballroom dance

Volunteering: Weekly at a therapeutic horse riding facility for kids with disabilities

Personal Progress

Jack:

Reading: Books from library and from language arts program

Writing: Friday Co-op Creative Writing class

Language Arts: Language Arts Through Literature (yellow book)

Math: Life of Fred- Fractions & Quarter Mile Math

Science: LifePacs 5th grade & Friday Co-op Chemistry class

History: Story of the World – Medieval Times & New Testament

Music: Piano & guitar

Latin: From the Roots Up & Latina Christina

Art: Friday Co-op Art class (taught by moi)

Scouts & Faith in God

Erik:

Reading: Books from the library, LATL books, & Friday Co-op Book Club

Writing: Friday Co-op Creative Writing class

Language Arts: Language Arts Through Literature

Math: Math-U-See Beta & Quarter Mile Math

Science: LifePacs 2nd grade & Friday Co-op Earth Science class

History: Story of the World – Medieval Times & New Testament

Music: Piano

Art: community art classes

PE: gymnastics

Faith in God

Will:

Reading: library books read by anyone willing & Friday Co-op ABC class

History: Story of the World – Medieval Times & New Testament

Math: Counting and cooking with Mom & Friday Co-op 1,2,3 class

Art: Friday Co-op craft class

PE: gymnastics & Friday Co-op games class

Music: Friday Co-op Music and Movement class

If you’ve read this far, kudos to you!  Have a great week…

Comment

Lisa C. - Look at that schedule. What a great mom you are! You are a better mom than me. I couldn’t do it. But, what great fun you are having with your sweet children! I think it is great to incorporate church into school.

Aunt Jennifer - Yea!!! It sounds like you guys are off to a great year! It looks like a busy, learning-filled schedule. Miss you!

Lorena - Wow, I’m impressed! Makes me wonder what it would be like to homeschool! I’ve always left the option open, so someday I may find out. This looks great! I know for a fact their music class will be outstanding. Ha ha ;)

Elaine - Sounds like a GREAT plan!

Have fun with your school year.

Diane - My missionary boy is in Kuna Idaho. Is that near you.
I would have to pay someone to homeschool my kids. I couldn’t handle it. You go girl!

Jennifer P. - oh how I miss the new book smell already!

Don’t you just love the theory of unschooling? I loved that when life got too crazy to teach like I wanted, I could just give my kids the tools and they would teach themselves. Kids are just amazing! Hope a year in public school doesn’t ruin mine forever :P .

Sounds like you’ve got a full year ahead of you! May it be full and rewarding!

A Little of this, a little of that…

August 25, 2008

Guess what.  Remember how we’ve had trouble getting the good seats at church?  The good news:  We got the good seats at church.  They were the REALLY good seats, the kind with the upholstered seat AND the upholstered back AND the individual armrests.  The bad news:  We sat in the stands because we gave the sacrament meeting talks.  But, we survived, there were no accidental burps or fainting or cuss words.  We’re done and can move on with life.  Phew!

Thanks to all who encouraged me this past week with all I had on my plate.  I’ve been able to get most of it finished, or at least started.  I cleaned my house for the book club meeting, which was very fun and lasted well into the wee hours of the morning.  If you haven’t read The Power of Positive Parenting by Glen Latham, you really must. It’s one of my favorite parenting books out there.

Jack’s cardiologist appointment went so well.  There’s always some anxiety before those appointments that the news might be bad, but he passed with flying colors.  I found out that he does have a left ventricle although it’s relatively small but it does do what it can to pump blood. A huge factor in his overall prognosis. Yeah! And we don’t have to go back for a whole year!  And he has no restrictions!  And the doctor encouraged him to increase his activity level with swimming, hiking, and biking.  All great news that could make me teary-eyed if I went on, so I won’t.

I’ve written the art program for co-op and it has the potential to be really fun.  I hope it is.  If not, it could be a long semester.  Still waiting for my last shipment of books so we can start school this week.  Keep your fingers crossed that we see that cute little UPS man tomorrow.

Last night after we polished up our talks and were getting ready for bed, we took the dog out and discovered a sure sign that we are now officially parents of a teenager.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

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Shally - At least they wrote “love ya” in toilet paper!

My dad used to get SOOOO mad when we would get toilet papered. He thought everyone hated us.

A “love ya” would have helped a lot…

Sherine - Not to mention that he would SAVE the toilet paper for future spills or emergencies.

Lisa C. - I’m glad for you that your talks are OVER. That is always such a great feeling!

Glad your busy week is over and your son is doing so well.

Aunt Jennifer - I’m glad things went well with your talks! And the cardiologist! Miss you guys!!!

Sally - That is great news about Jack!

As a Boise native, I just wanted to let you know that TP’ing in that part of the country is a definite compliment. I was surprised to learn that in Danville, TP’ing could be a negative thing–because I TP’d many a house growing up, and it was always boys I had a crush on, or my good friends. I love the TP note on the lawn.

Susan - Great news about Jack! And about your talks. Somehow, we were able to skip the talks when we moved in 7 years ago. It was missionary season, and then we had to say no once because of previous commitments. They must have forgotten all about us. Shhh – don’t tell anyone.

Lorena - Yea – what good news for Jack! I’m so happy to hear that. I heard great things about your talks – way to go! I wish I could have been there. And, welcome to the “we got TP’d” story. Luckily we don’t get TP’d often because everyone wants to do the three neighbors around us instead. It’s good to live by popular folks. ha ha

Jennifer P. - glad there was good news from the doctor. good news is always better than bad news….always! :)

I am so going to track down any stinker who t.p.’s my yard in the future and make them clean it up!!! but I’m not a very nice mom :) .

Crushing Memories…

August 21, 2008

This week is chock full of stuff that needs to get done…by me. Like reading this in it’s entirety so that I can lead the discussion on it … tomorrow…at my house…which needs to be cleaned…before tomorrow. Instead, I’ve been trying to finish this.

Not only that but I need to finish my talk for Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I’ve actually finished it but I do need to practice reading it. Yes, I will be reading it Celia. That’s the only way for me. I should also be practicing volleyball with my daughter Maddy who will be trying out for the local middle school volleyball team…this afternoon…at which I will not be cheering her on…because I have to take Jack to meet the new cardiologist here in Idaho. But we both decided we’d rather watch an old episode of Jon and Kate Plus Eight.

Back to the house cleaning, I really should at least be straightening it since I’ll be having a babysitter here this afternoon for the first time in, like, 3 years. As mentioned above, Maddy will be off at volleyball and Jack and I will be gone testing out the local stethescopes … which leaves a 4 year old and 7 year old…alone.

If I wasn’t doing that, I also need to help Will write his talk for Sunday School this week…or rather write it myself and rehearse it with him…or better yet maybe I’ll just give that assignment to Ralf. If that wasn’t enough, I should be writing my outline for the art class I will be teaching at the co-op this semester…starting in two weeks. Also on my list is reading through all the teacher’s manuals for the new curriculum I’ve bought for school this year…and then creating a master plan and calendar for each child so that we can stay on somewhat of a track.

Oh yeah, and I need to venture out to civilization to get a gift for the 8 hour long birthday party Jack is invited to…tomorrow morning. What reasonable sane mother would host an 8 hour long birthday party…at her HOUSE…for a bunch of 10 year old boys? Not me, that’s for sure!

But, with all that to do, I’m sitting here blogging. Why? Because I have been inspired by my new cyber-but-soon-to-meet-in-real-life-friend Jennifer. (Get this, in a round about way she “answered” my personal as an abnormally “normal” homeschool Mom who lives close by. Yea for me!) She blogged about her list of unconventional heart throbs that perhaps only the mother of young kids could appreciate. Check it out. It’s funny.

So in that spirit here’s my history of celebrity crushes:

It started with Leif Garrett. My bestfriend Jill Nelson made sure I knew it was pronounced Lafe and not Leaf. Either way he had neato hair!

Then came this hot little number.

I was more a Bo fan than a Luke fan. How about you?

Man, when The Outsiders came out, that was a feast for the eyes. Everyone, with the exception of maybe Emilio Estevez, made it onto the covers of my schoolbooks, outlined in hearts and all.


Ok, at about the same time I discovered Blackie from General Hospital, a crush that has withstood the test of time. To this day he’s a favorite.

John Stamos only gets better with age.

Confession time. PLEASE keep in mind, it was the 80s and he still had most of his original face. Sad but true, Michael Jackson makes it on my list of teenage crushes. Am I the only one???

Thelma and Louise changed my life forever. The bar had been raised. And despite his weirdo kid-collecting love fest with Angelina ( I am willing to look away), he remains a lifelong crush of mine.

These days when we’re not watching The Office, we watch The Food Network, Animal Planet, and The Discovery Channel. But that hasn’t kept me from finding my favorites.

Jeff Corwin is easy to watch.

Probably because he reminds me of Ryan Reynolds, another favorite.

And if it’s the Food Network that’s on, I’ll tune in to see Jim O’Connor from The Secret Life Of.

Never seen him? You should.

How about you? Feeling nostalgic yet? Ponch or John? J.R. or Bobby? Corey Haim or Feldman?

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Aunt Jennifer - Very funny! My crushes from then: Roger from Duran Duran, Rob Lowe. Now: Rob Lowe, Patrick Dempsey, Viggo Mortensen. I hope you get everything done — I’m sure you will!!!

Amanda K - This time of year is so super busy! I hope you get everything you need to done! I was a huge fan of John Stamos and embarrassing to say — JTT (Jonathan Taylor Thomas). I think every girl had a picture of him!

Elaine - OMGoodness … I loved Leif and still like to look at John Stamos.I agree time has been good to John … not so much to Leif, but then he has lived a little too hard.

I think I once blogged about Jeff Corwin. He does remind me of Ryan Reynolds. I just watched Ryan’s last movie “Definitely, Maybe” (very cute).

I’m not big on Michael Jackson, but I am sure you will many who are or were.

I’ll have to think about this one …

Susan - This time of year is almost as bad as the end of the school year. My list is similar in length to yours, but I just keep crossing things off and saying, “No can do!” I’ll try to be more responsible in a few weeks.

And don’t worry – you’re not alone in your Michael Jackson crush. He was definitely crush-worthy WAY back then.

Sherine - I’m going to have to read this post over… I became foggy headed after I read that bit about an 8 hour party with 10 year olds…

Celia Fae - One of my friends in my ward is giving a talk this weekend too, and she called me to cuss me out because now my blog post is in her head while she writes it.

I deserve it.

Read away.

Corey Haim, even though he’s a dirtbag now.

Lorena - I like your new layout – it looks cool! I have to put Tom Cruise on the list of crushes, and Peter Selleck, and the Man From Snowy River.

Jennifer P. - Oh thank you for sticking my name out there :) . I’m glad I could be such a distraction in your sea of work!

I actually met Leif Garrett when I was 5. Got his autograph and everything (my sis is 10 years older than me–so she drug me along !).

I liked Luke Duke better, but I really thought Rosco was the cute one!

My strangest crush? Probably the one I had on Dusty from GI Joe. He was a cartoon for crying out loud!

Good luck on accomplishing everything this coming week!

gab - Your week sounds exhausting…and I know exactly how you feel. But it WILL get done. Somehow.

Loved MJ and watched Thriller at least 500 times a day.

Also loved Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties and Shawn Cassidy on the Hardy Boys (that ages me a bit…)!

I love your blog and I want to interview you about homeschooling sometime. Will you email me? (When you get all your work done, that is!)

Kristy Willhite - An 8 hour birthday party? What the? I’m too stunned to comment on the men. 8 hours? Huh.

Diane - Bobby Sherman! I’m old.

Desperately Seeking…

August 16, 2008

Thirty-something, fashion-conscious, intelligent, abnormally “normal” homeschooling mother of 4 seeks fellow homeschooling mother with similar interests and with similar aged kids for get-togethers to share ideas, books, field trips, play dates, science labs, and friendship.

Must be vain enough to wear make-up, have an actual hairstyle, and appreciate the value of a great fitting pair of jeans. Please no denim jumpers or polygamist braids. Must be able to have an intelligent conversation about something other than organic farming, home birthing, and attachment parenting. Must own a television, have cable, and be able to name at least one character from “The Office”.

For playdates, children must be updated on vaccinations and arrive with clean clothes, hair, faces, and fingernails. They may not dispell the realities of Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, or The Easter Bunny to my younger children. No public nose-pickers (over the age of 4), or thumb-suckers (over the age of 6).

If you know of anyone that fits this criteria in my area, please pass this along. I am in desperate need of a fellow homeschool mom that’s as abnormally “normal” as I am. Thanks!

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Elaine - I love it!

I only homeschooled for one year, but I never clicked with anyone. Maybe I just needed a personal ad like that ;)

paige - I think the denim jumper exclusion is a deal breaker- no self-respecting homeschooler would dare through out her trusty denim jumper.

Amanda K - What a funny little comic!

I got my fun treat today so I just wanted to stop by and say thanks! It smells so good and I am excited to use it!

shaun - Very funny — I feel like I am too normal or too weird for most everyone! My daughter got to choose cookies to bring to an event last week, and I was actually feeling embarrassed for bringing Oreos — couldn’t we at least find Newman Os? Plus, I am pretty sure 90% of those people who claim to use their TV only for Frontline and nature shows after the kids are in bed are either lying or in total denial. Ditto the people with no TV who watch DVDs on the computer — hello, how is this different from TV?!

And thanks for stopping by my blog.

Celia Fae - See, I’m glad you wrote about this stereotype because I harbor the same one. I hope it works because it would suck to be alone with a weirdo all of the time. And I don’t mean your kids, because they certainly don’t look weird.

One question: Were there actually boys at ballroom dancing camp? How did their moms get them to go? I need lessons.

Sherine - Just so you know you completely opened my eyes to homeschooling. You and your kiddos are wonderful.. and wonderfully normal. I brought this topic (homeschooling) up the other night at a family event and felt like I got pounded into the ground. Let’s just say we had to agree to disagree. Way to break the mold wendy:)

Shally - You are hilarious!

Kristy - Not sure if me and my kids are “normal”, but Keller sure misses Erik! I was just thinking today that it was a shame you guys moved, you were delightfully normal. P.S. I love the new blog look!

Kristy - P.P.S. I just saw that you visit Seriously So Blessed. Is that blog hilarious or what?

Jennifer - I don’t know, I think you may have set your standards a little high… hahaha

gab - Homeschoolers get a bad rap. All the moms I know who are doing it are amazing…cute, normal and fun. You seem to fit right in!

Jennifer P. - Yay! I’m here :) ! I have learned a great appreciation for those jumpered, bean sprout milkshake drinking, home-birthing homeschooling moms….but I’m not one of ‘em :) !

We have a great community here! Even though I’m letting my older two try out public school for their very first time this year, I’m still homeschooling my preschooler and will forever consider myself a homeschool mom! Anyhow, I’m not sure what part of Idaho you’re in, but there are some great co-ops starting soon, and we have a really neat mothers group. Feel free to email me and I’ll tell you whatever you need ! zbug1@msn.com

But I warn you–my 8 year old has been known to still pick his nose on occasion…. !

Amber - You are a funny lady! Well, I am pretty abnormally normal I would guess. We homeschool when needed, and public school when needed. Except for the vaccination thing, we are two peas in a pod. Although, I do love the “natural” stuff, it isn’t what defines me, and I could never give up make up, highlighting my hair, and pedicures. Uh, hello! And, oh……Dwight, Pam, Michael….and so on. Love The Office!
PS. I co-run TEACH http://www.teachcoop.com

Refreshing

August 16, 2008

We are loving watching the Olympics! The gymnastics, the synchronized diving, the swimming… I enjoy watching to see if the athletes know the words to their national anthems. And we got a kick out of Mark Spitz’s generous but somewhat arrogant interview this evening.

But I must vent a little. While I can appreciate the that he’s a specimen of speed, finesse, and physical perfection, I am getting a little TIRED of Michael Phelps!

It’s getting far too predictable for me. “Ooh, is that Michael Phelps in lane 5? I wonder if he’ll win by a few seconds or a few milliseconds.” Sorry, but it’s a little redundant.

My new appreciation is for Dara Torres:

She’s a 41 year-old mother competing in her 5th Olympics! Not only is she confident in her post baby body, but she even looks great in that very unflattering body suit. And you can totally tell that she’s a mother. This evening, the athlete in the lane next to hers had a tear in her suit and so went to put another on. If Dara had been a young, competitive, self-concerned swimmer, she might have quietly hoped that the race would start without her. But, being the mother that she is, Dara alerted a race official of the situation, calmed the other racers down, waited for her racemate to return in a new suit, and then turned around and won her event! Now THAT is refreshing!

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Amanda K - I am loving the olympics!! Our world has such great talent… it is amazing!! I heard a thing on the TV today that said Mike Phelps didn’t win a gold medal this morning… and the reason… he wasn’t in the race… hee hee hee! They think they are so clever!

Kristy - Sooooo ditto on the Michael Phelps! It’s sad for the other athletes too, they are all amazing, but the interviewers are like, “Great job, so and so, I’m sure you tried real hard and everything, but, WOW what do you think of Michael Phelps, is he a phenom, or what?” And the poor athlete is left standing there, going “Yah, he’s really great.” I mean, what are they supposed to say?

Elaine - Well I still love Michael Phelps. His accomplishments during these Olympics were amazing and will likely never be repeated by him again … he is humbly enjoying his glory in the spotlight. Swimming almost never gets recognition outside of the Olympics (and my blog … LOL). I do hope that he stays true to himself and doesn’t get too wrapped up in all the hype that surrounds him now.

DARA totally ROCKS! I too thought the same thing about trying to postpone the race a few minutes. Even though it was her competition, she felt that person was worthy of getting to the blocks. This was definitely the selfless act of a mother … someone who has learned over time that life is more than just about oneself.

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