Unschoolin' at Sams Club

I needed to get my tires rotated and balanced and since I bought the tires at Sam's, I get that done for a small cost...free for the service, 2 hours of my time! So what does a homeschooling mamma do with 2 boys aged 7 and 3. First, she wanders down every single aisle, hits up the free cookies in the back, then wanders back up to the front of the store and feeds her youngins pizza at 10:30 in the morning. Then school begins.

Health Sciences Lesson (appropriate attire, relationships, cleanliness)

• I buy Pete his first basketball looking shortset (I dislike these personally) and Pete asked why the arms are cut out. I say it is so you can show everyone your sweaty armpits. Pete asks, "Why? Does this attract the girls?" Not now, not ever.

• I repeatedly tell RePete not to make dust-angels on the dirty floor.

Mathematics (Probability, money, measurements, addition and subtraction)

• What is the probability that I get to Sam's 3 minutes before they open and I am still 5th in line to have work done to my tires? Crap. I've disliked statistics since my professor stated nobody in his class gets an A. I got a B+. Poop.

• I forgot my checkbook and Sam's only takes Discover or debit cards. I cannot remember my pin so I have to take money out of the ATM. Quiz: If Mom takes $60 out of the ATM, how many $20s does she have? $10s? $5s? How much money will she have left at the end of 2 hours? ZERO

• Pete pleads for gum so I buy him the Bubble Gum Tape that measures 72 inches. How many feet of gum does Pete have? If Mom is 5'7", how many inches is that and how much taller is the gum? This ended up being a trick question because Pete had about 3' of it in his mouth already.

• RePete? There's 400 books in here and none of them are about Thomas the Tank.

School's done, now to go home and finish laundry.

~R

I'm gettin' a trailer

You heard me right. In fact it's a travel trailer. It's only big enough for my right foot but it's a cutie. I've wanted a real dollhouse to design and decorate since my dad and his 2nd wife built one many moons ago. Theirs was a close replica of their own house complete with mini shingles, wallpaper, etc.

I thought I would start small and talking about Washington yesterday was giving me the travel bug. Can't wait to get it. Talk about impulse buys!

Now on to bigger and better things. My Pete loves action figures. He started with Buzz Lightyear at 2 years old and his love interest has run the gamut. TMNT, Power Rangers, Spiderman, and all the other trillion figures marketed to small boys every year. I could always remember which figure was "in" by his costume each year. The Buzz costume was worn for 3 years and I don't mean at Halloween, I mean every day! When he finally conceded to let it go, the pants were capris (I keep coming around to that-weird).

*Update: pictures removed due to BN's paranoia.

Then there was Spiderman...And then the Power Rangers were represented...Now that he's all grown up he wants to go for gore...we'll see.

My biggest complaint with this love of figures is that they have no place to call home. Barbie has houses, multiple houses. There's the Totally Real House and the Dream House and the Mini Kingdom, and the Hot Tub Party Bus (wtf!!!).

Sure, we purchased the TMNT hideout, and Spiderman's lair, and The Batcave. Guess what? All were made of flimsy plastic and cardboard cutouts. Do you think Barbie would even consider such a home? I think not. Her homes are made of sturdier plastic with great colors-pink and pinker, the furniture, and don't even get me started on accessories.

So after drooling over my friend Sushi's daughter's dollhouse, Pete and I formulated a plan. We would make one! It would be stonger than a locomotive or small boy, able to hold mass quantities of action figures, and it would be color coded. Batman gets a ground floor room because he is older than the others. The TMNT should also probably be on the ground floor since they are turtles and access to grass and manholes are a must. Spidey and the Power Rangers get to duke it out for the choice upper floors with the views of Pete's messy room. We found a great FREE plan for building such a structure and I think with a little modification here and there and a firepole this will work for us. Any suggestions for miniature crappy frat house furniture?

Baby Bison and the state of Washington

We lived in Washington from Aug 1994 - May 1996. I had just gotten out of the Navy and BN was finishing his tour in dry dock and at the sub base. Bangor sub base is a gorgeous base because of course it is in WA. Not a lot of cement, but plenty of trees. Glorious trees. I remember the drive up to WA from San Diego when we were apartment hunting before our transfer and I was in total awe from somewhere in northern CA through OR and into WA. I could see stars again and green trees and grass. I hadn't seen these things in four years.

Even though it rained 3 fricking quarters of the year, it is one of the prettiest states I've seen or lived in. Everything is so lush and I consider it an "outdoor state", meaning anything worth doing is out of doors.

We learned to cross-county ski in the Cascades, hiked the Olympics right after a forest fire, visited Mount St. Helens where even 15 years later the devastation was still so fresh, watched the people catch fish at the famous Pike Place Fish Market, ate at Benihana (the original Japanese Steakhouse mmmm), meandered through fields of tulips - did you know WA is a major grower of tulips?, rode our bikes for miles and miles and visited the Dungeness Spit. I'm sure we did more, but some of those memory cells passed through my placenta to my wee ones-gone forever. sigh.

I love the Spit. It's about 5 miles long and due to lack of interest on BN's part, we only walked about a 1/2 mile of it. Huge logs wash up on shore and there is driftwood galore. I wish we'd gone the distance and had a look at the lighthouse and the natural wildlife refuge - one avid hiker of the spit claims to have observed over 96 species of birds! I love birds. Maybe next time.

And finally, I would feel like I was depriving you of a complete WA visit if I didn't mention the Olympic Game Farm. Here you can drive your car through the park and interact with the animals. So we purchased loaves of bread and headed out and the animals were so friendly and they walked right up to our windows. We fed zebras, deer and American bison. This was a lot of fun until one of the baby bison approached my window. I dutifully held out the slice of bread and when he tried to grab it, his huge black tongue glanced my hand! I let out a squeal and flung the bread. BN and I shared a laugh and then I glanced in my side mirror. That seemingly harmless baby bison was now on a mission. Apparently upset that he didn't get that slice of bread, he charged after us. I'm yelling for BN to STEP ON IT!! and he's laughing uncontrollably at the situation and I'm rolling up my window praying the mama bison doesn't see how upset her baby is and come charging too. The baby catches up and looks as if it is going full charge into the side of our truck...

...well, dear friends of mine, it seems that when the baby tried to get the bread from my hand and licked me causing me to fling the bread, the bread was also licked and made wet enough that when I flung it, it stuck to the side of the truck. Poor baby wasn't charging us, he just wanted that piece of bread. I don't remember any other part of the park because every time BN and I looked at one another, we began laughing hysterically all over again. I'm glad that memory cell stayed with me.

Here's a picture of that ferocious beast (shiver). This picture is captured just moments before it all went down.

Clogs and the men of Washington

Recently BN told me about seeing a man wearing capris. It brought to mind Washington, the state, and I had gotten a job with the Department of Defense at the shipyard. Memory Bank 1994. While walking up to the 2nd floor, I passed a man wearing white clogs (think Candies-wooden soles).

So I pass by this guy wearing clogs and I giggled way deep inside. When I get to my destination, I tell Norma -a big hearted woman with whom I have befriended - about the man in clogs, my eyes wide with astonishment. Norma, who is much older than I, tells me that is in fashion and her son wears them too. I mumbled something about a new trend and how comfy they looked. Funny that we were talking about shoes because I needed to remove mine and insert my feet in my mouth.

Turns out Norma was right. Over the next 2 years I saw many men proudly sporting clogs. Washingtonians seemed to be trendsetters in that regard. We now know them better as mules and they seem more "manly" - more like a man's shoe with the heel missing.

Which brings me to the second thing I thought about when BN mentioned men in capris which made me think of the man with white clogs in WA...The birdcage. Have you seen this movie? I LOOOOOVE IT! I can't even count the number of times I've watched it and it's a hoot every time. The scene that comes to mind is when Williams and Nathan Lane practice trying to pass Lane off as Williams' son's uncle instead of his "mom". Lane is wearing white linen pants and matching button down with a wide-brimmed straw hat and you guessed it, white clogs. If you haven't seen it for the millionth time like me, DO!

Where's my Stuff

You've all seen this screen, even if you have Macs, you've seen a login screen similar to this.

On this very laptop, on which I am typing this very serious entry into my blog, we have this login screen and there is an icon for BN and an icon for me.

BN never uses the laptop because he has an awesome Mac, so not sure why he even has an icon. If I weren't so technically challenged I might be able to remove his login. Speaking of technologically challenged, has this ever happened to you...

I lift the screen and fiddle with the mouse to remove the screensaver and go about my computer business. Only when I click on bookmarks to visit my favorite blog sites, there is nothing there and I mean NOTHING. where's my bookmarks? Or I lift the screen and fiddle with the mouse to remove the screensaver and try to write an email and type the first letter of the lucky recipient's name and nothing happens and I mean NOTHING. where's my email addresses?

I start to panic and break a sweat across my upper lip. I wildly look left and right as if I'll find these things somewhere in the room but I never do. And then I do what every wife of a software engineer does...I pick up the phone and call BN. He can tell by my voice that I am panicked. I explain the situation and he calmly tells me that I must be logged in as him. Apparently, he needed to check on something quickly and since my laptop was accessible, he logged on and did his checking. Then I needed to do something on the computer and, well, you've heard the story. Has this ever happened to you?

To make you, my three glorious readers, understand just how techno challenged I really am, this happens about 7 times a year.

Jammin' in the car

Memory Bank 1993. Red Hot Chili Peppers, San Diego...good times,,,good times!

On the way to our Homeschool Bowling League, we were rockin' out to RHCP and Pete reveals his new talent. Before I reveal it let me give you a clue or two. He doesn't need lessons (I don't think?), he doesn't need an instrument and I think he'll be one of only a handful of professionals who do this. Okay so that is 3 but let me continue.

I'm dreaming of the day we sell our home and have the room for me to purchase a piano. I daydream about Pete and RePete sitting on the bench with perfect posture playing beautiful music much to the delight of all of our family and friends at Christmastime. I also hope I get a lesson or two so that I can play a song, something besides the theme from "The Young and the Restless" which I taught myself at the ripe old age of 7.

Or maybe Pete and RePete will go on tour with me and their Dad. Nevermind that our band will consist of 3 drumsets (the boys) and me on the piano or maybe the tambourine. I've been practicing on the Fisher Price one for years.

But Pete's talent doesn't require a piano and nevermind the kid size drum sets to jam along side Dad. Pete's talent is SNAPPING! He snapped right along with RHCP, to the vocals as best I can tell.

Now if you just can't wrap your little brain around just how cool this can be, take a gander at this video clip or listen to this guy. I just Googled those and can't wait to show Pete tomorrow. You know, give him something to strive for, give him a purpose. I think we can still make the family band work.

Healthfood?

While crucifying me for drinking Diet Coke, BN answered Pete's question of "what are the good foods to eat". BN explained that anything made by Mother Earth would be good for you and things that were man-made would most likely be bad for you - such as Diet Coke!

Pete then asked another (and I think one of his most profound) question, "what about girl-made foods?"

Which led to his next question. Why don't lions just use bottles instead of their boobs to feed their babies? I of course answered with all the ready knowledge of a Mother who breastfed both her boys - they lack opposable thumbs. ba-da-bum

Cocoon, Chrysalis, or Village

Pete is fascinated with the caterpillars that are everywhere right now. You've seen the Eastern Tent caterpillars and I'm sure you've taken a stick and pulled on the big silken "tents" in the trees and watched them tumble to the ground. I would never!-at least not since I was 9.

We talked about the life cycle and whether his new friends would become butterflies or moths. Do you know? (answer found at the bottom of this post) We kept one in a container last year to watch the process. Unfortunately, we went away for 3 days and the caterpillar finished his metamorphosis only to meet his demise in our tiny container. I shook the container gently as Pete looked on and tried my best to make it look as though it was fluttering on the bottom of the container. Pete didn't buy it.

Today he found several crawling around the limbs of a tree in our backyard and decided to give them a home. I'm always amazed at what my son can do with leaves, twigs and rocks.

They look so happy in their new home although I have a sneaky suspicion they will pack their little caterpillar backpacks and leave quietly in the middle of the night. Have I told you about the time Pete tried to reconstitute, I mean revive worms he found on our sidewalk? He really does have such a big heart. HAPPY SPRING!

Giant frog heads

Since it is well known that I only have 3 viewers, and they read out of pity, I have to do what I can to promote myself. I'll never be talked about around the water cooler, playground etc. I won't be in the running for any of the numerous predetermined to be winners awards. Here's my only chance. Wish me luck, oh faithful 3 viewers.

I am fascinated by the GIANT FROG HEAD used to cover a water well of a fellow blogger. In honor of the GIANT FROG HEAD, she is hosting a contest to receive your very own GIANT FROG HEAD blogger award. You have to ask her to view your blog post about the subject and if GIANT FROG HEADS come to mind, you win.

It's such a simple contest to win as you just have to blog about GIANT FROG HEADS. GIANT FROG HEADS. GIANT FROG HEADS. GIANT FROG HEADS. GIANT FROG HEADS. GIANT FROG HEADS.

Last feeble attempt...Is that a GIANT FROG HEAD in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? Insert your own image here. I'm trying to keep this blog clean, folks.

The Name Game is Over

While driving back from art class today, I made the final decision on names for my children in my posts. You may have read my earlier post about Sweetie and Lovey. Here's what made up my mind:

Sweetie: Mom I have to go pee.
Mom: I told you to go before we left. We'll be home soon.
Sweetie: (to brother) I've gotta go pee-pee.
Lovey: I ga go pee-pee.
Sweetie: Want to use the toilet? (we are trying to potty train Lovey)
Lovey: Wa u toywet.
Sweetie: Let's go. Let's pee-pee in the toilet.
Lovey: (this is where Lovey catches on to the PT reference) NNNNOOOO! No toywet!

Sweetie and Lovey shall henceforth and hitherto be called

Your Prodigy

Do you have one? I think we, as parents are trying our best. Some try harder than others. Do you push your child to be smarter, more athletic? Have you decided where YOU want your child to go to college or what he should major in? What about who their future spouse should be? (I am not talking about cultures who arrange marriages. For purposes of this posting, I am referring to overbearing parents who do not participate in cultural practices such as this.) For instance:

My friend Pogo and her 5 year old son are bombarded each morning at school with a certain other parent and her 5 year old daughter. This other parent regularly makes remarks about how cute Pogo's son is and how he is the cutest one in class and wouldn't they be sooo cuuute together. What is wrong with her? They are 5!!!

Are you happy in your current profession? Chef, homemaker, programmer, dishwasher? Did you go to college or a technical school? Have a high school diploma or GED? These are all preparations for that future dream job. I think I have one now - I stay at home with my boys and homeschool them. Will we do this until graduation? Probably. Am I sure? NO. I do know that I've stuck with this for the past 7+ years. Longer than any "career" choice I've made thus far. I have 5 Associates Degrees and don't use them. I never found out that secret - what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had an inkling towards art. Started college, realized I didn't really know what I was doing or worse yet, lacked the confidence in what I was doing. Yet time and time again, I choose activities, college courses, self studies that revolve around the art world. So maybe I knew it long ago, I just didn't have the confidence to act on it.

I do think there are ways you can guide, not push, your child to help them excel. I just finished reading about helping your child find their strengths. Think about it. If you know what you are good at, it makes it easier to make a decision about what types of careers will be a good fit for you. Think "What color is your parachute?" by Richard Nelson Bolles. (by the way, I fibbed on that self-quiz too - I'm hopeless) If your daughter loves horses and riding horses and talking about horses, then maybe, just maybe she'll own a horse farm one day or be a veterinarian. If your child loves to draw and has a great imagination, maybe they'll be perfect as a set designer, video game designer or a portrait artist. The key is to pay attention to your children and see what THEY are interested in. When you find out, try to find ways to immerse them in that interest. Some of these interests will wane and the kids will move on to the next great love of the day. Be ready to move on with them.

My oldest currently loves rocks and drawing. You've seen some of his art already. (yes I am making you see "it" again) We have more rocks IN our house than we do OUTside of our house. If you've been introduced to my son, then you have probably been asked by him if you "want to see some cool crystals" . Will he be a geologist one day? or an artist? or an artist who paints rock formations? Who knows! Frankly, who cares, he's only 7. But you can believe that we continue to purchase or find rocks. We study them and plan field trips. Even though I feel qualified to teach him art, I have him enrolled in an art class. I have drawers and cabinets bulging with art supplies. I don't suggest that you have to spend great sums of money to foster these interests because we all know they come and go like fads. But do invest TIME. Invest in his CONFIDENCE. Make sure she knows she can do anything she puts her mind to.

They may just find out what they want to be when they grow up.

I apologize I don't have a resource to offer. I can't for the life of me remember what I was reading that prompted this thought. I'm just so gosh darn happy I had a thought. If I remember, I'll post in a later blog.

I am so vain by default.

(Coming down off of my ebay high so bear with me. What a rush. That's another story-but enough about that-back to ME being vain)

I started out my marriage a size 6. I had a tiny 23 inch waist. By today's standards, I would be a size zero! (I'd love to walk into a store and ask for that size.) Fast forward 9 years and I am a comfortable size 8 - very happy with my 26 inch waist. Fast forward one more year and I've gained a dress size and a brand new 8lbs 7oz baby boy. I'm okay with my new size 10 body, although I long for my old one -especially the flat, beautiful, not a mark on it, belly. Fast forward 4 more years and I still have a size 10 body and a brand new 9lbs 10oz baby boy...wait a second, why didn't my dress size go up. My waist did!! It's called Vanity Sizing.

Vanity Sizing. Have you heard of this? Apparently, the garment industry is on to us. Admit it, you too have your clothes organized by skinny, now and fat clothes. We Americans have become fat! In an effort to keep us buying clothes, we have to believe we are still thin, so the clothing folks have "adjusted" the sizes to conform to the "new" us.

I used to take comfort in knowing I was smaller than Marilyn Monroe, who in the 50s measured a size 12. Until I found out that by today's standards she would actually be a size 6.

How big are you these days? Memory Bank 1993. I bet that "one size fits all" silk short set that BN brought back from Thailand back when I was a "size zero" would fit me now. Ugh, depressing.

Zafu jean finder Neat site for helping to find the perfect pair of jeans. You do need to be honest - the first time I answered the questions - they suggested I buy size 4, hip-hugging, crack showing jeans. There's that vanity thing again. I fib on all tests where they say to "be honest". I just can't help myself!

I'll leave you with a nugget from my dear old Dad: "I'm not vain. Vanity is a fault and I don't have any."

I'll see you at the gym tomorrow.

Ebay on my mind

I can't really post anything because I can't stop watching my stuff on ebay!

I am selling most of my stamp sets (21 things) total and I check on it constantly. I have exactly ONE DAY left on the counter.

I'll put a note in my Tuesday post about how I did. Wish me luck.

Lego Robotics Day Camp

Today BN and Sweetie went to the Eastern Shore for a Lego Robotics day camp for homeschoolers.

First, I have to apologize to BN because as he well knows, I am a Skimmer. I admit it, I'm in a 12 step program - I'm working on it!!

When I read the information for this outing, I swear it was being held just up the road and only lasted 3 hours. While printing the particulars for BN, I read that it was 2 hrs and 15 min from us and lasted 7 hours. He decided to go anyway.

To get there, they had to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel - all 20 miles of it. We took the kids across this for their first time 2 summers ago when we went camping with some friends at Cherry Stone. Since then, any time we cross a bridge over water, Sweetie asks if it is the "17 mile bridge". (I mistakenly said it was 17 miles long and it stuck) This question comes up almost daily as we can't avoid these bridges in our neck of the woods. So FINALLY he got to cross it again and knows what it looks like, so maybe the question will stop. But I digress...

The kids were shown the flight simulators and then paired up to complete the Lego Robots. Sweetie and his partner did great in assembling the robot. BN commented that the other boy was the same age as Sweetie and could read very well. Luckily, the directions had pictures but when it came to the programming, he needed help reading the directions. This has been a sore topic at our house. We both want Sweetie to read and we do all the right "schooly" things to help him, but he is just not interested at this time. I've been reading up on this and finding out that he is not alone in his reluctance. It is quite common and even more common in boys. My approach has softened and I have resumed reading TO him and I ask him to read some from our text Let's Read, a Linguistic Approach by Leonard Bloomfield. We also use Beyond the Code, Book 1. He seems to like this workbook and we take turns reading paragraphs.

My latest read-to book is The Boxcar Children by G C Warner. It's very old school in its approach to life and sentimentality's. Little House on the Prairie-ish. Even my 3yo sits on my lap when I pull this book out. It's 3rd grade reading level, but I think Sweetie might be able to read the majority of it - if he wanted!

The robot worked but could only go back and forth in one direction. BN said they had faulty wires. The boys were very proud of themselves, especially since they were the youngest in the group. You go Sweetie!

Let me leave you with a nugget:
"Schools place emphasis on [early] reading not because it's the best way to learn but because it's the most efficient way to run assembly line learning." Joyce Fetterol

Random Thoughts - Renaming the Boys

Random Thought #3
I decided today that the boys need new names. Unfortunately, they are growing out of Sweetie and Lovey. Soon they'll be big hairy men with too much testosterone for that kind of nomenclature. I'm leaning towards Pete and RePete, which fits them perfectly, but the name Pete conjures up bad thoughts of another Pete I know. We, in our family, refer to him as Peter Eater and that is all I'll say on that subject.

So back to my little men...I'm gonna brew on this a while longer and if anyone has suggestions, especially those of you near and dear, please do share. If you are not from around here, just read back through my posts to get to know us. I'm sure something will come to mind.

Yoga Anyone?

I just started Yoga a few weeks ago and I must say I really enjoy it. If you thought Yoga was all stretching and breathing and overall easy, think again! There is much stamina required and if you need upper body strength, you'll get some. In fact it is strenuous enough that a friend of mine who is seeing a personal trainer was advised she could use Yoga to replace one of her days using the weight machines. That speaks for itself. Of course, I am referencing toning, not training for Ms. Olympia.

I also bought a YogaKids video to use with the boys at home. It claims to "channel energy into fitness fun" and "helps kids feel calm" and "builds focus" - sounds similar to Benadryl - I'm in. Just kidding!?!?

A few notes to remember. Do not wear loose fitting shorts! Ewww. Wear yoga pants or sweats or anything that covers your nether regions properly. We are supposed to keep our eyes closed and bring our yoga inward - but sometimes we don't. Speaking of nether regions, I came across a site for using yoga to enhance the use of one's nether regions. Just saying...

Give it try if you get a chance - you might like it!

The best part though is at the end when we are preparing ourselves for the final moments of quiet and solitude...Happy Baby Pose! Ideally, you can grab your big toes or foot, you are lying on your back and then you pull your knees back towards your armpits.

History and Legacies

We are using The Story of the World: Ancient Times for first grade history. It's an excellent chronological historical account written by Susan Wise Bauer. Because the boys hear my voice enough throughout the day, I decided to purchase the audiobook read by Jim Weiss. It gives them AND me a break and we usually listen to the chapters in the car. The book is not only historical, but tells the stories in a way that is interesting and sometimes fun.

Mr. Weiss, however, is not my favorite voice to hear. He is a bit nasal and my sister Doodah thinks he is a bit monotone. You should hear his "female" voice - lay.off.the.cigarettes, woman. The boys don't seem to mind though, so I'll be purchasing them again for second grade.

I learned something today that I have never even heard of...Nasca Lines. (only with Jim's voice it sounded like Inasca) Have you heard of these? Think crop circles only much, much bigger and they've been around since 200-600 AD. Now that's something. Here's a link with lots of pictures to help fill the gaps left by my public school education and they are just awesome to behold.

It makes me want to leave a legacy of sorts...oh I guess my boys would count towards that and the things they can do. Sweetie can fake a burp so real sounding I almost always look at him and tersely remind him to say "excuse me" and don't get me started on the armpit farts. The newest charm they are working on is talking with their bellybuttons. I am overcome with pride!

Blah, Blah, Blog!

I was asked "what is blogging?" and "what's the point?". Let me try to enlighten you and maybe give some insight into the woman that I am.

Merriam-Webster has this to say:
Pronunciation: 'blog, 'bläg
Function: noun
Etymology: short for Weblog
: a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer

That defines blog and begins my first reason for blogging, I wanted to write a journal. I've started numerous "hard copies" and they sit collecting dust. I get so bogged down in how my handwriting has gone to hell in a hand basket that I can't bear to continue writing. So I started a document on the computer, safely saved away, never to hear the click of "open file" again. It's about accountability. Being online, I know 3 people who will read my blog daily so it motivates me to keep this online journal. This brings me to point number 2.

Since at least 3 people will read this and won't hesitate to critique my writings, I am ever diligent about content, grammar and just plain puttin' on a good show! I actually like to write and this affords me ample opportunities to be witty (I try), honest, humble and possibly pass on information.

Number 3 has to do with being technologically challenged. What better way to conquer this than by immersing oneself in the problem and figuring it out.

And lastly, friends and family can keep up to date on our latest happenings in between visits and phone calls. I love sharing the antics of my boys and their artwork and masterpieces

Homeschooling with Chalk

We use books and other schooly things, but the hands on, spur of the moment learning seems to work best. This would actually be called unschooling - something I've looked into, but can't quite let it all go - "it" being the school mentality.

So Sweetie got the idea to trace our shadows with chalk on the driveway. He embellished them with hair and hats. He drew curly locks on Lovey and for whatever reason, Lovey didn't want his curly locks, so Sweetie turned them into ear muffs. This suited Lovey just fine since he wore ear muffs to see the Monster Trucks.

The great part about Homeschooling is that everything presents an opportunity to learn. Sweetie loved how TALL he was at that time of day, so (ding ding-science) a discussion of the earth rotating around the sun ensued. Through this discussion, he decided that we would have to just draw (ding ding-art) Dad in because if we waited until he got home from work at 6pm (ding ding-math), he would be standing "opposite" of us. (ding ding-math/science again) See how this is working. We made Dad extra muscle-ly. :-)

Even if you don't/can't homeschool, make sure and take advantage of these learning opportunities. Your children will learn and you will learn from them.

Quantum Physics

Yes, you heard right. I believe my sons understand Quantum Physics.

Have you seen What the Bleep!? Down the Rabbit Hole ? This is an attempt to prove scientifically what most of us already know - we are all connected. They take it to the most basic levels of atoms and molecules and show how they react with other atoms and molecules. In one experiment, the molecules actually change their patterns to what we would visually expect when an "observer" is present. It's actually quite interesting to watch this DVD, but be prepared, it's heady stuff. I need to watch it again to fully get everything.

So back to my sons...in the car doing the whole "he's touching me routine". The problem, and this is where quantum physics comes into play, when I glance in my mirror I become the "observer" and the boys assume a stance of innocence! Just like the molecules, they revert visually to what they know I want to see - my perfect Angels. I glance back at the road and WHAM!, the rules change and I hear the tell-tale whining coming from Lovey, while Sweetie starts on the excuses.

Quantum Physics in its most basic form - siblings.

Easter Eve

I signed our boys up to participate in the Easter Egg hunt at the YMCA. First let me point out that we are against any city-run Easter Egg Hunts. Memory Bank 2002. Have you been to one? The parents give pep talks and go over strategies on how to collect the most eggs - it's really a disgusting display and one we avoid. But the Y offered a smaller hunt and therefore I thought it could be fun for the boys.

We woke up to snowflakes. The Y stated they would have the hunt "rain or shine - so bring umbrellas". Did they also mean snow? The prude mama in me came out and decided we would not even attempt to go. At 10am the snow had stopped at our house and my oldest begged to go anyway and see if the hunt was still on. Once on the highway, I could see the snow had been a little heavier the further north we drove. From the picture I obviously mean "heavy" as it applies to SE Virginia.

Unfortunately, due to running out of the house last minute, we arrived about 5 minutes too late. They were hiding the remaining eggs in plain site and it was a free for all. The boys did not get a single egg, but we still got a treat. I stopped at the convenience store on the way home and let them pick a candy of choice off the shelf and then we practiced finding eggs when we got home.

They haven't mentioned the failed egg hunt since. Ahhh, the resilience of youth.

Is it Christmas or Easter for Heaven's Sake

*Disclaimer* We are not church-going people, but we do consider ourselves spiritual. We tend to err on the side of commercialization when it comes to religious holidays. If you are appalled by this act, well Bless your heart. Do visit again tomorrow.

In celebration of this holiday called Easter, my husband BN went all out! The boys got new bikes and a basketball net. Needless to say, they won't fit in the baskets I so lovingly picked out - so I had to get crafty. I decided to hide eggs with clues in them to lead the boys to their treasures. Even though I know the gifts are just ridiculously over the top, I can't help but get excited to see how they react.

Now the crazy part of all this is that just this last week, BN said "don't buy the boys another toy until they learn how to respect and take care of the ones they already have". Hhmph.

He's such a softy! XOXO Happy Easter, Ya'll! Bock Bock!

My Very First Post

Have you seen Stepford Wives? I don't think it did well at the box office, but what a concept. I decided that I had become a Stepford Wife after finding out that not only did the majority of wives of the men at my husband's company stay at home, but they were also either homeschooling already or would be when their little ones were ready for school. Now don't get me wrong - this is a homeschoolers dream - what a resource for friends and shoulders during this process. It was just one of those weird feelings that came over me and that movie came to mind.

If I start posting cookie recipes, send the calvary!!

About

You may know me better as that anti-Stepford wife, Robinella, but in real life I'm a mommy blogger, amateur photographer, crafter, wife and home educator to my two boys and I'm trying hard to not to drown in the pool of testosterone filling the house I call home. Come meet me, my beloved BN and our rambunctious boys, Pete and RePete.

Before you go, have I told you how I became Robinella?

A few moons ago, I was in the Navy. I worked as an Air Traffic Controller and was stationed on a little island and we were a very small group. When you sit for hours couped up in the Tower or Radar trailer, you get to know one another, so naturally we talked and revealed personal stuff. We were sitting around talking about where we were from and something came over me. I thought I'd pull a prank and blurted out that my real name was Robinella. Of course, that was met with "Nahs" and "Reallys?" and I backed it up with factual information that made it conclusive. You see my sister's real name is not Doodah, it's Della and my cousin's name is Stella. After I mentioned their names, everyone believed me and I then became Robinella.

I let this play out for about 3 months before I told them the truth. Unfortunately, it stuck and I was Robinella until the end of my tour. ( I was also called the Porch Goddess in bootcamp and that stuck too, but that is another story.)

The Crew

If you are new to my site, you may find yourself feeling a little woozy. If you are just feeling confused about who we all are, then read on.

Robinella - that's me. artist. crafter. holder of many useless degrees. i home educate my boys and never leave their sides.

BN - my extraordinary husband. musician. software engineer. all-around handyman for our home.

Pete - my very spirited son, born 2000. artist. actor. budding film-maker.

RePete - as the name suggests, he wants to be just like Pete, born 2004. artist, gamer. lego enthusiast.

Doodah - my baby sister. nurse.

Pogo - my best friend. strong supporter.

Mommy - well, umm, she's my mommy.

T-bone - 1995. my nephew. smart. my son's idol.

LJ - 2010.  my newest nephew and a grunting rolly polly.

Uncle C - my little brother. born 1996. a whole lot younger than I.

I introduce as I go along for anyone else. Keep up.

My Precious.es